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diff --git a/old/1174-h/1174-h.htm b/old/1174-h/1174-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6bdabab --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1174-h/1174-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13561 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Hellenica, by Xenophon + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hellenica, by Xenophon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hellenica + +Author: Xenophon + +Translator: H. G. Dakyns + +Release Date: August 21, 2008 [EBook #1174] +Last Updated: January 15, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HELLENICA *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + HELLENICA + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Xenophon + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translation by H. G. Dakyns + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was a + pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans, + and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land + and property in Scillus, where he lived for many + years before having to move once more, to settle + in Corinth. He died in 354 B.C. + </pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The Hellenica is his chronicle of the history of + the Hellenes from 411 to 359 B.C., starting as a + continuation of Thucydides, and becoming his own + brand of work from Book III onwards. + </pre> + <p> + PREPARER'S NOTE + </p> + <p> + This was typed from Dakyns' series, "The Works of Xenophon," a four-volume + set. The complete list of Xenophon's works (though there is doubt about + some of these) is: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Work Number of books + + The Anabasis 7 + The Hellenica 7 + The Cyropaedia 8 + The Memorabilia 4 + The Symposium 1 + The Economist 1 + On Horsemanship 1 + The Sportsman 1 + The Cavalry General 1 + The Apology 1 + On Revenues 1 + The Hiero 1 + The Agesilaus 1 + The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians 2 +</pre> + <p> + Text in brackets "{}" is my transliteration of Greek text into English + using an Oxford English Dictionary alphabet table. The diacritical marks + have been lost. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <b>HELLENICA</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> BOOK I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> BOOK II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> BOOK III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> BOOK IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> BOOK V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> BOOK VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> BOOK VII </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + HELLENICA + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + BOOK I + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + B.C. 411. To follow the order of events (1). A few days later Thymochares + arrived from Athens with a few ships, when another sea fight between the + Lacedaemonians and Athenians at once took place, in which the former, + under the command of Agesandridas, gained the victory. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Lit. "after these events"; but is hard to conjecture to what + events the author refers. For the order of events and the + connection between the closing chapter of Thuc. viii. 109, and the + opening words of the "Hellenica," see introductory remarks above. + The scene of this sea-fight is, I think, the Hellespont. +</pre> + <p> + Another short interval brings us to a morning in early winter, when + Dorieus, the son of Diagoras, was entering the Hellespont with fourteen + ships from Rhodes at break of day. The Athenian day-watch descrying him, + signalled to the generals, and they, with twenty sail, put out to sea to + attack him. Dorieus made good his escape, and, as he shook himself free of + the narrows, (2) ran his triremes aground off Rhoeteum. When the Athenians + had come to close quarters, the fighting commenced, and was sustained at + once from ships and shore, until at length the Athenians retired to their + main camp at Madytus, having achieved nothing. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Lit. "as he opened" {os enoige}. This is still a mariner's phrase + in modern Greek, if I am rightly informed. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Mindarus, while sacrificing to Athena at Ilium, had observed the + battle. He at once hastened to the sea, and getting his own triremes + afloat, sailed out to pick up the ships with Dorieus. The Athenians on + their side put out to meet him, and engaged him off Abydos. From early + morning till the afternoon the fight was kept up close to the shore. (3) + Victory and defeat hung still in even balance, when Alcibiades came + sailing up with eighteen ships. Thereupon the Peloponnesians fled towards + Abydos, where, however, Pharnabazus brought them timely assistance. (4) + Mounted on horseback, he pushed forward into the sea as far as his horse + would let him, doing battle himself, and encouraging his troopers and the + infantry alike to play their parts. Then the Peloponnesians, ranging their + ships in close-packed order, and drawing up their battle line in proximity + to the land, kept up the fight. At length the Athenians, having captured + thirty of the enemy's vessels without their crews, and having recovered + those of their own which they had previously lost, set sail for Sestos. + Here the fleet, with the exception of forty vessels, dispersed in + different directions outside the Hellespont, to collect money; while + Thrasylus, one of the generals, sailed to Athens to report what had + happened, and to beg for a reinforcement of troops and ships. After the + above incidents, Tissaphernes arrived in the Hellespont, and received a + visit from Alcibiades, who presented him with a single ship, bringing with + him tokens of friendship and gifts, whereupon Tissaphernes seized him and + shut him up in Sardis, giving out that the king's orders were to go to war + with the Athenians. Thirty days later Alcibiades, accompanied by + Mantitheus, who had been captured in Caria, managed to procure horses and + escaped by night to Clazomenae. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) The original has a somewhat more poetical ring. The author uses + the old Attic or Ionic word {eona}. This is a mark of style, of + which we shall have many instances. One might perhaps produce + something of the effect here by translating: "the battle hugged + the strand." + + (4) Or, "came to their aid along the shore." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 410. And now the Athenians at Sestos, hearing that Mindarus was + meditating an attack upon them with a squadron of sixty sail, gave him the + slip, and under cover of night escaped to Cardia. Hither also Alcibiades + repaired from Clazomenae, having with him five triremes and a light skiff; + but on learning that the Peloponnesian fleet had left Abydos and was in + full sail for Cyzicus, he set off himself by land to Sestos, giving orders + to the fleet to sail round and join him there. Presently the vessels + arrived, and he was on the point of putting out to sea with everything + ready for action, when Theramenes, with a fleet of twenty ships from + Macedonia, entered the port, and at the same instant Thrasybulus, with a + second fleet of twenty sail from Thasos, both squadrons having been + engaged in collecting money. Bidding these officers also follow him with + all speed, as soon as they had taken out their large sails and cleared for + action, Alcibiades set sail himself for Parium. During the following night + the united squadron, consisting now of eighty-six vessels, stood out to + sea from Parium, and reached Proconnesus next morning, about the hour of + breakfast. Here they learnt that Mindarus was in Cyzicus, and that + Pharnabazus, with a body of infantry, was with him. Accordingly they + waited the whole of this day at Proconnesus. On the following day + Alcibiades summoned an assembly, and addressing the men in terms of + encouragement, warned them that a threefold service was expected of them; + that they must be ready for a sea fight, a land fight, and a wall fight + all at once, "for look you," said he, "we have no money, but the enemy has + unlimited supplies from the king." + </p> + <p> + Now, on the previous day, as soon as they were come to moorings, he had + collected all the sea-going craft of the island, big and little alike, + under his own control, that no one might report the number of his squadron + to the enemy, and he had further caused a proclamation to be made, that + any one caught sailing across to the opposite coast would be punished with + death. When the meeting was over, he got his ships ready for action, and + stood out to sea towards Cyzicus in torrents of rain. Off Cyzicus the sky + cleared, and the sun shone out and revealed to him the spectacle of + Mindarus's vessels, sixty in number, exercising at some distance from the + harbour, and, in fact, intercepted by himself. The Peloponnesians, + perceiving at a glance the greatly increased number of the Athenian + galleys, and noting their proximity to the port, made haste to reach the + land, where they brought their vessels to anchor in a body, and prepared + to engage the enemy as he sailed to the attack. But Alcibiades, sailing + round with twenty of his vessels, came to land and disembarked. Seeing + this, Mindarus also landed, and in the engagement which ensued he fell + fighting, whilst those who were with him took to flight. As for the + enemy's ships, the Athenians succeeded in capturing the whole of them + (with the exception of the Syracusan vessels, which were burnt by their + crews), and made off with their prizes to Proconnesus. From thence on the + following day they sailed to attack Cyzicus. The men of that place, seeing + that the Peloponnesians and Pharnabazus had evacuated the town, admitted + the Athenians. Here Alcibiades remained twenty days, obtaining large sums + of money from the Cyzicenes, but otherwise inflicting no sort of mischief + on the community. He then sailed back to Proconnesus, and from there to + Perinthus and Selybria. The inhabitants of the former place welcomed his + troops into their city, but the Selybrians preferred to give money, and so + escape the admission of the troops. Continuing the voyage the squadron + reached Chrysopolis in Chalcedonia, (5) where they built a fort, and + established a custom-house to collect the tithe dues which they levied on + all merchantmen passing through the Straits from the Black Sea. Besides + this, a detachment of thirty ships was left there under the two generals, + Theramenes and Eubulus, with instructions not only to keep a look-out on + the port itself and on all traders passing through the channel, but + generally to injure the enemy in any way which might present itself. This + done, the rest of the generals hastened back to the Hellespont. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) This is the common spelling, but the coins of Calchedon have the + letters {KALKH}, and so the name is written in the best MSS. of + Herodotus, Xenophon, and other writers, by whom the place is + named. See "Dict. of Greek and Roman Geog." "Chalcedon." +</pre> + <p> + Now a despatch from Hippocrates, Mindarus's vice-admiral, (6) had been + intercepted on its way to Lacedaemon, and taken to Athens. It ran as + follows (in broad Doric): (7) "Ships gone; Mindarus dead; the men + starving; at our wits' end what to do." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) "Epistoleus," i.e. secretary or despatch writer, is the Spartan + title of the officer second in command to the admiral. + + (7) Reading {'Errei ta kala} (Bergk's conjecture for {kala}) = + "timbers," i.e. "ships" (a Doric word). Cf. Aristoph., "Lys." + 1253, {potta kala}. The despatch continues: {Mindaros apessoua} + (al. {apessua}), which is much more racy than the simple word + "dead." "M. is gone off." I cannot find the right English or + "broad Scotch" equivalent. See Thirlwall, "Hist. Gr." IV. xxix. 88 + note. +</pre> + <p> + Pharnabazus, however, was ready to meet with encouragement the despondency + which afflicted the whole Peloponnesian army and their allies. "As long as + their own bodies were safe and sound, why need they take to heart the loss + of a few wooden hulls? Was there not timber enough and to spare in the + king's territory?" And so he presented each man with a cloak and + maintenance for a couple of months, after which he armed the sailors and + formed them into a coastguard for the security of his own seaboard. + </p> + <p> + He next called a meeting of the generals and trierarchs of the different + States, and instructed them to build just as many new ships in the + dockyards of Antandrus as they had respectively lost. He himself was to + furnish the funds, and he gave them to understand that they might bring + down timber from Mount Ida. While the ships were building, the Syracusans + helped the men of Antandrus to finish a section of their walls, and were + particularly pleasant on garrison duty; and that is why the Syracusans to + this day enjoy the privilege of citizenship, with the title of + "benefactors," at Antandrus. Having so arranged these matters, Pharnabazus + proceeded at once to the rescue of Chalcedon. + </p> + <p> + It was at this date that the Syracusan generals received news from home of + their banishment by the democratic party. Accordingly they called a + meeting of their separate divisions, and putting forward Hermocrates (8) + as their spokesman, proceeded to deplore their misfortune, insisting upon + the injustice and the illegality of their banishment. "And now let us + admonish you," they added, "to be eager and willing in the future, even as + in the past: whatever the word of command may be, show yourselves good men + and true: let not the memory of those glorious sea fights fade. Think of + those victories you have won, those ships you have captured by your own + unaided efforts; forget not that long list of achievements shared by + yourselves with others, in all which you proved yourselves invincible + under our generalship. It was to a happy combination of our merit and your + enthusiasm, displayed alike on land and sea, that you owe the strength and + perfection of your discipline." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Hermocrates, the son of Hermon. We first hear of him in Thuc. iv. + 58 foll. as the chief agent in bringing the Sicilian States + together in conference at Gela B.C. 424, with a view to healing + their differences and combining to frustrate the dangerous designs + of Athens. In 415 B.C., when the attack came, he was again the + master spirit in rendering it abortive (Thuc. vi. 72 foll.) In 412 + B.C. it was he who urged the Sicilians to assist in completing the + overthrow of Athens, by sending a squadron to co-operate with the + Peloponnesian navy—for the relief of Miletus, etc. (Thuc. viii. + 26, 27 foll.) At a later date, in 411 B.C., when the Peloponnesian + sailors were ready to mutiny, and "laid all their grievances to + the charge of Astyochus (the Spartan admiral), who humoured + Tissaphernes for his own gain" (Thuc. viii. 83), Hermocrates took + the men's part, and so incurred the hatred of Tissaphernes. +</pre> + <p> + With these words they called upon the men to choose other commanders, who + should undertake the duties of their office, until the arrival of their + successors. Thereupon the whole assembly, and more particularly the + captains and masters of vessels and marines, insisted with loud cries on + their continuance in command. The generals replied, "It was not for them + to indulge in faction against the State, but rather it was their duty, in + case any charges were forthcoming against themselves, at once to render an + account." When, however, no one had any kind of accusation to prefer, they + yielded to the general demand, and were content to await the arrival of + their successors. The names of these were—Demarchus, the son of + Epidocus; Myscon, the son of Mencrates; and Potamis, the son of Gnosis. + </p> + <p> + The captains, for their part, swore to restore the exiled generals as soon + as they themselves should return to Syracuse. At present with a general + vote of thanks they despatched them to their several destinations. It + particular those who had enjoyed the society of Hermocrates recalled his + virtues with regret, his thoroughness and enthusiasm, his frankness and + affability, the care with which every morning and evening he was wont to + gather in his quarters a group of naval captains and mariners whose + ability he recognised. These were his confidants, to whom he communicated + what he intended to say or do: they were his pupils, to whom he gave + lessons in oratory, now calling upon them to speak extempore, and now + again after deliberation. By these means Hermocrates had gained a wide + reputation at the council board, where his mastery of language was no less + felt than the wisdom of his advice. Appearing at Lacedaemon as the accuser + of Tissaphernes, (9) he had carried his case, not only by the testimony of + Astyochus, but by the obvious sincerity of his statements, and on the + strength of this reputation he now betook himself to Pharnabazus. The + latter did not wait to be asked, but at once gave him money, which enabled + him to collect friends and triremes, with a view to his ultimate recall to + Syracuse. Meanwhile the successors of the Syracusans had arrived at + Miletus, where they took charge of the ships and the army. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) The matter referred to is fully explained Thuc. viii. 85. +</pre> + <p> + It was at this same season that a revolution occurred in Thasos, involving + the expulsion of the philo-Laconian party, with the Laconian governor + Eteonicus. The Laconian Pasippidas was charged with having brought the + business about in conjunction with Tissaphernes, and was banished from + Sparta in consequence. The naval force which he had been collecting from + the allies was handed over to Cratesippidas, who was sent out to take his + place in Chios. + </p> + <p> + About the same period, while Thrasylus was still in Athens, Agis (10) made + a foraging expedition up to the very walls of the city. But Thrasylus led + out the Athenians with the rest of the inhabitants of the city, and drew + them up by the side of the Lyceum Gymnasium, ready to engage the enemy if + they approached; seeing which, Agis beat a hasty retreat, not however + without the loss of some of his supports, a few of whom were cut down by + the Athenian light troops. This success disposed the citizens to take a + still more favourable view of the objects for which Thrasylus had come; + and they passed a decree empowering him to call out a thousand hoplites, + one hundred cavalry, and fifty triremes. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) The reader will recollect that we are giving in "the Deceleian" + period of the war, 413-404 B.C. The Spartan king was in command of + the fortress of Deceleia, only fourteen miles distant from Athens, + and erected on a spot within sight of the city. See Thuc. vii. 19, + 27, 28. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Agis, as he looked out from Deceleia, and saw vessel after + vessel laden with corn running down to Piraeus, declared that it was + useless for his troops to go on week after week excluding the Athenians + from their own land, while no one stopped the source of their corn supply + by sea: the best plan would be to send Clearchus, (11) the son of + Rhamphius, who was proxenos (12) of the Byzantines, to Chalcedon and + Byzantium. The suggestion was approved, and with fifteen vessels duly + manned from Megara, or furnished by other allies, Clearchus set out. These + were troop-ships rather than swift-sailing men-of-war. Three of them, on + reaching the Hellespont, were destroyed by the Athenian ships employed to + keep a sharp look-out on all merchant craft in those waters. The other + twelve escaped to Sestos, and thence finally reached Byzantium in safety. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) Of Clearchus we shall hear more in the sequel, and in the + "Anabasis." + + (12) The Proxenus answered pretty nearly to our "Consul," "Agent," + "Resident"; but he differed in this respect, that he was always a + member of the foreign State. An Athenian represented Sparta at + Athens; a Laconian represented Athens at Sparta, and so forth. See + Liddell and Scott. +</pre> + <p> + So closed the year—a year notable also for the expedition against + Sicily of the Carthaginians under Hannibal with one hundred thousand men, + and the capture, within three months, of the two Hellenic cities of + Selinus and Himera. + </p> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + B.C. 409. Next year (1)... the Athenians fortified Thoricus; and + Thrasylus, taking the vessels lately voted him and five thousand of his + seamen armed to serve as peltasts, (2) set sail for Samos at the beginning + of summer. At Samos he stayed three days, and then continued his voyage to + Pygela, where he proceeded to ravage the territory and attack the + fortress. Presently a detachment from Miletus came to the rescue of the + men of Pygela, and attacking the scattered bands of the Athenian light + troops, put them to flight. But to the aid of the light troops came the + naval brigade of peltasts, with two companies of heavy infantry, and all + but annihilated the whole detachment from Miletus. They captured about two + hundred shields, and set up a trophy. Next day they sailed to Notium, and + from Notium, after due preparation, marched upon Colophon. The + Colophonians capitulated without a blow. The following night they made an + incursion into Lydia, where the corn crops were ripe, and burnt several + villages, and captured money, slaves, and other booty in large quantity. + But Stages, the Persian, who was employed in this neighbourhood, fell in + with a reinforcement of cavalry sent to protect the scattered pillaging + parties from the Athenian camp, whilst occupied with their individual + plunder, and took one trooper prisoner, killing seven others. After this + Thrasylus led his troops back to the sea, intending to sail to Ephesus. + Meanwhile Tissaphernes, who had wind of this intention, began collecting a + large army and despatching cavalry with a summons to the inhabitants one + and all to rally to the defence of the goddess Artemis at Ephesus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) The MSS. here give a suspected passage, which may be rendered + thus: "The first of Olympiad 93, celebrated as the year in which + the newly-added two-horse race was won by Evagorias the Eleian, + and the stadion (200 yards foot-race) by the Cyrenaean Eubotas, + when Evarchippus was ephor at Sparta and Euctemon archon at + Athens." But Ol. 93, to which these officers,and the addition of + the new race at Olympia belong, is the year 408. We must therefore + suppose either that this passage has been accidentally inserted in + the wrong place by some editor or copyist, or that the author was + confused in his dates. The "stadium" is the famous foot-race at + Olympia, 606 3/4 English feet in length, run on a course also + called the "Stadion," which was exactly a stade long. + + (2) Peltasts, i.e. light infantry armed with the "pelta" or light + shield, instead of the heavy {aspis} of the hoplite or heavy + infantry soldiers. +</pre> + <p> + On the seventeenth day after the incursion above mentioned Thrasylus + sailed to Ephesus. He disembarked his troops in two divisions, his heavy + infantry in the neighbourhood of Mount Coressus; his cavalry, peltasts, + and marines, with the remainder of his force, near the marsh on the other + side of the city. At daybreak he pushed forward both divisions. The + citizens of Ephesus, on their side, were not slow to protect themselves. + They had to aid them the troops brought up by Tissaphernes, as well as two + detachments of Syracusans, consisting of the crews of their former twenty + vessels and those of five new vessels which had opportunely arrived quite + recently under Eucles, the son of Hippon, and Heracleides, the son of + Aristogenes, together with two Selinuntian vessels. All these several + forces first attacked the heavy infantry near Coressus; these they routed, + killing about one hundred of them, and driving the remainder down into the + sea. They then turned to deal with the second division on the marsh. Here, + too, the Athenians were put to flight, and as many as three hundred of + them perished. On this spot the Ephesians erected a trophy, and another at + Coressus. The valour of the Syracusans and Selinuntians had been so + conspicuous that the citizens presented many of them, both publicly and + privately, with prizes for distinction in the field, besides offering the + right of residence in their city with certain immunities to all who at any + time might wish to live there. To the Selinuntians, indeed, as their own + city had lately been destroyed, they offered full citizenship. + </p> + <p> + The Athenians, after picking up their dead under a truce, set sail for + Notium, and having there buried the slain, continued their voyage towards + Lesbos and the Hellespont. Whilst lying at anchor in the harbour of + Methymna, in that island, they caught sight of the Syracusan vessels, + five-and-twenty in number, coasting along from Ephesus. They put out to + sea to attack them, and captured four ships with their crews, and chased + the remainder back to Ephesus. The prisoners were sent by Thrasylus to + Athens, with one exception. This was an Athenian, Alcibiades, who was a + cousin and fellow-exile of Alcibiades. Him Thrasylus released. (3) From + Methymna Thrasylus set sail to Sestos to join the main body of the army, + after which the united forces crossed to Lampsacus. And now winter was + approaching. It was the winter in which the Syracusan prisoners who had + been immured in the stone quarries of Piraeus dug through the rock and + escaped one night, some to Decelia and others to Megara. At Lampsacus + Alcibiades was anxious to marshal the whole military force there collected + in one body, but the old troops refused to be incorporated with those of + Thrasylus. "They, who had never yet been beaten, with these newcomers who + had just suffered a defeat." So they devoted the winter to fortifying + Lampsacus. They also made an expedition against Abydos, where Pharnabazus, + coming to the rescue of the place, encountered them with numerous cavalry, + but was defeated and forced to flee, Alcibiades pursuing hard with his + cavalry and one hundred and twenty infantry under the command of Menander, + till darkness intervened. After this battle the soldiers came together of + their own accord, and freely fraternised with the troops of Thrasylus. + This expedition was followed by other incursions during the winter into + the interior, where they found plenty to do ravaging the king's territory. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) Reading {apelusen}. Wolf's conjecture for the MSS. {katelousen} = + stoned. See Thirlwall, "Hist. Gr." IV. xxix. 93 note. +</pre> + <p> + It was at this period also that the Lacedaemonians allowed their revolted + helots from Malea, who had found an asylum at Coryphasium, to depart under + a flag of truce. It was also about the same period that the Achaeans + betrayed the colonists of Heracleia Trachinia, when they were all drawn up + in battle to meet the hostile Oetaeans, whereby as many as seven hundred + of them were lost, together with the governor (4) from Lacedaemon, + Labotas. Thus the year came to its close—a year marked further by a + revolt of the Medes from Darius, the king of Persia, followed by renewed + submission to his authority. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) Technically {armostes} (harmost), i.e. administrator. +</pre> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + B.C. 408. The year following is the year in which the temple of Athena, in + Phocaea, was struck by lightning and set on fire. (1) With the cessation + of winter, in early spring, the Athenians set sail with the whole of their + force to Proconnesus, and thence advanced upon Chalcedon and Byzantium, + encamping near the former town. The men of Chalcedon, aware of their + approach, had taken the precaution to deposit all their pillageable + property with their neighbours, the Bithynian Thracians; whereupon + Alcibiades put himself at the head of a small body of heavy infantry with + the cavalry, and giving orders to the fleet to follow along the coast, + marched against the Bithynians and demanded back the property of the + Chalcedonians, threatening them with war in case of refusal. The + Bithynians delivered up the property. Returning to camp, not only thus + enriched, but with the further satisfaction of having secured pledges of + good behaviour from the Bithynians, Alcibiades set to work with the whole + of his troops to draw lines of circumvallation round Chalcedon from sea to + sea, so as to include as much of the river as possible within his wall, + which was made of timber. Thereupon the Lacedaemonian governor, + Hippocrates, let his troops out of the city and offered battle, and the + Athenians, on their side, drew up their forces opposite to receive him; + while Pharnabazus, from without the lines of circumvallation, was still + advancing with his army and large bodies of horse. Hippocrates and + Thrasylus engaged each other with their heavy infantry for a long while, + until Alcibiades, with a detachment of infantry and the cavalry, + intervened. Presently Hippocrates fell, and the troops under him fled into + the city; at the same instant Pharnabazus, unable to effect a junction + with the Lacedaemonian leader, owing to the circumscribed nature of the + ground and the close proximity of the river to the enemy's lines, retired + to the Heracleium, (2) belonging to the Chalcedonians, where his camp lay. + After this success Alcibiades set off to the Hellespont and the Chersonese + to raise money, and the remaining generals came to terms with Pharnabazus + in respect of Chalcedon; according to these, the Persian satrap agreed to + pay the Athenians twenty talents (3) in behalf of the town, and to grant + their ambassadors a safe conduct up country to the king. It was further + stipulated by mutual consent and under oaths provided, that the + Chalcedonians should continue the payment of their customary tribute to + Athens, being also bound to discharge all outstanding debts. The + Athenians, on their side, were bound to desist from all hostilities until + the return of their ambassadors from the king. These oaths were not + witnessed by Alcibiades, who was now in the neighbourhood of Selybria. + Having taken that place, he presently appeared before the walls of + Byzantium at the head of the men of Chersonese, who came out with their + whole force; he was aided further by troops from Thrace and more than + three hundred horse. Accordingly Pharnabazus, insisting that he too must + take the oath, decided to remain in Chalcedon, and to await his arrival + from Byzantium. Alcibiades came, but was not prepared to bind himself by + any oaths, unless Pharnabazus would, on his side, take oaths to himself. + After this, oaths were exchanged between them by proxy. Alcibiades took + them at Chrysopolis in the presence of two representatives sent by + Pharnabazus—namely, Mitrobates and Arnapes. Pharnabazus took them at + Chalcedon in the presence of Euryptolemus and Diotimus, who represented + Alcibiades. Both parties bound themselves not only by the general oath, + but also interchanged personal pledges of good faith. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) The MSS. here give the words, "in the ephorate of Pantacles and + the archonship of Antigenes, two-and-twenty years from the + beginning of the war," but the twenty-second year of the war = + B.C. 410; Antigenes archon, B.C. 407 = Ol. 93, 2; the passage must + be regarded as a note mis-inserted by some editor or copyist (vide + supra, I. 11.) + + (2) I.e. sacred place or temple of Heracles. + + (3) Twenty talents = 4800 pounds; or, more exactly, 4875 pounds. +</pre> + <p> + This done, Pharnabazus left Chalcedon at once, with injunctions that those + who were going up to the king as ambassadors should meet him at Cyzicus. + The representatives of Athens were Dorotheus, Philodices, Theogenes, + Euryptolemus, and Mantitheus; with them were two Argives, Cleostratus and + Pyrrholochus. An embassy of the Lacedaemonians was also about to make the + journey. This consisted of Pasippidas and his fellows, with whom were + Hermocrates, now an exile from Syracuse, and his brother Proxenus. So + Pharnabazus put himself at their head. Meanwhile the Athenians prosecuted + the siege of Byzantium; lines of circumvallation were drawn; and they + diversified the blockade by sharpshooting at long range and occasional + assaults upon the walls. Inside the city lay Clearchus, the Lacedaemonian + governor, and a body of Perioci with a small detachment of Neodamodes. (4) + There was also a body of Megarians under their general Helixus, a + Megarian, and another body of Boeotians, with their general Coeratadas. + The Athenians, finding presently that they could effect nothing by force, + worked upon some of the inhabitants to betray the place. Clearchus, + meanwhile, never dreaming that any one would be capable of such an act, + had crossed over to the opposite coast to visit Pharnabazus; he had left + everything in perfect order, entrusting the government of the city to + Coeratadas and Helixus. His mission was to obtain pay for the soldiers + from the Persian satrap, and to collect vessels from various quarters. + Some were already in the Hellespont, where they had been left as + guardships by Pasippidas, or else at Antandrus. Others formed the fleet + which Agesandridas, who had formerly served as a marine (5) under + Mindarus, now commanded on the Thracian coast. Others Clearchus purposed + to have built, and with the whole united squadron to so injure the allies + of the Athenians as to draw off the besieging army from Byzantium. But no + sooner was he fairly gone than those who were minded to betray the city + set to work. Their names were Cydon, Ariston, Anaxicrates, Lycurgus, and + Anaxilaus. The last-named was afterwards impeached for treachery in + Lacedaemon on the capital charge, and acquitted on the plea that, to begin + with, he was not a Lacedaemonian, but a Byzantine, and, so far from having + betrayed the city, he had saved it, when he saw women and children + perishing of starvation; for Clearchus had given away all the corn in the + city to the Lacedaemonian soldiers. It was for these reasons, as Anaxilaus + himself admitted, he had introduced the enemy, and not for the sake of + money, nor out of hatred to Lacedaemon. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) According to the constitution of Lacedaemon the whole government + was in Dorian hands. The subject population was divided into (1) + Helots, who were State serfs. The children of Helots were at times + brought up by Spartans and called "Mothakes"; Helots who had + received their liberty were called "Neodamodes" ({neodamodeis}). + After the conquest of Messenia this class was very numerous. (2) + Perioeci. These were the ancient Achaean inhabitants, living in + towns and villages, and managing their own affairs, paying + tribute, and serving in the army as heavy-armed soldiers. In 458 + B.C. they were said to number thirty thousand. The Spartans + themselves were divided, like all Dorians, into three tribes, + Hylleis, Dymanes, and Pamphyli, each of which tribes was divided + into ten "obes," which were again divided into {oikoi} or families + possessed of landed properties. In 458 B.C. there were said to be + nine thousand such families; but in course of time, through + alienation of lands, deaths in war, and other causes, their + numbers were much diminished; and in many cases there was a loss + of status, so that in the time of Agis III., B.C. 244, we hear of + two orders of Spartans, the {omoioi} and the {upomeiones} + (inferiors); seven hundred Spartans (families) proper and one + hundred landed proprietors. See Mullers "Dorians," vol. ii. bk. + iii. ch. x. S. 3 (Eng. trans.); Arist. "Pol." ii. 9, 15; Plut. + ("Agis"). + + (5) The greek word is {epibates}, which some think was the title of an + inferior naval officer in the Spartan service, but there is no + proof of this. Cf. Thuc. viii. 61, and Prof. Jowett's note; also + Grote, "Hist. of Greece," viii. 27 (2d ed.) +</pre> + <p> + As soon as everything was ready, these people opened the gates leading to + the Thracian Square, as it is called, and admitted the Athenian troops + with Alcibiades at their head. Helixus and Coeratadas, in complete + ignorance of the plot, hastened to the Agora with the whole of the + garrison, ready to confront the danger; but finding the enemy in + occupation, they had nothing for it but to give themselves up. They were + sent off as prisoners to Athens, where Coeratadas, in the midst of the + crowd and confusion of debarkation at Piraeus, gave his guards the slip, + and made his way in safety to Decelia. + </p> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + B.C. 407. Pharnabazus and the ambassadors were passing the winter at + Gordium in Phrygia, when they heard of the occurrences at Byzantium. + Continuing their journey to the king's court in the commencement of + spring, they were met by a former embassy, which was now on its return + journey. These were the Lacedaemonian ambassadors, Boeotius and his party, + with the other envoys; who told them that the Lacedaemonians had obtained + from the king all they wanted. One of the company was Cyrus, the new + governor of all the seaboard districts, who was prepared to co-operate + with the Lacedaemonians in war. He was the bearer, moreover, of a letter + with the royal seal attached. It was addressed to all the populations of + Lower Asia, and contained the following words: "I send down Cyrus as + 'Karanos'" (1)—that is to say, supreme lord—"over all those + who muster at Castolus." The ambassadors of the Athenians, even while + listening to this announcement, and indeed after they had seen Cyrus, were + still desirous, if possible, to continue their journey to the king, or, + failing that, to return home. Cyrus, however, urged upon Pharnabazus + either to deliver them up to himself, or to defer sending them home at + present; his object being to prevent the Athenians learning what was going + on. Pharnabazus, wishing to escape all blame, for the time being detained + them, telling them, at one time, that he would presently escort them up + country to the king, and at another time that he would send them safe + home. But when three years had elapsed, he prayed Cyrus to let them go, + declaring that he had taken an oath to bring them back to the sea, in + default of escorting them up to the king. Then at last they received safe + conduct to Ariobarzanes, with orders for their further transportation. The + latter conducted them a stage further, to Cius in Mysia; and from Cius + they set sail to join their main armament. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) {Karanos.} Is this a Greek word, a Doric form, {karanos}, akin to + {kara} (cf. {karenon}) = chief? or is it not more likely a Persian + or native word, Karanos? and might not the title be akin + conceivably to the word {korano}, which occurs on many Indo- + Bactrian coins (see A. von Sallet, "Die Nachfolger Alexanders des + Grossen," p. 57, etc.)? or is {koiranos} the connecting link? The + words translated "that is to say, supreme lord," {to de karanon + esti kurion}, look very like a commentator's gloss. +</pre> + <p> + Alcibiades, whose chief desire was to return home to Athens with the + troops, immediately set sail for Samos; and from that island, taking + twenty of the ships, he sailed to the Ceramic Gulf of Caria, where he + collected a hundred talents, and so returned to Samos. + </p> + <p> + Thrasybulus had gone Thrace-wards with thirty ships. In this quarter he + reduced various places which had revolted to Lacedaemon, including the + island of Thasos, which was in a bad plight, the result of wars, + revolutions, and famine. + </p> + <p> + Thrasylus, with the rest of the army, sailed back straight to Athens. On + his arrival he found that the Athenians had already chosen as their + general Alcibiades, who was still in exile, and Thrasybulus, who was also + absent, and as a third, from among those at home, Conon. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Alcibiades, with the moneys lately collected and his fleet of + twenty ships, left Samos and visited Paros. From Paros he stood out to sea + across to Gytheum, (2) to keep an eye on the thirty ships of war which, as + he was informed, the Lacedaemonians were equipping in that arsenal. + Gytheum would also be a favourable point of observation from which to + gauge the disposition of his fellow-countrymen and the prospects of his + recall. When at length their good disposition seemed to him established, + not only by his election as general, but by the messages of invitation + which he received in private from his friends, he sailed home, and entered + Piraeus on the very day of the festival of the Plunteria, (3) when the + statue of Athena is veiled and screened from public gaze. This was a + coincidence, as some thought, of evil omen, and unpropitious alike to + himself and the State, for no Athenian would transact serious business on + such a day. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Gytheum, the port and arsenal of Sparta, situated near the head of + the Laconian Gulf (now Marathonisi). + + (3) {ta Plunteria}, or feast of washings, held on the 25th of the + month Thargelion, when the image of the goddess Athena was + stripped in order that her clothes might be washed by the + Praxiergidae; neither assembly nor court was held on that day, and + the Temple was closed. +</pre> + <p> + As he sailed into the harbour, two great crowds—one from the + Piraeus, the other from the city (4)—flocked to meet the vessels. + Wonderment, mixed with a desire to see Alcibiades, was the prevailing + sentiment of the multitude. Of him they spoke: some asserting that he was + the best of citizens, and that in his sole instance banishment had been + ill-deserved. He had been the victim of plots, hatched in the brains of + people less able than himself, however much they might excel in pestilent + speech; men whose one principle of statecraft was to look to their private + gains; whereas this man's policy had ever been to uphold the common weal, + as much by his private means as by all the power of the State. His own + choice, eight years ago, when the charge of impiety in the matter of the + mysteries was still fresh, would have been to submit to trial at once. It + was his personal foes, who had succeeded in postponing that undeniably + just procedure; who waited till his back was turned, and then robbed him + of his fatherland. Then it was that, being made the very slave of + circumstance, he was driven to court the men he hated most; and at a time + when his own life was in daily peril, he must see his dearest friends and + fellow-citizens, nay, the very State itself, bent on a suicidal course, + and yet, in the exclusion of exile, be unable to lend a helping hand. "It + is not men of this stamp," they averred, "who desire changes in affairs + and revolution: had he not already guaranteed to him by the Democracy a + position higher than that of his equals in age, and scarcely if at all + inferior to his seniors? How different was the position of his enemies. It + had been the fortune of these, though they were known to be the same men + they had always been, to use their lately acquired power for the + destruction in the first instance of the better classes; and then, being + alone left surviving, to be accepted by their fellow-citizens in the + absence of better men." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) Or, "collected to meet the vessels from curiosity and a desire to + see Alcibiades." +</pre> + <p> + Others, however, insisted that for all their past miseries and misfortunes + Alcibiades alone was responsible: "If more trials were still in store for + the State, here was the master mischief-maker ready at his post to + precipitate them." + </p> + <p> + When the vessels came to their moorings, close to the land, Alcibiades, + from fear of his enemies, was unwilling to disembark at once. Mounting on + the quarterdeck, he scanned the multitude, (5) anxious to make certain of + the presence of his friends. Presently his eyes lit upon Euryptolemus, the + son of Peisianax, who was his cousin, and then on the rest of his + relations and other friends. Upon this he landed, and so, in the midst of + an escort ready to put down any attempt upon his person, made his way to + the city. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Or, "he looked to see if his friends were there." +</pre> + <p> + In the Senate and Public Assembly (6) he made speeches, defending himself + against the charge of impiety, and asserting that he had been the victim + of injustice, with other like topics, which in the present temper of the + assembly no one ventured to gainsay. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) Technically the "Boule" ({Boule}) or Senate, and "Ecclesia" or + Popular Assembly. +</pre> + <p> + He was then formally declared leader and chief of the State, with + irresponsible powers, as being the sole individual capable of recovering + the ancient power and prestige of Athens. Armed with this authority, his + first act was to institute anew the processional march to Eleusis; for of + late years, owing to the war, the Athenians had been forced to conduct the + mysteries by sea. Now, at the head of the troops, he caused them to be + conducted once again by land. This done, his next step was to muster an + armament of one thousand five hundred heavy infantry, one hundred and + fifty cavalry, and one hundred ships; and lastly, within three months of + his return, he set sail for Andros, which had revolted from Athens. + </p> + <p> + The generals chosen to co-operate with him on land were Aristocrates and + Adeimantus, the son of Leucophilides. He disembarked his troops on the + island of Andros at Gaurium, and routed the Andrian citizens who sallied + out from the town to resist the invader; forcing them to return and keep + close within their walls, though the number who fell was not large. This + defeat was shared by some Lacedaemonians who were in the place. Alcibiades + erected a trophy, and after a few days set sail himself for Samos, which + became his base of operations in the future conduct of the war. + </p> + <p> + V + </p> + <p> + At a date not much earlier than that of the incidents just described, the + Lacedaemonians had sent out Lysander as their admiral, in the place of + Cratesippidas, whose period of office had expired. The new admiral first + visited Rhodes, where he got some ships, and sailed to Cos and Miletus, + and from the latter place to Ephesus. At Ephesus he waited with seventy + sail, expecting the advent of Cyrus in Sardis, when he at once went up to + pay the prince a visit with the ambassadors from Lacedaemon. And now an + opportunity was given to denounce the proceedings of Tissaphernes, and at + the same time to beg Cyrus himself to show as much zeal as possible in the + prosecution of the war. Cyrus replied that not only had he received + express injunction from his father to the same effect, but that his own + views coincided with their wishes, which he was determined to carry out to + the letter. He had, he informed them, brought with him five hundred + talents; (1) and if that sum failed, he had still the private revenue, + which his father allowed him, to fall back upon, and when this resource + was in its turn exhausted, he would coin the gold and silver throne on + which he sat, into money for their benefit. (2) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) About 120,000 pounds. One Euboic or Attic talent = sixty minae = + six thousand drachmae = 243 pounds 15 shillings of our money. + + (2) Cf. the language of Tissaphernes, Thuc. viii. 81. +</pre> + <p> + His audience thanked him for what he said, and further begged him to fix + the rate of payment for the seamen at one Attic drachma per man, (3) + explaining that should this rate of payment be adopted, the sailors of the + Athenians would desert, and in the end there would be a saving of + expenditure. Cyrus complimented them on the soundness of their arguments, + but said that it was not in his power to exceed the injunctions of the + king. The terms of agreement were precise, thirty minae (4) a month per + vessel to be given, whatever number of vessels the Lacedaemonians might + choose to maintain. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) About 9 3/4 pence; a drachma (= six obols) would be very high pay + for a sailor—indeed, just double the usual amount. See Thuc. vi. + 8 and viii. 29, and Prof. Jowett ad loc. Tissaphernes had, in the + winter of 412 B.C., distributed one month's pay among the + Peloponnesian ships at this high rate of a drachma a day, "as his + envoy had promised at Lacedaemon;" but this he proposed to reduce + to half a drachma, "until he had asked the king's leave, promising + that if he obtained it, he would pay the entire drachma. On the + remonstrance, however, of Hermocrates, the Syracusan general, he + promised to each man a payment of somewhat more than three obols." + + (4) Nearly 122 pounds; and thirty minae a month to each ship (the crew + of each ship being taken at two hundred) = three obols a day to + each man. The terms of agreement to which Cyrus refers may have + been specified in the convention mentioned above in chap. iv, + which Boeotius and the rest were so proud to have obtained. But + see Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. viii. p. 192 note (2d ed.) +</pre> + <p> + To this rejoinder Lysander at the moment said nothing. But after dinner, + when Cyrus drank to his health, asking him "What he could do to gratify + him most?" Lysander replied, "Add an obol (5) to the sailors' pay." After + this the pay was raised to four instead of three obols, as it hitherto had + been. Nor did the liberality of Cyrus end here; he not only paid up all + arrears, but further gave a month's pay in advance, so that, if the + enthusiasm of the army had been great before, it was greater than ever + now. The Athenians when they heard the news were proportionately + depressed, and by help of Tissaphernes despatched ambassadors to Cyrus. + That prince, however, refused to receive them, nor were the prayers of + Tissaphernes of any avail, however much he insisted that Cyrus should + adopt the policy which he himself, on the advice of Alcibiades, had + persistently acted on. This was simply not to suffer any single Hellenic + state to grow strong at the expense of the rest, but to keep them all weak + alike, distracted by internecine strife. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) An obol = one-sixth of a drachma; the Attic obol = rather more + than 1 1/2 pence. +</pre> + <p> + Lysander, now that the organisation of his navy was arranged to his + satisfaction, beached his squadron of ninety vessels at Ephesus, and sat + with hands folded, whilst the vessels dried and underwent repairs. + Alcibiades, being informed that Thrasybulus had come south of the + Hellespont and was fortifying Phocaea, sailed across to join him, leaving + his own pilot Antiochus in command of the fleet, with orders not to attack + Lysander's fleet. Antiochus, however, was tempted to leave Notium and sail + into the harbour of Ephesus with a couple of ships, his own and another, + past the prows of Lysander's squadron. The Spartan at first contented + himself with launching a few of his ships, and started in pursuit of the + intruder; but when the Athenians came out with other vessels to assist + Antiochus, he formed his whole squadron into line of battle, and bore down + upon them, whereupon the Athenians followed suit, and getting their + remaining triremes under weigh at Notium, stood out to sea as fast as each + vessel could clear the point. (6) Thus it befell in the engagement which + ensued, that while the enemy was in due order, the Athenians came up in + scattered detachments and without concert, and in the end were put to + flight with the loss of fifteen ships of war. Of the crews, indeed, the + majority escaped, though a certain number fell into the hands of the + enemy. Then Lysander collected his vessels, and having erected a trophy on + Cape Notium, sailed across to Ephesus, whilst the Athenians retired to + Samos. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) {os ekastos enoixen}, for this nautical term see above. +</pre> + <p> + On his return to Samos a little later, Alcibiades put out to sea with the + whole squadron in the direction of the harbour of Ephesus. At the mouth of + the harbour he marshalled his fleet in battle order, and tried to tempt + the enemy to an engagement; but as Lysander, conscious of his inferiority + in numbers, refused to accept the challenge, he sailed back again to + Samos. Shortly after this the Lacedaemonians captured Delphinium and Eion. + (7) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) This should probably be Teos, in Ionia, in spite of the MSS. + {'Eiona}. The place referred to cannot at any rate be the well- + known Eion at the mouth of the Strymon in Thrace. +</pre> + <p> + But now the news of the late disaster at Notium had reached the Athenians + at home, and in their indignation they turned upon Alcibiades, to whose + negligence and lack of self-command they attributed the destruction of the + ships. Accordingly they chose ten new generals—namely Conon, + Diomedon, Leon, Pericles, Erasinides, Aristocrates, Archestratus, + Protomachus, Thrasylus, and Aristogenes. Alcibiades, who was moreover in + bad odour in the camp, sailed away with a single trireme to his private + fortress in the Chersonese. + </p> + <p> + After this Conon, in obedience to a decree of the Athenian people, set + sail from Andros with the twenty vessels under his command in that island + to Samos, and took command of the whole squadron. To fill the place thus + vacated by Conon, Phanosthenes was sent to Andros with four ships. That + captain was fortunate enough to intercept and capture two Thurian ships of + war, crews and all, and these captives were all imprisoned by the + Athenians, with the exception of their leader Dorieus. He was the Rhodian, + who some while back had been banished from Athens and from his native city + by the Athenians, when sentence of death was passed upon him and his + family. This man, who had once enjoyed the right of citizenship among + them, they now took pity on and released him without ransom. + </p> + <p> + When Conon had reached Samos he found the armament in a state of great + despondency. Accordingly his first measure was to man seventy ships with + their full complement, instead of the former hundred and odd vessels. With + this squadron he put to sea accompanied by the other generals, and + confined himself to making descents first at one point and then at another + of the enemy's territory, and to collecting plunder. + </p> + <p> + And so the year drew to its close: a year signalled further by an invasion + of Sicily by the Carthaginians, with one hundred and twenty ships of war + and a land force of one hundred and twenty thousand men, which resulted in + the capture of Agrigentum. The town was finally reduced to famine after a + siege of seven months, the invaders having previously been worsted in + battle and forced to sit down before its walls for so long a time. + </p> + <p> + VI + </p> + <p> + B.C. 406. In the following year—the year of the evening eclipse of + the moon, and the burning of the old temple of Athena (1) at Athens (2)—the + Lacedaemonians sent out Callicratidas to replace Lysander, whose period of + office had now expired. (3) Lysander, when surrendering the squadron to + his successor, spoke of himself as the winner of a sea fight, which had + left him in undisputed mastery of the sea, and with this boast he handed + over the ships to Callicratidas, who retorted, "If you will convey the + fleet from Ephesus, keeping Samos (4) on your right" (that is, past where + the Athenian navy lay), "and hand it over to me at Miletus, I will admit + that you are master of the sea." But Lysander had no mind to interfere in + the province of another officer. Thus Callicratidas assumed + responsibility. He first manned, in addition to the squadron which he + received from Lysander, fifty new vessels furnished by the allies from + Chios and Rhodes and elsewhere. When all these contingents were assembled, + they formed a total of one hundred and forty sail, and with these he began + making preparations for engagement with the enemy. But it was impossible + for him not to note the strong current of opposition which he encountered + from the friends of Lysander. Not only was there lack of zeal in their + service, but they openly disseminated an opinion in the States, that it + was the greatest possible blunder on the part of the Lacedaemonians so to + change their admirals. Of course, they must from time to time get officers + altogether unfit for the post—men whose nautical knowledge dated + from yesterday, and who, moreover, had no notion of dealing with human + beings. It would be very odd if this practice of sending out people + ignorant of the sea and unknown to the folk of the country did not lead to + some catastrophe. Callicratidas at once summoned the Lacedaemonians there + present, and addressed them in the following terms:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) I.e. as some think, the Erechtheion, which was built partly on the + site of the old temple of Athena Polias, destroyed by the + Persians. According to Dr. Dorpfeld, a quite separate building of + the Doric order, the site of which (S. of the Erechtheion) has + lately been discovered. + + (2) The MSS. here add "in the ephorate of Pityas and the archonship of + Callias at Athens;" but though the date is probably correct (cf. + Leake, "Topography of Athens," vol. i. p. 576 foll.), the words + are almost certainly a gloss. + + (3) Here the MSS. add "with the twenty-fourth year of the war," + probably an annotator's gloss; the correct date should be twenty- + fifth. Pel. war 26 = B.C. 406. Pel. war 25 ended B.C. 407. + + (4) Lit. on the left (or east) of Samos, looking south from Ephesus. +</pre> + <p> + "For my part," he said, "I am content to stay at home: and if Lysander or + any one else claim greater experience in nautical affairs than I possess, + I have no desire to block his path. Only, being sent out by the State to + take command of this fleet, I do not know what is left to me, save to + carry out my instructions to the best of my ability. For yourselves, all I + beg of you, in reference to my personal ambitions and the kind of charges + brought against our common city, and of which you are as well aware as I + am, is to state what you consider to be the best course: am I to stay + where I am, or shall I sail back home, and explain the position of affairs + out here?" + </p> + <p> + No one ventured to suggest any other course than that he should obey the + authorities, and do what he was sent to do. Callicratidas then went up to + the court of Cyrus to ask for further pay for the sailors, but the answer + he got from Cyrus was that he should wait for two days. Callicratidas was + annoyed at the rebuff: to dance attendance at the palace gates was little + to his taste. In a fit of anger he cried out at the sorry condition of the + Hellenes, thus forced to flatter the barbarian for the sake of money. "If + ever I get back home," he added, "I will do what in me lies to reconcile + the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians." And so he turned and sailed back to + Miletus. From Miletus he sent some triremes to Lacedaemon to get money, + and convoking the public assembly of the Milesians, addressed them thus:— + </p> + <p> + "Men of Miletus, necessity is laid upon me to obey the rulers at home; but + for yourselves, whose neighbourhood to the barbarians has exposed you to + many evils at their hands, I only ask you to let your zeal in the war bear + some proportion to your former sufferings. You should set an example to + the rest of the allies, and show us how to inflict the sharpest and + swiftest injury on our enemy, whilst we await the return from Lacedaemon + of my envoys with the necessary funds. Since one of the last acts of + Lysander, before he left us, was to hand back to Cyrus the funds already + on the spot, as though we could well dispense with them. I was thus forced + to turn to Cyrus, but all I got from him was a series of rebuffs; he + refused me an audience, and, for my part, I could not induce myself to + hang about his gates like a mendicant. But I give you my word, men of + Miletus, that in return for any assistance which you can render us while + waiting for these aids, I will requite you richly. Only by God's help let + us show these barbarians that we do not need to worship them, in order to + punish our foes." + </p> + <p> + The speech was effective; many members of the assembly arose, and not the + least eagerly those who were accused of opposing him. These, in some + terror, proposed a vote of money, backed by offers of further private + contributions. Furnished with these sums, and having procured from Chios a + further remittance of five drachmas (5) a piece as outfit for each seaman, + he set sail to Methyma in Lesbos, which was in the hands of the enemy. But + as the Methymnaeans were not disposed to come over to him (since there was + an Athenian garrison in the place, and the men at the head of affairs were + partisans of Athens), he assaulted and took the place by storm. All the + property within accordingly became the spoil of the soldiers. The + prisoners were collected for sale by Callicratidas in the market-place, + where, in answer to the demand of the allies, who called upon him to sell + the Methymnaeans also, he made answer, that as long as he was in command, + not a single Hellene should be enslaved if he could help it. The next day + he set at liberty the free-born captives; the Athenian garrison with the + captured slaves he sold. (6) To Conon he sent word:—He would put a + stop to his strumpeting the sea. (7) And catching sight of him, as he put + out to sea, at break of day, he gave chase, hoping to cut him off from his + passage to Samos, and prevent his taking refuge there. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) About 4d. + + (6) Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. viii. p. 224 (2d ed.), thinks that + Callicratidas did not even sell the Athenian garrison, as if the + sense of the passage were: "The next day he set at liberty the + free-born captives with the Athenian garrison, contenting himself + with selling the captive slaves." But I am afraid that no + ingenuity of stopping will extract that meaning from the Greek + words, which are, {te d' usteraia tous men eleutherous apheke tous + de ton 'Athenaion phrourous kai ta andrapoda ta doula panta + apedoto}. To spare the Athenian garrison would have been too + extraordinary a proceeding even for Callicratidas. The idea + probably never entered his head. It was sufficiently noble for him + to refuse to sell the Methymnaeans. See the remarks of Mr. W. L. + Newman, "The Pol. of Aristotle," vol. i. p. 142. + + (7) I.e. the sea was Sparta's bride. +</pre> + <p> + But Conon, aided by the sailing qualities of his fleet, the rowers of + which were the pick of several ships' companies, concentrated in a few + vessels, made good his escape, seeking shelter within the harbour of + Mitylene in Lesbos, and with him two of the ten generals, Leon and + Erasinides. Callicratidas, pursuing him with one hundred and seventy sail, + entered the harbour simultaneously; and Conon thus hindered from further + or final escape by the too rapid movements of the enemy, was forced to + engage inside the harbour, and lost thirty of his ships, though the crews + escaped to land. The remaining, forty in number, he hauled up under the + walls of the town. Callicratidas, on his side, came to moorings in the + harbour; and, having command of the exit, blocked the Athenian within. His + next step was to send for the Methymnaeans in force by land, and to + transport his army across from Chios. Money also came to him from Cyrus. + </p> + <p> + Conon, finding himself besieged by land and sea, without means of + providing himself with corn from any quarter, the city crowded with + inhabitants, and aid from Athens, whither no news of the late events could + be conveyed, impossible, launched two of the fastest sailing vessels of + his squadron. These he manned, before daybreak, with the best rowers whom + he could pick out of the fleet, stowing away the marines at the same time + in the hold of the ships and closing the port shutters. Every day for four + days they held out in this fashion, but at evening as soon as it was dark + he disembarked his men, so that the enemy might not suspect what they were + after. On the fifth day, having got in a small stock of provisions, when + it was already mid-day and the blockaders were paying little or no + attention, and some of them even were taking their siesta, the two ships + sailed out of the harbour: the one directing her course towards the + Hellespont, whilst her companion made for the open sea. Then, on the part + of the blockaders, there was a rush to the scene of action, as fast as the + several crews could get clear of land, in bustle and confusion, cutting + away the anchors, and rousing themselves from sleep, for, as chance would + have it, they had been breakfasting on shore. Once on board, however, they + were soon in hot pursuit of the ship which had started for the open sea, + and ere the sun dipped they overhauled her, and after a successful + engagement attached her by cables and towed her back into harbour, crew + and all. Her comrade, making for the Hellespont, escaped, and eventually + reached Athens with news of the blockade. The first relief was brought to + the blockaded fleet by Diomedon, who anchored with twelve vessels in the + Mitylenaean Narrows. (8) But a sudden attack of Callicratidas, who bore + down upon him without warning, cost him ten of his vessels, Diomedon + himself escaping with his own ship and one other. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Or, "Euripus." +</pre> + <p> + Now that the position of affairs, including the blockade, was fully known + at Athens, a vote was passed to send out a reinforcement of one hundred + and ten ships. Every man of ripe age, (9) whether slave or free, was + impressed for this service, so that within thirty days the whole one + hundred and ten vessels were fully manned and weighed anchor. Amongst + those who served in this fleet were also many of the knights. (10) The + fleet at once stood out across to Samos, and picked up the Samian vessels + in that island. The muster-roll was swelled by the addition of more than + thirty others from the rest of the allies, to whom the same principle of + conscription applied, as also it did to the ships already engaged on + foreign service. The actual total, therefore, when all the contingents + were collected, was over one hundred and fifty vessels. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) I.e. from eighteen to sixty years. + + (10) See Boeckh. "P. E. A." Bk. II. chap. xxi. p. 263 (Eng. trans.) +</pre> + <p> + Callicratidas, hearing that the relief squadron had already reached Samos, + left fifty ships, under command of Eteonicus, in the harbour of Mitylene, + and setting sail with the other one hundred and twenty, hove to for the + evening meal off Cape Malea in Lesbos, opposite Mitylene. It so happened + that the Athenians on this day were supping on the islands of Arginusae, + which lie opposite Lesbos. In the night the Spartan not only saw their + watch-fires, but received positive information that "these were the + Athenians;" and about midnight he got under weigh, intending to fall upon + them suddenly. But a violent downpour of rain with thunder and lightning + prevented him putting out to sea. By daybreak it had cleared, and he + sailed towards Arginusae. On their side, the Athenian squadron stood out + to meet him, with their left wing facing towards the open sea, and drawn + up in the following order:—Aristocrates, in command of the left + wing, with fifteen ships, led the van; next came Diomedon with fifteen + others, and immediately in rear of Aristocrates and Diomedon respectively, + as their supports, came Pericles and Erasinides. Parallel with Diomedon + were the Samians, with their ten ships drawn up in single line, under the + command of a Samian officer named Hippeus. Next to these came the ten + vessels of the taxiarchs, also in single line, and supporting them, the + three ships of the navarchs, with any other allied vessels in the + squadron. The right wing was entrusted to Protomachus with fifteen ships, + and next to him (on the extreme right) was Thrasylus with another division + of fifteen. Protomachus was supported by Lysias with an equal number of + ships, and Thrasylus by Aristogenes. The object of this formation was to + prevent the enemy from manouvring so as to break their line by striking + them amidships, (11) since they were inferior in sailing power. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) Lit. "by the diekplous." Cf. Thuc. i. 49, and Arnold's note, who + says: "The 'diecplus' was a breaking through the enemy's line in + order by a rapid turning of the vessel to strike the enemy's ship + on the side or stern, where it was most defenceless, and so to + sink it." So, it seems, "the superiority of nautical skill has + passed," as Grote (viii. p. 234) says, "to the Peloponnesians and + their allies." Well may the historian add, "How astonished would + the Athenian Admiral Phormion have been, if he could have + witnessed the fleets and the order of battle at Arginusae!" See + Thuc. iv. 11. +</pre> + <p> + The Lacedaemonians, on the contrary, trusting to their superior + seamanship, were formed opposite with their ships all in single line, with + the special object of manouvring so as either to break the enemy's line or + to wheel round them. Callicratidas commanded the right wing in person. + Before the battle the officer who acted as his pilot, the Megarian Hermon, + suggested that it might be well to withdraw the fleet as the Athenian + ships were far more numerous. But Callicratidas replied that Sparta would + be no worse off even if he personally should perish, but to flee would be + disgraceful. (12) And now the fleets approached, and for a long space the + battle endured. At first the vessels were engaged in crowded masses, and + later on in scattered groups. At length Callicratidas, as his vessel + dashed her beak into her antagonist, was hurled off into the sea and + disappeared. At the same instant Protomachus, with his division on the + right, had defeated the enemy's left, and then the flight of the + Peloponnesians began towards Chios, though a very considerable body of + them made for Phocaea, whilst the Athenians sailed back again to + Arginusae. The losses on the side of the Athenians were twenty-five ships, + crews and all, with the exception of the few who contrived to reach dry + land. On the Peloponnesian side, nine out of the ten Lacedaemonian ships, + and more than sixty belonging to the rest of the allied squadron, were + lost. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) For the common reading, {oikeitai}, which is ungrammatical, + various conjectures have been made, e.g. + + {oikieitai} = "would be none the worse off for citizens," + {oikesetai} = "would be just as well administered without him," + + but as the readings and their renderings are alike doubtful, I + have preferred to leave the matter vague. Cf. Cicero, "De Offic." + i. 24; Plutarch, "Lac. Apophth." p. 832. +</pre> + <p> + After consultation the Athenian generals agreed that two captains of + triremes, Theramenes and Thrasybulus, accompanied by some of the + taxiarchs, should take forty-seven ships and sail to the assistance of the + disabled fleet and of the men on board, whilst the rest of the squadron + proceeded to attack the enemy's blockading squadron under Eteonicus at + Mitylene. In spite of their desire to carry out this resolution, the wind + and a violent storm which arose prevented them. So they set up a trophy, + and took up their quarters for the night. As to Etenoicus, the details of + the engagement were faithfully reported to him by the express + despatch-boat in attendance. On receipt of the news, however, he sent the + despatch-boat out again the way she came, with an injunction to those on + board of her to sail off quickly without exchanging a word with any one. + Then on a sudden they were to return garlanded with wreaths of victory and + shouting "Callicratidas has won a great sea fight, and the whole Athenian + squadron is destroyed." This they did, and Eteonicus, on his side, as soon + as the despatch-boat came sailing in, proceeded to offer sacrifice of + thanksgiving in honour of the good news. Meanwhile he gave orders that the + troops were to take their evening meal, and that the masters of the + trading ships were silently to stow away their goods on board the merchant + ships and make sail as fast as the favourable breeze could speed them to + Chios. The ships of war were to follow suit with what speed they might. + This done, he set fire to his camp, and led off the land forces to + Methymna. Conon, finding the enemy had made off, and the wind had grown + comparatively mild, (13) got his ships afloat, and so fell in with the + Athenian squadron, which had by this time set out from Arginusae. To these + he explained the proceedings of Eteonicus. The squadron put into Mitylene, + and from Mitylene stood across to Chios, and thence, without effecting + anything further, sailed back to Samos. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Or, "had changed to a finer quarter." +</pre> + <p> + VII + </p> + <p> + All the above-named generals, with the exception of Conon, were presently + deposed by the home authorities. In addition to Conon two new generals + were chosen, Adeimantus and Philocles. Of those concerned in the late + victory two never returned to Athens: these were Protomachus and + Aristogenes. The other six sailed home. Their names were Pericles, + Diomedon, Lysias, Aristocrates, Thrasylus, and Erasinides. On their + arrival Archidemus, the leader of the democracy at that date, who had + charge of the two obol fund, (1) inflicted a fine on Erasinides, and + accused him before the Dicastery (2) of having appropriated money derived + from the Hellespont, which belonged to the people. He brought a further + charge against him of misconduct while acting as general, and the court + sentenced him to imprisonment. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Reading {tes diobelais}, a happy conjecture for the MSS. {tes + diokelias}, which is inexplicable. See Grote, "Hist. of Greece," + vol. viii. p. 244 note (2d ed.) + + (2) I.e. a legal tribunal or court of law. At Athens the free citizens + constitutionally sworn and impannelled sat as "dicasts" + ("jurymen," or rather as a bench of judges) to hear cases + ({dikai}). Any particular board of dicasts formed a "dicastery." +</pre> + <p> + These proceedings in the law court were followed by the statement of the + generals before the senate (3) touching the late victory and the magnitude + of the storm. Timocrates then proposed that the other five generals should + be put in custody and handed over to the public assembly. (4) Whereupon + the senate committed them all to prison. Then came the meeting of the + public assembly, in which others, and more particularly Theramenes, + formally accused the generals. He insisted that they ought to show cause + why they had not picked up the shipwrecked crews. To prove that there had + been no attempt on their part to attach blame to others, he might point, + as conclusive testimony, to the despatch sent by the generals themselves + to the senate and the people, in which they attributed the whole disaster + to the storm, and nothing else. After this the generals each in turn made + a defence, which was necessarily limited to a few words, since no right of + addressing the assembly at length was allowed by law. Their explanation of + the occurrences was that, in order to be free to sail against the enemy + themselves, they had devolved the duty of picking up the shipwrecked crews + upon certain competent captains of men-of-war, who had themselves been + generals in their time, to wit Theramenes and Tharysbulus, and others of + like stamp. If blame could attach to any one at all with regard to the + duty in question, those to whom their orders had been given were the sole + persons they could hold responsible. "But," they went on to say, "we will + not, because these very persons have denounced us, invent a lie, and say + that Theramenes and Thrasybulus are to blame, when the truth of the matter + is that the magnitude of the storm alone prevented the burial of the dead + and the rescue of the living." In proof of their contention, they produced + the pilots and numerous other witnesses from among those present at the + engagement. By these arguments they were in a fair way to persuade the + people of their innocence. Indeed many private citizens rose wishing to + become bail for the accused, but it was resolved to defer decision till + another meeting of the assembly. It was indeed already so late that it + would have been impossible to see to count the show of hands. It was + further resolved that the senate meanwhile should prepare a measure, to be + introduced at the next assembly, as to the mode in which the accused + should take their trial. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) This is the Senate or Council of Five Hundred. One of its chief + duties was to prepare measures for discussion in the assembly. It + had also a certain amount of judicial power, hearing complaints + and inflicting fines up to fifty drachmas. It sat daily, a + "prytany" of fifty members of each of the ten tribes in rotation + holding office for a month in turn. + + (4) This is the great Public Assembly (the Ecclesia), consisting of + all genuine Athenian citizens of more than twenty years of age. +</pre> + <p> + Then came the festival of the Aparturia, (5) with its family gatherings of + fathers and kinsfolk. Accordingly the party of Theramenes procured numbers + of people clad in black apparel, and close-shaven, (6) who were to go in + and present themselves before the public assembly in the middle of the + festival, as relatives, presumably, of the men who had perished; and they + persuaded Callixenus to accuse the generals in the senate. The next step + was to convoke the assembly, when the senate laid before it the proposal + just passed by their body, at the instance of Callixenus, which ran as + follows: "Seeing that both the parties to this case, to wit, the + prosecutors of the generals on the one hand, and the accused themselves in + their defence on the other, have been heard in the late meeting of the + assembly; we propose that the people of Athens now record their votes, one + and all, by their tribes; that a couple of voting urns be placed for the + convenience of each several tribe; and the public crier in the hearing of + each several tribe proclaim the mode of voting as follows: 'Let every one + who finds the generals guilty of not rescuing the heroes of the late sea + fight deposit his vote in urn No. 1. Let him who is of the contrary + opinion deposit his vote in urn No. 2. Further, in the event of the + aforesaid generals being found guilty, let death be the penalty. Let the + guilty persons be delivered over to the eleven. Let their property be + confiscated to the State, with the exception of one tithe, which falls to + the goddess.'" + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) An important festival held in October at Athens, and in nearly all + Ionic cities. Its objects were (1) the recognition of a common + descent from Ion, the son of Apollo Patrous; and (2) the + maintenance of the ties of clanship. See Grote, "Hist. of Greece," + vol. viii. p. 260 foll. (2d ed.); Jebb, "Theophr." xviii. 5. + + (6) I.e. in sign of mourning. +</pre> + <p> + Now there came forward in the assembly a man, who said that he had escaped + drowning by clinging to a meal tub. The poor fellows perishing around him + had commissioned him, if he succeeded in saving himself, to tell the + people of Athens how bravely they had fought for their fatherland, and how + the generals had left them there to drown. + </p> + <p> + Presently Euryptolemus, the son of Peisianax, and others served a notice + of indictment on Callixenus, insisting that his proposal was + unconstitutional, and this view of the case was applauded by some members + of the assembly. But the majority kept crying out that it was monstrous if + the people were to be hindered by any stray individual from doing what + seemed to them right. And when Lysicus, embodying the spirit of those + cries, formally proposed that if these persons would not abandon their + action, they should be tried by the same vote along with the generals: a + proposition to which the mob gave vociferous assent; and so these were + compelled to abandon their summonses. Again, when some of the Prytanes (7) + objected to put a resolution to the vote which was in itself + unconstitutional, Callixenus again got up and accused them in the same + terms, and the shouting began again. "Yes, summons all who refuse," until + the Prytanes, in alarm, all agreed with one exception to permit the + voting. This obstinate dissentient was Socrates, the son of Sophroniscus, + who insisted that he would do nothing except in accordance with the law. + (8) After this Euryptolemus rose and spoke in behalf of the generals. He + said:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) Prytanes—the technical term for the senators of the presiding + tribe, who acted as presidents of the assembly. Their chairman for + the day was called Epistates. + + (8) For the part played by Socrates see further Xenophon's + "Memorabilia," I. i. 18; IV. iv. 2. +</pre> + <p> + "I stand here, men of Athens, partly to accuse Pericles, though he is a + close and intimate connection of my own, and Diomedon, who is my friend, + and partly to urge certain considerations on their behalf, but chiefly to + press upon you what seems to me the best course for the State + collectively. I hold them to blame in that they dissuaded their colleagues + from their intention to send a despatch to the senate and this assembly, + which should have informed you of the orders given to Theramenes and + Thrasybulus to take forty-seven ships of war and pick up the shipwrecked + crews, and of the neglect of the two officers to carry out those orders. + And it follows that though the offence was committed by one or two, the + responsibility must be shared by all; and in return for kindness in the + past, they are in danger at present of sacrificing their lives to the + machinations of these very men, and others whom I could mention. In + danger, do I say, of losing their lives? No, not so, if you will suffer me + to persuade you to do what is just and right; if you will only adopt such + a course as shall enable you best to discover the truth and shall save you + from too late repentance, when you find you have transgressed irremediably + against heaven and your own selves. In what I urge there is no trap nor + plot whereby you can be deceived by me or any other man; it is a + straightforward course which will enable you to discover and punish the + offender by whatever process you like, collectively or individually. Let + them have, if not more, at any rate one whole day to make what defence + they can for themselves; and trust to your own unbiased judgment to guide + you to the right conclusion. + </p> + <p> + "You know, men of Athens, the exceeding stringency of the decree of + Cannonus, (9) which orders that man, whosoever he be, who is guilty of + treason against the people of Athens, to be put in irons, and so to meet + the charge against him before the people. If he be convicted, he is to be + thrown into the Barathron and perish, and the property of such an one is + to be confiscated, with the exception of the tithe which falls to the + goddess. I call upon you to try these generals in accordance with this + decree. Yes, and so help me God—if it please you, begin with my own + kinsman Pericles for base would it be on my part to make him of more + account than the whole of the State. Or, if you prefer, try them by that + other law, which is directed against robbers of temples and betrayers of + their country, which says: if a man betray his city or rob a sacred temple + of the gods, he shall be tried before a law court, and if he be convicted, + his body shall not be buried in Attica, and his goods shall be confiscated + to the State. Take your choice as between these two laws, men of Athens, + and let the prisoners be tried by one or other. Let three portions of a + day be assigned to each respectively, one portion wherein they shall + listen to their accusation, a second wherein they shall make their + defence, and a third wherein you shall meet and give your votes in due + order on the question of their guilt or innocence. By this procedure the + malefactors will receive the desert of their misdeeds in full, and those + who are innocent will owe you, men of Athens, the recovery of their + liberty, in place of unmerited destruction. (10) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) "There was a rule in Attic judicial procedure, called the psephism + of Kannonus (originally adopted, we do not know when, on the + proposition of a citizen of that name, as a psephism or decree for + some particular case, but since generalised into common practice, + and grown into great prescriptive reverence), which peremptorily + forbade any such collective trial or sentence, and directed that a + separate judicial vote should in all cases be taken for or against + each accused party." Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. viii. p. 266 + (2d ed.) + + (10) Reading {adikos apolountai}. +</pre> + <p> + "On your side, in trying the accused by recognised legal procedure, you + will show that you obey the dictates of pious feeling, and can regard the + sanctity of an oath, instead of joining hands with our enemies the + Lacedaemonians and fighting their battles. For is it not to fight their + battles, if you take their conquerors, the men who deprived them of + seventy vessels, and at the moment of victory sent them to perdition + untried and in the teeth of the law? What are you afraid of, that you + press forward with such hot haste? Do you imagine that you may be robbed + of the power of life and death over whom you please, should you condescend + to a legal trial? but that you are safe if you take shelter behind an + illegality, like the illegality of Callixenus, when he worked upon the + senate to propose to this assembly to deal with the accused by a single + vote? But consider, you may actually put to death an innocent man, and + then repentance will one day visit you too late. Bethink you how painful + and unavailing remorse will then be, and more particularly if your error + has cost a fellow-creature his life. What a travesty of justice it would + be if in the case of a man like Aristarchus, (11) who first tried to + destroy the democracy and then betrayed Oenoe to our enemy the Thebans, + you granted him a day for his defence, consulting his wishes, and conceded + to him all the other benefits of the law; whereas now you are proposing to + deprive of these same privileges your own generals, who in every way + conformed to your views and defeated your enemies. Do not you, of all men, + I implore you, men of Athens, act thus. Why, these laws are your own, to + them, beyond all else you owe your greatness. Guard them jealously; in + nothing, I implore you, act without their sanction. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) See below, II. iii; also cf. Thuc. viii. 90, 98. +</pre> + <p> + "But now, turn for a moment and consider with me the actual occurrences + which have created the suspicion of misconduct on the part of our late + generals. The sea-fight had been fought and won, and the ships had + returned to land, when Diomedon urged that the whole squadron should sail + out in line and pick up the wrecks and floating crews. Erasinides was in + favour of all the vessels sailing as fast as possible to deal with the + enemy's forces at Mitylene. And Thrasylus represented that both objects + could be effected, by leaving one division of the fleet there, and with + the rest sailing against the enemy; and if this resolution were agreed to, + he advised that each of the eight generals should leave three ships of his + own division with the ten vessels of the taxiarchs, the ten Samian + vessels, and the three belonging to the navarchs. These added together + make forty-seven, four for each of the lost vessels, twelve in number. + Among the taxiarchs left behind, two were Thrasybulus and Theramenes, the + men who in the late meeting of this assembly undertook to accuse the + generals. With the remainder of the fleet they were to sail to attack the + enemy's fleet. Everything, you must admit, was duly and admirably planned. + It was only common justice, therefore, that those whose duty it was to + attack the enemy should render an account for all miscarriages of + operations against the enemy; while those who were commissioned to pick up + the dead and dying should, if they failed to carry out the instructions of + the generals, be put on trial to explain the reasons of the failure. This + indeed I may say in behalf of both parites. It was really the storm which, + in spite of what the generals had planned, prevented anything being done. + There are witnesses ready to attest the truth of this: the men who escaped + as by a miracle, and among these one of these very generals, who was on a + sinking ship and was saved. And this man, who needed picking up as much as + anybody at that moment, is, they insist, to be tried by one and the same + vote as those who neglected to perform their orders! Once more, I beg you, + men of Athens, to accept your victory and your good fortune, instead of + behaving like the desperate victims of misfortune and defeat. Recognise + the finger of divine necessity; do not incur the reproach of + stony-heartedness by discovering treason where there was merely + powerlessness, and condemning as guilty those who were prevented by the + storm from carrying out their instructions. Nay! you will better satisfy + the demands of justice by crowning these conquerors with wreaths of + victory than by punishing them with death at the instigation of wicked + men." + </p> + <p> + At the conclusion of his speech Euryptolemus proposed, as an amendment, + that the prisoners should, in accordance with the decree of Cannonus, be + tried each separately, as against the proposal of the senate to try them + all by a single vote. + </p> + <p> + At the show of hands the tellers gave the majority in favour of + Euryptolemus's amendment, but upon the application of Menecles, who took + formal exception (12) to this decision, the show of hands was gone through + again, and now the verdict was in favour of the resolution of the senate. + At a later date the balloting was made, and by the votes recorded the + eight generals were condemned, and the six who were in Athens were put to + death. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) For this matter cf. Schomann, "De Comitiis Athen." p. 161 foll.; + also Grote, "Hist. of Grece," vol. viii. p. 276 note (2d ed.) +</pre> + <p> + Not long after, repentance seized the Athenians, and they passed a decree + authorising the public prosecution of those who had deceived the people, + and the appointment of proper securities for their persons until the trial + was over. Callixenus was one of those committed for trail. There were, + besides Callixenus, four others against whom true bills were declared, and + they were all five imprisoned by their sureties. But all subsequently + effected their escape before the trial, at the time of the sedition in + which Cleophon (13) was killed. Callixenus eventually came back when the + party in Piraeus returned to the city, at the date of the amnesty, (14) + but only to die of hunger, an object of universal detestation. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Cleophon, the well-known demagogue. For the occasion of his death + see Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. viii. pp. 166, 310 (2d ed.); + Prof. Jebb, "Attic Orators," i. 266, ii. 288. For his character, + as popularly conceived, cf. Aristoph. "Frogs," 677. + + (14) B.C. 403. