Histories

Then Cleomenes bade all the helots pile wood about the grove; they obeyed, and he burnt the grove. When the fire was now burning, he asked of one of the deserters to what god the grove belonged; the man said it was of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos. When he heard that, he groaned aloud, “Apollo, god of oracles, you have gravely deceived me by saying that I would take Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos; this, I guess, is the fulfillment of that prophecy.”

Then Cleomenes sent most of his army back to Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, while he himself took a thousand of the best warriors and went to the temple of Hera [*](About four miles N.E. of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos.) to sacrifice. When he wished to sacrifice at the altar the priest forbade him, saying that it was not holy for a stranger to sacrifice there. Cleomenes ordered the helots to carry the priest away from the altar and whip him, and he performed the sacrifice. After doing this, he returned to Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta.

But after his return his enemies brought him before the ephors, saying that he had been bribed not to take Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos when he might have easily taken it. Cleomenes alleged (whether falsely or truly, I cannot rightly say; but this he alleged in his speech) that he had supposed the god's oracle to be fulfilled by his taking of the temple of Argus; therefore he had thought it best not to make any attempt on the city before he had learned from the sacrifices whether the god would deliver it to him or withstand him;