latter was chosen Generalissimo and partly to assure him of his readiness to make a joint War with him as also to assist him in driving the Greeks out of the King's Territories Otherwise he envied Tissaphernes his Command of General and resented it very ill for that he had been deprived of the Province of Aeolis After he had heard his Proposals Tissaphernes-said to him First pass with me into Caria and then we will advise about these things when they arrived there it was thought convenient to place strong Garisons in the walled Towns and then to return into Ionia As soon as Dercyllidas heard they had repassed the Maeander he informed Pharax that he feared Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus would over-run and ravage the Countrey which was defenseless whereupon he passed the Maeander too The Greeks marched with their Troops in no good Order because the Enemy had entred the Countrey about Ephesus before them where on a suddain they discovered the Lacedemonians from the opposite Watch-Towers on the Monuments On the other hand the Greeks sent some up into the Monuments and Towers which they were possessed of and espyed the Enemy drawn up in Battalia in the way they were to march being the Carians with their white Bucklers and the Persians that were there together with all the Greek Troops that both of them had and a vast Body of Horse Tissaphernes having the right Wing and Pharnabazus the left When Dercyllidas perceived this he ordered the Commanders of the Heavy-armed men and Captains instantly to draw up eight deep and place the Targetiers and Horse in both Wings whilst he in the mean time sacrificed The Peloponnesians made a stand and prepared for a Charge but the Prienians Achilleans Islanders and those of the Ionian Towns threw down their Arms in the Corn which was thick in the Vale of Maeander and those that stood their Ground made shew as if they would not long maintain it The report was that Pharnabazus advised to come to a Battel but Tissaphernes recollecting after what manner Cyrus his Army had received him and imagining all Greeks were like those refused to engage and sent to Dercyllidas acquainting him that he would come and have a Conference with him Dercyllidas taking the goodliest Persons both of his Horse and Foot went forth to the Deputies and thus accosted them I had indeed prepared for Battel as you see yet since Tissaphernes desires a Parly I won't oppose it though if there be a Conference there must be Pledges and Hostages exchanged on both sides When this was agreed upon the Armies marcht off the Barbarians to Tralles in Phrygia and the Greeks to Leucophrys where there is a Temple of Diana held in great Veneration and a Pool above a Furlong in Circumference somewhat Sandy being fed with a Spring whose Water is both potable and warm And this was that days Transaction The day following they came to the Place appointed and there determined to understand from each other upon what Terms they should make a Peace Dercyllidas proposed that the King of Persia should restore the Greek Towns to their Liberty On the contrary Tissaphernes insisted to have the Greek Army drawn out of the King's Territories and the Lacedemoian Governours out of the Greek Towns. At this Conference they made a Truce till such time as Dercyllidas had sent the Proposals to Lacedemon and Tissaphernes to the King. Whilst Dercyllidas was setling Affairs in Asia the Lacedemonians being formerly prvooked by the Eleans the Ephori and whole Assembly resolved to humble them because they had made an Alliance with the Athenians Argives and Mantineans and drove them from the Horse-races and * They were five leaping running Quoits fighting at Whorle-bats and Wrestling P. Fab. Agon Gymnick Games pretending the Lacedemonians were condemned in a Fine to them nor yet being satisfied with this had whipt †Thucyd. lib. 5. Lichas an ancient man and thrown him out of the Foot-race because he had delivered the Chariot to the Thebans and attempted to crown them with Garlands after they had been declared Victors by the Cryers and because they had opposed Agis in making of Vows for the Success of the War though he went by the direction of the Oracle to sacrifice to Jupiter and obliged him to depart without sacrificing affirming it was against an ancient Custom for Greeks to consult Oracles when they made War against Greeks Thereupon they sent Ambassadors to Elis and declared that the Lacedemonian Magistrates thought it equitable that they should restore the adjacent Cities to their Liberty The Eleans made Answer War with the Eleans That they should not comply with them herein for that they had acquired those Towns by the Sword upon that the Ephori ordered an Army to be raised which Agis commanded and fell with it into the Eleans Territory by the way of Achaia near Larissa When the Army had newly entred the Enemie's Countrey and were destroying it there hapned an Earthquake which Agis imagining to be from Heaven marched out of their Territories and disbanded his Army Hereby the Eleans were animated and sent Ambassadors to those Cities they understood were disaffected to the Lacedemonians When this Year was elaps'd Ithycles Archon the Ephori ordered Agis to be sent with another Army against Elis the Athenians too with the rest of the Confederates except the Baeotians and Corinthians joyned him After Agis had entred the Elean's Countrey through Aulon the Lepreans forthwith revolted from them and joyned him and a while after the Macistians as also their Neighbours the Epitalians When he had passed the River Alpheus the Letrians Amphidolians and Marganeans came over to him then he went to Olympia and sacrificed to Jupiter Olympius nor did any presume to hinder him After he had sacrificed he marched to the City Olympia destroying and burning the Countrey and carried off abundance of Cattel and Prisoners Insomuch that several of the Arcadians and Achaeans hearing of it went voluntarily into the Army and partook of the Spoil this Campagne being like an Harvest to Peloponesus When he came to the City he destroyed the Suburbs and the School which was a fair Structure As for the City it being unwalled 't was thought he rather would not than that he could not take it The Countrey being thus laid wast and the Army in the Neighbourhood of Cyllene Xenias his Complices according to the Proverb Spoken Hyperbolically of those that expect more than ordinary advantage Erasm Adag Chil. 2. Cent. 10. measuring their Father's Money by the Bushel intended by their own Power to deliver up their Countrey to the Lacedemonians and rushing out of an House with their Swords made a Slaughter killing one amongst the rest that was like Thrasydaeus the Peoples Patron and thought they had killed Thrasidaeus indeed so that the People being in a great Consternation remained quiet The Murderers imagining they had done their Business went with their Complices to the Market-place with
them Magistrates there were Divisions among the people they bearing one another a mutual hatred and being the leading men of their Factions Ismenias out of spight to the Lacedemonians would not go near Phaebidas on the other hand Leontiades caressed him and becoming familiar discourst him thus This very day Phoebidas it lies in your power to do your Country a signal piece of Service for if you will follow me with your Heavy-armed men I will bring you into the Citadel and when this is done assure your self Thebes will be wholly at the Devotion of the Lacedemonians and us your Friends You see it has been decreed that no Theban should follow you to the Olynthian Wars but if you will joyn with us in this Design we will send a strong Supply of Heavy-armed men and Horse that you may hereby re-inforce your Brother with a very considerable body of men and whilst he is reducing Olynthus you way possess your selves of Thebes which is far the greater City When Phaebidas heard this he was hugely transported for he loved the performance of a noble Enterprize more than life it self though he never had the Reputation of a prudent and thinking man. After it was concluded on Leontiades bid him march forward as though he was preparing for his Voyage and when it is time said he I will come and Conduct you my self The Senate was sitting at that time in the Porch of the Market-place because the Women kept the Feast of Ceres in the Citadel and the Streets were thin it being Summer-time and the heat of the day when Leontiades rode after Phaebidas and calling him back led him directly to the Citadel where having posted Phaebidas and his men he delivered him the Keys of the Gates advising him to let none enter without his Order From thence he went strait to the Senate and being come thither spake thus My Lords Be not disheartned though the Lacedemonians are possest of the Citadel for they declare they come not to any in an hostile manner but such as love hostility I seize this Ismenias for levying of War pursuant to the Law which authorizes the chief Magistrate to apprehend any person suspected of Treason Ye Captains and those under your Command rise take him and commit him to safe Custody They that were privy to the Design drawing near obey'd and laid hold on Ismenias the others that knew nothing of the matter and were Enemies to Leontiades's Faction immediately left the Town fearing they should be put to death the rest having retired home before After they understood that Ismenias was committed to the Tower those that were of his and Androclides's Faction being about four hundred fled to Athens Upon this they chose another chief Magistrate instead of Ismenias Leontiades went immediately to Lacedemon where he found the Ephori and people much offended at Phaebidas for having acted without Orders In whose defence Agesilaus pleaded that if he had done any thing in prejudice of the State he ought to be punished but if good Service he by their ancient Laws might do such things without Commission You ought therefore said he to consider whether what he has done be for your Interest or not When Leontiades came to the General Assembly he made this Speech My Lords of Lacedemon Leontides's Speech You your selves confess that the Thebans were disposed to a War before these Transactions you perceivod too that they always favoured your Enemies and hated your Friends They would not assist you against the people in the Piraeus that made so fierce opposition against you yet they made War upon the Phoceans only because they were well affected towards you Nay when they understood that you employed your Arms against the Olynthians they made an Alliance with them and you continually expected to hear that they had reduced Boeotia Now since Affairs stand thus you need not have any apprehensions of the Thebans one short private Letter will be sufficient to render every thing there agreeable to your desires Provided you will as cordially espouse our Interest as we do yours When the Lacedemonians heard this they decreed that as the Citadel had been surprized so it should be kept and that Ismenias should be brought to his Tryal Soon after they sent three Judges of the Lacedemonians and of the Confederates one from each City both small and great The Judges being sat Ismenias was indicted for holding Correspondence with the Barbarians and for contracting a Friendship with the Persian which was out of no good design to Greece and for sharing of the Money sent by the King and for being together with Androclides the chief Fomenter of all the Troubles in Greece To all this he pleaded yet could not clear himself from being thought an Enterprizer of great Designs and those not very good ones so he was condemned and executed Hereupon Leontiades's Party being possessed of the City were more observant of the Lacedemonians than was expected from them After this the Lacedemonians pursued the War against the Olynthians more vigorously and sent Teleutias General issuing out Orders for the raising an Army of ten thousand men and directed their Letters to the Confederate Towns commanding them to follow Teleutias in the Expedition pursuant to the Decree of the Allies Wherefore amongst others that freely offered their Service to him being a person no ways ungrateful to those that serv'd under him the City of Thebes sent him being the Brother of Agesilaus both Heavy-arm'd men and Horse He made no extraordinary hast but took all possible care that the Army might do their Friends no harm in their march and to raise as great Forces as he possibly could he also dispatched a Message before to Amyntas requiring him to hire some Mercenaries and distribute money amongst the Kings his Neighbours if so be he had any thoughts of recovering his Kingdom Besides he sent to Derdas Prince of Elimea to let him know that the Olynthians had already subdued the greater Monarchy which was that of Macedone nor would they forbear a lesser unless their Insolence were checkt When he had dispatcht these Affairs and drawn a very powerful Army together he marched to the Frontiers of the Consederates and arriving at Potidaea made a general Muster and entred the Enemies Country But when he advanced towards Olynthus he neither burned nor destroyed any thing supposing if he took any such course it would hinder him both in his March and Retreat yet it would do well to cut down the Trees when he retired from the Walls of the City and thereby divert the Enemy from falling on his Rear As soon as he came within less than ten Furlongs of the City he halted leading the left Wing himself the other Body of the Confederates being placed in the right For so it hapned that he marched towards the Gate at which the Enemy went out The Lacedemonian and Theban Horse together with the Macedonians he placed in the right keeping Derdas with his
out-out-wing them that the Lacedemonians confronted six of the Athenian Regiments and the Tegeans four Now both Armies being less than a Furlong distant from each other the Lacedemonians according to custom sacrificed a Goat to Minerva Agrotera and advanced toward the Enemy wheeling about to surround them with the part of their Wing that out-reached theirs When the Battels were joyned all the Lacedemonian Confederates were foyled by the Enemy except the Pellenians that fought the Thespieans who behaved themselves so well that several were slain on both sides The Lacedemonians beat as many of the Athenians as fell to their share and surrounded them with their extended Wing cutting off a great many and marched on in good order as if they had suffered nothing and passed by four of the Athenian Regiments before they gave over the pursuit Nor did they lose any men except those in the Charge against the Tegeans but in their return they fell upon the Argives and as the foremost Colonel was going to attack them one they say cried out to let the foremost of the Enemy pass which being done accordingly they galled their Flank and killed a great many men that fled by them After that they received the Corinthians coming back from pursuing and cut in pieces abundance of them Upon this the routed fled first to the Garisons but afterwards by the Example of the Corinthians betook themselves to their former Camp thereupon the Lacedemonians returned to the Place where the Battel begun and erected a Trophy This is the account of that Fight In the mean while Agesilaus hastned with Succours out of Asia and whilst he was at Amphipolis Dercyllidas brought him the News of a Victory the Lacedemonians had obtained with the loss of considerable numbers on the Enemies side and but eight Lacedemonians though several of their Confederates were killed Then Agesilaus said to him Dercyllidas would it not be convenient that the Cities which have sent their Forces to joyn ours should have Intelligence of it with all speed Dercyllidas made answer that they would be the more encouraged if they heard on 't Therefore since you are here said Agesilaus you might make a fit Messenger Dercyllidas hearkned willingly to this for he loved travelling and said to Agesilaus I 'll go if you 'll command me Then I command you replied he and moreover I would have you tell them that if things succeed well here I 'll be with them again according to my Promise Dercyllidas was now departed from the Hellespont and Agesilaus marched through Macedon and came into Thessaly where the Larisseans Cranonians