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK II + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + To return to Eteonicus and his troops in Chios. During summer they were + well able to support themselves on the fruits of the season, or by + labouring for hire in different parts of the island, but with the approach + of winter these means of subsistence began to fail. Ill-clad at the same + time, and ill-shod, they fell to caballing and arranging plans to attack + the city of Chios. It was agreed amongst them, that in order to gauge + their numbers, every member of the conspiracy should carry a reed. + Eteonicus got wind of the design, but was at a loss how to deal with it, + considering the number of these reed-bearers. To make an open attack upon + them seemed dangerous. It would probably lead to a rush to arms, in which + the conspirators would seize the city and commence hostilities, and, in + the event of their success, everything hitherto achieved would be lost. Or + again, the destruction on his part of many fellow-creatures and allies was + a terrible alternative, which would place the Spartans in an unenviable + light with regard to the rest of Hellas, and render the soldiers + ill-disposed to the cause in hand. Accordingly he took with him fifteen + men, armed with daggers, and marched through the city. Falling in with one + of the reed-bearers, a man suffering from ophthalmia, who was returning + from the surgeon's house, he put him to death. This led to some uproar, + and people asked why the man was thus slain. By Eteonicus's orders the + answer was set afloat, "because he carried a reed." As the explanation + circulated, one reed-bearer after another threw away the symbol, each one + saying to himself, as he heard the reason given, "I have better not be + seen with this." After a while Eteonicus called a meeting of the Chians, + and imposed upon them a contribution of money, on the ground that with pay + in their pockets the sailors would have no temptation to revolutionary + projects. The Chians acquiesced. Whereupon Eteonicus promptly ordered his + crews to get on board their vessels. He then rowed alongside each ship in + turn, and addressed the men at some length in terms of encouragement and + cheery admonition, just as though he knew nothing of what had taken place, + and so distributed a month's pay to every man on board. + </p> + <p> + After this the Chians and the other allies held a meeting in Ephesus, and, + considering the present posture of affairs, determined to send ambassadors + to Lacedaemon with a statement of the facts, and a request that Lysander + might be sent out to take command of the fleet. Lysander's high reputation + among the allies dated back to his former period of office, when as + admiral he had won the naval victory of Notium. The ambassadors + accordingly were despatched, accompanied by envoys also from Cyrus, + charged with the same message. The Lacedaemonians responded by sending + them Lysander as second in command, (1) with Aracus as admiral, since it + was contrary to their custom that the same man should be admiral twice. At + the same time the fleet was entrusted to Lysander. (2) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Epistoleus. See above. + + (2) "At this date the war had lasted five-and-twenty years." So the + MSS. read. The words are probably an interpolation. +</pre> + <p> + It was in this year (3) that Cyrus put Autoboesaces and Mitraeus to death. + These were sons of the sister of Dariaeus (4) (the daughter of Xerxes, the + father of Darius). (5) He put them to death for neglecting, when they met + him, to thrust their hands into the sleeve (or "kore") which is a tribute + of respect paid to the king alone. This "kore" is longer than the ordinary + sleeve, so long in fact that a man with his hand inside is rendered + helpless. In consequence of this act on the part of Cyrus, Hieramenes (6) + and his wife urged upon Dariaeus the danger of overlooking such excessive + insolence on the part of the young prince, and Dariaeus, on the plea of + sickness, sent a special embassy to summon Cyrus to his bedside. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) B.C. 406. + + (4) Dariaeus, i.e. Darius, but the spelling of the name is correct, + and occurs in Ctesias, though in the "Anabasis" we have the + spelling Darius. + + (5) These words look like the note of a foolish and ignorant scribe. + He ought to have written, "The daughter of Artaxerxes and own + sister of Darius, commonly so called." + + (6) For Hieramenes cf. Thuc. viii. 95, and Prof. Jowett ad loc. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 405. In the following year (7) Lysander arrived at Ephesus, and sent + for Eteonicus with his ships from Chios, and collected all other vessels + elsewhere to be found. His time was now devoted to refitting the old ships + and having new ones built in Antandrus. He also made a journey to the + court of Cyrus with a request for money. All Cyrus could say was, that not + only the money sent by the king was spent, but much more besides; and he + pointed out the various sums which each of the admirals had received, but + at the same time he gave him what he asked for. Furnished with this money, + Lysander appointed captains to the different men-of-war, and remitted to + the sailors their arrears of pay. Meanwhile the Athenian generals, on + their side, were devoting their energies to the improvements of their navy + at Samos. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) The MSS. add "during the ephorate of Archytas and the archonship + at Athens of Alexias," which, though correct enough, is probably + an interpolation. +</pre> + <p> + It was now Cyrus's turn to send for Lysander. It was the moment at which + the envoy from his father had arrived with the message: "Your father is on + his sick-bed and desires your presence." The king lay at Thamneria, in + Media, near the territory of the Cadusians, against whom he had marched to + put down a revolt. When Lysander presented himself, Cyrus was urgent with + him not to engage the Athenians at sea unless he had many more ships than + they. "The king," he added, "and I have plenty of wealth, so that, as far + as money goes, you can man plenty of vessels." He then consigned to him + all the tributes from the several cities which belonged to him personally, + and gave him the ready money which he had as a gift; and finally, + reminding him of the sincere friendship he entertained towards the state + of Lacedaemon, as well as to himself personally, he set out up country to + visit his father. Lysander, finding himself thus left with the complete + control of the property of Cyrus (during the absence of that prince, so + summoned to the bedside of his father), was able to distribute pay to his + troops, after which he set sail for the Ceramic Gulf of Caria. Here he + stormed a city in alliance with the Athenians named Cedreae, and on the + following day's assault took it, and reduced the inhabitants to slavery. + These were of a mixed Hellene and barbaric stock. From Cedreae he + continued his voyage to Rhodes. The Athenians meanwhile, using Samos as + their base of operations, were employed in devastating the king's + territory, or in swooping down upon Chios and Ephesus, and in general were + preparing for a naval battle, having but lately chosen three new generals + in addition to those already in office, whose names were Menander, Tydeus, + and Cephisodotus. Now Lysander, leaving Rhodes, and coasting along Ionia, + made his way to the Hellespont, having an eye to the passage of vessels + through the Straits, and, in a more hostile sense, on the cities which had + revolted from Sparta. The Athenians also set sail from Chios, but stood + out to open sea, since the seaboard of Asia was hostile to them. + </p> + <p> + Lysander was again on the move; leaving Abydos, he passed up channel to + Lampsacus, which town was allied with Athens; the men of Abydos and the + rest of the troops advancing by land, under the command of the + Lacedaemonian Thorax. They then attacked and took by storm the town, which + was wealthy, and with its stores of wine and wheat and other commodities + was pillaged by the soldiery. All free-born persons, however, were without + exception released by Lysander. And now the Athenian fleet, following + close on his heels, came to moorings at Elaeus, in the Chersonesus, one + hundred and eighty sail in all. It was not until they had reached this + place, and were getting their early meal, that the news of what had + happened at Lampsacus reached them. Then they instantly set sail again to + Sestos, and, having halted long enough merely to take in stores, sailed on + further to Aegospotami, a point facing Lampsacus, where the Hellespont is + not quite two miles (8) broad. Here they took their evening meal. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Lit. fifteen stades. +</pre> + <p> + The night following, or rather early next morning, with the first streak + of dawn, Lysander gave the signal for the men to take their breakfasts and + get on board their vessels; and so, having got all ready for a naval + engagement, with his ports closed and movable bulwarks attached, he issued + the order that no one was to stir from his post or put out to sea. As the + sun rose the Athenians drew up their vessels facing the harbour, in line + of battle ready for action; but Lysander declining to come out to meet + them, as the day advanced they retired again to Aegospotami. Then Lysander + ordered the swiftest of his ships to follow the Athenians, and as soon as + the crews had disembarked, to watch what they did, sail back, and report + to him. Until these look-outs returned he would permit no disembarkation + from his ships. This performance he repeated for four successive days, and + each day the Athenians put out to sea and challenged an engagement. + </p> + <p> + But now Alcibiades, from one of his fortresses, could espy the position of + his fellow-countrymen, moored on an open beach beyond reach of any city, + and forced to send for supplies to Sestos, which was nearly two miles + distant, while their enemies were safely lodged in a harbour, with a city + adjoining, and everything within reach. The situation did not please him, + and he advised them to shift their anchorage to Sestos, where they would + have the advantage of a harbour and a city. "Once there," he concluded, + "you can engage the enemy whenever it suits you." But the generals, and + more particularly Tydeus and Menander, bade him go about his business. "We + are generals now—not you," they said; and so he went away. And now + for five days in succession the Athenians had sailed out to offer battle, + and for the fifth time retired, followed by the same swift sailors of the + enemy. But this time Lysander's orders to the vessels so sent in pursuit + were, that as soon as they saw the enemy's crew fairly disembarked and + dispersed along the shores of the Chersonesus (a practice, it should be + mentioned, which had grown upon them from day to day owing to the distance + at which eatables had to be purchased, and out of sheer contempt, no + doubt, of Lysander, who refused to accept battle), they were to begin + their return voyage, and when in mid-channel to hoist a shield. The orders + were punctually carried out, and Lysander at once signalled to his whole + squadron to put across with all speed, while Thorax, with the land forces, + was to march parallel with the fleet along the coast. Aware of the enemy's + fleet, which he could see bearing down upon him, Conon had only time to + signal to the crews to join their ships and rally to the rescue with all + their might. But the men were scattered far and wide, and some of the + vessels had only two out of their three banks of rowers, some only a + single one, while others again were completely empty. Conon's own ship, + with seven others in attendance on him and the "Paralus," (9) put out to + sea, a little cluster of nine vessels, with their full complement of men; + but every one of the remaining one hundred and seventy-one vessels were + captured by Lysander on the beach. As to the men themselves, the large + majority of them were easily made prisoners on shore, a few only escaping + to the small fortresses of the neighbourhood. Meanwhile Conon and his nine + vessels made good their escape. For himself, knowing that the fortune of + Athens was ruined, he put into Abarnis, the promontory of Lampsacus, and + there picked up the great sails of Lysander's ships, and then with eight + ships set sail himself to seek refuge with Evagoras in Cyprus, while the + "Paralus" started for Athens with tidings of what had taken place. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) The "Paralus"—the Athenian sacred vessel; cf. Thuc. iii. 33 et + passim. +</pre> + <p> + Lysander, on his side, conveyed the ships and prisoners and all other + spoil back to Lampsacus, having on board some of the Athenian generals, + notably Philocles and Adeimantus. On the very day of these achievements he + despatched Theopompus, a Milesian privateersman, to Lacedaemon to report + what had taken place. This envoy arrived within three days and delivered + his message. Lysander's next step was to convene the allies and bid them + deliberate as to the treatment of the prisoners. Many were the accusations + here levied against the Athenians. There was talk of crimes committed + against the law of Hellas, and of cruelties sanctioned by popular decrees; + which, had they conquered in the late sea-fight, would have been carried + out; such as the proposal to cut off the right hand of every prisoner + taken alive, and lastly the ill-treatment of two captured men-of-war, a + Corinthian and an Andrian vessel, when every man on board had been hurled + headlong down the cliff. Philocles was the very general of the Athenians + who had so ruthlessly destroyed those men. Many other tales were told; and + at length a resolution was passed to put all the Athenian prisoners, with + the exception of Adeimantus, to death. He alone, it was pleaded, had taken + exception to the proposal to cut off the prisoners' hands. On the other + hand, he was himself accused by some people of having betrayed the fleet. + As to Philocles, Lysander put to him one question, as the officer who had + thrown (10) the Corinthians and Andrians down the cliff: What fate did the + man deserve to suffer who had embarked on so cruel a course of illegality + against Hellenes? and so delivered him to the executioner. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Reading {os... katekremnise}. +</pre> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + When he had set the affairs of Lampsacus in order, Lysander sailed to + Byzantium and Chalcedon, where the inhabitants, having first dismissed the + Athenian garrison under a flag of truce, admitted him within their walls. + Those citizens of Byzantium, who had betrayed Byzantium into the hands of + Alcibiades, fled as exiles into Pontus, but subsequently betaking + themselves to Athens, became Athenian citizens. In dealing with the + Athenian garrisons, and indeed with all Athenians wheresoever found, + Lysander made it a rule to give them safe conduct to Athens, and to Athens + only, in the certainty that the larger the number collected within the + city and Piraeus, the more quickly the want of necessaries of life would + make itself felt. And now, leaving Sthenelaus, a Laconian, as + governor-general of Byzantium and Chalcedon, he sailed back himself to + Lampsacus and devoted himself to refitting his ships. + </p> + <p> + It was night when the "Paralus" reached Athens with her evil tidings, on + receipt of which a bitter wail of woe broke forth. From Piraeus, following + the line of the long walls up to the heart of the city, it swept and + swelled, as each man to his neighbour passed on the news. On that night no + man slept. There was mourning and sorrow for those that were lost, but the + lamentation for the dead was merged in even deeper sorrow for themselves, + as they pictured the evils they were about to suffer, the like of which + they themselves had inflicted upon the men of Melos, who were colonists of + the Lacedaemonians, when they mastered them by siege. Or on the men of + Histiaea; on Scione and Torone; on the Aeginetans, and many another + Hellene city. (1) On the following day the public assembly met, and, after + debate, it was resolved to block up all the harbours save one, to put the + walls in a state of defence, to post guards at various points, and to make + all other necessary preparations for a siege. Such were the concerns of + the men of Athens. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) With regard to these painful recollections, see (1) for the siege + and surrender of Melos (in B.C. 416), Thuc. v. 114, 116; and cf. + Aristoph. "Birds," 186; Plut. ("Lysander," 14); (2) for the + ejection of the Histiaeans, an incident of the recovery of Euboea + in 445 B.C., see Thuc. i. 14; Plut. ("Pericles," 23); (3) for the + matter of Scione, which revolted in 423 B.C., and was for a long + time a source of disagreement between the Athenians and + Lacedaemonians, until finally captured by the former in 421 B.C., + when the citizens were slain and the city given to the Plataeans, + see Thuc. iv. 120-122, 129-133; v. 18, 32; (4) for Torone see + Thuc. ib., and also v. 3; (5) for the expulsion of the Aeginetans + in 431 B.C. see Thuc. ii. 27. +</pre> + <p> + Lysander presently left the Hellespont with two hundred sail and arrived + at Lesbos, where he established a new order of things in Mitylene and the + other cities of the island. Meanwhile he despatched Eteonicus with a + squadron of ten ships to the northern coasts, (2) where that officer + brought about a revolution of affairs which placed the whole region in the + hands of Lacedaemon. Indeed, in a moment of time, after the sea-fight, the + whole of Hellas had revolted from Athens, with the solitary exception of + the men of Samos. These, having massacred the notables, (3) held the state + under their control. After a while Lysander sent messages to Agis at + Deceleia, and to Lacedaemon, announcing his approach with a squadron of + two hundred sail. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Lit. "the Thraceward districts." See above, p. 16. + + (3) Or, "since they had slain their notables, held the state under + popular control." See Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. viii. p. 303 + note 3 (2d ed.), who thinks that the incident referred to is the + violent democratic revolution in Samos described in Thuc. viii. + 21, B.C. 412. +</pre> + <p> + In obedience to a general order of Pausanias, the other king of + Lacedaemon, a levy in force of the Lacedaemonians and all the rest of + Peloponnesus, except the Argives, was set in motion for a campaign. As + soon as the several contingents had arrived, the king put himself at their + head and marched against Athens, encamping in the gymnasium of the + Academy, (4) as it is called. Lysander had now reached Aegina, where, + having got together as many of the former inhabitants as possible, he + formally reinstated them in their city; and what he did in behalf of the + Aeginetans, he did also in behalf of the Melians, and of the rest who had + been deprived of their countries. He then pillaged the island of Salamis, + and finally came to moorings off Piraeus with one hundred and fifty ships + of the line, and established a strict blockade against all merchant ships + entering that harbour. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) For this most illustrious of Athenian gymnasia, which still + retains its name, see Leake, "Topography of Athens," i. 195 foll. +</pre> + <p> + The Athenians, finding themselves besieged by land and sea, were in sore + perplexity what to do. Without ships, without allies, without provisions, + the belief gained hold upon them that there was no way of escape. They + must now, in their turn, suffer what they had themselves inflincted upon + others; not in retaliation, indeed, for ills received, but out of sheer + insolence, overriding the citizens of petty states, and for no better + reason than that these were allies of the very men now at their gates. In + this frame of mind they enfranchised those who at any time had lost their + civil rights, and schooled themselves to endurance; and, albeit many + succumbed to starvation, no thought of truce or reconciliation with their + foes was breathed. (5) But when the stock of corn was absolutely + insufficient, they sent an embassage to Agis, proposing to become allies + of the Lacedaemonians on the sole condition of keeping their fortification + walls and Piraeus; and to draw up articles of treaty on these terms. Agis + bade them betake themselves to Lacedaemon, seeing that he had no authority + to act himself. With this answer the ambassadors returned to Athens, and + were forthwith sent on to Lacedaemon. On reaching Sellasia, (6) a town in + (7) Laconian territory, they waited till they got their answer from the + ephors, who, having learnt their terms (which were identical to those + already proposed to Agis), bade them instantly to be gone, and, if they + really desired peace, to come with other proposals, the fruit of happier + reflection. Thus the ambassadors returned home, and reported the result of + their embassage, whereupon despondency fell upon all. It was a painful + reflection that in the end they would be sold into slavery; and meanwhile, + pending the return of a second embassy, many must needs fall victims to + starvation. The razing of their fortifications was not a solution which + any one cared to recommend. A senator, Archestratus, had indeed put the + question in the senate, whether it were not best to make peace with the + Lacedaemonians on such terms as they were willing to propose; but he was + thrown into prison. The Laconian proposals referred to involved the + destruction of both long walls for a space of more than a mile. And a + decree had been passed, making it illegal to submit any such proposition + about the walls. Things having reached this pass, Theramenes made a + proposal in the public assembly as follows: If they chose to send him as + an ambassador to Lysander, he would go and find out why the Lacedaemonians + were so unyielding about the walls; whether it was they really intended to + enslave the city, or merely that they wanted a guarantee of good faith. + Despatched accordingly, he lingered on with Lysander for three whole + months and more, watching for the time when the Athenians, at the last + pinch of starvation, would be willing to accede to any terms that might be + offered. At last, in the fourth month, he returned and reported to the + public assembly that Lysander had detained him all this while, and had + ended by bidding him betake himself to Lacedaemon, since he had no + authority himself to answer his questions, which must be addressed + directly to the ephors. After this Theramenes was chosen with nine others + to go to Lacedaemon as ambassadors with full powers. Meanwhile Lysander + had sent an Athenian exile, named Aristoteles, in company of certain + Lacedaemonians, to Sparta to report to the board of ephors how he had + answered Theramenes, that they, and they alone, had supreme authority in + matters of peace and war. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Or, "they refused to treat for peace." + + (6) Sellasia, the bulwark of Sparta in the valley of the Oenus. + + (7) The MSS. have "in the neighbourhood of," which words are + inappropriate at this date, though they may well have been added + by some annotator after the Cleomenic war and the battle of + Sellasia, B.C. 222, when Antigonus of Macedon destroyed the place + in the interests of the Achaean League. +</pre> + <p> + Theramenes and his companions presently reached Sellasia, and being there + questioned as to the reason of their visit, replied that they had full + powers to treat of peace. After which the ephors ordered them to be + summoned to their presence. On their arrival a general assembly was + convened, in which the Corinthians and Thebans more particularly, though + their views were shared by many other Hellenes also, urged the meeting not + to come to terms with the Athenians, but to destroy them. The + Lacedaemonians replied that they would never reduce to slavery a city + which was itself an integral portion of Hellas, and had performed a great + and noble service to Hellas in the most perilous of emergencies. On the + contrary, they were willing to offer peace on the terms now specified—namely, + "That the long walls and the fortifications of Piraeus should be + destroyed; that the Athenian fleet, with the exception of twelve vessels, + should be surrendered; that the exiles should be restored; and lastly, + that the Athenians should acknowledge the headship of Sparta in peace and + war, leaving to her the choice of friends and foes, and following her lead + by land and sea." Such were the terms which Theramenes and the rest who + acted with him were able to report on their return to Athens. As they + entered the city, a vast crowd met them, trembling lest their mission have + proved fruitless. For indeed delay was no longer possible, so long already + was the list of victims daily perishing from starvation. On the day + following, the ambassadors delivered their report, stating the terms upon + which the Lacedaemonians were willing to make peace. Theramenes acted as + spokesman, insisting that they ought to obey the Lacedaemonians and pull + down the walls. A small minority raised their voice in opposition, but the + majority were strongly in favour of the proposition, and the resolution + was passed to accept the peace. After that, Lysander sailed into the + Piraeus, and the exiles were readmitted. And so they fell to levelling the + fortifications and walls with much enthusiasm, to the accompaniment of + female flute-players, deeming that day the beginning of liberty to Greece. + </p> + <p> + Thus the year drew to its close (8)—during its middle months took + place the accession of Dionysius, the son of Hermocrates the Syracusan, to + the tyranny of Syracuse; an incident itself preceded by a victory gained + over the Carthaginians by the Syracusans; the reduction of Agrigentum + through famine by the Carthaginians themselves; and the exodus of the + Sicilian Greeks from that city. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) For the puzzling chronology of this paragraph see Grote, "Hist. of + Greece," vol. x. p 619 (2d ed.) If genuine, the words may perhaps + have slipt out of their natural place in chapter i. above, in + front of the words "in the following year Lysander arrived," etc. + L. Dindorf brackets them as spurious. Xen., "Hist. Gr." ed. + tertia, Lipsiae, MDCCCLXXII. For the incidents referred to see + above; Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. x. pp. 582, 598 (2d ed.) +</pre> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + B.C. 404. In the following year (1) the people passed a resolution to + choose thirty men who were to draft a constitution based on the ancestral + laws of the State. The following were chosen to act on this committee:—Polychares, + Critias, Melobius, Hippolochus, Eucleides, Hiero, Mnesilochus, Chremo, + Theramenes, Aresias, Diocles, Phaedrias, Chaereleos, Anaetius, Piso, + Sophocles, Erastosthenes, Charicles, Onomacles, Theognis, Aeschines, + Theogones, Cleomedes, Erasistratus, Pheido, Dracontides, Eumathes, + Aristoteles, Hippomachus, Mnesitheides. After these transactions, Lysander + set sail for Samos; and Agis withdrew the land force from Deceleia and + disbanded the troops, dismissing the contingents to their several cities. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) The MSS. here add "it was that year of the Olympiad cycle in which + Crocinas, a Thessalian, won the Stadium; when Endius was ephor at + Sparta, and Pythodorus archon at Athens, though the Athenians + indeed do not call the year by that archon's name, since he was + elected during the oligarchy, but prefer to speak of the year of + 'anarchy'; the aforesaid oligarchy originated thus,"—which, + though correct, probably was not written by Xenophon. The year of + anarchy might perhaps be better rendered "the year without + archons." +</pre> + <p> + In was at this date, about the time of the solar eclipse, (2) that + Lycophron of Pherae, who was ambitious of ruling over the whole of + Thessaly, defeated those sections of the Thessalians who opposed him, such + as the men of Larissa and others, and slew many of them. It was also about + this date that Dionysius, now tyrant of Syracuse, was defeated by the + Carthaginians and lost Gela and Camarina. And again, a little later, the + men of Leontini, who previously had been amalgamated with the Syracusans, + separated themselves from Syracuse and Dionysius, and asserted their + independence, and returned to their native city. Another incident of this + period was the sudden despatch and introduction of Syracusan horse into + Catana by Dionysius. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) This took place on 2d September B.C. 404. +</pre> + <p> + Now the Samians, though besieged by Lysander on all sides, were at first + unwilling to come to terms. But at the last moment, when Lysander was on + the point of assaulting the town, they accepted the terms, which allowed + every free man to leave the island, but not to carry away any part of his + property, except the clothes on his back. On these conditions they marched + out. The city and all it contained was then delivered over to its ancient + citizens by Lysander, who finally appointed ten governors to garrison the + island. (3) After which, he disbanded the allied fleet, dismissing them to + their respective cities, while he himself, with the Lacedaemonian + squadron, set sail for Laconia, bringing with him the prows of the + conquered vessels and the whole navy of Piraeus, with the exception of + twelve ships. He also brought the crowns which he had received from the + cities as private gifts, and a sum of four hundred and seventy talents (4) + in silver (the surplus of the tribute money which Cyrus had assigned to + him for the prosecution of the war), besides other property, the fruit of + his military exploits. All these things Lysander delivered to the + Lacedaemonians in the latter end of summer. (5) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) A council of ten, or "decarchy." See Grote, "H. G." viii. 323 (1st + ed.) + + (4) About 112,800 pounds. + + (5) The MSS. add "a summer, the close of which coincided with the + termination of a war which had lasted twenty-eight and a half + years, as the list of annual ephors, appended in order, serves to + show. Aenesias is the first name. The war began during his + ephorate, in the fifteenth year of the thirty years' truce after + the capture of Euboea. His successors were Brasidas, Isanor, + Sostratidas, Exarchus, Agesistratus, Angenidas, Onomacles, + Zeuxippus, Pityas, Pleistolas, Cleinomachus, Harchus, Leon, + Chaerilas, Patesiadas, Cleosthenes, Lycarius, Eperatus, + Onomantius, Alexippidas, Misgolaidas, Isias, Aracus, Euarchippus, + Pantacles, Pityas, Archytas, and lastly, Endius, during whose year + of office Lysander sailed home in triumph, after performing the + exploits above recorded,"—the interpolation, probably, of some + editor or copyist, the words "twenty-eight and a half" being + probably a mistake on his part for "twenty-seven and a half." Cf. + Thuc. v. 26; also Buchsenschutz, Einleitung, p. 8 of his school + edition of the "Hellenica." +</pre> + <p> + The Thirty had been chosen almost immediately after the long walls and the + fortifications round Piraeus had been razed. They were chosen for the + express purpose of compiling a code of laws for the future constitution of + the State. The laws were always on the point of being published, yet they + were never forthcoming; and the thirty compilers contented themselves + meanwhile with appointing a senate and the other magistracies as suited + their fancy best. That done, they turned their attention, in the first + instance, to such persons as were well known to have made their living as + informers (6) under the democracy, and to be thorns in the side of all + respectable people. These they laid hold on and prosecuted on the capital + charge. The new senate gladly recorded its vote of condemnation against + them; and the rest of the world, conscious of bearing no resemblance to + them, seemed scarcely vexed. But the Thirty did not stop there. Presently + they began to deliberate by what means they could get the city under their + absolute control, in order that they might work their will upon it. Here + again they proceeded tentatively; in the first instance, they sent (two of + their number), Aeschines and Aristoteles, to Lacedaemon, and persuaded + Lysander to support them in getting a Lacedaemonian garrison despatched to + Athens. They only needed it until they had got the "malignants" out of the + way, and had established the constitution; and they would undertake to + maintain these troops at their own cost. Lysander was not deaf to their + persuasions, and by his co-operation their request was granted. A + bodyguard, with Callibius as governor, was sent. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) Lit. "by sycophancy," i.e. calumnious accusation—the sycophant's + trade. For a description of this pest of Athenian life cf. "Dem." + in Arist. 1, S. 52; quoted in Jebb, "Attic Orators," chap. xxix. + 14; cf. Aristoph. "Ach." 904; Xen. "Mem." II. ix. 1. +</pre> + <p> + And now that they had got the garrison, they fell to flattering Callibius + with all servile flattery, in order that he might give countenance to + their doings. Thus they prevailed on him to allow some of the guards, whom + they selected, to accompany them, while they proceeded to lay hands on + whom they would; no longer confining themselves to base folk and people of + no account, but boldly laying hands on those who they felt sure would + least easily brook being thrust aside, or, if a spirit of opposition + seized them, could command the largest number of partisans. + </p> + <p> + These were early days; as yet Critias was of one mind with Theramenes, and + the two were friends. But the time came when, in proportion as Critias was + ready to rush headlong into wholesale carnage, like one who thirsted for + the blood of the democracy, which had banished him, Theramenes balked and + thwarted him. It was barely reasonable, he argued, to put people to death, + who had never done a thing wrong to respectable people in their lives, + simply because they had enjoyed influence and honour under the democracy. + "Why, you and I, Critias," he would add, "have said and done many things + ere now for the sake of popularity." To which the other (for the terms of + friendly intimacy still subsisted) would retort, "There is no choice left + to us, since we intend to take the lion's share, but to get rid of those + who are best able to hinder us. If you imagine, because we are thirty + instead of one, our government requires one whit the less careful guarding + than an actual tyranny, you must be very innocent." + </p> + <p> + So things went on. Day after day the list of persons put to death for no + just reason grew longer. Day after day the signs of resentment were more + significant in the groups of citizens banding together and forecasting the + character of this future constitution; till at length Theramenes spoke + again, protesting:—There was no help for it but to associate with + themselves a sufficient number of persons in the conduct of affairs, or + the oligarchy would certainly come to an end. Critias and the rest of the + Thirty, whose fears had already converted Theramenes into a dangerous + popular idol, proceeded at once to draw up a list of three thousand + citizens; fit and proper persons to have a share in the conduct of + affairs. But Theramenes was not wholly satisfied, "indeed he must say, for + himself, he regarded it as ridiculous, that in their effort to associate + the better classes with themselves in power, they should fix on just that + particular number, three thousand, as if that figure had some necessary + connection with the exact number of gentlemen in the State, making it + impossible to discover any respectability outside or rascality within the + magic number. And in the second place," he continued, "I see we are trying + to do two things, diametrically opposed; we are manufacturing a + government, which is based on force, and at the same time inferior in + strength to those whom we propose to govern." That was what he said, but + what his colleagues did, was to institute a military inspection or review. + The Three Thousand were drawn up in the Agora, and the rest of the + citizens, who were not included in the list, elsewhere in various quarters + of the city. The order to take arms was given; (7) but while the men's + backs were turned, at the bidding of the Thirty, the Laconian guards, with + those of the citizens who shared their views, appeared on the scene and + took away the arms of all except the Three Thousand, carried them up to + the Acropolis, and safely deposited them in the temple. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) Or, "a summons to the 'place d'armes' was given; but." Or, "the + order to seize the arms was given, and." It is clear from + Aristoph. "Acharn." 1050, that the citizens kept their weapons at + home. On the other hand, it was a custom not to come to any + meeting in arms. See Thuc. vi. 58. It seems probable that while + the men were being reviewed in the market-place and elsewhere, the + ruling party gave orders to seize their weapons (which they had + left at home), and this was done except in the case of the Three + Thousand. Cf. Arnold, "Thuc." II. 2. 5; and IV. 91. +</pre> + <p> + The ground being thus cleared, as it were, and feeling that they had it in + their power to do what they pleased, they embarked on a course of + wholesale butchery, to which many were sacrificed to the merest hatred, + many to the accident of possessing riches. Presently the question rose, + How they were to get money to pay their guards? and to meet this + difficulty a resolution was passed empowering each of the committee to + seize on one of the resident aliens apiece, to put his victim to death, + and to confiscate his property. Theramenes was invited, or rather told to + seize some one or other. "Choose whom you will, only let it be done." To + which he made answer, it hardly seemed to him a noble or worthy course on + the part of those who claimed to be the elite of society to go beyond the + informers (8) in injustice. "Yesterday they, to-day we; with this + difference, the victim of the informer must live as a source of income; + our innocents must die that we may get their wealth. Surely their method + was innocent in comparison with ours." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) See above. +</pre> + <p> + The rest of the Thirty, who had come to regard Theramenes as an obstacle + to any course they might wish to adopt, proceeded to plot against him. + They addressed themselves to the members of the senate in private, here a + man and there a man, and denounced him as the marplot of the constitution. + Then they issued an order to the young men, picking out the most audacious + characters they could find, to be present, each with a dagger hidden in + the hollow of the armpit; and so called a meeting of the senate. When + Theramenes had taken his place, Critias got up and addressed the meeting: + </p> + <p> + "If," said he, "any member of this council, here seated, imagines that an + undue amount of blood has been shed, let me remind him that with changes + of constitution such things can not be avoided. It is the rule everywhere, + but more particularly at Athens it was inevitable there should be found a + specially large number of persons sworn foes to any constitutional change + in the direction of oligarchy, and this for two reasons. First, because + the population of this city, compared with other Hellenic cities, is + enormously large; and again, owing to the length of time during which the + people has battened upon liberty. Now, as to two points we are clear. The + first is that democracy is a form of government detestable to persons like + ourselves—to us and to you; the next is that the people of Athens + could never be got to be friendly to our friends and saviours, the + Lacedaemonians. But on the loyalty of the better classes the + Lacedaemonians can count. And that is our reason for establishing an + oligarchical constitution with their concurrence. That is why we do our + best to rid us of every one whom we perceive to be opposed to the + oligarchy; and, in our opinion, if one of ourselves should elect to + undermine this constitution of ours, he would deserve punishment. Do you + not agree? And the case," he continued, "is no imaginary one. The offender + is here present—Theramenes. And what we say of him is, that he is + bent upon destroying yourselves and us by every means in his power. These + are not baseless charges; but if you will consider it, you will find them + amply established in this unmeasured censure of the present posture of + affairs, and his persistent opposition to us, his colleagues, if ever we + seek to get rid of any of these demagogues. Had this been his guiding + principle of action from the beginning, in spite of hostility, at least he + would have escaped all imputation of villainy. Why, this is the very man + who originated our friendly and confidential relations with Lacedaemon. + This is the very man who authorised the abolition of the democracy, who + urged us on to inflict punishment on the earliest batch of prisoners + brought before us. But to-day all is changed; now you and we are out of + odour with the people, and he accordingly has ceased to be pleased with + our proceedings. The explanation is obvious. In case of a catastrophe, how + much pleasanter for him once again to light upon his legs, and leave us to + render account for our past performances. + </p> + <p> + "I contend that this man is fairly entitled to render his account also, + not only as an ordinary enemy, but as a traitor to yourselves and us. And + let us add, not only is treason more formidable than open war, in + proportion as it is harder to guard against a hidden assassin than an open + foe, but it bears the impress of a more enduring hostility, inasmuch as + men fight their enemies and come to terms with them again and are fast + friends; but whoever heard of reconciliation with a traitor? There he + stands unmasked; he has forfeited our confidence for evermore. But to show + you that these are no new tactics of his, to prove to you that he is a + traitor in grain, I will recall to your memories some points in his past + history. + </p> + <p> + "He began by being held in high honour by the democracy; but taking a leaf + out of his father's, Hagnon's, book, he next showed a most headlong + anxiety to transform the democracy into the Four Hundred, and, in fact, + for a time held the first place in that body. But presently, detecting the + formation of rival power to the oligarchs, round he shifted; and we find + him next a ringleader of the popular party in assailing them. It must be + admitted, he has well earned his nickname 'Buskin.' (9) Yes, Theramenes! + clever you may be, but the man who deserves to live should not show his + cleverness in leading on his associates into trouble, and when some + obstacle presents itself, at once veer round; but like a pilot on + shipboard, he ought then to redouble his efforts, until the wind is fair. + Else, how in the name of wonderment are those mariners to reach the haven + where they would be, if at the first contrary wind or tide they turn about + and sail in the opposite direction? Death and destruction are concomitants + of constitutional changes and revolution, no doubt; but you are such an + impersonation of change, that, as you twist and turn and double, you deal + destruction on all sides. At one swoop you are the ruin of a thousand + oligarchs at the hands of the people, and at another of a thousand + democrats at the hands of the better classes. Why, sirs, this is the man + to whom the orders were given by the generals, in the sea-fight off + Lesbos, to pick up the crews of the disabled vessels; and who, neglecting + to obey orders, turned round and accused the generals; and to save himself + murdered them! What, I ask you, of a man who so openly studied the art of + self-seeking, deaf alike to the pleas of honour and to the claims of + friendship? Would not leniency towards such a creature be misplaced? Can + it be our duty at all to spare him? Ought we not rather, when we know the + doublings of his nature, to guard against them, lest we enable him + presently to practise on ourselves? The case is clear. We therefore hereby + cite this man before you, as a conspirator and traitor against yourselves + and us. The reasonableness of our conduct, one further reflection may make + clear. No one, I take it, will dispute the splendour, the perfection of + the Laconian constitution. Imagine one of the ephors there in Sparta, in + lieu of devoted obedience to the majority, taking on himself to find fault + with the government and to oppose all measures. Do you not think that the + ephors themselves, and the whole commonwealth besides, would hold this + renegade worthy of condign punishment? So, too, by the same token, if you + are wise, do you spare yourselves, not him. For what does the alternative + mean? I will tell you. His preservation will cause the courage of many who + hold opposite views to your own to rise; his destruction will cut off the + last hopes of all your enemies, whether within or without the city." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) An annotator seems to have added here the words, occurring in the + MSS., "the buskin which seems to fit both legs equally, but is + constant to neither," unless, indeed, they are an original + "marginal note" of the author. For the character of Theramenes, as + popularly conceived, cf. Aristoph. "Frogs," 538, 968 foll., and + Thuc. viii. 92; and Prof. Jowett, "Thuc." vol. ii. pp. 523, 524. +</pre> + <p> + With these words he sat down, but Theramenes rose and said: "Sirs, with + your permission I will first touch upon the charge against me which + Critias has mentioned last. The assertion is that as the accuser of the + generals I was their murderer. Now I presume it was not I who began the + attack upon them, but it was they who asserted that in spite of the orders + given me I had neglected to pick up the unfortunates in the sea-fight off + Lesbos. All I did was to defend myself. My defence was that the storm was + too violent to permit any vessel to ride at sea, much more therefore to + pick up the men, and this defence was accepted by my fellow-citizens as + highly reasonable, while the generals seemed to be condemned out of their + own mouths. For while they kept on asserting that it was possible to save + the men, the fact still remained that they abandoned them to their fate, + set sail, and were gone. + </p> + <p> + "However, I am not surprised, I confess, at this grave misconception (10) + on the part of Critias, for at the date of these occurrences he was not in + Athens. He was away in Thessaly, laying the foundations of a democracy + with Prometheus, and arming the Penestae (11) against their masters. + Heaven forbid that any of his transactions there should be re-enacted + here. However, I must say, I do heartily concur with him on one point. + Whoever desires to exclude you from the government, or to strength the + hands of your secret foes, deserves and ought to meet with condign + punishment; but who is most capable of so doing? That you will best + discover, I think, by looking a little more closely into the past and the + present conduct of each of us. Well, then! up to the moment at which you + were formed into a senatorial body, when the magistracies were appointed, + and certain notorious 'informers' were brought to trial, we all held the + same views. But later on, when our friends yonder began to hale + respectable honest folk to prison and to death, I, on my side, began to + differ from them. From the moment when Leon of Salamis, (12) a man of high + and well-deserved reputation, was put to death, though he had not + committed the shadow of a crime, I knew that all his equals must tremble + for themselves, and, so trembling, be driven into opposition to the new + constitution. In the same way, when Niceratus, (13) the son of Nicias, was + arrested; a wealthy man, who, no more than his father, had never done + anything that could be called popular or democratic in his life; it did + not require much insight to discover that his compeers would be converted + into our foes. But to go a step further: when it came to Antiphon (14) + falling at our hands—Antiphon, who during the war contributed two + fast-sailing men-of-war out of his own resources, it was then plain to me, + that all who had ever been zealous and patriotic must eye us with + suspicion. Once more I could not help speaking out in opposition to my + colleagues when they suggested that each of us ought to seize some one + resident alien. (15) For what could be more certain than that their + death-warrant would turn the whole resident foreign population into + enemies of the constitution. I spoke out again when they insisted on + depriving the populace of their arms; it being no part of my creed that we + ought to take the strength out of the city; nor, indeed, so far as I could + see, had the Lacedaemonians stept between us and destruction merely that + we might become a handful of people, powerless to aid them in the day of + need. Had that been their object, they might have swept us away to the + last man. A few more weeks, or even days, would have sufficed to + extinguish us quietly by famine. Nor, again, can I say that the + importation of mercenary foreign guards was altogether to my taste, when + it would have been so easy for us to add to our own body a sufficient + number of fellow-citizens to ensure our supremacy as governors over those + we essayed to govern. But when I saw what an army of malcontents this + government had raised up within the city walls, besides another daily + increasing host of exiles without, I could not but regard the banishment + of people like Thrasybulus and Anytus and Alcibiades (16) as impolitic. + Had our object been to strengthen the rival power, we could hardly have + set about it better than by providing the populace with the competent + leaders whom they needed, and the would-be leaders themselves with an army + of willing adherents. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Reading with Cobet {paranenomikenai}. + + (11) I.e. serfs—Penestae being the local name in Thessaly for the + villein class. Like the {Eilotes} in Laconia, they were originally + a conquered tribe, afterwards increased by prisoners of war, and + formed a link between the freemen and born slaves. + + (12) Cf. "Mem." IV. iv. 3; Plat. "Apol." 8. 32. + + (13) Cf. Lysias, "Or." 18. 6. + + (14) Probably the son of Lysidonides. See Thirlwall, "Hist. of + Greece," vol. iv. p. 179 (ed. 1847); also Lysias, "Or." 12. contra + Eratosth. According to Lysias, Theramenes, when a member of the + first Oligarchy, betrayed his own closest friends, Antiphon and + Archeptolemus. See Prof. Jebb, "Attic Orators," I. x. p. 266. + + (15) The resident aliens, or {metoikoi}, "metics," so technically + called. + + (16) Isocr. "De Bigis," 355; and Prof. Jebb's "Attic Orators," ii. + 230. In the defence of his father's career, which the younger + Alcibiades, the defendant in this case (B.C. 397 probably) has + occasion to make, he reminds the court, that under the Thirty, + others were banished from Athens, but his father was driven out of + the civilised world of Hellas itself, and finally murdered. See + Plutarch, "Alcibiades," ad fin. +</pre> + <p> + "I ask then is the man who tenders such advice in the full light of day + justly to be regarded as a traitor, and not as a benefactor? Surely + Critias, the peacemaker, the man who hinders the creation of many enemies, + whose counsels tend to the acquistion of yet more friends, (17) cannot be + accused of strengthening the hands of the enemy. Much more truly may the + imputation be retorted on those who wrongfully appropriate their + neighbours' goods and put to death those who have done no wrong. These are + they who cause our adversaries to grow and multiply, and who in very truth + are traitors, not to their friends only, but to themselves, spurred on by + sordid love of gain. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) Or, "the peacemaker, the healer of differences, the cementer of + new alliances, cannot," etc. +</pre> + <p> + "I might prove the truth of what I say in many ways, but I beg you to look + at the matter thus. With which condition of affairs here in Athens do you + think will Thrasybulus and Anytus and the other exiles be the better + pleased? That which I have pictured as desirable, or that which my + colleagues yonder are producing? For my part I cannot doubt but that, as + things now are, they are saying to themselves, 'Our allies muster thick + and fast.' But were the real strength, the pith and fibre of this city, + kindly disposed to us, they would find it an uphill task even to get a + foothold anywhere in the country. + </p> + <p> + "Then, with regard to what he said of me and my propensity to be for ever + changing sides, let me draw your attention to the following facts. Was it + not the people itself, the democracy, who voted the constitution of the + Four Hundred? This they did, because they had learned to think that the + Lacedaemonians would trust any other form of government rather than a + democracy. But when the efforts of Lacedaemon were not a whit relaxed, + when Aristoteles, Melanthius, and Aristarchus, (18) and the rest of them + acting as generals, were plainly minded to construct an intrenched + fortress on the mole for the purpose of admitting the enemy, and so + getting the city under the power of themselves and their associates; (19) + because I got wind of these schemes, and nipped them in the bud, is that + to be a traitor to one's friends? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) Cf. Thuc. viii. 90-92, for the behaviour of the Lacedaemonian + party at Athens and the fortification of Eetioneia in B.C. 411. + + (19) I.e. of the political clubs. +</pre> + <p> + "Then he threw in my teeth the nickname 'Buskin,' as descriptive of an + endeavour on my part to fit both parties. But what of the man who pleases + neither? What in heaven's name are we to call him? Yes! you—Critias? + Under the democracy you were looked upon as the most arrant hater of the + people, and under the aristocracy you have proved yourself the bitterest + foe of everything respectable. Yes! Critias, I am, and ever have been, a + foe of those who think that a democracy cannot reach perfection until + slaves and those who, from poverty, would sell the city for a drachma, can + get their drachma a day. (20) But not less am I, and ever have been, a + pronounced opponent of those who do not think there can possibly exist a + perfect oligarchy until the State is subjected to the despotism of a few. + On the contrary, my own ambition has been to combine with those who are + rich enough to possess a horse and shield, and to use them for the benefit + of the State. (21) That was my ideal in the old days, and I hold to it + without a shadow of turning still. If you can imagine when and where, in + conjunction with despots or demagogues, I have set to my hand to deprive + honest gentlefolk of their citizenship, pray speak. If you can convict me + of such crimes at present, or can prove my perpetration of them in the + past, I admit that I deserve to die, and by the worst of deaths." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) I.e. may enjoy the senatorial stipend of a drachma a day = 9 3/4 + pence. + + (21) See Thuc. viii. 97, for a momentary realisation of that "duly + attempered compound of Oligarchy and Democracy" which Thucydides + praises, and which Theramenes here refers to. It threw the power + into the hands of the wealthier upper classes to the exclusion of + the {nautikos okhlos}. See Prof. Jowett, vol. ii. note, ad loc. + cit. +</pre> + <p> + With these words he ceased, and the loud murmur of the applause which + followed marked the favourable impression produced upon the senate. It was + plain to Critias, that if he allowed his adversary's fate to be decided by + formal voting, Theramenes would escape, and life to himself would become + intolerable. Accordingly he stepped forward and spoke a word or two in the + ears of the Thirty. This done, he went out and gave an order to the + attendants with the daggers to stand close to the bar in full view of the + senators. Again he entered and addressed the senate thus: "I hold it to be + the duty of a good president, when he sees the friends about him being + made the dupes of some delusion, to intervene. That at any rate is what I + propose to do. Indeed our friends here standing by the bar say that if we + propose to acquit a man so openly bent upon the ruin of the oligarchy, + they do not mean to let us do so. Now there is a clause in the new code + forbidding any of the Three Thousand to be put to death without your vote; + but the Thirty have power of life and death over all outside that list. + Accordingly," he proceeded, "I herewith strike this man, Theramenes, off + the list; and this with the concurrence of my colleagues. And now," he + continued, "we condemn him to death." + </p> + <p> + Hearing these words Theramenes sprang upon the altar of Hestia, + exclaiming: "And I, sirs, supplicate you for the barest forms of law and + justice. Let it not be in the power of Critias to strike off either me, or + any one of you whom he will. But in my case, in what may be your case, if + we are tried, let our trial be in accordance with the law they have made + concerning those on the list. I know," he added, "but too well, that this + altar will not protect me; but I will make it plain that these men are as + impious towards the gods as they are nefarious towards men. Yet I do + marvel, good sirs and honest gentlemen, for so you are, that you will not + help yourselves, and that too when you must see that the name of every one + of you is as easily erased as mine." + </p> + <p> + But when he had got so far, the voice of the herald was heard giving the + order to the Eleven to seize Theramenes. They at that instant entered with + their satellites—at their head Satyrus, the boldest and most + shameless of the body—and Critias exclaimed, addressing the Eleven, + "We deliver over to you Theramenes yonder, who has been condemned + according to the law. Do you take him and lead him away to the proper + place, and do there with him what remains to do." As Critias uttered the + words, Satyrus laid hold upon Theramenes to drag him from the altar, and + the attendants lent their aid. But he, as was natural, called upon gods + and men to witness what was happening. The senators the while kept + silence, seeing the companions of Satyrus at the bar, and the whole front + of the senate house crowded with the foreign guards, nor did they need to + be told that there were daggers in reserve among those present. + </p> + <p> + And so Theramenes was dragged through the Agora, in vehement and loud + tones proclaiming the wrongs that he was suffering. One word, which is + said to have fallen from his lips, I cite. It is this: Satyrus, bade him + "Be silent, or he would rue the day;" to which he made answer, "And if I + be silent, shall I not rue it?" Also, when they brought him the hemlock, + and the time was come to drink the fatal draught, they tell how he + playfully jerked out the dregs from the bottom of the cup, like one who + plays "Cottabos," (22) with the words, "This to the lovely Critias." These + are but "apophthegms" (23) too trivial, it may be thought, to find a place + in history. Yet I must deem it an admirable trait in this man's character, + if at such a moment, when death confronted him, neither his wits forsook + him, nor could the childlike sportiveness vanish from his soul. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) "A Sicilian game much in vogue at the drinking parties of young + men at Athens. The simplest mode was when each threw the wine left + in his cup so as to strike smartly in a metal basin, at the same + time invoking his mistress's name; if all fell into the basin and + the sound was clear, it was a sign he stood well with her."— + Liddell and Scott, sub. v. For the origin of the game compare + curiously enough the first line of the first Elegy of Critias + himself, who was a poet and political philosopher, as well as a + politician:— +</pre> + <p> + "{Kottabos ek Sikeles esti khthonos, euprepes ergon on skopon es latagon + toxa kathistametha.}" Bergk. "Poetae Lyr. Graec." Pars II. xxx. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) Or, "these are sayings too slight, perhaps, to deserve record; + yet," etc. By an "apophthegm" was meant originally a terse + (sententious) remark, but the word has somewhat altered in + meaning. +</pre> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + So Theramenes met his death; and, now that this obstacle was removed, the + Thirty, feeling that they had it in their power to play the tyrant without + fear, issued an order forbidding all, whose names were not on the list, to + set foot within the city. Retirement in the country districts was no + protection, thither the prosecutor followed them, and thence dragged them, + that their farms and properties might fall to the possession of the Thirty + and their friends. Even Piraeus was not safe; of those who sought refuge + there, many were driven forth in similar fashion, until Megara and Thebes + overflowed with the crowd of refugees. + </p> + <p> + Presently Thrasybulus, with about seventy followers, sallied out from + Thebes, and made himself master of the fortress of Phyle. (1) The weather + was brilliant, and the Thirty marched out of the city to repel the + invader; with them were the Three Thousand and the Knights. When they + reached the place, some of the young men, in the foolhardiness of youth, + made a dash at the fortress, but without effect; all they got was wounds, + and so retired. The intention of the Thirty now was to blockade the place; + by shutting off all the avenues of supplies, they thought to force the + garrison to capitulate. But this project was interrupted by a steady + downfall of snow that night and the following day. Baffled by this + all-pervading enemy they beat a retreat to the city, but not without the + sacrifice of many of their camp-followers, who fell a prey to the men in + Phyle. The next anxiety of the government in Athens was to secure the + farms and country houses against the plunderings and forays to which they + would be exposed, if there were no armed force to protect them. With this + object a protecting force was despatched to the "boundary estates," (2) + about two miles south of Phyle. This corps consisted of the Lacedaemonian + guards, or nearly all of them, and two divisions of horse. (3) They + encamped in a wild and broken district, and the round of their duties + commenced. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) "A strong fortress (the remains of which still exist) commanding + the narrow pass across Mount Parnes, through which runs the direct + road from Thebes to Athens, past Acharnae. The precipitous rock on + which it stands can only be approached by a ridge on the eastern + side. The height commands a magnificent view of the whole Athenian + plain, of the city itself, of Mount Hymettus, and the Saronic + Gulf,"—"Dict. of Geog., The demi of the Diacria and Mount + Parnes." + + (2) Cf. Boeckh, "P. E. A." p. 63, Eng. ed. + + (3) Lit. tribes, each of the ten tribes furnishing about one hundred + horse. +</pre> + <p> + But by this time the small garrison above them had increased tenfold, + until there were now something like seven hundred men collected in Phyle; + and with these Thrasybulus one night descended. When he was not quite half + a mile from the enemy's encampment he grounded arms, and a deep silence + was maintained until it drew towards day. In a little while the men + opposite, one by one, were getting to their legs or leaving the camp for + necessary purposes, while a suppressed din and murmur arose, caused by the + grooms currying and combing their horses. This was the moment for + Thrasybulus and his men to snatch up their arms and make a dash at the + enemy's position. Some they felled on the spot; and routing the whole + body, pursued them six or seven furlongs, killing one hundred and twenty + hoplites and more. Of the cavalry, Nicostratus, "the beautiful," as men + called him, and two others besides were slain; they were caught while + still in their beds. Returning from the pursuit, the victors set up a + trophy, got together all the arms they had taken, besides baggage, and + retired again to Phyle. A reinforcement of horse sent from the city could + not discover the vestige of a foe; but waited on the scene of battle until + the bodies of the slain had been picked up by their relatives, when they + withdrew again to the city. + </p> + <p> + After this the Thirty, who had begun to realise the insecurity of their + position, were anxious to appropriate Eleusis, so that an asylum might be + ready for them against the day of need. With this view an order was issued + to the Knights; and Critias, with the rest of the Thirty, visited Eleusis. + There they held a review of the Eleusians in the presence of the Knights; + (4) and, on the pretext of wishing to discover how many they were, and how + large a garrison they would further require, they ordered the townsfolk to + enter their names. As each man did so he had to retire by a postern + leading to the sea. But on the sea-beach this side there were lines of + cavalry drawn up in waiting, and as each man appeared he was handcuffed by + the satellites of the Thirty. When all had so been seized and secured, + they gave orders to Lysimachus, the commander of the cavalry, to take them + off to the city and deliver them over to the Eleven. Next day they + summoned the heavy armed who were on the list, and the rest of the Knights + (5) to the Odeum, and Critias rose and addressed them. He said: "Sirs, the + constitution, the lines of which we are laying down, is a work undertaken + in your interests no less than ours; it is incumbent on you therefore to + participate in its dangers, even as you will partake of its honours. We + expect you therefore, in reference to these Eleusians here, who have been + seized and secured, to vote their condemnation, so that our hopes and + fears may be identical." Then, pointing to a particular spot, he said + peremptorily, "You will please deposit your votes there within sight of + all." It must be understood that the Laconian guards were present at the + time, and armed to the teeth, and filling one-half of the Odeum. As to the + proceedings themselves, they found acceptance with those members of the + State, besides the Thirty, who could be satisfied with a simple policy of + self-aggrandisement. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) Or, "in the cavalry quarters," cf. {en tois ikhthusin} = in the + fish market. Or, "at the review of the horse." + + (5) For the various Odeums at Athens vide Prof. Jebb, "Theophr." + xviii. 235, 236. The one here named was near the fountain + Callirhoe by the Ilissus. +</pre> + <p> + But now Thrasybulus at the head of his followers, by this time about one + thousand strong, descended from Phyle and reached Piraeus in the night. + The Thirty, on their side, informed of this new move, were not slow to + rally to the rescue, with the Laconian guards, supported by their own + cavalry and hoplites. And so they advanced, marching down along the broad + carriage road which leads into Piraeus. The men from Phyle seemed at first + inclined to dispute their passage, but as the wide circuit of the walls + needed a defence beyond the reach of their still scanty numbers, they fell + back in a compact body upon Munychia. (6) Then the troops from the city + poured into the Agora of Hippodmus. (7) Here they formed in line, + stretching along and filling the street which leads to the temple of + Artemis and the Bendideum. (8) This line must have been at least fifty + shields deep; and in this formation they at once began to march up. As to + the men of Phyle, they too blocked the street at the opposite end, and + facing the foe. They presented only a thin line, not more than ten deep, + though behind these, certainly, were ranged a body of targeteers and + light-armed javelin men, who were again supported by an artillery of + stone-throwers—a tolerably numerous division drawn from the + population of the port and district itself. While his antagonists were + still advancing, Thrasybulus gave the order to ground their heavy shields, + and having done so himself, whilst retaining the rest of his arms, he + stood in the midst, and thus addressed them: "Men and fellow-citizens, I + wish to inform some, and to remind others of you, that of the men you see + advancing beneath us there, the right division are the very men we routed + and pursued only five days ago; while on the extreme left there you see + the Thirty. These are the men who have not spared to rob us of our city, + though we did no wrong; who have hounded us from our homes; who have set + the seal of proscription on our dearest friends. But to-day the wheel of + fortune has revolved; that has come about which least of all they looked + for, which most of all we prayed for. Here we stand with our good swords + in our hands, face to face with our foes; and the gods themselves are with + us, seeing that we were arrested in the midst of our peaceful pursuits; at + any moment, whilst we supped, or slept, or marketed, sentence of + banishment was passed upon us: we had done no wrong—nay, many of us + were not even resident in the country. To-day, therefore, I repeat, the + gods do visibly fight upon our side; the great gods, who raise a tempest + even in the midst of calm for our benefit, and when we lay to our hand to + fight, enable our little company to set up the trophy of victory over the + multitude of our foes. On this day they have brought us hither to a place + where the steep ascent must needs hinder our foes from reaching with lance + or arrow further than our foremost ranks; but we with our volley of spears + and arrows and stones cannot fail to reach them with terrible effect. Had + we been forced to meet them vanguard to vanguard, on an equal footing, who + could have been surprised? But as it is, all I say to you is, let fly your + missiles with a will in right brave style. No one can miss his mark when + the road is full of them. To avoid our darts they must be for ever ducking + and skulking beneath their shields; but we will rain blows upon them in + their blindness; we will leap upon them and lay them low. But, O sirs! let + me call upon you so to bear yourselves that each shall be conscious to + himself that victory was won by him and him alone. Victory—which, + God willing, shall this day restore to us the land of our fathers, our + homes, our freedom, and the rewards of civic life, our children, if + children we have, our darlings, and our wives! Thrice happy those among us + who as conquerors shall look upon this gladdest of all days. Nor less + fortunate the man who falls to-day. Not all the wealth in the world shall + purchase him a monument so glorious. At the right instant I will strike + the keynote of the paean; then, with an invocation to the God of battle, + (9) and in return for the wanton insults they put upon us, let us with one + accord wreak vengeance on yonder men." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) The citadel quarter of Piraeus. + + (7) Named after the famous architect Hippodamus, who built the town. + It was situated near where the two long walls joined the wall of + Piraeus; a broad street led from it up to the citadel of Munychia. + + (8) I.e. the temple of Bendis (the Thracian Artemis). Cf. Plat. "Rep." + 327, 354; and Prof. Jowett, "Plato," vol. iii. pp. 193, 226. + + (9) Lit. "Enyalius," in Homer an epithet of Ares; at another date (cf. + Aristoph. "Peace," 456) looked upon as a distinct divinity. +</pre> + <p> + Having so spoken, he turned round, facing the foemen, and kept quiet, for + the order passed by the soothsayer enjoined on them, not to charge before + one of their side was slain or wounded. "As soon as that happens," said + the seer, "we will lead you onwards, and the victory shall be yours; but + for myself, if I err not, death is waiting." And herein he spoke truly, + for they had barely resumed their arms when he himself as though he were + driven by some fatal hand, leapt out in front of the ranks, and so + springing into the midst of the foe, was slain, and lies now buried at the + passage of the Cephisus. But the rest were victorious, and pursued the + routed enemy down to the level ground. There fell in this engagement, out + of the number of the Thirty, Critias himself and Hippomachus, and with + them Charmides, (10) the son of Glaucon, one of the ten archons in + Piraeus, and of the rest about seventy men. The arms of the slain were + taken; but, as fellow-citizens, the conquerors forebore to despoil them of + their coats. This being done, they proceeded to give back the dead under + cover of a truce, when the men, on either side, in numbers stept forward + and conversed with one another. Then Cleocritus (he was the Herald of the + Initiated, (11) a truly "sweet-voiced herald," if ever there was), caused + a deep silence to reign, and addressed their late combatants as follows: + "Fellow-citizens—Why do you drive us forth? why would you slay us? + what evil have we wrought you at any time? or is it a crime that we have + shared with you in the most solemn rites and sacrifices, and in festivals + of the fairest: we have been companions in the chorus, the school, the + army. We have braved a thousand dangers with you by land and sea in behalf + of our common safety, our common liberty. By the gods of our fathers, by + the gods of our mothers, by the hallowed names of kinship, intermarriage, + comradeship, those three bonds which knit the hearts of so many of us, bow + in reverence before God and man, and cease to sin against the land of our + fathers: cease to obey these most unhallowed Thirty, who for the sake of + private gain have in eight months slain almost more men than the + Peloponnesians together in ten years of warfare. See, we have it in our + power to live as citizens in peace; it is only these men, who lay upon us + this most foul burthen, this hideous horror of fratricidal war, loathed of + God and man. Ah! be well assured, for these men slain by our hands this + day, ye are not the sole mourners. There are among them some whose deaths + have wrung from us also many a bitter tear." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) He was cousin to Critias, and uncle by the mother's side to + Plato, who introduces him in the dialogue, which bears his name + (and treats of Temperance), as a very young man at the beginning + of the Peloponnesian War. We hear more of him also from Xenophon + himself in the "Memorabilia," iii. 6. 7; and as one of the + interlocutors in the "Symposium." + + (11) I.e. of the Eleusinian mysteries. He had not only a loud voice, + but a big body. Cf. Aristoph. "Frogs," 1237. +</pre> + <p> + So he spoke, but the officers and leaders of the defeated army who were + left, unwilling that their troops should listen to such topics at that + moment, led them back to the city. But the next day the Thirty, in deep + down-heartedness and desolation, sat in the council chamber. The Three + Thousand, wherever their several divisions were posted, were everywhere a + prey to discord. Those who were implicated in deeds of violence, and whose + fears could not sleep, protested hotly that to yield to the party in + Piraeus were preposterous. Those on the other hand who had faith in their + own innocence, argued in their own minds, and tried to convince their + neighbours that they could well dispense with most of their present evils. + "Why yield obedience to these Thirty?" they asked, "Why assign to them the + privilege of destroying the State?" In the end they voted a resolution to + depose the government, and to elect another. This was a board of ten, + elected one from each tribe. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 403. As to the Thirty, they retired to Eleusis; but the Ten, assisted + by the cavalry officers, had enough to do to keep watch over the men in + the city, whose anarchy and mutual distrust were rampant. The Knights did + not return to quarters at night, but slept out in the Odeum, keeping their + horses and shields close beside them; indeed the distrust was so great + that from evening onwards they patrolled the walls on foot with their + shields, and at break of day mounted their horses, at every moment fearing + some sudden attack upon them by the men in Piraeus. These latter were now + so numerous, and of so mixed a company, that it was difficult to find arms + for all. Some had to be content with shields of wood, others of + wicker-work, which they spent their time in coating with whitening. Before + ten days had elapsed guarantees were given, securing full citizenship, + with equality of taxation and tribute to all, even foreigners, who would + take part in the fighting. Thus they were presently able to take the + field, with large detachments both of heavy infantry and light-armed + troops, besides a division of cavalry, about seventy in number. Their + system was to push forward foraging parties in quest of wood and fruits, + returning at nightfall to Piraeus. Of the city party no one ventured to + take the field under arms; only, from time to time, the cavalry would + capture stray pillagers from Piraeus or inflict some damage on the main + body of their opponents. Once they fell in with a party belonging to the + deme Aexone, (12) marching to their own farms in search of provisions. + These, in spite of many prayers for mercy and the strong disapprobation of + many of the knights, were ruthlessly slaughtered by Lysimachus, the + general of cavalry. The men of Piraeus retaliated by putting to death a + horseman, named Callistratus, of the tribe Leontis, whom they captured in + the country. Indeed their courage ran so high at present that they even + meditated an assault upon the city walls. And here perhaps the reader will + pardon the record of a somewhat ingenious device on the part of the city + engineer, who, aware of the enemy's intention to advance his batteries + along the racecourse, which slopes from the Lyceum, had all the carts and + waggons which were to be found laden with blocks of stone, each one a + cartload in itself, and so sent them to deposit their freights "pele-mele" + on the course in question. The annoyance created by these separate blocks + of stone was enormous, and quite out of proportion to the simplicity of + the contrivance. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) On the coast south of Phalerum, celebrated for its fisheries. Cf. + "Athen." vii. 325. +</pre> + <p> + But it was to Lacedaemon that men's eyes now turned. The Thirty despatched + one set of ambassadors from Eleusis, while another set representing the + government of the city, that is to say the men on the list, was despatched + to summon the Lacedaemonians to their aid, on the plea that the people had + revolted from Sparta. At Sparta, Lysander, taking into account the + possibility of speedily reducing the party in Piraeus by blockading them + by land and sea, and so cutting them off from all supplies, supported the + application, and negotiated the loan of one hundred talents (13) to his + clients, backed by the appointment of himself as harmost on land, and of + his brother, Libys, as admiral of the fleet. And so proceeding to the + scene of action at Eleusis, he got together a large body of Peloponnesian + hoplites, whilst his brother, the admiral, kept watch and ward by sea to + prevent the importation of supplies into Piraeus by water. Thus the men in + Piraeus were soon again reduced to their former helplessness, while the + ardour of the city folk rose to a proportionally high pitch under the + auspices of Lysander. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) 24,375 pounds, reckoning one tal. = 243 pounds 15 shillings. +</pre> + <p> + Things were progressing after this sort when King Pausanias intervened. + Touched by a certain envy of Lysander—(who seemed, by a final stroke + of achievement, about to reach the pinnacle of popularity, with Athens + laid like a pocket dependency at his feet)—the king persuaded three + of the ephors to support him, and forthwith called out the ban. With him + marched contingents of all the allied States, except the Boeotians and + Corinthians. These maintained, that to undertake such an expedition + against the Athenians, in whose conduct they saw nothing contrary to the + treaty, was inconsistent with their oaths. But if that was the language + held by them, the secret of their behaviour lay deeper; they seemed to be + aware of a desire on the part of the Lacedaemonians to annex the soil of + the Athenians and to reduce the state to vassalage. Pausanias encamped on + the Halipedon, (14) as the sandy flat is called, with his right wing + resting on Piraeus, and Lysander and his mercenaries forming the left. His + first act was to send an embassage to the party in Piraeus, calling upon + them to retire peacably to their homes; when they refused to obey, he + made, as far as mere noise went, the semblance of an attack, with + sufficient show of fight to prevent his kindly disposition being too + apparent. But gaining nothing by the feint, he was forced to retire. Next + day he took two Laconian regiments, with three tribes of Athenian horse, + and crossed over to the Mute (15) Harbour, examining the lie of the ground + to discover how and where it would be easiest to draw lines of + circumvallation round Piraeus. As he turned his back to retire, a party of + the enemy sallied out and caused him annoyance. Nettled at the liberty, he + ordered the cavalry to charge at the gallop, supported by the + ten-year-service (16) infantry, whilst he himself, with the rest of the + troops, followed close, holding quietly back in reserve. They cut down + about thirty of the enemy's light troops and pursued the rest hotly to the + theatre in Piraeus. Here, as chance would have it, the whole light and + heavy infantry of the Piraeus men were getting under arms; and in an + instant their light troops rushed out and dashed at the assailants; thick + and fast flew missiles of all sorts—javelins, arrows and sling + stones. The Lacedaemonians finding the number of their wounded increasing + every minute, and sorely called, slowly fell back step by step, eyeing + their opponents. These meanwhile resolutely pressed on. Here fell Chaeron + and Thibrachus, both polemarchs, here also Lacrates, an Olympic victor, + and other Lacedaemonians, all of whom now lie entombed before the city + gates in the Ceramicus. (17) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) The Halipedon is the long stretch of flat sandy land between + Piraeus Phalerum and the city. + + (15) Perhaps the landlocked creek just round the promontory of + Eetioneia, as Leake conjectures, "Topog. of Athens," p. 389. See + also Prof. Jowett's note, "Thuc." v. 2; vol. ii. p. 286. + + (16) I.e. who had already seen ten years of service, i.e. over twenty- + eight, as the Spartan was eligible to serve at eighteen. Cf. Xen. + "Hell." III. iv. 23; VI. iv. 176. + + (17) The outer Ceramicus, "the most beautiful spot outside the walls." + Cf. Thuc. ii. 34; through it passes the street of the tombs on the + sacred road; and here was the place of burial for all persons + honoured with a public funeral. Cf. Arist. "Birds," 395. +</pre> + <p> + Watching how matters went, Thrasybulus began his advance with the whole of + his heavy infantry to support his light troops and quickly fell into line + eight deep, acting as a screen to the rest of his troops. Pausanias, on + his side, had retired, sorely pressed, about half a mile towards a bit of + rising ground, where he sent orders to the Lacedaemonians and the other + allied troops to bring up reinforcements. Here, on this slope, he reformed + his troops, giving his phalanx the full depth, and advanced against the + Athenians, who did not hesitate to receive him at close quarters, but + presently had to give way; one portion being forced into the mud and clay + at Halae, (18) while the others wavered and broke their line; one hundred + and fifty of them were left dead on the field, whereupon Pausanias set up + a trophy and retired. Not even so, were his feelings embittered against + his adversary. On the contrary he sent secretly and instructed the men of + Piraeus, what sort of terms they should propose to himself and the ephors + in attendance. To this advice they listened. He also fostered a division + in the party within the city. A deputation, acting on his orders, sought + an audience of him and the ephors. It had all the appearance of a mass + meeting. In approaching the Spartan authorities, they had no desire or + occasion, they stated, to look upon the men of Piraeus as enemies, they + would prefer a general reconciliation and the friendship of both sides + with Lacedaemon. The propositions were favourably received, and by no less + a person than Nauclidas. He was present as ephor, in accordance with the + custom which obliges two members of that board to serve on all military + expeditions with the king, and with his colleague shared the political + views represented by Pausanias, rather than those of Lysander and his + party. Thus the authorities were quite ready to despatch to Lacedaemon the + representatives of Piraeus, carrying their terms of truce with the + Lacedaemonians, as also two private individuals belonging to the city + party, whose names were Cephisophon and Meletus. This double deputation, + however, had no sooner set out to Lacedaemon than the "de facto" + government of the city followed suit, by sending a third set of + representatives to state on their behalf: that they were prepared to + deliver up themselves and the fortifications in their possession to the + Lacedaemonians, to do with them what they liked. "Are the men of Piraeus," + they asked, "prepared to surrender Piraeus and Munychia in the same way? + If they are sincere in their profession of friendship to Lacedaemon, they + ought to do so." The ephors and the members of assembly at Sparta (19) + gave audience to these several parties, and sent out fifteen commissioners + to Athens empowered, in conjunction with Pausanias, to discover the best + settlement possible. The terms (20) arrived at were that a general peace + between the rival parties should be established, liberty to return to + their own homes being granted to all, with the exception of the Thirty, + the Eleven, and the Ten who had been governors in Piraeus; but a proviso + was added, enabling any of the city party who feared to remain at Athens + to find a home in Eleusis. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) Halae, the salt marshy ground immediately behind the great + harbour of Piraeus, but outside the fortification lines. + + (19) Cf. "Hell." VI. iii. 3, {oi ekkletoi}. + + (20) Cf. Prof. Jebb, "Orators," i. 262, note 2. +</pre> + <p> + And now that everything was happily concluded, Pausanias disbanded his + army, and the men from Piraeus marched up under arms into the acropolis + and offered sacrifice to Athena. When they were come down, the generals + called a meeting of the Ecclesia, (21) and Thrasybulus made a speech in + which, addressing the city party, he said: "Men of the city! I have one + piece of advice I would tender to you; it is that you should learn to know + yourselves, and towards the attainment of that self-knowledge I would have + you make a careful computation of your good qualities and satisfy + yourselves on the strength of which of these it is that you claim to rule + over us. Is it that you are more just than ourselves? Yet the people, who + are poorer—have never wronged you for the purposes of plunder; but + you, whose wealth would outweight the whole of ours, have wrought many a + shameful deed for the sake of gain. If, then, you have no monopoly of + justice, can it be on the score of courage that you are warranted to hold + your heads so high? If so, what fairer test of courage will you propose + than the arbitrament of war—the war just ended? Or do you claim + superiority of intelligence?—you, who with all your wealth of arms + and walls, money and Peloponnesian allies, have been paralysed by men who + had none of these things to aid them! Or is it on these Laconian friends + of yours that you pride yourselves? What! when these same friends have + dealt by you as men deal by vicious dogs. You know how that is. They put a + heavy collar round the neck of the brutes and hand them over muzzled to + their masters. So too have the Lacedaemonians handed you over to the + people, this very people whom you have injured; and now they have turned + their backs and are gone. But" (turning to the mass) "do not misconceive + me. It is not for me, sirs, coldly to beg of you, in no respect to violate + your solemn undertakings. I go further; I beg you, to crown your list of + exploits by one final display of virtue. Show the world that you can be + faithful to your oaths, and flawless in your conduct." By these and other + kindred arguments he impressed upon them that there was no need for + anarchy or disorder, seeing that there were the ancient laws ready for + use. And so he broke up (22) the assembly. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (21) I.e. the Public Assembly, see above; and reading with Sauppe + after Cobet {ekklesian epoiesan}, which words are supposed to have + dropt out of the MSS. Or, keeping to the MSS., translate "When the + generals were come down, Thrasybulus," etc. See next note. + + (22) The Greek words are {antestese ten ekklesian} (an odd phrase for + the more technical {eluse} or {dieluse ten ekklesian}). Or, + accepting the MSS. reading above (see last note), translate "he + set up (i.e. restored) the Assembly." So Mr. J. G. Philpotts, Mr. + Herbert Hailstone, and others. +</pre> + <p> + At this auspicious moment, then, they reappointed the several magistrates; + the constitution began to work afresh, and civic life was recommenced. At + a subsequent period, on receiving information that the party at Eleusis + were collecting a body of mercenaries, they marched out with their whole + force against them, and put to death their generals, who came out to + parley. These removed, they introduced to the others their friends and + connections, and so persuaded them to come to terms and be reconciled. The + oath they bound themselves by consisted of a simple asseveration: "We will + remember past offences no more;" and to this day (23) the two parties live + amicably together as good citizens, and the democracy is steadfast to its + oaths. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) It would be interesting to know the date at which the author + penned these words. Was this portion of the "Hellenica" written + before the expedition of Cyrus? i.e. in the interval between the + formal restoration of the Democracy, September B.C. 403, and March + B.C. 401. The remaining books of the "Hellenica" were clearly + written after that expedition, since reference is made to it quite + early in Bk. III. i. 2. Practically, then, the first volume of + Xenophon's "History of Hellenic Affairs" ends here. This history + is resumed in Bk. III. i. 3. after the Cyreian expedition (of + which episode we have a detailed account in the "Anabasis" from + March B.C. 401 down to March B.C. 399, when the remnant of the Ten + Thousand was handed over to the Spartan general Thibron in Asia). + Some incidents belonging to B.C. 402 are referred to in the + opening paragraphs of "Hellenica," III. i. 1, 2, but only as an + introduction to the new matter; and with regard to the historian + himself, it is clear that "a change has come o'er the spirit of + his dream." This change of view is marked by a change of style in + writing. I have thought it legitimate, under the circumstances, to + follow the chronological order of events, and instead of + continuing the "Hellenica," at this point to insert the + "Anabasis." My next volume will contain the remaining books of the + "Hellenica" and the rest of Xenophon's "historical" writings. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK III + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + B.C. 403-402. Thus the civil strife at Athens had an end. At a subsequent + date Cyrus sent messengers to Lacedaemon, claiming requital in kind for + the service which he had lately rendered in the war with Athens. (1) The + demand seemed to the ephorate just and reasonable. Accordingly they + ordered Samius, (2) who was admiral at the time, to put himself at the + disposition of Cyrus for any service which he might require. Samius + himself needed no persuasion to carry out the wishes of Cyrus. With his + own fleet, accompanied by that of Cyrus, he sailed round to Cilicia, and + so made it impossible for Syennesis, the ruler of that province, to oppose + Cyrus by land in his advance against the king his brother. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Lit. "what Cyrus himself had been to the Lacedaemonians let the + Lacedaemonians in their turn be to Cyrus." + + (2) Samius (Diod. Sic. xiv. 19). But see "Anab." I. iv. 2, where + Pythagoras is named as admiral. Possibly the one officer succeeded + the other. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 401. The particulars of the expedition are to be found in the pages + of the Syracusan Themistogenes, (3) who describes the mustering of the + armament, and the advance of Cyrus at the head of his troops; and then the + battle, and death of Cyrus himself, and the consequent retreat of the + Hellenes while effecting their escape to the sea. (4) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) Lit. "as to how then Cyrus collected an army and with it went up + against his brother, and how the battle was fought and how he + died, and how in the sequel the Hellenes escaped to the sea (all + this), is written by (or 'for,' or 'in honour of') Themistogenes + the Syracusan." My impression is that Xenophon's "Anabasis," or a + portion of the work so named, was edited originally by + Themistogenes. See "Philol. Museum," vol. i. p. 489; L. Dindorf, + {Xen. Ell.}, Ox. MDCCCLIII., node ad loc. {Themistogenei}. Cf. + Diod. Sic. xiv. 19-31, 37, after Ephorus and Theopompus probably. + + (4) At Trapezus, March 10, B.C. 400. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 400. It was in recognition of the service which he had rendered in + this affair, that Tissaphernes was despatched to Lower Asia by the king + his master. He came as satrap, not only of his own provinces, but of those + which had belonged to Cyrus; and he at once demanded the absolute + submission of the Ionic cities, without exception, to his authority. These + communities, partly from a desire to maintain their freedom, and partly + from fear of Tissaphernes himself, whom they had rejected in favour of + Cyrus during the lifetime of that prince, were loth to admit the satrap + within their gates. They thought it better to send an embassy to the + Lacedaemonians, calling upon them as representatives and leaders (5) of + the Hellenic world to look to the interests of their petitioners, who were + Hellenes also, albeit they lived in Asia, and not to suffer their country + to be ravaged and themselves enslaved. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) {Prostatai}, "patrons and protectors." +</pre> + <p> + In answer to this appeal, the Lacedaemonians sent out Thibron (6) as + governor, providing him with a body of troops, consisting of one thousand + neodamodes (7) (i.e. enfranchised helots) and four thousand + Peloponnesians. In addition to these, Thibron himself applied to the + Athenians for a detachment of three hundred horse, for whose service-money + he would hold himself responsible. The Athenians in answer sent him some + of the knights who had served under the Thirty, (8) thinking that the + people of Athens would be well rid of them if they went abroad and + perished there. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) "As harmost." See "Anab." ad fin. + + (7) See "Hell." I. iii. 15; Thuc. vii. 58. + + (8) See "Hell." II. iv. 2. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 400-399. On their arrival in Asia, Thibron further collected + contingents from the Hellenic cities on the continent; for at this time + the word of a Lacedaemonian was law. He had only to command, and every + city must needs obey. (9) But although he had this armament, Thibron, when + he saw the cavalry, had no mind to descend into the plain. If he succeeded + in protecting from pillage the particular district in which he chanced to + be, he was quite content. It was only when the troops (10) who had taken + part in the expedition of Cyrus had joined him on their safe return, that + he assumed a bolder attitude. He was now ready to confront Tissaphernes, + army against army, on the level ground, and won over a number of cities. + Pergamum came in of her own accord. So did Teuthrania and Halisarna. These + were under the government of Eurysthenes and Procles, (11) the descendants + of Demaratus the Lacedaemonian, who in days of old had received this + territory as a gift from the Persian monarch in return for his share in + the campaign against Hellas. Gorgion and Gongylus, two brothers, also gave + in their adhesion; they were lords, the one of Gambreum and + Palae-Gambreum, the other of Myrina and Gryneum, four cities which, like + those above named, had originally been gifts from the king to an earlier + Gongylus—the sole Eretrian who "joined the Mede," and in consequence + was banished. Other cities which were too weak to resist, Thibron took by + force of arms. In the case of one he was not so successful. This was the + Egyptian (12) Larisa, as it is called, which refused to capitulate, and + was forthwith invested and subjected to a regular siege. When all other + attempts to take it failed, he set about digging a tank or reservoir, and + in connection with the tank an underground channel, by means of which he + proposed to draw off the water supply of the inhabitants. In this he was + baffled by frequent sallies of the besieged, and a continual discharge of + timber and stones into the cutting. He retaliated by the construction of a + wooden tortoise which he erected over the tank; but once more the tortoise + was burnt to a cinder in a successful night attack on the part of the men + of Larisa. These ineffectual efforts induced the ephors to send a despatch + bidding Thibron give up Larisa and march upon Caria. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) See "Anab." VI. vi. 12. + + (10) March B.C. 399. See the final sentence of the "Anabasis." + + (11) See "Anab." VII. viii. 8-16. + + (12) Seventy stades S.E. of Cyme in the Aeolid. See Strabo, xiii. 621. + For the origin of the name cf. "Cyrop." VII. i. 45. +</pre> + <p> + He had already reached Ephesus, and was on the point of marching into + Caria, when Dercylidas arrived to take command of his army. The new + general was a man whose genius for invention had won him the nickname of + Sisyphus. Thus it was that Thibron returned home, where on his arrival he + was fined and banished, the allies accusing him of allowing his troops to + plunder their friends. + </p> + <p> + Dercylidas was not slow to perceive and turn to account the jealousy which + subsisted between Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus. Coming to terms with the + former, he marched into the territory of the latter, preferring, as he + said, to be at war with one of the pair at a time, rather than the two + together. His hostility, indeed, to Pharnabazus was an old story, dating + back to a period during the naval command (13) of Lysander, when he was + himself governor in Abydos; where, thanks to Pharnabazus, he had got into + trouble with his superior officer, and had been made to stand "with his + shield on his arm"—a stigma on his honour which no true + Lacedaemonian would forgive, since this is the punishment of + insubordination. (14) For this reason, doubtless, Dercylidas had the + greater satisfaction in marching against Pharnabazus. From the moment he + assumed command there was a marked difference for the better between his + methods and those of his predecessor. Thus he contrived to conduct his + troops into that portion of the Aeolid which belonged to Pharnabazus, + through the heart of friendly territory without injury to the allies. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Technically "navarchy," in B.C. 408-407. "Hell." I. v. 1. + + (14) See Plut. "Aristid." 23 (Clough, ii. p. 309). +</pre> + <p> + This district of Aeolis belonged to Pharnabazus, (15) but had been held as + a satrapy under him by a Dardanian named Zenis whilst he was alive; but + when Zenis fell sick and died, Pharnabazus made preparation to give the + satrapy to another. Then Mania the wife of Zenis, herself also a + Dardanian, fitted out an expedition, and taking with her gifts wherewith + to make a present to Pharnabazus himself, and to gratify his concubines + and those whose power was greatest with Pharnabazus, set forth on her + journey. When she had obtained audience with him she spoke as follows: "O + Pharnabazus, thou knowest that thy servant my husband was in all respects + friendly to thee; moreover, he paid my lord the tributes which were thy + due, so that thou didst praise and honour him. Now therefore, if I do thee + service as faithfully as my husband, why needest thou to appoint another + satrap?—nay but, if in any matter I please thee not, is it not in + thy power to take from me the government on that day, and to give it to + another?" When he had heard her words, Pharnabazus decided that the woman + ought to be satrap. She, as soon as she was mistress of the territory, + never ceased to render the tribute in due season, even as her husband + before her had done. Moreover, whenever she came to the court of + Pharnabazus she brought him gifts continually, and whenever Pharnabazus + went down to visit her provinces she welcomed him with all fair and + courteous entertainment beyond what his other viceroys were wont to do. + The cities also which had been left to her by her husband, she guarded + safely for him; while of those cities that owed her no allegiance, she + acquired, on the seaboard, Larisa and Hamaxitus and Colonae—attacking + their walls by aid of Hellenic mercenaries, whilst she herself sat in her + carriage and watched the spectacle. Nor was she sparing of her gifts to + those who won her admiration; and thus she furnished herself with a + mercenary force of exceptional splendour. She also went with Pharnabazus + on his campaigns, even when, on pretext of some injury done to the king's + territory, Mysians or Pisidians were the object of attack. In requital, + Pharnabazus paid her magnificent honour, and at times invited her to + assist him with her counsel. (16) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) I.e. as suzerain. + + (16) Grote, "H. G." ix. 292; cf. Herod. viii. 69. +</pre> + <p> + Now when Mania was more than forty years old, the husband of her own + daughter, Meidias—flustered by the suggestions of certain people who + said that it was monstrous a woman should rule and he remain a private + person (17)—found his way into her presence, as the story goes, and + strangled her. For Mania, albeit she carefully guarded herself against all + ordinary comers, as behoved her in the exercise of her "tyranny," trusted + in Meidias, and, as a woman might her own son-in-law, was ready to greet + him at all times with open arms. He also murdered her son, a youth of + marvellous beauty, who was about seventeen years of age. He next seized + upon the strong cities of Scepsis and Gergithes, in which lay for the most + part the property and wealth of Mania. As for the other cities of the + satrapy, they would not receive the usurper, their garrisons keeping them + safely for Pharnabazus. Thereupon Meidias sent gifts to Pharnabazus, and + claimed to hold the district even as Mania had held it; to whom the other + answered, "Keep your gifts and guard them safely until that day when I + shall come in person and take both you and them together"; adding, "What + care I to live longer if I avenge not myself for the murder of Mania!" + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) Or, "his brains whimsied with insinuations." +</pre> + <p> + Just at the critical moment Dercylidas arrived, and in a single day + received the adhesion of the three seaboard cities Larisa, Hamaxitus, and + Colonae—which threw open their gates to him. Then he sent messengers + to the cities of the Aeolid also, offering them freedom if they would + receive him within their walls and become allies. Accordingly the men of + Neandria and Ilium and Cocylium lent willing ears; for since the death of + Mania their Hellenic garrisons had been treated but ill. But the commander + of the garrison in Cebrene, a place of some strength, bethinking him that + if he should succeed in guarding that city for Pharnabazus, he would + receive honour at his hands, refused to admit Dercylidas. Whereupon the + latter, in a rage, prepared to take the place by force; but when he came + to sacrifice, on the first day the victims would not yield good omens; on + the second, and again upon the third day, it was the same story. Thus for + as many as four days he persevered in sacrificing, cherishing wrath the + while—for he was in haste to become master of the whole Aeolid + before Pharnabazus came to the succour of the district. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile a certain Sicyonian captain, Athenadas by name, said to himself: + "Dercylidas does but trifle to waste his time here, whilst I with my own + hand can draw off their water from the men of Cybrene"; wherewith he ran + forward with his division and essayed to choke up the spring which + supplied the city. But the garrison sallied out and covered the Sicyonian + himself with wounds, besides killing two of his men. Indeed, they plied + their swords and missiles with such good effect that the whole company was + forced to beat a retreat. Dercylidas was not a little annoyed, thinking + that now the spirit of the besiegers would certainly die away; but whilst + he was in this mood, behold! there arrived from the beleaguered fortress + emissaries of the Hellenes, who stated that the action taken by the + commandant was not to their taste; for themselves, they would far rather + be joined in bonds of fellowship with Hellenes than with barbarians. While + the matter was still under discussion there came a messenger also from the + commandant, to say that whatever the former deputation had proposed he, on + his side, was ready to endorse. Accordingly Dercylidas, who, it so + happened, had at length obtained favourable omens on that day, marched his + force without more ado up to the gates of the city, which were flung open + by those within; and so he entered. (18) Here, then, he was content to + appoint a garrison, and without further stay advanced upon Scepsis and + Gergithes. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) Grote ("H. G." ix. 294) says: "The reader will remark how + Xenophon shapes the narrative in such a manner as to inculcate the + pious duty in a general of obeying the warnings furnished by the + sacrifice—either for action or for inaction.... Such an + inference is never (I believe) to be found suggested in + Thucydides." See Brietenbach, "Xen. Hell." I et II, praef. in + alteram ed. p. xvii. +</pre> + <p> + And now Meidias, partly expecting the hostile advance of Pharnabazus, and + partly mistrusting the citizens—for to such a pass things had come—sent + to Dercylidas, proposing to meet him in conference provided he might take + security of hostages. In answer to this suggestion the other sent him one + man from each of the cities of the allies, and bade him take his pick of + these, whichsoever and how many soever he chose, as hostages for his own + security. Meidias selected ten, and so went out. In conversation with + Dercylidas, he asked him on what terms he would accept his alliance. The + other answered: "The terms are that you grant the citizens freedom and + self-government." The words were scarcely out of his mouth before he began + marching upon Scepsis. Whereupon Meidias, perceiving it was vain to hinder + him in the teeth of the citizens, suffered him to enter. That done, + Dercylidas offered sacrifice to Athena in the citadel of the Scepsians, + turned out the bodyguards of Meidias, and handed over the city to the + citizens. And so, having admonished them to regulate their civic life as + Hellenes and free men ought, he left the place and continued his advance + against Gergithes. On this last march he was escorted by many of the + Scepsians themselves; such was the honour they paid him and so great their + satisfaction at his exploits. Meidias also followed close at his side, + petitioning that he would hand over the city of Gergithians to himself. To + whom Dercylidas only made reply, that he should not fail to obtain any of + his just rights. And whilst the words were yet upon his lips, he was + drawing close to the gates, with Meidias at his side. Behind him followed + the troops, marching two and two in peaceful fashion. The defenders of + Gergithes from their towers—which were extraordinarily high—espied + Meidias in company of the Spartan, and abstained from shooting. And + Dercylidas said: "Bid them open the gates, Meidias, when you shall lead + the way, and I will enter the temple along with you and do sacrifice to + Athena." And Meidias, though he shrank from opening the gates, yet in + terror of finding himself on a sudden seized, reluctantly gave the order + to open the gates. As soon as he was entered in, the Spartan, still taking + Meidias with him, marched up to the citadel and there ordered the main + body of his soldiers to take up their position round the walls, whilst he + with those about him did sacrifice to Athena. When the sacrifice was ended + he ordered Meidias's bodyguard to pile arms (19) in the van of his troops. + Here for the future they would serve as mercenaries, since Meidias their + former master stood no longer in need of their protection. The latter, + being at his wits' end what to do, exclaimed: "Look you, I will now leave + you; I go to make preparation for my guest." But the other replied: + "Heaven forbid! Ill were it that I who have offered sacrifice should be + treated as a guest by you. I rather should be the entertainer and you the + guest. Pray stay with us, and while the supper is preparing, you and I can + consider our obligations, and perform them." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) I.e. take up a position, or "to order arms," whilst he addressed + them; not probably "to ground arms," as if likely to be mutinous. +</pre> + <p> + When they were seated Dercylidas put certain questions: "Tell me, Meidias, + did your father leave you heir to his estates?" "Certainly he did," + answered the other. "And how many dwelling-houses have you? what landed + estates? how much pasturage?" The other began running off an inventory, + whilst some of the Scepsians who were present kept interposing, "He is + lying to you, Dercylidas." "Nay, you take too minute a view of matters," + replied the Spartan. When the inventory of the paternal property was + completed, he proceeded: "Tell me, Meidias, to whom did Mania belong?" A + chorus of voices rejoined, "To Pharnabazus." "Then must her property have + belonged to Pharnabazus too." "Certainly," they answered. "Then it must + now be ours," he remarked, "by right of conquest, since Pharnabazus is at + war with us. Will some one of you escort me to the place where the + property of Mania and Pharnabazus lies?" So the rest led the way to the + dwelling-place of Mania which Meidias had taken from her, and Meidias + followed too. When he was entered, Dercylidas summoned the stewards, and + bidding his attendants seize them, gave them to understand that, if + detected stealing anything which belonged to Mania, they would lose their + heads on the spot. The stewards proceeded to point out the treasures, and + he, when he had looked through the whole store, bolted and barred the + doors, affixing his seal, and setting a watch. As he went out he found at + the doors certain of the generals (20) and captains, and said to them: + "Here, sirs, we have pay ready made for the army—a year's pay nearly + for eight thousand men—and if we can win anything besides, there + will be so much the more." This he said, knowing that those who heard it + would be all the more amenable to discipline, and would yield him a more + flattering obedience. Then Meidias asked, "And where am I to live, + Dercylidas?" "Where you have the very best right to live," replied the + other, "in your native town of Scepsis, and in your father's house." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) Lit. "of the taxiarchs and lochagoi." +</pre> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + Such were the exploits of Dercylidas: nine cities taken in eight days. Two + considerations now began to occupy his mind: how was he to avoid falling + into the fatal error of Thibron and becoming a burthen to his allies, + whilst wintering in a friendly country? how, again, was he to prevent + Pharnabazus from overriding the Hellenic states in pure contempt with his + cavalry? Accordingly he sent to Pharnabazus and put it to him point-blank: + Which will you have, peace or war? Whereupon Pharnabazus, who could not + but perceive that the whole Aeolid had now been converted practically into + a fortified base of operations, which threatened his own homestead of + Phrygia, chose peace. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 399-398. This being so, Dercylidas advanced into Bithynian Thrace, + and there spent the winter; nor did Pharnabazus exhibit a shadow of + annoyance, since the Bithynians were perpetually at war with himself. For + the most part, Dercylidas continued to harry (1) Bithynia in perfect + security, and found provisions without stint. Presently he was joined from + the other side of the straits by some Odrysian allies sent by Seuthes; (2) + they numbered two hundred horse and three hundred peltasts. These fellows + pitched upon a site a little more than a couple of miles (3) from the + Hellenic force, where they entrenched themselves; then having got from + Dercylidas some heavy infantry soldiers to act as guards of their + encampment, they devoted themselves to plundering, and succeeded in + capturing an ample store of slaves and other wealth. Presently their camp + was full of prisoners, when one morning the Bithynians, having ascertained + the actual numbers of the marauding parties as well as of the Hellenes + left as guards behind, collected in large masses of light troops and + cavalry, and attacked the garrison, who were not more than two hundred + strong. As soon as they came close enough, they began discharging spears + and other missiles on the little body, who on their side continued to be + wounded and shot down, but were quite unable to retaliate, cooped up as + they were within a palisading barely six feet high, until in desperation + they tore down their defences with their own hands, and dashed at the + enemy. These had nothing to do but to draw back from the point of egress, + and being light troops easily escaped beyond the grasp of heavy-armed men, + while ever and again, from one point of vantage or another, they poured + their shower of javelins, and at every sally laid many a brave man low, + till at length, like sheep penned in a fold, the defenders were shot down + almost to a man. A remnant, it is true, did escape, consisting of some + fifteen who, seeing the turn affairs were taking, had already made off in + the middle of the fighting. Slipping through their assailants' fingers, + (4) to the small concern of the Bithynians, they reached the main Hellenic + camp in safety. The Bithynians, satisfied with their achievement, part of + which consisted in cutting down the tent guards of the Odrysian Thracians + and recovering all their prisoners, made off without delay; so that by the + time the Hellenes got wind of the affair and rallied to the rescue, they + found nothing left in the camp save only the stripped corpses of the + slain. When the Odrysians themselves returned, they fell to burying their + own dead, quaffing copious draughts of wine in their honour and holding + horse-races; but for the future they deemed it advisable to camp along + with the Hellenes. Thus they harried and burned Bithynia the winter + through. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) {Pheson kai agon}, i.e. "there was plenty of live stock to lift + and chattels to make away with." + + (2) For Seuthes see "Anab." VII. i. 5; and below, IV. viii. 26. + + (3) Lit. "twenty stades." + + (4) Or, "slipping through the enemy's fingers, who took no heed of + them, they," etc. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 398. With the commencement of spring Dercylidas turned his back upon + the Bithynians and came to Lampsacus. Whilst at this place envoys reached + him from the home authorities. These were Aracus, Naubates, and + Antisthenes. They were sent to inquire generally into the condition of + affairs in Asia, and to inform Dercylidas of the extension of his office + for another year. They had been further commissioned by the ephors to + summon a meeting of the soldiers and inform them that the ephors held them + to blame for their former doings, though for their present avoidance of + evil conduct they must needs praise them; and for the future they must + understand that while no repetition of misdoing would be tolerated, all + just and upright dealing by the allies would receive its meed of praise. + The soldiers were therefore summoned, and the envoys delivered their + message, to which the leader of the Cyreians answered: "Nay, men of + Lacedaemon, listen; we are the same to-day as we were last year; only our + general of to-day is different from our general in the past. If to-day we + have avoided our offence of yesterday, the cause is not far to seek; you + may discover it for yourselves." + </p> + <p> + Aracus and the other envoys shared the hospitality of Dercylidas's tent, + and one of the party chanced to mention how they had left an embassy from + the men of Chersonese in Lacedaemon. According to their statement, he + added, it was impossible for them to till their land nowadays, so + perpetually were they robbed and plundered by the Thracians; whereas the + peninsula needed only to be walled across from sea to sea, and there would + be abundance of good land to cultivate—enough for themselves and as + many others from Lacedaemon as cared to come. "So that it would not + surprise us," continued the envoys, "if a Lacedaemonian were actually sent + out from Sparta with a force to carry out the project." Dercylidas kept + his ears open but his counsel close, and so sent forward the commissioners + to Ephesus. (5) It pleased him to picture their progress through the + Hellenic cities, and the spectacle of peace and prosperity which would + everywhere greet their eyes. When he knew that his stay was to be + prolonged, he sent again to Pharnabazus and offered him once more as an + alternative either the prolongation of the winter truce or war. And once + again Pharnabazus chose truce. It was thus that Dercylidas was able to + leave the cities in the neighbourhood of the satrap (6) in peace and + friendship. Crossing the Hellespont himself he brought his army into + Europe, and marching through Thrace, which was also friendly, was + entertained by Seuthes, (7) and so reached the Chersonese. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 301. + + (6) Or, reading after Cobet, {tas peri ekeina poleis}—"the cities of + that neighbourhood." + + (7) See "Anab." VII. vii. 51. +</pre> + <p> + This district, he soon discovered, not only contained something like a + dozen cities, (8) but was singularly fertile. The soil was of the best, + but ruined by the ravages of the Thracians, precisely as he had been told. + Accordingly, having measured and found the breadth of the isthmus barely + four miles, (9) he no longer hesitated. Having offered sacrifice, he + commenced his line of wall, distributing the area to the soldiers in + detachments, and promising to award them prizes for their industry—a + first prize for the section first completed, and the rest as each + detachment of workers might deserve. By this means the whole wall begun in + spring was finished before autumn. Within these lines he established + eleven cities, with numerous harbours, abundance of good arable land, and + plenty of land under plantation, besides magnificent grazing grounds for + sheep and cattle of every kind. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Lit. "eleven or twelve cities." For the natural productivity, see + "Anab." V. vi. 25. + + (9) Lit. "thirty-seven stades." Mod. Gallipoli. See Herod. vi. 36; + Plut. "Pericl." xix. +</pre> + <p> + Having finished the work, he crossed back again into Asia, and on a tour + of inspection, found the cities for the most part in a thriving condition; + but when he came to Atarneus he discovered that certain exiles from Chios + had got possession of the stronghold, which served them as a convenient + base for pillaging and plundering Ionia; and this, in fact, was their + means of livelihood. Being further informed of the large supplies of grain + which they had inside, he proceeded to draw entrenchments around the place + with a view to a regular investment, and by this means he reduced it in + eight months. Then having appointed Draco of Pellene (10) commandant, he + stocked the fortress with an abundance of provisions of all sorts, to + serve him as a halting-place when he chanced to pass that way, and so + withdrew to Ephesus, which is three days' journey from Sardis. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Cf. Isocr. "Panegyr." 70; Jebb. "Att. Or." ii. p. 161. Of Pellene + (or Pellana) in Laconia, not Pellene in Achaia? though that is the + opinion of Grote and Thirlwall. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 397. Up to this date peace had been maintained between Tissaphernes + and Dercylidas, as also between the Hellenes and the barbarians in those + parts. But the time came when an embassy arrived at Lacedaemon from the + Ionic cities, protesting that Tissaphernes might, if he chose, leave the + Hellenic cities independent. "Our idea," they added, "is, that if Caria, + the home of Tissaphernes, felt the pinch of war, the satrap would very + soon agree to grant us independence." The ephors, on hearing this, sent a + despatch to Dercylidas, and bade him cross the frontier with his army into + Caria, whilst Pharax the admiral coasted round with the fleet. These + orders were carried out. Meanwhile a visitor had reached Tissaphernes. + This was not less a person than Pharnabazus. His coming was partly owing + to the fact that Tissaphernes had been appointed general-in-chief, and + party in order to testify his readiness to make common cause with his + brother satrap in fighting and expelling the Hellenes from the king's + territory; for if his heart was stirred by jealousy on account of the + generalship bestowed upon his rival, he was not the less aggrieved at + finding himself robbed of the Aeolid. Tissaphernes, lending willing ears + to the proposal, had answered: "First cross over with me in Caria, and + then we will take counsel on these matters." But being arrived in Caria, + they determined to establish garrisons of some strength in the various + fortresses, and so crossed back again into Ionia. + </p> + <p> + Hearing that the satraps had recrossed the Maeander, Dercylidas grew + apprehensive for the district which lay there unprotected. "If + Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus," he said to Pharax, "chose to make a + descent, they could harry the country right and left." In this mind he + followed suit, and recrossed the frontier too. And now as they marched on, + preserving no sort of battle order—on the supposition that the enemy + had got far ahead of them into the district of Ephesus—suddenly they + caught sight of his scouts perched on some monumental structures facing + them. To send up scouts into similar edifices and towers on their own side + was the work of a few moments, and before them lay revealed the long lines + of troops drawn up just where their road lay. These were the Carians, with + their white shields, and the whole Persian troops there present, with all + the Hellenic contingents belonging to either satrap. Besides these there + was a great cloud of cavalry: on the right wing the squadrons of + Tissaphernes, and on the left those of Pharnabazus. + </p> + <p> + Seeing how matters lay, Dercylidas ordered the generals of brigade and + captains to form into line as quickly as possible, eight deep, placing the + light infantry on the fringe of battle, with the cavalry—such + cavalry, that is, and of such numerical strength, as he chanced to have. + Meanwhile, as general, he sacrificed. (11) During this interval the troops + from Peloponnese kept quiet in preparation as for battle. Not so the + troops from Priene and Achilleum, from the islands and the Ionic cities, + some of whom left their arms in the corn, which stood thick and deep in + the plain of the Maeander, and took to their heels; while those who + remained at their posts gave evident signs that their steadiness would not + last. Pharnabazus, it was reported, had given orders to engage; but + Tissaphernes, who recalled his experience of his own exploits with the + Cyreian army, and assumed that all other Hellenes were of similar mettle, + had no desire to engage, but sent to Dercylidas saying, he should be glad + to meet him in conference. So Dercylidas, attended by the pick of his + troops, horse and foot, in personal attendance on himself, (12) went + forward to meet the envoys. He told them that for his own part he had made + his preparations to engage, as they themselves might see, but still, if + the satraps were minded to meet in conference, he had nothing to say + against it—"Only, in that case, there must be mutual exchange of + hostages and other pledges." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) I.e. according to custom on the eve of battle. See "Pol. Lac." + xiii. 8. + + (12) Lit. "they were splendid fellows to look at." See "Anab." II. + iii. 3. +</pre> + <p> + When this proposal had been agreed to and carried out, the two armies + retired for the night—the Asiatics to Tralles in Caria, the Hellenes + to Leucophrys, where was a temple (13) of Artemis of great sanctity, and a + sandy-bottomed lake more than a furlong in extent, fed by a spring of + ever-flowing water fit for drinking and warm. For the moment so much was + effected. On the next day they met at the place appointed, and it was + agreed that they should mutually ascertain the terms on which either party + was willing to make peace. On his side, Dercylidas insisted that the king + should grant independence to the Hellenic cities; while Tissaphernes and + Pharnabazus demanded the evacuation of the country by the Hellenic army, + and the withdrawal of the Lacedaemonian governors from the cities. After + this interchange of ideas a truce was entered into, so as to allow time + for the reports of the proceedings to be sent by Dercylidas to Lacedaemon, + and by Tissaphernes to the king. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Lately unearthed. See "Class. Rev." v. 8, p. 391. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 401 (?). Whilst such was the conduct of affairs in Asia under the + guidance of Dercylidas, the Lacedaemonians at home were at the same time + no less busily employed with other matters. They cherished a long-standing + embitterment against the Eleians, the grounds of which were that the + Eleians had once (14) contracted an alliance with the Athenians, Argives, + and Mantineans; moreover, on pretence of a sentence registered against the + Lacedaemonians, they had excluded them from the horse-race and gymnastic + contests. Nor was that the sum of their offending. They had taken and + scourged Lichas, (15) under the following circumstances:—Being a + Spartan, he had formally consigned his chariot to the Thebans, and when + the Thebans were proclaimed victors he stepped forward to crown his + charioteer; whereupon, in spite of his grey hairs, the Eleians put those + indignities upon him and expelled him from the festival. Again, at a date + subsequent to that occurrence, Agis being sent to offer sacrifice to + Olympian Zeus in accordance with the bidding of an oracle, the Eleians + would not suffer him to offer prayer for victory in war, asserting that + the ancient law and custom (16) forbade Hellenes to consult the god for + war with Hellenes; and Agis was forced to go away without offering the + sacrifice. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) In 421 B.C. (see Thuc. v. 31); for the second charge, see Thuc. + v. 49 foll. + + (15) See "Mem." I. ii. 61; Thuc. v. 50; and Jowett, note ad loc. vol. + ii. p. 314. + + (16) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 311 note. +</pre> + <p> + In consequence of all these annoyances the ephors and the Assembly + determined "to bring the men of Elis to their senses." Thereupon they sent + an embassy to that state, announcing that the authorities of Lacedaemon + deemed it just and right that they should leave the country (17) townships + in the territory of Elis free and independent. This the Eleians flatly + refused to do. The cities in question were theirs by right of war. + Thereupon the ephors called out the ban. The leader of the expedition was + Agis. He invaded Elis through Achaia (18) by the Larisus; but the army had + hardly set foot on the enemy's soil and the work of devastation begun, + when an earthquake took place, and Agis, taking this as a sign from + Heaven, marched back again out of the country and disbanded his army. + Thereat the men of Elis were much more emboldened, and sent embassies to + various cities which they knew to be hostile to the Lacedaemonians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) Lit. "perioecid." + + (18) From the north. The Larisus is the frontier stream between Achaia + and Elis. See Strabo, viii. 387. +</pre> + <p> + The year had not completed its revolution (19) ere the ephors again called + out the ban against Elis, and the invading host of Agis was this time + swelled by the rest of the allies, including the Athenians; the Boeotians + and Corinthians alone excepted. The Spartan king now entered through + Aulon, (20) and the men of Lepreum (21) at once revolted from the Eleians + and gave in their adhesion to the Spartan, and simultaneously with these + the Macistians and their next-door neighbours the Epitalians. As he + crossed the river further adhesions followed, on the part of the + Letrinians, the Amphidolians, and the Marganians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) Al. "on the coming round of the next year." See Jowett (note to + Thuc. i. 31), vol. ii. p. 33. + + (20) On the south. For the history, see Busolt, "Die Laked." pp. + 146-200. "The river" is the Alpheus. + + (21) See below, VI. v. 11; Paus. IV. xv. 8. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 400 (?). Upon this he pushed on into Olympian territory and did + sacrifice to Olympian Zeus. There was no attempt to stay his proceedings + now. After sacrifice he marched against the capital, (22) devastating and + burning the country as he went. Multitudes of cattle, multitudes of + slaves, were the fruits of conquest yielded, insomuch that the fame + thereof spread, and many more Arcadians and Achaeans flocked to join the + standard of the invader and to share in the plunder. In fact, the + expedition became one enormous foray. Here was the chance to fill all the + granaries of Peloponnese with corn. When he had reached the capital, the + beautiful suburbs and gymnasia became a spoil to the troops; but the city + itself, though it lay open before him a defenceless and unwalled town, he + kept aloof from. He would not, rather than could not, take it. Such was + the explanation given. Thus the country was a prey to devastation, and the + invaders massed round Cyllene. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) I.e. Elis, of which Cyllene is the port town. For the wealth of + the district, see Polyb. iv. 73; and below, VII. iv. 33. +</pre> + <p> + Then the friends of a certain Xenias—a man of whom it was said that + he might measure the silver coin, inherited from his father, by the bushel—wishing + to be the leading instrument in bringing over the state to Lacedaemon, + rushed out of the house, sword in hand, and began a work of butchery. + Amongst other victims they killed a man who strongly resembled the leader + of the democratic party, Thrasydaeus. (23) Everyone believed it was really + Thrasydaeus who was slain. The popular party were panic-stricken, and + stirred neither hand nor foot. On their side, the cut-throats poured their + armed bands into the market-place. But Thrasydaeus was laid asleep the + while where the fumes of wine had overpowered him. When the people came to + discover that their hero was not dead, they crowded round his house this + side and that, (24) like a swarm of bees clinging to their leader; and as + soon as Thrasydaeus had put himself in the van, with the people at his + back, a battle was fought, and the people won. And those who had laid + their hands to deeds of butchery went as exiles to the Lacedaemonians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) See Paus. III. viii. 4. He was a friend of Lysias ("Vit. X. Orat. + 835"). + + (24) The house was filled to overflowing by the clustering close- + packed crowd. +</pre> + <p> + After a while Agis himself retired, recrossing the Alpheus; but he was + careful to leave a garrison in Epitalium near that river, with Lysippus as + governor, and the exiles from Elis along with him. Having done so, he + disbanded his army and returned home himself. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 400-399 (?). (25) During the rest of the summer and the ensuing + winter the territory of the Eleians was ravaged and ransacked by Lysippus + and his troops, until Thrasydaeus, the following summer, sent to + Lacedaemon and agreed to dismantle the walls of Phea and Cyllene, and to + grant autonomy to the Triphylian townships (26)—together with Phrixa + and Epitalium, the Letrinians, Amphidolians, and Marganians; and besides + these to the Acroreians and to Lasion, a place claimed by the Arcadians. + With regard to Epeium, a town midway between Heraea and Macistus, the + Eleians claimed the right to keep it, on the plea that they had purchased + the whole district from its then owners, for thirty talents, (27) which + sum they had actually paid. But the Lacedaemonians, acting on the + principle "that a purchase which forcibly deprives the weaker party of his + possession is no more justifiable than a seizure by violence," compelled + them to emancipate Epeium also. From the presidency of the temple of + Olympian Zeus, however, they did not oust them; not that it belonged to + Elis of ancient right, but because the rival claimants, (28) it was felt, + were "villagers," hardly equal to the exercise of the presidency. After + these concessions, peace and alliance between the Eleians and the + Lacedaemonians were established, and the war between Elis and Sparta + ceased. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (25) Grote ("H. G." ix. 316) discusses the date of this war between + Elis and Sparta, which he thinks, reaches over three different + years, 402-400 B.C. But Curtius (vol. iv. Eng. tr. p. 196) + disagrees: "The Eleian war must have occurred in 401-400 B.C., and + Grote rightly conjectures that the Eleians were anxious to bring + it to a close before the celebration of the festival. But he errs + in extending its duration over three years." See Diod. xiv. 17. + 24; Paus. III. viii. 2 foll. + + (26) Grote remarks: "There is something perplexing in Xenophon's + description of the Triphylian townships which the Eleians + surrendered" ("H. G." ix. 315). I adopt Grote's emend. {kai + Phrixan}. See Busolt, op. cit. p. 176. + + (27) = 7,312 pounds: 10 shillings. + + (28) I.e. the men of the Pisatid. See below, VII. iv. 28; Busolt, op. + cit. p 156. +</pre> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + After this Agis came to Delphi and offered as a sacrifice a tenth of the + spoil. On his return journey he fell ill at Heraea—being by this + time an old man—and was carried back to Lacedaemon. He survived the + journey, but being there arrived, death speedily overtook him. He was + buried with a sepulchre transcending in solemnity the lot of ordinary + mortality. (1) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See "Ages." xi. 16; "Pol. Lac." xv. 9. +</pre> + <p> + When the holy days of mourning were accomplished, and it was necessary to + choose another king, there were rival claimants to the throne. Leotychides + claimed it as the son, Agesilaus as the brother, of Agis. Then Leotychides + protested: "Yet consider, Agesilaus, the law bids not 'the king's + brother,' but 'the king's son' to be king; only if there chance to be no + son, in that case shall the brother of the king be king." Agesilaus: "Then + must I needs be king." Leotychides: "How so, seeing that I am not dead?" + Agesilaus: "Because he whom you call your father denied you, saying, + 'Leotychides is no son of mine.'" Leotychides: "Nay, but my mother, who + would know far better than he, said, and still to-day says, I am." + Agesilaus: "Nay, but the god himself, Poteidan, laid his finger on thy + falsity when by his earthquake he drove forth thy father from the bridal + chamber into the light of day; and time, 'that tells no lies,' as the + proverb has it, bare witness to the witness of the god; for just ten + months from the moment at which he fled and was no more seen within that + chamber, you were born." (2) So they reasoned together. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) I have followed Sauppe as usual, but see Hartman ("Anal. Xen." p. + 327) for a discussion of the whole passage. He thinks Xenophon + wrote {ex ou gar toi ephugen} ({o sos pater}, i.e. adulterer) {ek + to thalamo dekato meni tu ephus}. The Doric {ek to thalamo} was + corrupted into {en to thalamo} and {kai ephane} inserted. This + corrupt reading Plutarch had before him, and hence his distorted + version of the story. +</pre> + <p> + Diopethes, (3) a great authority upon oracles, supported Leotychides. + There was an oracle of Apollo, he urged, which said "Beware of the lame + reign." But Diopethes was met by Lysander, who in behalf of Agesilaus + demurred to this interpretation put upon the language of the god. If they + were to beware of a lame reign, it meant not, beware lest a man stumble + and halt, but rather, beware of him in whose veins flows not the blood of + Heracles; most assuredly the kingdom would halt, and that would be a lame + reign in very deed, whensoever the descendants of Heracles should cease to + lead the state. Such were the arguments on either side, after hearing + which the city chose Agesilaus to be king. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) See Plut. "Ages." ii. 4; "Lys." xxii. (Clough, iv. 3; iii. 129); + Paus. III. viii. 5. +</pre> + <p> + Now Agesilaus had not been seated on the throne one year when, as he + sacrificed one of the appointed sacrifices in behalf of the city, (4) the + soothsayer warned him, saying: "The gods reveal a conspiracy of the most + fearful character"; and when the king sacrificed a second time, he said: + "The aspect of the victims is now even yet more terrible"; but when he had + sacrificed for the third time, the soothsayer exclaimed: "O Agesilaus, the + sign is given to me, even as though we were in the very midst of the + enemy." Thereupon they sacrificed to the deities who avert evil and work + salvation, and so barely obtained good omens and ceased sacrificing. Nor + had five days elapsed after the sacrifices were ended, ere one came + bringing information to the ephors of a conspiracy, and named Cinadon as + the ringleader; a young man robust of body as of soul, but not one of the + peers. (5) Accordingly the ephors questioned their informant: "How say you + the occurrence is to take place?" and he who gave the information + answered: "Cinadon took me to the limit of the market-place, and bade me + count how many Spartans there were in the market-place; and I counted—'king, + ephors, and elders, and others—maybe forty. But tell me, Cinadon,' I + said to him, 'why have you bidden me count them?' and he answered me: + 'Those men, I would have you know, are your sworn foes; and all those + others, more than four thousand, congregated there are your natural + allies.' Then he took and showed me in the streets, here one and there two + of 'our enemies,' as we chanced to come across them, and all the rest 'our + natural allies'; and so again running through the list of Spartans to be + found in the country districts, he still kept harping on that string: + 'Look you, on each estate one foeman—the master—and all the + rest allies.'" The ephors asked: "How many do you reckon are in the secret + of this matter?" The informant answered: "On that point also he gave me to + understand that there were by no means many in their secret who were prime + movers of the affair, but those few to be depended on; 'and to make up,' + said he, 'we ourselves are in their secret, all the rest of them—helots, + enfranchised, inferiors, provincials, one and all. (6) Note their + demeanour when Spartans chance to be the topic of their talk. Not one of + them can conceal the delight it would give him if he might eat up every + Spartan raw.'" (7) Then, as the inquiry went on, the question came: "And + where did they propose to find arms?" The answer followed: "He explained + that those of us, of course, who are enrolled in regiments have arms of + our own already, and as for the mass—he led the way to the war + foundry, and showed me scores and scores of knives, of swords, of spits, + hatchets, and axes, and reaping-hooks. 'Anything or everything,' he told + me, 'which men use to delve in earth, cut timber, or quarry stone, would + serve our purpose; nay, the instruments used for other arts would in nine + cases out of ten furnish weapons enough and to spare, especially when + dealing with unarmed antagonists.'" Once more being asked what time the + affair was to come off, he replied his orders were "not to leave the + city." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) "Pol. Lac." xv. 2. + + (5) For the {omoioi}, see Muller, "Dorians," iii. 5, 7 (vol. ii. p. + 84); Grote, "H. G." ix. 345, note 2. + + (6) For the neodamodes, hypomeiones, perioeci, see Arnold, "Thuc." v. + 34; Muller, "Dorians," ii. 43, 84, 18; Busolt, op. cit. p 16. + + (7) See "Anab." IV. viii. 14; and Hom. "Il." iv. 34. +</pre> + <p> + As the result of their inquiry the ephors were persuaded that the man's + statements were based upon things he had really seen, (8) and they were so + alarmed that they did not even venture to summon the Little Assembly, (9) + as it was named; but holding informal meetings among themselves—a + few senators here and a few there—they determined to send Cinadon + and others of the young men to Aulon, with instructions to apprehend + certain of the inhabitants and helots, whose names were written on the + scytale (or scroll). (10) He had further instructions to capture another + resident in Aulon; this was a woman, the fashionable beauty of the place—supposed + to be the arch-corruptress of all Lacedaemonians, young and old, who + visited Aulon. It was not the first mission of the sort on which Cinadon + had been employed by the ephors. It was natural, therefore, that the + ephors should entrust him with the scytale on which the names of the suspects + were inscribed; and in answer to his inquiry which of the young men he was + to take with him, they said: "Go and order the eldest of the Hippagretae + (11) (or commanders of horse) to let you have six or seven who chance to + be there." But they had taken care to let the commander know whom he was + to send, and that those sent should also know that their business was to + capture Cinadon. Further, the authorities instructed Cinadon that they + would send three waggons to save bringing back his captives on foot—concealing + as deeply as possible the fact that he, and he alone, was the object of + the mission. Their reason for not securing him in the city was that they + did not really know the extent of the mischief; and they wished, in the + first instance, to learn from Cinadon who his accomplices were before + these latter could discover they were informed against and effect their + escape. His captors were to secure him first, and having learnt from him + the names of his confederates, to write them down and send them as quickly + as possible to the ephors. The ephors, indeed, were so much concerned + about the whole occurrence that they further sent a company of horse to + assist their agents at Aulon. (12) As soon as the capture was effected, + and one of the horsemen was back with the list of names taken down on the + information of Cinadon, they lost no time in apprehending the soothsayer + Tisamenus and the rest who were the principals in the conspiracy. When + Cinadon (13) himself was brought back and cross-examined, and had made a + full confession of the whole plot, his plans, and his accomplices, they + put to him one final question: "What was your object in undertaking this + business?" He answered: "I wished to be inferior to no man in Lacedaemon." + Let that be as it might, his fate was to be taken out forthwith in irons, + just as he was, and to be placed with his two hands and his neck in the + collar, and so under scourge and goad to be driven, himself and his + accomplices, round the city. Thus upon the heads of those was visited the + penalty of their offences. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) "And pointed to a well-concerted plan." + + (9) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 348. + + (10) See Thuc. i. 131; Plut. "Lys." 19 (Clough, iii. p. 125). + + (11) "The Hippagretes (or commander of the three hundred guards called + horsemen, though they were not really mounted)." Grote, "H. G." + vol. ix. p. 349; see "Pol. Lac." iv. 3. + + (12) Or, "to those on the way to Aulon." + + (13) See for Cinadon's case, Arist. "Pol." v. 7, 3. +</pre> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + B.C. 397. (1) It was after the incidents just recorded that a Syracusan + named Herodas brought news to Lacedaemon. He had chanced to be in + Phoenicia with a certain shipowner, and was struck by the number of + Phoenician triremes which he observed, some coming into harbour from other + ports, others already there with their ships' companies complete, while + others again were still completing their equipments. Nor was it only what + he saw, but he had heard say further that there were to be three hundred + of these vessels all told; whereupon he had taken passage on the first + sailing ship bound for Hellas. He was in haste to lay this information + before the Lacedaemonians, feeling sure that the king and Tissaphernes + were concerned in these preparations—though where the fleet was to + act, or against whom, he would not venture to predict. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 353, for chronology, etc. +</pre> + <p> + These reports threw the Lacedaemonians into a flutter of expectation and + anxiety. They summoned a meeting of the allies, and began to deliberate as + to what ought to be done. Lysander, convinced of the enormous superiority + of the Hellenic navy, and with regard to land forces drawing an obvious + inference from the exploits and final deliverance of the troops with + Cyrus, persuaded Agesilaus, to undertake a campaign into Asia, provided + the authorities would furnish him with thirty Spartans, two thousand of + the enfranchised, (2) and contingents of the allies amounting to six + thousand men. Apart from these calculations, Lysander had a personal + object: he wished to accompany the king himself, and by his aid to + re-establish the decarchies originally set up by himself in the different + cities, but at a later date expelled through the action of the ephors, who + had issued a fiat re-establishing the old order of constitution. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Technically, "neodamodes." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 396. To this offer on the part of Agesilaus to undertake such an + expedition the Lacedaemonians responded by presenting him with all he + asked for, and six months' provisions besides. When the hour of departure + came he offered all such sacrifices as are necessary, and lastly those + "before crossing the border," (3) and so set out. This done, he despatched + to the several states (4) messengers with directions as to the numbers to + be sent from each, and the points of rendezvous; but for himself he was + minded to go and do sacrifice at Aulis, even as Agamemnon had offered + sacrifice in that place ere he set sail for Troy. But when he had reached + the place and had begun to sacrifice, the Boeotarchs (5) being apprised of + his design, sent a body of cavalry and bade him desist from further + sacrificing; (6) and lighting upon victims already offered, they hurled + them from off the altars, scattering the fragments. Then Agesilaus, + calling the gods to witness, got on board his trireme in bitter + indignation, and sailed away. Arrived at Geraestus, he there collected as + large a portion of his troops as possible, and with the armada made sail + for Ephesus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) "Pol. Lac." xiii. 2 foll. + + (4) Or, "To the several cities he had already despatched messengers + with directions," etc.; see Paus. III. ix. 1-3. + + (5) See Freeman, "Hist. of Federal Government," ch. iv. "Constitution + of the Boeotian League," pp. 162, 163. The Boeotarchs, as + representatives of the several Boeotian cities, were the supreme + military commanders of the League, and, as it would appear, the + general administrators of Federal affairs. "The Boeotarchs of + course command at Delion, but they also act as administrative + magistrates of the League by hindering Agesilaus from sacrificing + at Aulis." + + (6) Plut. "Ages." vi.; "Pelop." xxi. See Breitenb. op. cit. Praef. p. + xvi.; and below, III. v. 5; VI. iv. 23. +</pre> + <p> + When he had reached that city the first move was made by Tissaphernes, who + sent asking, "With what purpose he was come thither?" And the Spartan king + made answer: "With the intention that the cities in Asia shall be + independent even as are the cities in our quarter of Hellas." In answer to + this Tissaphernes said: "If you on your part choose to make a truce whilst + I send ambassadors to the king, I think you may well arrange the matter, + and sail back home again, if so you will." "Willing enough should I be," + replied Agesilaus, "were I not persuaded that you are cheating me." "Nay, + but it is open to you," replied the satrap, "to exact a surety for the + execution of the terms... 'Provided always that you, Tissaphernes, carry + out what you say without deceit, we on our side will abstain from injuring + your dominion in any respect whatever during the truce.'" (7) Accordingly + in the presence of three commissioners—Herippidas, Dercylidas, and + Megillus—Tissaphernes took an oath in the words prescribed: "Verily + and indeed, I will effect peace honestly and without guile." To which the + commissioners, on behalf of Agesilaus, swore a counter-oath: "Verily and + indeed, provided Tissaphernes so acts, we on our side will observe the + truce." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) For this corrupt passage, see Hartman, "Anal. Xen." p. 332; also + Otto Keller's critical edition of the "Hellenica" (Lips, + MDCCCLXXX.) +</pre> + <p> + Tissaphernes at once gave the lie to what he had sworn. Instead of + adhering to peace he sent up to demand a large army from the king, in + addition to what he already had. But Agesilaus, though he was fully alive + to these proceedings, adhered as rigidly as ever to the truce. + </p> + <p> + To keep quiet and enjoy leisure was his duty, in the exercise of which he + wore away the time at Ephesus. But in reference to the organisation of the + several states it was a season of vehement constitutional disturbance in + the several cities; that is to say, there were neither democracies as in + the old days of the Athenians, nor yet were there decarchies as in the + days of Lysander. But here was Lysander back again. Every one recognised + him, and flocked to him with petitions for one favour or another, which he + was to obtain for them from Agesilaus. A crowd of suitors danced + attendance on his heels, and formed so conspicuous a retinue that + Agesilaus, any one would have supposed, was the private person and + Lysander the king. All this was maddening to Agesilaus, as was presently + plain. As to the rest of the Thirty, jealousy did not suffer them to keep + silence, and they put it plainly to Agesilaus that the super-regal + splendour in which Lysander lived was a violation of the constitution. So + when Lysander took upon himself to introduce some of his petitioners to + Agesilaus, the latter turned them a deaf ear. Their being aided and + abetted by Lysander was sufficient; he sent them away discomfited. At + length, as time after time things turned out contrary to his wishes, + Lysander himself perceived the position of affairs. He now no longer + suffered that crowd to follow him, and gave those who asked him help in + anything plainly to understand that they would gain nothing, but rather be + losers, by his intervention. But being bitterly annoyed at the degradation + put upon him, he came to the king and said to him: "Ah, Agesilaus, how + well you know the art of humbling your friends!" "Ay, indeed," the king + replied; "those of them whose one idea it is to appear greater than + myself; if I did not know how also to requite with honour those who work + for my good, I should be ashamed." And Lysander said: "maybe there is more + reason in your doings than ever guided my conduct;" adding, "Grant me for + the rest one favour, so shall I cease to blush at the loss of my influence + with you, and you will cease to be embarrassed by my presence. Send me off + on a mission somewhere; wherever I am I will strive to be of service to + you." Such was the proposal of Lysander. Agesilaus resolved to act upon + it, and despatched Lysander to the Hellespont. And this is what befell. + (8) Lysander, being made aware of a slight which had been put upon + Spithridates the Persian by Pharnabazus, got into conversation with the + injured man, and so worked upon him that he was persuaded to bring his + children and his personal belongings, and with a couple of hundred troops + to revolt. The next step was to deposit all the goods safely in Cyzicus, + and the last to get on shipboard with Spithridates and his son, and so to + present himself with his Persian friends to Agesilaus. Agesilaus, on his + side, was delighted at the transaction, and set himself at once to get + information about Pharnabazus, his territory and his government. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) See "Ages." iii. 3; "Anab." VI. v. 7. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Tissaphernes had waxed bolder. A large body of troops had been + sent down by the king. On the strength of that he declared war against + Agesilaus, if he did not instantly withdraw his troops from Asia. The + Lacedaemonians there (9) present, no less than the allies, received the + news with profound vexation, persuaded as they were that Agesilaus had no + force capable of competing with the king's grand armament. But a smile lit + up the face of Agesilaus as he bade the ambassadors return to Tissaphernes + and tell him that he was much in his debt for the perjury by which he had + won the enmity of Heaven and made the very gods themselves allies of + Hellas. He at once issued a general order to the troops to equip + themselves for a forward movement. He warned the cities through which he + must pass in an advance upon Caria, to have markets in readiness, and + lastly, he despatched a message to the Ionian, Aeolian, and Hellespontine + communities to send their contingents to join him at Ephesus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) I.e. at Ephesus. +</pre> + <p> + Tissaphernes, putting together the facts that Agesilaus had no cavalry and + that Caria was a region unadapted to that arm, and persuaded in his own + mind also that the Spartan could not but cherish wrath against himself + personally for his chicanery, felt convinced that he was really intending + to invade Caria, and that the satrap's palace was his final goal. + Accordingly he transferred the whole of his infantry to that province, and + proceeded to lead his cavalry round into the plain of the Maeander. Here + he conceived himself capable of trampling the Hellenes under foot with his + horsemen before they could reach the craggy districts where no cavalry + could operate. + </p> + <p> + But, instead of marching straight into Caria, Agesilaus turned sharp off + in the opposite direction towards Phrygia. Picking up various detachments + of troops which met him on his march, he steadily advanced, laying cities + prostrate before him, and by the unexpectedness of his attack reaping a + golden harvest of spoil. As a rule the march was prosecuted safely; but + not far from Dascylium his advanced guard of cavalry were pushing on + towards a knoll to take a survey of the state of things in front, when, as + chance would have it, a detachment of cavalry sent forward by Pharnabazus—the + corps, in fact, of Rhathines and his natural brother Bagaeus—just + about equal to the Hellenes in number, also came galloping up to the very + knoll in question. The two bodies found themselves face to face not one + hundred and fifty yards (10) apart, and for the first moment or two stood + stock still. The Hellenic horse were drawn up like an ordinary phalanx + four deep, the barbarians presenting a narrow front of twelve or + thereabouts, and a very disproportionate depth. There was a moment's + pause, and then the barbarians, taking the initiative, charged. There was + a hand-to-hand tussle, in which any Hellene who succeeded in striking his + man shivered his lance with the blow, while the Persian troopers, armed + with cornel-wood javelins, speedily despatched a dozen men and a couple of + horses. (11) At this point the Hellenic cavalry turned and fled. But as + Agesilaus came up to the rescue with his heavy infantry, the Asiatics were + forced in their turn to withdraw, with the loss of one man slain. This + cavalry engagement gave them pause. Agesilaus on the day following it + offered sacrifice. "Was he to continue his advance?" But the victims + proved hopeless. (12) There was nothing for it after this manifestation + but to turn and march towards the sea. It was clear enough to his mind + that without a proper cavalry force it would be impossible to conduct a + campaign in the flat country. Cavalry, therefore, he must get, or be + driven to mere guerilla warfare. With this view he drew up a list of all + the wealthiest inhabitants belonging to the several cities of those parts. + Their duty would be to support a body of cavalry, with the proviso, + however, that any one contributing a horse, arms, and rider, up to the + standard, would be exempted from personal service. The effect was + instantaneous. The zeal with which the recipients of these orders + responded could hardly have been greater if they had been seeking + substitutes to die for them. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Lit. "four plethra." + + (11) See Xenophon's treatise "On Horsemanship," xii. 12. + + (12) Lit. "lobeless," i.e. with a lobe of the liver wanting—a bad + sign. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 395. After this, at the first indication of spring, he collected the + whole of his army at Ephesus. But the army needed training. With that + object he proposed a series of prizes—prizes to the heavy infantry + regiments, to be won by those who presented their men in the best + condition; prizes for the cavalry regiments which could ride best; prizes + for those divisions of peltasts and archers which proved most efficient in + their respective duties. And now the gymnasiums were a sight to see, + thronged as they were, one and all, with warriors stripping for exercise; + or again, the hippodrome crowded with horses and riders performing their + evolutions; or the javelin men and archers going through their peculiar + drill. In fact, the whole city where he lay presented under his hands a + spectacle not to be forgotten. The market-place literally teemed with + horses, arms, and accoutrements of all sorts for sale. The bronze-worker, + the carpenter, the smith, the leather-cutter, the painter and embosser, + were all busily engaged in fabricating the implements of war; so that the + city of Ephesus itself was fairly converted into a military workshop. (13) + It would have done a man's heart good to see those long lines of soldiers + with Agesilaus at their head, as they stepped gaily be-garlanded from the + gymnasiums to dedicate their wreaths to the goddess Artemis. Nor can I + well conceive of elements more fraught with hope than were here combined. + Here were reverence and piety towards Heaven; here practice in war and + military training; here discipline with habitual obedience to authority. + But contempt for one's enemy will infuse a kind of strength in battle. So + the Spartan leader argued; and with a view to its production he ordered + the quartermasters to put up the prisoners who had been captured by his + foraging bands for auction, stripped naked; so that his Hellenic soldiery, + as they looked at the white skins which had never been bared to sun and + wind, the soft limbs unused to toil through constant riding in carriages, + came to the conclusion that war with such adversaries would differ little + from a fight with women. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) See Plut. "Marc." (Clough, ii. 262); Polyb. "Hist." x. 20. +</pre> + <p> + By this date a full year had elapsed since the embarkation of Agesilaus, + and the time had come for the Thirty with Lysander to sail back home, and + for their successors, with Herippidas, to arrive. Among these Agesilaus + appointed Xenocles and another to the command of the cavalry, Scythes to + that of the heavy infantry of the enfranchised, (14) Herippidas to that of + the Cyreians, and Migdon to that of the contingents from the states. + Agesilaus gave them to understand that he intended to lead them forthwith + by the most expeditious route against the stronghold of the country, (15) + so that without further ceremony they might prepare their minds and bodies + for the tug of battle. Tissaphernes, however, was firmly persuaded that + this was only talk intended to deceive him; Agesilaus would this time + certainly invade Caria. Accordingly he repeated his former tactics, + transporting his infantry bodily into Caria and posting his cavalry in the + valley of the Maeander. But Agesilaus was as good as his word, and at once + invaded the district of Sardis. A three days' march through a region + denuded of the enemy threw large supplies into his hands. On the fourth + day the cavalry of the enemy approached. Their general ordered the officer + in charge of his baggage-train to cross the Pactolus and encamp, while his + troopers, catching sight of stragglers from the Hellenic force scattered + in pursuit of booty, put several of them to the sword. Perceiving which, + Agesilaus ordered his cavalry to the rescue; and the Persians on their + side, seeing their advance, collected together in battle order to receive + them, with dense squadrons of horse, troop upon troop. The Spartan, + reflecting that the enemy had as yet no infantry to support him, whilst he + had all branches of the service to depend upon, concluded that the + critical moment had arrived at which to risk an engagement. In this mood + he sacrificed, and began advancing his main line of battle against the + serried lines of cavalry in front of him, at the same time ordering the + flower of his heavy infantry—the ten-years-service men (16)—to + close with them at a run, and the peltasts to bring up their supports at + the double. The order passed to his cavalry was to charge in confidence + that he and the whole body of his troops were close behind them. The + cavalry charge was received by the Persians without flinching, but + presently finding themselves environed by the full tide of war they + swerved. Some found a speedy grave within the river, but the mass of them + gradually made good their escape. The Hellenes followed close on the heels + of the flying foe and captured his camp. here the peltasts not unnaturally + fell to pillaging; whereupon Agesilaus planted his troops so as to form a + cordon enclosing the property of friends and foes alike. The spoil taken + was considerable; it fetched more than seventy talents, (17) not to + mention the famous camels, subsequently brought over by Agesilaus into + Hellas, which were captured here. At the moment of the battle Tissaphernes + lay in Sardis. Hence the Persians argued that they had been betrayed by + the satrap. And the king of Persia, coming to a like conclusion himself + that Tissaphernes was to blame for the evil turn of his affairs, sent down + Tithraustes and beheaded him. (18) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) The neodamodes. + + (15) I.e. Lydia. See Plut. "Ages." x. (Clough, iv. 11). + + (16) See note to "Hell." II. iv. 32. + + (17) = 17,062 pounds: 10 shillings. + + (18) See Diod. xiv. 80. +</pre> + <p> + This done, Tithraustes sent an embassy to Agesilaus with a message as + follows: "The author of all our trouble, yours and ours, Agesilaus, has + paid the penalty of his misdoings; the king therefore asks of you first + that you should sail back home in peace; secondly, that the cities in Asia + secured in their autonomy should continue to render him the ancient + tribute." To this proposition Agesilaus made answer that "without the + authorities at home he could do nothing in the matter." "Then do you, at + least," replied Tithraustes, "while awaiting advice from Lacedaemon, + withdraw into the territory of Pharnabazus. Have I not avenged you of your + enemy?" "While, then, I am on my way thither," rejoined Agesilaus, "will + you support my army with provisions?" On this wise Tithraustes handed him + thirty talents, (19) which the other took, and forthwith began his march + into Phrygia (the Phrygia of Pharnabazus). He lay in the plain district + above Cyme, (20) when a message reached him from the home authorities, + giving him absolute disposal of the naval forces, (21) with the right to + appoint the admiral of his choice. This course the Lacedaemonians were led + to adopt by the following considerations: If, they argued, the same man + were in command of both services, the land force would be greatly + strengthened through the concentration of the double force at any point + necessary; and the navy likewise would be far more useful through the + immediate presence and co-operation of the land force where needed. + Apprised of these measures, Agesilaus in the first instance sent an order + to the cities on the islands and the seaboard to fit out as many ships of + war as they severally might deem desirable. The result was a new navy, + consisting of the vessels thus voluntarily furnished by the states, with + others presented by private persons out of courtesy to their commander, + and amounting in all to a fleet of one hundred and twenty sail. The + admiral whom he selected was Peisander, his wife's brother, a man of + genuine ambition and of a vigorous spirit, but not sufficiently expert in + the details of equipment to achieve a great naval success. Thus while + Peisander set off to attend to naval matters, Agesilaus continued his + march whither he was bound to Phrygia. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) = 7,312 pounds: 10 shillings. + + (20) See "Cyrop." VII. i. 45. + + (21) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 327, note 3; Arist. "Pol." ii. 9, 33. +</pre> + <p> + V + </p> + <p> + But now Tithraustes seemed to have discovered in Agesilaus a disposition + to despise the fortunes of the Persian monarch—he evidently had no + intention to withdraw from Asia; on the contrary, he was cherishing hopes + vast enough to include the capture of the king himself. Being at his wits' + end how to manage matters, he resolved to send Timocrates the Rhodian to + Hellas with a gift of gold worthy fifty silver talents, (1) and enjoined + upon him to endeavour to exchange solemn pledges with the leading men in + the several states, binding them to undertake a war against Lacedaemon. + Timocrates arrived and began to dole out his presents. In Thebes he gave + gifts to Androcleidas, Ismenias, and Galaxidorus; in Corinth to Timolaus + and Polyanthes; in Argos to Cylon and his party. The Athenians, (2) though + they took no share of the gold, were none the less eager for the war, + being of opinion that empire was theirs by right. (3) The recipients of + the moneys forthwith began covertly to attack the Lacedaemonians in their + respective states, and, when they had brought these to a sufficient pitch + of hatred, bound together the most important of them in a confederacy. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) = 12,187 pounds: 10 shillings. + + (2) See Paus. III. ix. 8; Plut. "Ages." xv. + + (3) Reading {nomizontes auton to arkhein} with Sauppe; or if, as + Breitinbach suggests, {enomizon de oukh outon to arkhesthai}, + translate "but thought it was not for them to take the + initiative." +</pre> + <p> + But it was clear to the leaders in Thebes that, unless some one struck the + first blow, the Lacedaemonians would never be brought to break the truce + with their allies. They therefore persuaded the Opuntian Locrians (4) to + levy moneys on a debatable district, (5) jointly claimed by the Phocians + and themselves, when the Phocians would be sure to retaliate by an attack + on Locris. These expectations were fulfilled. The Phocians immediately + invaded Locris and seized moneys on their side with ample interest. Then + Androcleidas and his friends lost no time in persuading the Thebans to + assist the Locrians, on the ground that it was no debatable district which + had been entered by the Phocians, but the admittedly friendly and allied + territory of Locris itself. The counter-invasion of Phocis and pillage of + their country by the Thebans promptly induced the Phocians to send an + embassy to Lacedaemon. In claiming assistance they explained that the war + was not of their own seeking, but that they had attacked the Locrians in + self-defence. On their side the Lacedaemonians were glad enough to seize a + pretext for marching upon the Thebans, against whom they cherished a + long-standing bitterness. They had not forgotten the claim which the + Thebans had set up to a tithe for Apollo in Deceleia, (6) nor yet their + refusal to support Lacedaemon in the attack on Piraeus; (7) and they + accused them further of having persuaded the Corinthians not to join that + expedition. Nor did they fail to call to mind some later proceedings of + the Thebans—their refusal to allow Agesilaus to sacrifice in Aulis; + (8) their snatching the victims already offered and hurling them from the + altars; their refusal to join the same general in a campaign directed even + against Asia. (9) The Lacedaemonians further reasoned that now, if ever, + was the favourable moment to conduct an expedition against the Thebans, + and once for all to put a stop to their insolent behaviour towards them. + Affairs in Asia were prospering under the strong arm of Agesilaus, and in + Hellas they had no other war on hand to trammel their movements. Such, + therefore, being the general view of the situation adopted at Lacedaemon, + the ephors proceeded to call out the ban. Meanwhile they despatched + Lysander to Phocis with orders to put himself at the head of the Phocians + along with the Oetaeans, Heracleotes, Melians, and Aenianians, and to + march upon Haliartus; before the walls of which place Pausanias, the + destined leader of the expedition, undertook to present himself at the + head of the Lacedaemonians and other Peloponnesian forces by a specified + date. Lysander not only carried out his instructions to the letter, but + going a little beyond them, succeeded in detaching Orchomenus from Thebes. + (10) Pausanias, on the other hand, after finding the sacrifice for + crossing the frontier favourable, sat down at Tegea and set about + despatching to and fro the commandants of allied troops whilst contentedly + awaiting the soldiers from the provincial (11) districts of Laconia. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) For an alliance between Athens and the Locrians, B.C. 395, see + Hicks, 67; and below, IV. ii. 17. + + (5) Lit. "the." See Paus. III. ix. 9. + + (6) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 309, 403; viii. 355. + + (7) "Hell." II. iv. 30, B.C. 403. + + (8) See above, III. iv. 3; and below, VII. i. 34. + + (9) See Paus. III. ix. 1-3. + + (10) See Freeman, op. cit. p. 167, "Ill feeling between Thebes and + other towns."—"Against Thebes, backed by Sparta, resistance was + hopeless. It was not till long after that, at last (in 395 B.C.), + on a favourable opportunity during the Corinthian war, Orchomenos + openly seceded." And for the prior "state of disaffection towards + Thebes on the part of the smaller cities," see "Mem." III. v. 2, + in reference to B.C. 407. + + (11) Lit. "perioecid." +</pre> + <p> + And now that it was fully plain to the Thebans that the Lacedaemonians + would invade their territory, they sent ambassadors to Athens, who spoke + as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "Men of Athens, it is a mistake on your part to blame us for certain harsh + resolutions concerning Athens at the conclusion of the war. (12) That vote + was not authorised by the state of Thebes. It was the utterance merely of + one man, (13) who was at that time seated in the congress of the allies. A + more important fact is that when the Lacedaemonians summoned us to attack + Piraeus (14) the collective state of Thebes passed a resolution refusing + to join in the campaign. As then you are to a large extent the cause of + the resentment which the Lacedaemonians feel towards us, we consider it + only fair that you in your turn should render us assistance. Still more do + we demand of you, sirs, who were of the city party at that date, to enter + heart and soul into war with the Lacedaemonians. For what were their + services to you? They first deliberately converted you into an oligarchy + and placed you in hostility to the democracy, and then they came with a + great force under guise of being your allies, and delivered you over to + the majority, so that, for any service they rendered you, you were all + dead men; and you owe your lives to our friends here, the people of + Athens. (15) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) See "Hell." II. ii. 19; and below, VI. v. 35. + + (13) Plut. "Lys." xv. "Erianthus the Theban gave his vote to pull down + the city, and turn the country into sheep-pasture."—Clough, iii. + 121. + + (14) See "Hell." II. iv. 30. + + (15) See "Hell." II. iv. 38, 40, 41. +</pre> + <p> + "But to pass on—we all know, men of Athens, that you would like to + recover the empire which you formerly possessed; and how can you compass + your object better than by coming to the aid yourselves of the victims of + Lacedaemonian injustice? Is it their wide empire of which you are afraid? + Let not that make cowards of you—much rather let it embolden you as + you lay to heart and ponder your own case. When your empire was widest + then the crop of your enemies was thickest. Only so long as they found no + opportunity to revolt did they keep their hatred of you dark; but no + sooner had they found a champion in Lacedaemon than they at once showed + what they really felt towards you. So too to-day. Let us show plainly that + we mean to stand shoulder to shoulder (16) embattled against the + Lacedaemonians; and haters enough of them—whole armies—never + fear, will be forthcoming. To prove the truth of this assertion you need + only to count upon your fingers. How many friends have they left to them + to-day? The Argives have been, are, and ever will be, hostile to them. Of + course. But the Eleians? Why, the Eleians have quite lately (17) been + robbed of so much territory and so many cities that their friendship is + converted into hatred. And what shall we say of the Corinthians? the + Arcadians? the Achaeans? In the war which Sparta waged against you, there + was no toil, no danger, no expense, which those peoples did not share, in + obedience to the dulcet coaxings (18) and persuasions of that power. The + Lacedaemonians gained what they wanted, and then not one fractional + portion of empire, honour, or wealth did these faithful followers come in + for. That is not all. They have no scruple in appointing their helots (19) + as governors, and on the free necks of their alies, in the day of their + good fortune, they have planted the tyrant's heel. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (16) Lit. "shield to shield." + + (17) Lit. "to-day," "nowadays." + + (18) {mala liparoumenoi}. See Thuc. i. 66 foll.; vi. 88. + + (19) See "Pol. Lac." xiv. +</pre> + <p> + "Then again take the case of those whom they have detached from + yourselves. In the most patent way they have cajoled and cheated them; in + place of freedom they have presented them with a twofold slavery. The + allies are tyrannised over by the governor and tyrannised over by the ten + commissioners set up by Lysander over every city. (20) And to come lastly + to the great king. In spite of all the enormous contributions with which + he aided them to gain a mastery over you, is the lord of Asia one whit + better off to-day than if he had taken exactly the opposite course and + joined you in reducing them? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) Grote ("H. G." ix. 323), referring to this passage, and to + "Hell." VI. iii. 8-11, notes the change in Spartan habits between + 405 and 394 B.C. (i.e. between the victory of Aegospotami and the + defeat of Cnidos), when Sparta possessed a large public revenue + derived from the tribute of the dependent cities. For her earlier + condition, 432 B.C., cf. Thuc. i. 80. For her subsequent + condition, 334 B.C., cf. Arist. "Pol." ii. 6, 23. +</pre> + <p> + "Is it not clear that you have only to step forward once again as the + champions of this crowd of sufferers from injustice, and you will attain + to a pinnacle of power quite unprecedented? In the days of your old empire + you were leaders of the maritime powers merely—that is clear; but + your new empire to-day will be universal. You will have at your backs not + only your former subjects, but ourselves, and the Peloponnesians, and the + king himself, with all that mighty power which is his. We do not deny that + we were serviceable allies enough to Lacedaemon, as you will bear us + witness; but this we say:—If we helped the Lacedaemonians vigorously + in the past, everything tends to show that we shall help you still more + vigorously to-day; for our swords will be unsheathed, not in behalf of + islanders, or Syracusans, or men of alien stock, as happened in the late + war, but of ourselves, suffering under a sense of wrong. And there is + another important fact which you ought to realise: this selfish system of + organised greed which is Sparta's will fall more readily to pieces than + your own late empire. Yours was the proud assertion of naval empire over + subjects powerless by sea. Theirs is the selfish sway of a minority + asserting dominion over states equally well armed with themselves, and + many times more numerous. Here our remarks end. Do not forget, however, + men of Athens, that as far as we can understand the matter, the field to + which we invite you is destined to prove far richer in blessings to your + own state of Athens than to ours, Thebes." + </p> + <p> + With these words the speaker ended. Among the Athenians, speaker after + speaker spoke in favour of the proposition, (21) and finally a unanimous + resolution was passed voting assistance to the Thebans. Thrasybulus, in an + answer communicating the resolution, pointed out with pride that in spite + of the unfortified condition of Piraeus, Athens would not shrink from + repaying her former debt of gratitude to Thebes with interest. "You," he + added, "refused to join in a campaign against us; we are prepared to fight + your battles with you against the enemy, if he attacks you." Thus the + Thebans returned home and made preparations to defend themselves, whilst + the Athenians made ready to assist them. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (21) For the alliance between Boeotia and Athens, B.C. 395, see + Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. 6; Hicks, op. cit. 65; Lys. "pro Man." S. + 13; Jebb, "Att. Or." i. p. 247; and the two speeches of the same + orator Lysias against Alcibiades (son of the famous Alcibiades), + on a Charge of Desertion ("Or." xiv.), and on a Charge of Failure + to Serve ("Or." xv.)—Jebb, op. cit. i. p. 256 foll. +</pre> + <p> + And now the Lacedaemonians no longer hesitated. Pausanias the king + advanced into Boeotia with the home army and the whole of the + Peloponnesian contingents, saving only the Corinthians, who declined to + serve. Lysander, at the head of the army supplied by Phocis and Orchomenus + and the other strong places in those parts, had already reached Haliartus, + in front of Pausanias. Being arrived, he refused to sit down quietly and + await the arrival of the army from Lacedaemon, but at once marched with + what troops he had against the walls of Haliartus; and in the first + instance he tried to persuade the citizens to detach themselves from + Thebes and to assume autonomy, but the intention was cut short by certain + Thebans within the fortress. Whereupon Lysander attacked the place. The + Thebans were made aware, (22) and hurried to the rescue with heavy + infantry and cavalry. Then, whether it was that the army of relief fell + upon Lysander unawares, or that with clear knowledge of his approach he + preferred to await the enemy, with intent to crush him, is uncertain. This + only is clear: a battle was fought beside the walls, and a trophy still + exists to mark the victory of the townsfolk before the gates of Haliartus. + Lysander was slain, and the rest fled to the mountains, the Thebans hotly + pursuing. But when the pursuit had led them to some considerable height, + and they were fairly environed and hemmed in by difficult ground and + narrow space, then the heavy infantry turned to bay, and greeted them with + a shower of darts and missiles. First two or three men dropped who had + been foremost of the pursuers, and then upon the rest they poured volleys + of stones down the precipitous incline, and pressed on their late pursuers + with much zeal, until the Thebans turned tail and quitted the deadly + slope, leaving behind them more than a couple of hundred corpses. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) See Plut. "Lys." xxviii. (Clough, iii. 137). +</pre> + <p> + On this day, thereafter, the hearts of the Thebans failed them as they + counted their losses and found them equal to their gains; but the next day + they discovered that during the night the Phocians and the rest of them + had made off to their several homes, whereupon they fell to pluming + themselves highly on their achievement. But presently Pausanias appeared + at the head of the Lacedaemonian army, and once more their dangers seemed + to thicken round them. Deep, we are told, was the silence and abasement + which reigned in their host. It was not until the third day, when the + Athenians arrived (23) and were duely drawn up beside them, whilst + Pausanias neither attacked nor offered battle, that at length the + confidence of the Thebans took a larger range. Pausanias, on his side, + having summoned his generals and commanders of fifties, (24) deliberated + whether to give battle or to content himself with picking up the bodies of + Lysander and those who fell with him, under cover of a truce. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) See Dem. "On the Crown," 258. + + (24) Lit. "polemarchs and penteconters"—"colonels and lieutenants." + See "Pol. Lac." xi. +</pre> + <p> + The considerations which weighed upon the minds of Pausanias and the other + high officers of the Lacedaemonians seem to have been that Lysander was + dead and his defeated army in retreat; while, as far as they themselves + were concerned, the Corinthian contingent was absolutely wanting, and the + zeal of the troops there present at the lowest ebb. They further reasoned + that the enemy's cavalry was numerous and theirs the reverse; whilst, + weightiest of all, there lay the dead right under the walls, so that if + they had been ever so much stronger it would have been no easy task to + pick up the bodies within range of the towers of Haliartus. On all these + grounds they determined to ask for a flag of truce, in order to pick up + the bodies of the slain. These, however, the Thebans were not disposed to + give back unless they agreed to retire from their territory. The terms + were gladly accepted by the Lacedaemonians, who at once picked up the + corpses of the slain, and prepared to quit the territory of Boeotia. The + preliminaries were transacted, and the retreat commenced. Despondent + indeed was the demeanour of the Lacedaemonians, in contrast with the + insolent bearing of the Thebans, who visited the slightest attempt to + trespass on their private estates with blows and chased the offenders back + on to the high roads unflinchingly. Such was the conclusion of the + campaign of the Lacedaemonians. + </p> + <p> + As for Pausanias, on his arrival at home he was tried on the capital + charge. The heads of indictment set forth that he had failed to reach + Haliartus as soon as Lysander, in spite of his undertaking to be there on + the same day: that, instead of using any endeavour to pick up the bodies + of the slain by force of arms, he had asked for a flag of truce: that at + an earlier date, when he had got the popular government of Athens fairly + in his grip at Piraeus, he had suffered it to slip through his fingers and + escape. Besides this, (25) he failed to present himself at the trial, and + a sentence of death was passed upon him. He escaped to Tegea and there + died of an illness whilst still in exile. Thus closes the chapter of + events enacted on the soil of Hellas. To return to Asia and Agesilaus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (25) Or, add, "as a further gravamen." +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK IV + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + B.C. 395. With the fall of the year Agesilaus reached Phrygia—the + Phrygia of Pharnabazus—and proceeded to burn and harry the district. + City after city was taken, some by force and some by voluntary surrender. + To a proposal of Spithridates to lead him into Paphlagonia, (1) where he + would introduce the king of the country to him in conference and obtain + his alliance, he readily acceded. It was a long-cherished ambition of + Agesilaus to alienate some one of the subject nations from the Persian + monarch, and he pushed forward eagerly. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See Hartman ("An. Xen." p. 339), who suggests {Otun auto} for {sun + auto}. +</pre> + <p> + On his arrival in Paphlagonia, King Otys (2) came, and an alliance was + made. (The fact was, he had been summoned by the king to Susa and had not + gone up.) More than that, through the persuasion of Spithridates he left + behind as a parting gift to Agesilaus one thousand cavalry and a couple of + thousand peltasts. Agesilaus was anxious in some way to show his gratitude + to Spithridates for such help, and spoke as follows:—"Tell me," he + said to Spithridates, "would you not like to give your daughter to King + Otys?" "Much more would I like to give her," he answered, "than he to take + her—I an outcast wanderer, and he lord of a vast territory and + forces." Nothing more was said at the time about the marriage; but when + Otys was on the point of departure and came to bid farewell, Agesilaus, + having taken care that Spithridates should be out of the way, in the + presence of the Thirty broached the subject: (3) "Can you tell me, Otys, + to what sort of family Spithridates belongs?" "To one of the noblest in + Persia," replied the king. Agesilaus: "Have you observed how beautiful his + son is?" Otys: "To be sure; last evening I was supping with him." + Agesilaus: "And they tell me his daughter is yet more beautiful." Otys: + "That may well be; beautiful she is." Agesilaus: "For my part, as you have + proved so good a friend to us, I should like to advise you to take this + girl to wife. Not only is she very beautiful—and what more should a + husband ask for?—but her father is of noble family, and has a force + at his back large enough to retaliate on Pharnabazus for an injury. He has + made the satrap, as you see, a fugitive and a vagabond in his own vast + territory. I need not tell you," he added, "that a man who can so chastise + an enemy is well able to benefit a friend; and of this be assured: by such + an alliance you will gain not the connection of Spithridates alone, but of + myself and the Lacedaemonians, and, as we are the leaders of Hellas, of + the rest of Hellas also. And what a wedding yours will be! Were ever + nuptials celebrated on so grand a scale before? Was ever bride led home by + such an escort of cavalry and light-armed troops and heavy infantry, as + shall escort your wife home to your palace?" Otys asked: "Is Spithridates + of one mind with you in this proposal?" and Agesilaus answered: "In good + sooth he did not bid me make it for him. And for my own part in the + matter, though it is, I admit, a rare pleasure to requite an enemy, yet I + had far rather at any time discover some good fortune for my friends." + Otys: "Why not ask if your project pleases Spithridates too?" Then + Agesilaus, turning to Herippidas and the rest of the Thirty, bade them go + to Spithridates; "and give him such good instruction," he added, "that he + shall wish what we wish." The Thirty rose and retired to administer their + lesson. But they seemed to tarry a long time, and Agesilaus asked: "What + say you, King Otys—shall we summon him hither ourselves? You, I feel + certain, are better able to persuade him than the whole Thirty put + together." Thereupon Agesilaus summoned Spithridates and the others. As + they came forward, Herippidas promptly delivered himself thus: "I spare + you the details, Agesilaus. To make a long story short, Spithridates says, + 'He will be glad to do whatever pleases you.'" Then Agesilaus, turning + first to one and then to the other: "What pleases me," said he, "is that + you should wed a daughter—and you a wife—so happily. (4) But," + he added, "I do not see how we can well bring home the bride by land till + spring." "No, not by land," the suitor answered, "but you might, if you + chose, conduct her home at once by sea." Thereupon they exchanged pledges + to ratify the compact; and so sent Otys rejoicing on his way. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) See "Ages." iii. 4, where he is called Cotys. + + (3) I.e. "Spartan counsellors." + + (4) Or, "and may the wedding be blest!" +</pre> + <p> + Agesilaus, who had not failed to note the king's impatience, at once + fitted out a ship of war and gave orders to Callias, a Lacedaemonian, to + escort the maiden to her new home; after which he himself began his march + on Dascylium. Here was the palace of Pharnabazus. It lay in the midst of + abundant supplies. Here, too, were most fair hunting grounds, offering the + hunter choice between enclosed parks (5) and a wide expanse of field and + fell; and all around there flowed a river full of fish of every sort; and + for the sportsman versed in fowling, winged game in abundance. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Lit. "paradises." See "Anab." I. ii. 7; "Cyrop." I. iv. 11. +</pre> + <p> + In these quarters the Spartan king passed the winter, collecting supplies + for the army either on the spot or by a system of forage. On one of these + occasions the troops, who had grown reckless and scornful of the enemy + through long immunity from attack, whilst engaged in collecting supplies + were scattered over the flat country, when Pharnabazus fell upon them with + two scythe-chariots and about four hundred horse. Seeing him thus + advancing, the Hellenes ran together, mustering possibly seven hundred + men. The Persian did not hesitate, but placing his chariots in front, + supported by himself and the cavalry, he gave the command to charge. The + scythe-chariots charged and scattered the compact mass, and speedily the + cavalry had laid low in the dust about a hundred men, while the rest + retreated hastily, under cover of Agesilaus and his hoplites, who were + fortunately near. + </p> + <p> + It was the third or fourth day after this that Spithridates made a + discovery: Pharnabazus lay encamped in Caue, a large village not more than + eighteen miles (6) away. This news he lost no time in reporting to + Herippidas. The latter, who was longing for some brilliant exploit, begged + Agesilaus to furnish him with two thousand hoplites, an equal number of + peltasts, and some cavalry—the latter to consist of the horsemen of + Spithridates, the Paphlagonians, and as many Hellene troopers as he might + perchance persuade to follow him. Having got the promise of them from + Agesilaus, he proceeded to take the auspices. Towards late afternoon he + obtained favourable omens and broke off the sacrifice. Thereupon he + ordered the troops to get their evening meal, after which they were to + present themselves in front of the camp. But by the time darkness had + closed in, not one half of them had come out. To abandon the project was + to call down the ridicule of the rest of the Thirty. So he set out with + the force to hand, and about daylight, falling on the camp of Pharnabazus, + put many of his advanced guard of Mysians to the sword. The men themselves + made good their escape in different directions, but the camp was taken, + and with it divers goblets and other gear such as a man like Pharnabazus + would have, not to speak of much baggage and many baggage animals. It was + the dread of being surrounded and besieged, if he should establish himself + for long at any one spot, which induced Pharnabazus to flee in gipsy + fashion from point to point over the country, carefully obliterating his + encampments. Now as the Paphlagonians and Spithridates brought back the + captured property, they were met by Herippidas with his brigadiers and + captains, who stopped them and (7) relieved them of all they had; the + object being to have as large a list as possible of captures to deliver + over to the officers who superintended the sale of booty. (8) This + treatment the Asiatics found intolerable. They deemed themselves at once + injured and insulted, got their kit together in the night, and made off in + the direction of Sardis to join Ariaeus without mistrust, seeing that he + too had revolted and gone to war with the king. On Agesilaus himself no + heavier blow fell during the whole campaign than the desertion of + Spithridates and Megabates and the Paphlagonians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) Lit. "one hundred and sixty stades." + + (7) Or, "captains posted to intercept them, who relieved..." See + "Anab." IV. i. 14. + + (8) See "Pol. Lac." xiii. 11, for these officers. +</pre> + <p> + Now there was a certain man of Cyzicus, Apollophanes by name; he was an + old friend of Pharnabazus, and at this time had become a friend also of + Agesilaus. (9) This man informed Agesilaus that he thought he could bring + about a meeting between him and Pharnabazus, which might tend to + friendship; and having so got ear of him, he obtained pledges of good + faith between his two friends, and presented himself with Pharnabazus at + the trysting-place, where Agesilaus with the Thirty around him awaited + their coming, reclined upon a grassy sward. Pharnabazus presently arrived + clad in costliest apparel; but just as his attendants were about to spread + at his feet the carpets on which the Persians delicately seat themselves, + he was touched with a sense of shame at his own luxury in sight of the + simplicity of Agesilaus, and he also without further ceremony seated + himself on the bare ground. And first the two bade one another hail, and + then Pharnabazus stretched out his right hand and Agesilaus his to meet + him, and the conversation began. Pharnabazus, as the elder of the two, + spoke first. "Agesilaus," he said, "and all you Lacedaemonians here + present, while you were at war with the Athenians I was your friend and + ally; it was I who furnished the wealth that made your navy strong on sea; + on land I fought on horseback by your side, and pursued your enemies into + the sea. (10) As to duplicity like that of Tissaphernes, I challenge you + to accuse me of having played you false by word or deed. Such have I ever + been; and in return how am I treated by yourselves to-day?—in such + sort that I cannot even sup in my own country unless, like the wild + animals, I pick up the scraps you chance to leave. The beautiful palaces + which my father left me as an heirloom, the parks (11) full of trees and + beasts of the chase in which my heart rejoiced, lie before my eyes hacked + to pieces, burnt to ashes. Maybe I do not comprehend the first principles + of justice and holiness; do you then explain to me how all this resembles + the conduct of men who know how to repay a simple debt of gratitude." He + ceased, and the Thirty were ashamed before him and kept silence. (12) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) "Ages." v. 4; Plut. "Ages." xi. (Clough, iv. p. 14). + + (10) See "Hell." I. i. 6. + + (11) Lit. "paradises." + + (12) Theopompus of Chios, the historian (b. B.C. 378, fl. B.C. 333), + "in the eleventh book (of his {Suntazis Ellenikon}) borrowed + Xenophon's lively account of the interview between Agesilaus and + Pharnabazus (Apollonius apud Euseb. B, "Praep. Evang." p. 465)." + See "Hist. Lit. of Anc. Gr.," Muller and Donaldson, ii. p. 380. +</pre> + <p> + At length, after some pause, Agesilaus spoke. "I think you are aware," he + said, "Pharnabazus, that within the states of Hellas the folk of one + community contract relations of friendship and hospitality with one + another; (13) but if these states should go to war, then each man will + side with his fatherland, and friend will find himself pitted against + friend in the field of battle, and, if it so betide, the one may even deal + the other his death-blow. So too we to-day, being at war with your + sovereign lord the king, must needs regard as our enemy all that he calls + his; not but that with yourself personally we should esteem it our high + fortune to be friends. If indeed it were merely an exchange of service—were + you asked to give up your lord the king and to take us as your masters in + his stead, I could not so advise you; but the fact is, by joining with us + it is in your power to-day to bow your head to no man, to call no man + master, to reap the produce of your own domain in freedom—freedom, + which to my mind is more precious than all riches. Not that we bid you to + become a beggar for the sake of freedom, but rather to use our friendship + to increase not the king's authority, but your own, by subduing those who + are your fellow-slaves to-day, and who to-morrow shall be your willing + subjects. Well, then, freedom given and wealth added—what more would + you desire to fill the cup of happiness to overflowing?" Pharnabazus + replied: "Shall I tell you plainly what I will do?" "That were but kind + and courteous on your part," he answered. "Thus it stands with me, then," + said Pharnabazus. "If the king should send another general, and if he + should wish to rank me under this new man's orders, I, for my part, am + willing to accept your friendship and alliance; but if he offers me the + supreme command—why, then, I plainly tell you, there is a certain + something in the very name ambition which whispers me that I shall war + against you to the best of my ability." (14) When he heard that, Agesilaus + seized the satrap's hand, exclaiming: "Ah, best of mortals, may the day + arrive which sends us such a friend! Of one thing rest assured. This + instant I leave your territory with what haste I may, and for the future—even + in case of war—as long as we can find foes elsewhere our hands shall + hold aloof from you and yours." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Or, add, "we call them guest friends." + + (14) Or, "so subtle a force, it seems, is the love of honour that." + Grote, "H. G." ix. 386; cf. Herod. iii. 57 for "ambition," + {philotimia}. +</pre> + <p> + And with these words he broke up the meeting. Pharnabazus mounted his + horse and rode away, but his son by Parapita, who was still in the bloom + of youth, lingered behind; then, running up to Agesilaus, he exclaimed: + "See, I choose you as my friend." "And I accept you," replied the king. + "Remember, then," the lad answered, and with the word presented the + beautiful javelin in his hand to Agesilaus, who received it, and + unclasping a splendid trapping (15) which his secretary, Idaeus, had round + the neck of his charger, he gave it in return to the youth; whereupon the + boy leapt on his horse's back and galloped after his father. (16) At a + later date, during the absence of Pharnabazus abroad, this same youth, the + son of Parapita, was deprived of the government by his brother and driven + into exile. Then Agesilaus took great interest in him, and as he had a + strong attachment to the son of Eualces, an Athenian, Agesilaus did all he + could to have this friend of his, who was the tallest of the boys, + admitted to the two hundred yards race at Olympia. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) {phalara}, bosses of gold, silver, or other metals, cast or + chased, with some appropriate device in relief, which were worn as + an ornamental trapping for horses, affixed to the head-stall or to + a throat-collar, or to a martingale over the chest.—Rich's + "Companion to Lat. Dict. and Greek Lex.," s.v. + + (16) See Grote, ix. 387; Plut. "Ages." xiv. (Clough, iv. 15); "Ages." + iii. 5. The incident is idealised in the "Cyrop." I. iv. 26 foll. + See "Lyra Heroica": CXXV. A Ballad of East and West—the incident + of the "turquoise-studded rein." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 394. But to return to the actual moment. Agesilaus was as good as his + word, and at once marched out of the territory of Pharnabazus. The season + verged on spring. Reaching the plain of Thebe, (17) he encamped in the + neighbourhood of the temple of Artemis of Astyra, (18) and there employed + himself in collecting troops from every side, in addition to those which + he already had, so as to form a complete armament. These preparations were + pressed forward with a view to penetrating as far as possible into the + interior. He was persuaded that every tribe or nation placed in his rear + might be considered as alienated from the king. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) "Anab." VII. viii. 7. + + (18) Vide Strab. xiii. 606, 613. Seventy stades from Thebe. +</pre> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + Such were the concerns and projects of Agesilaus. Meanwhile the + Lacedaemonians at home were quite alive to the fact that moneys had been + sent into Hellas, and that the bigger states were leagued together to + declare war against them. It was hard to avoid the conclusion that Sparta + herself was in actual danger, and that a campaign was inevitable. While + busy, therefore, with preparations themselves, they lost no time in + despatching Epicydidas to fetch Agesilaus. That officer, on his arrival, + explained the position of affairs, and concluded by delivering a + peremptory summons of the state recalling him to the assistance of the + fatherland without delay. The announcement could not but come as a + grievous blow to Agesilaus, as he reflected on the vanished hopes, and the + honours plucked from his grasp. Still, he summoned the allies and + announced to them the contents of the despatch from home. "To aid our + fatherland," he added, "is an imperative duty. If, however, matters turn + out well on the other side, rely upon it, friends and allies, I will not + forget you, but I shall be back anon to carry out your wishes." When they + heard the announcement many wept, and they passed a resolution, one and + all, to assist Agesilaus in assisting Lacedaemon; if matters turned out + well there, they undertook to take him as their leader and come back again + to Asia; and so they fell to making preparations to follow him. + </p> + <p> + Agesilaus, on his side, determined to leave behind him in Asia Euxenus as + governor, and with him a garrison numbering no less than four thousand + troops, which would enable him to protect the states in Asia. But for + himself, as on the one hand he could see that the majority of the soldiers + would far rather stay behind than undertake service against + fellow-Hellenes, and on the other hand he wished to take as fine and large + an army with him as he could, he offered prizes first to that state or + city which should continue the best corps of troops, and secondly to that + captain of mercenaries who should join the expedition with the best + equipped battalion of heavy infantry, archers, and light infantry. On the + same principle he informed the chief cavalry officers that the general who + succeeded in presenting the best accoutred and best mounted regiment would + receive from himself some victorious distinction. "The final + adjudication," he said, "would not be made until they had crossed from + Asia into Europe and had reached the Chersonese; and this with a view to + impress upon them that the prizes were not for show but for real + campaigners." (1) These consisted for the most part of infantry or cavalry + arms and accoutrements tastefully furnished, besides which there were + chaplets of gold. The whole, useful and ornamental alike, must have cost + nearly a thousand pounds, (2) but as the result of this outlay, no doubt, + arms of great value were procured for the expedition. (3) When the + Hellespont was crossed the judges were appointed. The Lacedaemonians were + represented by Menascus, Herippidas, and Orsippus, and the allies by one + member from each state. As soon as the adjudication was complete, the army + commenced its march with Agesilaus at its head, following the very route + taken by the great king when he invaded Hellas. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Or, "that the perfection of equipment was regarded as anticipative + of actual service in the field." Cobet suggests for {eukrinein} + {dieukrinein}; cf. "Oecon." viii. 6. + + (2) Lit. "at least four talents" = 975 pounds. + + (3) Or, "beyond which, the arms and material to equip the expedition + were no doubt highly costly." +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile the ephors had called out the ban, and as Agesipolis was still a + boy, the state called upon Aristodemus, who was of the royal family and + guardian of the young king, to lead the expedition; and now that the + Lacedaemonians were ready to take the field and the forces of their + opponents were duly mustered, the latter met (4) to consider the most + advantageous method of doing battle. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) At Corinth. See above, III. iv. 11; below, V. iv. 61, where the + victory of Nixos is described but not localised. +</pre> + <p> + Timolaus of Corinth spoke: "Soldiers of the allied forces," he said, "the + growth of Lacedaemon seems to me just like that of some mighty river—at + its sources small and easily crossed, but as it farther and farther + advances, other rivers discharge themselves into its channel, and its + stream grows ever more formidable. So is it with the Lacedaemonians. Take + them at the starting-point and they are but a single community, but as + they advance and attach city after city they grow more numerous and more + resistless. I observe that when people wish to take wasps' nests—if + they try to capture the creatures on the wing, they are liable to be + attacked by half the hive; whereas, if they apply fire to them ere they + leave their homes, they will master them without scathe themselves. On + this principle I think it best to bring about the battle within the hive + itself, or, short of that, as close to Lacedaemon as possible." (5) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Or, "if not actually at Lacedaemon, then at least as near as + possible to the hornet's nest." +</pre> + <p> + The arguments of the speaker were deemed sound, and a resolution was + passed in that sense; but before it could be carried out there were + various arrangements to be made. There was the question of headship. Then, + again, what was the proper depth of line to be given to the different army + corps? for if any particular state or states gave too great a depth to + their battle line they would enable the enemy to turn their flank. Whilst + they were debating these points, the Lacedaemonians had incorporated the + men of Tegea and the men of Mantinea, and were ready to debouch into the + bimarine region. (6) And as the two armies advanced almost at the same + time, the Corinthians and the rest reached the Nemea, (7) and the + Lacedaemonians and their allies occupied Sicyon. The Lacedaemonians + entered by Epieiceia, and at first were severely handled by the + light-armed troops of the enemy, who discharged stones and arrows from the + vantage-ground on their right; but as they dropped down upon the Gulf of + Corinth they advanced steadily onwards through the flat country, felling + timber and burning the fair land. Their rivals, on their side, after a + certain forward movement, (8) paused and encamped, placing the ravine in + front of them; but still the Lacedaemonians advanced, and it was only when + they were within ten furlongs (9) of the hostile position that they + followed suit and encamped, and then they remained quiet. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) I.e. "the shores of the Corinthian Gulf." Or, "upon the strand or + coast road or coast land of Achaia" (aliter {ten aigialon}(?) the + Strand of the Corinthian Gulf, the old name of this part of + Achaia). + + (7) Or, "the district of Nemea." + + (8) {epelthontes}, but see Grote ("H. G." ix. 425 note), who prefers + {apelthontes} = retreated and encamped. + + (9) Lit. "ten stades." For the numbers below, see Grote, "H. G." ix. + 422, note 1. +</pre> + <p> + And here I may state the numbers on either side. The Lacedaemonian + heavy-armed infantry levies amounted to six thousand men. Of Eleians, + Triphylians, Acroreians, and Lasionians, there must have been nearly three + thousand, with fifteen hundred Sicyonians, while Epidaurus, Troezen, + Hermione, and Halieis (10) contributed at least another three thousand. To + these heavy infantry troops must be added six hundred Lacedaemonian + cavalry, a body of Cretan archers about three hundred strong, besides + another force of slingers, at least four hundred in all, consisting of + Marganians, Letrinians, and Amphidolians. The men of Phlius were not + represented. Their plea was they were keeping "holy truce." That was the + total of the forces on the Lacedaemonian side. There was collected on the + enemy's side six thousand Athenian heavy infantry, with about, as was + stated, seven thousand Argives, and in the absence of the men of + Orchomenus something like five thousand Boeotians. There were besides + three thousand Corinthians, and again from the whole of Euboea at least + three thousand. These formed the heavy infantry. Of cavalry the Boeotians, + again in the absence of the Orchomenians, furnished eight hundred, the + Athenians (11) six hundred, the Chalcidians of Euboea one hundred, the + Opuntian Locrians (12) fifty. Their light troops, including those of the + Corinthians, were more numerous, as the Ozolian Locrians, the Melians, and + Arcarnanians (13) helped to swell their numbers. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Halieis, a seafaring people (Strabo, viii. 373) and town on the + coast of Hermionis; Herod. vii. 137; Thuc. i. 105, ii. 56, iv. 45; + Diod. xi. 78; "Hell." VI. ii. 3. + + (11) For a treaty between Athens and Eretria, B.C. 395, see Hicks, 66; + and below, "Hell." IV. iii. 15; Hicks, 68, 69; Diod. xiv. 82. + + (12) See above, "Hell." III. v. 3. + + (13) See below, "Hell." IV. vi. 1; ib. vii. 1; VI. v. 23. +</pre> + <p> + Such was the strength of the two armies. The Boeotians, as long as they + occupied the left wing, showed no anxiety to join battle, but after a + rearrangement which gave them the right, placing the Athenians opposite + the Lacedaemonians, and themselves opposite the Achaeans, at once, we are + told, (14) the victims proved favourable, and the order was passed along + the lines to prepare for immediate action. The Boeotians, in the first + place, abandoning the rule of sixteen deep, chose to give their division + the fullest possible depth, and, moreover, kept veering more and more to + their right, with the intention of overlapping their opponent's flank. The + consequence was that the Athenians, to avoid being absolutely severed, + were forced to follow suit, and edged towards the right, though they + recognised the risk they ran of having their flank turned. For a while the + Lacedaemonians had no idea of the advance of the enemy, owing to the rough + nature of the ground, (15) but the notes of the paean at length announced + to them the fact, and without an instant's delay the answering order + "prepare for battle" ran along the different sections of their army. As + soon as their troops were drawn up, according to the tactical disposition + of the various generals of foreign brigades, the order was passed to + "follow the lead," and then the Lacedaemonians on their side also began + edging to their right, and eventually stretched out their wing so far that + only six out of the ten regimental divisions of the Athenians confronted + the Lacedaemonians, the other four finding themselves face to face with + the men of Tegea. And now when they were less than a furlong (16) apart, + the Lacedaemonians sacrificed in customary fashion a kid to the huntress + goddess, (17) and advanced upon their opponents, wheeling round their + overlapping columns to outflank his left. As the two armies closed, the + allies of Lacedaemon were as a rule fairly borne down by their opponents. + The men of Pellene alone, steadily confronting the Thespiaeans, held their + ground, and the dead of either side strewed the position. (18) As to the + Lacedaemonians themselves: crushing that portion of the Athenian troops + which lay immediately in front of them, and at the same time encircling + them with their overlapping right, they slew man after man of them; and, + absolutely unscathed themselves, their unbroken columns continued their + march, and so passed behind the four remaining divisions (19) of the + Athenians before these latter had returned from their own victorious + pursuit. Whereby the four divisions in question also emerged from battle + intact, except for the casualties inflicted by the Tegeans in the first + clash of the engagement. The troops next encountered by the Lacedaemonians + were the Argives retiring. These they fell foul of, and the senior + polemarch was just on the point of closing with them "breast to breast" + when some one, it is said, shouted, "Let their front ranks pass." This was + done, and as the Argives raced past, their enemies thrust at their + unprotected (20) sides and killed many of them. The Corinthians were + caught in the same way as they retired, and when their turn had passed, + once more the Lacedaemonians lit upon a portion of the Theban division + retiring from the pursuit, and strewed the field with their dead. The end + of it all was that the defeated troops in the first instance made for + safety to the walls of their city, but the Corinthians within closed the + gates, whereupon the troops took up quarters once again in their old + encampment. The Lacedaemonians on their side withdrew to the point at + which they first closed with the enemy, and there set up a trophy of + victory. So the battle ended. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) Or, "then they lost no time in discovering that the victims + proved favourable." + + (15) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 428; cf. Lys. "pro Mant." 20. + + (16) Lit. "a stade." + + (17) Lit. "our Lady of the Chase." See "Pol. Lac." xiii. 8. + + (18) Lit. "men on either side kept dropping at their post." + + (19) Lit. "tribes." + + (20) I.e. "right." +</pre> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Agesilaus was rapidly hastening with his reinforcements from + Asia. He had reached Amphipolis when Dercylidas brought the news of this + fresh victory of the Lacedaemonians; their own loss had been eight men, + that of the enemy considerable. It was his business at the same time to + explain that not a few of the allies had fallen also. Agesilaus asked, + "Would it not be opportune, Dercylidas, if the cities that have furnished + us with contingents could hear of this victory as soon as possible?" And + Dercylidas replied: "The news at any rate is likely to put them in better + heart." Then said the king: "As you were an eye-witness there could hardly + be a better bearer of the news than yourself." To this proposal Dercylidas + lent a willing ear—to travel abroad (1) was his special delight—and + he replied, "Yes, under your orders." "Then you have my orders," the king + said. "And you may further inform the states from myself that we have not + forgotten our promise; if all goes well over here we shall be with them + again ere long." So Dercylidas set off on his travels, in the first + instance to the Hellespont; (2) while Agesilaus crossed Macedonia, and + arrived in Thessaly. And now the men of Larissa, Crannon, Scotussa, and + Pharsalus, who were allies of the Boeotians—and in fact all the + Thessalians except the exiles for the time being—hung on his heels + (3) and did him damage. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See "Pol. Lac." xiv. 4. + + (2) See below, "Hell." IV. viii. 3. + + (3) See "Ages." ii. 2; Grote, "H. G." ix. 420, note 2. +</pre> + <p> + For some while he marched his troops in a hollow square, (4) posting half + his cavalry in front and half on his rear; but finding that the + Thessalians checked his passage by repeated charges from behind, he + strengthened his rearguard by sending round the cavalry from his van, with + the exception of his own personal escort. (5) The two armies stood + confronted in battle order; but the Thessalians, not liking the notion of + a cavalry engagement with heavy infantry, turned, and step by step + retreated, while the others followed them with considerable caution. + Agesilaus, perceiving the error under which both alike laboured, now sent + his own personal guard of stalwart troopers with orders that both they and + the rest of the horsemen should charge at full gallop, (6) and not give + the enemy the chance to recoil. The Thessalians were taken aback by this + unexpected onslaught, and half of them never thought of wheeling about, + whilst those who did essay to do so presented the flanks of their horses + to the charge, (7) and were made prisoners. Still Polymarchus of + Pharsalus, the general in command of their cavalry, rallied his men for an + instant, and fell, sword in hand, with his immediate followers. This was + the signal for a flight so precipitate on the part of the Thessalians, + that their dead and dying lined the road, and prisoners were taken; nor + was any halt made until they reached Mount Narthacius. Here, then, midway + between Pras and Narthacius, Agesilaus set up a trophy, halting for the + moment, in unfeigned satisfaction at the exploit. It was from antagonists + who prided themselves on their cavalry beyond everything that he had + wrested victory, with a body of cavalry of his own mustering. Next day he + crossed the mountains of Achaea Phthiotis, and for the future continued + his march through friendly territory until he reached the confines of + Boeotia. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) See Rustow and Kochly, S. 187 foll. + + (5) See Thuc. v. 72; Herod. vi. 56, viii. 124. + + (6) Lit. "and bids them pass the order to the others and themselves to + charge," etc. + + (7) See "Horsemanship," vii. 16; Polyb. iv. 8. +</pre> + <p> + Here, at the entrance of that territory, the sun (in partial eclipse) (8) + seemed to appear in a crescent shape, and the news reached him of the + defeat of the Lacedaemonians in a naval engagement, and the death of the + admiral Peisander. Details of the disaster were not wanting. The + engagement of the hostile fleets took place off Cnidus. Pharnabazus, the + Persian admiral, was present with the Phoenician fleet, and in front of + him were ranged the ships of the Hellenic squadron under Conon. Peisander + had ventured to draw out his squadron to meet the combined fleets, though + the numerical inferiority of his fleet to that of the Hellenic navy under + Conon was conspicuous, and he had the mortification of seeing the allies + who formed his left wing take to flight immediately. He himself came to + close quarters with the enemy, and was driven on shore, on board his + trireme, under pressure of the hostile rams. The rest, as many as were + driven to shore, deserted their ships and sought safety as best they could + in the territory of Cnidus. The admiral alone stuck to his ship, and fell + sword in hand. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) B.C. 394, August 14. +</pre> + <p> + It was impossible for Agesilaus not to feel depressed by those tidings at + first; on further reflection, however, it seemed to him that the moral + quality of more than half his troops well entitled them to share in the + sunshine of success, but in the day of trouble, when things looked black, + he was not bound to take them into his confidence. Accordingly he turned + round and gave out that he had received news that Peisander was dead, but + that he had fallen in the arms of victory in a sea-fight; and suiting his + action to the word, he proceeded to offer sacrifice in return for good + tidings, (9) distributing portions of the victims to a large number of + recipients. So it befell that in the first skirmish with the enemy the + troops of Agesilaus gained the upper hand, in consequence of the report + that the Lacedaemonians had won a victory by sea. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) "Splendide mendax." For the ethics of the matter, see "Mem." IV. + ii. 17; "Cyrop." I. vi. 31. +</pre> + <p> + To confront Agesilaus stood an army composed of the Boeotians, Athenians, + Argives, Corinthians, Aenianians, Euboeans, and both divisions of the + Locrians. Agesilaus on his side had with him a division (10) of + Lacedaemonians, which had crossed from Corinth, also half the division + from Orchomenus; besides which there were the neodamodes (11) from + Lacedaemon, on service with him already; and in addition to these the + foreign contingent under Herippidas; (12) and again the quota furnished by + the Hellenic cities in Asia, with others from the cities in Europe which + he had brought over during his progress; and lastly, there were additional + levies from the spot—Orchomenian and Phocian heavy infantry. In + light-armed troops, it must be admitted, the numbers told heavily in + favour of Agesilaus, but the cavalry (13) on both sides were fairly + balanced. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Lit. "a mora"; for the numbers, see "Ages." ii. 6; Plut. "Ages." + 17; Grote, "H. G." ix. 433. + + (11) I.e. "enfranchised helots." + + (12) See "Ages." ii. 10, 11; and above, "Hell." III. iv. 20. + + (13) See Hicks, op. cit. 68. +</pre> + <p> + Such were the forces of either party. I will describe the battle itself, + if only on account of certain features which distinguish it from the + battles of our time. The two armies met on the plain of Coronea—the + troops of Agesilaus advancing from the Cephisus, the Thebans and their + allies from the slopes of Helicon. Agesilaus commanded his own right in + person, with the men of Orchomenus on his extreme left. The Thebans formed + their own right, while the Argives held their left. As they drew together, + for a while deep silence reigned on either side; but when they were not + more than a furlong (14) apart, with the loud hurrah (15) the Thebans, + quickening to a run, rushed furiously (16) to close quarters; and now + there was barely a hundred yards (17) breadth between the two armies, when + Herippidas with his foreign brigade, and with them the Ionians, Aeolians, + and Hellespontines, darted out from the Spartans' battle-lines to greet + their onset. One and all of the above played their part in the first rush + forward; in another instant they were (18) within spear-thrust of the + enemy, and had routed the section immediately before them. As to the + Argives, they actually declined to receive the attack of Agesilaus, and + betook themselves in flight to Helicon. At this moment some of the foreign + division were already in the act of crowning Agesilaus with the wreath of + victory, when some one brought him word that the Thebans had cut through + the Orchomenians and were in among the baggage train. At this the Spartan + general immediately turned his army right about and advanced against them. + The Thebans, on their side, catching sight of their allies withdrawn in + flight to the base of the Helicon, and anxious to get across to their own + friends, formed in close order and tramped forward stoutly. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) Lit. "a stade." + + (15) Lit. "Alalah." + + (16) Like a tornado. + + (17) Lit. "about three plethra." + + (18) Or, "All these made up the attacking columns... and coming + within... routed..." +</pre> + <p> + At this point no one will dispute the valour of Agesilaus, but he + certainly did not choose the safest course. It was open to him to make way + for the enemy to pass, which done, he might have hung upon his heels and + mastered his rear. This, however, he refused to do, preferring to crash + full front against the Thebans. Thereupon, with close interlock of shield + wedged in with shield, they shoved, they fought, they dealt death, (19) + they breathed out life, till at last a portion of the Thebans broke their + way through towards Helicon, but paid for that departure by the loss of + many lives. And now the victory of Agesilaus was fairly won, and he + himself, wounded, had been carried back to the main line, when a party of + horse came galloping up to tell him that something like eighty of the + enemy, under arms, were sheltering under the temple, and they asked what + they ought to do. Agesilaus, though he was covered with wounds, did not, + for all that, forget his duty to God. He gave orders to let them retire + unscathed, and would not suffer any injury to be done to them. And now, + seeing it was already late, they took their suppers and retired to rest. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) Or, "they slew, they were slain." In illustration of this famous + passage, twice again worked up in "Ages." ii. 12, and "Cyrop." + VII. i. 38, commented on by Longinus, {peri upsous}, 19, and + copied by Dio Cassius, 47, 45, I venture to quote a passage from + Mr. Rudyard Kipling, "With the Main Guard," p. 57, Mulvaney + loquitur: "The Tyrone was pushin' an' pushin' in, an' our men was + sweerin' at thim, an' Crook was workin' away in front av us all, + his sword-arm swingin' like a pump-handle an' his revolver + spittin' like a cat. But the strange thing av ut was the quiet + that lay upon. 'Twas like a fight in a dhrame—excipt for thim + that wus dead." +</pre> + <p> + But with the morning Gylis the polemarch received orders to draw up the + troops in battle order, and to set up a trophy, every man crowned with a + wreath in honour of the god, and all the pipers piping. Thus they busied + themselves in the Spartan camp. On their side the Thebans sent heralds + asking to bury their dead, under a truce; and in this wise a truce was + made. Agesilaus withdrew to Delphi, where on arrival he offered to the god + a tithe of the produce of his spoils—no less than a hundred talents. + (20) Gylis the polemarch meanwhile withdrew into Phocis at the head of his + troops, and from that district made a hostile advance into Locris. Here + nearly a whole day was spent by the men in freely helping themselves to + goods and chattels out of the villages and pillaging the corn; (21) but as + it drew towards evening the troops began to retire, with the + Lacedaemonians in the rear. The Locrians hung upon their heels with a + heavy pelt of stones and javelins. Thereupon the Lacedaemonians turned + short round and gave chase, laying some of their assailants low. Then the + Locrians ceased clinging to their rear, but continued their volleys from + the vantage-ground above. The Lacedaemonians again made efforts to pursue + their persistent foes even up the slope. At last darkness descended on + them, and as they retired man after man dropped, succumbing to the sheer + difficulty of the ground; some in their inability to see what lay in + front, or else shot down by the enemy's missiles. It was then that Gylis + the polemarch met his end, as also Pelles, who was on his personal staff, + and the whole of the Spartans present without exception—eighteen or + thereabouts—perished, either crushed by stones or succumbing to + other wounds. Indeed, except for timely aid brought from the camp where + the men were supping, the chances are that not a man would have escaped to + tell the tale. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) = 25,000 pounds nearly. + + (21) Or, "not to speak of provisions." +</pre> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + This incident ended the campaign. The army as a whole was disbanded, the + contingents retiring to their several cities, and Agesilaus home across + the Gulf by sea. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 393. Subsequently (1) the war between the two parties recommenced. + The Athenians, Boeotians, Argives, and the other allies made Corinth the + base of their operations; the Lacedaemonians and their allies held Sicyon + as theirs. As to the Corinthians, they had to face the fact that, owing to + their proximity to the seat of war, it was their territory which was + ravaged and their people who perished, while the rest of the allies abode + in peace and reaped the fruits of their lands in due season. Hence the + majority of them, including the better class, desired peace, and gathering + into knots they indoctrinated one another with these views. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) B.C. 393. See Grote, ix. p. 455, note 2 foll.; "Hell." IV. viii. + 7. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 392. (2) On the other hand, it could hardly escape the notice of the + allied powers, the Argives, Athenians, and Boeotians, as also those of the + Corinthians themselves who had received a share of the king's moneys, or + for whatever reason were most directly interested in the war, that if they + did not promptly put the peace party out of the way, ten chances to one + the old laconising policy would again hold the field. It seemed there was + nothing for it but the remedy of the knife. There was a refinement of + wickedness in the plan adopted. With most people the life even of a + legally condemned criminal is held sacred during a solemn season, but + these men deliberately selected the last day of the Eucleia, (3) when they + might reckon on capturing more victims in the crowded market-place, for + their murderous purposes. Their agents were supplied with the names of + those to be gotten rid of, the signal was given, and then, drawing their + daggers, they fell to work. Here a man was struck down standing in the + centre of a group of talkers, and there another seated; a third while + peacably enjoying himself at the play; a fourth actually whilst + officiating as a judge at some dramatic contest. (4) When what was taking + place became known, there was a general flight on the part of the better + classes. Some fled to the images of the gods in the market-place, others + to the altars; and here these unhallowed miscreants, ringleaders and + followers alike, utterly regardless of duty and law, fell to butchering + their victims even within the sacred precincts of the gods; so that even + some of those against whom no hand was lifted—honest, law-abiding + folk—were filled with sore amazement at sight of such impiety. In + this way many of the elder citizens, as mustering more thickly in the + market-place, were done to death. The younger men, acting on a suspicion + conceived by one of their number, Pasimelus, as to what was going to take + place, kept quiet in the Kraneion; (5) but hearing screams and shouting + and being joined anon by some who had escaped from the affair, they took + the hint, and, running up along the slope of the Acrocorinthus, succeeded + in repelling an attack of the Argives and the rest. While they were still + deliberating what they ought to do, down fell a capital from its column—without + assignable cause, whether of earthquake or wind. Also, when they + sacrificed, the aspect of the victims was such that the soothsayers said + it was better to descend from that position. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Others assign the incidents of this whole chapter iv. to B.C. 393. + + (3) The festival of Artemis Eucleia. + + (4) See Diod. xiv. 86. + + (5) See Paus. II. ii. 4. +</pre> + <p> + So they retired, in the first instance prepared to go into exile beyond + the territory of Corinth. It was only upon the persuasion of their friends + and the earnest entreaties of their mothers and sisters who came out to + them, supported by the solemn assurance of the men in power themselves, + who swore to guarantee them against evil consequences, that some of them + finally consented to return home. Presented to their eyes was the + spectacle of a tyranny in full exercise, and to their minds the + consciousness of the obliteration of their city, seeing that boundaries + were plucked up and the land of their fathers had come to be re-entitled + by the name of Argos instead of Corinth; and furthermore, compulsion was + put upon them to share in the constitution in vogue at Argos, for which + they had little appetite, while in their own city they wielded less power + than the resident aliens. So that a party sprang up among them whose creed + was, that life was not worth living on such terms: their endeavour must be + to make their fatherland once more the Corinth of old days—to + restore freedom to their city, purified from the murderer and his + pollution and fairly rooted in good order and legality. (6) It was a + design worth the venture: if they succeeded they would become the saviours + of their country; if not—why, in the effort to grasp the fairest + flower of happiness, they would but overreach, and find instead a glorious + termination to existence. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) {eunomia}. See "Pol. Ath." i. 8; Arist. "Pol." iv. 8, 6; iii. 9, + 8; v. 7, 4. +</pre> + <p> + It was in furtherance of this design that two men—Pasimelus and + Alcimenes—undertook to creep through a watercourse and effect a + meeting with Praxitas the polemarch of the Lacedaemonians, who was on + garrison duty with his own division in Sicyon. They told him they could + give him ingress at a point in the long walls leading to Lechaeum. + Praxitas, knowing from previous experience that the two men might be + relied upon, believed their statement; and having arranged for the further + detention in Sicyon of the division which was on the point of departure, + he busied himself with plans for the enterprise. When the two men, partly + by chance and partly by contrivance, came to be on guard at the gate where + the tophy now stands, without further ado Praxitas presented himself with + his division, taking with him also the men of Sicyon and the whole of the + Corinthian exiles. (7) Having reached the gate, he had a qualm of + misgiving, and hesitated to step inside until he had first sent in a man + on whom he could rely to take a look at things within. The two Corinthians + introduced him, and made so simple and straightforward a representation + (8) that the visitor was convinced, and reported everything as free of + pitfalls as the two had asserted. Then the polemarch entered, but owing to + the wide space between the double walls, as soon as they came to form in + line within, the intruders were impressed by the paucity of their numbers. + They therefore erected a stockade, and dug as good a trench as they could + in front of them, pending the arrival of reinforcements from the allies. + In their rear, moreover, lay the guard of the Boeotians in the harbour. + Thus they passed the whole day which followed the night of ingress without + striking a blow. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Or, "showed him the place in so straightforward a manner." +</pre> + <p> + On the next day, however, the Argive troops arrived in all haste, hurrying + to the rescue, and found the enemy duly drawn up. The Lacedaemonians were + on their own right, the men of Sicyon next, and leaning against the + eastern wall the Corinthian exiles, one hundred and fifty strong. (9) + Their opponents marshalled their lines face to face in correspondence: + Iphicrates with his mercenaries abutting on the eastern wall; next to them + the Argives, whilst the Corinthians of the city held their left. In the + pride inspired by numbers they began advancing at once. They overpowered + the Sicyonians, and tearing asunder the stockade, pursued them to the sea + and here slew numbers of them. At that instant Pasimachus, the cavalry + general, at the head of a handful of troopers, seeing the Sicyonians sore + presed, made fast the horses of his troops to the trees, and relieving the + Sicyonians of their heavy infantry shields, advanced with his volunteers + against the Argives. The latter, seeing the Sigmas on the shields and + taking them to be "Sicyonians," had not the slightest fear. Whereupon, as + the story goes, Pasimachus, exclaiming in his broad Doric, "By the twin + gods! these Sigmas will cheat you, you Argives," came to close quarters, + and in that battle of a handful against a host, was slain himself with all + his followers. In another quarter of the field, however, the Corinthian + exiles had got the better of their opponents and worked their way up, so + that they were now touching the city circumvallation walls. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) See Grote, ix. p. 333 foll. +</pre> + <p> + The Lacedaemonians, on their side, perceiving the discomfiture of the + Sicyonians, sprang out with timely aid, keeping the palisade-work on their + left. But the Argives, discovering that the Lacedaemonians were behind + them, wheeled round and came racing back, pouring out of the palisade at + full speed. Their extreme right, with unprotected flanks exposed, fell + victims to the Lacedaemonians; the rest, hugging the wall, made good their + retreat in dense masses towards the city. Here they encountered the + Corinthian exiles, and discovering that they had fallen upon foes, swerved + aside in the reverse direction. In this predicament some mounted by the + ladders of the city wall, and, leaping down from its summit, were + destroyed; (10) others yielded up their lives, thrust through, as they + jostled at the foot of the steps; others again were literally trampled + under one another's feet and suffocated. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Or, "plunged from its summit into perdition." See Thuc. ii. 4. +</pre> + <p> + The Lacedaemonians had no difficulty in the choice of victims; for at that + instant a work was assigned to them to do, (11) such as they could hardly + have hoped or prayed for. To find delivered into their hands a mob of + helpless enemies, in an ecstasy of terror, presenting their unarmed sides + in such sort that none turned to defend himself, but each victim rather + seemed to contribute what he could towards his own destruction—if + that was not divine interposition, I know now what to call it. Miracle or + not, in that little space so many fell, and the corpses lay piled so + thick, that eyes familiar with the stacking of corn or wood or piles of + stones were called upon to gaze at layers of human bodies. Nor did the + guard of the Boeotians in the port itself (12) escape death; some were + slain upon the ramparts, others on the roofs of the dock-houses, which + they had scaled for refuge. Nothing remained but for the Corinthians and + Argives to carry away their dead under cover of a truce; whilst the allies + of Lacedaemon poured in their reinforcements. When these were collected, + Praxitas decided in the first place to raze enough of the walls to allow a + free broadway for an army on march. This done, he put himself at the head + of his troops and advanced on the road to Megara, taking by assault, first + Sidus and next Crommyon. Leaving garrisons in these two fortresses, he + retraced his steps, and finally fortifying Epieiceia as a garrison outpost + to protect the territory of the allies, he at once disbanded his troops + and himself withdrew to Lacedaemon. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) Or, "Heaven assigned to them a work..." Lit. "The God..." + + (12) I.e. "of Lechaeum." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 392-391. (13) After this the great armaments of both belligerents had + ceased to exist. The states merely furnished garrisons—the one set + at Corinth, the other set at Sicyon—and were content to guard the + walls. Though even so, a vigorous war was carried on by dint of the + mercenary troops with which both sides were furnished. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) So Grote and Curtius; al. B.C. 393. +</pre> + <p> + A signal incident in the period was the invasion of Phlius by Iphicrates. + He laid an ambuscade, and with a small body of troops adopting a system of + guerilla war, took occasion of an unguarded sally of the citizens of + Phlius to inflict such losses on them, that though they had never + previously received the Lacedaemonians within their walls, they received + them now. They had hitherto feared to do so lest it might lead to the + restoration of the banished members of their community, who gave out that + they owed their exile to their Lacedaemonian sympathies; (14) but they + were now in such abject fear of the Corinthian party that they sent to + fetch the Lacedaemonians, and delivered the city and citadel to their safe + keeping. These latter, however, well disposed to the exiles of Phlius, did + not, at the time they held the city, so much as breathe the thought of + bringing back the exiles; on the contrary, as soon as the city seemed to + have recovered its confidence, they took their departure, leaving city and + laws precisely as they had found them on their entry. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) Lit. "laconism." +</pre> + <p> + To return to Iphicrates and his men: they frequently extended their + incursions even into Arcadia in many directions, (15) following their + usual guerilla tactics, but also making assaults on fortified posts. The + heavy infantry of the Arcadians positively refused to face them in the + field, so profound was the terror in which they held these light troops. + In compensation, the light troops themselves entertained a wholesome dread + of the Lacedaemonians, and did not venture to approach even within + javelin-range of their heavy infantry. They had been taught a lesson when, + within that distance, some of the younger hoplites had made a dash at + them, catching and putting some of them to the sword. But however profound + the contempt of the Lacedaemonians for these light troops, their contempt + for their own allies was deeper. (On one occasion (16) a reinforcement of + Mantineans had sallied from the walls between Corinth and Lechaeum to + engage the peltasts, and had no sooner come under attack than they + swerved, losing some of their men as they made good their retreat. The + Lacedaemonians were unkind enough to poke fun at these unfortunates. "Our + allies," they said, "stand in as much awe of these peltasts as children of + the bogies and hobgoblins of their nurses." For themselves, starting from + Lechaeum, they found no difficulty in marching right round the city of + Corinth with a single Lacedaemonian division and the Corinthian exiles.) + (17) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) See Thuc. ii. 4. + + (16) See Grote, ix. 472 note. Lechaeum was not taken by the + Lacedaemonians until the Corinthian long walls had been rebuilt by + the Athenians. Possibly the incidents in this section (S. 17) + occurred after the capture of Lechaeum. The historian introduces + them parenthetically, as it were, in illustration of his main + topic—the success of the peltasts. + + (17) Or, adopting Schneider's conjecture, {estratopedeuonto}, add "and + encamping." +</pre> + <p> + The Athenians, on their side, who felt the power of the Lacedaemonians to + be dangerously close, now that the walls of Corinth had been laid open, + and even apprehended a direct attack upon themselves, determined to + rebuild the portion of the wall severed by Praxitas. Accordingly they set + out with their whole force, including a suite of stonelayers, masons, and + carpenters, and within a few days erected a quite splendid wall on the + side facing Sicyon towards the west, (18) and then proceeded with more + leisure to the completion of the eastern portion. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) See Thuc. vi. 98. +</pre> + <p> + To turn once more to the other side: the Lacedaemonians, indignant at the + notion that the Argives should be gathering the produce of their lands in + peace at home, as if war were a pastime, marched against them. Agesilaus + commanded the expedition, and after ravaging their territory from one end + to the other, crossed their frontier at Tenea (19) and swooped down upon + Corinth, taking the walls which had been lately rebuilt by the Athenians. + He was supported on the sea side by his brother Teleutias (20) with a + naval force of about twelve triremes, and the mother of both was able to + congratulate herself on the joint success of both her sons; one having + captured the enemy's walls by land and the other his ships and naval + arsenal by sea, on the same day. These achievements sufficed Agesilaus for + the present; he disbanded the army of the allies and led the state troops + home. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) Reading {Tenean}, Koppen's emendation for {tegean}. In the + parallel passage ("Ages." ii. 17) the text has {kata ta stena}. + See Grote, "H. G." ix. 471. + + (20) See below, IV. viii. 11. +</pre> + <p> + V + </p> + <p> + B.C. 390. (1) Subsequently the Lacedaemonians made a second expedition + against Corinth. They heard from the exiles that the citizens contrived to + preserve all their cattle in Peiraeum; indeed, large numbers derived their + subsistence from the place. Agesilaus was again in command of the + expedition. In the first instance he advanced upon the Isthmus. It was the + month of the Isthmian games, (2) and here he found the Argives engaged in + conducting the sacrifice to Poseidon, as if Corinth were Argos. So when + they perceived the approach of Agesilaus, the Argives and their friends + left the offerings as they lay, including the preparations for the + breakfast, and retired with undisguised alarm into the city by the + Cenchrean road. (3) Agesilaus, though he observed the movement, refrained + from giving chase, but taking up his quarters in the temple, there + proceeded to offer victims to the god himself, and waited until the + Corinthian exiles had celebrated the sacrifice to Poseidon, along with the + games. But no sooner had Agesilaus turned his back and retired, than the + Argives returned and celebrated the Isthmian games afresh; so that in this + particular year there were cases in which the same competitors were twice + defeated in this or that contest, or conversely, the same man was + proclaimed victor twice over. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Al. B.C. 392. The historian omits the overtures for peace, B.C. + 391 (or 391-390) referred to in Andoc. "De Pace." See Jebb, "Att. + Or." i. 83, 108; Grote, "H. G." ix. 474; Curtius, "H. G." Eng. tr. + iv. 261. + + (2) Grote and Curtius believe these to be the Isthmian games of 390 + B.C., not of 392 B.C., as Sauppe and others suppose. See Peter, + "Chron. Table," p. 89, note 183; Jowett, "Thuc." ii. 468, note on + VIII. 9, 1. + + (3) Lit. "road to Cenchreae." +</pre> + <p> + On the fourth day Agesilaus led his troops against Peiraeum, but finding + it strongly defended, he made a sudden retrograde march after the morning + meal in the direction of the capital, as though he calculated on the + betrayal of the city. The Corinthians, in apprehension of some such + possible catastrophe, sent to summon Iphicrates with the larger portion of + his light infantry. These passed by duly in the night, not unobserved, + however, by Agesilaus, who at once turned round at break of day and + advanced on Piraeum. He himself kept to the low ground by the hot springs, + (4) sending a division to scale the top of the pass. That night he + encamped at the hot springs, while the division bivouacked in the open, in + possession of the pass. Here Agesilaus distinguished himself by an + invention as seasonable as it was simple. Among those who carried + provisions for the division not one had thought of bringing fire. The + altitude was considerable; there had been a fall of rain and hail towards + evening and the temperature was low; besides which, the scaling party were + clad in thin garments suited to the summer season. There they sat + shivering in the dark, with scarcely heart to attack their suppers, when + Agesilaus sent up to them as many as ten porters carrying fire in earthen + pots. One found his way up one way, one another, and presently there were + many bonfires blazing—magnificently enough, since there was plenty + of wood to hand; so that all fell to oiling themselves and many supped + over again. The same night the sky was lit up by the blaze of the temple + of Poseidon—set on fire no one knows how. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) Near mod. Lutraki. +</pre> + <p> + When the men in Piraeum perceived that the pass was occupied, they at once + abandoned all thought of self-defence and fled for refuge to the Heraion + (5)—men and women, slaves and free-born, with the greater part of + their flocks and herds. Agesilaus, with the main body, meanwhile pursued + his march by the sea-shore, and the division, simultaneously descending + from the heights, captured the fortified position of Oenoe, appropriating + its contents. Indeed, all the troops on that day reaped a rich harvest in + the supplies they brought in from various farmsteads. Presently those who + had escaped into the Heraion came out, offering to leave it to Agesilaus + to decide what he would do with them. He decided to deliver up to the + exiles all those concerned with the late butchery, and that all else + should be sold. And so from the Heraion streamed out a long line of + prisoners, whilst from other sides embassies arrived in numbers; and + amongst these a deputation from the Boeotians, anxious to learn what they + should do to obtain peace. These latter Agesilaus, with a certain + loftiness of manner, affected not even to see, although Pharax, (6) their + proxenus, stood by their side to introduce them. Seated in a circular + edifice on the margin of the lake, (7) he surveyed the host of captives + and valuables as they were brought out. Beside the prisoners, to guard + them, stepped the Lacedaemonian warriors from the camp, carrying their + spears—and themselves plucked all gaze their way, so readily will + success and the transient fortune of the moment rivet attention. But even + while Agesilaus was still thus seated, wearing a look betokening + satisfaction at some great achievement, a horseman came galloping up; the + flanks of his charger streamed with sweat. To the many inquiries what news + he brought, the rider responded never a word; but being now close beside + Agesilaus, he leaped from his horse, and running up to him with lowering + visage narrated the disaster of the Spartan division (8) at Lechaeum. At + these tidings the king sprang instantly from his seat, clutching his + spear, and bade his herald summon to a meeting the generals, captains of + fifties, and commanders of foreign brigades. (9) When these had rapidly + assembled he bade them, seeing that the morning meal had not yet been + tasted, to swallow hastily what they could, and with all possible speed to + overtake him. But for himself, he, with the officers of the royal staff, + (10) set off at once without breakfast. His bodyguard, with their heavy + arms, accompanied him with all speed—himself in advance, the + officers following behind. In this fashion he had already passed beyond + the warm springs, and was well within the plateau of Lechaeum, when three + horsemen rode up with further news: the dead bodies had been picked up. On + receipt of these tidings he commanded the troops to order arms, and having + rested them a little space, led them back again to the Heraion. The next + day he spent in disposing of the captured property. (11) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Or, "Heraeum," i.e. sanctuary of Hera, on a promontory so called. + See Leake, "Morea," iii. 317. + + (6) See "Hell." III. ii. 12, if the same. + + (7) Or, "on the round pavilion by the lake" (mod. Vuliasmeni). + + (8) Technically "mora." + + (9) Lit. the polemarchs, penteconters, and xenagoi. + + (10) See "Pol. Lac." xiii. 1. + + (11) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 480, in reference to "Ages." vii. 6. +</pre> + <p> + The ambassadors of the Boeotians were then summoned, and, being asked to + explain the object of their coming, made no further mention of the word + "peace," but replied that, if there was nothing to hinder it, they wished + to have a pass to their own soldiers within the capital. The king answered + with a smile: "I know your desire is not so much to see your soldiers as + to feast your eyes on the good fortune of your friends, and to measure its + magnitude. Wait then, I will conduct you myself; with me you will be + better able to discover the true value of what has taken place." And he + was as good as his word. Next day he sacrificed, and led his army up to + the gates of Corinth. The trophy he respected, but not one tree did he + leave standing—chopping and burning, as proof positive that no one + dared to face him in the field. And having so done, he encamped about + Lechaeum; and as to the Theban ambassadors, in lieu of letting them pass + into the city, he sent them off by sea across to Creusis. + </p> + <p> + But in proportion to the unwontedness of such a calamity befalling + Lacedaemonians, a widespread mourning fell upon the whole Laconian army, + those alone excepted whose sons or fathers or brothers had died at their + post. The bearing of these resembled that of conquerors, (12) as with + bright faces they moved freely to and fro, glorying in their domestic + sorrow. Now the tragic fate which befell the division was on this wise: It + was the unvaried custom of the men of Amyclae to return home at the + Hyacinthia, (13) to join in the sacred paean, a custom not to be + interrupted by active service or absence from home or for any other + reason. So, too, on this occasion, Agesilaus had left behind all the + Amyclaeans serving in any part of his army at Lechaeum. At the right + moment the general in command of the garrison at that place had posted the + garrison troops of the allies to guard the walls during his absence, and + put himself at the head of his division of heavy infantry with that of the + cavalry, (14) and led the Amyclaeans past the walls of Corinth. Arrived at + a point within three miles or so (15) of Sicyon, the polemarch turned back + himself in the direction of Lechaeum with his heavy infantry regiment, six + hundred strong, giving orders to the cavalry commandant to escort the + Amyclaeans with his division as far as they required, and then to turn and + overtake him. It cannot be said that the Lacedaemonians were ignorant of + the large number of light troops and heavy infantry inside Corinth, but + owing to their former successes they arrogantly presumed that no one would + attack them. Within the capital of the Corinthians, however, their scant + numbers—a thin line of heavy infantry unsupported by light infantry + or cavalry—had been noted; and Callias, the son of Hipponicus, (16) + who was in command of the Athenian hoplites, and Iphicrates at the head of + his peltasts, saw no risk in attacking with the light brigade. Since if + the enemy continued his march by the high road, he would be cut up by + showers of javelins on his exposed right flank; or if he were tempted to + take the offensive, they with their peltasts, the nimblest of all light + troops, would easily slip out of the grasp of his hoplites. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 488. + + (13) Observed on three days of the month Hecatombaeus (= July). See + Muller's "Dorians," ii. 360. For Amyclae, see Leake, "Morea," i. + ch. iv. p. 145 foll.; Baedeker's "Greece," p. 279. + + (14) See below, "Hell." VI. iv. 12; and "Pol. Lac." xi. 4, xiii. 4. + + (15) Lit. "twenty or thirty stades." + + (16) See Cobet, "Prosop. Xen." p. 67 foll. +</pre> + <p> + With this clearly-conceived idea they led out their troops; and while + Callias drew up his heavy infantry in line at no great distance from the + city, Iphicrates and his peltasts made a dash at the returning division. + </p> + <p> + The Lacedaemonians were presently within range of the javelins. (17) Here + a man was wounded, and there another dropped, not to rise again. Each time + orders were given to the attendant shield-bearers (18) to pick up the men + and bear them into Lechaeum; and these indeed were the only members of the + mora who were, strictly speaking, saved. Then the polemarch ordered the + ten-years-service men (19) to charge and drive off their assailants. + Charge, however, as they might, they took nothing by their pains—not + a man could they come at within javelin range. Being heavy infantry + opposed to light troops, before they could get to close quarters the + enemy's word of command sounded "Retire!" whilst as soon as their own + ranks fell back, scattered as they were in consequence of a charge where + each man's individual speed had told, Iphicrates and his men turned right + about and renewed the javelin attack, while others, running alongside, + harassed their exposed flank. At the very first charge the assailants had + shot down nine or ten, and, encouraged by this success, pressed on with + increasing audacity. These attacks told so severely that the polemarch a + second time gave the order (and this time for the fifteen-years-service + men) to charge. The order was promptly obeyed, but on retiring they lost + more men than on the first occasion, and it was not until the pick and + flower of the division had succumbed that they were joined by their + returning cavalry, in whose company they once again attempted a charge. + The light infantry gave way, but the attack of the cavalry was feebly + enforced. Instead of pressing home the charge until at least they had + sabred some of the enemy, they kept their horses abreast of their infantry + skirmishers, (20) charging and wheeling side by side. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 467, note on the improvements of + Iphicrates. + + (18) Grote, "H. G." ix. 484; cf. "Hell." IV. viii. 39; "Anab." IV. ii. + 20; Herod. ix. 10-29. + + (19) Youngest rank and file, between eighteen and twenty-eight years + of age, who formed the first line. The Spartan was liable to + service at the age of eighteen. From twenty-eight to thirty-three + he would belong to the fifteen-years-service division (the second + line); and so on. See below, IV. vi. 10. + + (20) See Thuc. iv. 125. +</pre> + <p> + Again and again the monotonous tale of doing and suffering repeated + itself, except that as their own ranks grew thinner and their courage + ebbed, the courage of their assailants grew bolder and their numbers + increased. In desperation they massed compactly upon the narrow slope of a + hillock, distant a couple of furlongs (21) or so from the sea, and a + couple of miles (22) perhaps from Lechaeum. Their friends in Lechaeum, + perceiving them, embarked in boats and sailed round until they were + immediately under the hillock. And now, in the very slough of despair, + being so sorely troubled as man after man dropped dead, and unable to + strike a blow, to crown their distress they saw the enemy's heavy infantry + advancing. Then they took to flight; some of them threw themselves into + the sea; others—a mere handful—escaped with the cavalry into + Lechaeum. The death-roll, including those who fell in the second fight and + the final flight, must have numbered two hundred and fifty slain, or + thereabouts. (23) Such is the tale of the destruction of the Lacedaemonian + mora. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (21) Lit. "two stades." + + (22) Lit. "sixteen or seventeen stades." + + (23) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 486. +</pre> + <p> + Subsequently, with the mutilated fragment of the division, Agesilaus + turned his back upon Lechaeum, leaving another division behind to garrison + that port. On his passage homewards, as he wound his way through the + various cities, he made a point of arriving at each as late in the day as + possible, renewing his march as early as possible next morning. Leaving + Orchomenus at the first streak of dawn, he passed Mantinea still under + cover of darkness. The spectacle of the Mantineans rejoicing at their + misfortune would have been too severe an ordeal for his soldiers. + </p> + <p> + But Iphicrates had not yet reached the summit of his good fortune. Success + followed upon success. Lacedaemonian garrisons had been placed in Sidus + and Crommyon by Praxitas when he took these fortresses, and again in + Oenoe, when Peiraeum was taken quite lately by Agesilaus. One and all of + these now fell into the hands of Iphicrates. Lechaeum still held out, + garrisoned as it was by the Lacedaemonians and their allies; while the + Corinthian exiles, unable since (24) the disaster of the mora any longer + to pass freely by land from Sicyon, had the sea passage still open to + them, and using Lechaeum as their base, (25) kept up a game of mutual + annoyance with the party in the capital. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) Lit. "owing to." + + (25) The illustrative incidents narrated in chapter iv. 17 may belong + to this period. +</pre> + <p> + VI + </p> + <p> + B.C. 390-389. (1) At a later date the Achaeans, being in possession of + Calydon, a town from old times belonging to Aetolia, and having further + incorporated the Calydonians as citizens, (2) were under the necessity of + garrisoning their new possession. The reason was, that the Arcarnanians + were threatening the place with an army, and were aided by contingents + from Athens and Boeotia, who were anxious to help their allies. (3) Under + the strain of this combined attack the Achaeans despatched ambassadors to + Lacedaemon, who on arrival complained of the unfair conduct of Lacedaemon + towards themselves. "We, sirs," they said, "are ever ready to serve in + your armies, in obedience to whatever orders you choose to issue; we + follow you whithersoever you think fit to lead; but when it comes to our + being beleaguered by the Acarnanians, with their allies the Athenians and + Boeotians, you show not the slightest concern. Understand, then, that if + things go on thus we cannot hold out; but either we must give up all part + in the war in Peloponnesus and cross over in full force to engage the + Arcarnanians, or we must make peace with them on whatever terms we can." + This language was a tacit threat that if they failed to obtain the + assistance they felt entitled to from Lacedaemon they would quit the + alliance. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) According to others (who suppose that the Isthmia and the events + recorded in chapter v. 1-19 above belong to B.C. 392), we have now + reached B.C. 391. + + (2) Or, "having conferred a city organisation on the Calydonians." + + (3) See Thuc. ii. 68. +</pre> + <p> + The ephors and the assembly concluded that there was no alternative but to + assist the Achaeans in their campaign against the Acarnanians. Accordingly + they sent out Agesilaus with two divisions and the proper complement of + allies. The Achaeans none the less marched out in full force themselves. + No sooner had Agesilaus crossed the gulf than there was a general flight + of the population from the country districts into the towns, whilst the + flocks and herds were driven into remote districts that they might not be + captured by the troops. Being now arrived on the frontier of the enemy's + territory, Agesilaus sent to the general assembly of the Acarnanians at + Stratus, (4) warning them that unless they chose to give up their alliance + with the Boeotians and Athenians, and to take instead themselves and their + allies, he would ravage their territory through its length and breadth, + and not spare a single thing. When they turned a deaf ear to this summons, + the other proceeded to do what he threatened, systematically laying the + district waste, felling the timber and cutting down the fruit-trees, while + slowly moving on at the rate of ten or twelve furlongs a day. The + Acarnanians, owing to the snail-like progress of the enemy, were lulled + into a sense of security. They even began bringing down their cattle from + their alps, and devoted themselves to the tillage of far the greater + portion of their fields. But Agesilaus only waited till their rash + confidence reached its climax; then on the fifteenth or sixteenth day + after he had first entered the country he sacrificed at early dawn, and + before evening had traversed eighteen miles (5) or so of country to the + lake (6) round which were collected nearly all the flocks and herds of the + Acarnanians, and so captured a vast quantity of cattle, horses, and + grazing stock of all kinds, besides numerous slaves. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) "The Akarnanians had, in early times, occupied the hill of Olpai + as a place for judicial proceedings common to the whole nation" + (see Thuc. iii. 105). "But in Thucydides' own time Stratos had + attained its position as the greatest city of Akarnania, and + probably the Federal Assemblies were already held there" (Thuc. + ii. 80). "In the days of Agesilaos we find Stratos still more + distinctly marked as the place of Federal meeting."—Freeman, + "Hist. Fed. Gov." ch. iv. p. 148 foll., "On the constitution of + the League." + + (5) Lit. "one hundred and sixty stades." + + (6) See Thuc. ii. 80; vi. 106. +</pre> + <p> + Having secured this prize, he stayed on the spot the whole of the + following day, and devoted himself to disposing of the captured property + by public sale. While he was thus engaged, a large body of Arcarnanian + light infantry appeared, and availing themselves of the position in which + Agesilaus was encamped against the mountain side, assailed him with + volleys of sling-stones and rocks from the razor-edge of the mountain, + without suffering any scathe themselves. By this means they succeeded in + dislodging and forcing his troops down into the level plain, and that too + at an hour when the whole camp was engaged in preparations for the evening + meal. As night drew on, the Acarnanians retired; sentinels were posted, + and the troops slept in peace. + </p> + <p> + Next day Agesilaus led off his army. The exit from the plain and + meadow-land round the lake was a narrow aperture through a close + encircling range of hills. In occupation of this mountain barrier the + Acarnanians, from the vantage-ground above, poured down a continuous pelt + of stones and other missiles, or, creeping down to the fringes, dogged and + annoyed them so much that the army was no longer able to proceed. If the + heavy infantry or cavalry made sallies from the main line they did no harm + to their assailants, for the Acarnanians had only to retire and they had + quickly gained their strongholds. It was too severe a task, Agesilaus + thought, to force his way through the narrow pass so sorely beset. He made + up his mind, therefore, to charge that portion of the enemy who dogged his + left, though these were pretty numerous. The range of hills on this side + was more accessible to heavy infantry and horse alike. During the interval + needed for the inspection of victims, the Acarnanians kept plying them + with javelins and bullets, and, coming into close proximity, wounded man + after man. But presently came the word of command, "Advance!" and the + fifteen-years-service men of the heavy infantry (7) ran forward, + accompanied by the cavalry, at a round pace, the general himself steadily + following with the rest of the column. Those of the Acarnanians who had + crept down the mountain side at that instant in the midst of their + sharpshooting turned and fled, and as they climbed the steep, man after + man was slain. When, however, the top of the pass was reached, there stood + the hoplites of the Acarnanians drawn up in battle line, and supported by + the mass of their light infantry. There they steadily waited, keeping up a + continuous discharge of missiles the while, or launching their long + spears; whereby they dealt wounds to the cavalry troopers and death in + some cases to the horses. But when they were all but within the clutches + of the advancing heavy infantry (8) of the Lacedaemonians their firmness + forsook them; they swerved and fled, and there died of them on that day + about three hundred. So ended the affair. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) I.e. "the first two ranks." See above, IV. v. 14. + + (8) See "Ages." ii. 20, for an extraordinary discrepancy. +</pre> + <p> + Agesilaus set up a trophy of victory, and afterwards making a tour of the + country, he visited it with fire and sword. (9) Occasionally, in obedience + to pressure put upon him by the Achaeans, he would assault some city, but + did not capture a single one. And now, as the season of autumn rapidly + approached, he prepared to leave the country; whereupon the Achaeans, who + looked upon his exploits as abortive, seeing that not a single city, + willingly or unwillingly, had as yet been detached from their opponents, + begged him, as the smallest service he could render them, at any rate to + stay long enough in the country to prevent the Acarnanians from sowing + their corn. He answered that the course they suggested ran counter to + expediency. "You forget," he said, "that I mean to invade your enemies + again next summer; and therefore the larger their sowing now, the stronger + will be their appetite for peace hereafter." With this retort he withdrew + overland through Aetolia, and by roads, moreover, which no army, small or + great, could possibly have traversed without the consent of the + inhabitants. The Aetolians, however, were only too glad to yield the + Spartan king a free passage, cherishing hopes as they did that he would + aid them to recover Naupactus. On reaching Rhium (10) he crossed the gulf + at that point and returned homewards, the more direct passage from Calydon + to Peloponnesus being effectually barred by an Athenian squadron stationed + at Oeniadae. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) Or lit. "burning and felling." + + (10) Or Antirrhium (as more commonly called). +</pre> + <p> + VII + </p> + <p> + B.C. 389-388. (1) On the expiration of winter, and in fulfilment of his + promise to the Achaeans, Agesilaus called out the ban once more with early + spring to invade the Acarnanians. The latter were apprised of his + intention, and, being persuaded that owing to the midland situation of + their cities they would just as truly be blockaded by an enemy who chose + to destroy their corn as they would be if besieged with entrenchments in + regular form, they sent ambassadors to Lacedaemon, and made peace with the + Achaeans and alliance with the Lacedaemonians. Thus closes this page of + history concerning the affairs of Arcarnania. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) According to others, B.C. 390. +</pre> + <p> + To turn to the next. There was a feeling on the part of the Lacedaemonians + (2) that no expedition against Athens or Boeotia would be safe so long as + a state so important and so close to their own frontier as Argos remained + in open hostility behind them. Accordingly they called out the ban against + Argos. Now when Agesipolis learnt that the duty of leadership devolved on + him, and, moreover, that the sacrifices before crossing the frontier were + favourable, he went to Olympia and consulted the will of the god. "Would + it be lawful to him," he inquired, "not to accept the holy truce, on the + ground that the Argives made the season for it (3) depend not on a fixed + date, but on the prospect of a Lacedaemonian invasion?" The god indicated + to the inquirer that he might lawfully repudiate any holy truce which was + fraudulently antedated. (4) Not content with this, the young king, on + leaving Olympia, went at once to Delphi, and at that shrine put the same + question to Apollo: "Were his views in accordance with his Father's as + touching the holy truce?"—to which the son of Zeus made answer: + "Yea, altogether in accordance." (5) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Or, "It was agreed by the Lacedaemonians." + + (3) I.e. "the season of the Carneia." + + (4) Or, "wrongfully put forward." See below, V. i. 29; iii. 28; Paus. + III. v. 8; Jebb. "Att. Or." i. p. 131; Grote, "H. G." ix. 494 + foll.; Jowett, "Thuc." ii. 315; note to Thuc. V. liv. 3. + + (5) Grote; cf. Aristot. "Rhet." ii. 33. +</pre> + <p> + Then without further hesitation, picking up his army at Phlius (where, + during his absence to visit the temples, the troops had been collecting), + he advanced by Nemea into the enemy's territory. The Argives, on their + side, perceiving that they would be unable to hinder his advance, in + accordance with their custom sent a couple of heralds, garlanded, and + presented their usual plea of a holy truce. Agesipolis answered them + curtly that the gods were not satisfied with the justice of their plea, + and, refusing to accept the truce, pushed forward, causing thereby great + perplexity and consternation throughout the rural districts and the + capital itself. + </p> + <p> + But while he was getting his evening meal that first evening in the Argive + territory—just at the moment when the after-dinner libation had been + poured out—the god sent an earthquake; and with one consent the + Lacedaemonians, beginning with the officers of the royal quarters, sang + the sacred hymn of Poseidon. The soldiers, in general, expected to + retreat, arguing that, on the occurrence of an earthquake once before, + Agis had retired from Elis. But Agesipolis held another view: if the god + had sent his earthquake at the moment when he was meditating invasion, he + should have understood that the god forbade his entrance; but now, when + the invasion was a thing effected, he must needs take it as a signal of + his approval. (6) Accordingly next morning he sacrificed to Poseidon, and + advanced a short distance further into the country. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) Or, "interpret the signal as a summons to advance." +</pre> + <p> + The late expedition of Agesilaus into Argos (7) was still fresh in men's + minds, and Agesipolis was eager to ascertain from the soldiers how close + his predecessor had advanced to the fortification walls; or again, how far + he had gone in ravaging the open country—not unlike a competitor in + the pentathlon, (8) eager to cap the performance of his rival in each + event. On one occasion it was only the discharge of missiles from the + towers which forced him to recross the trenches round the walls; on + another, profiting by the absence of the majority of the Argives in + Laconian territory, he came so close to the gates that their officers + actually shut out their own Boeotian cavalry on the point of entering, in + terror lest the Lacedaemonians might pour into the town in company, and + these Boeotian troopers were forced to cling, like bats to a wall, under + each coign of vantage beneath the battlements. Had it not been for the + accidental absence of the Cretans, (9) who had gone off on a raid to + Nauplia, without a doubt numbers of men and horses would have been shot + down. At a later date, while encamping in the neighbourhood of the + Enclosures, (10) a thunder-bolt fell into his camp. One or two men were + struck, while others died from the effect of the concussion on their + brains. At a still later period he was anxious to fortify some sort of + garrison outpost in the pass of Celusa, (11) but upon offering sacrifice + the victims proved lobeless, (12) and he was constrained to lead back and + disband his army—not without serious injury inflicted on the + Argives, as the result of an invasion which had taken them wholly by + surprise. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) See above, "Hell." IV. iv. 19. + + (8) The pentathlon of Olympia and the other great games consisted of + five contests, in the following order—(1) leaping, (2) discus- + throwing, (3) javelin-throwing, (4) running, (5) wrestling. Cf. + Simonides, {alma podokeien diskon akonta palen}, where, "metri + gratia," the order is inverted. The competitors were drawn in + pairs. The odd man who drew a bye in any particular round or heat + was called the "ephedros." The successful athletes of the pairs, + that is, those who had won any three events out of five, would + then again be drawn against each other, and so on until only two + were left, between whom the final heat took place. See, for an + exhaustive discussion of the subject, Prof. Percy Gardner, "The + Pentathlon of the Greeks" ("Journal of Hellenic Studies," vol. i. + 9, p. 210 foll. pl. viii.), from whom this note is taken. + + (9) See Thuc. vii. 57. + + (10) {peri tas eirktas}—what these were no one knows, possibly a + stone quarry used as a prison. Cf. "Cyrop." III. i. 19; "Mem." II. + i. 5; see Grote, "H. G." ix. 497; Paus. III. v.. 8. + + (11) Or Celossa. See Strabo, viii. 382. + + (12) I.e. "hopeless." See above, III. iv. 15. +</pre> + <p> + VIII + </p> + <p> + 394 B.C. Such were the land operations in the war. Meanwhile another + series of events was being enacted on the sea and within the seaboard + cities; and these I will now narrate in detail. But I shall confine my pen + to the more memorable incidents, and others of less account I shall pass + over. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, then, Pharnabazus and Conon, after defeating the + Lacedaemonians in the naval engagement of Cnidus, commenced a tour of + inspection round the islands and the maritime states, expelling from them, + as they visited them, one after another the Spartan governors. (1) + Everywhere they gave consolatory assurances to the citizens that they had + no intention of establishing fortress citadels within their walls, or in + any way interfering with their self-government. (2) Such words fell + soothingly upon the ears of those to whom they were addressed; the + proposals were courteously accepted; all were eager to present Pharnabazus + with gifts of friendship and hospitality. The satrap, indeed, was only + applying the instructions of his master Conon on these matters—who + had taught him that if he acted thus all the states would be friendly to + him, whereas, if he showed any intention to enslave them, the smallest of + them would, as Conon insisted, be capable of causing a world of trouble, + and the chances were, if apprehensions were once excited, he would find + himself face to face with a coalition of united Hellas. To these + admonitions Pharnabazus lent a willing ear. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Lit. "the Laconian harmosts." + + (2) See Hicks, 70, "Honours to Konon," Inscript. found at Erythrae in + Ionia. Cf. Diod. xiv. 84. +</pre> + <p> + Accordingly, when disembarking at Ephesus, he presented Conon with a fleet + of forty sail, (3) and having further instructed him to meet him at + Sestos, (4) set off himself by land along the coast to visit his own + provinces. For here it should be mentioned that his old enemy Dercylidas + happened to be in Abydos at the time of the sea-fight; (5) nor had he at a + later date suffered eclipse with the other governors, (6) but on the + contrary, had kept tight hold of Abydos and still preserved it in + attachment to Lacedaemon. The course he had adopted was to summon a + meeting of the Abydenians, when he made them a speech as follows: "Sirs, + to-day it is possible for you, who have before been friends to my city, to + appear as benefactors of the Lacedaemonians. For a man to prove faithful + to his friends in the heyday of their good fortune is no great marvel; but + to prove steadfast when his friends are in misfortune—that is a + service monumental for all time. But do not mistake me. It does not follow + that, because we have been defeated in a great sea-fight, we are therefore + annihilated. (7) Certainly not. Even in old days, you will admit, when + Athens was mistress of the sea, our state was not powerless to benefit + friends or chastise enemies. Moreover, in proportion as the rest of the + cities have joined hands with fortune to turn their backs upon us, so much + the more certainly will the grandeur of your fidelity shine forth. Or, is + any one haunted by the fear that we may find ourselves blockaded by land + and sea?—let him consider that at present there is no Hellenic navy + whatever on the seas, and if the barbarian attempts to clutch the empire + of the sea, Hellas will not sit by and suffer it; so that, if only in + self-defence, she must inevitably take your side." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) See Diod. xiv. 83. + + (4) See above, "Hell." II. i. 27 foll. + + (5) See above, "Hell." IV. iii. 3. + + (6) Lit. "harmosts." + + (7) Or, "we are beaten, ergo, it is all over with us." +</pre> + <p> + To this the Abydenians lent no deaf ears, but rather responded with + willingness approaching enthusiasm—extending the hand of fellowship + to the ex-governors, some of whom were already flocking to Abydos as a + harbour of refuge, whilst others they sent to summon from a distance. + </p> + <p> + So when a number of efficient and serviceable men had been collected, + Dercylidas ventured to cross over to Sestos—lying, as it does, not + more than a mile (8) distant, directly facing Abydos. There he not only + set about collecting those who held lands in the Chersonese through + Lacedaemonian influence, but extended his welcome also to the governors + (9) who had been driven out of European states. (10) He insisted that, if + they came to think of it, not even was their case desperate, reminding + them that even in Asia, which originally belonged to the Persian monarch, + places were to be found—such as the little state of Temnos, or + Aegae, and others, capable of administering their affairs, unsubjected to + the king of Persia. "But," he added, "if you want a strong impregnable + position, I cannot conceive what better you can find than Sestos. Why, it + would need a combined naval and military force to invest that port." By + these and such like arguments he rescued them from the lethargy of + despair. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Lit. "eight stades." + + (9) Lit. "harmosts." + + (10) See Demos. "de Cor." 96. +</pre> + <p> + Now when Pharnabazus found Abydos and Sestos so conditioned, he gave them + to understand that unless they chose to eject the Lacedaemonians, he would + bring war to bear upon them; and when they refused to obey, having first + assigned to Conon as his business to keep the sea closed against them, he + proceeded in person to ravage the territory of the men of Abydos. + Presently, finding himself no nearer the fulfilment of his object—which + was their reduction—he set off home himself and left it to Conon the + while so to conciliate the Hellespontine states that as large a naval + power as possible might be mustered against the coming spring. In his + wrath against the Lacedaemonians, in return for the treatment he had + received from them, his paramount object was to invade their territory and + exact what vengeance he could. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 393. The winter was thus fully taken up with preparations; but with + the approach of spring, Pharnabazus and Conon, with a large fleet fully + manned, and a foreign mercenary brigade to boot, threaded their way + through the islands to Melos. (11) This island was to serve as a base of + operations against Lacedaemon. And in the first instance he sailed down to + Pherae (12) and ravaged that district, after which he made successive + descents at various other points on the seaboard, and did what injury he + could. But in apprehension of the harbourless character of the coast, + coupled with the enemy's facility of reinforcement and his own scarcity of + supplies, he very soon turned back and sailed away, until finally he came + to moorings in the harbour of Phoenicus in Cythera. The occupants of the + city of the Cytherians, in terror of being taken by storm, evacuated the + walls. To dismiss these under a flag of truce across to Laconia was his + first step; his second was to repair the fortress in question and to leave + a garrison in the island under an Athenian governor—Nicophemus. + After this he set sail to the Isthmus of Corinth, where he delivered an + exhortation to the allies begging them to prosecute the war vigorously, + and to show themselves faithful to the Great King; and so, having left + them all the moneys he had with him, set off on his voyage home. