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Thus spake the Tegeans; and the Athenians made reply as follows:
"We are not ignorant that our forces were gathered here, not for the
purpose of speech-making, but for battle against the barbarian. Yet
as the Tegeans have been pleased to bring into debate the exploits
performed by our two nations, alike in carlier and in later times, we
have no choice but to set before you the grounds on which we claim it as
our heritage, deserved by our unchanging bravery, to be preferred
above Arcadians. In the first place, then, those very Heraclidae,
whose leader they boast to have slain at the Isthmus, and whom the
other Greeks would not receive when they asked a refuge from the
bondage wherewith they were threatened by the people of Mycinae, were
given a shelter by us; and we brought down the insolence of
Eurystheus, and helped to gain the victory over those who were at that
time lords of the Peloponnese. Again, when the Argives led their
troops with Polynices against Thebes, and were slain and refused
burial, it is our boast that we went out against the Cadmeians,
recovered the bodies, and buried them at Eleusis in our own
territory. Another noble deed of ours was that against the Amazons,
when they came from their seats upon the Thermodon, and poured their
hosts into Attica; and in the Trojan war too we were not a whit
behind any of the Greeks. But what boots it to speak of these ancient
matters? A nation which was brave in those days might have grown
cowardly since, and a nation of cowards then might now be valiant.
Enough therefore of our ancient achievements. Had we performed no
other exploit than that at Marathon - though in truth we have
performed exploits as many and as noble as any of the Greeks - yet had
we performed no other, we should deserve this privilege, and many a
one beside. There we stood alone, and singly fought with the
Persians; nay, and venturing on so dangerous a cast, we overcame the
enemy, and conquered on that day forty and six nations! Does not this
one achievement suffice to make good our title to the post we claim?
Nevertheless, Lacedaemonians, as to strive concerning place at such
a time as this is not right, we are ready to do as ye command, and to
take our station at whatever part of the line, and face whatever nation
ye think most expedient. Wheresoever ye place us, 'twill be our
endeavour to behave as brave men. Only declare your will, and we
shall at once obey you."
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