Scotusaeans and Pharsalians being in League with the Boeotians together with all the Thessalians except the Exiles pursued him and cut off some of his Rear He marched with his Army in a Square placing one half of his Cavalry in the Front and the other in the Rear but the Thessalians attacking his Rear and hindering his March he sent all the Horse to the Front except his own Guards As soon as they confronted each other the Thessalians not thinking fit with their Horse to engage the Heavy-armed men faced about and retreated gently Agesilaus's Horse pursued them unadvisedly and he finding both them and the Enemy in disorder sent his own Guards being very stout men and ordered them to command the rest to pursue with all speed imaginable and not give them opportunity of facing about The Thessalians seeing the Lacedemonians coming upon them contrary to their expectation some of them fled some turned upon the Enemy and others that attempted the like were flanked by the Horse and taken Polymachus the Pharsalian that commanded the Horse faced about and fighting with those he had with him was slain Thereupon the Thessalians falling into a confused Flight some were killed and others taken nor did they make an halt till they had recovered the Mountain Narthacium Then Agesilaus erected a Trophy between Pras and Narthacium and rested there being much pleased with the Action in that he had beat those Cavalry that gloried in their Horsemanship with such Horse as he himself had raised Next day passing the Achaean Mountains of Pthia he marched through a Friends Countrey till he came to the frontiers of Boeotia and as he was entring the Enemies Countrey the Sun appeared like a Crescent News came too that the Lacedemonians were beaten at Sea and that their Admiral Pisander was killed There was a Relation of the Engagement how it was that both the Fleets engaged about Cnidus that Pharnabazus the Admiral was there with the Phaenicians and Conon with the Grecian Navy lay in the Front and that when Pisander had drawn up against Conon it appeared he had fewer Ships in his whole Navy than he only in the Grecian Fleet. The Confederates that were in the Rear ran immediately but Pisander engaging the Enemy with a stemmed Gally was forced aground and the rest that were driven ashore left their Ships getting as well as they could into Cnidus only Pisander fought on board his own Ship till he was slain Agesilaus was exceedingly troubled at first when he heard it yet recollecting that as the News of good Success is a marvellous encouragement to an Army so if things fall out ill it is not necessary to let them know it he soon after changed his Mind and reported to the Soldiers how Pisander was killed but had got the Victory and after he had related it he offered some Bullocks for the good News and sent part of the Sacrifice to several Persons So that a light skirmish happening Agesilaus's men beat the Enemy upon the Fame of this Sea-Victory that he gave out the Lacedemonians had won There were opposed to Agesilaus the Boeotians Athenians Argives Corinthians Aenians Euboeans and both the Locri Agesilaus had with him a Regiment of Lacedemonians that came from Corinth and half of another from Orchomenus having beside these the Half Slaves from Lacedemon and the Mercenaries that Herippidas commanded as also those that he joyned in his march from the Greek Cities in Asia and Europe there he was joyned by the Orchomenians and Phocean Heavy-armed men Agesilaus was stronger in Targetiers but the Horse were equal and these were the Forces of both Armies I will give a Relation of the Fight being such an one as has not happened in our time The Battel at Cheronea The Armies met on the Plains near Coronea Agesilaus's Forces marching from the Cephisus and the Thebans from Helicon Agesilaus led the Van himself the Orchomenians being in the Rear of all the Thebans had the Van of their Army and the Argives the Rear Just as they engaged there was a profound Silence in both Armies and when they were within a Furlongs distance the Thebans set up a shout and gave a furious charge afterwards at the distance of three hundred feet the Mercenaries of Agesilaus's Battalion that Herippidas commanded ran upon the Enemy and together with them the Ionians Aeolians and Hellespontians these
the Athenians and the Tribunes amongst the Romans For what greater Power can there be than to inflict Punishment of Death without Form of Justice Estate follows Life and what can't they do in Religion who are absolute Masters of the other two Liberty is desired by all of which we by our wise Constitution have a greater share than any Nation either has or we could expect from a Change. And because our own Examples affect us most we may look back to the late Civil Wars which were begun and fomented for the Cause of Religion and Liberty yet both destroyed the unhappy Nation suffering well nigh as many Alterations of Government as it did Years of War and Confusion The Troubles also drew along with them Rebellion Schism Faction Atheism and a Train of Vices whose dire effects we still see in the General Corruption of Manners and Tendency of the Factious to the Old Game Nor could our Differences be composed till the Rightful Heir was recalled and the Ancient Government together with our Liberty restored which we enjoy under our Gracious Prince rather unthankfully repining than justly prizing it A brief Account of the Land and Naval Forces of the Ancient Greeks I Thought it might be necessary for the better understanding of this History to give some Account of the Land and Naval Forces of the Greeks yet not to make a set Discourse about it but only to speak of the Militia as it was in the time of the Peloponnesian War this Art continually altering and improving as well in former Times as in this present Age. It will be necessary also to Treat separately of the Lacedemonian Discipline because it was distinct from that of the rest of the Greeks and then speak of those Particulars wherein the Athenians and others varied from it The Lacedemonians were the most valiant People of all the Greeks and tho' their Numbers were but small yet they were so well experienced that they very rarely mist of Success fighting with an assurance of Victory Their Life was continually employ'd in Action and such Provision was made by the Laws of their Country that not only the Men but the Women also were used to Robust Exercises and the Parents inured to hardship that the Children might be rendred strong and able to undergo the Fatigue of War. The Youth were divided into two Parties and exercifed Mock-battels encountring wheresoever they met yet were they under such exact Discipline that if any came by and offered to part them and they refused to obey they were immediately carried before the Paedonomus a Magistrate that took cognizance of those Crimes and severely punish'd them for being so far transported with Passion as not to pay due Obedience to the Laws By this their Discipline they became hardy and resolute fighting with that obstinacy that they would rather die than yield But farther to habituate them to this Virtue of Martial Patience they were once a year cruelly whipt at the Altar of Diana Orthia which though it were rather a Punishment than an Exercise yet they bore it with an Invincible Courage In this manner they were Train'd up till they came to thirty years of age for before none were suffered to go into the Campagn unless it were upon a very great necessity Thus having spent so many years in the Speculation of War they became so strong and vigorous in the practice thereof that they lasted forty years fit for Service none having a Mission till he was seventy years of age Their Infantry consisted of Targetiers Light-arm'd and Heavy-arm'd men the Light-arm'd men were placed in the Wings being commanded out in the Forelone-hope and used in Skirmishes because they were not loaden with Armour Their Arms were Arrows Darts Staves and Stones which they threw or slung taking any extemporary Weapon that came in their way The Scholiast of Thucydides says they did not close but fought at some distance advancing and retiring as they saw occasion for either The Targetiers were a middle sort between the Light and Heavy-arm'd men having a Target or lesser Shield and a Sword They were nimble and expeditious and very useful for pursuing the Lacedemonian Regiment near Corinth being cut off by Iphicrates's Targetiers The Heavy-arm'd men were raised out of the beter sort the other two being for the most part Mercenaries and Half-slaves Their Arms were a Shield of Brass a Pike and a Scymitar their business was to repulse the Enemy and to maintain their ground because the Fortune of the Day depended on them for if they were Defeated the Army was totally Routed And in these indeed did the chief Strength of the Lacedemonians consist When they put the Enemy to flight the Horse light-arm'd men and Targetiers pursued though it was a Maxime amongst them Not to be too eager but to make their Enemies a Bridge of Gold lest Desperation should make them fight and vanquish their Pursuers Our Author also blames Agesilaus for meeting the Enemy in their flight whereas he ought to have rather given them way and followed the Pursuit As for their Horse the Lacedemonians had a Body of three hundred that fought near the King like the Roman Celeres But they were very deficient in this part of their Militia those they had were arm'd with Spears and Charged full Cariere some of them carried Bows and were called Hippotoxotae They were furnished with the main Body of their Horse from the Thebans and being at War with them they were deprived of those Auxiliaries So that Epaminondas the Theban General knowing the Lacedemonians were weak in Cavalry charged them at the Battels of Leuctra and Mantinea with his own and the Thessalian Troops whereby he gave them those two memorable Overthrows The Lacedemonian Forces consisted both of their own Subjects called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and their Allies Of the first there were four sorts The Spartans which were the Inhabitants of the City and enjoyed more Priviledges than the rest the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Lacedemonians which dwelt in the Country the Half-slaves who had merited Freedom by their Valour The Lacedemonians thinking it of dangerous Consequence to cut them absolutely off of all hopes lest the desperateness of their Fortune might provoke them to rise up in Arms against the Government and subvert it the last were the Slaves the Candidates for Liberty whom they trained because the Wars made such a consumption of People and raised Emulation in them that they might advance themselves thereby to their Freedom The Confederates made up the Gross of their Army for their own Numbers were but small which they concealed either out of a Maxime of their own or that the Enemies by knowing how few they were might not despise them Yet this inconsiderable Number were men of such extraordinary Valour that Agis being askt How many strong the Lacedemonians were made answer Enough to fight any Army whatsoever However one may conclude from the Forces they had at Leuctra that
Pireus and blockt them up but the latter forcing their passage took four of the Athenians The Athenians made a Descent near Panormus in the Countrey of the Milesians where they had a Fight in which Chalcideus was slain This Action rendred Alcibiades suspected to the Lacedemonians so that they sent Astyochus private Orders to dispatch him But he made his escape to Tissaphernes and there did the Peloponnesians all the ill Offices he possibly could perswading him to retrench the Sea-men's pay and put off those that came to demand Money with this Answer That they had no reason to expect any from Tissaphernes because what he did was for their preservation and that they might as well maintain themselves now as they had done before whilst they sided with the Athenians He advised him also to spin out the War and let neither side grow too powerful lest one got the Command of all whereby the King his Master would want some body to keep the Conquerors under This Alcibiades did to procure himself to be recalled from Banishment knowing the favour and respect he had from Tissaphernes would much promote it When some came from Samos to have a Conference with him he told them if he was recalled he would procure them an Alliance with the King of Persia Provided also they would reform the Government and put it into the hands of the Nobles and such as the King could trust because the Democracy was administred by ill men Phrynichus opposed the recalling Alcibiades fearing if he returned that he would be his Enemy and sent to Astyochus the Lacedemonian General that Alcibiades was treating with Tissaphernes to bring him over to the Athenian Interest These Letters were conveyed to Alcibiades which being returned to Samos brought Phrynichus into extreme danger But he to prevent it dispatched other Letters to Astyochus informing him that he himself would betray the whole Army to him discovering how it might be surprized and that Samos was not walled Astyochus sent Alcibiades these Letters likewise which Phrynichus understanding resolv'd to prevent this danger too and acquainted the Army that he was assured the Lacedemonians would attack them and therefore he would have them fortifie Samos with all Expedition These Letters came afterwards to the Camp but Phrynichus so wrought with the Army that no credit was given to Alcibiades supposing he had only guessed at things by foresight At length there came Deputies from the Samians and informed the Athenians how great an Ascendant Alcibiades had over Tissaphernes and that if he was recalled he was capable of doing them Service whereupon Pisander prevailed that himself and ten more should be sent to treat with Tissaphernes Xxi Year of the War. Theopompus Archon and Alcibiades Pisander returned to Athens where he and Theramenes the Son of Agnon changed the Democracy into a Government of 400 men Thrasybulus proposing to the Army at Samos that Alcibiades should be recalled they both restored and gave him his pardon Whereupon he went and conducted him to Samos and soon after his arrival he was chosen General He being advanced to this new Preferment went to show himself to Tissaphernes and to let him know that he was now in a condition either to serve or incommodate him After Alcibiades returned home the Peloponnesians began to suspect Tissaphernes and talk hard of him About that time a Mutiny hapned in the Lacedemonian Army proceeding to such a degree that the Soldiers had like to have killed Astyochus their General Soon after Mindarus succeeded Astyochus in his Command Hegesandridas came about that time from Megara with the Peloponnesian Fleet intending to make some attempt upon the Athenians whilst they were in Tumult and Confusion The Athenians fearing he would fall upon Euboea on which they chiefly depended sent out Thymochares with a Fleet who was betrayed by the Eretrians and beaten upon which the loss of Euboea followed When they heard this they set out another Fleet and deposing the 400 chose 5000 into the Government After this change the Athenians came to themselves and put things into order Pisander and all the 400 retired to Decelea except Aristarchus who went to Oenoe and betrayed it to the Boeotians Towards the end of Summer Thrasylus and Thrasybulus the Athenian Admirals engaged with Mindarus and overcame him which was welcome News to them at Athens who before dreaded the Peloponnesians and never expected such good Success again XENOPHON'S History OF THE Affairs of Greece LIB I. THE CONTENTS A Fight between the Lacedemonians and Athenians in which Mindarus the Lacedemonian Admiral is slain Hermocrates and the Syracusian Admirals are banished by the People Alcibiades returns from Exile and is made Generalissimo He leaves his Fleet under the Command of Antiochus his Captain who in his Absence engages with Lysander and is beaten which ruined Alcibiades The great Sea-fight near Arginusae wherein the Lacedemonians were vanquished and Callicratidas their Admiral slain The Athenian Admirals are tried for not taking up their men in the Fight unjustly condemned and put to death NOT many Days after this Thymochares coming with a small Fleet from Athens forthwith the Lacedemonians and Athenians had another Engagement wherein the former commanded by Hegesandridas obtained the Victory A little while after in the beginning of Winter Dorieus the Son of Diagoras came up the Hellespont by break of day with fourteen Sail from Rhodes which when the Athenian day-scout discovered he made his Sign to the Admirals and they bore up to him with twenty Sail upon that Dorieus fled and having * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to come out of a Haven or streight into Sea-room Virgil uses aperitur for a Sea-term Aen. 111. v. 275. doubled Cape Rhoeteum haled up his Gallies ashore When the Athenians came up close to him he fought them both from on board his Ships and from the Shore till they not having effected any thing stood off to the rest of their Fleet at Madytus Mindarus seeing the Fight as he was sacrificing at Ilium to Minerva ran with great diligence to the Sea-shore and launching his Gallies set sail to joyn Dorieus The Athenians bore up with him near Abydus and engaged him by the Shore from Morning till Night Whilst the Fight continued dubious Alcibiades came in with eighteen Sail upon which the Peloponnesians fled to Abydus whither Pharnabazus came to their Assistance and entring the Sea on Horseback as far as he was able fought and encouraged his Horse and Foot to do the like The Peloponnesians joyned their Ships together and drawing up in a Body fought from off the Shore At last the Athenians departed with thirty empty Ships they had taken from the Enemy and those of their own they had formerly lost and carried them to Sestos From thence all but forty sailed for several Parts without the Hellespont to collect Tribute and Thrasylus one of the Athenians went to Athens to carry the News and to demand Supplies of Men and
