Herodotus on Glaucus

The story of Glaucus illustrates Herodotus' use of the digressions. The main line of his account is about the Spartan king Leotychidas, who demands back several prisoners from the Athenians, but Herodotus makes the king tell a story to make his point. In this way, Herodotus can insert another good tale in his Histories.

The story of Glaucus

[6.86] When Leotychidas came to Athens and asked for the deposit back, the Athenians, not being willing to give up the hostages, produced pretexts for refusing, and alleged that two kings had deposited them and they did not think it right to give them back to the one without the other. Since the Athenians said that they would not give them back, Leotychidas spoke to them as follows:

[6.86.a] "Athenians, do whatever you like, for you know that if you give them up,