Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.
The Plataeans, seeing
their enemies in a trap, now consulted whether they should set fire to
the building and burn them just as they were, or whether there was
anything else that they could do with them; until at length these and
the rest of the Theban survivors found wandering about the town agreed
to an unconditional surrender of themselves and their arms to the
Plataeans.
While such was the fate of the party in Plataea, the rest of the
Thebans who were to have joined them with all their forces before
daybreak, in case of anything miscarrying with the body that had
entered, received the news of the affair on the road, and pressed
forward to their succour. Now Plataea is nearly eight miles from
Thebes, and their march delayed by the rain that had fallen in the
night, for the river Asopus had risen and was not easy of passage; and
so, having to march in the rain, and being hindered in crossing the
river, they arrived too late, and found the whole party either slain or
captive. When they learned what had happened, they at once formed a
design against the Plataeans outside the city. As the attack had been
made in time of peace, and was perfectly unexpected, there were of
course men and stock in the fields; and the Thebans wished if possible
to have some prisoners to exchange against their countrymen in the
town, should any chance to have been taken alive. Such was their plan.
But the Plataeans suspected their intention almost before it was
formed, and becoming alarmed for their fellow citizens outside the
town, sent a herald to the Thebans, reproaching them for their
unscrupulous attempt to seize their city in time of peace, and warning
them against any outrage on those outside. Should the warning be
disregarded, they threatened to put to death the men they had in their
hands, but added that, on the Thebans retiring from their territory,
they would surrender the prisoners to their friends. This is the Theban
account of the matter, and they say that they had an oath given them.
The Plataeans, on the other hand, do not admit any promise of an
immediate surrender, but make it contingent upon subsequent
negotiation: the oath they deny altogether. Be this as it may, upon the
Thebans retiring from their territory without committing any injury,
the Plataeans hastily got in whatever they had in the country and
immediately put the men to death. The prisoners were a hundred and
eighty in number; Eurymachus, the person with whom the traitors had
negotiated, being one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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