to Megara When Alcibiades made a General Muster of his Forces at Lampsacus the old Soldiers who had ne'r been beaten refused to be marshalled with Thrasylus his men for that these had been foyled Yet all had their Winter Quarters together and having fortified Lampsacus they made an attempt upon Abydus to the Relief of which Pharnabazus came with a strong Body of Horse but was beaten and put to flight Alcibiades persued him with his Horse and an hundred and ten Heavy-armed men commanded by Menander till the Night parted them After this Fight the Soldiers became good Friends with Thrasylus his men and embraced them This Winter they made several Incursions up into the Continent and wasted the King of Persia his Country About the same time the Lacedemonians dismist upon safe Conduct those Slaves that had deserted at Malea and fled to Coryphasium Much about that time also the Achaeans betrayed the Colony of Heraclea Trachinia when they stood in Battle against the Oeteans their common Enemies so that near seven hundred were killed amongst which was Labotes of Lacedemon the Governour Thus ended the Year in which the Medes rebelled against Darius King of the Persians and returned not long after to their Allegiance again XXIV Olymp. Xcii Euctemon Archon The Year following the Temple of Minerva at Phocaea was consumed by * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the Governour of a place and a General that was sent upon an expedition And an Officer like the Dictator Cragius Prester Plin. 2. l. 50. c. Lightning in a most violent Storm After the Winter was past and 22 years of the War elapst the Athenians early in the Spring sailed with their whole Fleet to Praeconnesus and going from thence to Chalcedon and Byzantium they besieged the former The Chalcedonians when they received Intelligence that the Athenians were coming upon them deposited their Goods in the hands of the Thracian Bithynians their Neighbours But Alcibiades took a Body of Heavy-armed men and Horse ordering the Ships to coast along and marching to the Bithynians demanded the Chalcedonians Goods threatning to treat them as Enemies unless they were delivered and deliver them they did Afterwards Alcibiades having made a League with them and carried his Booty to the Camp he employed his whole Army and encompast Chalcedon with a Wall from Sea to Sea and made a Boom cross the River There Hippocrates the Governour a Lacedemonian drew his Forces out of the Town to engage the Athenians and they faced him In the mean while Pharnabazus came with his Infantry and a strong Party of Horse from without the Works to relieve the besieged Hippocrates and Thrasylus each of them engaged with their Heavy-armed men a considerable time till Alcibiades came to his relief with his Heavy-armed men and Horse Hippocrates was killed and his men fled back into the Town At the same time Pharnabazus having not been able to joyn him by reason of the strait Pass over the River and the Works that were just by retired to his Camp near Hercules his Temple in the Countrey of the Chalcedonians A while after Alcibiades going to the Hellespont and Chersonese to raise money An Attic Talent is 6000 Drachma's Pollux i.e. 187 l. 10 s. Sterling the Total 3750 lâ—â— the other Generals made this Stipulation with Pharnabazus about Chalcedon That he should give the Athenians twenty Talents and conduct their Ambassadors to the King his Master Thereupon they swore to each other that the Chalcedonians should pay the Athenians the usual Tribute and what was due beside on the contrary that the Athenians should not make War upon the Chalcedonians till the Ambassadors from the King of Persia should arrive Alcibiades was not present at the Ratification of the Treaty but sat down before Selymbria which he took and marcht to Byzantium with the whole Strength of the Chersonites Thracian Soldiers and above three hundred Horse Pharnabazus tarr yedat Chalcedon in expectation of Alcibiades from Byzantium because he would have him take the Oath but when he came not thither Pharnabazus refused to be sworn unless Alcibiades was sworn too Alcibiades took the Oath afterwards at Chrysopolis before Metrobates and Arnapes Pharnabazus his Deputies Pharnabazus not only took the Oath for the Peace before Euryptolemus and Diotimus Alcibiades his Commissioners at Chalcedon but made likewise a private Agreement there between himself and Alcibiades Afrer this Pharnabazus departed immediately and ordered the Ambassadors that were going to the King of Persia to meet him at Cyzicus Theogenes Euryptolemus Mantitheus There were of the Athenians Dorotheus and Philodocus and with these Cleostratus and Pyrrholochus the Argives There went of the Lacedemonians Pasippidas and others besides these there went Hermocrates who was lately banish't Syracuse and his Brother Proxenus In the mean time whilst Pharnabazus conducted the Ambassadors the Athenians besieged Byzantium and after they had built a Wall round the place they made some light Skirmishes and advanced up to the Walls of the City There were in Byzantium Clearchus the Governour a Lacedemonian with some of the Neighbourhood a small Party of Half-Slaves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that were made free like the Libertinus Miles in Suet. the Megareans commanded by Elixus their Countryman and the Baeotians by Cyratadas The Athenians not being able to effect any thing by force perswaded some of the Byzantines to betray the City Clearchus the Governour not suspecting any would attempt it put things in the best order he could and leaving Cyratadas and Elixus to command went over the Water to Pharnabazus to receive pay for his Soldiers and to get together the Ships in the Hellespont with the Guard Ships Pasippidas had lest those at Antandrus as also them that Hegesandridas Mindarus his Vice-Admiral had on the Coast of Thrace and to build more that he might infest the Athenian Allies with this Fleet and so divert the Army from Byzantium When Clearchus had set sail Cydo Aristo Anaxcrates and Lycurgus that were to betray Byzantium having all things in a readiness opened the Thracian Gate in the Night and let in Alcibiades with his Army Anaxilaus also was one of these Traytors and was after tryed for this Treason at Lacedemon but acquitted for that he was a Byzantine and not a Lacedemonian and it appeared he did not so much betray the Town as preserve the lives of those in it For when he saw the Women and Children ready to starve because Clearchus had given what Corn there was in the City to the Lacedemonian Soldiers he pleaded that he received in the Enemies for this reason and not for love of their money or out of hatred to the Lacedemonians Elixus and Cyratadas who knew nothing of the matter came with their whole strength to the Market-place but the Enemy having possest themselves of all the Posts and they being not able to make any resistance yielded themselves Prisoners and were sent to Athens where Cyratadas
pleased 2. Year of Olymp. Euclides Archon without Controul forbad all that were not in the Catalogue to come within the City 3. Of the Olymp. Micion Archon removing them from their Estates that so they and their Creatures might take possession of them and when they fled to the Piraeus the Thirty forced them from thence in great Numbers so that Megara and Thebes were filled with them Soon after Thrasybulus marcht out of Thebes with near seventy men and surprised Phyla a strong Place 4. O'ymp-Exaenutus Archon The Thirty and the three thousand went out of the City with the Horse on a very fair day to relieve it Upon their arrival some of the most daring Soldiers attackt the Place where * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meeting with nothing but blows they marcht off The Thirty intended to besiege them and hoped to carry the Place by cutting off all their Provisions but there fell abundance of Snow in the Night so that next day they returned to Athens †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well beaten with Snow and with the loss of a great many ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Drudges that were intercepted by those of Phyla Yet apprehending that the Garison would plunder the Countrey unless there were Guards to repress them they sent the greatest part of the Lacede monians and two Troops of Horse to the Frontiers about fifteen Furlongs from Phyla where they encamped in a woody place and kept Guard. Thrasybulus having by this time got together about seven hundred men at Phyla went out with them by Night and making an halt about three or four Furlongs from the Enemie's Quarters lay still At break of day when the Enemy had left their Arms being gone about their occasions and the Grooms made a noise with carrying their Horses Thrasybulus's men took up their Arms and fell furiously upon them taking some routing the rest and pursuing them six or seven Furlongs together There were slain of the Heavy-armed men above an hundred and twenty of the Horse Nicostratus surnamed the Fair and two whom they surprised in their Beds In their return they erected a Trophy and getting all the Arms and Baggage together they retired with their Booty to Phyla The Horse came out of Athens to their relief But not one of the Enemy appearing they staid till the Relations of the slain had taken them up and then returned to the City again From this time the Thirty not thinking their Government secure designed to seize upon Eleusis that it might serve them for a Place of Retreat if occasion were Hereupon Critias and the Thirty marcht into Eleusis where the Horse mustered the Citizens pretending they would know how many they were and how strong a Garrison the Place would require and ordered a List of their Names to be taken He that was mustered went out at a little Gate leading to the Sea-side where by the Shore they had posted Troopers and Serjeants that bound every man as he came forth When they were all taken the Thirty ordered Lysimachus Colonel of the Horse to carry and deliver them up to the Eleven men The next day they called the Heavy-armed men that were of the * The 3000. Catalogue and the rest of the Horse into the Odeum Where Critias stood up and spoke We said he have constituted this Government as much for your Interest as our own and you must therefore as well partake of the Dangers as share in the Honors The Eleusinians we have got together you must put to death that all of us may be under the same circumstances both of Hope and Fear Then pointing to a certain place he commanded them to pass their Suffrages in it †As by holding up of the hand for sometimes they put Stones into an Urn that nobody could be discovered for what he voted So that this last is opposed to the former openly In the mean while the Laconian Guards were armed and took up half the ‖ The Musick room Odeum These Proceedings pleased only such as cared for their own Interest Soon after Thrasybulus having got a Body of near one thousand men at Phyla came by Night to the Piraeus When the Thirty heard of it they came to the Relief of their own Party with the Laconian Guards the Horse and Heavy-armed men and marcht in the Highway that leads to the Piraeus Those of Phyla hindred them at first from advancing but the Place appearing to be of a large Circuit and to require a great Garison whereas they as yet were but a small Party they retired in a close Body to the Munichia then those of the City went into the Horse-Market marshalling their men so as to cover the way that leads to the Temple of Diana Munichia and the Bendideum being no less than fifty Deep and in this Order they advanced They of Phyla drew up in the Road against them but were not above Ten Heavy-armed men in depth in the Rear of these were placed the Targetiers and the Light-armed Darters supported by a good Body of Slingers that had resorted thither In the mean time Thrasybulus laying down his Shield and commanding his men to do the like stood in the midst of his Squadron with his other Arms Thralybulus's Speech and made this Speech I will partly inform you Dear Countreymen and partly remind you that the Enemy which charge us in the right are those that you routed five days agone and that they in the Rear of the left are the Thirty Tyrants that have unjustly banisht us turned us out of our Habitations and proscribed our dearest Friends Now they are come into this Place which we always wished and they themselves ne'r expected Here we face them with our Swords in our hands the Gods also appear openly in our Defence because we were taken from our Tables from out of our Beds and from off the Market-place some of us had committed no Offence and others that were abroad were banisht The Gods when it served our advantage declared themselves for us and sent on a suddain a Storm in Calmweather and by their assistance though the Enemy were a Multitude and we but an handful yet we fought them and erected a Trophy Now their Providence has brought us into a Place where the Enemy are obliged to march up Hill so that they cannot shoot nor dart their Javelins over their formost Ranks On the contrary we can reach them with our Pikes our Javelins and Stones that we throw down the Hill and wound a great many of them though it was believed that we especially our first Rank must have engaged them upon even Ground Now therefore if you as becomes your selves will couragiously dart your Javelins you cannot miss for the Road is covered with them and if they stand upon their Guard they must always skulk under their Shields so that we as it were engaging with Blindmen shall at our pleasure wound them fly upon them
