or conquest.
Should any such be attempted, the allies present were to help according
to their power. Your fathers rewarded us thus for the courage and
patriotism that we displayed at that perilous epoch; but you do just the
contrary, coming with our bitterest enemies, the Thebans, to enslave us.
We appeal, therefore, to the gods to whom the oaths were then made, to
the gods of your ancestors, and lastly to those of our country, and call
upon you to refrain from violating our territory or transgressing the
oaths, and to let us live independent, as Pausanias decreed."

The Plataeans had got thus far when they were cut short by Archidamus
saying: "There is justice, Plataeans, in what you say, if you act up
to your words. According, to the grant of Pausanias, continue to
be independent yourselves, and join in freeing those of your fellow
countrymen who, after sharing in the perils of that period, joined in
the oaths to you, and are now subject to the Athenians; for it is to
free them and the rest that all this provision and war has been made.
I could wish that you would share our labours and abide by the oaths
yourselves; if this is impossible, do what we have already required of
you--remain neutral, enjoying your own; join neither side, but receive
both as friends, neither as allies for the war. With this we shall be
satisfied." Such were the words of Archidamus. The Plataeans, after
hearing what he had to say, went into the city and acquainted the people
with what had passed, and presently returned for answer that it was
impossible for them to do what he proposed without consulting the
Athenians, with whom their children and wives now were; besides which
they had their fears for the town. After his departure, what was to
prevent the Athenians from coming and taking it out of their hands, or
the Thebans, who would be included in the oaths, from taking advantage
of the proposed neutrality to make a second attempt to seize the city?
Upon these points he tried to reassure them by saying: "You have only to
deliver over the city and houses to us Lacedaemonians, to point out the
boundaries of your land, the number of your fruit-trees, and whatever
else can be numerically stated, and yourselves to withdraw wherever you
like as long as the war shall last. When it is over we will restore to
you whatever we received, and in the interim hold it in trust and keep
it in cultivation, paying you a sufficient allowance."

When they had h