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diff --git a/old/1174.txt b/old/1174.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8464bde --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1174.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12842 @@ +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 + +Posting Date: August 21, 2008 [EBook #1174] +Release Date: January, 1998 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HELLENICA *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers + + + + + +HELLENICA + +By Xenophon + + +Translation by H. G. Dakyns + + + + + + 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. + + + 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. + + + +PREPARER'S NOTE + +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: + + 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 + +Text in brackets "{}" is my transliteration of Greek text into English +using an Oxford English Dictionary alphabet table. The diacritical marks +have been lost. + + + + + +HELLENICA + + + + +BOOK I + + +I + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (2) Lit. "as he opened" {os enoige}. This is still a mariner's phrase + in modern Greek, if I am rightly informed. + +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. + + (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." + +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." + +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. + + (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." + +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." + + (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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (9) The matter referred to is fully explained Thuc. viii. 85. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + + +II + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (3) Reading {apelusen}. Wolf's conjecture for the MSS. {katelousen} = + stoned. See Thirlwall, "Hist. Gr." IV. xxix. 93 note. + +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. + + (4) Technically {armostes} (harmost), i.e. administrator. + + + +III + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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.) + +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. + + + +IV + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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." + + (4) Or, "collected to meet the vessels from curiosity and a desire to + see Alcibiades." + +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." + +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. + + (5) Or, "he looked to see if his friends were there." + +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. + + (6) Technically the "Boule" ({Boule}) or Senate, and "Ecclesia" or + Popular Assembly. + +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. + +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. + + + +V + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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.) + +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. + + (5) An obol = one-sixth of a drachma; the Attic obol = rather more + than 1 1/2 pence. + +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. + + (6) {os ekastos enoixen}, for this nautical term see above. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +VI + +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:-- + + (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. + +"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?" + +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:-- + +"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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (8) Or, "Euripus." + +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. + + (9) I.e. from eighteen to sixty years. + + (10) See Boeckh. "P. E. A." Bk. II. chap. xxi. p. 263 (Eng. trans.) + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (13) Or, "had changed to a finer quarter." + + + +VII + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (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. + +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.'" + + (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. + +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. + +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:-- + + (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. + +"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. + +"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) + + (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}. + +"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. + + (11) See below, II. iii; also cf. Thuc. viii. 90, 98. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + + (12) For this matter cf. Schomann, "De Comitiis Athen." p. 161 foll.; + also Grote, "Hist. of Grece," vol. viii. p. 276 note (2d ed.) + +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. + + (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. + + + + +BOOK II + + +I + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (7) The MSS. add "during the ephorate of Archytas and the archonship + at Athens of Alexias," which, though correct enough, is probably + an interpolation. + +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. + +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. + + (8) Lit. fifteen stades. + +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. + +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. + + (9) The "Paralus"--the Athenian sacred vessel; cf. Thuc. iii. 33 et + passim. + +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. + + (10) Reading {os... katekremnise}. + + + +II + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (4) For this most illustrious of Athenian gymnasia, which still + retains its name, see Leake, "Topography of Athens," i. 195 foll. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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.) + + + +III + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (2) This took place on 2d September B.C. 404. + +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) + + (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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + + (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. + +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." + + (8) See above. + +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: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + + (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. + +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. + +"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. + + (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. + +"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. + + (17) Or, "the peacemaker, the healer of differences, the cementer of + new alliances, cannot," etc. + +"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. + +"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? + + (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. + +"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." + + (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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + + (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:-- + +"{Kottabos ek Sikeles esti khthonos, euprepes ergon on skopon es latagon +toxa kathistametha.}" Bergk. "Poetae Lyr. Graec." Pars II. xxx. + + + (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. + + + +IV + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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." + + (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. + +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." + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (12) On the coast south of Phalerum, celebrated for its fisheries. Cf. + "Athen." vii. 325. + +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. + + (13) 24,375 pounds, reckoning one tal. = 243 pounds 15 shillings. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + + + + +BOOK III + + + +I + +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. + + (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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (5) {Prostatai}, "patrons and protectors." + +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. + + (6) "As harmost." See "Anab." ad fin. + + (7) See "Hell." I. iii. 15; Thuc. vii. 58. + + (8) See "Hell." II. iv. 2. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (13) Technically "navarchy," in B.C. 408-407. "Hell." I. v. 1. + + (14) See Plut. "Aristid." 23 (Clough, ii. p. 309). + +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) + + (15) I.e. as suzerain. + + (16) Grote, "H. G." ix. 292; cf. Herod. viii. 69. + +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!" + + (17) Or, "his brains whimsied with insinuations." + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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." + + (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. + +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." + + (20) Lit. "of the taxiarchs and lochagoi." + + + +II + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + + (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. + +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. + + (13) Lately unearthed. See "Class. Rev." v. 8, p. 391. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (17) Lit. "perioecid." + + (18) From the north. The Larisus is the frontier stream between Achaia + and Elis. See Strabo, viii. 387. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + + + +III + +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) + + (1) See "Ages." xi. 16; "Pol. Lac." xv. 9. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (3) See Plut. "Ages." ii. 4; "Lys." xxii. (Clough, iv. 3; iii. 129); + Paus. III. viii. 5. + +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." + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + + + +IV + +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. + + (1) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 353, for chronology, etc. + +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. + + (2) Technically, "neodamodes." + +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. + + (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. + +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." + + (7) For this corrupt passage, see Hartman, "Anal. Xen." p. 332; also + Otto Keller's critical edition of the "Hellenica" (Lips, + MDCCCLXXX.) + +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. + +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. + + (8) See "Ages." iii. 3; "Anab." VI. v. 7. + +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. + + (9) I.e. at Ephesus. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (13) See Plut. "Marc." (Clough, ii. 262); Polyb. "Hist." x. 20. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + + + +V + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (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." + +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:-- + +"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) + + (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. + +"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. + + (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. + +"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? + + (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. + +"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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (22) See Plut. "Lys." xxviii. (Clough, iii. 137). + +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. + + (23) See Dem. "On the Crown," 258. + + (24) Lit. "polemarchs and penteconters"--"colonels and lieutenants." + See "Pol. Lac." xi. + +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. + +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. + + (25) Or, add, "as a further gravamen." + + + + +BOOK IV + + + +I + +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. + + (1) See Hartman ("An. Xen." p. 339), who suggests {Otun auto} for {sun + auto}. + +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. + + (2) See "Ages." iii. 4, where he is called Cotys. + + (3) I.e. "Spartan counsellors." + + (4) Or, "and may the wedding be blest!" + +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. + + (5) Lit. "paradises." See "Anab." I. ii. 7; "Cyrop." I. iv. 11. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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) + + (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. + +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." + + (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}. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (17) "Anab." VII. viii. 7. + + (18) Vide Strab. xiii. 606, 613. Seventy stades from Thebe. + + + +II + +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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (4) At Corinth. See above, III. iv. 11; below, V. iv. 61, where the + victory of Nixos is described but not localised. + +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) + + (5) Or, "if not actually at Lacedaemon, then at least as near as + possible to the hornet's nest." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + + + +III + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (8) B.C. 394, August 14. + +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. + + (9) "Splendide mendax." For the ethics of the matter, see "Mem." IV. + ii. 17; "Cyrop." I. vi. 31. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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..." + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (20) = 25,000 pounds nearly. + + (21) Or, "not to speak of provisions." + + + +IV + +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. + +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. + + (1) B.C. 393. See Grote, ix. p. 455, note 2 foll.; "Hell." IV. viii. + 7. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (6) {eunomia}. See "Pol. Ath." i. 8; Arist. "Pol." iv. 8, 6; iii. 9, + 8; v. 7, 4. + +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. + + (8) Or, "showed him the place in so straightforward a manner." + +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. + + (9) See Grote, ix. p. 333 foll. + +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. + + (10) Or, "plunged from its summit into perdition." See Thuc. ii. 4. + +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. + + (11) Or, "Heaven assigned to them a work..." Lit. "The God..." + + (12) I.e. "of Lechaeum." + +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. + + (13) So Grote and Curtius; al. B.C. 393. + +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. + + (14) Lit. "laconism." + +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) + + (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." + +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. + + (18) See Thuc. vi. 98. + +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. + + (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. + + + +V + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (4) Near mod. Lutraki. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (21) Lit. "two stades." + + (22) Lit. "sixteen or seventeen stades." + + (23) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 486. + +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. + +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. + + (24) Lit. "owing to." + + (25) The illustrative incidents narrated in chapter iv. 17 may belong + to this period. + + + +VI + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (7) I.e. "the first two ranks." See above, IV. v. 14. + + (8) See "Ages." ii. 20, for an extraordinary discrepancy. + +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. + + (9) Or lit. "burning and felling." + + (10) Or Antirrhium (as more commonly called). + + + +VII + +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. + + (1) According to others, B.C. 390. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (6) Or, "interpret the signal as a summons to advance." + +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. + + (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. + + + +VIII + +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. + +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. + + (1) Lit. "the Laconian harmosts." + + (2) See Hicks, 70, "Honours to Konon," Inscript. found at Erythrae in + Ionia. Cf. Diod. xiv. 84. + +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." + + (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." + +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. + +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. + + (8) Lit. "eight stades." + + (9) Lit. "harmosts." + + (10) See Demos. "de Cor." 96. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (17) See Diod. xiv. 85; and Corn. Nep. 5. