Histories

Thus they changed their bad laws to good ones, and when Lycurgus died they built him a temple and now worship him greatly. Since they had good land and many men, they immediately flourished and prospered. They were not content to live in peace, but, confident that they were stronger than the Arcadians, asked the oracle at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi about gaining all the Arcadian land.

She replied in hexameter:

1. You ask me for Arcadia [22.25,37.583] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Arcadia? You ask too much; I grant it not.
2. There are many men in Arcadia [22.25,37.583] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Arcadia, eaters of acorns,
3. Who will hinder you. But I grudge you not.
4. I will give you Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea to beat with your feet in dancing,
5. And its fair plain to measure with a rope.

When the Lacedaemonians heard the oracle reported, they left the other Arcadians alone and marched on Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea carrying chains, relying on the deceptive oracle. They were confident they would enslave the Tegeans, but they were defeated in battle.

Those taken alive were bound in the very chains they had brought with them, and they measured the Tegean plain with a rope[*](That is, mapping the land out for cultivation.) by working the fields. The chains in which they were bound were still preserved in my day, hanging up at the temple of Athena Alea.