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When Mardonius learnt that the Spartans were on their march, he no
longer cared to remain in Attica. Hitherto he had kept quiet,
wishing to see what the Athenians would do, and had neither ravaged
their territory, nor done it any the least harm; for till now he had
cherished the hope that the Athenians would come to terms with him.
As, however, he found that his persuasions were of no avail, and as
their whole policy was now clear to him, he determined to withdraw from
Attica before Pausanias with his army reached the Isthmus; first,
however, he resolved to burn Athens, and to cast down and level with
the ground whatever remained standing of the walls, temples, and other
buildings. His reason for retreating was, that Attica was not a
country where horse could act with advantage; and further, that if he
suffered defeat in a battle, no way of escape was open to him, except
through defiles, where a handful of troops might stop all his army.
So he determined to withdraw to Thebes, and give the Greeks battle
in the neighbourhood of a friendly city, and on ground well suited for cavalry.
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