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (22) See "Anab." VII. viii. 9 for a similar exploit. + +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. + + (23) See above, IV. viii. 11. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (29) According to some critics, B.C. 389 is only now reached. + + (30) See Diod. xiv. 94. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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) + + (35) Or, "sauve qui peut." + + (36) See Hicks, 76; and below, "Hell." V. i. 31. + + + + +BOOK V + + + +I + +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. + + (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}. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (4) And among the rest Iphicrates and Diotimus. See below, S. 25; + above, IV. viii. 39. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (13) See above; Lysias, "de bon. Arist." (Jebb, "Att. Or." i. p. 327). + + (14) See below, VI. ii. 4 foll; Hicks, 71, 84, 88. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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: + + (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. + +"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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + + + +II + +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." + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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: + + (13) Al. B.C. 382. + +"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. + + (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. + +"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. + + (16) See Grote, "H. G." x. 72; Thirlwall, "H. G." v. 12 (ch. xxxvii). + +"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. + +"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. + + (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. + +"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." + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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." + + (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. + +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." + + (22) Or, "Renown was his mistress." See Grote, "H. G." x. 84. + +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." + + (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. + +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. + +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." + + (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." + +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. + + (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}. + +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. + + (31) Lit. "sent out along with him the combined force of ten thousand + men," in ref to S. 20 above. + +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. + + (32) Lit. "ten stades." + +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. + + + +III + +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. + + (1) Lit. "ninety stades." + +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. + + (2) I.e. fruit-trees. + +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) + + (3) See, for the same sentiment, "Horsemanship," vi. 13. See also + Plut. "Pel." and "Marc." (Clough, ii. p. 278). + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (11) Lit. "shady tabernacles." + +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. + + (12) See "Ages." viii. 2. + +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. + + (13) See below, "Hell." VII. i. 19. + + (14) {to politokon}, the citizen army. See above, IV. iv. 19; "Pol. + Lac." xi. + +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. + +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. + + + +IV + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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..." + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (8) And was therefore more than fifty-eight years old at this date. + See "Ages." i. 6. + +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. + +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. + + (9) I.e. "Cithaeron." + +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. + +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. + + (10) See Plut. "Pel." xiv. (Clough, ii. p. 214). + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (17) In Arcadia. See Busolt, "Die Lak." 120 foll. + +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. + + (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}. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (34) Pausanius (I. xi. 6) mentions a temple of Aphrodite + {'Epistrophoa} (Verticordia), on the way up to the Carian + Acropolis of Megara. + +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. + +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. + + (35) The promontory at the southern extremity of Euboea. + + (36) Battle of Naxos, B.C. 376. For interesting details, see Diod. xv. + 35, 35. + +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. + +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. + + (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}. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + + + +BOOK VI + + + +I + +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. + +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: + + (1) {pros to koinon}, "h.e. vel ad ad senatum vel ad ephoros vel ad + concionem."--Sturz, "Lex. Xen." s.v. + +"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.' + +"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) + + (2) Or, "a life satisfying at once to soul and body." + +"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.' + + (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." + +"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) + + (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. + +"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." + + (9) See "Cyrop." III. i. 19. + + (10) For this sentiment, see "Mem." II. i. 20 et passim. + +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. + + (11) Lit. "morai." + +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. + + (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-- + +{Andr' agathon men alatheos genesthai khalepon khersin te kai posi kai +noo tetragonon, aneu psogou tetugmenon.} + +a sentiment criticised by Plato, "Protag." 359 A. "Now Simonides says to +Scopas, the son of Creon, the Thessalian: + +'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.' + +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. + + + +II + +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) + + (1) See Curtius, "H. G." vol. iv. p. 376 (Eng. trans.) + +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. + + (2) See Hicks, 81, p. 142. + + (3) Ibid. 81, 86. + +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. + +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. + + (4) Lit. "five stades." + +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. + + (5) See Thuc. i. 36. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + (15) Cape Fish, mod. Cape Katakolon, protecting harbour of Pyrgos in + Elis. + +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. + + (16) Lit. "the voyage." + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + + + +III + +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. + + (1) Plataea destroyed in B.C. 373. See Jowett, "Thuc." ii. 397. + + (2) See below, "Hell." VII. i. 12; Hicks, 87. + +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: + + (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. + +"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." + + (6) B.C. 387 and 374; see Curtius, "H. G." vol. iv. p. 376 (Eng. ed.) + +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." + + (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. + +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? + + (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. + +"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. + + (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. + +"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." + +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. + + (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. + + + +IV + +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)) + + (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. + +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. + +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." + +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) + + (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." + +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. + + (8) Or, "surrounded them." + + (9) See Rustow and Kochly, op. cit. p. 173. + + (10) See "Hipparch." ix. 4; also "Cyrop." VIII. viii. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (18) I.e. every one up to fifty-eight years of age. + + (19) See below, VI. v. 9. + +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. + +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. + + (20) Or, "though the Phocians maintained a war 'a outrance' with him." + +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) + + (21) Cf. "Anab." III. ii. 10. + +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. + + (22) Or, "the invincibles." + + (23) Lit. "your proxenos." + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (29) Lit. "Tagoi." + +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. + + (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. + + + +V + +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. + +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. + + (1) I.e. in B.C. 387, the peace "of" Antalcidas. See Grote, "H. G." x. + 274. + + (2) See Busolt, op. cit. p. 186. + +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. + + (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. + +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) + + (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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (15) See "Ages." ii. 23. + + (16) See Leake, "Morea," iii. 73. + + (17) Lit. "twenty stades." + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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}. + +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. + +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. + + (41) Lit. "to acquire some good." + + (42) Or, "for what," etc. + +"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. + +"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. + + (43) See "Hell." II. ii. 19; III. v. 8, in reference to B.C. 405. + +"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!" + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (49) See "Hipparch." viii. 10 foll. + + (50) See Diod. xv. 63; Plut. "Pelop." 24. + + + + +BOOK VII + + + +I + +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: + + (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. + +"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. + + (4) See "Pol. Ath." i. 19 foll. + + (5) See "Hell." II. i. + +"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." + + (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. + +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." + + (9) See above, "Hell." VI. iii. 2; Hicks, 87. + +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. + + (10) See "Revenues," v. 7. + +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) + + (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). + +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. + + (13) Lit. "thirty stades." + + (14) Or, "intent on their personal concerns." See "Hell." II. iv. 6; + "Hipparch." vii. 12. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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) + + (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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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). + +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." + + (34) See Plut. "Ages." 53 (Clough, vol. iv. p. 41). + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (38) See Thuc. iii. 58, 59, 60. + + (39) See above, "Hell." III. iv. 3; Lincke, "Zur. Xen. Krit." p. 315. + +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) + + (40) See Grote, "H. G." x. 402; and "Ages." viii. 3. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + +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) + + (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." + +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. + + (45) Lit. "harmosts." + +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." + + (46) See Grote, "H. G." x. 379. + +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. + + (47) Lit. "the Argives and the Arcadians." + + (48) Lit. "on fair and equal terms." See Thuc. v. 79. + + + +II + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (2) See above, "VI." v. 29. + + (3) See "Hell." VII. i. 18. + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (10) B.C. 368 (or 367). + + (11) The Asopus. + +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. + + (12) B.C. 367 (or 366). + + (13) Lit. "above the Heraion" (where his main body lay). + +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. + +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. + + (14) What is the date of this incident? See above, "Hell." VII. ii. 3; + below VII. iv. 17. + +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." + +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. + + (15) See "Anab." VII. iii. 46. + + + +III + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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: + + (3) Or, "on an opposition journey." + +"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." + + (4) Lit. "the sound of soul." + + (5) Or, "they have been judge and jury both, and executioners to + boot." + +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: + +"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. + + (6) See above, V. iv. 2. + + (7) Or, as we should say, "in violation of conscience." + +"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." + + (8) Or, "he was wrongfully slain." + + (9) For this right of extradition see Plut. "Lys." xxvii. + +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. + + + +IV + +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. + + (1) See above, VII. ii. 23; iii. 3; Diod. xv. 76. + + (2) See Thuc. viii. 60. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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) + + (6) See Isocr. "Or." vi. "Archidamos," S. 70; Jebb, "Att. Or." ii. + 193. + +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. + +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. + + (7) Or, "as a post held by them within the territory of the state." + The passage is perhaps corrupt. + +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. + + (8) Concerning Dionysius the first, see above, VII. i. 20 foll. 28. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (12) I.e. Elis. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (23) "The Thebans must have been soldiers in garrison at Tegea, + Megalopolis, or Messene."--Grote, "H. G." x. 433. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (32) See below, VII. v. 1, {oi kedouenoi tes Peloponnesou}. I regard + these phrases as self-laudatory political catchwords. + +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." + + + +V + +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?" + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (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). + +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. + +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) + + (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. + +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. + + (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." + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + +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. + + (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}. + +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. + + (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. + +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. + + (15) Or, "they timorously slipped back." + +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. + +At this point I lay aside my pen: the sequel of the story may haply +commend itself (16) to another. + + (16) Or, "win the attention of some other writer." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hellenica, by Xenophon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HELLENICA *** + +***** This file should be named 1174.txt or 1174.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 + +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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