THIS IS SPARTA

By Bryan Lopez

The Persian messenger rode with his handful of

bodyguards to Sparta to deliver a message from
king Xerxes to king Leonidas
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After traveling three days to

reach Sparta, The messenger
has arrived to deliver what he
has been told

Unaware of the
messenger
arrival , king
Leonidas watches
his son,
Pleistarchus, train
to a future
Spartan , let alone
king.

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My queen, A
Persian
emissary
awaits
Leonidas.

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A Spartan's
true strength
is the warrior
next to him. So
give respect
and honor to
him,
and it will be
returned to
you.
First you fight
with your head.
Then you fight
with your
heart.

What is It?

A Persian
messenger awaits
you.

My king and queen,

I was just
entertaining your
guests.
Councilman
Theron.
You found yourself
needed, for once
Im
Sure.

Earth and Water

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Before you speak,

Persian ,know that
in Sparta
everyone,
even a king's
messenger is held
accountable
for the words of

Do not be coy or
stupid, Persian.
You can afford
neither in Sparta.
Because only
Spartan
women
give birth to
real men.

What makes this

woman
think she can
speak among
men?

You rode all the

way from Persia
for earth and
water?
Let us walk to cool our tongues.

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See, rumor has it the

Athenians
have already turned you down.
And if those philosophers and
boy-lovers
have found that kind of nerve,
then And, of course, Spartans
have their reputation to
consider.

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Submission.
Now, that's a
bit of a
problem.

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If you value your lives

over your complete
annihilation. Listen carefully,
Leonidas, Xerxes conquers and
controls
everything he rests his eyes
upon. He leads an army so
massive,
it shakes the ground with its
march. So vast, it drinks the
rivers dry.
All the God-King Xerxes
requires is this ,A simple
offering of earth and water, a
token of Sparta's submission
to the will of Xerxes

Choose your next

words carefully,
Leonidas. They may
be your last as king

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Madman. You're a
madman.
"Earth and
water."
Earth and water. You'll
find plenty of both down
there

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No man, Persian or Greek,

no man threatens a
messenger.

You bring the crowns and heads

of conquered kings to my city
steps.
You insult my queen.
You threaten my people
with slavery and death.
Oh, I've chosen my words
carefully,
Persian.
Perhaps you should have done
the same

Madness?

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This is
blasphemy. This
is madness!

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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHH

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THIS IS SPARTA
AHHHHHHHHH
H

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