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The Persians, as soon as they were put to flight by the
Lacedaemonians, ran hastily away, without preserving any order, and
took refuge in their own camp, within the wooden defence which they had
raised in the Theban territory. It is a marvel to me how it came to
pass, that although the battle was fought quite close to the grove of
Ceres, yet not a single Persian appears to have died on the sacred
soil, nor even to have set foot upon it, while round about the
precinct, in the unconsecrated ground, great numbers perished. I
imagine - if it is lawful, in matters which concern the gods, to
imagine anything - that the goddess herself kept them out, because
they had burnt her dwelling at Eleusis. Such, then, was the issue
of this battle.
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