understood not how to honour them that augment my Glory Lysander replied Perhaps your Majesty is in the right and has discharged your part better than I Yet my request is that I mayn't be disgraced by the loss of my Interest with you and being I am so unpleasing an Object in your sight that you would send me some whither where I may be serviceable to you Upon this Agesilaus was pleased to hearken to him and sent him to the Hellespont where finding that Spithridates a Persian was in disgrace with Pharnabazus he discoursed and perswaded him with his Children and the Estate he had together with two hundred Horse to come over to the Lacedemonians So leaving the rest behind at Cyzicus he brought Spithridates and his Son to Agesilaus who when he understood it was well pleased therewith and presently inquired of him about Pharnabazus his Province and Government After that Tissaphernes elated with the Opinion of the Army that was coming down to him from the King threatned Agesilaus to declare War against him unless he withdrew his Forces out of Asia The Lacedemonians and Confederates who were there present appeared very much concerned at it imagining the Forces Agesilaus had then with him were much inferiour to the preparations of the King of Persia but Agesilaus with a pleasant Countenance bid the Ambassadors tell Tissaphernes that he was very much obliged to him because by his Perjury he had made the Gods Enemies to himself and Friends to the Greeks Immediately he commanded his men to prepare for an Expedition ordering the Towns that he was obliged to pass through in his march to Caria to lay in Provisions and sent Orders to the Ionians Aeolians and those who lived upon the Hellespont to send their Forces to the Rendevous at Ephesus Tissaphernes partly because Agesilaus wanted Cavalry and partly because Caria was impassable for Horse supposing also he was provoked by his Fraud concluded for certain he would fall into Caria the Place of his Residence Whereupon he drew all his Foot thither and marcht about with his Horse into the Plains of Maeander imagining he could trample the Greeks under foot with his Cavalry before they reached those Countries that were impassable for Horse But Agesilaus instead of going into Caria turned a clear contrary way marching into Phrygia and falling unexpectedly upon them took the Towns which were in his way together with a very great Spoyl All this while his march was without any opposition but when he came near Dascyllium the Vant-Curriers ascended up an Hill to see if they could discover any thing before them when by chance a like number of Pharnabazus his Horse sent by him under the Command of Rathines and Bancaeus his Bastard Brother marcht up the same Hill and discovering one another at four hundred foot distance from each other Plethrum is the sixth part of a Furlong Herod or an hundred foot Suid. at first they halted The Greeks were drawn up four deep like a Phalanx the Barbarians not above twelve in Front though a great many deep These gave the Onset and when they came to handy-blows as many of them as hit the Enemy broke their Lances but the Persians having theirs made of Cornel Tree killed instantly twelve men and two Horses So the Greeks were routed though when Agesilaus came to relieve them with his Heavy-armed men the Barbarians lost one man and retreated The next day after the Fight between the Horse Agesilaus sacrificed to see whether he might advance farther up into their Countrey The Liver is dumpt together and all of a mass in diseased Cattle which was an ill Omen in sacrificing but the Liver wanted Lobes upon sight of which he turned back and marched down to the Sea-coast and finding he could not maintain his Ground in the Champion Countrey without he had a sufficient Body of Horse he resolved to make such Provision that he might not be obliged to he always upon the defensive side Therefore he ordered that the wealthiest men in all the adjacent Cities should keep Horses and declared whoever furnisht out Horse and Arms with an approved man should be excused from serving himself which was effected with that Expedition as if one willingly went to search out another to be knockt on the head for him In the beginning of Spring 96 Olymp. Phormio Archon he assembled all his Forces at Ephesus intending to exercise them and proposed Rewards to those Ranks of the Heavy-armed men that had the ablest Bodies and to the Cavalry that rode the great Horse best proposing also Rewards to those Targetiers and Archers that performed their Duty exceeding well Upon this one might see all the Schools full of men exercising the Tilt-yards of Horse-men running the Darters and Archers training which made Ephesus where those things were done a Place worth the seeing the Market was full of Horses and Arms exposed to sale the Brasiers Carpenters Smiths Shomakers and Painters were all employed about making of Arms so that the City seemed to be the Shop of War. This added courage to every one when they saw Agesilaus and the Soldiers return from the Schools with their Garlands and dedicate them to Minerva For why may not there be entertained great Hopes of good Success were men are Religious Martial and Loyal Agesilaus thinking the Contempt of an Enemy would beget a resolution to fight commanded the Cryers to bring out those Barbarians naked to sale that were taken by the Foragers the Soldiers seeing them have white skins because they seldom exposed their Bodies naked being effeminate and tender and always coacht about thought a War with such People would be no more than if they were to fight with a Company of Women At this time a year being almost elapsed since Agesilaus first began his expedition The XXX Commissioners whereof Lysander was one sailed home again and Herippidas with the rest of the Successors arrived Agesilaus appointed Xenocles and another of their Body to be Generals of Horse giving Scythes the Command of the Heavy-armed Half-Slaves Herippidas he made General of those Soldiers that served under Cyrus and Mygdo of the Troops furnisht out by the Cities declaring to them that he would march directly and take his shortest cut into the heart of the Enemies Countrey That therefore they should prepare their Bodies and resolve to fight Tissaphernes thinking he spread this report designing to deceive him again and that now he would in good earnest fall into Caria passed with his Foot thither as he had done before and posted his Horse in the Plains of Meander Agesilaus did not deceive him and according as he had given out he fell into the Neighbourhood of Sardes and marching three day through the deserted Countrey of the Enemies got store of Provisions for his Army The fourth day the Enemies Horse appearing Agesilaus commanded the Camp-Master General to pass the Pactolus and mark out a Camp. Then the Persians observing some of
the Greeks that followed the Camp to stragle for pillage killed several of them Which Agesilaus perceiving commanded the Horse to go and relieve them but the Persians seeing Succours come drew up in a close Body and faced them with all their Troops Agesilaus understanding that the Enemies Foot were not yet come up thought it was a fit opportunity to fight if he could thereupon he sacrificed and forthwith leading his Phalanx against the Enemies Horse that confronted him he commanded out all those that were ten years past man's Estate to charge with full speed the Targetiers to follow on running after which he commanded the Horse to fall on making as if he would second them with the whole Army The Persians received the Horse but afterwards a terrible face of things appearing they gave Ground and immediately some of them fell into the River others fled and the Greeks pressing them hard took their Camp the Targetiers as it is usual falling to the Spoil Agesilaus encompast as well those things that belonged to Friends as Enemies with his Army and took abundance of Riches which amounted to above seventy Talents 13125 l. besides some Camels which he afterwards sent into Greece At the time of this fight Tissaphernes hapned to be at Sardes which occasioned the Persians to say that they were betrayed by him and the King supposing Tissaphernes was the cause of these miscarriages sent Tithraustes to take off his Head which he executed and dispatcht Ambassadors to Agesilaus with these Instructions Agesilaus the Authour of all your Troubles and ours too is brought to Justice the King of Persia requires you to march home with your Army and the Asiatick Cities shall be restored to their Liberty they paying him the accustomed Tribute Agesilaus made answer That he could act nothing without Orders from the Magistrates at home Then said Tithraustes seeing I have taken off your Enemy do you retreat into Pharnabazus his Government till you hear farther from home Agesilaus replied give me then Provisions for my Army till I arrive thither So Tithraustes gave him thirty Talents 5625 l. which he took and marcht with his Army into Phrygia the Government of Pharnabazus and being in the Plain beyond Cyma there came to him a Messenger from the Magistrates at home with a Commission to be Generalissimo both at Sea and Land as also to nominate whom he would for Admiral which the Lacedemonians did for this reason because if one commanded all the Forces would be united whereby both the Land Army and the Fleet would be strengthened by their mutual Assistance wherever there was occasion As soon as Agesilaus received this Commission he in the first place ordered the Islands and Maritine Towns to Equip as many Gallies as they thought fit There were an hundred and twenty sail of Ships new built part of which the Towns had promised and the rest some private Persons out of respect to him had furnished He appointed Admiral Pisander his Wive's Brother an ambitious and daring man yet unfit to discharge so weighty an Employment who parting from the Camp went to take care of the Naval Affairs and Agesilaus accordingly as he had designed passed into Phrygia Tithraustes seeming to apprehend that Agesilaus contemned the Forces of the King of Persia and had no thoughts in the least of drawing his Troops out of Asia but rather entertained great hopes of ruining the King and not knowing what measures to take sent Timocrates the Rhodian into Greece giving him as much Gold as amounted to about fifty Talents of Silver 9375 l. instructing him to use his endeavours and taking good security to distribute it amongst the leading men of the Cities on Condition that they would make War upon the Lacedemonians He went into Greece and at Thebes gave some of the Money to Androclides Ismenias and Galaxidorus at Corinth to Timolaus and Polyanthes at Argos to Cyclo and his Party the Athenians though they had no share of the Gold yet were eager for War thinking the Command in Chief belonged to them They that received the Money talkt against the Lacedemonians in their respective Cities and rendring them odious to the People stirred up the most considerable Commonwealths to consederate against them But the Chief of the Thebans knowing the Lacedemonians would not break the League made with the Allies War between the Lacedemonians and Thebans unless some others were the Aggressors perswaded the Locri Opuntii to pay Tribute out of a Country that was in dispute betwixt the Thebans and Phocaeans imagining if such a thing were done the Phocaeans would fall into Locris Nor were they mistaken for the Phocaeans made an inroad into Locris and took a great Spoyl thereupon Androclides and his Party prevailed with the Thebans to assist the Locrians as though the Enemy had not invaded a Countrey which was in Controversie but confessed on all Hands to be in Amity with them On the other hand the Thebans fell into Phocis and destroyed it upon which the Phocaeans sent Ambassadors to Lacedaemon desiring Assistance from them making it appear that they did not begin the War but only revenged their Injuries The Lacedemonians willingly embraced this opportunity of employing their Arms against the Thebans provoked by them before for siezing Apollo's Tenths at Decelea and for not seconding the Lacedemonians in their attempt upon the Piraeus complaining of them also for disswading the Corinthians from joyning with them calling also to mind their denying Agesilaus to sacrifice at Aulis and their throwing his Sacrifice off the Altar And for that they did not assist Agesilaus in his Expedition into Asia Thereupon they thought they had a fair opportunity to undertake a War against them and repress their insolency For their Affairs succeeded well in Asia Agesilaus having carried all before him nor was there any War in Greece that could give them a diversion on that side This being the sence of the Lacedemonian Republick the Ephori ordered a Levy to be made and sent Lysander to the Phocaeans with Orders to bring their Forces as also for the rest to assemble at Haliartus Oeteans Heracleans Melians and Aenians where Pausanias who was to Command in Chief had appointed the Troops of the Lacedemonians and other Peloponesians to Rendevous at a set day Lysander not only observed his Orders but brought over the Orchomenians also from the Thebans Pausanias after he had obtained a successful Sacrifice for his Voyage remained at Tegea and sent the Officers of the Mercenaries before being in expectation of the Troops from the Adjacent Places When the Thebans received Intelligence that the Lacedemonians were entred their Countrey they sent Ambassadors to Athens with this Message The Oration of the Theban Ambassadoes at Athens Ye complained of us My Lords of Athens for passing a severe Sentence against you towards the end of the Peloponesian War but this your Complaint was groundless For it was not the Decree of our Government but
Lacedemonians should march out of their Countrey who gladly accepted it and taking their dead retired out of Boeotia After this Action the Lacedemonians went away much dejected but the Thebans insulting fell upon those that stragled in the Villages and pursued them to the Roads Thus ended the Expedition of the Lacedemonians and Pausanias when he came home was tried for his Life being accused for coming later to Lysander at Haliartus than he ought to have done having agreed to meet him by a certain day and for that he had made Truce to fetch off the killed and had not attempted it by fighting as also for that he dismissed the Athenians taken in the Piraeus besides all this he did not make his Appearance and therefore was condemned to lose his Life But he made his Escape to Tegea where he sickned and died of a Distemper And this was the State of Affairs in Greece at that time XENOPHON'S History OF THE Affairs of Greece LIB IV. THE CONTENTS The Marriage Treaty between Cotys King of Paphlagonia and Spithridates's Daughter The Thebans are vanquisht by the Lacedemonians The Athenians beat the Lacedemonians in a Sea-fight at Cnidus The Battel at Chaeronea The Massacre at Corinth Corinth surprized by the Argives and recovered by Praxitas The Walls of Athens rebuilt by Conon Antalcidas is sent to Teribazus the Persian to negotiate a Peace The Lacedemonians defeated by Iphicrates and Anaxibius their General slain AFterwards early in the Autumn Agesilaus entring Phrygia the Government of Pharnabazus burned and destroyed the Countrey taking in some Cities by Force and others by Surrender But Spithridates telling him That if he would go with him into Paphlagonia he would bring him to an interview with the King thereof and make him an Ally Agesilaus was very forward to go having a great desire a long time before to bring over this Nation from the Obedience of the King of Persia After Agesilaus arrived in Paphlagonia Cotys came to him and made an Alliance for though he was sent for by the King of Persia he went not too him but by the perswasion of Spithridates left a thousand Horse and two thousand Targetiers with Agesilaus who returning his thanks to Spithridates for them said Tell me Spithridates won't you bestow your Daughter on Cotys That I would replied he more willingly a great deal than Cotys King of so large a Countrey and so mighty a People would marry a poor Exiles Daughter Thus much only was mentioned at that time about a Match but afterwards Cotys being upon his departure came to take his leave of Agesilaus who ordering Spithridates to withdraw said to Cotys in the presence of the XXX Commissioners Pray tell me Cotys of what kind of Family is Spithridates descended Of one replied he that is no ways inferiour to any in Persia Have you seen said Agesilaus what an handsome Son he has What then says Cotys Yes I have for last Night I supped with him They say replies Agesilaus that he has a Daughter more beautiful than he Before God says Cotys she is a Beauty Then replied Agesilaus Since you are become one of our Friends by my consent you shall marry her for first she is extraordinary handsome the most welcome Quality in a Wife and then descended of a most Illustrious Father and one of so considerable Power that being affronted by Pharnabazus he has revenged himself in the manner you see and chased him out of his Province You may be assured therefore said he that as he is able to revenge himself on an Enemy so he can oblige a Friend and consider