He feared, however, that the messengers, either through inability to speak, or through failure of memory, or from a wish to please the multitude, might not report the truth, and so thought it best to write a letter, to ensure that the Athenians should know his own opinion without its being lost in transmission, and be able to decide upon the real facts of the case.
Bere mezulariek, dela aditzera emateko gai ez izateagatik, dela memoria eskasagatik edota jendearen eder onez mintzatzeagatik, egiazko egoera behar bezala adieraziko ez zutelako beldur zenez, gutun bat idatzi zuen, atenastarrak horrela bai jabetuko zirelakoan berak sentitzen zuenaz, mezularien bitarteko trabarik gabe, eta benetako egoeran oinarrituta erabakiak hartu.