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These towns accordingly began their preparations; and the heralds who
had been sent into Greece obtained what the king had bid them ask from
a large number of the states upon the mainland, and likewise from all
the islanders whom they visited. Among these last were included the
Eginetans, who, equally with the rest, consented to give earth and
water to the Persian king.
When the Athenians heard what the Eginetans had done, believing that
it was from enmity to themselves that they had given consent, and that
the Eginetans intended to join the Persian in his attack upon
Athens, they straightway took the matter in hand. In good truth it
greatly rejoiced them to have so fair a pretext; and accordingly they
sent frequent embassies to Sparta, and made it a charge against the
Eginetans that their conduct in this matter proved them to be traitors
to Greece.
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