with your self that if such a thing should be you will not only contract an Affinity with him but with me also and the rest of the Lacedemonians and we as you well know are the leading People of all Greece What Nuptial Solemnity therefore can be more Pompous than yours What Bride was ever attended by so many Horse Targetiers and Heavy-armed men as shall conduct yours to your Court Then Cotys asking him said Agesilaus Does Spithridates approve of what you say By Heaven replied he Cotys I speak not by his Order for though the pleasure of revenging my self on an Enemy be very sweet yet I am much more pleased when I can find out any thing that can be serviceable to a Friend Then said Cotys why don't you ask his Consent Go you therefore Herippidas and the rest says Agesilaus and inform him of these Proposals and use all the best Arguments you can to perswade him so they went and acquainted him And whilst they staid Agesilaus said Shall we Cotys send for Spithridates hither for I believe he will be sooner prevailed upon by you than by all together Soon after Agesilaus sent for Spithridates and the rest and when they drew near Herippidas said Agesilaus Not to trouble you with the whole Relation of the Matter Spithridates says he will submit wholly to your pleasure Then 't is my pleasure says Agesilaus that you Spithridates bestow your Daughter on Cotys and that you Cotys accept her and I wish you much joy Yet we cannot send you her by Land before the Spring Faith saith Cotys but you may presently have her conveyed if you please by Sea. In Conclusion the Marriage-Treaty being ratified Cotys was dismissed Immediately Agesilaus knowing him to be in hast fitted out a Gally giving Orders to Callias the Lacedemonian to convey the Lady and went himself to Dascyllium the Court of Pharnabazus which had a great many and large Villages about it furnished with all necessaries for life as also Wild Beasts some in Parks and others in Forrests exceeding delightful being encompassed by a River stored with all sorts of Fish and abundance of Fowls for those that loved the Game There he took up his Winter Quarters and partly in that Place and partly by Depredations in the Countrey got Provisions for his Army but as the Soldiers never having been foyled before contemned the Enemy and were not upon their Guard when they foraged Pharnabazus with two Scythed Chariots and four hundred Horse met them stragling in the Plains As soon as the Greeks discovered him advancing towards them about seven hundred of them drew up in a Body Pharnabazus without any more ado placed the Chariots in the Front and following himself with the Horse in the Rear commanded them to drive upon the Enemy The Chariots falling in and breaking their Body the Horse forthwith killed and took Prisoners an hundred men and the rest fled to Agesilaus who was not far off with the Heavy-armed men Three or four days after Spithridates discovered Pharnabazus's Camp at Caue a large Village about an hundred and sixty Furlongs from thence and immediately informed Herippidas of it who ever longing to perform some brave Exploit desired of Agesilaus two thousand Heavy-armed men as many Targetiers Spithridates's Horse the Paphlagonians and what Greek Horse he could prevail with besides When he had obtained a Promise of
was possible supposing that he should dispossess the King of Persia of all the Provinces he left behind him As Agesilaus designed thus with himself Diophantus Archon the Lacedemonians discovering that for certain Money had been sent into Greece and that the most considerable Cities had confederated to make War upon them and apprehending their Republick was in danger and that they were obliged to provide for a New War they accordingly did and sent Epicydidas to Agesilaus who after he arrived related how Affairs stood and that the State had sent Orders for him to come to the assistance of his Countrey Agesilaus hearing this was extraordinarily concerned considering what Honours and Hopes he should thereby be deprived of However he called the Confederates together and communicated to them the State 's Orders declaring that he was necessitated to go to the assistance of his Countrey If things succeed well with us assure your selves said he that I will not forget you but return and do whatever you shall require When they heard this they shed abundance of Tears and resolved with an Universal Consent to accompany Agesilaus and succour Lacedemon and if they met with Success to bring him back again into Asia Whilst they were preparing for the Expedition Agesilaus left Euxenus General with an Army of 400 men to preserve the Towns they were possest of and intended to carry with him a considerable Body of the stoutest men finding that several of the Soldiers were more inclined to stay there than to go and fight against the Greeks He proposed Prizes to those Cities that furnished the best Soldiers and to those Captains of the Mercenaries who came into the Service with a Company of the best appointed either of Heavy-armed men Archers or Targetiers To the Captains of Horse he declared that whosoever brought a Troop the best horsed and armed should have also a Reward telling them he would determine this matter in the Chersonese after he was passed out of Asia into Europe and that they should be sure to chuse select men for this Expedition The Prizes were generally Arms for the Heavy-armed men and Horse neatly made and some Crowns of Gold so that all of them amounted to no less than the value of four Talents 750 l. and though he had been at such Expences yet he provided Arms for his Soldiers Afterwards when he had passed the Hellespont there were chosen Umpires of the Lacedemonians Menascus Herippidas and Orsippus of the Confederates one out of every City As soon as this Arbitration was over Agesilaus marched with his Army the same Way that Xerxes did when he invaded Greece About this time the Ephori raised Forces and the States because Agesipolis was a Minor gave the Command of the Army to Aristodemus the Protector and one of the Royal Family After the Lacedemonians had taken the Field the Enemy assembled together and consulted how they might manage the War to the best advantage Timolaus his Speech Then said Timolaus the Corinthian Gentlemen Methinks the Affairs of the Lacedemonians are like Rivers which being not large near their Springs may be easily forded over but while they continue their course farther the accession of other Waters makes their Stream more rapid Just so are the Lacedemonians for at the Place they set forth they are only themselves but in their Progress they having joyned other Cities become more numerous and are hardly to be grapled with I find too says he that those who would destroy Wasps if they hunt them after they get out of their holes are stung by Swarms of them but if they set fire to them in their Nests then they destroy them and suffer no harm at all themselves Therefore upon these considerations I think it best to give them battel at Lacedemon or if that cannot be yet as near to the Place as is possible This Proposal seeming reasonable they made a Decree accordingly and whilst they debated about the Command in Chief they agreed how many they should draw up in Front lest they should make their Battalions too deep and thereby let the Enemy encompass them The Lacedemonians together with the Tegeans and Mantineans marched out by the Sea side and arrived about the same time at Sicyon that the Corinthians and their Confederates did at Nemea Hereupon the latter made an Impression upon the Lacedemonians near Epiecaea and at first the Enemies Light-armed men darting and throwing from an Eminence did great Execution upon them but the Lacedemonians marching down by the Sea side and taking the way through the Plain destroyed and burnt the Countrey The Enemy went out and encamped by a Brook that ran before their Camp the Lacedemonians advancing within less than ten furlongs off them encamped also and lay still I will now give an Account how strong both Armies were there were drawn together about six thousand of the Lacedemonian Heavy-armed men of the Eleans Triphylians Acrorians and Lasioneans near 3000 of Sicyonians 1500 of Epidaurians Traezenians Hermioneans and Halieans no less than 3000 besides these there were six hundred Lacedemonian Horse supported by three hundred Cretan Archers Of the Marganean Ledrinian Amphidolian Slingers no less than four hundred The Phliasians were not in the Army but pretended there was a Truce These were the Forces of the Lacedemonians The Enemies Army consisted in six thousand Athenian Heavy-armed men and as the report went seven thousand Argives The Boeotians the Orchomenians being not there were but about 5000. the Corinthians three thousand and out of all Euboea three thousand more These were their Heavy-armed men The Boeotian Horse the Orchomenians being not there were about eight hundred the Athenian near six hundred of the Chalcideans that came out of Euboea an hundred of the Locri Opuntij fifty The Light-armed men together with the Corinthians exceeded this number being joyned by the Locri Ozolae the Melieans and Acarnanians These were the Forces on both sides The Boeotians whilst they had the left Wing were not urgent for a Battel but when the Athenians were drawn up against the Lacedemonians and they opposed to the Achaeans in the right they immediately cried out the Sacrifice was auspicious and ordered to make ready for a Battle Here at first they took no care to draw up sixteen in Front but made their Battalion altogether deep nor did they move to the right that they might thereby outwing the Enemy The Athenians followed that they might not be disordered although they understood that they were in danger of being surrounded Hitherto the Lacedemonians did not discover that the Enemy advanced because the Place thereabouts was woody but after they had begun to sing the Paean they then perceived them instantly and commanded all to prepare for fighting and being drawn up in the order the Officers of the Mercenaries had marshalled each Battalion they were commanded to follow their Leader The Lacedemonians advanced towards the right of the Enemy and did so far
were all those that ran together and by that time they came within a Pikes length they routed those that confronted them Nor did the Argives stand Agesilaus's men but fled to Helicon here when some of the Mercenaries were already setting a Garland upon Agesilaus's head advice came that the Thebans had beaten the Orchomenians and made their way to the Baggage thereupon he moved with his Battalion and marched towards them The Thebans seeing their Companions fled and desirous to make their escape to them got together in a Body and retired with diligence Now without all Controversie we may allow Agesilaus to be a man of great courage though here he took not the safest course for he might have let those that retreated have passed him and in the pursuit have cut off their Rear though he did not so but faced the Thebans and fell upon their Front. So they engaged and clashing their Bucklers together fought slew and were slain at last some of the Thebans escaped to Helicon and several in their Retreat were killed Afterwards when Agesilaus having gotten the Victory was brought wounded to his Battalion some of the Horse went and told him that there were about eighty of the Enemy with their Arms in the Temple of Minerva Itonia and demanded what should be done with them He though he had received several Wounds did not forget the Priviledges of Sanctuary but commanded to let them go whither they would and suffered none to injure them Then because it was late they supped and reposed themselves and in the Morning he commanded Gylis a Colonel to draw up the Army to erect a Trophy to crown all with Garlands in Honour of the Goddess the Pipers were also ordered to play which was done accordingly The Thebans sent Heralds to desire a Truce that they might fetch off their slain which was granted Agesilaus went to offer the tenth of the Spoil to Apollo at Delphos 18750 lib. which was not less than an hundred Talents Gylis the Colonel marcht with the Army into Phocis and there fell into Locris the day after the Soldiers plundered the Villages and took away both Goods and Provisions but towards the Evening as the Lacedemonians retreated the Locri pursued and galled them with their Lances and Javelins The Lacedemonians facing about and following them killed some and after that they fell no more upon their Rear but shot at them from the Eminencies The Lacedemonians tried to drive them through the Precipices but as it grew dark they by the reason of the difficult Pass were killed in their Retreat some because they could not see before them and others perished by the Shot There Gylis and some of his Seconds fell Veget. calls these Adsites with eighteen Soldiers in all some being knocked on the head with Stones and others dying of their Wounds so that if several that were at Supper in the Camp had not succoured them they had all been in danger to be cut off After the Soldiers were sent home to their several Cities Eubulides Archon Agesilaus returned to Lacedemon by Sea At the same time the War was carried on by the Confederates who made Excursions from Corinth Argives Boeotians Athenians against the Lacedemonians and their Allies who made Sicyon the Seat of the War. The Corinthians seeing their Countrey destroyed their Subjects consumed by the War and exposed to the Violence of the Enemy when the rest of the Confederates were free from Depredations and enjoyed their own Estates the Generality especially the Principal men desiring Peace conferred together and disposed one another thereto But when those of the Confederates who had received money from the King and were the greatest Promoters of the War considered that the City would go near to take part with the Lacedemonians if they took not off those who were inclined to Peace they resolved upon a Massacre And at the first they engaged in a most horrid and bloody Design for whereas none though condemned to die are executed in the Feast Euclea There was a Temple in honour of Diana Euclea in Boeotia and another in Attica and I suppose the Feast here might be called from thence vide Paus yet they fixt upon the last day thereof for this Slaughter because they thought that then they should catch most in the Market-place So when the Conspirators had notice whom to kill they drew their Swords and cut some in pieces as they stood talking together others as they were sitting some in the Play-house and the Judge upon the Bench. As soon as the Design was known some of the Principal men fled immediately to the Images in the Market-place and others to the Altars but both the Murderers and those who set them on being eminently wicked and void of all sense of humanity butchered them in the Holy Places Insomuch that some good men who were not to be massacred were exceedingly afflicted to behold such barbarous Villainies Several of the Old men being at that time in the Market-place were killed but the Young men Pasimelus having some suspicion of it remained in the Artillery Ground till the Cry was heard when some escaping the Slaughter came thither and running from thence into the Tower they repulsed the Argives with the rest that attacked them Whilst they were consulting what to do the Capital of a Pillar fell down though there was neither Earthquake nor Wind stirring and when they sacrificed the Entrails were such that the Priests signified it would be their safest way to depart out of the Place So they at first like men going into Exile forsook their Countrey Corinth but when their Friends Relations and some of the Magistrates came to them entreating and promising them upon their Oaths that they should live at home in security several returned back again Yet when they saw them play the Tyrants and that their Country was ruined being called Argos instead of Corinth their Boundaries pulled down and themselves forced to be made Denizons of the former which they had no occasion to be and of less Power in their own Countrey than Foreigners Some of them thinking this kind of Life not to be born endeavoured to reduce Corinth to such a condition as it had been formerly in and by restoring it to its Liberty and wholesome Laws to purge it from Murderers which if they were able to effect they should be called the Saviours of it and if they could not yet they having aimed at the noblest and greatest of Designs shall obtain a glorious Death Whereupon two men only Pasimelus and Alcimenes attempted it and passed a Brook to meet Praxitas a Lacedemonian Colonel who at that time was with his Regiment in Garison at Sicyon they acquainted him that they could let him into the Town the way that leads to the Lechaeum Praxitas knowing them formerly to be trusty men gave credit to what they said and procuring the Regiment which was marching out of Sicyon to continue there contrived how
