y took captive, they kept in confinement together
with the Boeotians who had been captured, bound with fetters; and then
after a time they let them go, having fixed their ransom at two pounds
of silver apiece: 66 but their fetters, in which they had been bound,
they hung up on the Acropolis; and these were still existing even to my
time hanging on walls which had been scorched with fire by the Mede, 67
and just opposite the sanctuary which lies towards the West. The tenth
part of the ransom also they dedicated for an offering, and made of it a
four-horse chariot of bronze, which stands on the left hand as you enter
the Propylaia in the Acropolis, and on it is the following inscription:

"Matched in the deeds of war with the tribes of Boeotia and Chalkis
The sons of Athens prevailed, conquered and tamed them in fight:
In chains of iron and darkness they quenched their insolent spirit;
And to Athene present these, of their ransom a tithe."

78. The Athenians accordingly increased in power; and it is evident, not
by one instance only but in every way, that Equality 68 is an excellent
thing, since the Athenians while they were ruled by despots were not
better in war that any of those who dwelt about them, whereas after they
had got rid of despots they became far the first. This proves that when
they were kept down they were wilfully slack, because they were working
for a master, whereas when they had been set free each one was eager to
achieve something for himself.

79. These then were faring thus: and the Thebans after this sent to the
god, desiring to be avenged on the Athenians; the Pythian prophetess
however said that vengeance was not possible for them by their own
strength alone, but bade them report the matter to the "many-voiced"
and ask help of those who were "nearest" to them. So when those who were
sent to consult the Oracle returned, they made a general assembly and
reported the oracle; and then the Thebans heard them say that they were
to ask help of those who were nearest to them, they said: "Surely
those who dwell nearest to us are the men of Tanagra and Coroneia and
Thespiai; and these always fight zealously on our side and endure the
war with us to the end: what need is there that we ask of these? Rather
perhaps that is not the meaning of the oracle."

80. While they commented upon it thus, at length one perceived "that
which the oracle means to tell us. Asopos is said to have had two
daugh