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King Xerxes had sent no heralds either to Athens or Sparta to ask
earth and water, for a reason which I will now relate. When Darius
some time before sent messengers for the same purpose, they were
thrown, at Athens, into the pit of punishment, at Sparta into a
well, and bidden to take therefrom earth and water for themselves, and
carry it to their king. On this account Xerxes did not send to ask
them. What calamity came upon the Athenians to punish them for their
treatment of the heralds I cannot say, unless it were the laying waste
of their city and territory; but that I believe was not on account of
this crime.
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