the Amycleans in the Garison at Lechaeum the Colonel who commanded in the Place ordered the Confederates to defend it whilst he with the Regiment of Heavy-armed men and Horse conveyed the Amycleans by the Walls of Corinth When they came within twenty or thirty furlongs of Sicyon the Colonel of Heavy-armed men which were about six hundred returned to the Lechaeum and commanded the Colonel of Horse to conduct the Amycleans with his Regiment as far as they desired and then to march back again Though they knew there were a great many Targetiers and Heavy-armed men in Corinth yet they despised them because of their former Success supposing none durst offer to meddle with them But †Son of Hipponicus Callias General of the Athenian Heavy-armed men and Iphicrates who commanded the Targetiers discovering from Corinth that they were a small Party and not flankt with Targetiers or Horse thought they might securely set upon them with their own Targetiers For if the Enemy marcht on they would gall them with their Lances and cut them in pieces or if the Lacedemonians offered to pursue the nimble Targetiers could easily decline the Heavy-armed men They resolved upon this and sallied out Callias placed the Heavy-armed men not far from the City and Iphicrates took the Targetiers with whom he charged the Regiment When the Lacedemonians were galled with the Lances some of them being wounded and others slain they ordered their Squires to carry off the killed to Lechaeum And to speak the truth these only escaped of the whole Regiment Hereupon the Colonel commanded those who were ten years past man's estate to repulse the said Targetiers but being Heavy-armed men they could not come so near as to reach them with their Lances because the Athenian General had commanded the Targetiers to retreat before the Heavy-armed men closed with them but the latter pursuing them eagerly in several small Parties Iphicrates's Targetiers darted their Javelins and others ran by galling their Flanks so that nine or ten were killed in the fist Onset After this they attacked the Lacedemonians more boldly and when they began to press them hard the Colonel commanded those that were fifteen years above man's estate to pursue the Enemy and in this pursuit they lost more men than in the former And now the bravest of their men were killed yet a Body of Horse coming in to their Relief they pursued again and unadvisedly followed the Targetiers as they retreated not only till they had killed some but till they came even with the Front of those that were formost in the pursuit and so faced about again When they had suffered alike the second time their Numbers continually decreased and they began to droop but the Enemy grew more bold by these successful Attempts At length being in suspence what to do they retired to a little Hill about two furlongs from the Sea and about sixteen or seventeen from the Lechaeum which when the Garison there discovered they got on board some Vessels and coasted along the Shore till they came to the Place The Lacedemonians being now reduced to a greater strait because they had suffered extreamly and lost a great many men were not able to make any longer Defence but when they saw the Heavy-armed men come upon them they fell to slight some throwing themselves into the Sea and a few escaping with the Horse into the Lechaeum In all the Skirmishes and Pursuit there were about two hundred and fifty flain This is the Account of that Action Soon after Agesilaus taking with him the Regiment which was defeated left another instead of it in the Lechaeum and in his march home entred the Towns very late and set forth as soon as he could for he marcht out of Orchomenus very early and passed by Mantinea before it was light so unwilling were the Soldiers to be seen by the Mantineans thinking they would rejoyce at their Calamitie After this Iphicrates was yet more successful for tho Praxitas had taken Sidus and Crommyo and placed Garisons in them and Agesilaus had possessed himself of the Piroeum and fortified Oenoe yet he retook all these Places except the Lechaeum which was defended by a Garison of the Lacedemonians and their Confederates The Exiles of Corinth because of the Regiments Defeat went no longer by Land from Sicyon but by Sea and infested those in the City as well as sustained some mischief from them Soon after the Achaeans being possessed of Calydon a Town formerly belonging to the Aetolians and naturalizing the Calydonians were obliged to maintain a Garison therein because it was blockt up by the Acarnanians being joyned by a Body of Athenians and Boeotians with whom they were in League The Achaeans being in distress sent Ambassadors to Lacedemon to complain that they had not Justice done them My Lords The Achaean's Speech we joyn with you and serve you in your Wars according to your Summons but when we were blockt up by the Acarnanians and their Allies we were the least of your care If Affairs go thus it will be impossible for us longer to subsist so that either we must let fall the War in Peloponnesus and pass into our own Countrey to make opposition against the Acarnanians and their Confederates or else accept such a Peace as they will please to give us This they said Nicoteles Archon intimating that they would break their League with the Lacedemonians unless they sent them Succors Upon this Speech the Ephori and Council resolved that it was necessary to assist the Achaeans against the Acarnanians and thereupon they sent out Agesilaus with two Regiments and a Party of the Confederates with whom the Achaeans joyned their whole Force As soon as Agesilaus began his Campagne the Acarnanian Countreymen retired into the Garisons and drove their Cattel a great way into the Countrey that they might not be surprized by the Enemy A while after when he arrived in the frontiers he dispatched one to the Community of the Acarnanians at Stratus to let them know that if they did not quit their League with the Boeotians and Athenians and accept the Alliance of the Lacedemonians he would immediately ravage their Countrey and lay all wast before him They regarded not his Message and he Made good his Word For he fell presently to destroying the Countrey but did not advance above ten or twelve furlongs a day so that the Acarnanians concluding themselves to be secure from the slow Progress of the Army drew their Cattel down the Mountains and sowed most of their Ground At length Agesilaus supposing they were grown over confident sacrificed the fifteenth or sixteenth day after he entred their Territory and before Night marched an hundred and sixty Furlongs to a certain Lake where most of their Cattel were and took abundance of Oxen and Horses with several sorts of other Beasts as also a great many Captives All which Booty he staid and sold the next day In the mean while
several of the Acarnanian Targetiers came up and made use of their Javelins and Slings but Agesilaus being encamped on an Hill sustained no dammage only the Soldiers as they were providing Supper were forced to march down into the Plain At Night when the Acarnanians drew off and set their Centinels the Army reposed themselves Next day Agesilaus decamped but the Pass out of the Meadows and Plain being strait by reason of the Mountains which surrounded the Lake the Acarnanians possessed themselves of the Hills and put the Enemy to a great deal of trouble with their Lances and Javelins from the Eminencies and descending from thence gave them such a diversion that they were not able to march any farther Nor did the Heavy-armed men and Horse which were drawn out of the Body of the Army with design to pursue do them any harm because they retired to their fastnesses Agesilaus considering it would be a difficult matter for his men who had been in such hard Service to force this Pass resolved to pursue those that charged in the left being a strong Party that had pressed hard upon them because this Hill was easier for the Heavy-armed men and Horse to pass Whilst he was sacrificing the Acarnanians put them hard to 't with their Lances and Javelins and advancing very near wounded several of them But when he commanded his men to pursue the heavy-armed men who were fifteen years past man's estate ran upon them the Horse moved and he himself followed with the rest Immediately the Acarnanians who came down the hill and made some light Skirmishes with the Enemy soon turned their backs and were cut in pieces in their retreat to the ascent thereof The Acarnanian Heavy-armed men were posted on the top of the Hill and continued there with a strong Party of Targetiers who amongst others threw their Lances wherewith they galled the Cavalry and killed some of their Horses Yet when they were just going to close with the Lacedemonian Heavy-armed men they fell to flight and about three hundred of them were killed for which Action Agesilaus erected a Trophy and after that went ravaging and destroying the Countrey The Acarnanians thinking he had done them no Service at all because he had not taken in any place either by Surrender or Siege intreated him that if he would condescend to nothing else yet that he would stay only so long as to hinder the Enemie's Seed time He told them they made a very unreasonable demand For said he I shall march hither again the next Summer and the more they sow the more desirous will they be of Peace This he said and made such a march by Land through Aetolia as neither a small nor a great Army could have done without the leave of the Aetolians but they let him pass at that time hoping to recover Naupactus by his Assistance At last he took his way by Rhium and returned home because the Athenians had put to Sea with their Fleet from Oeniadae and stopt his passage from Calydon into Peloponnesus Demostratus Archon After Winter was past Agesilaus according to his Promise got an Army together early in the Spring to make an expedition against the Acarnanians but they having intelligence hereof and supposing that they being Inhabitants of an Inland Countrey should be blockt up by those that destroyed their Corn in the same manner as if they were besieged in Towns sent Ambassadors to Lacedemon to make Peace with the Achaeans and an Alliance with the Lacedemonians And this is the Account of the Acarnanian Affairs About this time the Lacedemonians designing to make an Expedition against the Athenians and Boeotians resolved to send an Army against Argos not thinking it safe to leave behind them so potent a City as that in their Neighbourhood and at War with them Agesipolis understanding he was to command the Forces procured an auspicious Sacrifice for his Voyage and went to Jupiter's Oracleat Olympia to enquire whether he might in Justice refuse the Peace offered by the Argives or not being they made no Proposals at any seasonable time but devised shifts to divert the War just when the Lacedemonians were ready to enter their Territories The Oracle answered He might lawfully refuse a Peace which was not offered at a fit time From thence he went to Apollo at Delphos to know whether he was of the same Opinion with his Father concerning the Peace 't was answered he was Whereupon Agesipolis drew his Army out of Phlius for there the Forces were assembled till he went to both Oracles and entred the Enemie's Countrey by the way of Nemea When the Argives found they could not prevent the War they as their way was sent two Heralds crowned with Garlands to make overtures of Peace Agesipolis answered them that the Gods did not think the Peace was fairly offered nor did he accept it but fell on which caused a terrour and put those of the City and Countrey into a Consternation The first day he dined in the Countrey of Argos and when the usual Sacrifices were offered after Supper there happ'ned an Earthquake The Lacedemonians having began their March from home sung all of them an Hymn to Neptune supposing they should return back again because Agis when formerly there hap'ned one in Elis had done the like To which Agesipolis replied that if the Earthquake had hap'ned before he had entred the Countrey he should have apprehended as if the God had opposed his Design but since it was after he thought he gave him encouragement to proceed So the next day he sacrificed to Neptune and marched a little way into the Enemies Countrey And because Agesilaus had lately made an Expedition against Argos Agesipolis inquired of the Soldiers how near he advanced to the Walls of the City and how far into the Countrey striving Champion like to outdo him in every thing For one time when he was shot at from the Turrets he repassed the Ditch that encompassed the Walls at another when most of the Argives were gone to make an Inroad into Laconia he advanced so near the Gates that those who guarded them shut out the Baeotian Horse that would have put themselves in fearing the Lacedemonians would have entred at the same time with them So that the Horse were forced to lie as close under the Walls and the Works as Bats and if some Cretans had not made an Excursion towards Nauplia several of the men and Horses had been destroyed by the Arrows Soon after when he encamped at Erctae there fell a Thunderbolt into the Camp which struck some and astonisht others so that they died And when he was designing to fortifie a small Castle at the Pass over Coelossa the Sacrifice wanted Lobes upon which he marched away with his Army and disbanded it having very much incommoded the Argives by so surprising an Invasion After this manner was the War managed by Land I will now relate what passed about the same time at Sea and
