The Athenians and Rhodians
The first object of the Athenian embassy was the
The Athenians ask for the restoration of Haliartus; failing that, to have its territory, with Delos and Lemnos themselves. |
restoration of Haliartus;
1 but when they met
with a refusal on that point, they changed
the subject of their appeal and put forward
their own claim to the possession of Delos,
Lemnos, and the territory of Haliartus. No
one could properly find fault with them for this,
as far as Delos and Lemnos were concerned, for
they had of old laid claim to them; but there
is good reason for reproaching them in respect to the territory
of Haliartus. Haliartus was nearly the most ancient city in
Boeotia; had met with a heavy misfortune: instead of endeavouring in every possible way to restore it,—to contribute
to its utter annihilation, and to deprive its dispossessed inhabitants of even their hopes for the future, was an act which
would be thought worthy of no Greek nation, and least of
all of the Athenians. They open their own territory to all
comers; and to take away that of others can never appear
consonant with the spirit of their State. However, the Senate
granted them Delos and Lemnos. Such was the decision in
the Athenian business. . . .
As to Lemnos and Delos they had, according to the proverb, "got the wolf
by the ears:"
The possession of these places a misfortune to Athens. See 32, 17. |
for they suffered much ill fortune from their
quarrels with the Delians; and from the
territory of Haliartus they reaped shame rather than
profit. . . .