ander had come to Athens to bring the Athenians to make a
treaty with the Barbarians, and remembering the oracles, who it was
destined that they together with the other Dorians should be driven
forth out of the Peloponnese by the Medes and the Athenians combined,
had been very greatly afraid lest the Athenians should make a treaty
with the Persians; and forthwith they had resolved to send envoys.
It happened moreover that they were introduced at the same time with
Alexander; 112 for the Athenians had waited for them, protracting the
time, because they were well assured that the Lacedemonians would hear
that an envoy had come from the Barbarians to make a treaty, and that
having heard it they would themselves send envoys with all speed. They
acted therefore of set purpose, so as to let the Lacedemonians see their
inclination.

142. So when Alexander had ceased speaking, the envoys from Sparta
followed him forthwith and said: "As for us, the Lacedemonians sent us
to ask of you not to make any change in that which concerns Hellas, nor
to accept proposals from the Barbarian; since this is not just in any
way nor honourable for any of the Hellenes to do, but least of all for
you, and that for many reasons. Ye were they who stirred up this war,
when we by no means willed it; and the contest came about for your
dominion, but now it extends even to the whole of Hellas. Besides this
it is by no means to be endured that ye Athenians, who are the authors
of all this, should prove to be the cause of slavery to the Hellenes,
seeing that ye ever from ancient time also have been known as the
liberators of many. We feel sympathy however with you for your
sufferings and because ye were deprived of your crops twice and have had
your substance ruined now for a long time. In compensation for this the
Lacedemonians and their allies make offer to support your wives and all
those of your households who are unfitted for war, so long as this war
shall last: but let not Alexander the Macedonian persuade you, making
smooth the speech of Mardonios; for these things are fitting for him to
do, since being himself a despot he is working in league with a despot:
for you however they are not fitting to do, if ye chance to be rightly
minded; for ye know that in Barbarians there is neither faith nor truth
at all."

Thus spoke the envoys:

143, and to Alexander the Athenians made answer thus: "Even of ourselves
we know so much, that the Mede has a powe