"Losing patience, he sent the message: You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay

"Losing patience, he sent the message: You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city. The Spartan ephors again replied with a single word: If." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconic_phrase https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconic_phrase