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) See Lys. xix. "de bon. Arist." 19 foll.; and Hicks, 71, "Honours + to Dionysios I. and his court"; Grote, "H. G." ix. 453. + + (12) Mod. Kalamata. +</pre> + <p> + But Conon had a proposal to make:—If Pharnabazus would allow him to + keep the fleet, he would undertake, in the first place, to support it free + of expense from the islands; besides which, he would sail to his own + country and help his fellow-citizens the Athenians to rebuild their long + walls and the fortifications round Piraeus. No heavier blow, he insisted, + could well be inflicted on Lacedaemon. "In this way, I can assure you," he + added, "you will win the eternal gratitude of the Athenians and wreak + consummate vengeance on the Lacedaemonians, since at one stroke you will + render null and void that on which they have bestowed their utmost + labour." These arguments so far weighed with Pharnabazus that he + despatched Conon to Athens with alacrity, and further supplied him with + funds for the restoration of the walls. Thus it was that Conon, on his + arrival at Athens, was able to rebuild a large portion of the walls—partly + by lending his own crews, and partly by giving pay to carpenters and + stone-masons, and meeting all the necessary expenses. There were other + portions of the walls which the Athenians and Boeotians and other states + raised as a joint voluntary undertaking. + </p> + <p> + Nor must it be forgotten that the Corinthians, with the funds left them by + Pharnabazus, manned a fleet—the command of which they entrusted to + their admiral Agathinus—and so were undisputed masters of the sea + within the gulf round Achaia and Lechaeum. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 393-391. The Lacedaemonians, in opposition, fitted out a fleet under + the command of Podanemus. That officer, in an attack of no great moment, + lost his life, and Pollis, (13) his second in command, was presently in + his turn obliged to retire, being wounded, whereupon Herippidas took + command of the vessels. On the other hand, Proaenus the Corinthian, who + had relieved Agathinus, evacuated Rhium, and the Lacedaemonians recovered + that post. Subsequently Teleutias succeeded to Herippidas's fleet, and it + was then the turn of that admiral to dominate the gulf. (14) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) See "Hell." I. i. 23. + + (14) According to Grote ("H. G." ix. 471, note 2), this section + summarises the Lacedaemonian maritime operations in the Corinthian + Gulf from the late autumn of 393 B.C. till the appointment of + Teleutias in the spring or early summer of 391 B.C., the year of + the expedition of Agesilaus recounted above, "Hell." IV. iv. 19. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 392. The Lacedaemonians were well informed of the proceedings of + Conon. They knew that he was not only restoring the fortifications of + Athens by help of the king's gold, but maintaining a fleet at his expense + besides, and conciliating the islands and seaboard cities towards Athens. + If, therefore, they could indoctrinate Tiribazus—who was a general + of the king—with their sentiments, they believed they could not fail + either to draw him aside to their own interests, or, at any rate, to put a + stop to his feeding Conon's navy. With this intention they sent Antalcidas + to Tiribazus: (15) his orders were to carry out this policy and, if + possible, to arrange a peace between Lacedaemon and the king. The + Athenians, getting wind of this, sent a counter-embassy, consisting of + Hermogenes, Dion, Callisthenes, and Callimedon, with Conon himself. They + at the same time invited the attendance of ambassadors from the allies, + and there were also present representatives of the Boeotians, of Corinth, + and of Argos. When they had arrived at their destination, Antalcidas + explained to Tiribazus the object of his visit: he wished, if possible, to + cement a peace between the state he represented and the king—a + peace, moreover, exactly suited to the aspirations of the king himself; in + other words, the Lacedaemonians gave up all claim to the Hellenic cities + in Asia as against the king, while for their own part they were content + that all the islands and other cities should be independent. "Such being + our unbiased wishes," he continued, "for what earthly reason should (the + Hellenes or) the king go to war with us? or why should he expend his + money? The king is guaranteed against attack on the part of Hellas, since + the Athenians are powerless apart from our hegemony, and we are powerless + so long as the separate states are independent." The proposals of + Antalcidas sounded very pleasantly in the ears of Tiribazus, but to the + opponents of Sparta they were the merest talk. The Athenians were + apprehensive of an agreement which provided for the independence of the + cities in the islands, whereby they might be deprived of Lemnos, Imbros, + and Scyros. The Thebans, again, were afraid of being compelled to let the + Boeotian states go free. The Argives did not see how such treaty contracts + and covenants were compatible with the realisation of their own great + object—the absorption of Corinth by Argos. And so it came to pass + that this peace (16) proved abortive, and the representatives departed + each to his own home. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) See Plut. "Ages." xxiii. (Clough, iv. p. 27); and for the date + B.C. 392 (al. B.C. 393) see Grote, "H. G." ix. 498. + + (16) See Andoc. "de Pace"; Jebb, "Attic Or." i. 83, 128 foll. Prof. + Jebb assigns this speech to B.C. 390 rather than B.C. 391. See + also Grote, "H. G." ix. 499; Diod. xiv. 110. +</pre> + <p> + Tiribazus, on his side, thought it hardly consistent with his own safety + to adopt the cause of the Lacedaemonians without the concurrence of the + king—a scruple which did not prevent him from privately presenting + Antalcidas with a sum of money, in hopes that when the Athenians and their + allies discovered that the Lacedaemonians had the wherewithal to furnish a + fleet, they might perhaps be more disposed to desire peace. Further, + accepting the statements of the Lacedaemonians as true, he took on himself + to secure the person of Conon, as guilty of wrongdoing towards the king, + and shut him up. (17) That done, he set off up country to the king to + recount the proposals of Lacedaemon, with his own subsequent capture of + Conon as a mischievous man, and to ask for further guidance on all these + matters. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) See Diod. xiv. 85; and Corn. Nep. 5. +</pre> + <p> + On the arrival of Tiribazus at the palace, the king sent down Struthas to + take charge of the seaboard district. The latter, however, was a strong + partisan of Athens and her allies, since he found it impossible to forget + the long list of evils which the king's country had suffered at the hands + of Agesilaus; so that the Lacedaemonians, contrasting the hostile + disposition of the new satrap towards themselves with his friendliness to + the Athenians, sent Thibron to deal with him by force of arms. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 391. (18) That general crossed over and established his base of + operations in Ephesus and the towns in the plain of the Maeander—Priene, + Leucophrys, and Achilleum—and proceeded to harry the king's + territory, sparing neither live nor dead chattels. But as time went on, + Struthas, who could not but note the disorderly, and indeed recklessly + scornful manner in which the Lacedaemonian brought up his supports on each + occasion, despatched a body of cavalry into the plain. Their orders were + to gallop down and scour the plain, making a clean sweep (19) of all they + could lay their hands on. Thibron, as it befell, had just finished + breakfast, and was returning to the mess with Thersander the flute-player. + The latter was not only a good flute-player, but, as affecting + Lacedaemonian manners, laid claim to personal prowess. Struthas, then, + seeing the disorderly advance of the supports and the paucity of the + vanguard, appeared suddenly at the head of a large body of cavalry, all in + orderly array. Thibron and Thersander were the first to be cut down, and + when these had fallen the rest of the troops were easily turned. A mere + chase ensued, in which man after man was felled to earth, though a remnant + contrived to escape into the friendly cities; still larger numbers owed + their safety to their late discovery of the business on hand. Nor, indeed, + was this the first time the Spartan commander had rushed to the field, + without even issuing a general order. So ends the history of these events. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) Al. B.C. 392, al. B.C. 390. + + (19) See "Hell." VII. i. 40; "Cyrop." I. iv. 17; III. iii. 23; "Anab." + VI. iii. 3. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 390. (20) We pass on to the arrival at Lacedaemon of a party of + Rhodian exiles expelled by the popular party. They insisted that it was + not equitable to allow the Athenians to subjugate Rhodes and thus build up + so vast a power. The Lacedaemonians were alive to the fact that the fate + of Rhodes depended on which party in the state prevailed: if the democracy + were to dominate, the whole island must fall into the hands of Athens; if + the wealthier classes, (21) into their own. Accordingly they fitted out + for them a fleet of eight vessels, and put Ecdicus in command of it as + admiral. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) Grote, "H. G." ix. 504; al. B.C. 391. + + (21) Or, "the Lacedaemonians were not slow to perceive that the whole + island of Rhodes was destined to fall either into the hands of + Athens or of themselves, according as the democracy or the + wealthier classes respectively dominated." +</pre> + <p> + At the same time they despatched another officer on board these vessels + named Diphridas, on a separate mission. His orders were to cross over into + Asia and to secure the states which had received Thibron. He was also to + pick up the survivors of Thibron's army, and with these troops, aided by a + second army which he would collect from any other quarter open to him, he + was to prosecute the war against Struthas. Diphridas followed out his + instructions, and amongst other achievements was fortunate enough to + capture Tigranes, (22) the son-in-law of Struthas, with his wife, on their + road to Sardis. The sum paid for their ransom was so large that he at once + had the wherewithal to pay his mercenaries. Diphridas was no less + attractive than his predecessor Thibron; but he was of a more orderly + temperament, steadier, and incomparably more enterprising as a general; + the secret of this superiority being that he was a man over whom the + pleasures of the body exercised no sway. He became readily absorbed in the + business before him—whatever he had to do he did it with a will. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) See "Anab." VII. viii. 9 for a similar exploit. +</pre> + <p> + Ecdicus having reached Cnidus, there learned that the democracy in Rhones + were entirely masters of the situation. They were dominant by land and + sea; indeed they possessed a fleet twice the size of his own. He was + therefore content to keep quiet in Cnidus until the Lacedaemonians, + perceiving that his force was too small to allow him to benefit their + friends, determined to relieve him. With this view they ordered Teleutias + to take the twelve ships which formed his squadron (at present in the gulf + adjoining Achaia and Lechaeum), (23) and to feel his way round to Ecdicus: + that officer he was to send home. For himself, he was to undertake + personally to protect the interests of all who cared to be their friends, + whilst injuring the enemy by every possible means. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) See above, IV. viii. 11. +</pre> + <p> + So then Teleutias, having reached Samos, where he added some vessels to + his fleet, set sail to Cnidus. At this point Ecdicus returned home, and + Teleutias, continuing his voyage, reached Rhodes, at the head now of + seven-and-twenty vessels. It was during this portion of the voyage that he + fell in with Philocrates, the son of Ephialtes, who was sailing from + Athens to Cyprus with ten triremes, in aid of their ally Evagoras. (24) + The whole flotilla fell into the Spartan's hands—a curious instance, + it may be added, of cross purposes on the part of both belligerents. Here + were the Athenians, supposed to be on friendly terms with the king, + engaged in sending an allied force to support Evagoras, who was at open + war with him; and here again was Teleutias, the representative of a people + at war with Persia, engaged in crippling a fleet which had been despatched + on a mission hostile to their adversary. Teleutias put back into Cnidus to + dispose of his captives, and so eventually reached Rhodes, where his + arrival brought timely aid to the party in favour of Lacedaemon. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) See Diod. xiv. 98; Hicks, 72; Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. p. 397; + Isoc. "Evag." 54-57; Paus. I. iii. 1; Lys. "de bon. Ar." 20; Dem. + p. 161. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 389. (25) And now the Athenians, fully impressed with the belief that + their rivals were laying the basis of a new naval supremacy, despatched + Thrasybulus the Steirian to check them, with a fleet of forty sail. That + officer set sail, but abstained from bringing aid to Rhodes, and for good + reasons. In Rhodes the Lacedaemonian party had hold of the fortress, and + would be out of reach of his attack, especially as Teleutias was close at + hand to aid them with his fleet. On the other hand, his own friends ran no + danger of succumbing to the enemy, as they held the cities and were + numerically much stronger, and they had established their superiority in + the field. Consequently he made for the Hellespont, where, in the absence + of any rival power, he hoped to achieve some stroke of good fortune for + his city. Thus, in the first place, having detected the rivalries existing + between Medocus, (26) the king of the Odrysians, and Seuthes, (27) the + rival ruler of the seaboard, he reconciled them to each other, and made + them friends and allies of Athens; in the belief that if he secured their + friendship the Hellenic cities on the Thracian coast would show greater + proclivity to Athens. Such being the happy state of affairs not only in + Europe but as regards the states in Asia also, thanks to the friendly + attitude of the king to his fellow-citizens, he sailed into Byzantium and + sold the tithe-duty levied on vessels arriving from the Euxine. By another + stroke he converted the oligarchy of Byzantium into a democracy. The + result of this was that the Byzantine demos (28) were no longer sorry to + see as vast a concourse of Athenians in their city as possible. Having so + done, and having further won the friendship of the men of Calchedon, he + set sail south of the Hellespont. Arrived at Lesbos, he found all the + cities devoted to Lacedaemon with the exception of Mytilene. He was + therefore loth to attack any of the former until he had organised a force + within the latter. This force consisted of four hundred hoplites, + furnished from his own vessels, and a corps of exiles from the different + cities who had sought shelter in Mytilene; to which he added a stout + contingent, the pick of the Mytileneian citizens themselves. He stirred + the ardour of the several contingents by suitable appeals: representing to + the men of Mytilene that by their capture of the cities they would at once + become the chiefs and patrons of Lesbos; to the exiles he made it appear + that if they would but unite to attack each several city in turn, they + might all reckon on their particular restoration; while he needed only to + remind his own warriors that the acquisition of Lesbos meant not only the + attachment of a friendly city, but the discovery of a mine of wealth. The + exhortations ended and the contingents organised, he advanced against + Methymna. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (25) Grote, "H. G." ix. 507. + + (26) Al. Amedocus. + + (27) For Seuthes, see above, "Hell." III. ii. 2, if the same. + + (28) For the varying fortunes of the democrats at Byzantium in 408 + B.C. and 405 B.C., see above, ("Hell." I. iii. 18; II. ii. 2); for + the present moment, 390-389 B.C., see Demosth. "c. Lept." 475; for + the admission of Byzantium into the new naval confederacy in 378 + B.C., see Hicks, 68; Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. 19; and for B.C. 363, + Isocr. "Phil." 53; Diod. xv. 79; and for its commercial + prosperity, Polyb. iv. 38-47. +</pre> + <p> + Therimachus, who chanced to be the Lacedaemonian governor at the time, on + hearing of the meditated attack of Thrasybulus, had taken a body of + marines from his vessels, and, aided by the citizens of Methymna + themselves, along with all the Mytileneian exiles to be found in that + place, advanced to meet the enemy on their borders. A battle was fought + and Therimachus was slain, a fate shared by several of the exiles of his + party. + </p> + <p> + As a result (29) of his victory the Athenian general succeeded in winning + the adhesion of some of the states; or, where adhesion was refused, he + could at least raise supplies for his soldiers by freebooting expeditions, + and so hastened to reach his goal, which was the island of Rhodes. His + chief concern was to support as powerful an army as possible in those + parts, and with this object he proceeded to levy money aids, visiting + various cities, until he finally reached Aspendus, and came to moorings in + the river Eurymedon. The money was safely collected from the Aspendians, + and the work completed, when, taking occasion of some depredations (30) of + the soldiers on the farmsteads, the people of the place in a fit of + irritation burst into the general's quarters at night and butchered him in + his tent. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (29) According to some critics, B.C. 389 is only now reached. + + (30) See Diod. xiv. 94. +</pre> + <p> + So perished Thrasybulus, (31) a good and great man by all admission. In + room of him the Athenians chose Agyrrhius, (32) who was despatched to take + command of the fleet. And now the Lacedaemonians—alive to the fact + that the sale of the Euxine tithe-dues had been negotiated in Byzantium by + Athens; aware also that as long as the Athenians kept hold on Calchedon + the loyalty of the other Hellespontine cities was secured to them (at any + rate while Pharnabazus remained their friend)—felt that the state of + affairs demanded their serious attention. They attached no blame indeed to + Dercylidas. Anaxibius, however, through the friendship of the ephors, + contrived to get himself appointed as governor, on a mission to Abydos. + With the requisite funds and ships, he promised to exert such hostile + pressure upon Athens that at least her prospects in the Hellespont would + cease to be so sunny. His friends the ephors granted him in return for + these promises three ships of war and funds to support a thousand + mercenaries, and so they despatched him on his mission. Reaching Abydos, + he set about improving his naval and military position. First he collected + a foreign brigade, by help of which he drew off some of the Aeolid cities + from Pharnabazus. Next he set on foot a series of retaliatory expeditions + against the states which attacked Abydos, marching upon them and ravaging + their territories; and lastly, manning three vessels besides those which + he already held in the harbour of Abydos, he intercepted and brought into + port all the merchant ships of Athens or of her allies which he could lay + hands on. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (31) "Thus perished the citizen to whom, more than any one else, + Athens owed not only her renovated democracy, but its wise, + generous, and harmonious working, after renovation."—Grote, "H. + G." ix. 509. + + (32) For this statesman, see Demosth. "c. Timocr." 742; Andoc. "de + Myst." 133; Aristot. "Ath. Pol." 41, and Mr. Kenyon's notes ad + loc.; Aristoph. "Eccles." 102, and the Schol. ad loc.; Diod. xiv. + 99; Curtius, "H. G." Eng tr. iv. 280. +</pre> + <p> + Getting wind of these proceedings, the Athenians, fearing lest the fair + foundation laid for them by Thrasybulus in the Hellespont should be + ruined, sent out Iphicrates with eight vessels and twelve hundred + peltasts. The majority of them (33) consisted of troops which he had + commanded at Corinth. In explanation it may be stated that the Argives, + when once they had appropriated Corinth and incorporated it with Argos, + gave out they had no further need of Iphicrates and his troops; the real + fact being that he had put to death some of the partisans of Argos. (34) + And so it was he turned his back on Corinth and found himself at home in + Athens at the present crisis. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (33) Or, "The mass of them." + + (34) See Grote, "H. G." ix. p. 491 note. The "Argolising" or philo- + Argeian party, as opposed to the philo-Laconian party. See above, + "Hell." IV. iv. 6. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 389-388. When Iphicrates first reached the Chersonese he and + Anaxibius carried on war against each other by the despatch of guerilla or + piratic bands across the straits. But as time wore on, information reached + him of the departure of Anaxibius to Antandrus, accompanied by his + mercenaries and his own bodyguard of Laconians and two hundred Abydenian + hoplites. Hearing further that Anaxibius had won the friendly adhesion of + Antandrus, Iphicrates conjectured that after establishing a garrison in + that place he would make the best of his way back, if only to bring the + Abydenians home again. He therefore crossed in the night, selecting a + desert point on the Abydene coast, from which he scaled the hills above + the town and planted himself in ambuscade within their folds. The triremes + which brought him across had orders at break of day to coast up northwards + along the Chersonese, which would suggest the notion that he was only out + on one of his customary voyages to collect money. The sequel more than + fulfilled his expectations. Anaxibius began his return march, and if + report speaks truly, he did so notwithstanding that the victims were + against his marching that day; contemptuously disregarding the warning, + and satisfied that his march lay all along through a friendly country and + was directed to a friendly city. Besides which, those whom he met assured + him that Iphicrates was off on a voyage to Proconnesus: hence the unusual + absence of precaution on the march. On his side Iphicrates saw the chance, + but, so long as the troops of Anaxibius lingered on the level bottoms, + refused to spring from his lair, waiting for the moment when the Abydenian + division in the van was safely landed in the plain of Cremaste, at the + point where the gold mines stand; the main column following on the + downward slope, and Anaxibius with his Laconians just beginning the + descent. At that instant Iphicrates set his ambuscade in motion, and + dashed against the Spartan at full speed. The latter quickly discerned + that there was no hope of escape as he scanned the long straggling line of + his attenuated column. The troops in advance, he was persuaded, would + never be able to come back to his aid up the face of that acclivity; + besides which, he observed the utter bewilderment of the whole body at + sight of the ambuscade. He therefore turned to those next him, and spoke + as follows: "Sirs, it is good for me to die on this spot, where honour + bids me; but for you, sirs, yonder your path lies, haste and save + yourselves (35) before the enemy can close with us." As the words died on + his lips he took from the hands of his attendant shield-bearer his heavy + shield, and there, at his post, unflinchingly fought and fell; not quite + alone, for by his side faithfully lingered a favourite youth, and of the + Lacedaemonian governors who had rallied to Abydos from their several + cities yet other twelve fought and fell beside the pair. The rest fled, + dropping down one by one as the army pursued them to the walls of the + city. The death-roll amounted to something like fifty hoplites of the + Abydenians, and of the rest two hundred. After this exploit Iphicrates + returned to the Chersonese. (36) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (35) Or, "sauve qui peut." + + (36) See Hicks, 76; and below, "Hell." V. i. 31. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK V + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + B.C. 388. Such was the state of affairs in the Hellespont, so far at least + as Athens and Sparta are concerned. Eteonicus was once more in Aegina; and + notwithstanding that the Aeginetans and Athenians had up to this time held + commercial intercourse, yet now that the war was plainly to be fought out + on the sea, that officer, with the concurrence of the ephorate, gave + permission to any one who liked to plunder Attica. (1) The Athenians + retaliated by despatching a body of hoplites under their general + Pamphilus, who constructed a fort against the Aeginetans, (2) and + proceeded to blockade them by land and sea with ten warships. Teleutias, + however, while threading his way among the islands in question of + contributions, had chanced to reach a point where he received information + of the turn in affairs with regard to the construction of the fortress, + whereupon he came to the rescue of the beleaguered Aeginetans, and so far + succeeded that he drove off the enemy's blockading squadron. But Pamphilus + kept a firm hold on the offensive fortress, and was not to be dislodged. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Or, "determined to let slip the hounds of war;" or, more + prosaically, "issued letters of marque." See Grote, "H. G." ix. + 517. + + (2) I.e. in Aegina as an {epiteikhisma}. +</pre> + <p> + After this the new admiral Hierax arrived from Lacedaemon. The naval force + was transferred into his successor's hands, and under the happiest + auspices Teleutias set sail for home. As he descended to the seashore to + start on his homeward voyage there was not one among his soldiers who had + not a warm shake of the hand for their old admiral. Here one presented him + with a crown, and there another with a victor's wreath; and those who + arrived too late, still, as the ship weighed anchor, threw garlands into + the sea and wafted him many a blessing with prayerful lips. I am well + aware that in the above incident I have no memorable story of munificence, + peril, or invention to narrate, but in all sincerity I protest that a man + may find food for reflection in the inquiry what Teleutias had done to + create such a disposition in his subordinates. Here we are brought face to + face with a true man's work more worthy of account than multitudes of + riches or adventure. (3) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 518: "The ideal of government as it + presented itself to Xenophon was the paternal despotism or + something like it," {to ethelonton arkhein}. Cf. "Cyrop." passim, + "Heiro," and his various other compositions. +</pre> + <p> + The new admiral Hierax, taking with him the larger portion of the fleet, + set sail once more for Rhodes. He left behind him twelve vessels in Aegina + under his vice-admiral Gorgopas, who was now installed as governor of that + island. In consequence of this chance the Athenian troops inside the + fortres were more blockaded than the Aeginetans themselves, so much so + that a vote was passed by the Athenian assembly, in obedience to which a + large fleet was manned, and the garrison, after four months' sojourn in + Aegina, were brought back. But this was no sooner done than they began to + be harassed by Gorgopas and the privateers again. To operate against these + they fitted out thirteen vessels, choosing Eunomus as admiral in command. + Hierax was still in Rhodes when the Lacedaemonians sent out a new admiral, + Antalcidas; they believed that they could not find a better mode of + gratifying Tiribazus. Accordingly Antalcidas, after visiting Aegina in + order to pick up the vessels under Gorgopas, set sail for Ephesus. At this + point he sent back Gorgopas with his twelve ships to Aegina, and appointed + his vice-admiral Nicolochus to command the remainder of the fleet. + </p> + <p> + Nicolochus was to relieve Abydos, and thither set sail; but in the course + of the voyage turned aside to Tenedos, where he ravaged the territory, + and, with the money so secured, sailed on to Abydos. The Athenian generals + (4) on their side, collecting from Samothrace, Thasos, and the fortresses + in that quarter, hastened to the relief of Tenedos; but, finding that + Nicolochus had continued his voyage to Abydos, they selected the + Chersonese as their base, and proceeded to blockade him and his fleet of + five-and-twenty vessels with the two-and-thirty vessels under their joint + command. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) And among the rest Iphicrates and Diotimus. See below, S. 25; + above, IV. viii. 39. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Gorgopas, returning from Ephesus, fell in with the Athenian + admiral Eunomus, and, shunning an encounter at the moment, sought shelter + in Aegina, which he reached a little before sunset; and at once + disembarking his men, set them down to their evening meal; whilst Eunomus + on his side, after hanging back for a little while, sailed away. Night + fell, and the Athenian, showing the customary signal light to prevent his + squadron straggling, led the way in the darkness. Gorgopas instantly got + his men on board again, and, taking the lantern for his guide, followed + the Athenians, craftily lagging behind a little space, so as not to show + himself or raise any suspicion of his presence. In place of the usual cry + the boatswains timed the rowers by a clink of stones, and silently the + oars slid, feathering through the waves (5); and just when the squadron of + Eunomus was touching the coast, off Cape Zoster (6) in Attica, the Spartan + sounded the bugle-note for the charge. Some of Eunomus's vessels were in + the act of discharging their crews, others were still getting to their + moorings, whilst others were as yet only bearing down to land. The + engagement was fought by the light of the moon, and Gorgopas captured four + triremes, which he tied astern, and so set sail with his prizes in tow + towards Aegina. The rest of the Athenian squadron made their escape into + the harbour of Piraeus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Lit. "the boatswains employing a clink of stones and a sliding + motion of the oars." + + (6) I.e. "Cape Girdle," mod. Cape Karvura. See Tozer, "Geog. of + Greece," pp. 78, 372. +</pre> + <p> + It was after these events that Chabrias (7) commenced his voyage to + Cyprus, bringing relief to Evagoras. His force consisted at first of eight + hundred light troops and ten triremes, but was further increased by other + vessels from Athens and a body of heavy infantry. Thus reinforced, the + admiral chose a night and landed in Aegina; and secreted himself in + ambuscade with his light troops in hollow ground some way beyond the + temple of Heracles. At break of day, as prearranged, the Athenian hoplites + made their appearance under command of Demaenetus, and began mounting up + between two and three miles (8) beyond the Kerakleion at Tripurgia, as it + is called. The news soon reached Gorgopas, who sallied out to the rescue + with the Aeginetans and the marines of his vessels, being further + accompanied by eight Spartans who happened to be with him. Not content + with these he issued orders inviting any of the ships' crews, who were + free men, to join the relief party. A large number of these sailors + responded. They armed themselves as best they could, and the advance + commenced. When the vanguard were well past the ambuscade, Chabrias and + his men sprang up from their hiding-place, and poured a volley of javelins + and stones upon the enemy. At the same moment the hoplites, who had + disembarked, (9) were advancing, so that the Spartan vanguard, in the + absence of anything like collective action, were speedily cut down, and + among them fell Gorgopas with the Lacedaemonians. At their fall the rest + of course turned and fled. One hundred and fifty Aeginetans were numbered + among the slain, while the loss incurred by the foreigners, metics, and + sailors who had joined the relief party, reached a total of two hundred. + After this the Athenians sailed the sea as freely as in the times of + actual peace. Nor would anything induce the sailors to row a single stroke + for Eteonicus—even under pressure—since he had no pay to give. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) According to Diod. xiv. 92, Chabrias had been for some time in + Corinth. See also above, IV. viii. 24. + + (8) Lit. "about sixteen stades." + + (9) Or, reading {oi anabebekotes}, "who had scaled the height." See + Hartman, "Anal. Xen." p. 364. +</pre> + <p> + Subsequently the Lacedaemonians despatched Teleutias once again to take + command of the squadron, and when the sailors saw it was he who had come, + they were overjoyed. He summoned a meeting and addressed them thus: + "Soldiers, I am back again, but I bring with me no money. Yet if God be + willing, and your zeal flag not, I will endeavour to supply you with + provisions without stint. Be well assured, as often as I find myself in + command of you, I have but one prayer—that your lives may be spared + no less than mine; and as for the necessaries of existence, perhaps it + would astonish you if I said I would rather you should have them than I. + Yet by the gods I swear I would welcome two days' starvation in order to + spare you one. Was not my door open in old days to every comer? Open again + it shall stand now; and so it shall be; where your own board overflows, + you shall look in and mark the luxury of your general; but if at other + times you see him bearing up against cold and heat and sleepless nights, + you must apply the lesson to yourselves and study to endure those evils. I + do not bid you do aught of this for self-mortification's sake, but that + you may derive some after-blessing from it. Soldiers, let Lacedaemon, our + own mother-city, be to you an example. Her good fortune is reputed to + stand high. That you know; and you know too, that she purchased her glory + and her greatness not by faint-heartedness, but by choosing to suffer pain + and incur dangers in the day of need. 'Like city,' I say, 'like citizens.' + You, too, as I can bear you witness, have been in times past brave; but + to-day must we strive to be better than ourselves. So shall we share our + pains without repining, and when fortune smiles, mingle our joys; for + indeed the sweetest thing of all surely is to flatter no man, Hellene or + Barbarian, for the sake of hire; we will suffice to ourselves, and from a + source to which honour pre-eminently invites us; since, I need not remind + you, abundance won from the enemy in war furnishes forth not bodily + nutrition only, but a feast of glory the wide world over." + </p> + <p> + So he spoke, and with one voice they all shouted to him to issue what + orders he thought fit; they would not fail him in willing service. The + general's sacrifice was just concluded, and he answered: "Good, then, my + men; go now, as doubtless you were minded, and take your evening meal, and + next provide yourselves, please, with one day's food. After that repair to + your ships without delay, for we have a voyage on hand, whither God wills, + and must arrive in time." So then, when the men returned, he embarked them + on their ships, and sailed under cover of night for the great harbour of + Piraeus: at one time he gave the rowers rest, passing the order to take a + snatch of sleep; at another he pushed forward towards his goal with rise + and fall of oars. If any one supposes that there was a touch of madness in + such an expedition—with but twelve triremes to attack an enemy + possessed of a large fleet—he should consider the calculations of + Teleutias. He was under the firm persuasion that the Athenians were more + careless than ever about their navy in the harbour since the death of + Gorgopas; and in case of finding warships riding at anchor—even so, + there was less danger, he conjectured, in attacking twenty ships in the + port of Athens than ten elsewhere; for, whereas, anywhere outside the + harbour the sailors would certainly be quartered on board, at Athens it + was easy to divine that the captains and officers would be sleeping at + their homes, and the crews located here and there in different quarters. + </p> + <p> + This minded he set sail, and when he was five or six furlongs (10) distant + from the harbour he lay on his oars and rested. But with the first streak + of dawn he led the way, the rest following. The admiral's orders to the + crews were explicit. They were on no account to sink any merchant vessel; + they were equally to avoid damaging (11) their own vessels, but if at any + point they espied a warship at her moorings they must try and cripple her. + The trading vessels, provided they had got their cargoes on board, they + must seize and tow out of the harbour; those of larger tonnage they were + to board wherever they could and capture the crews. Some of his men + actually jumped on to the Deigma quay, (12) where they seized hold of + various traders and pilots and deposited them bodily on board ship. So the + Spartan admiral carried out his programme. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Lit. "five or six stades." + + (11) See Hartman, "Anal. Xen." pp. 365, 366. + + (12) See Grote ("H. G." ix. 523): cf. Thuc. ii. 94, the attempt of + Brasidas on the port of Megara. For the wealth of Piraeus, Grote + "H. G." ix. 351. See below, "Pol. Ath." i. 17; "Rev." iii. 13. +</pre> + <p> + As to the Athenians, meanwhile, some of them who got wind of what was + happening rushed from indoors outside to see what the commotion meant, + others from the streets home to get their arms, and others again were off + to the city with the news. The whole of Athens rallied to the rescue at + that instant, heavy infantry and cavalry alike, the apprehension being + that Piraeus was taken. But the Spartan sent off the captured vessels to + Aegina, telling off three or four of his triremes to convoy them thither; + with the rest he followed along the coast of Attica, and emerging in + seemingly innocent fashion from the harbour, captured a number of fishing + smacks, and passage boats laden with passengers crossing to Piraeus from + the islands; and finally, on reaching Sunium he captured some merchantmen + laden with corn or other merchandise. After these performances he sailed + back to Aegina, where he sold his prizes, and with the proceeds was able + to provide his troops with a month's pay, and for the future was free to + cruise about and make what reprisals chance cast in his way. By such a + procedure he was able to support a full quota of mariners on board his + squadron, and procured to himself the prompt and enthusiastic service of + his troops. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 388-387. Antalcidas had now returned from the Persian court with + Tiribazus. The negotiations had been successful. He had secured the + alliance of the Persian king and his military co-operation in case the + Athenians and their allies refused to abide by the peace which the king + dictated. But learning that his second in command, Nicolochus, was being + blockaded with his fleet by Iphicrates and Diotimus (13) in Abydos, he set + off at once by land for that city. Being come thither he took the fleet + one night and put out to sea, having first spread a story that he had + invitations from a party in Calchedon; but as a matter of fact he came to + anchorage in Percote and there kept quiet. Meanwhile the Athenian forces + under Demaenetus and Dionysius and Leontichus and Phanias had got wind of + his movement, and were in hot pursuit towards Proconnesus. As soon as they + were well past, the Spartan veered round and returned to Abydos, trusting + to information brought him of the approach of Polyxenus with the Syracusan + (14) and Italian squadron of twenty ships, which he wished to pick up and + incorporate with his own. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) See above; Lysias, "de bon. Arist." (Jebb, "Att. Or." i. p. 327). + + (14) See below, VI. ii. 4 foll; Hicks, 71, 84, 88. +</pre> + <p> + A little later the Athenian Thrasybulus (15) (of Collytus) was making his + way up with eight ships from Thrace, his object being to effect a junction + with the main Athenian squadron. The scouts signalled the approach of + eight triremes, whereupon Antalcidas, embarking his marines on board + twelve of the fastest sailers of his fleet, ordered them to make up their + full complements, where defective, from the remaining vessels; and so lay + to, skulking in his lair with all possible secrecy. As soon as the enemy's + vessels came sailing past he gave chase; and they catching sight of him + took to flight. With his swiftest sailors he speedily overhauled their + laggards, and ordering his vanguard to let these alone, he followed hard + on those ahead. But when the foremost had fallen into his clutches, the + enemy's hinder vessels, seeing their leaders taken one by one, out of + sheer despondency fell an easy prey to the slower sailers of the foe, so + that not one of the eight vessels escaped. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) His name occurs on the famous stele of the new Athenian + confederacy, B.C. 378. See Hicks, 81; Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. 17; + Demos. "de. Cor." p. 301; Arist. "Rhet." ii. 23; Demos. "c. + Timocr." 742. +</pre> + <p> + Presently the Syracusan squadron of twenty vessels joined him, and again + another squadron from Ionia, or rather so much of that district as lay + under the control of Tiribazus. The full quota of the contingent was + further made up from the territory of Ariobarzanes (which whom Antalcidas + kept up a friendship of long standing), in the absence of Pharnabazus, who + by this date had already been summoned up country on the occasion of his + marriage with the king's daughter. With this fleet, which, from whatever + sources derived, amounted to more than eighty sail, Antalcidas ruled the + seas, and was in a position not only to cut off the passage of vessels + bound to Athens from the Euxine, but to convoy them into the harbours of + Sparta's allies. + </p> + <p> + The Athenians could not but watch with alarm the growth of the enemy's + fleet, and began to fear a repetition of their former discomfiture. To be + trampled under foot by the hostile power seemed indeed no remote + possibility, now that the Lacedaemonians had procured an ally in the + person of the Persian monarch, and they were in little less than a state + of siege themselves, pestered as they were by privateers from Aegina. On + all these grounds the Athenians became passionately desirous of peace. + (16) The Lacedaemonians were equally out of humour with the war for + various reasons—what with their garrison duties, one mora at + Lechaeum and another at Orchomenus, and the necessity of keeping watch and + ward on the states, if loyal not to lose them, if disaffected to prevent + their revolt; not to mention that reciprocity of annoyance (17) of which + Corinth was the centre. So again the Argives had a strong appetite for + peace; they knew that the ban had been called out against them, and, it + was plain, that no fictitious alteration of the calendar would any longer + stand them in good stead. Hence, when Tiribazus issued a summons calling + on all who were willing to listen to the terms of peace sent down by the + king (18) to present themselves, the invitation was promptly accepted. At + the opening of the conclave (19) Tiribazus pointed to the king's seal + attached to the document, and proceeded to read the contents, which ran as + follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (16) See, at this point, Grote on the financial condition of Athens + and the "Theorikon," "H. G." ix. 525. + + (17) Or, "that give-and-take of hard knocks." + + (18) See Hicks, 76. + + (19) At Sardis, doubtless. +</pre> + <p> + "The king, Artaxerxes, deems it just that the cities in Asia, with the + islands of Clazomenae and Cyprus, should belong to himself; the rest of + the Hellenic cities he thinks it just to leave independent, both small and + great, with the exception of Lemnos, Imbros, and Scyros, which three are + to belong to Athens as of yore. Should any of the parties concerned not + accept this peace, I, Artaxerxes, will war against him or them with those + who share my views. This will I do by land and by sea, with ships and with + money." + </p> + <p> + After listening to the above declaration the ambassadors from the several + states proceeded to report the same to their respective governments. One + and all of these took the oaths (20) to ratify and confirm the terms + unreservedly, with the exception of the Thebans, who claimed to take the + oaths in behalf of all Boeotians. This claim Agesilaus repudiated: unless + they chose to take the oaths in precise conformity with the words of the + king's edict, which insisted on "the future autonomy of each state, small + or great," he would not admit them. To this the Theban ambassadors made no + other reply, except that the instructions they had received were + different. "Pray go, then," Agesilaus retorted, "and ask the question; and + you may inform your countrymen that if they will not comply, they will be + excluded from the treaty." The Theban ambassadors departed, but Agesilaus, + out of hatred to the Thebans, took active measures at once. Having got the + consent of the ephors he forthwith offered sacrifice. The offerings for + crossing the frontier were propitious, and he pushed on to Tegea. From + Tegea he despatched some of the knights right and left to visit the + perioeci and hasten their mobilisation, and at the same time sent + commanders of foreign brigades to the allied cities on a similar errand. + But before he had started from Tegea the answer from Thebes arrived; the + point was yielded, they would suffer the states to be independent. Under + these circumstances the Lacedaemonians returned home, and the Thebans were + forced to accept the truce unconditionally, and to recognise the autonomy + of the Boeotian cities. (21) But now the Corinthians were by no means + disposed to part with the garrison of the Argives. Accordingly Agesilaus + had a word of warning for both. To the former he said, "if they did not + forthwith dismiss the Argives," and to the latter, "if they did not + instantly quit Corinth," he would march an army into their territories. + The terror of both was so great that the Argives marched out of Corinth, + and Corinth was once again left to herself; (22) whereupon the "butchers" + (23) and their accomplices in the deed of blood determined to retire from + Corinth, and the rest of the citizens welcomed back their late exiles + voluntarily. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) At Sparta, doubtless. + + (21) See Freeman, op. cit. pp. 168, 169. + + (22) See "Ages." ii. 21; Grote, "H. G." ix. 537. + + (23) {oi sphageis}, a party catchword (in reference to the incidents + narrated above, "Hell." IV. iv. 2). See below, {ton bareon + demagogon}, "Hell." V. ii. 7; {oi kedomenoi tes Peloponnesou}, + "Hell." VII. v. 1; above, {oi sphageis}, "Hell." III. ii. 27, of + the philo-Laconian oligarchs in Elis. See Dem. "c. Lept." 473. +</pre> + <p> + Now that the transactions were complete, and the states were bound by + their oaths to abide by the peace sent down to them by the king, the + immediate result was a general disarmament, military and naval forces + being alike disbanded; and so it was that the Lacedaemonians and + Athenians, with their allies, found themselves in the enjoyment of peace + for the first time since the period of hostilities subsequent to the + demolition of the walls of Athens. From a condition which, during the war, + can only be described as a sort of even balance with their antagonists, + the Lacedaemonians now emerged; and reached a pinnacle of glory consequent + upon the Peace of Antalcidas, (24) so called. As guarantors of the peace + presented by Hellas to the king, and as administrators personally of the + autonomy of the states, they had added Corinth to their alliance; they had + obtained the independence of the states of Boeotia at the expense of + Thebes, (25) which meant the gratification of an old ambition; and lastly, + by calling out the ban in case the Argives refused to evacuate Corinth, + they had put a stop to the appropriation of that city by the Argives. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) Or, more correctly, the peace "under," or "at the date of," {ep + 'Antalkidou}. See Grote, "H. G." x. 1, note 1. + + (25) Or, "they had made the states of Boeotia independent of Thebes." + See Grote, "H. G." x. 44. +</pre> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + B.C. 386. Indeed the late events had so entirely shaped themselves in + conformity with the wishes of the Lacedaemonians, that they determined to + go a step farther and chastise those of their allies who either had borne + hard on them during the war, or otherwise had shown themselves less + favourable to Lacedaemon than to her enemies. (1) Chastisement was not + all; they must lay down such secure foundations for the future as should + render the like disloyalty impossible again. (2) As the first step towards + this policy they sent a dictatorial message to the Mantinaeans, and bade + them raze their fortifications, on the sole ground that they could not + otherwise trust them not to side with their enemies. Many things in their + conduct, they alleged, from time to time, had not escaped their notice: + their frequent despatches of corn to the Argives while at war with + Lacedaemon; at other times their refusal to furnish contingents during a + campaign, on the pretext of some holy truce or other; (3) or if they did + reluctantly take the field—the miserable inefficiency of their + service. "But, more than that," they added, "we note the jealousy with + which you eye any good fortune which may betide our state; the extravagant + pleasure (4) you exhibit at the sudden descent of some disaster." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See Hartman, "An. Xen." p. 367 foll.; Busolt, "Die Lak." p. 129 + foll. + + (2) Or, "they determined to chastise... and reduce to such order + that disloyalty should be impossible." + + (3) See above, "Hell." IV. ii. 16. + + (4) Ib. IV. v. 18. +</pre> + <p> + This very year, moreover, it was commonly said, (5) saw the expiration, as + far as the Mantineans were concerned, of the thirty years' truce, + consequent upon the battle of Mantinea. On their refusal, therefore, to + raze their fortification walls the ban was called out against them. + Agesilaus begged the state to absolve him from the conduct of this war on + the plea that the city of Mantinea had done frequent service to his father + (6) in his Messenian wars. Accordingly Agesipolis led the expedition—in + spite of the cordial relations of his father Pausanias (7) with the + leaders of the popular party in Mantinea. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) As to this point, see Curtius, "H. G." V. v. (iv. 305 note, Eng. + trans.) There appears to be some confusion. According to Thuc. v. + 81, "When the Argives deserted the alliance (with Mantinea, + Athens, and Elis, making a new treaty of alliance with Lacedaemon + for fifty years) the Mantineans held out for a time, but without + the Argives they were helpless, and so they came to terms with the + Lacedaemonians, and gave up their claims to supremacy over the + cities in Arcadia, which had been subject to them.... These + changes were effected at the close of winter (418 B.C.) towards + the approach of spring (417 B.C.), and so ended the fourteenth + year of the war." Jowett. According to Diod. xv. 5, the + Lacedaemonians attacked Mantinea within two years after the Peace + of Antalcidas, apparently in 386 B.C. According to Thuc. v. 82, + and "C. I. A. 50, in B.C. 417 Argos had reverted to her alliance + with Athens, and an attempt to connect the city with the sea by + long walls was made, certain other states in Peloponnese being + privy to the project" (Thuc. v. 83)—an attempt frustrated by + Lacedaemon early in B.C. 416. Is it possible that a treaty of + alliance between Mantinea and Lacedaemon for thirty years was + formally signed in B.C. 416? + + (6) I.e. Archidamus. + + (7) See above, "Hell." III. v. 25. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 385. The first move of the invader was to subject the enemy's + territory to devastation; but failing by such means to induce them to raze + their walls, he proceeded to draw lines of circumvallation round the city, + keeping half his troops under arms to screen the entrenching parties + whilst the other half pushed on the work with the spade. As soon as the + trench was completed, he experienced no further difficulty in building a + wall round the city. Aware, however, of the existence of a huge supply of + corn inside the town, the result of the bountiful harvest of the preceding + year, and averse to the notion of wearing out the city of Lacedaemon and + her allies by tedious campaigning, he hit upon the expedient of damming up + the river which flowed through the town. + </p> + <p> + It was a stream of no inconsiderable size. (8) By erecting a barrier at + its exit from the town he caused the water to rise above the basements of + the private dwellings and the foundations of the fortification walls. + Then, as the lower layers of bricks became saturated and refused their + support to the rows above, the wall began to crack and soon to totter to + its fall. The citizens for some time tried to prop it with pieces of + timber, and used other devices to avert the imminent ruin of their tower; + but finding themselves overmatched by the water, and in dread lest the + fall at some point or other of the circular wall (9) might deliver them + captive to the spear of the enemy, they signified their consent to raze + their walls. But the Lacedaemonians now steadily refused any form of + truce, except on the further condition that the Mantineans would suffer + themselves to be broken up and distributed into villages. They, looking + the necessity in the face, consented to do even that. The sympathisers + with Argos among them, and the leaders of their democracy, thought their + fate was sealed. Then the father treated with the son, Pausanias with + Agesipolis, on their behalf, and obtained immunity for them—sixty in + number—on condition that they should quit the city. The + Lacedaemonian troops stood lining the road on both sides, beginning from + the gates, and watched the outgoers; and with their spears in their hands, + in spite of bitter hatred, kept aloof from them with less difficulty than + the Mantineans of the better classes themselves—a weighty testimony + to the power of Spartan discipline, be it said. In conclusion, the wall + was razed, and Mantinea split up into four parts, (10) assuming once again + its primitive condition as regards inhabitants. The first feeling was one + of annoyance at the necessity of pulling down their present houses and + erecting others, yet when the owners (11) found themselves located so much + nearer their estates round about the villages, in the full enjoyment of + aristocracy, and rid for ever of "those troublesome demagogues," they were + delighted with the turn which affairs had taken. It became the custom for + Sparta to send them, not one commander of contingents, (12) but four, one + for each village; and the zeal displayed, now that the quotas for military + service were furnished from the several village centres, was far greater + than it had been under the democratic system. So the transactions in + connection with Mantinea were brought to a conclusion, and thereby one + lesson of wisdom was taught mankind—not to conduct a river through a + fortress town. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) I.e. the Ophis. See Leake, "Morea," III. xxiv. p. 71; Pausan. + "Arcad." 8; Grote, "H. G." x. 48, note 2. + + (9) Or, "in the circuit of the wall." + + (10) See Diod. xv. 5; Strab. viii. 337; Ephor. fr. 138, ed. Did.; and + Grote, "H. G." x. 51. + + (11) Or, "holders of properties." The historian is referring not to + the population at large, I think, but to the rich landowners, i.e. + the {Beltistoi}, and is not so partial as Grote supposes ("H. G." + x. 51 foll.) + + (12) Technically {zenagoi}, Lacedaemonian officers who commanded the + contingents of the several allies. See above, "Hell." III. v. 7; + Thuc. ii. 76; and Arnold's note ad loc.; also C. R. Kennedy, "ap. + Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiquities," s.v.; Muller, "Dorians," + ii. 250, Eng. tr.; Busolt, "Die Lak." p. 125. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 384-383. To pass on. The party in exile from Phlius, seeing the + severe scrutiny to which the behaviour of the allies of Lacedaemon during + the late war was being subjected, felt that their opportunity had come. + They repaired to Lacedaemon, and laid great emphasis on the fact that, so + long as they had been in power themselves at home, "their city used to + welcome Lacedaemonians within her walls, and her citizens flocked to the + campaign under their leadership; but no sooner had they been driven into + exile than a change had come. The men of Phlius now flatly refused to + follow Lacedaemon anywhere; the Lacedaemonians, alone of all men living, + must not be admitted within their gates." After listening to their story, + the ephors agreed that the matter demanded attention. Then they sent to + the state of Phlius a message to this effect; the Phliasian exiles were + friends of Lacedaemon; nor did it appear that they owed their exile to any + misdoing. Under the circumstances, Lacedaemon claimed their recall from + banishment, not by force, but as a concession voluntarily granted. When + the matter was thus stated, the Phliasians were not without alarm that an + army might march upon Phlius, and a party inside the town might admit the + enemy within the walls; for within the walls of Phlius were to be found + many who, either as blood relations or for other reasons, were partisans + of the exiles, and as so often happens, at any rate in the majority of + states, there was a revolutionary party who, in their ardour to reform, + would welcome gladly their restoration. Owing to fears of this character, + a formal decree was passed: to welcome home the exiles, and to restore to + them all undisputed property, the purchasers of the same being indemnified + from the treasury of the state; and in the event of any ambiguity or + question arising between the parties, the same to be determined before a + court of justice. Such was the position of affairs in connection with the + Phliasian exiles at the date in question. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 383. (13) And now from yet another quarter ambassadors arrived at + Lacedaemon: that is to say, from Acanthus and Apollonia, the two largest + and most important states of the Olynthian confederacy. The ephorate, + after learning from them the object of their visit, presented them to the + assembly and the allies, in presence of whom Cleigenes of Acanthus made a + speech to this effect: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Al. B.C. 382. +</pre> + <p> + "Men of Lacedaemon and of the allied states," he said, "are you aware of a + silent but portentous growth within the bosom of Hellas? (14) Few here + need to be told that for size and importance Olynthus now stands at the + head of the Thracian cities. But are you aware that the citizens of + Olynthus had already brought over several states by the bribe of joint + citizenship and common laws; that they have forcibly annexed some of the + larger states; and that, so encouraged, they have taken in hand further to + free the cities of Macedonia from Amyntas the king of the Macedonians; + that, as soon as their immediate neighbours had shown compliance, they at + once proceeded to attack larger and more distant communities; so much so, + that when we started to come hither, we left them masters not only of many + other places, but of Pella itself, the capital of Macedonia. Amyntas, (15) + we saw plainly, must ere long withdraw from his cities, and was in fact + already all but in name an outcast from Macedonia. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) Or, "are you aware of a new power growing up in Hellas?" + + (15) For Amyntas's reign, see Diod. xiv. 89, 92; xv. 19; Isocr. + "Panegyr." 126, "Archid." 46. +</pre> + <p> + "The Olynthians have actually sent to ourselves and to the men of + Apollonia a joint embassy, warning us of their intention to attack us if + we refuse to present ourselves at Olynthus with a military contingent. + Now, for our parts, men of Lacedaemon, we desire nothing better than to + abide by our ancestral laws and institutions, to be free and independent + citizens; but if aid from without is going to fail us, we too must follow + the rest and coalesce with the Olynthians. Why, even now they muster no + less than eight hundred (16) heavy infantry and a considerably larger body + of light infantry, while their cavalry, when we have joined them, will + exceed one thousand men. At the date of our departure we left embassies + from Athens and Boeotia in Olynthus, and we were told that the Olynthians + themselves had passed a formal resolution to return the compliment. They + were to send an embassy on their side to the aforesaid states to treat of + an alliance. And yet, if the power of the Athenians and the Thebans is to + be further increased by such an accession of strength, look to it," the + speaker added, "whether hereafter you will find things so easy to manage + in that quarter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (16) See Grote, "H. G." x. 72; Thirlwall, "H. G." v. 12 (ch. xxxvii). +</pre> + <p> + "They hold Potidaea, the key to the isthmus of Pallene, and therefore, you + can well believe, they can command the states within that peninsula. If + you want any further proof of the abject terror of those states, you have + it in the fact that notwithstanding the bitter hatred which they bear to + Olynthus, not one of them has dared to send ambassadors along with us to + apprise you of these matters. + </p> + <p> + "Reflect, how you can reconcile your anxiety to prevent the unification of + Boeotia with your neglect to hinder the solidifying of a far larger power—a + power destined, moreover, to become formidable not on land only, but by + sea? For what is to stop it, when the soil itself supplies timber for + shipbuilding, (17) and there are rich revenues derived from numerous + harbours and commercial centres?—it cannot but be that abundance of + food and abundance of population will go hand in hand. Nor have we yet + reached the limits of Olynthian expansion; there are their neighbours to + be thought of—the kingless or independent Thracians. These are + already to-day the devoted servants of Olynthus, and when it comes to + their being actually under her, that means at once another vast accession + of strength to her. With the Thracians in her train, the gold mines of + Pangaeus would stretch out to her the hand of welcome. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) See Hicks, 74, for a treaty between Amyntas and the Chalcidians, + B.C. 390-389: "The article of the treaty between Amyntas III., + father of Philip, and the Chalcidians, about timber, etc., reminds + us that South Macedonia, the Chalcidic peninsula, and Amphipolis + were the chief sources whence Athens derived timber for her + dockyards." Thuc. iv. 108; Diod. xx. 46; Boeckh, "P. E. A." p. + 250; and for a treaty between Athens and Amyntas, B.C. 382, see + Hicks, 77; Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. 397, 423. +</pre> + <p> + "In making these assertions, we are but uttering remarks ten thousand + times repeated in the democracy of Olynthus. And as to their confident + spirit, who shall attempt to describe it? It is God, for aught I know, + who, with the growth of a new capacity, gives increase also to the proud + thoughts and vast designs of humanity. For ourselves, men of Lacedaemon + and of the allied states, our task is completed. We have played our parts + in announcing to you how things stand there. To you it is left to + determine whether what we have described is worthy of your concern. One + only thing further you ought to recognise: the power we have spoken of as + great is not as yet invincible, for those states which are involuntary + participants in the citizenship of Olynthus will, in prospect of any rival + power appearing in the field, speedily fall away. On the contrary, let + them be once closely knit and welded together by the privileges of + intermarriage and reciprocal rights of holding property in land—which + have already become enactments; let them discover that it is a gain to + them to follow in the wake of conquerors (just as the Arcadians, (18) for + instance, find it profitable to march in your ranks, whereby they save + their own property and pillage their neighbours'); let these things come + to pass, and perhaps you may find the knot no longer so easy to unloose." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) For the point of the comparison, see Freeman, "Hist. Fed. Gov." + ch. iv. "Real nature of the Olynthian scheme," pp. 190 foll., and + note 2, p. 197; also Grote, "H. G." x. 67 foll., 278 foll. +</pre> + <p> + At the conclusion of this address, the Lacedaemonians requested the allies + to speak, bidding them give their joint advice as to the best course to be + pursued in the interests of Peloponnese and the allies. Thereupon many + members, and especially those who wished to gratify the Lacedaemonians, + agreed in counselling active measures; and it was resolved that the states + should severally send contingents to form a total of ten thousand men. + Proposals were also made to allow any state, so wishing, to give money + instead of men, at the rate of three Aeginetan obols (19) a day per man; + or where the contingent consisted of cavalry, the pay given for one + horseman was to be the equivalent to that of four hoplites; while, in the + event of any defaulting in service, the Lacedaemonians should be allowed + to mulct the said state of a stater per man per diem. These resolutions + were passed, and the deputies from Acanthus rose again. They argued that, + though excellent, these resolutions were not of a nature to be rapidly + carried into effect. Would it not be better, they asked, pending the + mobilisation of the troops, to despatch an officer at once in command of a + force from Lacedaemon and the other states, not too large to start + immediately. The effect would be instantaneous, for the states which had + not yet given in their adhesion to Olynthus would be brought to a + standstill, and those already forcibly enrolled would be shaken in their + alliance. These further resolutions being also passed, the Lacedaemonians + despatched Eudamidas, accompanied by a body of neodamodes, with perioeci + and Sciritae, (20) to the number of two thousand odd. Eudamidas lost no + time in setting out, having obtained leave from the ephors for his brother + Phoebidas to follow later with the remainder of the troops assigned to + him. Pushing on himself to the Thracian territory, he set about + despatching garrisons to various cities at their request. He also secured + the voluntary adhesion of Potidaea, although already a member of the + Olynthian alliance; and this town now served as his base of operations for + carrying on war on a scale adapted to his somewhat limited armament. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) I.e. "rather more than sixpence a day for a hoplite, and two + shillings for a horseman." "The Aeginetan stater weighed about 196 + grains, rather more than two of our shillings, and was divided + into two drachms of 98 grains, each of which contained six obols + of about 16 grains each." See Percy Gardner, "Types of Greek + Coins," "Hist. Int." p. 8; Jowett, note to Thuc. III. lxx. 4, vol. + i. pp. 201, 202. + + (20) Or, "new citizens, provincials, and Sciritae." +</pre> + <p> + Phoebidas, when the remaining portion of his brother's forces was duly + mustered, put himself at their head and commenced his march. On reaching + Thebes the troops encamped outside the city, round the gymnasium. Faction + was rife within the city. The two polemarchs in office, Ismenias and + Leontiades, were diametrically opposed, (21) being the respective heads of + antagonistic political clubs. Hence it was that, while Ismenias, ever + inspired by hatred to the Lacedaemonians, would not come anywhere near the + Spartan general, Leontiades, on the other hand, was assiduous in courting + him; and when a sufficient intimacy was established between them, he made + a proposal as follows: "You have it in your power," he said, addressing + Phoebidas, "this very day to confer supreme benefit on your country. + Follow me with your hoplites, and I will introduce you into the citadel. + That done, you may rest assured Thebes will be completely under the thumb + of Lacedaemon and of us, your friends. At present, as you see, there is a + proclamation forbidding any Theban to take service with you against + Olynthus, but we will change all that. You have only to act with us as we + suggest, and we shall at once be able to furnish you with large supplies + of infantry and cavalry, so that you will join your brother with a + magnificent reinforcement, and pending his proposed reduction of Olynthus, + you will have accomplished the reduction of a far larger state than that—to + wit, this city of Thebes." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (21) See Grote, "H. G." vol. x. p. 80: "We have little or no + information respecting the government of Thebes," etc. The "locus + classicus" seems to be Plut. "de Genio Socratis." See Freeman, op. + cit. ch. iv. S. 2, "Of the Boeotian League," pp. 154-184; and, in + reference to the seizure of the Kadmeia, p. 170. +</pre> + <p> + The imagination of Phoebidas was kindled as he listened to the tempting + proposal. To do a brilliant deed was far dearer to him than life; (22) on + the other hand, he had no reasoning capacity, and would seem to have been + deficient altogether in sound sense. The consent of the Spartan secured, + Leontiades bade him set his troops in motion, as if everything were ready + for his departure. "And anon, when the hour is come," added the Theban, "I + will be with you, and show you the way myself." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) Or, "Renown was his mistress." See Grote, "H. G." x. 84. +</pre> + <p> + The senate was seated in the arcade or stoa in the market-place, since the + Cadmeia was in possession of the women who were celebrating the + Thesmophoria. (23) It was noon of a hot summer's day; scarcely a soul was + stirring in the streets. This was the moment for Leontiades. He mounted on + horseback and galloped off to overtake Phoebidas. He turned him back, and + led him without further delay into the acropolis. Having posted Phoebidas + and his soldiers inside, he handed him the key of the gates, and warning + him not to suffer any one to enter into the citadel without a pass from + himself, he straightway betook himself to the senate. Arrived there, he + delivered himself thus: "Sirs, the Lacedaemonians are in possession of the + citadel; but that is no cause for despondency, since, as they assure us, + they have no hostile intention, except, indeed, towards any one who has an + appetite for war. For myself, and acting in obedience to the law, which + empowers the polemarch to apprehend all persons suspected of capital + crimes, I hereby seize the person of Ismenias as an arch-fomenter of war. + I call upon you, sirs, who are captains of companies, and you who are + ranked with them, to do your duty. Arise and secure the prisoner, and lead + him away to the place appointed." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) An ancient festival held by women in honour of Demeter and + Persephone ({to Thesmophoro}), who gave the first impulse to civil + society, lawful marriage, etc. See Herod. ii. 171; Diod. v. 5. +</pre> + <p> + Those who were privy to the affair, it will be understood, presented + themselves, and the orders were promptly carried out. Of those not in the + secret, but opposed to the party of Leontiades, some sought refuge at once + outside the city in terror for their lives; whilst the rest, albeit they + retired to their houses at first, yet when they found that Ismenias was + imprisoned in the Cadmeia, and further delay seemed dangerous, retreated + to Athens. These were the men who shared the views of Androcleidas and + Ismenias, and they must have numbered about three hundred. + </p> + <p> + Now that the transactions were concluded, another polemarch was chosen in + place of Ismenias, and Leontiades at once set out to Lacedaemon. There he + found the ephors and the mass of the community highly incensed against + Phoebidas, "who had failed to execute the orders assigned to him by the + state." Against this general indignation, however, Agesilaus protested. + (24) If mischief had been wrought to Lacedaemon by this deed, it was just + that the doer of it should be punished; but, if good, it was a + time-honoured custom to allow full scope for impromptu acts of this + character. "The sole point you have to look to," he urged, "is whether + what has been done is good or evil." After this, however, Leontiades + presented himself to the assembly (25) and addressed the members as + follows: "Sirs, Lacedaemonians, the hostile attitude of Thebes towards + you, before the occurrence of late events, was a topic constantly on your + lips, since time upon time your eyes were called upon to witness her + friendly bearing to your foes in contrast with her hatred of your friends. + Can it be denied that Thebes refused to take part with you in the campaign + against your direst enemy, the democracy in Piraeus; and balanced that + lukewarmness by on onslaught on the Phocians, whose sole crime was + cordiality to yourselves? (26) Nor is that all. In full knowledge that you + were likely to be engaged in war with Olynthus, she proceeded at once to + make an alliance with that city. So that up to the last moment you were in + constant expectation of hearing that the whole of Boeotia was laid at the + feet of Thebes. With the late incidents all is changed. You need fear + Thebes no longer. One brief despatch (27) in cipher will suffice to + procure a dutiful subservience to your every wish in that quarter, + provided only you will take as kindly an interest in us as we in you." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) See "Ages." vii. + + (25) "Select Committee." See "Hell." II. iv. 38; and below, VI. iii. + 3. + + (26) See above, "Hell." III. v. 4. + + (27) Lit. "scytale." +</pre> + <p> + This appeal told upon the meeting, and the Lacedaemonians (28) resolved + formally, now that the citadel had been taken, to keep it, and to put + Ismenias on his trial. In consequence of this resolution a body of + commissioners (29) was despatched, three Lacedaemonians and one for each + of the allied states, great and small alike. The court of inquiry thus + constituted, the sittings commenced, and an indictment was preferred + against Ismenias. He was accused of playing into the hands of the + barbarian; of seeking amity with the Persians to the detriment of Hellas; + of accepting sums of money as bribes from the king; and, finally, of + being, along with Androcleidas, the prime cause of the whole intestine + trouble to which Hellas was a prey. Each of these charges was met by the + defendant, but to no purpose, since he failed to disabuse the court of + their conviction that the grandeur of his designs was only equalled by + their wickedness. (30) The verdict was given against him, and he was put + to death. The party of Leontiades thus possessed the city; and went beyond + the injunctions given them in the eager performance of their services. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (28) See Grote, "H. G." vol. x. p. 85; Diod. xv. 20; Plut. "Pelop." + vi.; ib. "de Genio Socratis," V. vii. 6 A; Cor. Nep. "Pelop." 1. + + (29) Lit. "Dicasts." + + (30) Or, "that he was a magnificent malefactor." See Grote, "H. G." + vol. ix. p. 420, "the great wicked man" (Clarendon's epithets for + Cromwell); Plato, "Meno." 90 B; "Republic," 336 A, "a rich and + mighty man." See also Plut. "Ages." xxxii. 2, Agesilaus's + exclamation at sight of Epaminondas, {o tou megalopragmonos + anthropou}. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 382. As a result of these transactions the Lacedaemonians pressed on + the combined campaign against Olynthus with still greater enthusiasm. They + not only set out Teleutias as governor, but by their united efforts + furnished him with an aggregate army of ten thousand men. (31) They also + sent despatches to the allied states, calling upon them to support + Teleutias in accordance with the resolution of the allies. All the states + were ready to display devotion to Teleutias, and to do him service, since + he was a man who never forgot a service rendered him. Nor was Thebes an + exception; for was not the governor a brother of Agesilaus? Thebes, + therefore, was enthusiastic in sending her contribution of heavy infantry + and cavalry. The Spartan conducted his march slowly and surely, taking the + utmost pains to avoid injuring his friends, and to collect as large a + force as possible. He also sent a message in advance to Amyntas, begging + him, if he were truly desirous of recovering his empire, to raise a body + of mercenaries, and to distribute sums of money among the neighbouring + kings with a view to their alliance. Nor was that all. He sent also to + Derdas, the ruler of Elimia, pointing out to him that the Olynthians, + having laid at their feet the great power of Macedonia, would certainly + not suffer his lesser power to escape unless they were stayed up by force + in arms in their career of insolence. Proceeding thus, by the time he had + reached the territory of the allied powers he was at the head of a very + considerable army. At Potidaea he halted to make the necessary disposition + of his troops, and thence advanced into the territory of the enemy. As he + approached the hostile city, he abstained from felling and firing alike, + being persuaded that to do so was only to create difficulties in his own + path, whether advancing or retreating; it would be time enough, when he + retired from Olynthus, to fell the trees and lay them as a barrier in the + path of any assailant in the rear. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (31) Lit. "sent out along with him the combined force of ten thousand + men," in ref to S. 20 above. +</pre> + <p> + Being now within a mile or so (32) of the city he came to a halt. The left + division was under his personal command, for it suited him to advance in a + line opposite the gate from which the enemy sallied; the other division of + the allies stretched away to the right. The cavalry were thus distributed: + the Laconians, Thebans, and all the Macedonians present were posted on the + right. With his own division he kept Derdas and his troopers, four hundred + strong. This he did partly out of genuine admiration for this body of + horse, and partly as a mark of courtesy to Derdas, which should make him + not regret his coming. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (32) Lit. "ten stades." +</pre> + <p> + Presently the enemy issued forth and formed in line opposite, under cover + of their walls. Then their cavalry formed in close order and commenced the + attack. Dashing down upon the Laconians and Boeotians they dismounted + Polycharmus, the Lacedaemonian cavalry general, inflicting a hundred + wounds on him as he lay on the ground, and cut down others, and finally + put to flight the cavalry on the right wing. The flight of these troopers + infected the infantry in close proximity to them, who in turn swerved; and + it looked as if the whole army was about to be worsted, when Derdas at the + head of his cavalry dashed straight at the gates of Olynthus, Teleutias + supporting him with the troops of his division. The Olynthian cavalry, + seeing how matters were going, and in dread of finding the gates closed + upon them, wheeled round and retired with alacrity. Thus it was that + Derdas had his chance to cut down man after man as their cavalry ran the + gauntlet past him. In the same way, too, the infantry of the Olynthians + retreated within their city, though, owing to the closeness of the walls + in their case, their loss was trifling. Teleutias claimed the victory, and + a trophy was duly erected, after which he turned his back on Olynthus and + devoted himself to felling the fruit-trees. This was the campaign of the + summer. He now dismissed both the Macedonians and the cavalry force of + Derdas. Incursions, however, on the part of the Olynthians themselves + against the states allied to Lacedaemon were frequent; lands were + pillaged, and people put to the sword. + </p> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + B.C. 381. With the first symptoms of approaching spring the Olynthian + cavalry, six hundred strong, had swooped into the territory of Apollonia—about + the middle of the day—and dispersing over the district, were + employed in pillaging; but as luck would have it, Derdas had arrived that + day with his troopers, and was breakfasting in Apollonia. He noted the + enemy's incursion, but kept quiet, biding his time; his horses were ready + saddled, and his troopers armed cap-a-pied. As the Olynthians came + galloping up contemptuously, not only into the suburbs, but to the very + gates of the city, he seized his opportunity, and with his compact and + well-ordered squadron dashed out; whereupon the invaders took to flight. + Having once turned them, Derdas gave them no respite, pursuing and + slaughtering them for ten miles or more, (1) until he had driven them for + shelter within the very ramparts of Olynthus. Report said that Derdas slew + something like eighty men in this affair. After this the Olynthians were + more disposed to keep to their walls, contenting themselves with tilling + the merest corner of their territory. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Lit. "ninety stades." +</pre> + <p> + Time advanced, and Teleutias was in conduct of another expedition against + the city of Olynthus. His object was to destroy any timber (2) still left + standing, or fields still cultivated in the hostile territory. This + brought out the Olynthian cavalry, who, stealthily advancing, crossed the + river which washes the walls of the town, and again continued their silent + march right up to the adversary's camp. At sight of an audacity which + nettled him, Teleutias at once ordered Tlemonidas, the officer commanding + his light infantry division, to charge the assailants at the run. On their + side the men of Olynthus, seeing the rapid approach of the light infantry, + wheeled and quietly retired until they had recrossed the river, drawing + the enemy on, who followed with conspicuous hardihood. Arrogating to + themselves the position of pursuers towards fugitives, they did not + hesitate to cross the river which stood between them and their prey. Then + the Olynthian cavalry, choosing a favourable moment, when those who had + crossed seemed easy to deal with, wheeled and attacked them, putting + Tlemonidas himself to the sword with more than a hundred others of his + company. Teleutias, when he saw what was happening, snatched up his arms + in a fit of anger and began leading his hoplites swiftly forward, ordering + at the same time his peltasts and cavalry to give chase and not to + slacken. Their fate was the fate of many before and since, who, in the + ardour of pursuit, have come too close to the enemy's walls and found it + hard to get back again. Under a hail of missiles from the walls they were + forced to retire in disorder and with the necessity of guarding themselves + against the missiles. At this juncture the Olynthians sent out their + cavalry at full gallop, backed by supports of light infantry; and finally + their heavy infantry reserves poured out and fell upon the enemy's lines, + now in thorough confusion. Here Teleutias fell fighting, and when that + happened, without further pause the troops immediately about him swerved. + Not one soul longer cared to make a stand, but the flight became general, + some fleeing towards Spartolus, others in the direction of Acanthus, a + third set seeking refuge within the walls of Apollonia, and the majority + within those of Potidaea. As the tide of fugitives broke into several + streams, so also the pursuers divided the work between them; this way and + that they poured, dealing death wholesale. So perished the pith and kernel + of the armament. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) I.e. fruit-trees. +</pre> + <p> + Such calamities are not indeed without a moral. The lesson they are meant + to teach mankind, I think, is plain. If in a general sense one ought not + to punish any one, even one's own slave, in anger—since the master + in his wrath may easily incur worse evil himself than he inflicts—so, + in the case of antagonists in war, to attack an enemy under the influence + of passion rather than of judgment is an absolute error. For wrath is but + a blind impulse devoid of foresight, whereas to the penetrating eye of + reason a blow parried may be better than a wound inflicted. (3) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) See, for the same sentiment, "Horsemanship," vi. 13. See also + Plut. "Pel." and "Marc." (Clough, ii. p. 278). +</pre> + <p> + When the news of what had happened reached Lacedaemon it was agreed, after + due deliberation, that a force should be sent, and of no trifling + description, if only to quench the victors' pride, and to prevent their + own achievements from becoming null and void. In this determination they + sent out King Agesipolis, as general, attended, like Agesilaus (4) on his + Asiatic campaign, by thirty Spartans. (5) Volunteers flocked to his + standard. They were partly the pick and flower of the provincials, (6) + partly foreigners of the class called Trophimoi, (7) or lastly, bastard + sons of Spartans, comely and beautiful of limb, and well versed in the + lore of Spartan chivalry. The ranks of this invading force were further + swelled by volunteers from the allied states, the Thessalians notably + contributing a corps of cavalry. All were animated by the desire of + becoming known to Agesipolis, so that even Amyntas and Derdas in zeal of + service outdid themselves. With this promise of success Agesipolis marched + forward against Olynthus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) See above, "Hell." III. iv. 2. + + (5) Lit. "Spartiates." The new army was sent out B.C. 380, according + to Grote. + + (6) Lit. "beautiful and brave of the Perioeci." + + (7) Xenophon's own sons educated at Sparta would belong to this class. + See Grote, "H. G." x. 91. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile the state of Phlius, complimented by Agesipolis on the amount of + the funds contributed by them to his expedition and the celerity with + which the money had been raised, and in full belief that while one king + was in the field they were secure against the hostile attack of the other + (since it was hardly to be expected that both kings should be absent from + Sparta at one moment), boldly desisted from doing justice by her lately + reinstated citizens. On the one hand, these exiles claimed that points in + dispute should be determined before an impartial court of justice; the + citizens, on the other, insisted on the claimants submitting the cases for + trial in the city itself. And when the latter demurred to that solution, + asking "What sort of trial that would be where the offenders were also the + judges?" they appealed to deaf ears. Consequently the restored party + appealed at Sparta, to prefer a complaint against their city. They were + accompanied by other members of the community, who stated that many of the + Phliasians themselves besides the appellants recognised the injustice of + their treatment. The state of Phlius was indignant at this manouvre, and + retaliated by imposing a fine on all who had betaken themselves to + Lacedaemon without a mandate from the state. Those who incurred the fine + hesitated to return home; they preferred to stay where they were and + enforce their views: "It is quite plain now who were the perpetrators of + all the violence—the very people who originally drove us into exile, + and shut their gates upon Lacedaemon; the confiscators of our property one + day, the ruthless opponents of its restoration the next. Who else but they + have now brought it about that we should be fined for appearing at + Lacedaemon? and for what purpose but to deter any one else for the future + from venturing to expose the proceedings at Phlius?" Thus far the + appellants. And in good sooth the conduct of the men of Phlius did seem to + savour of insolence; so much so that the ephors called out the ban against + them. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 380. Nor was Agesilaus otherwise than well satisfied with this + decision, not only on the ground of old relations of friendly hospitality + between his father Archidamus and the party of Podanemus, who were + numbered among the restored exiles at this time, but because personally he + was bound by similar ties himself towards the adherents of Procles, son of + Hipponicus. The border sacrifices proving favourable, the march commenced + at once. As he advanced, embassy after embassy met him, and would fain by + presents of money avert invasion. But the king answered that the purpose + of his march was not to commit wrongdoing, but to protect the victims of + injustice. Then the petitioners offered to do anything, only they begged + him to forgo invasion. Again he replied—How could he trust to their + words when they had lied to him already? He must have the warrant of acts, + not promises. And being asked, "What act (would satisfy him)?" he answered + once more, saying, "The same which you performed aforetime, and suffered + no wrong at our hands"—in other words, the surrender of the + acropolis. (8) But to this they could not bring themselves. Whereupon he + invaded the territory of Phlius, and promptly drawing lines of + circumvallation, commenced the siege. Many of the Lacedaemonians objected, + for the sake of a mere handful of wretched people, so to embroil + themselves with a state of over five thousand men. (9) For, indeed, to + leave no doubt on this score, the men of Phlius met regularly in assembly + in full view of those outside. But Agesilaus was not to be beaten by this + move. Whenever any of the townsmen came out, drawn by friendship or + kinship with the exiles, in every case the king's instructions were to + place the public messes (10) at the service of the visitors, and, if they + were willing to go through the course of gymnastic training, to give them + enough to procure necessaries. All members of these classes were, by the + general's strict injunctions, further to be provided with arms, and loans + were to be raised for the purpose without delay. Presently the + superintendents of this branch of the service were able to turn out a + detachment of over a thousand men, in the prime of bodily perfection, well + disciplined and splendidly armed, so that in the end the Lacedaemonians + affirmed: "Fellow-soldiers of this stamp are too good to lose." Such were + the concerns of Agesilaus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) See above, IV. iv. 15. + + (9) See Grote, "H. G." x. 45, note 4; and below, V. iv. 13. + + (10) See "Pol. Lac." v. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Agesipolis on leaving Macedonia advanced straight upon Olynthus + and took up a strategical position in front of the town. Finding that no + one came out to oppose him, he occupied himself for the present with + pillaging any remnant of the district still intact, and with marching into + the territory allied with the enemy, where he destroyed the corn. The town + of Torone he attacked and took by storm. But while he was so engaged, in + the height of mid-summer he was attacked by a burning fever. In this + condition his mind reverted to a scene once visited, the temple of + Dionysus at Aphytis, and a longing for its cool and sparkling waters and + embowered shades (11) seized him. To this spot accordingly he was carried, + still living, but only to breathe his last outside the sacred shrine, + within a week of the day on which he sickened. His body was laid in honey + and conveyed home to Sparta, where he obtained royal sepulchre. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) Lit. "shady tabernacles." +</pre> + <p> + When the news reached Agesilaus he displayed none of the satisfaction + which might possibly have been expected at the removal of an antagonist. + On the contrary, he wept and pined for the companionship so severed, it + being the fashion at Sparta for the kings when at home to mess together + and to share the same quarters. Moreover, Agesipolis was admirably suited + to Agesilaus, sharing with the merriment of youth in tales of the chase + and horsemanship and boyish loves; (12) while, to crown all, the touch of + reverence due from younger to elder was not wanting in their common life. + In place of Agesipolis, the Lacedaemonians despatched Polybiades as + governor to Olynthus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) See "Ages." viii. 2. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 379. Agesilaus had already exceeded the time during which the + supplies of food in Phlius were expected to last. The difference, in fact, + between self-command and mere appetite is so great that the men of Phlius + had only to pass a resolution to cut down the food expenditure by one + half, and by doing so were able to prolong the siege for twice the + calculated period. But if the contrast between self-restraint and appetite + is so great, no less startling is that between boldness and + faint-heartedness. A Phliasian named Delphion, a real hero, it would seem, + took to himself three hundred Phliasians, and not only succeeded in + preventing the peace-party from carrying out their wishes, but was equal + to the task of incarcerating and keeping safely under lock and key those + whom he mistrusted. Nor did his ability end there. He succeeded in forcing + the mob of citizens to perform garrison duty, and by vigorous patrolling + kept them constant to the work. Over and over again, accompanied by his + personal attendants, he would dash out of the walls and drive in the + enemy's outposts, first at one point and then at another of the + beleaguering circle. But the time eventually came when, search as they + might by every means, these picked defenders (13) could find no further + store of food within the walls, and they were forced to send to Agesilaus, + requesting a truce for an embassy to visit Sparta, adding that they were + resolved to leave it to the discretion of the authorities at Lacedaemon to + do with their city what they liked. Agesilaus granted a pass to the + embassy, but, at the same time, he was so angry at their setting his + personal authority aside, that he sent to his friends at home and arranged + that the fate of Phlius should be left to his discretion. Meanwhile he + proceeded to tighten the cordon of investment, so as to render it + impossible that a single soul inside the city should escape. In spite of + this, however, Delphion, with one comrade, a branded dare-devil, who had + shown great dexterity in relieving the besieging parties of their arms, + escaped by night. Presently the deputation returned with the answer from + Lacedaemon that the state simply left it entirely to the discretion of + Agesilaus to decide the fate of Phlius as seemed to him best. Then + Agesilaus announced his verdict. A board of one hundred—fifty taken + from the restored exiles, fifty from those within the city—were in + the first place to make inquisition as to who deserved to live and who to + die, after which they were to lay down laws as the basis of a new + constitution. Pending the carrying out of these transactions, he left a + detachment of troops to garrison the place for six months, with pay for + that period. After this he dismissed the allied forces, and led the state + (14) division home. Thus the transactions concerning Phlius were brought + to a conclusion, having occupied altogether one year and eight months. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) See below, "Hell." VII. i. 19. + + (14) {to politokon}, the citizen army. See above, IV. iv. 19; "Pol. + Lac." xi. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile Polybiades had reduced the citizens of Olynthus to the last + stage of misery through famine. Unable to supply themselves with corn from + their own land, or to import it by sea, they were forced to send an + embassy to Lacedaemon to sue for peace. The plenipotentiaries on their + arrival accepted articles of agreement by which they bound themselves to + have the same friends and the same foes as Lacedaemon, to follow her lead, + and to be enrolled among her allies; and so, having taken an oath to abide + by these terms, they returned home. + </p> + <p> + On every side the affairs of Lacedaemon had signally prospered: Thebes and + the rest of the Boeotian states lay absolutely at her feet; Corinth had + become her most faithful ally; Argos, unable longer to avail herself of + the subterfuge of a movable calendar, was humbled to the dust; Athens was + isolated; and, lastly, those of her own allies who displayed a hostile + feeling towards her had been punished; so that, to all outward appearance, + the foundations of her empire were at length absolutely well and firmly + laid. + </p> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + Abundant examples might be found, alike in Hellenic and in foreign + history, to prove that the Divine powers mark what is done amiss, winking + neither at impiety nor at the commission of unhallowed acts; but at + present I confine myself to the facts before me. (1) The Lacedaemonians, + who had pledged themselves by oath to leave the states independent, had + laid violent hands on the acropolis of Thebes, and were eventually + punished by the victims of that iniquity single-handed—the + Lacedaemonians, be it noted, who had never before been mastered by living + man; and not they alone, but those citizens of Thebes who introduced them + to their acropolis, and who wished to enslave their city to Lacedaemon, + that they might play the tyrant themselves—how fared it with them? A + bare score of the fugitives were sufficient to destroy their government. + How this happened I will now narrate in detail. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Or, "it is of my own subject that I must now speak." For the + "peripety," or sudden reversal of circumstances, on which the plot + of the "Hellenica" hinges, see Grote, "H. G." x. 100-108. Cf. + Soph. "Oed. Tyr." 450; "Antig." 1066; Thuc. v. 116; "Hellenica + Essays," "Xenophon," p. 382 foll. This passage is perhaps the key + to the historian's position. +</pre> + <p> + There was a man named Phyllidas—he was secretary to Archias, that + is, to the polemarchs. (2) Beyond his official duties, he had rendered his + chief other services, and all apparently in an exemplary fashion. A visit + to Athens in pursuance of some business brought this man into contact with + a former acquaintance of his, Melon, one of the exiles who had fled for + safety to Athens. Melon had various questions to ask touching the sort of + tyranny practised by Archias in the exercise of the polemarchy, and by + Philip. He soon discovered that affairs at home were still more detestable + to Phyllidas than to himself. It only remained to exchange pledges, and to + arrange the details of what was to be done. After a certain interval + Melon, accompanied by six of the trustiest comrades he could find among + his fellow-exiles, set off for Thebes. They were armed with nothing but + daggers, and first of all crept into the neighbourhood under cover of + night. The whole of the next day they lay concealed in a desert place, and + drew near to the city gates in the guise of labourers returning home with + the latest comers from the fields. Having got safely within the city, they + spent the whole of that night at the house of a man named Charon, and + again the next day in the same fashion. Phyllidas meanwhile was busily + taken up with the concerns of the polemarchs, who were to celebrate a + feast of Aphrodite on going out of office. Amongst other things, the + secretary was to take this opportunity of fulfilling an old undertaking, + which was the introduction of certain women to the polemarchs. They were + to be the most majestic and the most beautiful to be found in Thebes. The + polemarchs, on their side (and the character of the men is sufficiently + marked), were looking forward to the pleasures of the night with joyful + anticipation. Supper was over, and thanks to the zeal with which the + master of the ceremonies responded to their mood, they were speedily + intoxicated. To their oft-repeated orders to introduce their mistresses, + he went out and fetched Melon and the rest, three of them dressed up as + ladies and the rest as their attendant maidens. Having brought them into + the treasury of the polemarchs' residence, (3) he returned himself and + announced to Archias and his friends that the women would not present + themselves as long as any of the attendants remained in the room; + whereupon they promptly bade all withdraw, and Phyllidas, furnishing the + servants with a stoup of wine, sent them off to the house of one of them. + And now at last he introduced the mistresses, and led them to their seats + beside their respective lords. It was preconcerted that as soon as they + were seated they were to throw aside their veils and strike home. That is + one version of the death of the polemarchs. (4) According to another, + Melon and his friends came in as revellers, and so despatched their + victims. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Lit. "to Archias and his (polemarchs)"; but the Greek phrase does + not, as the English would, imply that there were actually more + than two polemarchs, viz. Archias and Philippus. Hypates and + Leontiades belonged to the faction, but were neither of them + polemarchs. + + (3) Lit. "Polemarcheion." + + (4) Or, "and so, according to the prevalent version of the matter, the + polemarchs were slain. But some say that..." +</pre> + <p> + That over, Phyllidas, with three of the band, set off to the house of + Leontiades. Arrived there, he knocked on the door, and sent in word that + he had a message from the polemarchs. Leontiades, as chance befell, was + still reclining in privacy after dinner, and his wife was seated beside + him working wools. The fidelity of Phyllidas was well known to him, and he + gave orders to admit him at once. They entered, slew Leontiades, and with + threats silenced his wife. As they went out they ordered the door to be + shut, threatening that if they found it open they would kill every one in + the house. And now that this deed was done, Phyllidas, with two of the + band, presented himself at the prison, telling the gaoler he had brought a + man from the polemarchs to be locked up. The gaoler opened the door, and + was at once despatched, and the prisoners were released. These they + speedily supplied with arms taken from the armoury in the stoa, and then + led them to the Ampheion, (5) and bade them take up a position there, + after which they at once made a proclamation calling on all Thebans to + come out, horse and foot, seeing that the tyrants were dead. The citizens, + indeed, as long as it was night, not knowing whom or what to trust, kept + quiet, but when day dawned and revealed what had occurred, the summons was + responded to with alacrity, heavy infantry and cavalry under arms alike + sallying forth. Horsemen were also despatched by the now restored exiles + to the two Athenian generals on the frontier; and they, being aware of the + object of the message (promptly responded). (6) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) See plan of Thebes, "Dict. Geog."; Arrian, "Anab." i. 8; Aesch. + "Sept. c. Theb." 528. + + (6) Supply {epeboethoun}. There is a lacuna in the MSS. at this point. +</pre> + <p> + On the other hand, the Lacedaemonian governor in the citadel, as soon as + that night's proclamation reached his ears, was not slow to send to + Plataeae (7) and Thespiae for reinforcements. The approach of the + Plataeans was perceived by the Theban cavalry, who met them and killed a + score of them and more, and after that achievement returned to the city, + to find the Athenians from the frontier already arrived. Then they + assaulted the acropolis. The troops within recognised the paucity of their + own numbers, whilst the zeal of their opponents (one and all advancing to + the attack) was plainly visible, and loud were the proclamations, + promising rewards to those who should be first to scale the walls. All + this so worked upon their fears that they agreed to evacuate the place if + the citizens would allow them a safe-conduct to retire with their arms. To + this request the others gladly yielded, and they made a truce. Oaths were + taken on the terms aforesaid, and the citizens dismissed their + adversaries. For all that, as the garrison retired, those of them who were + recognised as personal foes were seized and put to death. Some were + rescued through the good offices of the Athenian reinforcements from the + frontier, who smuggled them across and saved them. The Thebans were not + content with putting the men to death; if any of them had children, these + also were sacrificed to their vengeance. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) This city had been refounded in B.C. 386 (Isocr. "Plat." 20, 21). + See Freeman, op. cit. ch. iv. p. 170: "Its restoration implied not + only a loss of Theban supremacy, but the actual loss of that + portion of the existing Theban territory which had formerly formed + the Plataian district." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 378. When the news of these proceedings reached Sparta the first + thing the Lacedaemonians did was to put to death the governor, who had + abandoned the Cadmeia instead of awaiting reinforcements, and the next was + to call out the ban against Thebes. Agesilaus had little taste to head the + expedition; he pointed out that he had seen more than forty years' + service, (8) and that the exemption from foreign duty applicable to others + at that age was applicable on the same principle to the king. Such were + the ostensible grounds on which he excused himself from the present + expedition, but his real objections lay deeper. He felt certain that if he + led the expedition his fellow-citizens would say: "Agesilaus caused all + this trouble to the state in order to aid and abet tyrants." Therefore he + preferred to leave his countrymen to settle the matter themselves as they + liked. Accordingly the ephors, instructed by the Theban exiles who had + escaped the late massacres, despatched Cleombrotus. He had not commanded + before, and it was the depth of winter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) And was therefore more than fifty-eight years old at this date. + See "Ages." i. 6. +</pre> + <p> + Now while Chabrias, with a body of Athenian peltasts, kept watch and ward + over the road through Eleutherae, Cleombrotus made his way up by the + direct route to Plataeae. His column of light infantry, pushing forward in + advance, fell upon the men who had been released from the Theban prison, + guarding the summit, to the number of about one hundred and fifty. These, + with the exception of one or two who escaped, were cut down by the + peltasts, and Cleombrotus descended in person upon Plataeae, which was + still friendly to Sparta. Presently he reached Thespiae, and that was the + base for an advance upon Cynoscephalae, where he encamped on Theban + territory. Here he halted sixteen days, and then again fell back upon + Thespiae. At this latter place he now left Sphodrias as governor, with a + third portion of each of the contingents of the allies, handing over to + him all the moneys he had brought with him from home, with directions to + supplement his force with a contingent of mercenaries. + </p> + <p> + While Sphodrias was so employed, Cleombrotus himself commenced his + homeward march, following the road through Creusis at the head of his own + moiety of the troops, who indeed were in considerable perplexity to + discover whether they were at war with the Thebans or at peace, seeing + that the general had led his army into Theban territory, had inflicted the + minimum of mischief, and again retired. No sooner, however, was his back + turned than a violent wind storm assailed him in his rear, which some + construed as an omen clearly significant of what was about to take place. + Many a blow this assailant dealt them, and as the general and his army, + crossing from Creusis, scaled that face of the mountain (9) which + stretches seaward, the blast hurled headlong from the precipices a string + of asses, baggage and all: countless arms were wrested from the bearers' + grasp and whirled into the sea; finally, numbers of the men, unable to + march with their arms, deposited them at different points of the pass, + first filling the hollow of their shields with stones. For the moment, + then, they halted at Aegosthena, on Megarian soil, and supped as best they + could. Next day they returned and recovered their arms. After this + adventure the contingents lost no time in returning to their several + homes, as Cleombrotus disbanded them. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) I.e. "Cithaeron." +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile at Athens and Thebes alike fear reigned. To the Athenians the + strength of the Lacedaemonians was unmistakable: the war was plainly no + longer confined to Corinth; on the contrary, the Lacedaemonians had + ventured to skirt Athenian territory and to invade Thebes. They were so + worked upon by their alarm that the two generals who had been privy to the + insurrection of Melon against Leontiades and his party had to suffer: the + one was formally tried and put to death; the other, refusing to abide his + trial, was banished. + </p> + <p> + The apprehensions of the Thebans were of a different sort: their fear was + rather lest they should find themselves in single-handed war with + Lacedaemon. To prevent this they hit upon the following expedient. They + worked upon Sphodrias, (10) the Spartan governor left in Thespiae, by + offering him, as at least was suspected, a substantial sum, in return for + which he was to make an incursion into Attica; their great object being to + involve Athens and Lacedaemon in hostilities. Sphodrias lent a willing + ear, and, pretending that he could easily capture Piraeus in its present + gateless condition, gave his troops an early evening meal and marched out + of Thespiae, saying that he would reach Piraeus before daybreak. As a + matter of fact day overtook him at Thria, nor did he take any pains even + to draw a veil over his intentions; on the contrary, being forced to turn + aside, he amused himself by recklessly lifting cattle and sacking houses. + Meanwhile some who chanced upon him in the night had fled to the city and + brought news to the men of Athens that a large body of troops was + approaching. It needs no saying with what speed the cavalry and heavy + infantry armed themselves and stood on guard to protect the city. As + chance befell, there were some Lacedaemonian ambassadors in Athens at the + moment, at the house of Callias their proxenos; their names were + Etymocles, Aristolochus, and Ocyllus. Immediately on receipt of the news + the Athenians seized these three and imprisoned them, as not improbably + concerned in the plot. Utterly taken aback by the affair themselves, the + ambassadors pleaded that, had they been aware of an attempt to seize + Piraeus, they would hardly have been so foolish as to put themselves into + the power of the Athenians, or have selected the house of their proxenos + for protection, where they were so easily to be found. It would, they + further urged, soon be plain to the Athenians themselves that the state of + Lacedaemon was quite as little cognisant of these proceedings as they. + "You will hear before long"—such was their confident prediction—"that + Sphodrias has paid for his behaviour by his life." On this wise the + ambassadors were acquitted of all concern in the matter and dismissed. + Sphodrias himself was recalled and indicted by the ephors on the capital + charge, and, in spite of his refusal to face the trial, he was acquitted. + This miscarriage of justice, as it seemed to many, who described it as + unprecedented in Lacedaemon, has an explanation. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) See Plut. "Pel." xiv. (Clough, ii. p. 214). +</pre> + <p> + Sphodrias had a son named Cleonymus. He was just at the age when youth + emerges from boyhood, very handsome and of high repute among his fellows. + To this youth Archidamus, the son of Agesilaus, was passionately attached. + Now the friends of Cleombrotus, as comrades of Sphodrias, were disposed to + acquit him; but they feared Agesilaus and his friends, not to mention the + intermediate party, for the enormity of his proceeding was clear. So when + Sphodrias addressed his son Cleonymus: "You have it in your power, my son, + to save your father, if you will, by begging Archidamus to dispose + Agesilaus favourably to me at my trial." Thus instructed, the youth did + not shrink from visiting Archidamus, and implored him for his sake to save + his father. Now when Archidamus saw how Cleonymus wept, he too was melted + to tears as he stood beside him, but to his petition he made answer thus: + "Nay, Cleonymus, it is the bare truth I tell you, I cannot so much as look + my father in the face; (11) if I wished anything transacted for me in the + city I would beg assistance from the whole world sooner than from my + father. Still, since it is you who bid me, rest assured I will do my best + to bring this about for you as you desire." He then left the common hall + (12) and retired home to rest, but with dawn he arose and kept watch that + his father might not go out without his knowledge. Presently, when he saw + him ready to go forth, first some citizen was present, and then another + and another; and in each case he stepped aside, while they held his father + in conversation. By and by a stranger would come, and then another; and so + it went on until he even found himself making way for a string of + petitioning attendants. At last, when his father had turned his back on + the Eurotas, and was entering his house again, he was fain to turn his + back also and be gone without so much as accosting him. The next day he + fared no better: all happened as on the previous day. Now Agesilaus, + although he had his suspicions why his son went to and fro in this way, + asked no questions, but left him to take his own course. Archidamus, on + his side, was longing, as was natural, to see his friend Cleonymus; but + how he was to visit him, without having held the desired conversation with + his father, he knew not. The friends of Sphodrias, observing that he who + was once so frequent a visitor had ceased coming, were in agony; he must + surely have been deterred by the reproaches of his father. At last, + however, Archidamus dared to go to his father, and said, "Father, + Cleonymus bids me ask you to save his father; grant me this boon, if + possible, I beg you." He answered: "For yourself, my son, I can make + excuse, but how shall my city make excuse for me if I fail to condemn that + man who, for his own base purpose, traffics to the injury of the state?" + For the moment the other made no reply, but retired crestfallen before the + verdict of justice. Afterwards, whether the thought was his own or that he + was prompted by some other, he came and said, "Father, if Sphodrias had + done no wrong you would have released him, that I know; but now, if he has + done something wrong, may he not be excused by you for our sakes?" And the + father answered: "If it can be done without loss of honour on our parts, + so shall it be." At that word the young man, in deep despondency, turned + and went. Now one of the friends of Sphodrias, conversing with Etymocles, + remarked to him: "You are all bent on putting Sphodrias to death, I take + it, you friends of Agesilaus?" And Etymocles replied: "If that be so, we + all are bent on one thing, and Agesilaus on another, since in all his + conversations he still harps upon one string: that Sphodrias has done a + wrong there is no denying, yet Sphodrias is a man who, from boyhood to + ripe manhood, (13) was ever constant to the call of honour. To put such a + man as that to death is hard; nay, Sparta needs such soldiers." The other + accordingly went off and reported what he had just heard to Cleonymus; and + he in the joy of his heart went straightway to Archidamus and said: "Now + we know that you care for us; rest assured, Archidamus, that we in turn + will take great pains that you shall never have cause to blush for our + friendship." Nor did his acts belie his words; but so long as he lived he + was ever faithful to the code of Spartan chivalry; and at Leuctra, + fighting in front of the king side by side with Deinon the polemarch, + thrice fell or ever he yielded up his breath—foremost of the + citizens amidst the foe. And so, albeit he caused his friend the bitterest + sorrow, yet to that which he had promised he was faithful, seeing he + wrought Archidamus no shame, but contrariwise shed lustre on him. (14) In + this way Sphodrias obtained his acquittal. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) See "Cyrop." I. iv. 12. + + (12) Lit. "the Philition." See "Pol. Lac." iii. 6. + + (13) Lit. "who, whether as child, boy, or young man"; and for the + three stages of growth, see "Pol. Lac." ii. iii. iv. + + (14) I.e. both in life and in death. +</pre> + <p> + At Athens the friends of Boeotia were not slow to instruct the people that + his countrymen, so far from punishing Sphodrias, had even applauded him + for his designs on Athens; and in consequence of this the Athenians not + only furnished Piraeus with gates, but set to work to build a fleet, and + displayed great zeal in sending aid to the Boeotians. (15) The + Lacedaemonians, on their side, called out the ban against the Thebans; and + being persuaded that in Agesilaus they would find a more prudent general + than Cleombrotus had proved, they begged the former to undertake the + expedition. (16) He, replying that the wish of the state was for him law, + began making preparations to take the field. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) For the new Athenian confederacy of Delos of this year, B.C. 378, + see "Pol. Lac." xiv. 6; "Rev." v. 6; Diod. xv. 28-30; Plut. + "Pelop." xv.; Hicks, 78, 81; and for an alliance between Athens + and Chalcis in Euboea, see Hicks, 79; and for a treaty with Chios, + Hicks, 80. + + (16) See "Ages." ii. 22. +</pre> + <p> + Now he had come to the conclusion that without the occupation of Mount + Cithaeron any attack on Thebes would be difficult. Learning then that the + men of Cleitor were just now at war with the men of Orchomenus, (17) and + were maintaining a foreign brigade, he came to an understanding with the + Cleitorians that in the event of his needing it, this force would be at + his service; and as soon as the sacrifices for crossing the frontier + proved favourable, he sent to the commander of the Cleitorian mercenaries, + and handing him a month's pay, ordered him to occupy Cithaeron with his + men. This was before he himself reached Tegea. Meanwhile he sent a message + to the men of Orchomenus that so long as the campaign lasted they must + cease from war. If any city during his campaign abroad took on itself to + march against another city, his first duty, he declared, would be to march + against such offending city in accordance with a decree of the allies. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) In Arcadia. See Busolt, "Die Lak." 120 foll. +</pre> + <p> + Thus crossing Cithaeron he reached Thespiae, (18) and from that base made + the territory of Thebes his objective. Finding the great plain fenced + round with ditch and palisade, as also the most valuable portions of the + country, he adopted the plan of shifting his encampment from one place to + another. Regularly each day, after the morning meal, he marched out his + troops and ravaged the territory, confining himself to his own side of the + palisadings and trench. The appearance of Agesilaus at any point whatever + was a signal to the enemy, who within the circuit of his entrenchment kept + moving in parallel line to the invader, and was ever ready to defend the + threatened point. On one occasion, the Spartan king having retired and + being well on the road back to camp, the Theban cavalry, hitherto + invisible, suddenly dashed out, following one of the regularly constructed + roads out of the entrenchment. Taking advantage of the enemy's position—his + light troops breaking off to supper or busily preparing the meal, and the + cavalry, some of them on their legs just (19) dismounted, and others in + the act of mounting—on they rode, pressing the charge home. Man + after man of the light troops was cut down; and three cavalry troopers + besides—two Spartans, Cleas and Epicydidas by name, and the third a + provincial (20) named Eudicus, who had not had time to mount their horses, + and whose fate was shared by some Theban (21) exiles. But presently + Agesilaus wheeled about and advanced with his heavy infantry to the + succour; his cavalry dashed at the enemy's cavalry, and the flower of the + heavy infantry, the ten-years-service men, charged by their side. The + Theban cavalry at that instant looked like men who had been imbibing too + freely in the noontide heat—that is to say, they awaited the charge + long enough to hurl their spears; but the volley sped without effect, and + wheeling about within that distance they left twelve of their number dead + upon the field. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) By Cynoscephalae. See "Ages." ii. 22. + + (19) Read, after Courier, {arti} for the vulg. {eti}; or, better + still, adopt Hartman's emendation (op. cit. p. 379), {ton men ede + katabebekoton ton de katabainonton}, and translate "some—already + dismounted, and others dismounting." + + (20) Lit. "one of the perioeci." + + (21) Reading {Thebaion} after Dind. for {'Athenaion}. +</pre> + <p> + Agesilaus had not failed to note with what regularity the enemy presented + himself after the morning meal. Turning the observation to account, he + offered sacrifice with day's dawn, and marched with all possible speed, + and so crossed within the palisadings, through what might have been a + desert, as far as defence or sign of living being went. Once well inside, + he proceeded to cut down and set on fire everything up to the city gates. + After this exploit he beat a retreat, retiring into Thespiae, where he + fortified their citadel for them. Here he left Phoebidas as governor, + while he himself crossed the passes back into Megara. Arrived here he + disbanded the allies, and led the city troops homewards. + </p> + <p> + After the departure of Agesilaus, Phoebidas devoted himself to harrying + the Thebans by sending out robber bands, and laid waste their land by a + system of regular incursions. The Thebans, on their side, desiring to + retaliate, marched out with their whole force into the territory of + Thespiae. But once well inside the district they found themselves closely + beset by Phoebidas and his light troops, who would not give them the + slightest chance to scatter from their main body, so that the Thebans, + heartily vexed at the turn their foray had taken, beat a retreat quicker + than they had come. The muleteers threw away with their own hands the + fruits they had captured, in their anxiety to get home as quickly as + possible; so dire a dread had fallen upon the invading army. This was the + chance for the Spartan to press home his attack boldly, keeping his light + division in close attendance on himself, and leaving the heavy infantry + under orders to follow him in battle order. He was in hopes even that he + might put the enemy to complete rout, so valiantly did he lead the + advance, encouraging the light troops to "come to a close grip with the + invadors," or summoning the heavy infantry of the Thespiaeans to "bring up + their supports." Presently the Theban cavalry as they retired found + themselves face to face with an impassable glen or ravine, where in the + first instance they collected in a mob, and next wheeled right-about-face + in sheer resourcelessness where to cross. The handful of light troops who + formed the Spartan vanguard took fright at the Thebans and fled, and the + Theban horsemen seeing this put in practice the lesson of attack which the + fugitives taught them. As for Phoebidas himself, he and two or three with + him fell sword in hand, whereupon his mercenary troops all took to their + heels. + </p> + <p> + When the stream of fugitives reached the Thespiaean heavy infantry + reserves, they too, in spite of much boasting beforehand that they would + never yield to Thebans, took to flight, though there was now absolutely no + pursuit whatever, for it was now late. The number slain was not large, + but, for all that, the men of Thespiae did not come to a standstill until + they found themselves safe inside their walls. As a sequel, the hopes and + spirits of the Thebans were again kindled into new life, and they made + campaigns against Thespiae and the other provincial cities of Boeotia. + (22) It must be admitted that in each case the democratical party retired + from these cities to Thebes; since absolute governments had been + established in all of them on the pattern previously adopted at Thebes; + and the result was that the friends of Lacedaemon in these cities also + needed her assistance. (23) After the death of Phoebidas the + Lacedaemonians despatched a polemarch with a division by sea to form the + garrison of Thespiae. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) Lit. "their other perioecid cities." For the significance of this + title as applied by the Thebans (and perhaps commonly) to the + other cities of Boeotia, see Freeman, op. cit. ch. iv. pp. 157, + 173 foll. + + (23) See Grote, "H. G." x. 174; Freeman, op. cit. iv. 171, 172. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 377. With the advent of spring (24) the ephors again called out the + ban against Thebes, and requested Agesilaus to lead the expedition, as on + the former campaign. He, holding to his former theory with regard to the + invasion, even before sacrificing the customary frontier sacrifice, sent a + despatch to the polemarch at Thespiae, with orders to seize the pass which + commands the road over Cithaeron, and to guard it against his arrival. + Then, having once more crossed the pass and reached Plataeae, he again + made a feint of marching first into Thespiae, and so sent a despatch + ordering supplies to be in readiness, and all embassies to be waiting his + arrival there; so that the Thebans concentrated their attention on the + approaches from Thespiae, which they strongly guarded. Next morning, + however, Agesilaus sacrificed at daybreak and set out on the road to + Erythrae, (25) and completing in one day what was a good two days' march + for an army, gave the Thebans the slip, and crossed their palisade-work at + Scolus before the enemy had arrived from the closely-guarded point at + which he had effected his entrance formerly. This done he proceeded to + ravage the eastward-facing districts of the city of Thebes as far as the + territory of Tanagra, for at that date Tanagra was still in the hands of + Hypatodorus and his party, who were friends of the Lacedaemonians. After + that he turned to retire, keeping the walls of Thebes on his left. But the + Thebans, who had stolen, as it were, upon the scene, drew up at the spot + called "The Old Wife's Breast," (26) keeping the trench and palisading in + their rear: they were persuaded that here, if anywhere, lay their chance + to risk a decisive engagement, the ground at this point being somewhat + narrow and difficult to traverse. Agesilaus, however, in view of the + situation, refused to accept the challenge. Instead of marching upon them + he turned sharp off in the direction of the city; and the Thebans, in + alarm for the city in its undefended state, abandoned the favourable + ground on which they were drawn up in battle line, and retired at the + double towards the city along the road to Potniae, which seemed the safer + route. This last move of Agesilaus may be described as a stroke of genius: + (27) while it allowed him to retire to a distance, it forced the enemy + themselves to retreat at the double. In spite of this, however, one or two + of the polemarchs, with their divisions, charged the foe as he raced past. + But again the Thebans, from the vantage-ground of their heights, sent + volleys of spears upon the assailants, which cost one of the polemarchs, + Alypetus, his life. He fell pierced by a spear. But again from this + particular crest the Thebans on their side were forced to turn in flight; + so much so that the Sciritae, with some of the cavalry, scaled up and + speedily cut down the rearmost ranks of the Thebans as they galloped past + into the city. When, however, they were close under cover of their walls + the Thebans turned, and the Sciritae seeing them retreated at more than a + steady walking pace. No one, it is true, was slain; but the Thebans all + the same set up a trophy in record of the incident at the point where the + scaling party had been forced to retreat. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) See for affairs of Delos, never actually named by Xenophon, + between B.C. 377 and 374, the Sandwich Marble in Trinity College, + Cambridge; Boeckh, "C. I. G" 158, and "P. E. A." ii. p. 78 foll.; + Hicks, 82. + + (25) Erythrae (Redlands) stands between Hysiae and Scolus, east of + Katzula.—Leake, "N. Gr." ii. 329. See Herod. ix. 15, 25; Thuc. + iii. 24; Paus. IX. ii. 1; Strab. IX. ii. + + (26) Lit. "Graos Stethos." + + (27) Or, "and this move of Agesilaus was regarded as a very pretty + one." +</pre> + <p> + And now, since the hour was come, Agesilaus fell back and encamped on the + very site on which he had seen the enemy drawn up in battle array. Next + day he retired by the road to Thespiae. The light troops, who formed a + free corps in the pay of the Thebans, hung audaciously at his heels. Their + shouts could be heard calling out to Chabrias (28) for not bringing up his + supports; when the cavalry of the Olynthians (who now contributed a + contingent in accordance with their oaths) (29) wheeled round on them, + caught the pursuers in the heat of their pursuit, and drove them uphill, + putting large numbers of them to the sword—so quickly are infantry + overhauled by cavalry on steep ground which can be ridden over. Being + arrived within the walls of Thespiae, Agesilaus found the citizens in a + state of party feud, the men of Lacedaemonian proclivities desiring to put + their political opponents, one of whom was Menon, to death (30)—a + proceeding which Agesilaus would not sanction. After having healed their + differences and bound them over by solemn oath to keep the peace with one + another, he at once retired, taking his old route across Cithaeron to + Megara. Here once more he disbanded the allies, and at the head of the + city troops himself marched back to Sparta. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (28) For the exploits of Chabrias, who commanded a division of mixed + Athenians and mercenaries (see above, S. 14), see Dem. "c. Lept." + 479; Polyaen. ii. 1, 2; Diod. xv. 32, 33, who gives interesting + details; Grote, "H. G." x. 172 foll. + + (29) See above, "Hell." V. iii. 26. + + (30) Or, "under the pretext of furthering Laconian interests there was + a desire to put political opponents to death." For "Menon," Diod. + conj. "Melon." +</pre> + <p> + The Thebans had not gathered in the fruits of their soil for two years + now, and began to be sorely pinched for want of corn; they therefore sent + a body of men on board a couple of triremes to Pagasae, with ten talents + (31) in hand for the purchase of corn. But while these commissioners were + engaged in effecting their purchases, Alcetas, the Lacedaemonian who was + garrisoning Oreus, (32) fitted out three triremes, taking precautions that + no rumour of his proceedings should leak out. As soon as the corn was + shipped and the vessels under weigh, he captured not only the corn but the + triremes, escort and all, numbering no less than three hundred men. This + done he locked up his prisoners in the citadel, where he himself was also + quartered. Now there was a youth, the son of a native of Oreus, fair of + mien and of gentle breeding, (33) who danced attendance on the commandant: + and the latter must needs leave the citadel and go down to busy himself + with this youth. This was a piece of carelessness which the prisoners did + not fail to observe, and turned to good account by seizing the citadel, + whereupon the town revolted, and the Thebans experienced no further + difficulty in obtaining corn supplies. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (31) = 2,437 pounds: 10 shillings. + + (32) Oreus, formerly called Histiaea, in the north of Euboea. See + Thuc. vii. 57, viii. 95; Diod. xv. 30; Grote, "H. G." ix. 263. For + Pagasae at the north extremity of the Pagasaean Gulf, "the cradle + of Greek navigation," see Tozer, "Geog. Gr." vi. p. 124; Strab. + IX. v. 15. + + (33) Or, "beautiful and brave if ever youth was." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 376. At the return of spring Agesilaus lay sick—a bedridden + invalid. The history of the case is this: During the withdrawal of his + army from Thebes the year before, when at Megara, while mounting from the + Aphrodision (34) to the Government house he ruptured a vein or other + vessel of the body. This was followed by a rush of blood to his sound leg. + The knee was much swelled, and the pain intolerable, until a Syracusan + surgeon made an incision in the vein near the ankle. The blood thus let + flowed night and day; do what they could to stop the discharge, all + failed, till the patient fainted away; then it ceased. In this plight + Agesilaus was conveyed home on a litter to Lacedaemon, and remained an + invalid the rest of that summer and throughout the winter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (34) Pausanius (I. xi. 6) mentions a temple of Aphrodite + {'Epistrophoa} (Verticordia), on the way up to the Carian + Acropolis of Megara. +</pre> + <p> + But to resume: at the first burst of spring the Lacedaemonians again + called out the ban, and gave orders to Cleombrotus to lead the expedition. + The king found himself presently with his troops at the foot of Cithaeron, + and his light infantry advanced to occupy the pass which commands the + road. But here they found a detachment of Thebans and Athenians already in + occupation of the desired height, who for a while suffered them to + approach; but when they were close upon them, sprang from their position + and charged, putting about forty to the sword. This incident was + sufficient to convince Cleombrotus that to invade Thebes by this mountain + passage was out of the question, and in this faith he led back and + disbanded his troops. + </p> + <p> + The allies met in Lacedaemon, and arguments were adduced on the part of + the allies to show that faintheartedness would very soon lead to their + being absolutely worn out by the war. They had got it in their power, it + was urged, to fit out a fleet far outnumbering that of Athens, and to + reduce that city by starvation; it was open to them, in the self-same + ships, to carry an army across into Theban territory, and they had a + choice of routes—the road into Phocis, or, if they preferred, by + Creusis. After thus carefully considering the matter they manned a fleet + of sixty triremes, and Pollis was appointed admiral in command. Nor indeed + were their expectations altogether belied. The Athenians were soon so + closely blockaded that their corn vessels could get no farther than + Geraestus; (35) there was no inducing them to coast down father south, + with a Lacedaemonian navy hovering about Aegina and Ceos and Andros. The + Athenians, making a virtue of necessity, manned their ships in person, + gave battle to Pollis under the leadership of Chabrias, and came out of + the sea-fight (36) victorious. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (35) The promontory at the southern extremity of Euboea. + + (36) Battle of Naxos, B.C. 376. For interesting details, see Diod. xv. + 35, 35. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 375. Then the corn supplies flowed freely into Athens. The + Lacedaemonians, on their side, were preparing to transport an army across + the water into Boeotia, when the Thebans sent a request to the Athenians + urging them to despatch an armament round Peloponnesus, under the + persuasion that if this were done the Lacedaemonians would find it + impossible at once to guard their own or the allied territory in that part + of the world, and at the same time to convery an army of any size to + operate against Thebes. The proposals fell in with the present temper of + the Athenians, irritated with Lacedaemon on account of the exploit of + Sphodrias. Accordingly they eagerly manned a fleet of sixty vessels, + appointing Timotheus as admiral in command, and despatched it on a cruise + round Peloponnesus. + </p> + <p> + The Thebans, seeing that there had been no hostile invasion of their + territory for so long (neither during the campaign of Cleombrotus nor now, + (37) whilst Timotheus prosecuted his coasting voyage), felt emboldened to + carry out a campaign on their own account against the provincial cities; + (38) and one by one they again recovered them. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (37) Lit. "nor at the date of Timotherus's periplus." To the historian + writing of the events of this period several years later, the + coasting voyage of Timotheus is a single incident ({periepleuse}), + and as Grote ("H. G." x. 185, note 3) observes, the words may + "include not simply the time which Timotheus took in actually + circumnavigating Peloponnesos, but the year which he spent + afterwards in the Ionian sea, and the time which he occupied in + performing his exploits near Korkyra, Leukas, and the + neighbourhood generally." For the character and exploits of + Timotheus, son of Conon, see Isocr. "Or." xv. "On the Antidosis," + SS. 101-139; Jebb, "Att. Or." ii. p. 140 foll.; Rehdantz, "Vit. + Iphicr. Chabr. Timoth. Atheniensium." + + (38) Or, "the cities round about their territory," lit. "the perioecid + cities." For the import of the epithet, see V. iv. 46; Freeman, + op. cit. iv. 173, note 1, in reference to Grote, "H. G." x. 183, + note 4. For the battle of Tegyra see Grote, ib. 182; Plut. + "Pelop." 17; Diod. xv. 57 ("evidently this battle," Grote); + Callisthenes, fr. 3, ed. Did. Cf. Steph. Byz., {Tegura}. +</pre> + <p> + Timotheus in his cruise reached Corcyra, and reduced it at a blow. That + done, he neither enslaved the inhabitants nor drove them into exile, nor + changed their laws. And of this conduct he reaped the benefit of the + increased cordiality (39) of all the cities of those parts. The + Lacedaemonians thereupon fitted out and despatched a counter fleet, with + Nicolochus in command, an officer of consummate boldness. This admiral no + sooner caught sight of Timotheus's fleet than without hesitation, and in + spite of the absence of six Ambraciot vessels which formed part of his + squadron, he gave battle, with fifty-five ships to the enemy's sixty. The + result was a defeat at the moment, and Timotheus set up a trophy at + Alyzia. But as soon as the six missing Ambraciot vessels had reinforced + him—the ships of Timotheus meanwhile being docked and undergoing + repairs—he bore down upon Alyzia in search of the Athenian, and as + Timotheus refused to put out to meet him, the Lacedaemonian in turn set up + a trophy on the nearest group of islands. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (39) The Corcyraeans, Acarnanians, and Cephallenians join the alliance + B.C. 375; see Hicks, 83. "This decree dates from the autumn of + B.C. 375, immediately after Timotheos's visit to Korkyra (Xen. + 'Hell.' V. iv. 64). The result was that the names of Korkyra, + Kephallenia, and Akarnania were inscribed upon the list (No. 81), + and an alliance was made with them." (See "C. I. A." ii. p. 399 + foll.; Hicks, loc. cit.; "Hell." VI. v. 23); "C. I. A." ii. 14. + The tablet is in the Asclepeian collection at the entrance of the + Acropolis at Athens. See Milchofer, "Die Museum Athens," 1881, p. + 45. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 374. Timotheus, after repairing his original squadron and manning + more vessels from Corcyra, found himself at the head of more than seventy + ships. His naval superiority was undisputed, but he was forced to send to + Athens for moneys, seeing his fleet was large and his wants not trifling. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK VI + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + B.C. 374. The Athenians and Lacedaemonians were thus engaged. But to + return to the Thebans. After the subjugation of the cities in Boeotia, + they extended the area of aggression and marched into Phocis. The + Phocians, on their side, sent an embassy to Lacedaemon, and pleaded that + without assistance from that power they must inevitably yield to Thebes. + The Lacedaemonians in response conveyed by sea into the territory of + Phocis their king Cleombrotus, at the head of four regiments and the + contingents of the allies. + </p> + <p> + About the same time Polydamus of Pharsalus arrived from Thessaly to + address the general assembly (1) of Lacedaemon. He was a man of high + repute throughout the whole of Thessaly, while in his native city he was + regarded as so true a gentleman that the faction-ridden Pharsalians were + content to entrust the citadel to his keeping, and to allow their revenues + to pass through his hands. It was his privilege to disburse the money + needed for sacred rites or other expenditure, within the limits of their + written law and constitution. Out of these moneys this faithful steward of + the state was able to garrison and guard in safety for the citizens their + capital. Every year he rendered an account of his administration in + general. If there was a deficit he made it up out of his own pocket, and + when the revenues expanded he paid himself back. For the rest, his + hospitality to foreigners and his magnificence were on a true Thessalian + scale. Such was the style and character of the man who now arrived in + Lacedaemon and spoke as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) {pros to koinon}, "h.e. vel ad ad senatum vel ad ephoros vel ad + concionem."—Sturz, "Lex. Xen." s.v. +</pre> + <p> + "Men of Lacedaemon, it is in my capacity as 'proxenos' and 'benefactor' + (titles borne by my ancestry from time immemorial) that I claim, or rather + am bound, in case of any difficulty to come to you, and, in case of any + complication dangerous to your interests in Thessaly, to give you warning. + The name of Jason, I feel sure, is not unknown to Lacedaemonian ears. His + power as a prince is sufficiently large, and his fame widespread. It is of + Jason I have to speak. Under cover of a treaty of peace he has lately + conferred with me, and this is the substance of what he urged: + 'Polydamas,' he said, 'if I chose I could lay your city at my feet, even + against its will, as the following considerations will prove to you. See,' + he went on, 'the majority and the most important of the states of Thessaly + are my allies. I subdued them in campaigns in which you took their side in + opposition to myself. Again, you do not need to be told that I have six + thousand mercenaries who are a match in themselves, I take it, for any + single state. It is not the mere numbers on which I insist. No doubt as + large an army could be raised in other quarters; but these citizen armies + have this defect—they include men who are already advanced in years, + with others whose beards are scarcely grown. Again, it is only a fraction + of the citizens who attend to bodily training in a state, whereas with me + no one takes mercenary service who is not as capable of endurance as + myself.' + </p> + <p> + "And here, Lacedaemonians, I must tell you what is the bare truth. This + Jason is a man stout of limb and robust of body, with an insatiable + appetite for toil. Equally true is it that he tests the mettle of those + with him day by day. He is always at their head, whether on a field-day + under arms, or in the gymnasium, or on some military expedition. The weak + members of the corps he weeds out, but those whom he sees bear themselves + stout-heartedly in the face of war, like true lovers of danger and of + toil, he honours with double, treble, and quadruple pay, or with other + gifts. On the bed of sickness they will not lack attendance, nor honour in + their graves. Thus every foreigner in his service knows that his valour in + war may obtain for him a livelihood—a life replete at once with + honour and abundance. (2) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) Or, "a life satisfying at once to soul and body." +</pre> + <p> + "Then with some parade he pointed out to me what I knew before, that the + Maracians, and the Dolopians, and Alcetas the hyparch (3) in Epirus, were + already subject to his sway; 'so that I may fairly ask you, Polydamas,' he + proceeded, 'what I have to apprehend that I should not look on your future + subjugation as mere child's play. Perhaps some one who did not know me, + and what manner of man I am, might put it to me: "Well! Jason, if all you + say be true, why do you hesitate? why do you not march at once against + Pharsalia?" For the good reason, I reply, that it suits me better to win + you voluntarily than to annex you against your wills. Since, if you are + forced, you will always be planning all the mischief you can against me, + and I on my side shall be striving to diminish your power; whereas if you + throw in your lot with mine trustfully and willingly, it is certain we + shall do what we can to help each other. I see and know, Polydamas, that + your country fixes her eyes on one man only, and that is yourself: what I + guarantee you, therefore, is that, if you will dispose her lovingly to + myself, I on my side will raise you up to be the greatest man in Hellas + next to me. Listen, while I tell you what it is in which I offer you the + second prize. Listen, and accept nothing which does not approve itself as + true to your own reasoning. First, is it not plain to us both, that with + the adhesion of Pharsalus and the swarm of pettier states dependent on + yourselves, I shall with infinite ease become Tagos (4) of all the + Thessalians; and then the corollary—Thessaly so united—sixteen + thousand cavalry and more than ten thousand heavy infantry leap into life. + Indeed, when I contemplate the physique and proud carriage of these men, I + cannot but persuade myself that, with proper handling, there is not a + nation or tribe of men to which Thessalians would deign to yield + submission. Look at the broad expanse of Thessaly and consider: when once + a Tagos is established here, all the tribes in a circle round will lie + stilled in subjection; and almost every member of each of these tribes is + an archer born, so that in the light infantry division of the service our + power must needs excel. Furthermore, the Boeotians and all the rest of the + world in arms against Lacedaemon are my allies; they clamour to follow my + banner, if only I will free them from Sparta's yoke. So again the + Athenians, I make sure, will do all they can to gain our alliance; but + with them I do not think we will make friends, for my persuasion is that + empire by sea will be even easier to acquire than empire by land; and to + show you the justice of this reasoning I would have you weigh the + following considerations. With Macedonia, which is the timber-yard (5) of + the Athenian navy, in our hands we shall be able to construct a far larger + fleet than theirs. That stands to reason. And as to men, which will be the + better able to man vessels, think you—Athens, or ourselves with our + stalwart and numerous Penestae? (6) Which will better support mariners—a + nation which, like our own, out of her abundance exports her corn to + foreign parts, or Athens, which, but for foreign purchases, has not enough + to support herself? And so as to wealth in general it is only natural, is + it not, that we, who do not look to a string of little islands for + supplies, but gather the fruits of continental peoples, should find our + resources more copious? As soon as the scattered powers of Thessaly are + gathered into a principality, all the tribes around, I repeat, will become + our tributaries. I need not tell you that the king of Persia reaps the + fruits, not of islands, but of a continent, and he is the wealthiest of + men! But the reduction of Persia will be still more practicable, I + imagine, than that of Hellas, for there the men, save one, are better + versed in slavery than in prowess. Nor have I forgotten, during the + advance of Cyrus, and afterwards under Agesilaus, how scant the force was + before which the Persian quailed.' + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) Or, "his underlord in Epirus." By hyparch, I suppose, is implied + that Alcetas regarded Jason as his suzerain. Diodorus (xv. 13, 36) + speaks of him as "king" of the Molossians. + + (4) Or, "Prince," and below, "Thessaly so converted into a + Principality." "The Tagos of Thessaly was not a King, because his + office was not hereditary or even permanent; neither was he + exactly a Tyrant, because his office had some sort of legal + sanction. But he came much nearer to the character either of a + King or of a Tyrant than to that of a Federal President like the + General of the Achaians.... Jason of Pherai acts throughout + like a King, and his will seems at least as uncontrolled as that + of his brother sovereign beyond the Kambunian hills. Even Jason + seems to have been looked upon as a Tyrant (see below, 'Hell.' VI. + iv. 32); possibly, like the Athenian Demos, he himself did not + refuse the name" (cf. Arist. "Pol." iii. 4, 9).—Freeman, "Hist. + Fed. Gov." "No True Federation in Thessaly," iv. pp. 152 foll. + + (5) See above, and Hicks, 74. + + (6) Or, "peasantry." +</pre> + <p> + "Such, Lacedaemonians, were the glowing arguments of Jason. In answer I + told him that what he urged was well worth weighing, but that we, the + friends of Lacedaemon, should so, without a quarrel, desert her and rush + into the arms of her opponents, seemed to me sheer madness. Whereat he + praised me, and said that now must he needs cling all the closer to me if + that were my disposition, and so charged me to come to you and tell you + the plain truth, which is, that he is minded to march against Pharsalus if + we will not hearken to him. Accordingly he bade me demand assistance from + you; 'and if they suffer you,' (7) he added, 'so to work upon them that + they will send you a force sufficient to do battle with me, it is well: we + will abide by war's arbitrament, nor quarrel with the consequence; but if + in your eyes that aid is insufficient, look to yourself. How shall you + longer be held blameless before that fatherland which honours you and in + which you fare so well?' (8) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) Or, reading {theoi}, after Cobet; translate "if providentially + they should send you." + + (8) Reading {kai e su pratteis}, after Cobet. The chief MSS. give {ouk + ede anegkletos an dikaios eies en te patridi e se tima kai su + prattois ta kratista}, which might be rendered either, "and how be + doing best for yourself?" (lit. "and you would not be doing best + for yourself," {ouk an} carried on from previous clause), or + (taking {prattois} as pure optative), "may you be guided to adopt + the course best for yourself!" "may the best fortune attend you! + Farewell." See Otto Keller, op. cit. ad loc. for various + emendations. +</pre> + <p> + "These are the matters," Polydamas continued, "which have brought me to + Lacedaemon. I have told you the whole story; it is based partly on what I + see to be the case, and partly on what I have heard from yonder man. My + firm belief is, men of Lacedaemon, that if you are likely to despatch a + force sufficient, not in my eyes only, but in the eyes of all the rest of + Thessaly, to cope with Jason in war, the states will revolt from him, for + they are all in alarm as to the future development of the man's power; but + if you think a company of newly-enfranchised slaves and any amateur + general will suffice, I advise you to rest in peace. You may take my word + for it, you will have a great power to contend against, and a man who is + so prudent a general that, in all he essays to do, be it an affair of + secrecy, or speed, or force, he is wont to hit the mark of his endeavours: + one who is skilled, should occasion serve, to make the night of equal + service to him with the day; (9) or, if speed be needful, will labour on + while breakfasting or taking an evening meal. And as for repose, he thinks + that the time for it has come when the goal is reached or the business on + hand accomplished. And to this same practice he has habituated those about + him. Right well he knows how to reward the expectations of his soldiers, + when by the extra toil which makes the difference they have achieved + success; so that in his school all have laid to heart that maxim, 'Pain + first and pleasure after.' (10) And in regard to pleasure of the senses, + of all men I know, he is the most continent; so that these also are + powerless to make him idle at the expense of duty. You must consider the + matter then and tell me, as befits you, what you can and will do." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) See "Cyrop." III. i. 19. + + (10) For this sentiment, see "Mem." II. i. 20 et passim. +</pre> + <p> + Such were the representations of Polydamas. The Lacedaemonians, for the + time being, deferred their answer; but after calculating the next day and + the day following how many divisions (11) they had on foreign service, and + how many ships on the coast of Laconia to deal with the foreign squadron + of the Athenians, and taking also into account the war with their + neighbours, they gave their answer to Polydamas: "For the present they + would not be able to send him sufficient aid: under the circumstances they + advised him to go back and make the best settlement he could of his own + affairs and those of his city." He, thanking the Lacedaemonians for their + straightforwardness, withdrew. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) Lit. "morai." +</pre> + <p> + The citadel of Pharsalus he begged Jason not to force him to give up: his + desire was to preserve it for those who had entrusted it to his safe + keeping; his own sons Jason was free to take as hostages, and he would do + his best to procure for him the voluntary adhesion of his city by + persuasion, and in every way to further his appointment as Tagos of + Thessaly. Accordingly, after interchange of solemn assurances between the + pair, the Pharsalians were let alone and in peace, and ere long Jason was, + by general consent, appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians. Once fairly + vested with that authority, he drew up a list of the cavalry and heavy + infantry which the several states were capable of furnishing as their + quota, with the result that his cavalry, inclusive of allies, numbered + more than eight thousand, while his infantry force was computed at not + less than twenty thousand; and his light troops would have been a match + for those of the whole world—the mere enumeration of their cities + would be a labour in itself. (12) His next act was a summons to all the + dwellers round (13) to pay tribute exactly the amount imposed in the days + of Scopas. (14) And here in this state of accomplishment we may leave + these matters. I return to the point reached when this digression into the + affairs of Jason began. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) See "Cyrop." I. i. 5. + + (13) Lit. perioeci. + + (14) It is conjectured that the Scopadae ruled at Pherae and Cranusa + in the earlier half of the fifth century B.C.; see, for the change + of dynasty, what is said of Lycophron of Pherae in "Hell." II. + iii. 4. There was a famous Scopas, son of Creon, to whom Simonides + addressed his poem— +</pre> + <p> + {Andr' agathon men alatheos genesthai khalepon khersin te kai posi kai noo + tetragonon, aneu psogou tetugmenon.} + </p> + <p> + a sentiment criticised by Plato, "Protag." 359 A. "Now Simonides says to + Scopas, the son of Creon, the Thessalian: + </p> + <p> + 'Hardly on the one hand can a man become truly good; built four-square in + hands and feet and mind, a work without a flaw.' + </p> + <p> + Do you know the poem?"—Jowett, "Plat." i. 153. But whether this + Scopas is the Scopas of our text and a hero of Jason's is not clear. + </p> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + B.C. 374. The Lacedaemonians and their allies were collecting in Phocia, + and the Thebans, after retreating into their own territory, were guarding + the approaches. At this juncture the Athenians, seeing the Thebans growing + strong at their expense without contributing a single penny to the + maintenance of the fleet, while they themselves, what with money + contributions, and piratical attacks from Aegina, and the garrisoning of + their territory, were being pared to the bone, conceived a desire to cease + from war. In this mood they sent an embassy to Lacedaemon and concluded + peace. (1) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See Curtius, "H. G." vol. iv. p. 376 (Eng. trans.) +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 374-373. This done, two of the ambassadors, in obedience to a decree + of the state, set sail at once from Laconian territory, bearing orders to + Timotheus to sail home, since peace was established. That officer, while + obeying his orders, availed himself of the homeward voyage to land certain + Zacynthian exiles (2) on their native soil, whereupon the Zacynthian city + party sent to Lacedaemon and complained of the treatment they had received + from Timotheus; and the Lacedaemonians, without further consideration, + decided that the Athenians were in the wrong, and proceeded to equip + another navy, and at length collected from Laconia itself, from Corinth, + Leucas, (3) Ambracia, Elis, Zacynthus, Achaia, Epidaurus, Troezen, + Hermione, and Halieis, a force amounting to sixty sail. In command of this + squadron they appointed Mnasippus admiral, with orders to attack Corcyra, + and in general to look after their interests in those seas. They, + moreover, sent an embassy to Dionysius, instructing him that his interests + would be advanced by the withdrawal of Corcyra from Athenian hands. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) See Hicks, 81, p. 142. + + (3) Ibid. 81, 86. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 373. Accordingly Mnasippus set sail, as soon as his squadron was + ready, direct to Corcyra; he took with him, besides his troops from + Lacedaemon, a body of mercenaries, making a total in all of no less than + fifteen hundred men. His disembarked, and soon became master of the + island, the country district falling a prey to the spoiler. It was in a + high state of cultivation, and rich with fruit-trees, not to speak of + magnificent dwelling-houses and wine-cellars fitted up on the farms: so + that, it was said, the soldiers reached such a pitch of luxury that they + refused to drink wine which had not a fine bouquet. A crowd of slaves, + too, and fat beasts were captured on the estates. + </p> + <p> + The general's next move was to encamp with his land forces about + three-quarters of a mile (4) from the city district, so that any + Corcyraean who attempted to leave the city to go into the country would + certainly be cut off on that side. The fleet he stationed on the other + side of the city, at a point where he calculated on detecting and + preventing the approach of convoys. Besides which he established a + blockade in front of the harbour when the weather permitted. In this way + the city was completely invested. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) Lit. "five stades." +</pre> + <p> + The Corcyraeans, on their side, were in the sorest straits. They could get + nothing from their soil owing to the vice in which they were gripped by + land, whilst owing to the predominance of the enemy at sea nothing could + be imported. Accordingly they sent to the Athenians and begged for their + assistance. They urged upon them that it would be a great mistake if they + suffered themselves to be robbed of Corcyra. If they did so, they would + not only throw away a great advantage to themselves, but add a + considerable strength to their enemy; since, with the exception of Athens, + no state was capable of furnishing a larger fleet or revenue. Moreover, + Corcyra lay favourably (5) for commanding the Corinthian gulf and the + cities which line its shores; it was splendidly situated for injuring the + rural districts of Laconia, and still more splendidly in relation to the + opposite shores of the continent of Epirus, and the passage between + Peloponnesus and Sicily. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) See Thuc. i. 36. +</pre> + <p> + This appeal did not fall on deaf ears. The Athenians were persuaded that + the matter demanded their most serious attention, and they at once + despatched Stesicles as general, (6) with about six hundred peltasts. They + also requested Alcetas to help them in getting their troops across. Thus + under cover of night the whole body were conveyed across to a point in the + open country, and found their way into the city. Nor was that all. The + Athenians passed a decree to man sixty ships of war, and elected (7) + Timotheus admiral. The latter, being unable to man the fleet on the spot, + set sail on a cruise to the islands and tried to make up the complements + of his crews from those quarters. He evidently looked upon it as no light + matter to sail round Peloponnesus as if on a voyage of pleasure, and to + attack a fleet in the perfection of training. (8) To the Athenians, + however, it seemed that he was wasting the precious time seasonable for + the coastal voyage, and they were not disposed to condone such an error, + but deposed him, appointing Iphicrates in his stead. The new general was + no sooner appointed than he set about getting his vessels manned with the + utmost activity, putting pressure on the trierarchs. He further procured + from the Athenians for his use not only any vessels cruising on the coast + of Attica, but the Paralus and Salaminia (9) also, remarking that, if + things turned out well yonder, he would soon send them back plenty of + ships. Thus his numbers grew to something like seventy sail. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) The name of the general was Ctesicles, according to Diod. xv. 47. + Read {strategon} for {tagon}, with Breitenbach, Cobet, etc. For + Alcetas, see above, "Hell." VI. i. 7. + + (7) I.e. by show of hands, {ekheirotonoun}. + + (8) See Jowett, note to Thuc. VIII. xcv. 2, ii. p. 525. + + (9) The two sacred galleys. See Thuc. iii. 33; Aristoph. "Birds," 147 + foll. +</pre> + <p> + Meanwhile the Corcyraeans were sore beset with famine: desertion became + every day more frequent, so much so that Mnasippus caused proclamation to + be made by herald that all deserters would be sold there and then; (10) + and when that had no effect in lessening the stream of runaways, he ended + by driving them back with the lash. Those within the walls, however, were + not disposed to receive these miserable slaves within the lines, and + numbers died outside. Mnasippus, not blind to what was happening, soon + persuaded himself that he had as good as got the city into his possession: + and he began to try experiments on his mercenaries. Some of them he had + already paid off; (11) others still in his service had as much as two + months' pay owing to them by the general, who, if report spoke true, had + no lack of money, since the majority of the states, not caring for a + campaign across the seas, sent him hard cash instead of men. But now the + beleaguered citizens, who could espy from their towers that the outposts + were less carefully guarded than formerly, and the men scattered about the + rural districts, made a sortie, capturing some and cutting down others. + Mnasippus, perceiving the attack, donned his armour, and, with all the + heavy troops he had, rushed to the rescue, giving orders to the captains + and brigadiers (12) to lead out the mercenaries. Some of the captains + answered that it was not so easy to command obedience when the necessaries + of life were lacking; whereat the Spartan struck one man with his staff, + and another with the butt of his spear. Without spirit and full of + resentment against their general, the men mustered—a condition very + unfavourable to success in battle. Having drawn up the troops, the general + in person repulsed the division of the enemy which was opposite the gates, + and pursued them closely; but these, rallying close under their walls, + turned right about, and from under cover of the tombs kept up a continuous + discharge of darts and other missiles; other detachments, dashing out at + other gates, meanwhile fell heavily on the flanks of the enemy. The + Lacedaemonians, being drawn up eight deep, and thinking that the wing of + their phalanx was of inadequate strength, essayed to wheel around; but as + soon as they began the movement the Corcyraeans attacked them as if they + were fleeing, and they were then unable to recover themselves, (13) while + the troops next in position abandoned themselves to flight. Mnasippus, + unable to succour those who were being pressed owing to the attack of the + enemy immediately in front, found himself left from moment to moment with + decreasing numbers. At last the Corcyraeans collected, and with one united + effort made a final rush upon Mnasippus and his men, whose numbers were + now considerably reduced. At the same instant the townsmen, (14) eagerly + noticing the posture of affairs, rushed out to play their part. First + Mnasippus was slain, and then the pursuit became general; nor could the + pursuers well have failed to capture the camp, barricade and all, had they + not caught sight of the mob of traffickers with a long array of attendants + and slaves, and thinking that here was a prize indeed, desisted from + further chase. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Or, "he would knock them all down to the hammer." + + (11) Or, "cut off from their pay." + + (12) Lit. "lochagoi and taxiarchs." + + (13) Or, "to retaliate"; or, "to complete the movement." + + (14) Reading, after Dindorf, {oi politai}, or, if with the MSS., {oi + oplitai}; translate "the heavy-armed among the assailants saw + their advantage and pressed on." +</pre> + <p> + The Corcyraeans were well content for the moment to set up a trophy and to + give back the enemy's dead under a flag of truce; but the + after-consequences were even more important to them in the revival of + strength and spirits which were sunk in despondency. The rumour spread + that Iphicrates would soon be there—he was even at the doors; and in + fact the Corcyraeans themselves were manning a fleet. So Hypermenes, who + was second in command to Mnasippus and the bearer of his despatches, + manned every vessel of the fleet as full as it would hold, and then + sailing round to the entrenched camp, filled all the transports with + prisoners and valuables and other stock, and sent them off. He himself, + with his marines and the survivors of his troops, kept watch over the + entrenchments; but at last even this remnant in the excess of panic and + confusion got on board the men-of-war and sailed off, leaving behind them + vast quantities of corn and wine, with numerous prisoners and invalided + soldiers. The fact was, they were sorely afraid of being caught by the + Athenians in the island, and so they made safely off to Leucas. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Iphicrates had commenced his voyage of circumnavigation, partly + voyaging and partly making every preparation for an engagement. He at once + left his large sails behind him, as the voyage was only to be the prelude + of a battle; his flying jibs, even if there was a good breeze, were but + little used, since by making his progress depend on sheer rowing, he hoped + at once to improve the physique of his men and the speed of his attack. + Often when the squadron was about to put into shore for the purpose of + breakfast or supper, he would seize the moment, and draw back the leading + wing of the column from the land off the point in question; and then + facing round again with the triremes posted well in line, prow for prow, + at a given signal let loose the whole fleet in a stoutly contested race + for the shore. Great was the triumph in being the first to take in water + or whatever else they might need, or the first to breakfast; just as it + was a heavy penalty on the late-comers, not only to come short in all + these objects of desire, but to have to put out to sea with the rest as + soon as the signal was given; since the first-comers had altogether a + quiet time of it, whilst the hindmost must get through the whole business + in hot haste. So again, in the matter of outposts, if he chanced to be + getting the morning meal on hostile territory, pickets would be posted, as + was right and proper, on the land; but, apart from these, he would raise + his masts and keep look-out men on the maintops. These commanded of course + a far wider prospect from their lofty perches than the outposts on the + level ground. So too, when he dined or slept he had no fires burning in + the camp at night, but only a beacon kindled in front of the encampment to + prevent any unseen approach; and frequently in fine weather he put out to + sea immediately after the evening meal, when, if the breeze favoured, they + ran along and took their rest simultaneously, or if they depended on oars + he gave his mariners repose by turns. During the voyage in daytime he + would at one time signal to "sail in column," and at another signal + "abreast in line." So that whilst they prosecuted the voyage they at the + same time became (both as to theory and practice) well versed in all the + details of an engagement before they reached the open sea—a sea, as + they imagined, occupied by their foes. For the most part they breakfasted + and dined on hostile territory; but as he confined himself to bare + necessaries he was always too quick for the enemy. Before the hostile + reinforcement would come up he had finished his business and was out to + sea again. + </p> + <p> + At the date of Mnasippus's death he chanced to be off Sphagiae in Laconian + territory. Reaching Elis, and coasting past the mouth of the Alpheus, he + came to moorings under Cape Ichthus, (15) as it is called. The next day he + put out from that port for Cephallenia, so drawing up his line and + conducting the voyage that he might be prepared in every detail to engage + if necessary. The tale about Mnasippus and his demise had reached him, but + he had not heard it from an eye-witness, and suspected that it might have + been invented to deceive him and throw him off his guard. He was therefore + on the look-out. It was, in fact, only on arrival in Cephallenia that he + learned the news in an explicit form, and gave his troops rest. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) Cape Fish, mod. Cape Katakolon, protecting harbour of Pyrgos in + Elis. +</pre> + <p> + I am well aware that all these details of practice and manouvring are + customary in anticipation of a sea-fight, but what I single out for praise + in the case before us is the skill with which the Athenian admiral + attained a twofold object. Bearing in mind that it was his duty to reach a + certain point at which he expected to fight a naval battle without delay, + it was a happy discovery on his part not to allow tactical skill, on the + one hand, to be sacrificed to the pace of sailing, (16) nor, on the other, + the need of training to interfere with the date of arrival. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (16) Lit. "the voyage." +</pre> + <p> + After reducing the towns of Cephallenia, Iphicrates sailed to Corcyra. + There the first news he heard was that the triremes sent by Dionysius were + expected to relieve the Lacedaemonians. On receipt of this information he + set off in person and surveyed the country, in order to find a spot from + which it would be possible to see the vessels approaching and to signal to + the city. Here he stationed his look-out men. A code of signals was agreed + upon to signify "vessels in sight," "mooring," etc.; which done he gave + his orders to twenty of his captains of men-of-war who were to follow him + at a given word of command. Any one who failed to follow him must not + grumble at the penalty; that he warned them. Presently the vessels were + signalled approaching; the word of command was given, and then the + enthusiasm was a sight to see—every man of the crews told off for + the expedition racing to join his ship and embark. Sailing to the point + where the enemy's vessels lay, he had no difficulty in capturing the + crews, who had disembarked from all the ships with one exception. The + exception was that of Melanippus the Rhodian, who had advised the other + captains not to stop at this point, and had then manned his own vessel and + sailed off. Thus he encountered the ships of Iphicrates, but contrived to + slip through his fingers, while the whole of the Syracusan vessels were + captured, crews and all. + </p> + <p> + Having cut the beaks off the prows, Iphicrates bore down into the harbour + of Corcyra with the captured triremes in tow. With the captive crews + themselves he came to an agreement that each should pay a fixed sum as + ransom, with one exception, that of Crinippus, their commander. Him he + kept under guard, with the intention apparently of exacting a handsome sum + in his case or else of selling him. The prisoner, however, from vexation + of spirit, put an end to his own life. The rest were sent about their + business by Iphicrates, who accepted the Corcyraeans as sureties for the + money. His own sailors he supported for the most part as labourers on the + lands of the Corcyraeans, while at the head of his light infantry and the + hoplites of the contingent he crossed over into Acarnania, and there lent + his aid to any friendly state that needed his services; besides which he + went to war with the Thyrians, (17) a sturdy race of warriors in + possession of a strong fortress. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) Thyreum (or Thyrium), in Acarnania, a chief city at the time of + the Roman wars in Greece; and according to Polybius (xxxviii. 5), + a meeting-place of the League on one occasion. See "Dict. Anct. + Geog." s.v.; Freeman, op. cit. iv. 148; cf. Paus. IV. xxvi. 3, in + reference to the Messenians and Naupactus; Grote, "H. G." x. 212. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 372. Having attached to his squadron the navy also of Corcyra, with a + fleet numbering now about ninety ships he set sail, in the first instance + to Cephallenia, where he exacted money—which was in some cases + voluntarily paid, in others forcibly extorted. In the next place he began + making preparations partly to harass the territory of the Lacedaemonians, + and partly to win over voluntarily the other states in that quarter which + were hostile to Athens; or in case of refusal to go to war with them. + </p> + <p> + The whole conduct of the campaign reflects, I think, the highest credit on + Iphicrates. If his strategy was admirable, so too was the instinct which + led him to advise the association with himself of two such colleagues as + Callistratus and Chabrias—the former a popular orator but no great + friend of himself politically, (18) the other a man of high military + reputation. Either he looked upon them as men of unusual sagacity, and + wished to profit by their advice, in which case I commend the good sense + of the arrangement, or they were, in his belief, antagonists, in which + case the determination to approve himself a consummate general, neither + indolent nor incautious, was bold, I admit, but indicative of a laudable + self-confidence. Here, however, we must part with Iphicrates and his + achievements to return to Athens. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) Reading with the MSS. {ou mala epitedeion onta}. See Grote, "H. + G." x. 206. Boeckh ("P. E. A.," trans. Cornewall Lewis, p. 419) + wished to read {eu mala} for {ou mala k.t.l.}, in which case + translate "the former a popular orator, and a man of singular + capacity"; and for {epitedeion} in that sense, see "Hipparch." i. + 8; for {eu mala}, see "Hipparch." i. 25. For details concerning + Callistratus, see Dindorf, op. cit. note ad. loc.; Curtius, "H. + G." iv. 367, 381 foll., v. 90. For Chabrias, Rehdantz, op. cit. In + the next sentence I have again adhered to the reading of the MSS., + but the passage is commonly regarded as corrupt; see Otto Keller, + op. cit. p. 215 for various emendations. +</pre> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + The Athenians, forced to witness the expatriation from Boeotia of their + friends the Plataeans (who had sought an asylum with themselves), forced + also to listen to the supplications of the Thespiaeans (who begged them + not to suffer them to be robbed of their city), could no longer regard the + Thebans with favour; (1) though, when it came to a direct declaration of + war, they were checked in part by a feeling of shame, and partly by + considerations of expediency. Still, to go hand in hand with them, to be a + party to their proceedings, this they absolutely refused, now that they + saw them marching against time-honoured friends of the city like the + Phocians, and blotting out states whose loyalty in the great Persian war + was conspicuous no less than their friendship to Athens. Accordingly the + People passed a decree to make peace; but in the first instance they sent + an embassy to Thebes, inviting that state to join them if it pleased them + on an embassy which they proposed to send to Lacedaemon to treat of peace. + In the next place they despatched such an embassy on their own account. + Among the commissioners appointed were Callias the son of Hipponicus, + Autocles the son of Strombichides, Demostratus the son of Aristophon, + Aristocles, Cephisodotus, (2) Melanopus, and Lycaethus. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Plataea destroyed in B.C. 373. See Jowett, "Thuc." ii. 397. + + (2) See below, "Hell." VII. i. 12; Hicks, 87. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 371. (These were formally introduced to the Deputies of the + Lacedaemonians and the allies. (3)) Nor ought the name of Callistratus to + be omitted. That statesman and orator was present. He had obtained + furlough from Iphicrates on an undertaking either to send money for the + fleet or to arrange a peace. Hence his arrival in Athens and transactions + in behalf of peace. After being introduced to the assembly (4) of the + Lacedaemonians and to the allies, Callias, (5) who was the dadouchos (or + torch-holder) in the mysteries, made the first speech. He was a man just + as well pleased to praise himself as to hear himself praised by others. He + opened the proceedings as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) The bracketed words read like an annotator's comment, or possibly + they are a note by the author. + + (4) See above, "Hell." II. iv. 38. + + (5) See above, "Hell." IV. v. 13; Cobet, "Prosop. Xen." p. 67 foll.; + Xen. "Symp."; Plat. "Protag."; Andoc. "de Myst." If this is one + and the same person he must have been an elderly man at this date, + 371 B.C. +</pre> + <p> + "Lacedaemonians, the duty of representing you as proxenos at Athens is a + privilege which I am not the first member of my family to enjoy; my + father's father held it as an heirloom of our family and handed it down as + a heritage to his descendants. If you will permit me, I should like to + show you the disposition of my fatherland towards yourselves. If in times + of war she chooses us as her generals, so when her heart is set upon quiet + she sends us out as her messengers of peace. I myself have twice already + (6) stood here to treat for conclusion of war, and on both embassies + succeeded in arranging a mutually agreeable peace. Now for the third time + I am come, and I flatter myself that to-day again I shall obtain a + reconciliation, and on grounds exceptionally just. My eyes bear witness + that our hearts are in accord; you and we alike are pained at the + effacement of Plataeae and Thespiae. Is it not then reasonable that out of + agreement should spring concord rather than discord? It is never the part, + I take it, of wise men to raise the standard of war for the sake of petty + differences; but where there is nothing but unanimity they must be + marvellous folk who refuse the bond of peace. But I go further. It were + just and right on our parts even to refuse to bear arms against each + other; since, as the story runs, the first strangers to whom our + forefather Triptolemus showed the unspeakable mystic rites of Demeter and + Core, the mother and the maiden, were your ancestors;—I speak of + Heracles, the first founder of your state, and of your two citizens, the + great twin sons of Zeus—and to Peloponnesus first he gave as a gift + the seed of Demeter's corn-fruits. How, then, can it be just or right + either that you should come and ravage the corn crops of those from whom + you got the sacred seed of corn, or that we should not desire that they to + whom the gift was given should share abundantly of this boon? But if, as + it would seem, it is a fixed decree of heaven that war shall never cease + among men, yet ought we—your people and our people—to be as + slow as possible to begin it, and being in it, as swift as possible to + bring it to an end." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) B.C. 387 and 374; see Curtius, "H. G." vol. iv. p. 376 (Eng. ed.) +</pre> + <p> + After him Autocles (7) spoke: he was of repute as a versatile lawyer and + orator, and addressed the meeting as follows: "Lacedaemonians, I do not + conceal from myself that what I am about to say is not calculated to + please you, but it seems to me that, if you wish the friendship which we + are cementing to last as long as possible, we are wise to show each other + the underlying causes of our wars. Now, you are perpetually saying that + the states ought to be independent; but it is you yourselves who most of + all stand in the way of independence—your first and last stipulation + with the allied states being that they should follow you whithersoever you + choose to lead; and yet what has this principle of follow-my-leader got to + do with independent action? (8) Again, you pick quarrels without + consulting your allies, and lead them against those whom you account + enemies; so that in many cases, with all their vaunted independence, they + are forced to march against their greatest friends; and, what is still + more opposed to independence than all else, you are for ever setting up + here your decarchies and there your thirty commissioners, and your chief + aim in appointing these officers and governors seems to be, not that they + should fulfil their office and govern legally, but that they should be + able to keep the cities under their heels by sheer force. So that it looks + as if you delighted in despotisms rather than free constitutions. Let us + go back to the date (9) at which the Persian king enjoined the + independence of the states. At that time you made no secret of your + conviction that the Thebans, if they did not suffer each state to govern + itself and to use the laws of its own choice, would be failing to act in + the spirit of the king's rescript. But no sooner had you got hold of + Cadmeia than you would not suffer the Thebans themselves to be + independent. Now, if the maintenance of friendship be an object, it is no + use for people to claim justice from others while they themselves are + doing all they can to prove the selfishness of their aims." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) For the political views of Autocles, see Curtius, "H. G." iv. 387, + v. 94 (Eng. tr.); see also Grote, "H. G." x. 225. + + (8) Or, "what consistency is there between these precepts of yours and + political independence?" + + (9) Sixteen years before—B.C. 387. See "Pol. Lac." xiv. 5. +</pre> + <p> + These remarks were received in absolute silence, yet in the hearts of + those who were annoyed with Lacedaemon they stirred pleasure. After + Autocles spoke Callistratus: "Trespasses, men of Lacedaemon, have been + committed on both sides, yours and ours, I am free to confess; but still + it is not my view that because a man has done wrong we can never again + have dealings with him. Experience tells me that no man can go very far + without a slip, and it seems to me that sometimes the transgressor by + reason of his transgression becomes more tractable, especially if he be + chastened through the error he has committed, as has been the case with + us. And so on your own case I see that ungenerous acts have sometimes + reaped their own proper reward: blow has been met by counter-blow; and as + a specimen I take the seizure of the Cadmeia in Thebes. To-day, at any + rate, the very cities whose independence you strove for have, since your + unrighteous treatment of Thebes, fallen one and all of them again into her + power. (10) We are schooled now, both of us, to know that grasping brings + not gain. We are prepared, I hope, to be once more moderate under the + influence of a mutual friendship. Some, I know, in their desire to render + our peace (11) abortive accuse us falsely, as though we were come hither, + not seeking friendship, but because we dread the arrival of some (12) + Antalcidas with moneys from the king. But consider, what arrant nonsense + they talk! Was it not, pray, the great king who demanded that all the + states in Hellas should be independent? and what have we Athenians, who + are in full agreement with the king, both in word and deed, to fear from + him? Or is it conceivable that he prefers spending money in making others + great to finding his favourite projects realised without expense? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Reading, with Breitenbach and Hartman, {as} instead of {os + espoudasate k.t.l.} + + (11) Or, more lit. "to avert the peace" as an ill-omened thing. + + (12) Without inserting {tis}, as Hartman proposes ("An. Xen." p. 387), + that, I think, is the sense. Antalcidas is the arch-diplomat—a + name to conjure with, like that of Bismarck in modern European + politics. But see Grote, "H. G." x. 213, note 2. +</pre> + <p> + "Well! what is it really that has brought us here? No especial need or + difficulty in our affairs. That you may discover by a glance at our + maritime condition, or, if you prefer, at the present posture of our + affairs on land. Well, then, how does the matter stand? It is obvious that + some of our allies please us no better than they please you; (13) and, + possibly, in return for your former preservation of us, we may be credited + with a desire to point out to you the soundness of our policy. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) See, for this corrupt passage, Otto Keller, op. cit. p. 219; + Hartman, op. cit. p. 387; and Breitenbach, n. ad loc. In the next + sentence I should like to adopt Hartman's emendation (ib.) {on + orthos egnote} for the MSS. {a orthos egnomen}, and translate "we + may like to prove to you the soundness of your policy at the + time." For the "preservation" referred to, see below, VI. v. 35, + and above, II. ii. 20. +</pre> + <p> + "But, to revert once more to the topic of expediency and common interests. + It is admitted, I presume, that, looking at the states collectively, half + support your views, half ours; and in every single state one party is for + Sparta and another for Athens. Suppose, then, we were to shake hands, from + what quarter can we reasonably anticipate danger and trouble? To put the + case in so many words, so long as you are our friends no one can vex us by + land; no one, whilst we are your supports, can injure you by sea. Wars + like tempests gather and grow to a head from time to time, and again they + are dispelled. That we all know. Some future day, if not to-day, we shall + crave, both of us, for peace. Why, then, need we wait for that moment, + holding on until we expire under the multitude of our ills, rather than + take time by the forelock and, before some irremediable mischief betide, + make peace? I cannot admire the man who, because he has entered the lists + and has scored many a victory and obtained to himself renown, is so eaten + up with the spirit of rivalry that he must needs go on until he is beaten + and all his training is made futile. Nor again do I praise the gambler + who, if he makes one good stroke of luck, insists on doubling the stakes. + Such conduct in the majority of cases must end in absolute collapse. Let + us lay the lesson of these to heart, and forbear to enter into any such + lists as theirs for life or death; but, while we are yet in the heyday of + our strength and fortune, shake hands in mutual amity. So assuredly shall + we through you and you through us attain to an unprecedented pinnacle of + glory throughout Hellas." + </p> + <p> + The arguments of the speakers were approved, and the Lacedaemonians passed + a resolution to accept peace on a threefold basis: the withdrawal of the + governors from the cities, (14) the disbanding of armaments naval and + military, and the guarantee of independence to the states. "If any state + transgressed these stipulations, it lay at the option of any power + whatsoever to aid the states so injured, while, conversely, to bring such + aid was not compulsory on any power against its will." On these terms the + oaths were administered and accepted by the Lacedaemonians on behalf of + themselves and their allies, and by the Athenians and their allies + separately state by state. The Thebans had entered their individual name + among the states which accepted the oaths, but their ambassadors came the + next day with instructions to alter the name of the signatories, + substituting for Thebans Boeotians. (15) But Agesilaus answered to this + demand that he would alter nothing of what they had in the first instance + sworn to and subscribed. If they did not wish to be included in the + treaty, he was willing to erase their name at their bidding. So it came to + pass that the rest of the world made peace, the sole point of dispute + being confined to the Thebans; and the Athenians came to the conclusion + that there was a fair prospect of the Thebans being now literally + decimated. (16) As to the Thebans themselves, they retired from Sparta in + utter despondency. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) Grote ("H. G." x. 236) thinks that Diod. xv. 38 ({exagogeis}) + belongs to this time, not to the peace between Athens and Sparta + in 374 B.C. + + (15) See, for a clear explanation of the matter, Freeman, "Hist. Red. + Gov." iv. p. 175, note 3, in reference to Grote, ib. x. 231 note, + and Paus. IX. xiii. 2; Plut. "Ages." 28; Thirlwall, "H. G." v. p + 69 note. + + (16) Or, "as the saying is, taken and tithed." See below, VI. v. 35, + and for the origin of the saying, Herod. vii. 132. +</pre> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + In consequence of the peace the Athenians proceeded to withdraw their + garrisons from the different sates, and sent to recall Iphicrates with his + fleet; besides which they forced him to restore everything captured + subsequently to the late solemn undertaking at Lacedaemon. The + Lacedaemonians acted differently. Although they withdrew their governors + and garrisons from the other states, in Phocis they did not do so. Here + Cleombrotus was quartered with his army, and had sent to ask directions + from the home authorities. A speaker, Prothous, maintained that their + business was to disband the army in accordance with their oaths, and then + to send round invitations to the states to contribute what each felt + individually disposed, and lay such sum in the temple of Apollo; after + which, if any attempt to hinder the independence of the states on any side + were manifested, it would be time enough then again to invite all who + cared to protect the principle of autonomy to march against its opponents. + "In this way," he added, "I think the goodwill of heaven will be secured, + and the states will suffer least annoyance." But the Assembly, on hearing + these views, agreed that this man was talking nonsense. Puppets in the + hands of fate! (1) An unseen power, it would seem, was already driving + them onwards; so they sent instructions to Cleombrotus not to disband the + army, but to march straight against the Thebans if they refused to + recognise the autonomy of the states. (Cleombrotus, it is understood, had, + on hearing the news of the establishment of peace, sent to the ephorate to + ask for guidance; and then they sent him the above instructions, bidding + him under the circumstances named to march upon Thebes. (2)) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See Grote, "H. G." x. 237: "The miso-Theban impulse now drove them + on with a fury which overcame all other thoughts... a + misguiding inspiration sent by the gods—like that of the Homeric + Ate." + + (2) This passage reads like an earlier version for which the above was + substituted by the author. +</pre> + <p> + The Spartan king soon perceived that, so far from leaving the Boeotian + states their autonomy, the Thebans were not even preparing to disband + their army, clearly in view of a general engagement; he therefore felt + justified in marching his troops into Boeotia. The point of ingress which + he adopted was not that which the Thebans anticipated from Phocis, and + where they were keeping guard at a defile; but, marching through Thisbae + by a mountainous and unsuspected route, he arrived before Creusis, taking + that fortress and capturing twelve Theban war-vessels besides. After this + achievement he advanced from the seaboard and encamped in Leuctra on + Thespian territory. The Thebans encamped in a rising ground immediately + opposite at no great distance, and were supported by no allies except the + Boeotians. + </p> + <p> + At this juncture the friends of Cleombrotus came to him and urged upon him + strong reasons for delivering battle. "If you let the Thebans escape + without a battle," they said, "you will run great risks of suffering the + extreme penalty at the hands of the state. People will call to mind + against you the time when you reached Cynoscephelae and did not ravage a + square foot of Theban territory; and again, a subsequent expedition when + you were driven back foiled in your attempt to make an entry into the + enemy's country—while Agesilaus on each occasion found his entry by + Mount Cithaeron. If then you have any care for yourself, or any attachment + to your fatherland, march you against the enemy." That was what his + friends urged. As to his opponents, what they said was, "Now our fine + friend will show whether he really is so concerned on behalf of the + Thebans as he is said to be." + </p> + <p> + Cleombrotus, with these words ringing in his ears, felt driven (3) to join + battle. On their side the leaders of Thebes calculated that, if they did + not fight, their provincial cities (4) would hold aloof from them and + Thebes itself would be besieged; while, if the commonalty of Thebes failed + to get supplies, there was every prospect that the city itself would turn + against them; and, seeing that many of them had already tasted the + bitterness of exile, they came to the conclusion that it was better for + them to die on the field of battle than to renew that experience. Besides + this they were somewhat encouraged by the recital of an oracle which + predicted that the Lacedaemonians would be defeated on the spot where the + monument of the maidens stood, who, as the story goes, being violated by + certain Lacedaemonians, had slain themselves. (5) This sepulchral monument + the Thebans decked with ornaments before the battle. Furthermore, tidings + were brought them from the city that all the temples had opened of their + own accord; and the priestesses asserted that the gods revealed victory. + Again, from the Heracleion men said that the arms had disappeared, as + though Heracles himself had sallied forth to battle. It is true that + another interpretation (6) of these marvels made them out to be one and + all the artifices of the leaders of Thebes. However this may be, + everything in the battle turned out adverse to the Lacedaemonians; while + fortune herself lent aid to the Thebans and crowned their efforts with + success. Cleombrotus held his last council "whether to fight or not," + after the morning meal. In the heat of noon a little goes a long way; and + the people said that it took a somewhat provocative effect on their + spirits. (7) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) Or, "was provoked." + + (4) Lit. "perioecid." See Thuc. iv. 76, Arnold's note, and "Hell." V. + iv. 46, 63. + + (5) See Diod. xv. 54; Paus. IX. xiii. 3; Plut. "Pelop." xx. + + (6) Or, "it is true that some people made out these marvels." + + (7) Or, "they were somewhat excited by it." +</pre> + <p> + Both sides were now arming, and there was the unmistakeable signs of + approaching battle, when, as the first incident, there issued from the + Boeotian lines a long train bent on departure—these were the + furnishers of the market, a detachment of baggage bearers, and in general + such people as had no inclination to join in the fight. These were met on + their retreat and attacked by the mercenary troops under Hiero, who got + round them by a circular movement. (8) The mercenaries were supported by + the Phocian light infantry and some squadrons of Heracleot and Phliasian + cavalry, who fell upon the retiring train and turned them back, pursuing + them and driving them into the camp of the Boeotians. The immediate effect + was to make the Boeotian portion of the army more numerous and closer + packed than before. The next feature of the combat was that in consequence + of the flat space of plain (9) between the opposing armies, the + Lacedaemonians posted their cavalry in front of their squares of infantry, + and the Thebans followed suit. Only there was this difference—the + Theban cavalry was in a high state of training and efficiency, owing to + their war with the Orchomenians and again their war with Thespiae, whilst + the cavalry of the Lacedaemonians was at its worst at this period. (10) + The horses were reared and kept by the wealthiest members of the state; + but whenever the ban was called out, an appointed trooper appeared who + took the horse with any sort of arms which might be presented to him, and + set off on the expedition at a moment's notice. Moreover, these troopers + were the least able-bodied of the men: raw recruits set simply astride + their horses, and devoid of soldierly ambition. Such was the cavalry of + either antagonist. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Or, "surrounded them." + + (9) See Rustow and Kochly, op. cit. p. 173. + + (10) See "Hipparch." ix. 4; also "Cyrop." VIII. viii. +</pre> + <p> + The heavy infantry of the Lacedaemonians, it is said, advanced by sections + three files abreast, (11) allowing a total depth to the whole line of not + more than twelve. The Thebans were formed in close order of not less than + fifty shields deep, calculating that victory gained over the king's + division of the army implied the easy conquest of the rest. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) It would appear that the "enomoty" (section) numbered thirty-six + files. See "Pol. Lac." xi. 4; xiii. 4. For further details as to + the tactical order of the Thebans, see Diod. xv. 55; Plut. + "Pelop." xxiii. +</pre> + <p> + Cleombrotus had hardly begun to lead his division against the foe when, + before in fact the troops with him were aware of his advance, the cavalry + had already come into collision, and that of the Lacedaemonians was + speedily worsted. In their flight they became involved with their own + heavy infantry; and to make matters worse, the Theban regiments were + already attacking vigorously. Still strong evidence exists for supposing + that Cleombrotus and his division were, in the first instance, victorious + in the battle, if we consider the fact that they could never have picked + him up and brought him back alive unless his vanguard had been masters of + the situation for the moment. + </p> + <p> + When, however, Deinon the polemarch and Sphodrias, a member of the king's + council, with his son Cleonymus, (12) had fallen, then it was that the + cavalry and the polemarch's adjutants, (13) as they are called, with the + rest, under pressure of the mass against them, began retreating; and the + left wing of the Lacedaemonians, seeing the right borne down in this way, + also swerved. Still, in spite of the numbers slain, and broken as they + were, as soon as they had crossed the trench which protected their camp in + front, they grounded arms on the spot (14) whence they had rushed to + battle. This camp, it must be borne in mind, did not lie at all on the + level, but was pitched on a somewhat steep incline. At this juncture there + were some of the Lacedaemonians who, looking upon such a disaster as + intolerable, maintained that they ought to prevent the enemy from erecting + a trophy, and try to recover the dead not under a flag of truce but by + another battle. The polemarchs, however, seeing that nearly a thousand men + of the total Lacedaemonian troops were slain; seeing also that of the + seven hundred Spartans themselves who were on the field something like + four hundred lay dead; (15) aware, further, of the despondency which + reigned among the allies, and the general disinclination on their parts to + fight longer (a frame of mind not far removed in some instances from + positive satisfaction at what had taken place)—under the + circumstances, I say, the polemarchs called a council of the ablest + representatives of the shattered army (16) and deliberated as to what + should be done. Finally the unanimous opinion was to pick up the dead + under a flag of truce, and they sent a herald to treat for terms. The + Thebans after that set up a trophy and gave back the bodies under a truce. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) See above, V. iv. 33. + + (13) {sumphoreis}. For the readings of this corrupt passage see Otto + Keller. + + (14) Or, "in orderly way." See Curt. "H. G." iv. 400. + + (15) See "Ages." ii. 24. + + (16) {tous epikairiotatous}. See above, III. iii. 10; "Cyrop." VII. + iv. 4; VIII. iv. 32, vi. 2. +</pre> + <p> + After these events, a messenger was despatched to Lacedaemon with news of + the calamity. He reached his destination on the last day of the + gymnopaediae, (17) just when the chorus of grown men had entered the + theatre. The ephors heard the mournful tidings not without grief and pain, + as needs they must, I take it; but for all that they did not dismiss the + chorus, but allowed the contest to run out its natural course. What they + did was to deliver the names of those who had fallen to their friends and + families, with a word of warning to the women not to make any loud + lamentations but to bear their sorrow in silence; and the next day it was + a striking spectacle to see those who had relations among the slain moving + to and fro in public with bright and radiant looks, whilst of those whose + friends were reported to be living barely a man was to be seen, and these + flitted by with lowered heads and scowling brows, as if in humiliation. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (17) The festival was celebrated annually about midsummer. See Herod. + vi. 67; Thuc. v. 82, and Arnold's note; Pollux. iv. 105; Athen. + xiv. 30, xv. 22; Muller, "Dorians," ii. 389. +</pre> + <p> + After this the ephors proceeded to call out the ban, including the + forty-years-service men of the two remaining regiments; (18) and they + proceeded further to despatch the reserves of the same age belonging to + the six regiments already on foreign service. Hitherto the Phocian + campaign had only drawn upon the thirty-five-years-service list. Besides + these they now ordered out on active service the troops retained at the + beginning of the campaign in attendance on the magistrates at the + government offices. Agesilaus being still disabled by his infirmity, the + city imposed the duty of command upon his son Archidamus. The new general + found eager co-operators in the men of Tegea. The friends of Stasippus at + this date were still living, (19) and they were stanch in their + Lacedaemonian proclivities, and wielded considerable power in their state. + Not less stoutly did the Mantineans from their villages under their + aristocratic form of government flock to the Spartan standard. Besides + Tegea and Mantinea, the Corinthians and Sicyonians, the Phliasians and + Achaeans were equally enthusiastic to joining the campaign, whilst other + states sent out soldiers. Then came the fitting out and manning of ships + of war on the part of the Lacedaemonians themselves and of the + Corinthians, whilst the Sicyonians were requested to furnish a supply of + vessels on board of which it was proposed to transport the army across the + gulf. And so, finally, Archidamus was able to offer the sacrifices usual + at the moment of crossing the frontier. But to return to Thebes. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) I.e. every one up to fifty-eight years of age. + + (19) See below, VI. v. 9. +</pre> + <p> + Immediately after the battle the Thebans sent a messenger to Athens + wearing a chaplet. Whilst insisting on the magnitude of the victory they + at the same time called upon the Athenians to send them aid, for now the + opportunity had come to wreak vengeance on the Lacedaemonians for all the + evil they had done to Athens. As it chanced, the senate of the Athenians + was holding a session on the Acropolis. As soon as the news was reported, + the annoyance caused by its announcement was unmistakeable. They neither + invited the herald to accept of hospitality nor sent back one word in + reply to the request for assistance. And so the herald turned his back on + Athens and departed. + </p> + <p> + But there was Jason still to look to, and he was their ally. To him then + the Thebans sent, and earnestly besought his aid, their thoughts running + on the possible turn which events might take. Jason on his side at once + proceeded to man a fleet, with the apparent intention of sending + assistance by sea, besides which he got together his foreign brigade and + his own cavalry; and although the Phocians and he were implacable enemies, + (20) he marched through their territory to Boeotia. Appearing like a + vision to many of the states before his approach was even announced—at + any rate before levies could be mustered from a dozen different points—he + had stolen a march upon them and was a long way ahead, giving proof that + expedition is sometimes a better tool to work with than sheer force. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) Or, "though the Phocians maintained a war 'a outrance' with him." +</pre> + <p> + When he arrived in Boeotia the Thebans urged upon him that now was the + right moment to attack the Lacedaemonians: he with his foreign brigade + from the upper ground, they face to face in front; but Jason dissuaded + them from their intention. He reminded them that after a noble achievement + won it was not worth their while to play for so high a stake, involving a + still greater achievement or else the loss of victory already gained. "Do + you not see," he urged, "that your success followed close on the heels of + necessity? You ought then to reflect that the Lacedaemonians in their + distress, with a choice between life and death, will fight it out with + reckless desperation. Providence, as it seems, ofttimes delights to make + the little ones great and the great ones small." (21) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (21) Cf. "Anab." III. ii. 10. +</pre> + <p> + By such arguments he diverted the Thebans from the desperate adventure. + But for the Lacedaemonians also he had words of advice, insisting on the + difference between an army defeated and an army flushed with victory. "If + you are minded," he said, "to forget this disaster, my advice to you is to + take time to recover breath and recruit your energies. When you have grown + stronger then give battle to these unconquered veterans. (22) At present," + he continued, "you know without my telling you that among your own allies + there are some who are already discussing terms of friendship with your + foes. My advice is this: by all means endeavour to obtain a truce. This," + he added, "is my own ambition: I want to save you, on the ground of my + father's friendship with yourselves, and as being myself your + representative." (23) Such was the tenor of his speech, but the secret of + action was perhaps to be found in a desire to make these mutual + antagonists put their dependence on himself alone. Whatever his motive, + the Lacedaemonians took his advice, and commissioned him to procure a + truce. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) Or, "the invincibles." + + (23) Lit. "your proxenos." +</pre> + <p> + As soon as the news arrived that the terms were arranged, the polemarchs + passed an order round: the troops were to take their evening meal, get + their kit together, and be ready to set off that night, so as to scale the + passes of Cithaeron by next morning. After supper, before the hour of + sleep, the order to march was given, and with the generals at their head + the troops advanced as the shades of evening fell, along the road to + Creusis, trusting rather to the chance of their escaping notice, than to + the truce itself. It was weary marching in the dead of night, making their + retreat in fear, and along a difficult road, until they fell in with + Archidamus's army of relief. At this point, then, Archidamus waited till + all the allies had arrived, and so led the whole of the united armies back + to Corinth, from which point he dismissed the allies and led his + fellow-citizens home. + </p> + <p> + Jason took his departure from Boeotia through Phocis, where he captured + the suburbs of Hyampolis (24) and ravaged the country districts, putting + many to the sword. Content with this, he traversed the rest of Phocis + without meddling or making. Arrived at Heraclea, (25) he knocked down the + fortress of the Heracleots, showing that he was not troubled by any + apprehension lest when the pass was thrown open somebody or other might + march against his own power at some future date. Rather was he haunted by + the notion that some one or other might one day seize Heraclea, which + commanded the pass, and bar his passage into Hellas—should Hellas + ever be his goal. (26) At the moment of his return to Thessaly he had + reached the zenith of his greatness. He was the lawfully constituted + Prince (27) of Thessaly, and he had under him a large mercenary force of + infantry and cavalry, and all in the highest perfection of training. For + this twofold reason he might claim the title great. But he was still + greater as the head of a vast alliance. Those who were prepared to fight + his battles were numerous, and he might still count upon the help of many + more eager to do so; but I call Jason greatest among his contemporaries, + because not one among them could afford to look down upon him. (28) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) An ancient town in Phocis (see Hom. "Il." ii. 521) on the road + leading from Orchomenus to Opus, and commanding a pass from Locris + into Phocis and Boeotia. See Herod. viii. 28; Paus. ix. 35, S. 5; + Strab. ix. 424; "Dict. of Geog." s.v. + + (25) Or, "Heracleia Trachinia," a fortress city founded (as a colony) + by the Lacedaemonians in B.C. 426, to command the approach to + Thermopylae from Thessaly, and to protect the Trachinians and the + neighbouring Dorians from the Oetean mountaineers. See "Dict. of + Geog." "Trachis"; Thuc. iii. 92, 93, v. 51, 52; Diod. xii. 59. + + (26) B.C. 370. The following sections 28-37 form an episode concerning + Thessalian affairs between B.C. 370 and B.C. 359. + + (27) Lit. "Tagos." + + (28) For a similar verbal climax see below, VI. v. 47. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 370. The Pythian games were now approaching, and an order went round + the cities from Jason to make preparation for the solemn sacrifice of + oxen, sheep and goats, and swine. It was reported that although the + requisitions upon the several cities were moderate, the number of beeves + did not fall short of a thousand, while the rest of the sacrificial beasts + exceeded ten times that number. He issued a proclamation also to this + effect: a golden wreath of victory should be given to whichever city could + produce the best-bred bull to head the procession in honour of the god. + And lastly there was an order issued to all the Thessalians to be ready + for a campaign at the date of the Pythian games. His intention, as people + said, was to act as manager of the solemn assembly and games in person. + What the thought was that passed through his mind with reference to the + sacred money, remains to this day uncertain; only, a tale is rife to the + effect that in answer to the inquiry of the Delphians, "What ought we to + do, if he takes any of the treasures of the god?" the god made answer, "He + would see to that himself." This great man, his brain teeming with vast + designs of this high sort, came now to his end. He had ordered a military + inspection. The cavalry of the Pheraeans were to pass muster before him. + He was already seated, delivering answers to all petitioners, when seven + striplings approached, quarrelling, as it seemed, about some matter. + Suddenly by these seven the Prince was despatched; his throat gashed, his + body gored with wounds. Stoutly his guard rushed to the rescue with their + long spears, and one of the seven, while still in the act of aiming a blow + at Jason, was thrust through with a lance and died; a second, in the act + of mounting his horse, was caught, and dropped dead, the recipient of many + wounds. The rest leaped on the horses which they had ready waiting and + escaped. To whatever city of Hellas they came honours were almost + universally accorded them. The whole incident proves clearly that the + Hellenes stood in much alarm of Jason. They looked upon him as a tyrant in + embryo. + </p> + <p> + So Jason was dead; and his brothers Polydorus and Polyphron were appointed + princes (29) in his place. But of these twain, as they journeyed together + to Larissa, Polydorus was slain in the night, as he slept, by his brother + Polyphron, it was thought; since a death so sudden, without obvious cause, + could hardly be otherwise accounted for. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (29) Lit. "Tagoi." +</pre> + <p> + Polyphron governed for a year, and by the year's end he had refashioned + his princedom into the likeness of a tyranny. In Pharsalus he put to death + Polydamas (30) and eight other of the best citizens; and from Larissa he + drove many into exile. But while he was thus employed, he, in his turn, + was done to death by Alexander, who slew him to avenge Polydorus and to + destroy the tyranny. This man now assumed the reins of office, and had no + sooner done so than he showed himself a harsh prince to the Thessalians: + harsh too and hostile to the Thebans and Athenians, (31) and an + unprincipled freebooter everywhere by land and by sea. But if that was his + character, he too was doomed to perish shortly. The perpetrators of the + deed were his wife's brothers. (32) The counsellor of it and the inspiring + soul was the wife herself. She it was who reported to them that Alexander + had designs against them; who hid them within the house a whole day; who + welcomed home her husband deep in his cups and laid him to rest, and then + while the lamp still burned brought out the prince's sword. It was she + also who, perceiving her brothers shrank bank, fearing to go in and attack + Alexander, said to them, "If you do not be quick and do the deed, I will + wake him up!" After they had gone in, she, too, it was who caught and + pulled to the door, clinging fast to the knocker till the breath was out + of her husband's body. (33) Her fierce hatred against the man is variously + explained. By some it was said to date from the day when Alexander, having + imprisoned his own favourite—who was a fair young stripling—when + his wife supplicated him to release the boy, brought him forth and stabbed + him in the throat. Others say it originated through his sending to Thebes + and seeking the hand of the wife of Jason in marriage, because his own + wife bore him no children. These are the various causes assigned to + explain the treason of his wife against him. Of the brothers who executed + it, the eldest, Tisiphonus, in virtue of his seniority accepted, and up to + the date of this history (34) succeeded in holding, the government. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (30) See above, VI. i. 2 foll. + + (31) See Dem. "c. Aristocr." 120; Diod. xv. 60 foll. + + (32) B.C. 359 or 358. + + (33) The woman's name was Thebe. See Diod. xvi. 14; Cicero, "de + Inven." II. xlix. 144; "de Div." I. xxv. 52; "de Off." II. vii. + 25; Ovid, "Ibis," iii. 21 foll. + + (34) Or, "portion of my work;" lit. "argument," {logos}. See + {Kuprianos, Peri ton 'Ell}: p. 111. +</pre> + <p> + V + </p> + <p> + The above is a sketch of Thessalian affairs, including the incidents + connected with Jason, and those subsequent to his death, down to the + government of Tisiphonus. I now return to the point at which we digressed. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 371. Archidamus, after the relief of the army defeated at Leuctra, + had led back the united forces. When he was gone, the Athenians, impressed + by the fact that the Peloponessians still felt under an obligation to + follow the Lacedaemonians to the field, whilst Sparta herself was by no + means as yet reduced to a condition resembling that to which she had + reduced Athens, sent invitations to those states which cared to + participate in the peace authorised by the great king. (1) A congress met, + and they passed a resolution in conjunction with those who wished to make + common cause with them to bind themselves by oath as follows: "I will + abide by the treaty terms as conveyed in the king's rescript, as also by + the decrees of the Athenians and the allies. If any one marches against + any city among those which have accepted this oath, I will render + assistance to that city with all my strength." The oath gave general + satisfaction, the Eleians alone gainsaying its terms and protesting that + it was not right to make either the Marganians or the Scilluntians or the + Triphylians independent, since these cities belonged to them, and were a + part of Elis. (2) The Athenians, however, and the others passed the decree + in the precise language of the king's rescript: that all states—great + and small alike—were to be independent; and they sent out + administrators of the oath, and enjoined upon them to administer it to the + highest authorities in each state. This oath they all, with the exception + of the Eleians, swore to. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) I.e. in B.C. 387, the peace "of" Antalcidas. See Grote, "H. G." x. + 274. + + (2) See Busolt, op. cit. p. 186. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 371-370. As an immediate consequence of this agreement, the + Mantineans, on the assumption that they were now absolutely independent, + met in a body and passed a decree to make Mantinea into a single state and + to fortify the town. (3) The proceeding was not overlooked by the + Lacedaemonians, who thought it would be hard if this were done without + their consent. Accordingly they despatched Agesilaus as ambassador to the + Mantineans, choosing him as the recognised ancestral friend of that + people. When the ambassador arrived, however, the chief magistrates had no + inclination to summon a meeting of the commons to listen to him, but urged + him to make a statement of his wishes to themselves. He, on his side, was + ready to undertake for himself and in their interests that, if they would + at present desist from their fortification work, he would bring it about + that the defensive walls should be built with the sanction of Lacedaemon + and without cost. Their answer was, that it was impossible to hold back, + since a decree had been passed by the whole state of Mantinea to build at + once. Whereupon Agesilaus went off in high dudgeon; though as to sending + troops to stop them, (4) the idea seemed impracticable, as the peace was + based upon the principle of autonomy. Meanwhile the Mantineans received + help from several of the Arcadian states in the building of their walls; + and the Eleians contributed actually three talents (5) of silver to cover + the expense of their construction. And here leaving the Mantineans thus + engaged, we will turn to the men of Tegea. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) For the restoration of Mantinea, see Freeman, "Fed. Gov." iv. p. + 198; Grote, "H. G." x. 283 foll. + + (4) See above, V. ii. 1, sub anno B.C. 386. + + (5) = 731 pounds: 5 shillings. See Busolt, op. cit. p. 199. +</pre> + <p> + There were in Tegea two political parties. The one was the party of + Callibius and Proxenus, who were for drawing together the whole Arcadian + population in a confederacy, (6) in which all measures carried in the + common assembly should be held valid for the individual component states. + The programme of the other (Stasippus's) party was to leave Tegea + undisturbed and in the enjoyment of the old national laws. Perpetually + defeated in the Sacred College, (7) the party of Callibius and Proxenus + were persuaded that if only the commons met they would gain an easy + victory by an appeal to the multitude; and in this faith they proceeded to + march out the citizen soldiers. (8) At sight of this Stasippus and his + friends on their side armed in opposition, and proved not inferior in + numbers. The result was a collision and battle, in which Proxenus and some + few others with him were slain and the rest put to flight; though the + conquerors did not pursue, for Stasippus was a man who did not care to + stain his hands with the blood of his fellow-citizens. (9) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) Although the historian does not recount the foundation of + Megalopolis (see Pausanias and Diodorus), the mention of the + common assembly of the League {en to koino} in this passage and, + still more, of the Ten Thousand (below, "Hell." VII. i. 38), + implies it. See Freeman, op. cit. iv. 197 foll.; Grote, "H. G." x. + 306 foll., ii. 599; "Dict. of Geog." "Megalopolis." As to the date + of its foundation Pausanias (VIII. xxvii. 8) says "a few months + after the battle of Leuctra," before midsummer B.C. 370; Diodorus + (xv. 72) says B.C. 368. The great city was not built in a day. + Messene, according to Paus. IV. xxvii. 5, was founded between the + midsummers of B.C. 370 and B.C. 369. + + (7) Lit. "in the Thearoi." For the Theari, see Thuc. v. 47, Arnold's + note; and "C. I. G." 1756 foll.; and for the revolution at Tegea + here recounted, see Grote, "H. G." x. 285 foll. + + (8) Or, "they mustered under arms." + + (9) Or, "opposed to a wholesale slaughter of the citizens." +</pre> + <p> + Callibius and his friends had retired under the fortification walls and + gates facing Mantinea; but, as their opponents made no further attempts + against them, they here collected together and remained quiet. Some while + ago they had sent messages to the Mantineans demanding assistance, but now + they were ready to discuss terms of reconciliation with the party of + Stasippus. Presently they saw the Mantineans advancing; whereupon some of + them sprang to the walls, and began calling to them to bring succour with + all speed. With shouts they urged upon them to make haste, whilst others + threw open wide the gates to them. Stasippus and his party, perceiving + what was happening, poured out by the gates leading to Pallantium, (10) + and, outspeeding their pursuers, succeeded in reaching the temple of + Artemis, where they found shelter, and, shutting to the doors, kept quiet. + Following close upon their heels, however, their foes scaled the temple, + tore off the roof, and began striking them down with the tiles. They, + recognising that there was no choice, called upon their assailants to + desist, and undertook to come forth. Then their opponents, capturing them + like birds in a fowler's hand, bound them with chains, threw them on to + the prisoner's van, (11) and led them off to Tegea. Here with the + Mantineans they sentenced and put them to death. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Pallantium, one of the most ancient towns of Arcadia, in the + Maenalia (Paus. VIII. xliv. 5; Livy, i. 5), situated somewhat + south of the modern Tripolitza (see "Dict. of Anc. Geog."); like + Asea and Eutaea it helped to found Megalopolis (Paus. VIII. xxvii. + 3, where for {'Iasaia} read {'Asea}); below, VII. v. 5; Busolt, + op. cit. p. 125. + + (11) For the sequel of the matter, see above, "Hell." VI. iv. 18; + Busolt, op. cit. p. 134. +</pre> + <p> + The outcome of these proceedings was the banishment to Lacedaemon of the + Tegeans who formed the party of Stasippus, numbering eight hundred; but as + a sequel to what had taken place, the Lacedaemonians determined that they + were bound by their oaths to aid the banished Tegeans and to avenge the + slain. With this purpose they marched against the Mantineans, on the + ground that they had violated their oaths in marching against Tegea with + an armed force. The ephors called out the ban and the state commanded + Agesilaus to head the expedition. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile most of the Arcadian contingents were mustering at Asea. (12) + The Orchomenians not only refused to take part in the Arcadian league, on + account of their personal hatred to Mantinea, but had actually welcomed + within their city a mercenary force under Polytropus, which had been + collected at Corinth. The Mantineans themselves were forced to stay at + home to keep an eye on these. The men of Heraea and Lepreum made common + cause with the Lacedaemonians in a campaign against Mantinea. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) Asea is placed by Leake ("Travels in Morea," i. 84; iii. 34) near + Frangovrysi, a little south of Pallantium. + + Heraea, the most important town of Arcadia in the Cynuria, near + Elis, on the high road to Olympia, and commanding other main + roads. See Leake, "Peloponnesiaca," p. 1 foll.; "Morea," ii. 91. + + Lepreum, chief town of the Triphylia (Herod. iv. 148, ix. 28; + Thuc. v. 31; above, III. ii. 25; Paus. V. v. 3; Polyb. iv. 77 + foll.; Strab. viii. 345), near modern Strovitzi; Leake, "Morea," + i. 56; Dodwell, "Tour," ii. 347. + + Eutaea is placed by Leake between Asea and Pallantium at Barbitza + ("Morea," iii. 31); but see Grote, "H. G." x. 288. +</pre> + <p> + Finding the frontier sacrifices favourable, Agesilaus began his march at + once upon Arcadia. He began by occupying the border city of Eutaea, where + he found the old men, women, and children dwelling in their houses, while + the rest of the population of a military age were off to join the Arcadian + league. In spite of this he did not stir a finger unjustly against the + city, but suffered the inhabitants to continue in their homes undisturbed. + The troops took all they needed, and paid for it in return; if any pillage + had occurred on his first entrance into the town, the property was hunted + up and restored by the Spartan king. Whilst awaiting the arrival of + Polytropus's mercenaries, he amused himself by repairing such portions of + their walls as necessity demanded. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the Mantineans had taken the field against Orchomenus; but from + the walls of that city the invaders had some difficulty in retiring, and + lost some of their men. On their retreat they found themselves in Elymia; + (13) here the heavy infantry of the Orchomenians ceased to follow them; + but Polytropus and his troops continued to assail their rear with much + audacity. At this conjuncture, seeing at a glance that either they must + beat back the foe or suffer their own men to be shot down, the Mantineans + turned right about and met the assailant in a hand-to-hand encounter. + Polytropus fell fighting on that battlefield; and of the rest who took to + flight, many would have shared his fate, but for the opportune arrival of + the Phliasian cavalry, who swooped round to the conqueror's rear and + checked him in his pursuit. (14) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Elymia, mentioned only by Xenophon, must have been on the + confines of the Mantinice and Orchomenus, probably at Levidhi.— + Leake, "Morea," iii. 75; "Peloponn." p. 229. + + (14) See "Cyrop." VII. i. 36. +</pre> + <p> + Content with this achievement, the Mantineans retired homewards; while + Agesilaus, to whom the news was brought, no longer expecting that the + Orchomenian mercenaries could effect a junction with himself, determined + to advance without further delay. (15) On the first day he encamped for + the evening meal in the open country of Tegea, and the day following + crossed into Mantinean territory. Here he encamped under the + westward-facing (16) mountains of Mantinea, and employed himself in + ravaging the country district and sacking the farmsteads; while the troops + of the Arcadians who were mustered in Asea stole by night into Tegea. The + next day Agesilaus shifted his position, encamping about two miles' (17) + distance from Mantinea; and the Arcadians, issuing from Tegea and clinging + to the mountains between Mantinea and that city, appeared with large + bodies of heavy infantry, wishing to effect a junction with the + Mantineans. The Argives, it is true, supported them, but they were not in + full force. And here counsellors were to be found who urged on Agesilaus + to attack these troops separately; but fearing lest, in proportion as he + pressed on to engage them, the Mantineans might issue from the city behind + and attack him on flank and rear, he decided it was best to let the two + bodies coalesce, and then, if they would accept battle, to engage them on + an open and fair field. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) See "Ages." ii. 23. + + (16) See Leake, "Morea," iii. 73. + + (17) Lit. "twenty stades." +</pre> + <p> + And so ere long the Arcadians had effected their object and were united + with the Mantineans. The next incident was the sudden apparition at break + of day, as Agesilaus was sacrificing in front of the camp, of a body of + troops. These proved to be the light infantry from Orchomenus, who in + company with the Phliasian cavalry had during the night made their way + across past the town of Mantinea; and so caused the mass of the army to + rush to their ranks, and Agesilaus himself to retire within the lines. + Presently, however, the newcomers were recognised as friends; and as the + sacrifices were favourable, Agesilaus led his army forward a stage farther + after breakfast. As the shades of evening descended he encamped unobserved + within the fold of the hills behind the Mantinean territory, with + mountains in close proximity all round. (18) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (18) Lit. "within the hindmost bosom of the Mantinice." In reference + to the position, Leake ("Morea," iii. 75) says: "The northern bay + (of the Mantinic plain between Mantinea and the Argon) corresponds + better by its proximity to Mantinea; by Mount Alesium it was + equally hidden from the city, while its small dimensions, and the + nearness of the incumbent mountains, rendered it a more hazardous + position to an army under the circumstances of that of Agesilaus" + (than had he encamped in the Argon itself). For the Argon (or + Inert Plain), see Leake, ib. 54 foll. +</pre> + <p> + On the next morning, as day broke, he sacrificed in front of the army; and + observing a mustering of men from the city of Mantinea on the hills which + overhung the rear of his army, he decided that he must lead his troops out + of the hollow by the quickest route. But he feared lest, if he himself led + off, the enemy might fall upon his rear. In this dilemma he kept quiet; + presenting a hostile front to the enemy, he sent orders to his rear to + face about to the right, (19) and so getting into line behind his main + body, to move forward upon him; and in this way he at once extricated his + troops from their cramped position and kept continually adding to the + weight and solidity of his line. As soon as the phalanx was doubled in + depth he emerged upon the level ground, with his heavy infantry battalions + in this order, and then again extended his line until his troops were once + more nine or ten shields deep. But the Mantineans were no longer so ready + to come out. The arguments of the Eleians who had lent them their + co-operation had prevailed: that it was better not to engage until the + arrival of the Thebans. The Thebans, it was certain, would soon be with + them; for had they not borrowed ten talents (20) from Elis in order to be + able to send aid? The Arcadians with this information before them kept + quiet inside Mantinea. On his side Agesilaus was anxious to lead off his + troops, seeing it was midwinter; but, to avoid seeming to hurry his + departure out of fear, he preferred to remain three days longer and no + great distance from Mantinea. On the fourth day, after an early morning + meal, the retreat commenced. His intention was to encamp on the same + ground which he had made his starting-point on leaving Eutaea. But as none + of the Arcadians appeared, he marched with all speed and reached Eutaea + itself, although very late, that day; being anxious to lead off his troops + without catching a glimpse of the enemy's watch-fires, so as to silence + the tongues of any one pretending that he withdrew in flight. His main + object was in fact achieved. To some extent he had recovered the state + from its late despondency, since he had invaded Arcadia and ravaged the + country without any one caring to offer him battle. But, once arrived on + Laconian soil, he dismissed the Spartan troops to their homes and + disbanded the provincials (21) to their several cities. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) See "Anab." IV. iii. 29; "Pol. Lac." xi. 10. + + (20) 2,437 pounds: 10 shillings. See Busult, op. cit. p. 199. + + (21) Lit. "perioeci"; and below, SS. 25, 32. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 370-369. The Arcadians, now that Agesilaus had retired, realising + that he had disbanded his troops, while they themselves were fully + mustered, marched upon Heraea, the citizens of which town had not only + refused to join the Arcadian league, but had joined the Lacedaemonians in + their invasion of Arcadia. For this reason they entered the country, + burning the homesteads and cutting down the fruit-trees. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile news came of the arrival of the Theban reinforcements at + Mantinea, on the strength of which they left Heraea and hastened to + fraternise (22) with their Theban friends. When they were met together, + the Thebans, on their side, were well content with the posture of affairs: + they had duly brought their succour, and no enemy was any longer to be + discovered in the country; so they made preparations to return home. But + the Arcadians, Argives and Eleians were eager in urging them to lead the + united forces forthwith into Laconia: they dwelt proudly on their own + numbers, extolling above measure the armament of Thebes. And, indeed, the + Boeotians one and all were resolute in their military manouvres and + devotion to arms, (23) exulting in the victory of Leuctra. In the wake of + Thebes followed the Phocians, who were now their subjects, Euboeans from + all the townships of the island, both sections of the Locrians, the + Acarnanians, (24) and the men of Heraclea and of Melis; while their force + was further swelled by Thessalian cavalry and light infantry. With the + full consciousness of facts like these, and further justifying their + appeal by dwelling on the desolate condition of Lacedaemon, deserted by + her troops, they entreated them not to turn back without invading the + territory of Laconia. But the Thebans, albeit they listened to their + prayers, urged arguments on the other side. In the first place, Laconia + was by all accounts most difficult to invade; and their belief was that + garrisons were posted at all the points most easily approached. (As a + matter of fact, Ischolaus was posted at Oeum in the Sciritid, with a + garrison of neodamodes and about four hundred of the youngest of the + Tegean exiles; and there was a second outpost on Leuctrum above the + Maleatid. (25)) Again it occurred to the Thebans that the Lacedaemonian + forces, though disbanded, would not take long to muster, and once + collected they would fight nowhere better than on their own native soil. + Putting all these considerations together, they were not by any means + impatient to march upon Lacedaemon. A strong counter-impulse, however, was + presently given by the arrival of messengers from Caryae, giving positive + information as to the defenceless condition of the country, and offering + to act as guides themselves; they were ready to lose their lives if they + were convicted of perfidy. A further impulse in the same direction was + given by the presence of some of the provincials, (26) with invitations + and promises of revolt, if only they would appear in the country. These + people further stated that even at the present moment, on a summons of the + Spartans proper, the provincials did not care to render them assistance. + With all these arguments and persuasions echoing from all sides, the + Thebans at last yielded, and invaded. They chose the Caryan route + themselves, while the Arcadians entered by Oeum in the Sciritid. (27) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) Or, "effect a junction with." + + (23) Or, "in practising gymnastics about the place of arms." See "Pol. + Lac." xii. 5. + + (24) See "Hell." IV. vii. 1; "Ages." ii. 20. For a sketch of the + relations of Acarnania to Athens and Sparta, see Hicks, No. 83, p. + 150; and above, "Hell." V. iv. 64. + + (25) Leuctrum, a fortress of the district Aegytis on the confines of + Arcadia and Laconia ("in the direction of Mount Lycaeum," Thuc. v. + 54). See Leake, "Morea," ii. 322; also "Peloponn." p. 248, in + which place he corrects his former view as to the situation of + Leuctrum and the Maleatid. + + Oeum or Ium, the chief town of the Sciritis, probably stood in the + Klisura or series of narrow passes through the watershed of the + mountains forming the natural boundary between Laconia and Arcadia + (in the direct line north from Sparta to Tegea), "Dict. of Anc. + Geog." s.v. Leake says ("Morea," iii. 19, 30 foll.) near the + modern village of Kolina; Baedeker ("Greece," p. 269) says perhaps + at Palaeogoulas. + + Caryae. This frontier town was apparently (near Arachova) on the + road from Thyrea (in the direction of the Argolid) to Sparta + (Thuc. v. 55; Paus. III. x. 7; Livy, xxxiv. 26, but see Leake, + "Morea," iii. 30; "Peloponn." p. 342). + + Sellasia, probably rightly placed "half an hour above Vourlia" + (Baedeker, "Greece," p. 269). The famous battle of Sellasia, in + the spring of B.C. 221, in which the united Macedonians under + Antigonus and the Achaeans finally broke the power of Sparta, was + fought in the little valley where the stream Gorgylus joins the + river Oenus and the Khan of Krevatas now stands. For a plan, see + "Dict. of Anc. Geog." s.v. + + (26) "Perioeci." + + (27) Diodorus (xv. 64) gives more details; he makes the invaders + converge upon Sellasia by four separate routes. See Leake, + "Morea," iii. 29 foll. +</pre> + <p> + By all accounts Ischolaus made a mistake in not advancing to meet them on + the difficult ground above Oeum. Had he done so, not a man, it is + believed, would have scaled the passes there. But for the present, wishing + to turn the help of the men of Oeum to good account, he waited down in the + village; and so the invading Arcadians scaled the heights in a body. At + this crisis Ischolaus and his men, as long as they fought face to face + with their foes, held the superiority; but, presently, when the enemy, + from rear and flank, and even from the dwelling-houses up which they + scaled, rained blows and missiles upon them, then and there Ischolaus met + his end, and every man besides, save only one or two who, failing to be + recognised, effected their escape. + </p> + <p> + After these achievements the Arcadians marched to join the Thebans at + Caryae, and the Thebans, hearing what wonders the Arcadians had performed, + commenced their descent with far greater confidence. Their first exploit + was to burn and ravage the district of Sellasia, but finding themselves + ere long in the flat land within the sacred enclosure of Apollo, they + encamped for the night, and the next day continued their march along the + Eurotas. When they came to the bridge they made no attempt to cross it to + attack the city, for they caught sight of the heavy infantry in the temple + of Alea (28) ready to meet them. So, keeping the Eurotas on their right, + they tramped along, burning and pillaging homesteads stocked with numerous + stores. The feelings of the citizens may well be imagined. The women who + had never set eyes upon a foe (29) could scarcely contain themselves as + they beheld the cloud of smoke. The Spartan warriors, inhabiting a city + without fortifications, posted at intervals, here one and there another, + were in truth what they appeared to be—the veriest handful. And + these kept watch and ward. The authorities passed a resolution to announce + to the helots that whosoever among them chose to take arms and join a + regiment should have his freedom guaranteed to him by solemn pledges in + return for assistance in the common war. (30) More than six thousand + helots, it is said, enrolled themselves, so that a new terror was excited + by the very incorporation of these men, whose numbers seemed to be + excessive. But when it was found that the mercenaries from Orchomenus + remained faithful, and reinforcements came to Lacedaemon from Phlius, + Corinth, Epidaurus, and Pellene, and some other states, the dread of these + new levies was speedily diminished. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (28) See Pausanias, III. xix. 7. + + (29) See Plutarch, "Ages." xxxi. 3 (Clough, vol. iv. p. 38); Aristot. + "Pol." ii. 9-10. + + (30) See below, VII. ii. 2. +</pre> + <p> + The enemy in his advance came to Amyclae. (31) Here he crossed the + Eurotas. The Thebans wherever they encamped at once formed a stockade of + the fruit-trees they had felled, as thickly piled as possible, and so kept + ever on their guard. The Arcadians did nothing of the sort. They left + their camping-ground and took themselves off to attack the homesteads and + loot. On the third or fourth day after their arrival the cavalry advanced, + squadron by squadron, as far as the racecourse, (32) within the sacred + enclosure of Gaiaochos. These consisted of the entire Theban cavalry and + the Eleians, with as many of the Phocian or Thessalian or Locrian cavalry + as were present. The cavalry of the Lacedaemonians, looking a mere + handful, were drawn up to meet them. They had posted an ambuscade chosen + from their heavy infantry, the younger men, about three hundred in number, + in the house of the Tyndarids (33); and while the cavalry charged, out + rushed the three hundred at the same instant at full pace. The enemy did + not wait to receive the double charge, but swerved, and at sight of that + many also of the infantry took to headlong flight. But the pursuers + presently paused; the Theban army remained motionless; and both parties + returned to their camps. And now the hope, the confidence strengthened + that an attack upon the city itself would never come; nor did it. The + invading army broke up from their ground, and marched off on the road to + Helos and Gytheum. (34) The unwalled cities were consigned to the flames, + but Gytheum, where the Lacedaemonians had their naval arsenal, was + subjected to assault for three days. Certain of the provincials (35) also + joined in this attack, and shared the campaign with the Thebans and their + friends. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (31) For this ancient (Achaean) town, see Paus. III. ii. 6; Polyb. v. + 19. It lay only twenty stades (a little more than two miles) from + the city of Sparta. + + (32) Or, "hippodrome." See Paus. III. ii. 6. + + (33) Paus. III. xvi. 2. + + (34) See Baedeker's "Greece," p. 279. Was Gytheum taken? See Grote, + "H. G." x. 305; Curt. "H. G." Eng. trans. iv. 431. + + (35) "Perioeci." See above, III. iii. 6; VI. v. 25; below, VII. ii. 2; + Grote, "H. G." x. 301. It is a pity that the historian should + hurry us off to Athens just at this point. The style here is + suggestive of notes ({upomnemata}) unexpanded. +</pre> + <p> + The news of these proceedings set the Athenians deeply pondering what they + ought to do concerning the Lacedaemonians, and they held an assembly in + accordance with a resolution of the senate. It chanced that the + ambassadors of the Lacedaemonians and the allies still faithful to + Lacedaemon were present. The Lacedaemonian ambassadors were Aracus, + Ocyllus, Pharax, Etymocles, and Olontheus, and from the nature of the case + they all used, roughly speaking, similar arguments. They reminded the + Athenians how they had often in old days stood happily together, shoulder + to shoulder, in more than one great crisis. They (the Lacedaemonians), on + their side, had helped to expel the tyrant from Athens, and the Athenians, + when Lacedaemon was besieged by the Messenians, had heartily leant her a + helping hand. (36) Then they fell to enumerating all the blessings that + marked the season when the two states shared a common policy, hinting how + in common they had warred against the barbarians, and more boldly + recalling how the Athenians with the full consent and advice of the + Lacedaemonians were chosen by united Hellas leaders of the common navy + (37) and guardians of all the common treasure, while they themselves were + selected by all the Hellenes as confessedly the rightful leaders on land; + and this also not without the full consent and concurrence of the + Athenians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (36) In reference (1) to the expulsion of the Peisistratidae (Herod. + v. 64); (2) the "third" Messenian war (Thuc. i. 102). + + (37) See "Revenues," v. 6. +</pre> + <p> + One of the speakers ventured on a remark somewhat to this strain: "If you + and we, sirs, can only agree, there is hope to-day that the old saying may + be fulfilled, and Thebes be 'taken and tithed.'" (38) The Athenians, + however, were not in the humour to listen to that style of argument. A + sort of suppressed murmur ran through the assembly which seemed to say, + "That language may be well enough now; but when they were well off they + pressed hard enough on us." But of all the pleas put forward by the + Lacedaemonians, the weightiest appeared to be this: that when they had + reduced the Athenians by war, and the Thebans wished to wipe Athens off + the face of the earth, they (the Lacedaemonians) themselves had opposed + the measure. (39) If that was the argument of most weight, the reasoning + which was the most commonly urged was to the effect that "the solemn oaths + necessitated the aid demanded. Sparta had done no wrong to justify this + invasion on the part of the Arcadians and their allies. All she had done + was to assist the men of Tegea when (40) the Mantineans had marched + against that township contrary to their solemn oaths." Again, for the + second time, at these expressions a confused din ran through the assembly, + half the audience maintaining that the Mantineans were justified in + supporting Proxenus and his friends, who were put to death by the party + with Stasippus; the other half that they were wrong in bringing an armed + force against the men of Tegea. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (38) Or, "the Thebans be decimated"; for the phrase see above, "Hell." + VI. iii. 20. + + (39) See "Hell." II. ii. 19; and "Hell." III. v. 8. + + (40) Lit. "because," {oti}. +</pre> + <p> + Whilst these distinctions were being drawn by the assembly itself, + Cleiteles the Corinthian got up and spoke as follows: "I daresay, men of + Athens, there is a double answer to the question, Who began the + wrongdoing? But take the case of ourselves. Since peace began, no one can + accuse us either of wantonly attacking any city, or of seizing the wealth + of any, or of ravaging a foreign territory. In spite of which the Thebans + have come into our country and cut down our fruit-trees, burnt to the + ground our houses, filched and torn to pieces our cattle and our goods. + How then, I put it to you, will you not be acting contrary to your solemn + oaths if you refuse your aid to us, who are so manifestly the victims of + wrongdoings? Yes; and when I say solemn oaths, I speak of oaths and + undertakings which you yourselves took great pains to exact from all of + us." At that point a murmur of applause greeted Cleiteles, the Athenians + feeling the truth and justice of the speaker's language. + </p> + <p> + He sat down, and then Procles of Phlius got up and spoke as follows: "What + would happen, men of Athens, if the Lacedaemonians were well out of the + way? The answer to that question is obvious. You would be the first object + of Theban invasion. Clearly; for they must feel that you and you alone + stand in the path between them and empire over Hellas. If this be so, I do + not consider that you are more supporting Lacedaemon by a campaign in her + behalf than you are helping yourselves. For imagine the Thebans, your own + sworn foes and next-door neighbours, masters of Hellas! You will find it a + painful and onerous exchange indeed for the distant antagonism of Sparta. + As a mere matter of self-interest, now is the time to help yourselves, + while you may still reckon upon allies, instead of waiting until they are + lost, and you are forced to fight a life-and-death battle with the Thebans + single-handed. But the fear suggests itself, that should the + Lacedaemonians escape now, they will live to cause you trouble at some + future date. Lay this maxim to heart, then, that it is not the potential + greatness of those we benefit, but of those we injure, which causes + apprehension. And this other also, that it behoves individuals and states + alike so to better their position (41) while yet in the zenith of their + strength that, in the day of weakness, when it comes, they may find some + succour and support in what their former labours have achieved. (42) To + you now, at this time, a heaven-sent opportunity is presented. In return + for assistance to the Lacedaemonians in their need, you may win their + sincere, unhesitating friendship for all time. Yes, I say it deliberately, + for the acceptance of these benefits at your hands will not be in the + presence of one or two chance witnesses. The all-seeing gods, in whose + sight to-morrow is even as to-day, will be cognisant of these things. The + knowledge of them will be jointly attested by allies and enemies; nay, by + Hellenes and barbarians alike, since to not one of them is what we are + doing a matter of unconcern. If, then, in the presence of these witnesses, + the Lacedaemonians should prove base towards you, no one will ever again + be eager in their cause. But our hope, our expectation should rather be + that they will prove themselves good men and not base; since they beyond + all others would seem persistently to have cherished a high endeavour, + reaching forth after true praise, and holding aloof from ugly deeds. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (41) Lit. "to acquire some good." + + (42) Or, "for what," etc. +</pre> + <p> + "But there are further considerations which it were well you should lay to + heart. If danger were ever again to visit Hellas from the barbarian world + outside, in whom would you place your confidence if not in the + Lacedaemonians? Whom would you choose to stand at your right hand in + battle if not these, whose soldiers at Thermopylae to a man preferred to + fall at their posts rather than save their lives by giving the barbarian + free passage into Hellas? Is it not right, then, considering for what + thing's sake they displayed that bravery in your companionship, + considering also the good hope there is that they will prove the like + again—is it not just that you and we should lend them all + countenance and goodwill? Nay, even for us their allies' sake, who are + present, it would be worth your while to manifest this goodwill. Need you + be assured that precisely those who continue faithful to them in their + misfortunes would in like manner be ashamed not to requite you with + gratitude? And if we seem to be but small states, who are willing to share + their dangers with them, lay to heart that there is a speedy cure for this + defect: with the accession of your city the reproach that, in spite of all + our assistance, we are but small cities, will cease to be. + </p> + <p> + "For my part, men of Athens, I have hitherto on hearsay admired and envied + this great state, whither, I was told, every one who was wronged or stood + in terror of aught needed only to betake himself and he would obtain + assistance. To-day I no longer hear, I am present myself and see these + famous citizens of Lacedaemon here, and by their side their trustiest + friends, who have come to you, and ask you in their day of need to give + them help. I see Thebans also, the same who in days bygone failed to + persuade the Lacedaemonians to reduce you to absolute slavery, (43) to-day + asking you to suffer those who saved you to be destroyed. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (43) See "Hell." II. ii. 19; III. v. 8, in reference to B.C. 405. +</pre> + <p> + "That was a great deed and of fair renown, attributed in old story to your + ancestors, that they did not suffer those Argives who died on the Cadmeia + (44) to lie unburied; but a fairer wreath of glory would you weave for + your own brows if you suffer not these still living Lacedaemonians to be + trampled under the heel of insolence and destroyed. Fair, also, was that + achievement when you stayed the insolence of Eurystheus and saved the sons + of Heracles; (45) but fairer still than that will your deed be if you + rescue from destruction, not the primal authors (46) merely, but the whole + city which they founded; fairest of all, if because yesterday the + Lacedaemonians won you your preservation by a vote which cost them + nothing, you to-day shall bring them help with arms, and at the price of + peril. It is a proud day for some of us to stand here and give what aid we + can in pleading for assistance to brave men. What, then, must you feel, + who in very deed are able to render that assistance! How generous on your + parts, who have been so often the friends and foes of Lacedaemon, to + forget the injury and remember only the good they have done! How noble of + you to repay, not for yourselves only, but for the sake of Hellas, the + debt due to those who proved themselves good men and true in her behalf!" + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (44) In reference to the Seven against Thebes, see Herod. IX. xxvii. + 4; Isoc. "Paneg." 55. + + (45) Herod. IX. xxvii. 3; see Isoc. "Paneg." 56. "The greatness of + Sparta was founded by the succour which Athens lent to the + Heraklid invaders of the Peloponnese—a recollection which ought + to restrain Sparta from injuring or claiming to rule Athens. + Argos, Thebes, Sparta were in early times, as they are now, the + foremost cities of Hellas; but Athens was the greatest of them all + —the avenger of Argos, the chastiser of Thebes, the patron of + those who founded Sparta."—Jebb, "Att. Or." ii. 154. + + (46) Plut. "Lyc." vi. +</pre> + <p> + After these speeches the Athenians deliberated, and though there was + opposition, the arguments of gainsayers (47) fell upon deaf ears. The + assembly finally passed a decree to send assistance to Lacedaemon in + force, and they chose Iphicrates general. Then followed the preliminary + sacrifices, and then the general's order to his troops to take the evening + meal in the grove of the Academy. (48) But the general himself, it is + said, was in no hurry to leave the city; many were found at their posts + before him. Presently, however, he put himself at the head of his troops, + and the men followed cheerily, in firm persuasion that he was about to + lead them to some noble exploit. On arrival at Corinth he frittered away + some days, and there was a momentary outburst of discontent at so much + waste of precious time; but as soon as he led the troops out of Corinth + there was an obvious rebound. The men responded to all orders with + enthusiasm, heartily following their general's lead, and attacking + whatever fortified place he might confront them with. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (47) As to the anti-Laconian or Boeotian party at Athens, see Curtius, + "H. G." vol. v. ch. ii. (Eng. tr.) + + (48) See Baedeker, "Greece," p. 103. +</pre> + <p> + And now reverting to the hostile forces on Laconian territory, we find + that the Arcadians, Argives, and Eleians had retired in large numbers. + They had every inducement so to do since their homes bordered on Laconia; + and off they went, driving or carrying whatever they had looted. The + Thebans and the rest were no less anxious to get out of the country, + though for other reasons, partly because the army was melting away under + their eyes day by day, partly because the necessities of life were growing + daily scantier, so much had been either fairly eaten up and pillaged or + else recklessly squandered and reduced to ashes. Besides this, it was + winter; so that on every ground there was a general desire by this time to + get away home. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the enemy began his retreat from Laconian soil, Iphicrates + imitated his movement, and began leading back his troops out of Arcadia + into Corinthia. Iphicrates exhibited much good generalship, no doubt, with + which I have no sort of fault to find. But it is not so with that final + feature of the campaign to which we are now come. Here I find his strategy + either meaningless in intent or inadequate in execution. He made an + attempt to keep guard at Oneion, in order to prevent the Boeotians making + their way out homewards; but left meanwhile far the best passage through + Cenchreae unguarded. Again, when he wished to discover whether or not the + Thebans had passed Oneion, he sent out on a reconnaissance the whole of + the Athenian and Corinthian cavalry; whereas, for the object in view, the + eyes of a small detachment would have been as useful as a whole regiment; + (49) and when it came to falling back, clearly the smaller number had a + better chance of hitting on a traversable road, and so effecting the + desired movement quietly. But the height of folly seems to have been + reached when he threw into the path of the enemy a large body of troops + which were still too weak to cope with him. As a matter of fact, this body + of cavalry, owing to their very numbers, could not help covering a large + space of ground; and when it became necessary to retire, had to cling to a + series of difficult positions in succession, so that they lost not fewer + than twenty horsemen. (50) It was thus the Thebans effected their object + and retired from Peloponnese. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (49) See "Hipparch." viii. 10 foll. + + (50) See Diod. xv. 63; Plut. "Pelop." 24. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK VII + </h2> + <p> + I + </p> + <p> + B.C. 369. In the following year (1) plenipotentiary ambassadors (2) from + the Lacedaemonians and their allies arrived at Athens to consider and take + counsel in what way the alliance between Athens and Lacedaemon might be + best cemented. It was urged by many speakers, foreigners and Athenians + also, that the alliance ought to be based on the principle of absolute + equality, (3) "share and share alike," when Procles of Phlius put forward + the following argument: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) I.e. the official year from spring to spring. See Peter, "Chron. + Table" 95, note 215; see Grote, "H. G." x. 346, note 1. + + (2) See Hicks, 89. + + (3) For the phrase {epi toi isois kai omoiois}, implying "share and + share alike," see Thuc. i. 145, etc. +</pre> + <p> + "Since you have already decided, men of Athens, that it is good to secure + the friendship of Lacedaemon, the point, as it appears to me, which you + ought now to consider is, by what means this friendship may be made to + last as long as possible. The probability is, that we shall hold together + best by making a treaty which shall suit the best interests of both + parties. On most points we have, I believe, a tolerable unanimity, but + there remains the question of leadership. The preliminary decree of your + senate anticipates a division of the hegemony, crediting you with the + chief maritime power, Lacedaemon with the chief power on land; and to me, + personally, I confess, that seems a division not more established by human + invention than preordained by some divine naturalness or happy fortune. + For, in the first place, you have a geographical position pre-eminently + adapted for naval supremacy; most of the states to whom the sea is + important are massed round your own, and all of these are inferior to you + in strength. Besides, you have harbours and roadsteads, without which it + is not possible to turn a naval power to account. Again, you have many + ships of war. To extend your naval empire is a traditional policy; all the + arts and sciences connected with these matters you possess as home + products, and, what is more, in skill and experience of nautical affairs + you are far ahead of the rest of the world. The majority of you derive + your livelihood from the sea, or things connected with it; so that in the + very act of minding your own affairs you are training yourselves to enter + the lists of naval combat. (4) Again, no other power in the world can send + out a larger collective fleet, and that is no insignificant point in + reference to the question of leadership. The nucleus of strength first + gained becomes a rallying-point, round which the rest of the world will + gladly congregate. Furthermore, your good fortune in this department must + be looked upon as a definite gift of God: for, consider among the + numberless great sea-fights which you have fought how few you have lost, + how many you have won. It is only rational, then, that your allies should + much prefer to share this particular risk with you. Indeed, to show you + how natural and vital to you is this maritime study, the following + reflection may serve. For several years the Lacedaemonians, when at war + with you in old days, dominated your territory, but they made no progress + towards destroying you. At last God granted them one day to push forward + their dominion on the sea, and then in an instant you completely succumbed + to them. (5) Is it not self-evident that your safety altogether depends + upon the sea? The sea is your natural element—your birthright; it + would be base indeed to entrust the hegemony of it to the Lacedaemonians, + and the more so, since, as they themselves admit, they are far less + acquainted with this business than yourselves; and, secondly, your risk in + naval battles would not be for equal stakes—theirs involving only + the loss of the men on board their ships, but yours, that of your children + and your wives and the entire state. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) See "Pol. Ath." i. 19 foll. + + (5) See "Hell." II. i. +</pre> + <p> + "And if this is a fair statement of your position, turn, now, and consider + that of the Lacedaemonians. The first point to notice is, that they are an + inland power; as long as they are dominant on land it does not matter how + much they are cut off from the sea—they can carry on existence + happily enough. This they so fully recognise, that from boyhood they + devote themselves to training for a soldier's life. The keystone of this + training is obedience to command, (6) and in this they hold the same + pre-eminence on land which you hold on the sea. Just as you with your + fleets, so they on land can, at a moment's notice, put the largest army in + the field; and with the like consequence, that their allies, as is only + rational, attach themselves to them with undying courage. (7) Further, God + has granted them to enjoy on land a like good fortune to that vouchsafed + to you on sea. Among all the many contests they have entered into, it is + surprising in how few they have failed, in how many they have been + successful. The same unflagging attention which you pay to maritime + affairs is required from them on land, and, as the facts of history + reveal, it is no less indispensable to them. Thus, although you were at + war with them for several years and gained many a naval victory over them, + you never advanced a step nearer to reducing them. But once worsted on + land, in an instant they were confronted with a danger affecting the very + lives of child and wife, and vital to the interests of the entire state. + We may very well understand, then, the strangeness, not to say + monstrosity, in their eyes, of surrendering to others the military + leadership on land, in matters which they have made their special study + for so long and with such eminent success. I end where I began. I agree + absolutely with the preliminary decrees of your own senate, which I + consider the solution most advantageous to both parties. My prayer (8) is + that you may be guided in your deliberations to that conclusion which is + best for each and all of us." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) Or, "the spirit of discipline." See "Mem." III. v. 16; IV. iv. 15; + Thuc. ii. 39; "Pol. Lac." viii. + + (7) Or, "with unlimited confidence." + + (8) See above, "Hell." VI. i. 13, {kai su prattois ta kratista}, "and + so may the best fortune attend you!"—if that reading and + rendering be adopted. +</pre> + <p> + Such were the words of the orator, and the sentiments of his speech were + vehemently applauded by the Athenians no less than by the Lacedaemonians + who were present. Then Cephisodotus (9) stepped forward and addressed the + assembly. He said, "Men of Athens, do you not see how you are being + deluded? Lend me your ears, and I will prove it to you in a moment. There + is no doubt about your leadership by sea: it is already secured. But + suppose the Lacedaemonians in alliance with you: it is plain they will + send you admirals and captains, and possibly marines, of Laconian breed; + but who will the sailors be? Helots obviously, or mercenaries of some + sort. These are the folk over whom you will exercise your leadership. + Reverse the case. The Lacedaemonians have issued a general order summoning + you to join them in the field; it is plain again, you will be sending your + heavy infantry and your cavalry. You see what follows. You have invented a + pretty machine, by which they become leaders of your very selves, and you + become the leaders either of their slaves or of the dregs of their state. + I should like to put a question to the Lacedaemonian Timocrates seated + yonder. Did you not say just now, Sir, that you came to make an alliance + on terms of absolute equality, 'share and share alike'? Answer me." "I did + say so." "Well, then, here is a plan by which you get the perfection of + equality. I cannot conceive of anything more fair and impartial than that + 'turn and turn about' each of us should command the navy, each the army; + whereby whatever advantage there may be in maritime or military command we + may each of us share." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) See above, "Hell." VI. iii. 2; Hicks, 87. +</pre> + <p> + These arguments were successful. The Athenians were converted, and passed + a decree vesting the command in either state (10) for periods of five days + alternately. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) See "Revenues," v. 7. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 369. (11) The campaign was commenced by both Athenians and + Lacedaemonians with their allies, marching upon Corinth, where it was + resolved to keep watch and ward over Oneion jointly. On the advance of the + Thebans and their allies the troops were drawn out to defend the pass. + They were posted in detachments at different points, the most assailable + of which was assigned to the Lacedaemonians and the men of Pellene. (12) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) See Grote, "H. G." x. 349 foll.; al. B.C. 368. + + (12) "During the wars of Epameinondas Pellene adhered firmly to her + Spartan policy, at a time when other cities were, to say the + least, less strenuous in the Spartan cause."—Freeman, "Hist. Fed. + Gov." p. 241. Afterwards Pellene is found temporarily on the + Theban side ("Hell." VII. ii. 11). +</pre> + <p> + The Thebans and their allies, finding themselves within three or four + miles (13) of the troops guarding the pass, encamped in the flat ground + below; but presently, after a careful calculation of the time it would + take to start and reach the goal in the gloaming, they advanced against + the Lacedaemonian outposts. In spite of the difficulty they timed their + movements to a nicety, and fell upon the Lacedaemonians and Pellenians + just at the interval when the night pickets were turning in and the men + were leaving their shakedowns and retiring for necessary purposes. (14) + This was the instant for the Thebans to fling themselves upon them; they + plied their weapons with good effect, blow upon blow. Order was pitted + against disorder, preparation against disarray. When, however, those who + escaped from the thick of the business had retired to the nearest rising + ground, the Lacedaemonian polemarch, who might have taken as many heavy, + or light, infantry of the allies as he wanted, and thus have held the + position (no bad one, since it enabled him to get his supplies safely + enough from Cenchreae), failed to do so. On the contrary, and in spite of + the great perplexity of the Thebans as to how they were to get down from + the high level facing Sicyon or else retire the way they came, the Spartan + general made a truce, which in the opinion of the majority, seemed more in + favour of the Thebans than himself, and so he withdrew his division and + fell back. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) Lit. "thirty stades." + + (14) Or, "intent on their personal concerns." See "Hell." II. iv. 6; + "Hipparch." vii. 12. +</pre> + <p> + The Thebans were now free to descend without hindrance, which they did; + and, effecting a junction with their allies the Arcadians, Argives, and + Eleians, at once attacked (15) Sicyon and Pellene, and, marching on + Epidaurus, laid waste the whole territory of that people. Returning from + that exploit with a consummate disdain for all their opponents, when they + found themselves near the city of Corinth they advanced at the double + against the gate facing towards Phlius; intending if they found it open to + rush in. However, a body of light troops sallied out of the city to the + rescue, and met the advance of the Theban picked corps (16) not one + hundred and fifty yards (17) from the walls. Mounting on the monuments and + commanding eminences, with volleys of sling stones and arrows they laid + low a pretty large number in the van of the attack, and routing them, gave + chase for three or four furlongs' (18) distance. After this incident the + Corinthians dragged the corpses of the slain to the wall, and finally gave + them up under a flag of truce, erecting a trophy to record the victory. As + a result of this occurrence the allies of the Lacedaemonians took fresh + heart. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) And took (apparently); see below; Diod. xv. 69. + + (16) See "Anab." III. iv. 43; and above, "Hell." V. iii. 23. + + (17) Lit. "four plethra." + + (18) LIt. "three or four stades." +</pre> + <p> + At the date of the above transactions the Lacedeamonians were cheered by + the arrival of a naval reinforcement from Dionysius, consisting of more + than twenty warships, which conveyed a body of Celts and Iberians and + about fifty cavalry. The day following, the Thebans and the rest of the + allies, posted, at intervals, in battle order, and completely filling the + flat land down to the sea on one side, and up to the knolls on the other + which form the buttresses of the city, proceeded to destroy everything + precious they could lay their hands on in the plain. The Athenian and + Corinthian cavalry, eyeing the strength, physical and numerical, of their + antagonists, kept at a safe distance from their armament. But the little + body of cavalry lately arrived from Dionysius spread out in a long thin + line, and one at one point and one at another galloped along the front, + discharging their missiles as they dashed forward, and when the enemy + rushed against them, retired, and again wheeling about, showered another + volley. Even while so engaged they would dismount from their horses and + take breath; and if their foemen galloped up while they were so + dismounted, in an instant they had leapt on their horses' backs and were + in full retreat. Or if, again, a party pursued them some distance from the + main body, as soon as they turned to retire, they would press upon them, + and discharging volleys of missiles, made terrible work, forcing the whole + army to advance and retire, merely to keep pace with the movements of + fifty horsemen. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 369-368. After this the Thebans remained only a few more days and + then turned back homewards; and the rest likewise to their several homes. + Thereupon the troops sent by Dionysius attacked Sicyon. Engaging the + Sicyonians in the flat country, they defeated them, killing about seventy + men and capturing by assault the fortres of Derae. (19) After these + achievements this first reinforcement from Dionysius re-embarked and set + sail for Syracuse. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (19) "East of Sicyon was Epieiceia (see above, "Hell." IV. ii. 14, iv. + 13) on the river Nemea. In the same direction was the fortress + Derae." ("Dict. Anct. Geog." "Topography of Sicyonia"), al. Gerae. + So Leake ("Morea," iii. 376), who conjectures that this fortress + was in the maritime plain. +</pre> + <p> + Up to this time the Thebans and all the states which had revolted from + Lacedaemon had acted together in perfect harmony, and were content to + campaign under the leadership of Thebes; but now a certain Lycomedes, (20) + a Mantinean, broke the spell. Inferior in birth and position to none, + while in wealth superior, he was for the rest a man of high ambition. This + man was able to inspire the Arcadians with high thoughts by reminding them + that to Arcadians alone the Peloponnese was in a literal sense a + fatherland; since they and they alone were the indigenous inhabitants of + its sacred soil, and the Arcadian stock the largest among the Hellenic + tribes—a good stock, moreover, and of incomparable physique. And + then he set himself to panegyrise them as the bravest of the brave, + adducing as evidence, if evidence were needed, the patent fact, that every + one in need of help invariably turned to the Arcadians. (21) Never in old + days had the Lacedaemonians yet invaded Athens without the Arcadians. "If + then," he added, "you are wise, you will be somewhat chary of following at + the beck and call of anybody, or it will be the old story again. As when + you marched in the train of Sparta you only enhanced her power, so to-day, + if you follow Theban guidance without thought or purpose instead of + claiming a division of the headship, you will speedily find, perhaps, in + her only a second edition of Lacedaemon." (22) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) For the plan of an Arcadian Federation and the part played by + Lycomedes, its true author, "who certainly merits thereby a high + place among the statesmen of Greece," see Freeman, "Hist. Fed. + Gov." ch. iv. p. 199 foll. + + (21) For this claim on the part of the Arcadians, see "Anab." VI. ii. + 10 foll. + + (22) Or, "Lacedaemonians under another name." +</pre> + <p> + These words uttered in the ears of the Arcadians were sufficient to puff + them up with pride. They were lavish in their love of Lycomedes, and + thought there was no one his equal. He became their hero; he had only to + give his orders, and they appointed their magistrates (23) at his bidding. + But, indeed, a series of brilliant exploits entitled the Arcadians to + magnify themselves. The first of these arose out of an invasion of + Epidaurus by the Argives, which seemed likely to end in their finding + their escape barred by Chabrias and his foreign brigade with the Athenians + and Corinthians. Only, at the critical moment the Arcadians came to the + rescue and extricated the Argives, who were closely besieged, and this in + spite not only of the enemy, but of the savage nature of the ground + itself. Again they marched on Asine (24) in Laconian territory, and + defeated the Lacedaemonian garrison, putting the polemarch Geranor, who + was a Spartan, to the sword, and sacking the suburbs of the town. Indeed, + whenever or wherever they had a mind to send an invading force, neither + night nor wintry weather, nor length of road nor mountain barrier could + stay their march. So that at this date they regarded their prowess as + invincible. (25) The Thebans, it will be understood, could not but feel a + touch of jealousy at these pretensions, and their former friendship to the + Arcadians lost its ardour. With the Eleians, indeed, matters were worse. + The revelation came to them when they demanded back from the Arcadians + certain cities (26) of which the Lacedaemonians had deprived them. They + discovered that their views were held of no account, but that the + Triphylians and the rest who had revolted from them were to be made much + of, because they claimed to be Arcadians. (27) Hence, as contrasted with + the Thebans, the Eleians cherished feelings towards their late friends + which were positively hostile. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) {arkhontas}, see below, "Hell." VII. iv. 33. The formal title of + these Federal magistrates may or may not have been {arkhontes}; + Freeman, "H. F. G." 203, note 6. + + (24) See Grote, "H. G." x. 356. + + (25) Or, "regarded themselves as the very perfection of soldiery." + + (26) In reference to "Hell." III. ii. 25 foll., see Freeman, op. cit. + p. 201, and below, "Hell." VII. iv. 12 (B.C. 365); Busolt, op. + cit. p. 186 foll., in reference to Lasion. + + (27) Busolt, p. 150. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 368. Self-esteem amounting to arrogance—such was the spirit + which animated each section of the allies, when a new phase was introduced + by the arrival of Philiscus (28) of Abydos on an embassy from Ariobarzanes + (29) with large sums of money. This agent's first step was to assemble a + congress of Thebans, allies, and Lacedaemonians at Delphi to treat of + peace. On their arrival, without attempting to communicate or take counsel + with the god as to how peace might be re-established, they fell to + deliberating unassisted; and when the Thebans refused to acquiesce in the + dependency of Messene (30) upon Lacedaemon, Philiscus set about collecting + a large foreign brigade to side with Lacedaemon and to prosecute the war. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (28) See Hicks, 84, p. 152; Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. 51; Grote, "H. G." + x. 357; Curtius, "H. G." (Eng. tr.) iv. 458; Diod. xv. 90. + + (29) See above, V. i. 28; "Ages." ii. 26. + + (30) See Hicks, 86. +</pre> + <p> + Whilst these matters were still pending, the second reinforcements from + Dionysius (31) arrived. There was a difference of opinion as to where the + troops should be employed, the Athenians insisting that they ought to + march into Thessaly to oppose the Thebans, the Lacedaemonians being in + favour of Laconia; and among the allies this latter opinion carried the + day. The reinforcement from Dionysius accordingly sailed round to Laconia, + where Archidamus incorporated them with the state troops and opened the + campaign. Caryae he took by storm, and put every one captured to the + sword, and from this point marching straight upon the Parrhasians of + Arcadia, he set about ravaging the country along with his Syracusan + supporters. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (31) See above, SS. 20, 22, p. 191 foll. The date is B.C. 368 + according to Grote, "H. G." x. 362 foll.; al. B.C. 367. +</pre> + <p> + Presently when the Arcadians and Argives arrived with succours, he + retreated and encamped on the knolls above Medea. (32) While he was there, + Cissidas, the officer in charge of the reinforcement from Dionysius, made + the announcement that the period for his stay abroad had elapsed; and the + words were no sooner out of his lips than off he set on the road to + Sparta. The march itself, however, was not effected without delays, for he + was met and cut off by a body of Messenians at a narrow pass, and was + forced in these straits to send to Archidamus and beg for assistance, + which the latter tendered. When they had got as far as the bend (33) on + the road to Eutresia, there were the Arcadians and Argives advancing upon + Laconia and apparently intending, like the Messenians, to shut the Spartan + off from the homeward road. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (32) Or, "Melea," or "Malea." E. Curtius conjectures {Meleas} for + {Medeas} of the MSS., and probably the place referred to is the + township of Malea in the Aegytis (Pausan. VIII. xxvii. 4); see + above, "Hell." VI. v. 24, "the Maleatid." See Dind. "Hist. Gr.," + Ox. MDCCCLIII., note ad loc.; Curtius, "H. G." iv. 459; Grote, "H. + G." x. 362. + + (33) Or, "the resting-place"; cf. mod. "Khan." L. and S. cf. Arist. + "Frogs," 113. "Medea," below, is probably "Malea," (see last + note). +</pre> + <p> + Archidamus, debouching upon a flat space of ground where the roads to + Eutresia and Medea converge, drew up his troops and offered battle. When + happened then is thus told:—He passed in front of the regiments and + addressed them in terms of encouragement thus: "Fellow-citizens, the day + has come which calls upon us to prove ourselves brave men and look the + world in the face with level eyes. (34) Now are we to deliver to those who + come after us our fatherland intact as we received it from our fathers; + now will we cease hanging our heads in shame before our children and + wives, our old men and our foreign friends, in sight of whom in days of + old we shone forth conspicuous beyond all other Hellenes." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (34) See Plut. "Ages." 53 (Clough, vol. iv. p. 41). +</pre> + <p> + The words were scarcely uttered (so runs the tale), when out of the clear + sky came lightnings and thunderings, (35) with propitious manifestation to + him; and it so happened that on his right wing there stood a sacred + enclosure and a statue of Heracles, his great ancestor. As the result of + all these things, so deep a strength and courage came into the hearts of + his soldiers, as they tell, that the generals had hard work to restrain + their men as they pushed forward to the front. Presently, when Archidamus + led the advance, a few only of the enemy cared to await them at the + spear's point, and were slain; the mass of them fled, and fleeing fell. + Many were cut down by the cavalry, many by the Celts. When the battle + ceased and a trophy had been erected, the Spartan at once despatched home + Demoteles, the herald, with the news. He had to announce not only the + greatness of the victory, but the startling fact that, while the enemy's + dead were numerous, not one single Lacedaemonian had been slain. (36) + Those in Sparta to whom the news was brought, as says the story, when they + heard it, one and all, beginning with Agesilaus, and, after him, the + elders and the ephors, wept for joy—so close akin are tears to joy + and pain alike. There were others hardly less pleased than the + Lacedaemonians themselves at the misfortune which had overtaken the + Arcadians: these were the Thebans and Eleians—so offensive to them + had the boastful behaviour of these men become. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (35) See Xen. "Apolog." 12; Homer, "Il." ii. 353; "Od." xx. 113 foll. + + (36) According to Diod. xv. 72, ten thousand of the enemy fell. +</pre> + <p> + The problem perpetually working in the minds of the Thebans was how they + were to compass the headship of Hellas; and they persuaded themselves + that, if they sent an embassy to the King of Persia, they could not but + gain some advantage by his help. Accordingly they did not delay, but + called together the allies, on the plea that Euthycles the Lacedaemonian + was already at the Persian court. The commissioners sent up were, on the + part of the Thebans, Pelopidas; (37) on the part of the Arcadians, + Antiochus, the pancratiast; and on that of the Eleians, Archidamus. There + was also an Argive in attendance. The Athenians on their side, getting + wind of the matter, sent up two commissioners, Timagoras and Leon. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (37) See Plut. "Pelop." 30 (Clough, vol. ii. p. 230). For the date see + Grote, "H. G." x. 365, 379; Curtius, "H. G." iv. 460. +</pre> + <p> + When they arrived at the Persian court the influence of Pelopidas was + preponderant with the Persian. He could point out that, besides the fact + that the Thebans alone among all the Hellenes had fought on the king's + side at Plataeae, (38) they had never subsequently engaged in military + service against the Persians; nay, the very ground of Lacedaemonian + hostility to them was that they had refused to march against the Persian + king with Agesilaus, (39) and would not even suffer him to sacrifice to + Artemis at Aulis (where Agamemnon sacrificed before he set sail for Asia + and captured Troy). In addition, there were two things which contributed + to raise the prestige of Thebes, and redounded to the honour of Pelopidas. + These were the victory of the Thebans at Leuctra, and the indisputable + fact that they had invaded and laid waste the territory of Laconia. + Pelopidas went on to point out that the Argives and Arcadians had lately + been defeated in battle by the Lacedaemonians, when his own countrymen + were not there to assist. The Athenian Timagoras supported all these + statements of the Theban by independent testimony, and stood second in + honour after Pelopidas. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (38) See Thuc. iii. 58, 59, 60. + + (39) See above, "Hell." III. iv. 3; Lincke, "Zur. Xen. Krit." p. 315. +</pre> + <p> + At this point of the proceedings Pelopidas was asked by the king, what + special clause he desired inserted in the royal rescript. He replied as + follows: "Messene to be independent of Lacedaemon, and the Athenians to + lay up their ships of war. Should either power refuse compliance in these + respects, such refusal to be a casus belli; and any state refusing to take + part in the military proceedings consequent, to be herself the first + object of attack." These clauses were drawn up and read to the + ambassadors, when Leon, in the hearing of the king, exclaimed: "Upon my + word! Athenians, it strikes me it is high time you looked for some other + friend than the great king." The secretary reported the comment of the + Athenian envoy, and produced presently an altered copy of the document, + with a clause inserted: "If the Athenians have any better and juster views + to propound, let them come to the Persian court and explain them." (40) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (40) See Grote, "H. G." x. 402; and "Ages." viii. 3. +</pre> + <p> + Thus the ambassadors returned each to his own home and were variously + received. Timagoras, on the indictment of Leon, who proved that his + fellow-commissioner not only refused to lodge with him at the king's + court, but in every way played into the hands of Pelopidas, was put to + death. Of the other joint commissioners, the Eleian, Archidamus, was loud + in his praises of the king and his policy, because he had shown a + preference to Elis over the Arcadians; while for a converse reason, + because the Arcadian league was slighted, Antiochus not only refused to + accept any gift, but brought back as his report to the general assembly of + the Ten Thousand, (41) that the king appeared to have a large army of + confectioners and pastry-cooks, butlers and doorkeepers; but as for men + capable of doing battle with Hellenes, he had looked carefully, and could + not discover any. Besides all which, even the report of his wealth seemed + to him, he said, bombastic nonsense. "Why, the golden plane-tree that is + so belauded is not big enough to furnish shade to a single grasshopper." + (42) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (41) See above, VI. v. 6; Freeman, "Hist. Fed. Gov." 202; Demosth. "F. + L." 220, etc. + + (42) Or, "the golden plane-tree they romance about would not suffice + to," etc. +</pre> + <p> + At Thebes a conference of the states had been convened to listen to the + great king's letter. The Persian who bore the missive merely pointed to + the royal seal, and read the document; whereupon the Thebans invited all, + who wished to be their friends, to take an oath to what they had just + heard, as binding on the king and on themselves. To which the ambassadors + from the states replied that they had been sent to listen to a report, not + to take oaths; if oaths were wanted, they recommended the Thebans to send + ambassadors to the several states. The Arcadian Lycomedes, moreover, added + that the congress ought not to be held at Thebes at all, but at the seat + of war, wherever that might be. This remark brought down the wrath of the + Thebans on the speaker; they exclaimed that he was bent on breaking up the + alliance. Whereupon the Arcadian refused to take a seat in the congress at + all, and got up and betook himself off there and then, accompanied by all + the Arcadian envoys. Since, therefore, the assembled representatives + refused to take the oaths at Thebes, the Thebans sent to the different + states, one by one in turn, urging each to undertake solemnly to act in + accordance with the great king's rescript. They were persuaded that no + individual state would venture to quarrel with themselves and the Persian + monarch at once. As a matter of fact, however, when they arrived at + Corinth—which was the first stated vist—the Corinthians stood + out and gave as their answer, that they had no desire for any common oath + or undertaking with the king. The rest of the states followed suit, giving + answers of a similar tenor, so that this striving after empire on the part + of Pelopidas and the Thebans melted like a cloud-castle into air. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 367. (43) But Epaminondas was bent on one more effort. With a view to + forcing the Arcadians and the rest of the allies to pay better heed to + Thebes, he desired first to secure the adhesion of the Achaeans, and + decided to march an army into Achaea. Accordingly, he persuaded the Argive + Peisias, who was at the head of military affairs in Argos, to seize and + occupy Oneion in advance. Persias, having ascertained that only a sorry + guard was maintained over Oneion by Naucles, the general commanding the + Lacedaemonian foreign brigade, and by Timomachus the Athenian, under cover + of night seized and occupied with two thousand heavy infantry the rising + ground above Cenchreae, taking with him provisions for seven days. Within + the interval the Thebans arrived and surmounted the pass of Oneion; + whereupon the allied troops with Epaminondas at their head, advanced into + Achaea. The result of the campaign was that the better classes of Achaea + gave in their adhesion to him; and on his personal authority Epaminondas + insisted that there should be no driving of the aristocrats into exile, + nor any modification of the constitution. He was content to take a pledge + of fealty from the Achaeans to this effect: "Verily and indeed we will be + your allies, and follow whithersoever the Thebans lead." (44) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (43) B.C. 367, according to Grote, "H. G." x. 365, note 1; al. B.C. + 366. + + (44) See Freeman, "Hist. Fed. Gov." p. 241: "We read of local + oligarchies (in the several cities of Achaia) which Epameinondas + found and left in possession, but which the home government of + Thebes thought good to expel, and to substitute democracies under + the protection of Theban harmosts. This policy did not answer, as + the large bodies of exiles thus formed contrived to recover the + cities, and to bring them to a far more decided Spartan + partisanship than before." +</pre> + <p> + So he departed home. The Arcadians, however, and the partisans of the + opposite faction in Thebes were ready with an indictment against him: + "Epaminondas," they said, "had merely swept and garnished Achaea for the + Lacedaemonians, and then gone off." The Thebans accordingly resolved to + send governors (45) into the states of Achaea; and those officers on + arrival joined with the commonalty and drove out the better folk, and set + up democracies throughout Achaea. On their side, these exiles coalesced, + and, marching upon each separate state in turn, for they were pretty + numerous, speedily won their restoration and dominated the states. As the + party thus reinstated no longer steered a middle course, but went heart + and soul into an alliance with Lacedaemon, the Arcadians found themselves + between the upper and the nether millstone—that is to say, the + Lacedaemonians and the Achaeans. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (45) Lit. "harmosts." +</pre> + <p> + At Sicyon, hitherto, (46) the constitution was based on the ancient laws; + but at this date Euphron (who during the Lacedaemonian days had been the + greatest man in Sicyon, and whose ambition it was to hold a like + pre-eminence under their opponents) addressed himself to the Argives and + Arcadians as follows: "If the wealthiest classes should ever come into + power in Sicyon, without a doubt the city would take the first opportunity + of readopting a Laconian policy; whereas, if a democracy be set up," he + added, "you may rest assured Sicyon will hold fast by you. All I ask you + is to stand by me; I will do the rest. It is I who will call a meeting of + the people; and by that selfsame act I shall give you a pledge of my good + faith and present you with a state firm in its alliance. All this, be + assured," he added, "I do because, like yourselves, I have long ill + brooked the pride of Lacedaemon, and shall be glad to escape the yoke of + bondage." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (46) See Grote, "H. G." x. 379. +</pre> + <p> + These proposals found favour with the Arcadians and the Argives, who + gladly gave the assistance demanded. Euphron straightway, in the + market-place, in the presence of the two powers concerned, (47) proceeded + to convene the Demos, as if there were to be a new constitution, based on + the principle of equality. (48) When the convention met, he bade them + appoint generals: they might choose whom they liked. Whereupon they + elected Euphron himself, Hippodamus, Cleander, Acrisius, and Lysander. + When these matters were arranged he appointed Adeas, his own son, over the + foreign brigade, in place of the former commander, Lysimenes, whom he + removed. His next step was promptly to secure the fidelity of the foreign + mercenaries by various acts of kindness, and to attach others; and he + spared neither the public nor the sacred moneys for this object. He had, + to aid him, further, the property of all the citizens whom he exiled on + the ground of Laconism, and of this without scruple he in every case + availed himself. As for his colleagues in office, some he treacherously + put to death, others he exiled, by which means he got everything under his + own power, and was now a tyrant without disguise. The method by which he + got the allies to connive at his doings was twofold. Partly he worked on + them by pecuniary aid, partly by the readiness with which he lent the + support of his foreign troops on any campaign to which they might invite + him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (47) Lit. "the Argives and the Arcadians." + + (48) Lit. "on fair and equal terms." See Thuc. v. 79. +</pre> + <p> + II + </p> + <p> + B.C. 366. Matters had so far progressed that the Argives had already + fortified the Trikaranon above the Heraion as an outpost to threaten + Phlius, while the Sicyonians were engaged in fortifying Thyamia (1) on + their frontier; and between the two the Phliasians were severely pinched. + They began to suffer from dearth of necessaries; but, in spite of all, + remained unshaken in their alliance. It is the habit of historians, I + know, to record with admiration each noble achievement of the larger + powers, but to me it seems a still more worthy task to bring to light the + great exploits of even a little state found faithful in the performance of + fair deeds. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) "Thyamia is placed by Ross on the lofty hill of Spiria, the + northern prolongation of Tricaranum, between the villages Stimanga + and Skrapani."—"Dict. Anct. Geog." "Phlius." +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 370-369. Now these Phliasians were friends of Lacedaemon while at the + zenith of her power. After her disaster on the field of Leuctra, when many + of the Perioeci, and the helots to a man, revolted; when, more than that, + the allies, save only quite a few, forsook her; (2) and when united + Hellas, so to speak, was marching on her—these Phliasians remained + stanch in their allegiance; and, in spite of the hostility of the most + powerful states of the Peloponnese, to wit the Arcardians and the Argives, + they insisted on coming to her aid. It fell to their lot to cross into + Prasiae as the rearguard of the reinforcements, which consisted of the men + of Corinth, of Epidaurus and of Troezen, of Hermione, Halieis, and Sicyon + and Pellene, in the days before any of these had revolted. (3) Not even + when the commander of the foreign brigade, picking up the divisions + already across, left them behind and was gone—not even so did they + flinch or turn back, but hired a guide from Prasiae, and though the enemy + was massed round Amyclae, slipped through his ranks, as best they could, + and so reached Sparta. It was then that the Lacedaemonians, besides other + honours conferred upon them, sent them an ox as a gift of hospitality. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) See above, "VI." v. 29. + + (3) See "Hell." VII. i. 18. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 369. Later on, when the enemy had retired from Laconia, the Argives, + ill brooking so much zeal for Lacedaemon on the part of Phlius, marched in + full force against the little state, and fell to ravaging their territory. + Even then they remained undaunted; and when the enemy turned to retire, + destroying all that he could lay hands upon, out dashed the cavalry of the + Phliasians and dogged his retreat. And notwithstanding that the Argive's + rear consisted of the whole of his cavalry, with some companies of + infantry to support them, they attacked him, sixty in number, and routed + his whole rearguard. They slew, indeed, but a few of them; but, having so + slain that handful, they paused and erected a trophy in full sight of the + Argive army with as little concern as if they had cut down their enemies + to a man. + </p> + <p> + Once again the Lacedaemonians and their allies were guarding Oneion, (4) + and the Thebans were threatening to scale the pass. The Arcadians and + Eleians (5) were moving forwards through Nemea to effect a junction with + the Thebans, when a hint was conveyed to them by some Phliasian exiles, + "Only show yourselves before Phlius and the town is yours." An agreement + was made, and in the dead of night a party consisting of the exiles + themselves and others with them, about six hundred in number, planted + themselves close under the walls with scaling-ladders. Presently the + scouts from the Trikaranon signalled to the city that the enemy was + advancing. The citizens were all attention; their eyes fixed upon their + scouts. Meanwhile the traitors within were likewise signalling to those + seated under lee of the walls "to scale"; and these, scaling up, seized + the arms of the guards, which they found abandoned, and fell to pursuing + the day sentinels, ten in number (one out of each squad of five being + always left on day duty). (6) One of these was put to the sword as he lay + asleep, and a second as he was escaping to the Heraion; but the other + eight day-pickets leapt down the wall on the side towards the city, one + after another. The scaling party now found themselves in undisputed + possession of the citadel. But the shouting had reached the city below: + the citizens rallied to the rescue; and the enemy began by sallying forth + from the citadel, and did battle in the forefront of the gate leading down + to the city. By and by, being strongly beleaguered by the ever-increasing + reinforcements of the citizens, they retired, falling back upon the + citadel; and the citizens along with the enemy forced their way in. The + centre of the citadel was speedily deserted; for the enemy scaled the + walls and towers, and showered blows and missiles upon the citizens below. + These defended themselves from the ground, or pressed the encounter home + by climbing the ladders which led to the walls. Once masters of certain + towers on this side and the other of the invaders, the citizens came to + close quarters with them with reckless desperation. The invaders, pushed + and pommelled by dint of such audacity and hard hitting, were cooped up + like sheep into narrower and narrower space. But at that critical moment + the Arcadians and the Argives were circling round the city, and had begun + to dig through the walls of the citadel from its upper side. (7) Of the + citizens inside some were beating down their assailants on the wall; (8) + others, those of them who were climbing up from outside and were still on + the scaling-ladders, whilst a third set were delivering battle against + those who had mounted the towers. These last had found fire in the men's + quarters, and were engaged in setting the towers and all ablaze, bringing + up sheaves of corn and grass—an ample harvesting, as luck would have + it, garnered off the citadel itself. Thereupon the occupants of the + towers, in terror of the flames, leapt down one by one, while those on the + walls, under the blows of the defenders, tumbled off with similar + expedition; and as soon as they had once begun to yield, the whole + citadel, in almost less time than it takes to tell, was cleared of the + enemy. In an instant out dashed the cavalry, and the enemy, seeing them, + beat a hasty retreat, leaving behind scaling-ladders and dead, besides + some comrades hopelessly maimed. In fact, the enemy, what between those + who were slain inside and those who leapt from the walls, lost not less + than eighty men. And now it was a goodly sight to see the brave men grasp + one another by the hand and pledge each other on their preservation, + whilst the women brought them drink and cried for joy. Not one there + present but in very sooth was overcome by laughter mixed with tears. (9) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) B.C. 369? al. B.C. 368. See above, "Hell." VII. i. 15; Grote, "H. + G." x. 346. + + (5) See above, "Hell." VII. i. 18, and below, S. 8. + + (6) Or, "one member of both the squads of five was left behind"—i.e. + two out of the ten could not keep up with the rest in their + flight, and were taken and killed; one indeed had not started, but + was killed in sleep. + + (7) Or, "downwards" (L. and S.); or, "in front," "von vorn" (Buchs). + + (8) Reading, {tous eti toi teikhous}. See Otto Keller for various + emendations of the passage. + + (9) In true Homeric fashion, as Pollux (ii. 64) observes. See Homer, + "Il." vi. 484. See above, VII. i. 32; "Cyrop." VII. v. 32; + "Hiero," iii. 5; "Sym." ii. 24; "Antony and Cleopatra," III. ii. + 43. +</pre> + <p> + Next year also (10) Phlius was invaded by the Argives and all the + Arcadians. The reason of this perpetually-renewed attack on Phlius is not + far to seek: partly it was the result of spleen, partly the little + township stood midway between them, and they cherished the hope that + through want of the necessaries of life they would bring it over. During + this invasion the cavalry and the picked troop of the Phliasians, assisted + by some Athenian knights, made another famous charge at the crossing of + the river. (11) They made it so hot for the enemy that for the rest of + that day he was forced to retire under the mountain ridges, and to hold + aloof as if afraid to trample down the corn-crops of a friendly people on + the flat below. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) B.C. 368 (or 367). + + (11) The Asopus. +</pre> + <p> + Again another time (12) the Theban commander in Sicyon marched out against + Phlius, taking with him the garrison under his personal command, with the + Sicyonians and Pellenians (for at the date of the incident these states + followed in the wake of Thebes). Euphron was there also with his + mercenaries, about two thousand in number, to share the fortunes of the + field. The mass of the troops began their descent on the Heraion by the + Trikaranon, intending to ravage the flat bottom below. At the gate leading + to Corinth the Theban general left his Sicyonians and Pellenians on the + height, to prevent the Phliasians getting behind him at this point and so + over the heads of his troops as they lay at the Heraion beneath. (13) As + soon as the citizens of Phlius found that hostile troops were advancing on + their corn-land, out dashed the cavalry with the chosen band of the + Phliasians and gave battle, not suffering the enemy to penetrate into the + plain. The best part of the day was spent in taking long shots at one + another on that field; Euphron pushing his attack down to the point where + cavalry could operate, the citizens retaliating as far as the Heraion. + Presently the time to withdraw had come, and the enemy began to retire, + following the circle of the Trikaranon; the short cut to reach the + Pellenians being barred by the ravine which runs in front of the walls. + The Phliasians escorted their retreating foes a little way up the steep, + and then turning off dashed along the road beside the walls, making for + the Pellenians and those with them; whereupon the Theban, perceiving the + haste of the Phliasians, began racing with his infantry to outspeed them + and bring succour to the Pellenians. The cavalry, however, arrived first + and fell to attacking the Pellenians, who received and withstood the + shock, and the cavalry drew back. A second time they charged, and were + supported by some infantry detachments, which had now come up. It ended in + a hand-to-hand fight; and eventually the enemy gave way. On the field lay + dead some Sicyonians, and of the Pellenians many a good man. In record of + the feat the Phliasians began to raise a trophy, as well they might; and + loud and clear the paean rang. As to the Theban and Euphron, they and all + their men stood by and stared at the proceedings, like men who had raced + to see a sight. After all was over the one party retired to Sicyon and the + other withdrew into their city. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) B.C. 367 (or 366). + + (13) Lit. "above the Heraion" (where his main body lay). +</pre> + <p> + That too was another noble exploit of the Phliasians, when they took the + Pellenian Proxenus prisoner and, although suffering from scarcity at the + time, sent him back without a ransom. "As generous as brave," such is + their well-earned title who were capable of such performance. + </p> + <p> + The heroic resolution with which these men maintained their loyalty to + their friends is manifest. When excluded from the fruits of their own + soil, they contrived to live, partly by helping themselves from the + enemy's territory, partly by purchasing from Corinth, though to reach that + market they must run the gauntlet of a thousand risks; and having reached + it their troubles began afresh. There were difficulties in providing the + requisite sum, difficulties in arranging with the purveyors, and it was + barely possible to find sureties for the very beasts which should carry + home their marketing. They had reached the depth of despair, and were + absolutely at a loss what to do, when they arranged with Chares to escort + their convoy. Once safe inside Phlius, they begged him to help them to + convey their useless and sick folk to Pellene. (14) These they left at + that place; and after making purchases and packing as many beasts of + burthen as they could, they set off to return in the night, not in + ignorance that they would be laid in wait for by the enemy, but persuaded + that the want of provisions was a worse evil than mere fighting. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) What is the date of this incident? See above, "Hell." VII. ii. 3; + below VII. iv. 17. +</pre> + <p> + The men of Phlius pushed forward with Chares; presently they stumbled on + the enemy and at once grappled to their work. Pressing hard on the foe, + they called cheerily to one another, and shouted at the same time to + Chares to bring up his aid. In short, the victory was theirs; and the + enemy was driven off the road; and so they got themselves and their + supplies safely home. The long night-watching superinduced sleep which + lasted well into the next day. But Chares was no sooner out of bed then he + was accosted by the cavalry and the pick of the heavy infantry with the + following appeal: "Chares, to-day you have it in your power to perform the + noblest deed of arms. The Sicyonians are fortifying an outpost on our + borders, they have plenty of stone-masons but a mere handful of hoplites. + We the knights of Phlius and we the flower of our infantry force will lead + the way; and you shall follow after with your mercenaries. Perhaps when + you appear on the scene you will find the whole thing finished, or perhaps + your coming will send the enemy flying, as happened at Pellene. If you do + not like the sound of these proposals, sacrifice and take counsel of the + gods. Our belief is that the gods will bid you yet more emphatically than + we to take this step. Only this, Chares, you must well consider, that if + you do take it you will have established an outpost on the enemy's + frontier; you will have saved from perdition a friendly city; you will win + eternal glory in your own fatherland; and among friends and foes alike no + name will be heralded with louder praise than that of Chares." + </p> + <p> + Chares was persuaded, and proceeded to offer sacrifice. Meanwhile the + Phliasian cavalry were donning their breastplates and bridling their + horses, and the heavy infantry made every preparation for the march. Then + they took their arms, fell into line, and tramped off to the place of + sacrifice. Chares with the soothsayer stepped forward to meet them, + announcing that the victims were favourable. "Only wait for us," they + exclaimed; "we will sally forth with you at once." The heralds' cry "To + arms!" was sounded, and with a zeal which was almost miraculous the + mercenaries themselves rushed out. As soon as Chares began the march, the + Phliasian cavalry and infantry got in front of him. At first they led off + at a smart pace; presently they began to bowl (15) along more quickly, and + finally the cavalry were tearing over the ground might and main, whilst + the infantry, at the greatest pace compatible with keeping their ranks, + tore after them; and behind them, again, came Chares zealously following + up in their rear. There only remained a brief interval of daylight before + the sun went down, and they came upon the enemy in the fortress, some + washing, some cooking a savoury meal, others kneading their bread, others + making their beds. These, when they saw the vehemence of the attack, at + once, in utter panic, took to flight, leaving behind all their provisions + for the brave fellows who took their place. They, as their reward, made a + fine supper off these stores and others which had come from home, pouring + out libations for their good fortune and chanting the battle-hymn; after + which they posted pickets for the night and slumbered well. The messenger + with the news of their success at Thyamia arrived at Corinth in the night. + The citizens of that state with hearty friendship at once ordered out by + herald all the oxen and beasts of burthen, which they loaded with food and + brought to Phlius; and all the while the fortress was building day by day + these convoys of food were duly despatched. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) See "Anab." VII. iii. 46. +</pre> + <p> + III + </p> + <p> + But on this topic enough, perhaps, has been said to demonstrate the + loyalty of the men of Phlius to their friends, their bravery in war, and, + lastly, their steadfastness in maintaining their alliance in spite of + famine. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 367-366. It seems to have been somewhere about this date that Aeneas + the Stymphalian, (1) who had become general of the Arcadians, finding that + the state of affairs in Sicyon was intolerable, marched up with his army + into the acropolis. Here he summoned a meeting of the Sicyonian + aristocrats already within the walls, and sent to fetch those others who + had been banished without a decree of the people. (2) Euphron, taking + fright at these proceedings, fled for safety to the harbour-town of + Sicyon. Hither he summoned Pasimelus from Corinth, and by his + instrumentality handed over the harbour to the Lacedaemonians. Once more + reappearing in his old character, he began to pose as an ally of Sparta. + He asserted that his fidelity to Lacedaemon had never been interrupted; + for when the votes were given in the city whether Sicyon should give up + her allegiance to Lacedaemon, "I, with one or two others," said he, "voted + against the measure; but afterwards these people betrayed me, and in my + desire to avenge myself on them I set up a democracy. At present all + traitors to yourselves are banished—I have seen to that. If only I + could get the power into my own hands, I would go over to you, city and + all, at once. All that I can do at present, I have done; I have + surrendered to you this harbour." That was what Euphron said to his + audience there, but of the many who heard his words, how many really + believed his words is by no means evident. However, since I have begun the + story of Euphron, I desire to bring it to its close. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) Is this man the famous writer {o taktikos}, a portion of whose + works, the "Treatise on Siege Operations," has been preserved + (recently re-edited by Arnold Hug—"Commentarius Poliorceticus," + Lips. Trubner, 1884)? So Casaubon supposed. Cf. "Com. Pol." 27, + where the writer mentions {paneia} as the Arcadian term for + "panics." Readers of the "Anabasis" will recollect the tragic end + of another Aeneas, also of Stymphalus, an Arcadian officer. On the + official title {strategos} (general), Freeman ("Hist. Fed. Gov." + 204) notes that "at the head of the whole League there seems to + have been, as in so many other cases, a single Federal general." + Cf. Diod. xv. 62. + + (2) See above, VII. i. 46. +</pre> + <p> + Faction and party strife ran high in Sicyon between the better classes and + the people, when Euphron, getting a body of foreign troops from Athens, + once more obtained his restoration. The city, with the help of the + commons, he was master of, but the Theban governor held the citadel. + Euphron, perceiving that he would never be able to dominate the state + whilst the Thebans held the acropolis, collected money and set off to + Thebes, intending to persuade the Thebans to expel the aristocrats and + once again to hand over the city to himself. But the former exiles, having + got wind of this journey of his, and of the whole intrigue, set off + themselves to Thebes in front of him. (3) When, however, they saw the + terms of intimacy on which he associated with the Theban authorities, in + terror of his succeeding in his mission some of them staked their lives on + the attempt and stabbed Euphron in the Cadmeia, where the magistrates and + senate were seated. The magistrates, indeed, could not but indict the + perpetrators of the deed before the senate, and spoke as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) Or, "on an opposition journey." +</pre> + <p> + "Fellow-citizens, it is our duty to arraign these murderers of Euphron, + the men before you, on the capital charge. Mankind may be said to fall + into two classes: there are the wise and temperate, (4) who are incapable + of any wrong and unhallowed deed; and there are the base, the bad, who do + indeed such things, but try to escape the notice of their fellows. The men + before you are exceptional. They have so far exceeded all the rest of men + in audacity and foul villainy that, in the very presence of the + magistrates and of yourselves, who alone have the power of life and death, + they have taken the law into their own hands, (5) and have slain this man. + But they stand now before the bar of justice, and they must needs pay the + extreme penalty; for, if you spare them, what visitor will have courage to + approach the city? Nay, what will become of the city itself, if license is + to be given to any one who chooses to murder those who come here, before + they have even explained the object of their visit? It is our part, then, + to prosecute these men as arch-villains and miscreants, whose contempt for + law and justice is only matched by the supreme indifference with which + they treat this city. It is your part, now that you have heard the + charges, to impose upon them that penalty which seems to be the measure of + their guilt." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (4) Lit. "the sound of soul." + + (5) Or, "they have been judge and jury both, and executioners to + boot." +</pre> + <p> + Such were the words of the magistrates. Among the men thus accused, all + save one denied immediate participation in the act. It was not their hands + that had dealt the blow. This one not only confessed the deed, but made a + defence in words somewhat as follows: + </p> + <p> + "As to treating you with indifference, men of Thebes, that is not possible + for a man who knows that with you lies the power to deal with him as you + list. Ask rather on what I based my confidence when I slew the man; and be + well assured that, in the first place, I based it on the conviction that I + was doing right; next, that your verdict will also be right and just. I + knew assuredly how you dealt with Archias (6) and Hypates and that company + whom you detected in conduct similar to that of Euphron: you did not stay + for formal voting, but at the first opportunity within your reach you + guided the sword of vengeance, believing that by the verdict of mankind a + sentence of death had already been passed against the conspicuously + profane person, the manifest traitor, and him who lays to his hand to + become a tyrant. See, then, what follows. Euphron was liable on each of + these several counts: he was a conspicuously profane person, who took into + his keeping temples rich in votive offerings of gold and silver, and swept + them bare of their sacred treasures; he was an arrant traitor—for + what treason could be more manifest than Euphron's? First he was the bosom + friend of Lacedaemon, but presently chose you in their stead; and, after + exchange of solemn pledges between yourselves and him, once more turned + round and played the traitor to you, and delivered up the harbour to your + enemies. Lastly, he was most undisguisedly a tyrant, who made not free men + only, but free fellow-citizens his slaves; who put to death, or drove into + exile, or robbed of their wealth and property, not malefactors, note you, + but the mere victims of his whim and fancy; and these were ever the better + folk. Once again restored by the help of your sworn foes and antagonists, + the Athenians, to his native town of Sicyon, the first thing he did was to + take up arms against the governor from Thebes; but, finding himself + powerless to drive him from the acropolis, he collected money and betook + himself hither. Now, if it were proved that he had mustered armed bands to + attack you, I venture to say, you would have thanked me that I slew him. + What then, when he came furnished with vile moneys, to corrupt you + therewith, to bribe you to make him once more lord and master of the + state? How shall I, who dealt justice upon him, justly suffer death at + your hands? For to be worsted in arms implies injury certainly, but of the + body only: the defeated man is not proved to be dishonest by his loss of + victory. But he who is corrupted by filthy lucre, contrary to the standard + of what is best, (7) is at once injured and involved in shame. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) See above, V. iv. 2. + + (7) Or, as we should say, "in violation of conscience." +</pre> + <p> + "Now if he had been your friend, however much he was my national foe, I do + confess it had been scarce honourable of me to have stabbed him to death + in your presence: but why, I should like to ask, should the man who + betrayed you be less your enemy than mine? 'Ah, but,' I hear some one + retort, 'he came of his own accord.' I presume, sir, you mean that had he + chanced to be slain by somebody at a distance from your state, that + somebody would have won your praise; but now, on the ground that he came + back here to work mischief on the top of mischief, 'he had the right to + live'! (8) In what part of Hellas, tell me, sir, do Hellenes keep a truce + with traitors, double-dyed deserters, and tyrants? Moreover, I must remind + you that you passed a resolution—if I mistake not, it stands + recorded in your parliamentary minutes—that 'renegades are liable to + be apprehended (9) in any of the allied cities.' Now, here is a renegade + restoring himself without any common decree of the allied states: will any + one tell me on what ground this person did not deserve to die? What I + maintain, sirs, is that if you put me to death, by so doing you will be + aiding and abetting your bitterest foe; while, by a verdict sanctioning + the justice of my conduct, you will prove your willingness to protect the + interests not of yourselves only, but of the whole body of your allies." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Or, "he was wrongfully slain." + + (9) For this right of extradition see Plut. "Lys." xxvii. +</pre> + <p> + The Thebans on hearing these pleadings decided that Euphron had only + suffered the fate which he deserved. His own countrymen, however, conveyed + away the body with the honours due to a brave and good man, and buried him + in the market-place, where they still pay pious reverence to his memory as + "a founder of the state." So strictly, it would seem, do the mass of + mankind confine the term brave and good to those who are the benefactors + of themselves. + </p> + <p> + IV + </p> + <p> + B.C. 366. And so ends the history of Euphron. I return to the point + reached at the commencement of this digression. (1) The Phliasians were + still fortifying Thyamia, and Chares was still with them, when Oropus (2) + was seized by the banished citizens of that place. The Athenians in + consequence despatched an expedition in full force to the point of danger, + and recalled Chares from Thyamia; whereupon the Sicyonians and the + Arcadians seized the opportunity to recapture the harbour of Sicyon. + Meanwhile the Athenians, forced to act single-handed, with none of their + allies to assist them, retired from Oropus, leaving that town in the hands + of the Thebans as a deposit till the case at issue could be formally + adjudicated. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) See above, VII. ii. 23; iii. 3; Diod. xv. 76. + + (2) See Thuc. viii. 60. +</pre> + <p> + Now Lycomedes (3) had discovered that the Athenians were harbouring a + grievance against her allies, as follows:—They felt it hard that, + while Athens was put to vast trouble on their account, yet in her need not + a man among them stepped forward to render help. Accordingly he persuaded + the assembly of Ten Thousand to open negotiations with Athens for the + purpose of forming an alliance. (4) At first some of the Athenians were + vexed that they, being friends of Lacedaemon, should become allied to her + opponents; but on further reflection they discovered it was no less + desirable for the Lacedaemonians than for themselves that the Arcadians + should become independent of Thebes. That being so, they were quite ready + to accept an Arcadian alliance. Lycomedes himself was still engaged on + this transaction when, taking his departure from Athens, he died, in a + manner which looked like divine intervention. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) See above, VII. i. 23. + + (4) This proves that "the Ten Thousand made war and peace in the name + of all Arkadia"; cf. "Hell." VII. i. 38; Diod. xv. 59. "They + received and listened to the ambassadors of other Greek states"; + Demosth. "F. L." 220. "They regulated and paid the standing army + of the Federation"; "Hell." VII. iv. 22, 23; Diod. xv. 62. "They + sat in judgment on political offenders against the collective + majority of the Arkadian League"; "Hell." VII. iv. 33; Freeman, + "Hist. Fed. Gov." 203, note 1. +</pre> + <p> + Out of the many vessels at his service he had chosen the one he liked + best, and by the terms of contract was entitled to land at any point he + might desire; but for some reason, selected the exact spot where a body of + Mantinean exiles lay. Thus he died; but the alliance on which he had set + his heart was already consummated. + </p> + <p> + Now an argument was advanced by Demotion (5) in the Assembly of Athens, + approving highly of the friendship with the Arcadians, which to his mind + was an excellent thing, but arguing that the generals should be instructed + to see that Corinth was kept safe for the Athenian people. The + Corinthians, hearing this, lost no time in despatching garrisons of their + own large enough to take the place of the Athenian garrisons at any point + where they might have them, with orders to these latter to retire: "We + have no further need of foreign garrisons," they said. The garrisons did + as they were bid. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (5) Of Demotion nothing more, I think, is known. Grote ("H. G." x. + 397) says: "The public debates of the Athenian assembly were not + favourable to the success of a scheme like that proposed by + Demotion, to which secrecy was indispensable. Compare another + scheme" (the attempted surprise of Mitylene, B.C. 428), "divulged + in like manner, in Thuc. iii. 3." +</pre> + <p> + As soon as the Athenian garrison troops were met together in the city of + Corinth, the Corinthian authorities caused proclamation to be made + inviting all Athenians who felt themselves wronged to enter their names + and cases upon a list, and they would recover their dues. While things + were in this state, Chares arrived at Cenchreae with a fleet. Learning + what had been done, he told them that he had heard there were designs + against the state of Corinth, and had come to render assistance. The + authorities, while thanking him politely for his zeal, were not any the + more ready to admit the vessels into the harbour, but bade him sail away; + and after rendering justice to the infantry troops, they sent them away + likewise. Thus the Athenians were quit of Corinth. To the Arcadians, to be + sure, they were forced by the terms of their alliance to send an auxiliary + force of cavalry, "in case of any foreign attack upon Arcadia." At the + same time they were careful not to set foot on Laconian soil for the + purposes of war. + </p> + <p> + The Corinthians had begun to realise on how slender a thread their + political existence hung. They were overmastered by land still as ever, + with the further difficulty of Athenian hostility, or quasi-hostility, now + added. They resolved to collect bodies of mercenary troops, both infantry + and horse. At the head of these they were able at once to guard their + state and to inflict much injury on their neighbouring foes. To Thebes, + indeed, they sent ambassadors to ascertain whether they would have any + prospect of peace if they came to seek it. The Thebans bade them come: + "Peace they should have." Whereupon the Corinthians asked that they might + be allowed to visit their allies; in making peace they would like to share + it with those who cared for it, and would leave those who preferred war to + war. This course also the Thebans sanctioned; and so the Corinthians came + to Lacedaemon and said: + </p> + <p> + "Men of Lacedaemon, we, your friends, are here to present a petition, and + on this wise. If you can discover any safety for us whilst we persist in + warlike courses, we beg that you will show it us; but if you recognise the + hopelessness of our affairs, we would, in that case, proffer this + alternative: if peace is alike conducive to your interests, we beg that + you would join us in making peace, since there is no one with whom we + would more gladly share our safety than with you; if, on the other hand, + you are persuaded that war is more to your interest, permit us at any rate + to make peace for ourselves. So saved to-day, perhaps we may live to help + you in days to come; whereas, if to-day we be destroyed, plainly we shall + never at any time be serviceable again." + </p> + <p> + The Lacedaemonians, on hearing these proposals, counselled the Corinthians + to arrange a peace on their own account; and as for the rest of their + allies, they permitted any who did not care to continue the war along with + them to take a respite and recruit themselves. "As for ourselves," they + said, "we will go on fighting and accept whatever Heaven has in store for + us,"—adding, "never will we submit to be deprived of our territory + of Messene, which we received as an heirloom from our fathers." (6) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (6) See Isocr. "Or." vi. "Archidamos," S. 70; Jebb, "Att. Or." ii. + 193. +</pre> + <p> + Satisfied with this answer, the Corinthians set off to Thebes in quest of + peace. The Thebans, indeed, asked them to agree on oath, not to peace only + but an alliance; to which they answered: "An alliance meant, not peace, + but merely an exchange of war. If they liked, they were ready there and + then," they repeated, "to establish a just and equitable peace." And the + Thebans, admiring the manner in which, albeit in danger, they refused to + undertake war against their benefactors, conceded to them and the + Phliasians and the rest who came with them to Thebes, peace on the + principle that each should hold their own territory. On these terms the + oaths were taken. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the Phliasians, in obedience to the compact, at once retired + from Thyamia; but the Argives, who had taken the oath of peace on + precisely the same terms, finding that they were unable to procure the + continuance of the Phliasian exiles in the Trikaranon as a point held + within the limits of Argos, (7) took over and garrisoned the place, + asserting now that this land was theirs—land which only a little + while before they were ravaging as hostile territory. Further, they + refused to submit the case to arbitration in answer to the challenge of + the Phliasians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) Or, "as a post held by them within the territory of the state." + The passage is perhaps corrupt. +</pre> + <p> + It was nearly at the same date that the son of Dionysius (8) (his father, + Dionysius the first, being already dead) sent a reinforcement to + Lacedaemon of twelve triremes under Timocrates, who on his arrival helped + the Lacedaemonians to recover Sellasia, and after that exploit sailed away + home. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Concerning Dionysius the first, see above, VII. i. 20 foll. 28. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 366-365. Not long after this the Eleians seized Lasion, (9) a place + which in old days was theirs, but at present was attached to the Arcadian + league. The Arcadians did not make light of the matter, but immediately + summoned their troops and rallied to the rescue. Counter-reliefs came also + on the side of Elis—their Three Hundred, and again their Four + Hundred. (10) The Eleians lay encamped during the day face to face with + the invader, but on a somewhat more level position. The Arcadians were + thereby induced under cover of night to mount on to the summit of the hill + overhanging the Eleians, and at day-dawn they began their descent upon the + enemy. The Eleians soon caught sight of the enemy advancing from the + vantage ground above them, many times their number; but a sense of shame + forbade retreat at such a distance. Presently they came to close quarters; + there was a hand-to-hand encounter; the Eleians turned and fled; and in + retiring down the difficult ground lost many men and many arms. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (9) See above, VII. i. 26; Freeman, "Hist. Fed. Gov." p. 201. + + (10) From the sequel it would appear that the former were a picked + corps of infantry and the latter of cavalry. See Thuc. ii. 25; + Busolt, op. cit. p. 175 foll. +</pre> + <p> + Flushed with this achievement the Arcadians began marching on the cities + of the Acroreia, (11) which, with the exception of Thraustus, they + captured, and so reached Olympia. There they made an entrenched camp on + the hill of Kronos, established a garrison, and held control over the + Olympian hill-country. Margana also, by help of a party inside who gave it + up, next fell into their hands. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (11) The mountainous district of Elis on the borders of Arcadia, in + which the rivers Peneius and Ladon take their rise; see "Dict. of + Anct. Geog." s.v.; above, III. ii. 30, IV. ii. 16. Thraustus was + one of the four chief townships of the district. For Margana, see + above, III. ii. 25, 30, IV. ii. 16, VI. v. 2. +</pre> + <p> + These successive advantages gained by their opponents reacted on the + Eleians, and threw them altogether into despair. Meanwhile the Arcadians + were steadily advancing upon their capital. (12) At length they arrived, + and penetrated into the market-place. Here, however, the cavalry and the + rest of the Eleians made a stand, drove the enemy out with some loss, and + set up a trophy. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) I.e. Elis. +</pre> + <p> + It should be mentioned that the city of Elis had previously been in a + state of disruption. The party of Charopus, Thrasonidas and Argeius were + for converting the state into a democracy; the party of Eualcas, Hippias, + and Stratolas (13) were for oligarchy. When the Arcadians, backed by a + large force, appeared as allies of those who favoured a democratic + constitution, the party of Charopus were at once emboldened; and, having + obtained the promise of assistance from the Arcadians, they seized the + acropolis. The Knights and the Three Hundred did not hesitate, but at once + marched up and dislodged them; with the result that about four hundred + citizens, with Argeius and Charopus, were banished. Not long afterwards + these exiles, with the help of some Arcadians, seized and occupied Pylus; + (14) where many of the commons withdrew from the capital to join them, + attracted not only by the beauty of the position, but by the great power + of the Arcadians, in alliance with them. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (13) See below, VII. iv. 31; Busolt, op. cit. p. 175. + + (14) Pylus, a town in "hollow" Elis, upon the mountain road from Elis + to Olympia, at the place where the Ladon flows into the Peneius + (Paus. VI. xxii. 5), near the modern village of Agrapidokhori.— + Baedeker, "Greece," p. 320. See Busolt, p. 179. +</pre> + <p> + There was subsequently another invasion of the territory of the Eleians on + the part of the Arcadians, who were influenced by the representations of + the exiles that the city would come over to them. But the attempt proved + abortive. The Achaeans, who had now become friends with the Eleians, kept + firm guard on the capital, so that the Arcadians had to retire without + further exploit than that of ravaging the country. Immediately, however, + on marching out of Eleian territory they were informed that the men of + Pellene were in Elis; whereupon they executed a marvellously long night + march and seized the Pellenian township of Olurus (15) (the Pellenians at + the date in question having already reverted to their old alliance with + Lacedaemon). And now the men of Pellene, in their turn getting wind of + what had happened at Olurus, made their way round as best they could, and + got into their own city of Pellene; after which there was nothing for it + but to carry on war with the Arcadians in Olurus and the whole body of + their own commons; and in spite of their small numbers they did not cease + till they had reduced Olurus by siege. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) This fortress (placed by Leake at modern Xylokastro) lay at the + entrance of the gorge of the Sys, leading from the Aigialos or + coast-land into the territory of Pellene, which itself lay about + sixty stades from the sea at modern Zougra. For the part played by + Pellene as one of the twelve Achaean states at this period, see + above. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 365. (16) The Arcadians were presently engaged on another campaign + against Elis. While they were encamped between Cyllene (17) and the + capital the Eleians attacked them, but the Arcadians made a stand and won + the battle. Andromachus, the Eleian cavalry general, who was regarded as + responsible for the engagement, made an end of himself; and the rest + withdrew into the city. This battle cost the life also of another there + present—the Spartan Socleides; since, it will be understood, the + Lacedaemonians had by this time become allies of the Eleians. Consequently + the Eleians, being sore pressed on their own territory, sent an embassy + and begged the Lacedaemonians to organise an expedition against the + Arcadians. They were persuaded that in this way they would best arrest the + progress of the Arcadians, who would thus be placed between the two foes. + In accordance with this suggestion Archidamus marched out with a body of + the city troops and seized Cromnus. (18) Here he left a garrison—three + out of the twelve regiments (19)—and so withdrew homewards. The + Arcadians had just ended their Eleian campaign, and, without disbanding + their levies, hastened to the rescue, surrounded Cromnus with a double + line of trenches, and having so secured their position, proceeded to lay + siege to those inside the place. The city of Lacedaemon, annoyed at the + siege of their citizens, sent out an army, again under Archidamus, who, + when he had come, set about ravaging Arcadia to the best of his power, as + also the Sciritid, and did all he could to draw off, if possible, the + besieging army. The Arcadians, for all that, were not one whit the more to + be stirred: they seemed callous to all his proceedings. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (16) See Grote, "H. G." x. 429 foll.; al. B.C. 364. + + (17) The port town of Elis. + + (18) Cromnus, a township near Megalopolis. See Callisthenes, ap. + Athen. 10, p. 452 A. See Schneider's note ad loc. + + (19) Lit. "lochi." See Arnold's note to Thuc. v. 68; below, VII. v. + 10. +</pre> + <p> + Presently espying a certain rising ground, across which the Arcadians had + drawn their outer line of circumvallation, Archidamus proposed to himself + to take it. If he were once in command of that knoll, the besiegers at its + foot would be forced to retire. Accordingly he set about leading a body of + troops round to the point in question, and during this movement the light + infantry in advance of Archidamus, advancing at the double, caught sight + of the Arcadian Eparitoi (20) outside the stockade and attacked them, + while the cavalry made an attempt to enforce their attack simultaneously. + The Arcadians did not swerve: in compact order they waited impassively. + The Lacedaemonians charged a second time: a second time they swerved not, + but on the contrary began advancing. Then, as the hoarse roar and shouting + deepened, Archidamus himself advanced in support of his troops. To do so + he turned aside along the carriage-road leading to Cromnus, and moved + onward in column two abreast, (21) which was his natural order. When they + came into close proximity to one another—Archidamus's troops in + column, seeing they were marching along a road; the Arcadians in compact + order with shields interlinked—at this conjuncture the + Lacedaemonians were not able to hold out for any length of time against + the numbers of the Arcadians. Before long Archidamus had received a wound + which pierced through his thigh, whilst death was busy with those who + fought in front of him, Polyaenidas and Chilon, who was wedded to the + sister of Archidamus, included. The whole of these, numbering no less than + thirty, perished in this action. Presently, falling back along the road, + they emerged into the open ground, and now with a sense of relief the + Lacedaemonians got themselves into battle order, facing the foe. The + Arcadians, without altering their position, stood in compact line, and + though falling short in actual numbers, were in far better heart—the + moral result of an attack on a retreating enemy and the severe loss + inflicted on him. The Lacedaemonians, on the other hand, were sorely + down-hearted: Archidamus lay wounded before their eyes; in their ears rang + the names of those who had died, the fallen being not only brave men, but, + one may say, the flower of Spartan chivalry. The two armies were now close + together, when one of the older men lifted up his voice and cried: "Why + need we fight, sirs? Why not rather make truce and part friends?" Joyously + the words fell on the ears of either host, and they made a truce. The + Lacedaemonians picked up their dead and retired; the Arcadians withdrew to + the point where their advance originally began, and set up a trophy of + victory. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (20) So the troops of the Arcadian Federation were named. Diodorus + (xv. 62) calls them "the select troops," {tous kaloumenous + epilektous}. + + (21) See above, III. i. 22. +</pre> + <p> + Now, as the Arcadians lay at Cromnus, the Eleians from the capital, + advancing in the first instance upon Pylus, fell in with the men of that + place, who had been beaten back from Thalamae. (22) Galloping along the + road, the cavalry of the Eleians, when they caught sight of them, did not + hesitate, but dashed at them at once, and put some to the sword, while + others of them fled for safety to a rising knoll. Ere long the Eleian + infantry arrived, and succeeded in dislodging this remnant on the hillock + also; some they slew, and others, nearly two hundred in number, they took + alive, all of whom where either sold, if foreigners, or, if Eleian exiles, + put to death. After this the Eleians captured the men of Pylus and the + place itself, as no one came to their rescue, and recovered the + Marganians. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (22) A strong fortress in an unfrequented situation, defended by + narrow passes (Leake, "Morea," ii. 204); it lay probably in the + rocky recesses of Mount Scollis (modern Santameri), on the + frontier of Achaea, near the modern village of Santameri. See + Polyb. iv. 75. See Busolt, op. cit. p. 179. +</pre> + <p> + The Lacedaemonians presently made a second attempt on Cromnus by a night + attack, got possession of the part of the palisading facing the Argives, + and at once began summoning their besieged fellow-citizens to come out. + Out accordingly came all who happened to be within easy distance, and who + took time by the forelock. The rest were not quick enough; a strong + Arcadian reinforcement cut them off, and they remained shut up inside, and + were eventually taken prisoners and distributed. One portion of them fell + to the lot of the Argives, one to the Thebans, (23) one to the Arcadians, + and one to the Messenians. The whole number taken, whether true-born + Spartans or Perioeci, amounted to more than one hundred. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (23) "The Thebans must have been soldiers in garrison at Tegea, + Megalopolis, or Messene."—Grote, "H. G." x. 433. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 364. And now that the Arcadians had leisure on the side of Cromnus, + they were again able to occupy themselves with the Eleians, and to keep + Olympia still more strongly garrisoned. In anticipation of the approaching + Olympic year, (24) they began preparations to celebrate the Olympian games + in conjunction with the men of Pisa, who claim to be the original + presidents of the Temple. (25) Now, when the month of the Olympic Festival—and + not the month only, but the very days, during which the solemn assembly is + wont to meet, were come, the Eleians, in pursuance of preparations and + invitations to the Achaeans, of which they made no secret, at length + proceeded to march along the road to Olympia. The Arcadians had never + imagined that they would really attack them; and they were themselves just + now engaged with the men of Pisa in carrying out the details of the solemn + assembly. They had already completed the chariot-race, and the foot-race + of the pentathlon. (26) The competitors entitled to enter for the + wrestling match had left the racecourse, and were getting through their + bouts in the space between the racecourse and the great altar. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (24) I.e. "Ol. 104. 1" (July B.C. 364). + + (25) For this claim on the part of the Pisatans (as the old + inhabitants), see above, III. ii. 31; Paus. VI. xxii. 2; Diod. xv. + 78; Busolt, op. cit. p. 154. + + (26) As to the pentathlon, see above, IV. vii. 5. Whether the + preceding {ippodromia} was, at this date, a horse or chariot race, + or both, I am unable to say. +</pre> + <p> + It must be understood that the Eleians under arms were already close at + hand within the sacred enclosure. (27) The Arcadians, without advancing + farther to meet them, drew up their troops on the river Cladaus, which + flows past the Altis and discharges itself into the Alpheus. Their allies, + consisting of two hundred Argive hoplites and about four hundred Athenian + cavalry, were there to support them. Presently the Eleians formed into + line on the opposite side of the stream, and, having sacrificed, at once + began advancing. Though heretofore in matters of war despised by Arcadians + and Argives, by Achaeans and Athenians alike, still on this day they led + the van of the allied force like the bravest of the brave. Coming into + collision with the Arcadians first, they at once put them to flight, and + next receiving the attack of the Argive supports, mastered these also. + Then having pursued them into the space between the senate-house, the + temple of Hestia, and the theatre thereto adjoining, they still kept up + the fighting as fiercely as ever, pushing the retreating foe towards the + great altar. But now being exposed to missiles from the porticoes and the + senate-house and the great temple, (28) while battling with their + opponents on the level, some of the Eleians were slain, and amongst others + the commander of the Three Hundred himself, Stratolas. At this state of + the proceedings they retired to their camp. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (27) "The {temenos} must here be distinguished from the Altis, as + meaning the entire breadth of consecrated ground at Olympia, of + which the Altis formed a smaller interior portion enclosed with a + wall. The Eleians entered into a {temenos} before they crossed the + river Kladeus, which flowed through the {temenos}, but alongside + the Altis. The tomb of Oenomaus, which was doubtless included in + the {temenos}, was on the right bank of the Kladeus (Paus. VI. + xxi. 3); while the Altis was on the left bank of the river."— + Grote, "H. G." x. 438, note 1. For the position of the Altis + (Paus. V. x. 1) and several of the buildings here mentioned, and + the topography of Olympia in general, see Baedeker's "Greece," p. + 322 foll.; and Dorpfeld's Plan ("Olympia und Umgegend," Berlin, + 1882), there reproduced. + + (28) Or, "from the porticoes of the senate-house and the great + temple." +</pre> + <p> + The Arcadians and those with them were so terrified at the thought of the + coming day that they gave themselves neither respite nor repose that + night, but fell to chopping up the carefully-compacted booths and + constructing them into palisades; so that when the Eleians did again + advance the next day and saw the strength of the barriers and the number + mounted on the temples, they withdrew to their city. They had proved + themselves to be warriors of such mettle as a god indeed by the breath of + his spirit may raise up and bring to perfection in a single day, but into + which it were impossible for mortal men to convert a coward even in a + lifetime. + </p> + <p> + B.C. 363. The employment of the sacred treasures of the temple by the + Arcadian magistrates (29) as a means of maintaining the Eparitoi (30) + aroused protest. The Mantineans were the first to pass a resolution + forbidding such use of the sacred property. They set the example + themselves of providing the necessary quota for the Troop in question from + their state exchequer, and this sum they sent to the federal government. + The latter, affirming that the Mantineans were undermining the Arcadian + league, retaliated by citing their leading statesmen to appear before the + assembly of Ten Thousand; and on their refusal to obey the summons, passed + sentence upon them, and sent the Eparitoi to apprehend them as convicted + persons. The Mantineans, however, closed their gates, and would not admit + the Troop within their walls. Their example was speedily followed: others + among the Ten Thousand began to protest against the enormity of so + applying the sacred treasures; it was doubly wrong to leave as a perpetual + heirloom to their children the imputation of a crime so heinous against + the gods. But no sooner was a resolution passed in the general assembly + (31) forbidding the use of the sacred moneys for profane purposes than + those (members of the league) who could not have afforded to serve as + Eparitoi without pay began speedily to melt away; while those of more + independent means, with mutual encouragement, began to enrol themselves in + the ranks of the Eparitoi—the feeling being that they ought not to + be a mere tool in the hands of the corps, but rather that the corps itself + should be their instrument. Those members of the government who had + manipulated the sacred money soon saw that when they came to render an + account of their stewardship, in all likelihood they would lose their + heads. They therefore sent an embassy to Thebes, with instructions to the + Theban authorities warning them that, if they did not open a campaign, the + Arcadians would in all probability again veer round to Lacedaemon. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (29) See above, VII. i. 24. "Were these magistrates, or merely popular + leaders?"—Freeman, "Hist. Fed. Gov." p. 203, note 3. + + (30) Or, "Select Troop." See above. + + (31) "The common formula for a Greek confederation, {to koinon ton + 'Arkadon}, is used as an equivalent of {oi mupioi}" (here and + below, SS. 35, 38)—Freeman, op. cit. 202, note 4. +</pre> + <p> + The Thebans, therefore, began making preparations for opening a campaign, + but the party who consulted the best interests of Peloponnese (32) + persuaded the general assembly of the Arcadians to send an embassy and + tell the Thebans not to advance with an army into Arcadia, unless they + sent for them; and whilst this was the language they addressed to Thebes, + they reasoned among themselves that they could dispense with war + altogether. The presidency over the temple of Zeus, they were persuaded, + they might easily dispense with; indeed, it would at once be a more + upright and a holier proceeding on their parts to give it back, and with + such conduct the god, they thought, might be better pleased. As these were + also the views and wishes of the Eleians, both parties agreed to make + peace, and a truce was established. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (32) See below, VII. v. 1, {oi kedouenoi tes Peloponnesou}. I regard + these phrases as self-laudatory political catchwords. +</pre> + <p> + B.C. 362. The oaths were ratified; and amongst those who swore to them + were included not only the parties immediately concerned, but the men of + Tegea, and the Theban general himself, who was inside Tegea with three + hundred heavy infantry of the Boeotians. Under these circumstances the + Arcadians in Tegea remained behind feasting and keeping holy day, with + outpouring of libations and songs of victory, to celebrate the + establishment of peace. Here was an opportunity for the Theban and those + of the government who regarded the forthcoming inquiry with apprehension. + Aided by the Boeotians and those of the Eparitoi who shared their + sentiments, they first closed the gates of the fortress of Tegea, and then + set about sending to the various quarters to apprehend those of the better + class. But, inasmuch as there were Arcadians present from all the cities, + and there was a general desire for peace, those apprehended must needs be + many. So much so, that the prison-house was eventually full to + overflowing, and the town-hall was full also. Besides the number lodged in + prison, a number had escaped by leaping down the walls, and there were + others who were suffered to pass through the gates (a laxity easily + explained, since no one, excepting those who were anticipating their own + downfall, cherished any wrathful feeling against anybody). But what was a + source of still graver perplexity to the Theban commander and those acting + with him—of the Mantineans, the very people whom they had set their + hearts on catching, they had got but very few. Nearly all of them, owing + to the proximity of their city, had, in fact, betaken themselves home. + Now, when day came and the Mantineans learned what had happened, they + immediately sent and forewarned the other Arcadian states to be ready in + arms, and to guard the passes; and they set the example themselves by so + doing. They sent at the same time to Tegea and demanded the release of all + Mantineans there detained. With regard to the rest of the Arcadians they + further claimed that no one should be imprisoned or put to death without + trial. If any one had any accusation to bring against any, than by the + mouth of their messengers there present they gave notice that the state of + Mantinea was ready to offer bail, "Verily and indeed to produce before the + general assembly of the Arcadians all who might be summoned into court." + The Theban accordingly, on hearing this, was at a loss what to make of the + affair, and released his prisoners. Next day, summoning a congress of all + the Arcadians who chose to come, he explained, with some show of apology, + that he had been altogether deceived; he had heard, he said, that "the + Lacedaemonians were under arms on the frontier, and that some of the + Arcadians were about to betray Tegea into their hands." His auditors + acquitted him for the moment, albeit they knew that as touching themselves + he was lying. They sent, however, an embassy to Thebes and there accused + him as deserving of death. Epaminondas (who was at that time the general + at the head of the war department) is reported to have maintained that the + Theban commander had acted far more rightly when he seized than when he + let go the prisoners. "Thanks to you," he argued, "we have been brought + into a state of war, and then you, without our advice or opinion asked, + make peace on your own account; would it not be reasonable to retort upon + you the charge of treason in such conduct? Anyhow, be assured," he added, + "we shall bring an army into Arcadia, and along with those who share our + views carry on the war which we have undertaken." + </p> + <p> + V + </p> + <p> + B.C. 362. This answer was duly reported to the general assembly of the + Arcadians, and throughout the several states of the league. Consequently + the Mantineans, along with those of the Arcadians who had the interests of + Peloponnesus at heart, as also the Eleians and the Achaeans, came to the + conclusion that the policy of the Thebans was plain. They wished + Peloponnesus to be reduced to such an extremity of weakness that it might + fall an easy prey into their hands who were minded to enslave it. "Why + else," they asked, "should they wish us to fight, except that we may tear + each other to pieces, and both sides be driven to look to them for + support? or why, when we tell them that we have no need of them at + present, do they insist on preparing for a foreign campaign? Is it not + plain that these preparations are for an expedition which will do us some + mischief?" + </p> + <p> + In this mood they sent to Athens, (1) calling on the Athenians for + military aid. Ambassadors also went to Lacedaemon on behalf of the + Eparitoi, summoning the Lacedaemonians, if they wished to give a helping + hand, to put a stop to the proceedings of any power approaching to enslave + Peloponnesus. As regards the headship, they came to an arrangement at + once, on the principle that each of the allied states should exercise the + generalship within its own territory. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (1) For a treaty of alliance between Athens, the Arkadians, Achaeans, + Eleians, and Phliasians, immediately before Mantinea, B.C. 362, + {epi Molonos arkhontos}, see Hicks, 94; Kohler, "C. I. A." ii. p. + 405. It is preserved on a stele ("broken at bottom; but the top is + surmounted by a relief representing Zeus enthroned, with a + thunderbolt; a female figure (= the {Summakhia}?) approaches + lifting her veil, while Athena stands by") now standing among the + sculptures from the Asklepieion on the Acropolis at Athens. See + Milchhofer, p. 47, no. 7, "Die Museum," Athens, 1881. For the + date, see Demosth. "c. Polycl." 1207. +</pre> + <p> + While these matters were in progress, Epaminondas was prosecuting his + march at the head of all the Boeotians, with the Euboeans, and a large + body of Thessalians, furnished both by Alexander (2) and by his opponents. + The Phocians were not represented. Their special agreement only required + them to render assistance in case of an attack on Thebes; to assist in a + hostile expedition against others was not in the bond. Epaminondas, + however, reflected that inside Peloponnesus itself they might count upon + the Argives and the Messenians, with that section of the Arcadians which + shared their views. These latter were the men of Tegea and Megalopolis, of + Asea and Pallantium, with any townships which owing to their small size or + their position in the midst of these larger cities were forced to follow + their lead. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (2) For Alexander of Pherae, see above, VI. iv. 34. In B.C. 363 the + Thebans had sent an army under Pelopidas into Thessaly to assist + their allies among the Thessalians with the Phthiot Achaeans and + the Magnetes against Alexander. At Kynos Kephelae Alexander was + defeated, but Pelopidas was slain (see Grote, "H. G." x. 420 + foll.). "His death, as it brought grief, so likewise it produced + advantage to the allies; for the Thebans, as soon as they heard of + his fall, delayed not their revenge, but presently sent seven + thousand foot and seven hundred horse, under the command of + Malcitas and Diogiton. And they, finding Alexander weak and + without forces, compelled him to restore the cities he had taken, + to withdraw his garrisons from the Magnesians and Achaeans of + Phthiotos and swear to assist the Thebans against whatsoever + enemies they should require."—Plut. "Pelop." 35 (Clough, ii. + 236). +</pre> + <p> + Epaminondas advanced with rapid strides; but on reaching Nemea he + slackened speed, hoping to catch the Athenians as they passed, and + reflecting on the magnitude of such an achievement, whether in stimulating + the courage of his own allies, or in plunging his foes into despondency; + since, to state the matter concisely, any blow to Athens would be a gain + to Thebes. But during his pause at Nemea those who shared the opposite + policy had time to converge on Mantinea. Presently the news reached + Epaminondas that the Athenians had abandoned the idea of marching by land, + and were preparing to bring their supports to Arcadia by sea through + Lacedaemon. This being so, he abandoned his base of Nemea and pushed on to + Tegea. + </p> + <p> + That the strategy of the Theban general was fortunate I will not pretend + to assert, but in the particular combination of prudence and daring which + stamps these exploits, I look upon him as consummate. In the first place, + I cannot but admire the sagacity which led him to form his camp within the + walls of Tegea, where he was in greater security that he would have been + if entrenched outside, and where his future movements were more completely + concealed from the enemy. Again, the means to collect material and furnish + himself with other necessaries were readier to his hand inside the city; + while, thirdly, he was able to keep an eye on the movements of his + opponents marching outside, and to watch their successful dispositions as + well as their mistakes. More than this: in spite of his sense of + superiority to his antagonists, over and over again, when he saw them + gaining some advantage in position, he refused to be drawn out to attack + them. It was only when he saw plainly that no city was going to give him + its adhesion, and that time was slipping by, that he made up his mind that + a blow must be struck, failing which, he had nothing to expect save a vast + ingloriousness, in place of his former fame. (3) He had ascertained that + his antagonists held a strong position round Mantinea, and that they had + sent to fetch Agesilaus and the whole Lacedaemonian army. He was further + aware that Agesilaus had commenced his advance and was already at Pellene. + (4) Accordingly he passed the word of command (5) to his troops to take + their evening meal, put himself at their head and advanced straight upon + Sparta. Had it not been for the arrival (by some providential chance) of a + Cretan, who brought the news to Agesilaus of the enemy's advance, he would + have captured the city of Sparta like a nest of young birds absolutely + bereft of its natural defenders. As it was, Agesilaus, being forewarned, + had time to return to the city before the Thebans came, and here the + Spartans made distribution of their scanty force and maintained watch and + ward, albeit few enough in numbers, since the whole of their cavalry were + away in Arcadia, and so was their foreign brigade, and so were three out + of their twelve regiments. (6) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (3) Or, "dull obscurity in place of renown." + + (4) Pellene (or Pellana), a town of Laconia on the Eurotas, and on the + road from Sparta to Arcadia; in fact the frontier fortress on the + Eurotas, as Sellasia on the Oenus; "Dict. of Anct. Geog." s.v.; + see Paus. iii. 20, S. 2; Strab. viii. 386; Polyb. iv. 81, xvi. 37; + Plut. "Agis," 8; Leake, "Morea," iii. 14 foll. + + (5) Cf. "Hipparch." iv. 9. + + (6) Lit. "lochi." See above, VII. iv. 20; "Pol. Lac." xi. 4. +</pre> + <p> + Arrived within the city of Sparta, (7) Epaminondas abstained from gaining + an entry at a point where his troops would have to fight on level ground + and under attack from the houses above; where also their large numbers + would give them no superiority over the small numbers of the foemen. But, + singling out a position which he conceived would give him the advantage, + he occupied it and began his advance against the city upon a downward + instead of an upward incline. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (7) Grote ("H. G." x. 455) says: "Though he crossed the Eurotas and + actually entered into the city of Sparta," as the words {epei de + egeneto en te polei ton Spartiaton} certainly seem to me to imply. + Others interpret "in the close neighbourhood of." +</pre> + <p> + With regard to what subsequently took place, two possible explanations + suggest themselves: either it was miraculous, or it may be maintained that + there is no resisting the fury of desperation. Archidamus, advancing at + the head of but a hundred men, and crossing the one thing which might have + been expected to form an obstacle to the enemy, (8) began marching uphill + against his antagonists. At this crisis these fire-breathing warriors, + these victorious heroes of Leuctra, (9) with their superiority at every + point, aided, moreover, by the advantage of their position, did not + withstand the attack of Archidamus and those with him, but swerved in + flight. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (8) Or, "to serve as his defence"; or, "the one obstacle to his + progress," i.e. Archidamus's. It was a miraculous thing that the + Thebans did not stop him. + + (9) See Mahaffy, "Hist. Gk. Lit." vol. ii. p. 268, 1st ed. See above, + "Hell." VI. iv. 24; Diod. xv. 39, 56. +</pre> + <p> + The vanguard of Epaminondas's troops were cut down; when, however, flushed + with the glory of their victory, the citizens followed up their pursuit + beyond the right point, they in turn were cut down—so plainly was + the demarking line of victory drawn by the finger of God. So then + Archidamus set up a trophy to note the limit of his success, and gave back + those who had there fallen of the enemy under a truce. Epaminondas, on his + side, reflecting that the Arcadians must already be hastening to the + relief of Lacedaemon, and being unwilling to engage them in conjunction + with the whole of the Lacedaemonian force, especially now that the star of + Sparta's fortune shone, whilst theirs had suffered some eclipse, turned + and marched back the way he came with all speed possible into Tegea. There + he gave his heavy infantry pause and refreshment, but his cavalry he sent + on to Mantinea; he begged them to "have courage and hold on," instructing + them that in all likelihood they would find the flocks and herds of the + Mantineans and the entire population itself outside their walls, + especially as it was the moment for carrying the corn. So they set off. + </p> + <p> + The Athenian cavalry, started from Eleusis, had made their evening meal at + the Isthmus, and passing through Cleonae, as chance befell, had arrived at + Mantinea and had encamped within the walls in the houses. As soon as the + enemy were seen galloping up with evidently hostile intent, the Mantineans + fell to praying the Athenian knights to lend them all the succour they + could, and they showed them all their cattle outside, and all their + labourers, and among them were many children and graybeards who were + free-born citizens. The Athenians were touched by this appeal, and, though + they had not yet broken fast, neither the men themselves nor their horses, + went out eagerly to the rescue. And here we must needs pause to admire the + valour of these men also. The enemy whom they had to cope with far + outnumbered them, as was plain to see, and the former misadventure of the + cavalry in Corinth was not forgotten. (10) But none of these things + entered into their calculations now—nor yet the fact that they were + on the point of engaging Thebans and Thessalians, the finest cavalry in + the world by all repute. The only thing they thought of was the shame and + the dishonour, if, being there, they did not lend a helping hand to their + allies. In this mood, so soon as they caught sight of the enemy, they fell + with a crash upon him in passionate longing to recover the old ancestral + glory. Nor did they fight in vain—the blows they struck enabled the + Mantineans to recover all their property outside, but among those who + dealt them died some brave heroes; (11) brave heroes also, it is evident, + were those whom they slew, since on either side the weapons wielded were + not so short but that they could lunge at one another with effect. The + dead bodies of their own men they refused to abandon; and there were some + of the enemy's slain whom they restored to him under a flag of truce. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (10) Or, "and in Corinth an untoward incident had been experienced by + the cavalry." See Grote, "H. G." x. 458, note 2. Possibly in + reference to "Hell." VI. v. 51, 52. + + (11) Probably Xenophon's own son Gryllus was among them. +</pre> + <p> + The thoughts now working in the mind of Epaminondas were such as these: + that within a few days he would be forced to retire, as the period of the + campaign was drawing to a close; if it ended in his leaving in the lurch + those allies whom he came out to assist, they would be besieged by their + antagonists. What a blow would that be to his own fair fame, already + somewhat tarnished! Had he not been defeated in Lacedaemon, with a large + body of heavy infantry, by a handful of men? defeated again at Mantinea, + in the cavalry engagement, and himself the main cause finally of a + coalition between five great powers—that is to say, the + Lacedaemonians, the Arcadians, the Achaeans, the Eleians, and the + Athenians? On all grounds it seemed to him impossible to steal past + without a battle. And the more so as he computed the alternatives of + victory or death. If the former were his fortune, it would resolve all his + perplexities; if death, his end would be noble. How glorious a thing to + die in the endeavour to leave behind him, as his last legacy to his + fatherland, the empire of Peloponnesus! That such thoughts should pass + through his brain strikes me as by no means wonderful, as these are + thoughts distinctive to all men of high ambition. Far more wonderful to my + mind was the pitch of perfection to which he had brought his army. There + was no labour which his troops would shrink from, either by night or by + day; there was no danger they would flinch from; and, with the scantiest + provisions, their discipline never failed them. + </p> + <p> + And so, when he gave his last orders to them to prepare for impending + battle, they obeyed with alacrity. He gave the word; the cavalry fell to + whitening their helmets, the heavy infantry of the Arcadians began + inscribing their clubs as the crest on their shields, (12) as though they + were Thebans, and all were engaged in sharpening their lances and swords + and polishing their heavy shields. When the preparations were complete and + he had led them out, his next movement is worthy of attention. First, as + was natural, he paid heed to their formation, and in so doing seemed to + give clear evidence that he intended battle; but no sooner was the army + drawn up in the formation which he preferred, than he advanced, not by the + shortest route to meet the enemy, but towards the westward-lying mountains + which face Tegea, and by this movement created in the enemy an expectation + that he would not do battle on that day. In keeping with this expectation, + as soon as he arrived at the mountain-region, he extended his phalanx in + long line and piled arms under the high cliffs; and to all appearance he + was there encamping. The effect of this manouvre on the enemy in general + was to relax the prepared bent of their souls for battle, and to weaken + their tactical arrangements. Presently, however, wheeling his regiments + (which were marching in column) to the front, with the effect of + strengthening the beak-like (13) attack which he proposed to lead himself, + at the same instant he gave the order, "Shoulder arms, forward," and led + the way, the troops following. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (12) Grote ("H. G." x. 463) has another interpretation. + + (13) Or, "the wedge-like attack of his own division"; see Grote, "H. + G." x. 469 foll. I do not, however, think that the attacking + column was actually wedge-shaped like the "acies cuneata" of the + Romans. It was the unusual depth of the column which gave it the + force of an ironclad's ram. Cf. "Cyrop." II. iv. for {eis + metopon}. +</pre> + <p> + When the enemy saw them so unexpectedly approaching, not one of them was + able to maintain tranquility: some began running to their divisions, some + fell into line, some might be seen bitting and bridling their horses, some + donning their cuirasses, and one and all were like men about to receive + rather than to inflict a blow. He, the while, with steady impetus pushed + forward his armament, like a ship-of-war prow forward. Wherever he brought + his solid wedge to bear, he meant to cleave through the opposing mass, and + crumble his adversary's host to pieces. With this design he prepared to + throw the brunt of the fighting on the strongest half of his army, while + he kept the weaker portion of it in the background, knowing certainly that + if worsted it would only cause discouragement to his own division and add + force to the foe. The cavalry on the side of his opponents were disposed + like an ordinary phalanx of heavy infantry, regular in depth and + unsupported by foot-soldiers interspersed among the horses. (14) + Epaminondas again differed in strengthening the attacking point of his + cavalry, besides which he interspersed footmen between their lines in the + belief that, when he had once cut through the cavalry, he would have + wrested victory from the antagonist along his whole line; so hard is it to + find troops who will care to keep their own ground when once they see any + of their own side flying. Lastly, to prevent any attempt on the part of + the Athenians, who were on the enemy's left wing, to bring up their + reliefs in support of the portion next them, he posted bodies of cavalry + and heavy infantry on certain hillocks in front of them, intending to + create in their minds an apprehension that, in case they offered such + assistance, they would be attacked on their own rear by these detachments. + Such was the plan of encounter which he formed and executed; nor was he + cheated in his hopes. He had so much the mastery at his point of attack + that he caused the whole of the enemy's troops to take flight. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (14) See Rustow and Kochly, p. 176; and for the {amippoi} + Harpocration, s.v.; Pollus, i. 131; "Hipparch." v. 13; Thuc. v. + 58; Herod. vii. 158; Caes. "B. G." i. 48; "B. Civ." iii. 84. +</pre> + <p> + But after he himself had fallen, the rest of the Thebans were not able any + longer to turn their victory rightly to account. Though the main battle + line of their opponents had given way, not a single man afterwards did the + victorious hoplites slay, not an inch forward did they advance from the + ground on which the collision took place. Though the cavalry had fled + before them, there was no pursuit; not a man, horseman or hoplite, did the + conquering cavalry cut down; but, like men who have suffered a defeat, as + if panic-stricken (15) they slipped back through the ranks of the fleeing + foemen. Only the footmen fighting amongst the cavalry and the light + infantry, who had together shared in the victory of the cavalry, found + their way round to the left wing as masters of the field, but it cost them + dear; here they encountered the Athenians, and most of them were cut down. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (15) Or, "they timorously slipped back." +</pre> + <p> + The effective result of these achievements was the very opposite of that + which the world at large anticipated. Here, where well-nigh the whole of + Hellas was met together in one field, and the combatants stood rank + against rank confronted, there was no one doubted that, in the event of + battle, the conquerors would this day rule; and that those who lost would + be their subjects. But God so ordered it that both belligerents alike set + up trophies as claiming victory, and neither interfered with the other in + the act. Both parties alike gave back their enemy's dead under a truce, + and in right of victory; both alike, in symbol of defeat, under a truce + took back their dead. And though both claimed to have won the day, neither + could show that he had thereby gained any accession of territory, or + state, or empire, or was better situated than before the battle. + Uncertainty and confusion, indeed, had gained ground, being tenfold + greater throughout the length and breadth of Hellas after the battle than + before. + </p> + <p> + At this point I lay aside my pen: the sequel of the story may haply + commend itself (16) to another. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (16) Or, "win the attention of some other writer." +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hellenica, by Xenophon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HELLENICA *** + +***** This file should be named 1174-h.htm or 1174-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/7/1174/ + +Produced by John Bickers, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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