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There was a man at Plataea among the troops of the Eginetans, whose
name was Lampon; he was the son of Pythias, and a person of the
first rank among his countrymen. Now this Lampon went about this same
time to Pausanias, and counselled him to do a deed of exceeding
wickedness. "Son of Cleombrotus," he said very earnestly, "what
thou hast already done is passing great and glorious. By the favour of
Heaven thou hast saved Greece, and gained a renown beyond all the
Greeks of whom we have any knowledge. Now then so finish thy work,
that thine own fame may be increased thereby, and that henceforth
barbarians may fear to commit outrages on the Grecians. When
Leonidas was slain at Thermopylae, Xerxes and Mardonius commanded
that he should be beheaded and crucified. Do thou the like at this
time by Mardonius, and thou wilt have glory in Sparta, and likewise
through the whole of Greece. For, by hanging him upon a cross, thou
wilt avenge Leonidas, who was thy father's brother."
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