Meanwhile the Athenians were making incredible efforts to carry on the
work which was essential to their liberty and prosperity. Men, women,
and children toiled without intermission, and the wall was rapidly
approaching a defensible height. The clamour of their enemies grew
louder and louder, and angry messages reached the Spartans everyday,
reproaching them with their supineness and procrastination. Being
asked the meaning of these reports, Themistocles professed total
ignorance, and bade the Spartans send men to Athens to see for
themselves. The Spartans did so, and when the men arrived at Athens
the Athenians, who had been privately warned by Themistocles, kept
them in custody, as hostages for their own representatives at Sparta.
Themistocles had meanwhile been joined by his partners in the embassy,
and learning from them that the wall was now of sufficient height, he
spoke out plainly, and let the Spartans understand what his true
purpose was. "Athens," he said, "is once more a fortified city, and we
are able to discuss questions of public or private interest on a
footing of equality. When we forsook all, and took to our ships to
fight for the common weal, it was done without prompting of yours; and
that peril being past, we shall take such measures as concern our
safety, without leave asked of you. And in serving ourselves, we are
serving you also; for if Athens is not free, how can she give an
unbiased vote in questions which concern the general welfare of
Greece?"

It was impossible for the Spartans to express open resentment at a
plea so moderate and so reasonable. But they were secretly annoyed to
find that their malice had been detected and exposed; and by this
incident was sown the first seed of ill-will which was afterwards to
bear such bitter fruit for Athens and for Greece. For the present,