four hundred Horse near him partly because he admired these Troops and partly to shew respect to Derdas thereby to oblige him the more to the Service Afterwards the Enemy sallying out of the Town drew up under the Walls and marshalling their Horse in a close Body charged the Lacedemonians and Baeotians and beating Polycharmus General of the Lacedemonian Cavalry of his Horse gave him a great many wounds as he lay on the ground and killed some others At last the Horse in the right were routed and they flying the Foot that were next them gave ground so that the whole Army was in danger of being defeated had not Derdas advanced with his Horse to the Gates of the City and Teleutias seconded him with his Troops in good order which when the Olynthian Cavalry perceived they faced about and retreated with great diligence searing they should be cut off from the Gates Derdas killed a great many of their Horse as they passed by him but the Infantry being near the Walls retired back into the Town without much loss Teleutias having obtained this Advantage erected a Trophy cut down the Trees and retreated disbanding the Macedonian Troops and those of Derdas at the end of the Campagn Nevertheless the Olynthians making several Incursions into the Territories of the Lacedemonian Confederates ravaged the Country and killed the Inhabitants Early in the Spring near six hundred of the Olynthian Horse over-ran the Country about Apollonia at Mid-day Menaâ—der Archon and foraged in small Parties The same day Derdas arrived with his Cavalry and Dined there When he saw the Inroad he lay still having the Horses in readiness and their Riders armed But the Olynthians advancing to the Suburbs and Gates of the Town in contempt of him he went out against them with a body of men As soon as they discovered him they sell to flight and he having put them once to the rout gave not over pursuing and slaying for ninety Furlongs together and followed them up to the Walls of Olynthus 'T was reported that Derdas killed eighty of their Cavalry in this Action and from this time the Enemy kept themselves within their Walls tilling but little ground Some time after Teleutias moved to the Walls of Olynthus destroying every Tree and all the ground that was tilled On the contrary the Olynthian Horse going out and marching gently passed the River that ran by the Town and advanced slowly towards the Enemy Teleutias seeing them was provoked by their boldness and ordered Tlemonidas who commanded the Targetiers instantly to charge them with sull speed When the Olynthians discovered them running before the rest of the Army they faced about and making a gentle Retreat repassed the River The Lacedemonians followed them very boldly and as they retreated the others pursued and passed the River after them The Olynthian Horse thinking they could master those that were already come over saced about and charged them killing Tlemonides with above a hundred more When Teleutias saw it he was enraged and taking up his Arms again he instantly drew out the Heavy-arm'd men and commanded the Targetiers and Horse to pursue without any intermission Hereby it hapned that as several indiscreetly followed the Enemy too near the Wall they came short home for they being shot at from the Turrets were forced to retire in disorder and defend themselves from the Arrows The Olynthians being supported with a body of Targetiers charged with their Horse and at length the Heavy-arm'd men run out and attacked the disordered Troops of the Enemy In this Skirmish Teleutias died fighting which when those near him saw they gave ground nor did the rest stand any longer but were totally routed some flying to Spartolus others to Acanthus some to Apollonia and most of them to Potidaea Thus as they fled several ways dispersedly so the Enemy pursuing them in small bodies killed abundance and those too the slower of that great Army From these Accidents men may learn this general Instruction Not to correct Servants in their passion for sometimes they have suffered more themselves in their Commotions than what they have inflicted upon others And to attack an Enemy rather in a rage than upon mature deliberation is the most unpardonable fault in the World. Passion is inconsiderate but Reason is no less circumspect to secure it self than to annoy an Enemy When the Lacedemonians received News of this Disaster Demophilus Archon they resolved to send a considerable Force to take down the Pride of the Victors and not to make a fruitless Expedition as the former was They made a Decree and sent King Agesipolis to be their General with thirty Commissioners as they had done before to Agesilaus when he marcht into Asia Many of the Neighbouring people who were valiant men went Voluntiers and several of the Mercenaries that were bred in the Service as also the Natural Sons of the Spartans that were comely men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for studious men è Proem ad Ex. de leg Hist Byz and had been educated in the Spartan Discipline several Voluntiers too went out of the Confederate Towns amongst which were some Thessalian Horse who had a desire to signalize themselves before Agesipolis Amyntas and Derdas likewise pursued the War now more vigorously than formerly At that time Agesipolis having got his Army together marched to Olynthus In the mean while the Phliasian Republick having been commended by Agesipolis for contributing so largely and readily to the carrying on of the War and supposing that whilst he was abroad Agesilaus would not come against them nor that both Kings would leave Sparta at the same time treated the recalled Exiles very rudely and contrary to all justice For the banished men prayed that their Cases might be heard at an indifferent Tribunal but they compelled the Exiles to try them in their own City and though they pleaded that no justice could be expected there where the same were Judges and Parties too yet for all this they had no hearing After that the recalled Exiles being accompanied with several others from home went to Lacedemon and accused their Republick alledging that many of their Citizens had not justice done them The Phliasian Government provoked by this fined all those that went thither without a Deputation from the City and they who were fined remained there fearing to return home and declared that things were arbitrarily carried on by those who banished them and expulsed the Lacedemonians that they had bought up the Exiles Goods and forcibly detain'd them having procured that they should be fined for coming to Lacedemon that so none for the future should dare to go thither and discover what was done in the City The Ephori plainly apprehending by this that the Phliasians would grow insolent Olymp. 100. Pytheus Archon decreed to send an Army against them and Agesilaus was glad of this opportunity For Podanemus and his relatious the guests of his Father
unless he was first possest of Cithaeron and being advertised that the Cletorians were at War with the Orchomenians and had entertained Mercenary Troops in their Service he treated with them to lend him those Forces in case he had occasion for them After he had obtained an auspicious Sacrifice for his Expedition he sent before he arrived with his Army at Tegea to the General of the Mercenaries that served under the Cletorians and gave them a Months pay commanding them to go and possess themselves of Cithaeron and ordered the Orchomenians to forbear Hostilities threatning also that if any City should make War during the time of this Expedition he would persuant to the Decree of the Confederates fall immediately upon them After he had passed Cithaeron he arrived at Thespiae and parting from thence with his Army he marched into the Thebans Countrey and finding the Plain and best Parts of it entrenched and fortified with Palisadoes he encamped in several Places and after Dinner sent out Parties to burn and destroy the Countrey that lay before his Works For wheresoever Agesilaus marched the Enemy appeared upon the Defensive Part within their Trenches But when he returned to his Camp the Theban Horse lying under a Covert sallied out of the Avenews about the time the Targetiers were getting their Supper ready and preparing for it the Horse being partly mounted and dismounted They charged and killed Cleo and Epilytidas two Spartan Horsemen as also Eudicus one of the Neighbourhood of Sparta with some of the Athenian Exiles that had not yet mounted But when Agesilaus faced about and came to their Assistance with the Heavy-armed men and Horse supported by those that were ten years above man's estate and charged them full speed The Theban Horse shew themselves to be meer Slugs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T was a note of Luxury and Sottishness to sleep after Dinner Athen. standing their Ground only till the Cavalry advanced and threw their Lances but reached them not for as soon as they did they gave back and lost twelve of their men Agesilaus understanding that the Enemy used to appear in the Field after it was Noon sacrificed by break of Day and marching with diligence entred their Trenches through a Place that was not well guarded wasting and destroying all to the Gates of Thebes After this Action he retired to Thespiae and walled the Town appointing Phoebidas Governour of the Place and marching back again to Megara disbanded the Auxiliaries and returned home with his Spartans From that time Phoebidas sent out Foragers to ruin and destroy the Countrey about Thebes who wasted it with their continual Depredations On the contrary the Thebans to be even with them fell with all their Forces into the Thespians Countrey but whilst they were there Phoebidas observed them and obliged them to keep together in a close Body So that the Thebans being weary of their invasion hastened their Retreat out of the Countrey the Muletiers also threw away the Corn they carried and drave their Mules home so great a Consternation was the Army in Then Phoebidas taking the Targetiers along with him commanded the Heavy-armed men to follow and pressed the Enemy very hard hoping to give them a total Defeat For he led on very boldly encouraging his men to set seriously to their Work and the Thespian Heavy-armed men to follow The Theban Cavalry getting together in a Body retired to a Forest that could not be passed through and there they turned upon the Enemy because there was no way to retreat Whereupon the formost of the Lacedemonian Targetiers being few in number and struck with a terror fell to flight Which the Theban Horse seeing they were encouraged to fall upon those that fled and soon after Phoebidas with two or three more that fought by him were slain Whereupon all the Mercenaries fled When they came in their pursuit to the Heavy-armed men of the Thespians these who before disdained to yield to the Thebans turned their backs though pursued by none because it was late in the Evening and though but few of them were slain yet they stopped not till they had a Wall between them and their Enemy By this Action the Theban Affairs recovered new Life again so that they made War upon the Thespians and other Neighbouring Cities causing the People to remove from these Places to Thebes there being in those Towns the same Government as in that City by which the Friends of the Lacedemonians were weakned there After Phaebidas was slain the Lacedemonians sent a Colonel with a Regiment by Sea to put into the Garison at Thespiae In the Spring the Lacedemonians sent an Army against Thebes Olymp. 101. Chariander Archon and intreated Agesilaus to command it He took the same Measures in this Expedition as in the other sending before he had an auspicious Sacrifice to the Colonel at Thespiae to possess himself of the Pass over Cithaeron and keep it till he himself arrived thither When Agesilaus passed this Hill and came to Plataeae he made as if he would first march to Thespiae sending thither and ordering Provisions to be got ready and the Deputies to expect him there The Day following Agesilaus sacrificed by break of Day and reaching Erythroe performed two days march in one and passed the Trench at Scolum before the Thebans came from the Guard of that Post where he entred at first Having performed this he destroyed the Thebans Countrey as far as that of Tanagra which hitherto was defended by Hypatadorus and his men the Lacedemonian Allies and retreated to the left of the Town The Thebans coming upon him drew up in Batallia at a Place called the Old Woman's Breast having secured their Rear with a Ditch and Palisado supposing they might easily hazard a Battle there because the Place was very narrow and not easily accessible Agesilaus seeing this did not attack them but marched a contrary way towards Thebes the Thebans being in pain for their City because it was naked left the place where they were drawn up and hastned thither with diligence by the way that leads to Potniae that being the securest This was esteemed a neat Stratagem for Agesilaus by retiring a good distance from the Enemy obliged them also to retreat full speed besides the Colonels flanked them with some Regiments as they passed by On the other hand the Thebans darted their Javelins from the Hill so that Alipetus one of the Colonels was killed therewith Yet the Thebans were beaten from this Hill and the Sciritae ascending with a Party of Horse cut off some of their Rear as they passed by towards Thebes When the Thebans were advanced near the Walls they faced about which the Sciritae seeing retired with diligence and though not one of them was lost yet the Thebans erected a Trophy because the Enemy retreated from the Place to which they had first ascended The Season being advanced Agesilaus parted thence and encamped in a Place where he discovered the
a Messenger Crowned with a Garland to Athens to relate the greatness of the Victory and to desire that they would joyn with them against the Lacedemonians declaring they might now revenge themselves on them for all their former Injuries At that time the Senate was sitting in the Citadel but when they heard the News any one might see that they were extreamly troubled at it for they neither sent the Herald any Presents nor made any mention of Assistance and so he departed from thence The Thebans sent also an Express to Jason their Ally desiring him to send them Succours considering with themselves what was likely to be the issue of these things He immediately set out a Fleet pretending to assist them by Sea and taking the Mercenaries with his own Guards though the Phoceans had made War upon him without declaring yet he passed by Land into Baeotia appearing in several places sooner than there was any News of his March proceeding a great way in his Voyage before all his Forces could be assembled shewing thereby That things of great Importance are effected easier by Diligence than Force When he arrived in Baeotia the Thebans signified to him that they had then an opportunity of falling upon the Lacedemonians and that whilst he attacked them with his Mercenaries from an Eminence they would set upon them in the Front. But he diverted them from this their Design advising them not to aim still at greater things since they had performed so brave an Exploit already lest they should be deprived of the advantage of the Victory they had lately obtain'd Don't you know says he that when you were reduced to extremities you then became victorious and therefore you should consider that if the Lacedemonians be once made weary of their lives they too will grow desperate and fight it out to the last man. God also is sometimes pleased to humble the Mighty and exalt the Mean. With these Words he disswaded the Thebans from putting all to the hazard On the other hand he shewed the Lacedemonians the difference between a routed and Vctorious Army but if you says he would have this Defeat forgotten I advise you to be quiet till you have recovered and raised a greater Power and then set upon the Thebans who are now invincible You understand says he that there are at this time some of your Confederates who discourse of treating with the Enemy therefore do you endeavour by all means to make a Truce which I the more desire out of a Design to preserve you both in respect of the Alliance between my Father and you and for that I my self am your Publick Host This he spoke though perhaps rather with intention to divide them that so both might stand in need of his assistance The Lacedemonians hearing him say so desired him to negotiate a Truce and when News came that it was concluded the Generals commanded all to prepare themselves and after they had supped to decamp in the Night that by break of Day they might be marching up Cithaeron When they had supped the Generals commanded them to march before they slept and immediately when it was dark they took the way of Creusis chusing rather to pass undiscovered than rely upon the Truce But they marcht on very heavily for being it was Night they departed in fear and the way was bad and came to Aegosthena in the Territory of Megara There they met Archidamus's Army who stayed till all the Confederates were come up and then marched with his Forces as far as Corinth where he dismist the Auxiliaries and marcht with the Spartans home Jason returning through Phocis took the Suburbs of Hyampolis destroyed the Countrey and killed a great many but passed through the rest thereof without any Action at all When he came to Heraclea he took the Town not that he feared any would fall into his Countrey though that Pass were open but considered rather if any should possess themselves of Heraclea which stood in a strait place they might keep him out if he should entertain a Design of invading Greece After he returned back into Thessaly be became a very great man both because he was made General by a Law of the Thessalians and for that he maintained a great many Mercenaries both Foot and Horse that were experienced men and excellent Soldiers being yet greater by reason of the strong Alliance he had already because still more desired it but the greatest of all the men in his time for that no one Enemy was a Match for him When the Pythian Games drew near he gave out an Order amongst the Cities to feed Oxen Sheep Goats and Hogs and to provide them for the Sacrifice 'T is said that he taxed every City tho' moderately no less than one thousand Oxen ten thousand other Cattle proclaiming a Crown of Gold for a Prize to that City which fed the fattest Ox for the Sacrifice of Apollo and sent Orders to the Thessalians to prepare themselves for the Campagn against the Pythian Games having thoughts as the report went to be President himself of the Solemnity and Prizes But what he thought to do with the Sacred Money is not yet known for it being reported that when the Delphians consulted what they should do if Jason offered to seize it the God answered that he could take care of that himself This man that was so great and entertained such vast Designs whilst he was mustering and exercising the Pheraean Horse being sat down and giving an answer to some that had business with him was killed and cut in pieces by seven young men that came to him pretending some Differences among themselves the Guards came briskly to his Assistance and one of the Ruffians being yet stabbing him was wounded with a Lance and killed another mounting his Horse was left behind and after he had received several Wounds died also the rest got upon Horses they had laid and escaped being honourably received in the Greek Towns wheresoever they came By which 't is apparent the Greeks were in great fear lest he should have played the Tyrant with them After his Death Polydorus and Polyphron Brothers were made Generalissimo's but in their Journey to Larissa Polydorus whilst he was sleeping in the Night was killed by his Brother Polyphron as 't is thought for his Death was suddain and without any apparent Causes Polyphron governed one Year converting his Generalship into a Tyranny putting Polydamus and eight more of the Principal Citizens to death at Pharsalus and banished seveal out of Larissa Soon after this he was killed himself by Alexander who revenged Polydorus's death and put an end to that Tyranny This Alexander taking upon him the Administration of Government became troublesome both to the Thessalians and Thebans an Enemy to the Athenians a Rogue at Land and a Pirate at Sea. He having plaid such pranks was murdered by the instigation of his Wife and assistance of her Brothers she having told them that
