It is related that Philip II King of Macedon, Hegemon of the Greeks, was enfuriated at the Spartans holding out and refusing to join his coalition of all the Greeks, and sent his Ambassador to give them a talking to.
That worthy person stood among the Spartans in their assembly, and they, as was their invariable habit (except for one unfortunate incident related to the Persian emissary many years before), gave him whatever time he wanted to make his statement.
He threatened that Sparta would be destroyed, the city laid in ruins (it was not particularly well-decorated), the men killed, the women enslaved, and so on.
After a long speech of five minutes (the Spartans normally spoke very briefly), he said, "In conclusion, I have this to say," and the more sensitive Spartans started waking up their mates who had fallen fast asleep.
"IF PHILIP DECIDES TO COME TO SPARTA, THERE WILL BE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF YOU!" the Ambassador shouted. Then, worn out by his emotions, he paused for breath, and said,"So, what do you have to say to that?"
It suddenly occurred to the Spartans that a reply was needed, and they started looking meaningfully at each other, and each pretended he didn't know what people were glaring at him for. Finally, one old Ephor decided that this long silence was getting impolite, and stood up, and spoke.
"IF," said he, and sat down to general satisfaction.