the day following to pass over the Bridge into the City because they found that the Enemies heavy-arm'd men were in the Temple of Minerva Alea but left the Eurotas on the right and marcht on plundering destroying and burning the Houses which were richly furnisht The Women in the City having never seen the face of an Enemy before could not endure so much as to behold the smoke The men though their fewness appeared being posted in several Places nevertheless defended the City though it had no Walls The Magistrates thought it convenient to proclaim to the Slaves that if they would form themselves into Companies and come into the Service as many as did should have Security to be free 'T is said there were above six thousand listed in an instant so that when they were armed and made so great and appearance they struck a terrour into the Spartans themselves But when the Mercenaries from Orchomenus staid there and the Phliasians Corinthians Epidaurians and Pellenians with some Forces from othe Cities came to their assistance they then less dreaded those new raised men The Theban Army advancing towards Amyclae passed the Eurotas there and forthwith they cut down as many Trees as they could where they encamped and placing them before their Camp guarded it therewith The Arcadians took different measures for they left their Arms and went to plundering Three or four days after all the Theban and Elean Horse together with the Phoceans Thessalians and Locrians came to the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Place and the Temple of †Geaochus Neptune which the Lacedemonian Horse confronted though they were but a contemptible Number and having placed an Ambuscade of three hundred men in the Temple of the Tyndaridae they sallied out at the same time that the Horse advanced The Enemy never stood them but gave Ground which several of the Foot seeing gave ground too After the Lacedemonians had given over the pursuit the Thebans halted and encamped again but it being thought somewhat too dangerous an Adventure to attempt the City a second time the Army decamped and marched towards Helos and Gytheum The Cities which had no Walls they burnt and attacked Gytheum where the Lacedemonians had a Yard for building of Ships three days together Some of the Neighbourhood who served the Thebans fell upon the Lacedemonians The Athenians hearing of these Passages and being very sollicitous what measures to take concerning the Lacedemonian Affairs called an Assembly by order of the Senate at which the Lacedemonians and the rest of their remaining Friends were present Aratus Ocyllus Pharax Etymocles Olonthens The Lacedemonians spoke all of them much to the same purpose putting the Athenians in mind that both States had assisted each other in the most Critical times with happy Success and shew how they drave the XXX Tyrants out of Athens and that on the contrary the Athenians had readily assisted them when the Messenians besieged them adding the good Success when both acted joyntly and commemorating how they with their united Forces had driven the Barbarian out of Greece reminding them also that the Athenians were chosen Generals at sea The Athenians were entrusted with a Fond of Money raised by the Greeks to carry on a War against the Persian Thucid. lib. 1. and Trustees for the publick mony by the advice of the Lacedemonians and on the other hand the Lacedemonians by the directions of the Athenians with Universal consent were chosen Generals at Land. One of the Ambassadors made a Speech to this purpose If both the States My Lords of Athens joyn together there is hopes that the Thebans as was formerly discoursed may be totally ruined The Athenians gave not much heed to what he said but such a kind of muttering as this ran through the Assembly how that they said so now though when they were in prosperity they were our bitter Adversaries Yet the most material Argument the Lacedemonians were thought to urge was That when the Lacedemonians had subdued the Athenians and the Thebans would have razed the City the former hindred them from putting their Design in Execution So the general Discourse was that they should have Succors pursuant to the Treaty For the Arcadians and their Confederates did not make War upon the Lacedemonians for any Injury they had done but because they assisted the Tegeans against whom the Mantineans had employed their Arms contrary to the Treaty Upon these Debates a Clamour ran through the Assembly some saying that the Mantineans did well in assisting Proxenus's Party who were murdered by Stasippus's Faction and others that they had broke the Treaty by making of War against the Tegeans Whiles the Assembly were debating the Matter Cliteles the Corinthian rose up and spoke Perhaps Cliteles's Speech My Lords of Athens it may be a Question who were the Aggressors Yet can any one lay to our charge that we since the Conclusion of the Peace have attempted any Place made any Depredations or ravaged any Countrey Though the Thebans have invaded ours and cut down the Trees fired our Houses plundered our Goods and drave away our Cattle How then can you satisfie your Oath if you do not succour us being we are so manifestly injured and the Ratification of the Treaty was by your procurement The Athenians heard him with Applause he having offered what was equitable and just After him Patrocles the Phliasian rose up and spake I suppose My Lords of Athens Patrocles's Speech 't is manifest to all that when the Thebans have ruined the Lacedemonians in the next place they will attack you for they are sensible that you are the only obstacle which hinder them from becoming Lords of all Greece Seeing therefore Affairs stand thus you will in my opinion do your selves as much Service as the Lacedemonians by making War upon them For I imagine it will be much more troublesome to have the Thebans who border upon you and are ill affected to be Lords of Greece than to have your Enemies at a farther distance And you will defend your selves with more advantage now whilst there remain some Allies than if they be ruined and you alone be forced to fight it out with the Thebans If any fear that the Lacedemonians if they escape this time will create you trouble hereafter consider that we need not apprehend the growth of those we have deserved well of but those we have injured Moreover you should take this into consideration that States as well as private Persons ought to make Friends when in a flourishing condition that if they be reduced to a strait they may expect assistance from those they have obliged Providence has at this time put a signal opportunity into your hands and if you will succor the Lacedemonians in this their distress you will for ever make them your most faithful Friends Nor will you have a few witnesses of your Benefaction the Confederates and Enemies nay the whole World shall be eye-witnesses
the Sea and the Hills near the City and destroyed all before them The Athenian and Corinthian Cavalry when they discovered the strength and numbers of the Enemy did not come very near them Yet Dionysius's Horse though a few in number advanced in small Parties and threw their Lances but the Enemy falling upon them they retreated and then advancing again darted their Lances as before But when any Charged them as they were lighting off their Horses and rested themselves they nimbly mounted again and retreated And when they were pursued any distance from the main Body they attacked their Pursuers and did great execution upon them with their Lances compelling the whole Army both to Advance and Retreat according to their Motions The Thebans returned home not many days after and so did the whole Army Dionysius's Troops made an attempt upon Sicyon and beat the Sicyonians in a fair Field killing about seventy and took the Fort Deras by Storm These were the first Auxiliaries sent by Dionysius who after they had performed these Exploits sailed home to Syracuse The Thebans and those that had Revolted from the Lacedemonians did every thing till this time by general consent and the Thebans wholly managed the War But there arose one Lycomedes a Mantinean in Birth inferiour to none Wealthy and Ambitious who puff'd up the Arcadians with high Conceits telling them That Peloponnesus was only their Country and they its first Inhabitants That they were the most numerous Nation of the Greeks and men of very able bodies alledging this as a Proof of their Prowess that when there was occasion for Auxiliaries none were preferred before them Moreover that the Lacedemonians never attacked Athens without the Arcadians nor had the Thebans come now against Lacedemon had they not been supported by them Wherefore if you are wise says he no longer follow others Command for before when you served the Lacedemonians you advanced them and if you still inconsiderately engage with the Thebans and don 't seek to command in your turns you will perhaps find them Lacedemonians too The Arcadians hearing this became elated and treated Lycomedes with extraordinary Respect esteeming him the only man amongst them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Insomuch that they chose such to be Officers as he nominated whereby the Arcadians became very great For when the Argives entred Epidaurus their Retreat was cut off by Chabrias's Mercenaries the Athenians and Corinthians the Arcadians opened them a Passage and brought them off though they suffered as well by the difficulty of the Passes as the opposition of the Enemy They also attempted Asina in Laconia and mastering the Garison destroyed the Suburbs thereof and killed Peranor a Spartan Colonel When ever they had a design to march neither Night nor Storm nor length of way nor unpassable Mountains hindred them so that they esteemed themselves at this time the hardiest Souldiers in the World. For these Reasons the Thebans began to envy and to be colder in their kindness towards them But the Eleans demanding back of the Arcadians those Towns that the Lacedemonians took from them observed that they not only slighted what they said but magnified the Triphylians and the others that revolted from them because they pretended themselves to be Arcadians and hereupon the Eleans also began to be ill affected to them Thus the Allies entertaining an high opinion of themselves Philiscus the Abydenian came with a great Sum of Money from Ariobarzanes and summoned the Thebans their Allies and the Lacedemonians to Delphos about a Peace When they came there they did not communicate their Business to Apollo but debated it amongst themselves At last when the Thebans would not yield that Messene should remain in the hands of the Lacedemonians Philiscus raised a great Body of Mercenaries to assist them Whilst these things were in agitation Polyzelus Archon there arrived a second Supply from Dionysius The Athenians declaring it expedient that they should fall into Thessaly against the Thebans the Lacedemonians would have had them landed in Laconia and this latter Opinion was approved by the Council of War Afterwards Dionysius's Auxiliaries sailed round to Lacedemon and Archidamus taking the Field with them and his Spartans storm'd Caryae and put the Garison to the Sword. From thence he went directly to Parrhasia a Town in Arcadia and destroyed the Country about it But when the Arcadians and Argives came with Succors he Retreated and Encamped upon the Hills that overlookt Midea Whilst he was there Cissidas the General of Dionysius's Forces declared that the time limited for his stay was expired and so departed home by the way of Sparta But the Messenians cutting off his Retreat at a narrow Pass he sent to Archidamus and demanded Relief who accordingly succoured him When they came to the turning that goes to Euctresii the Arcadians and Argives entred Laconia designing to cut off his Retreat homeward but Archidamus drawing up in a Level at the meeting of the Roads that lead to Euctresii and Midea came as they say to the head of his Troops and thus encouraged them Dear Country-men Let us be brave Archidamus's Speech to his Souldiers and look forward that we may deliver our Country to Posterity in such a condition as we receiv'd it from our Ancestors Nor let us any longer be a Reproach to the present Age since in former times we have been the most Renown'd of all the Greeks 'T is reported that when he had ended his Speech it thundred and an auspicious Lightning shone about him in a clear Sky There hapned also to be on the right Wing a Grove and an Image of Hercules from whom he was said to be descended Hereby there was raised such Courage and Alacrity in the Army that the Commanders found some difficulty to restrain the Souldiers from pushing forward Archidamus immediately leading them on a small Party of the Enemy received them at push of Pike some whereof were slain the rest fled many of them being kill'd by the Horse and several by the Celtes When the Fight was over he erected a Trophy and dispatch'd Demoteles the Herald home with the News of a great Victory how that not one of the Lacemonians fell but that the Enemy lost a great many When News hereof came to Sparta they say that Agesilaus first wept and then the Senate and Ephori So common are Tears both to Joy and Grief The Thebans and Eleans growing weary of the Arcadians Arrogance were not less pleas'd at this their ill Success than the Lacedemonians The Thebans continually studying how they might become Lords of Greece thought if they sent to the King of Persia they might by his assistance compass their Design Whereupon under pretence that Euthycles the Lacedemonian was with the King they exhorted the Confederates to send an Embassie and accordingly Pelopidas went from the Thebans Antiochus the Champion from the Arcadians Archidamus from the Eleans and in company of these the Argive On the other
fortified Tricranum beyond the Temple of Juno in the Territory of Phlius and the Sicyonians Thyamia in their Frontiers whereby the Phliasians were distressed and wanted Necessaries yet they still persisted in their League with the Lacedemonians Now whereas all Writers take notice of what great Cities do I think the many and glorious Actions of this small one are as worthy observation When the Lacedemonians were at the greatest height the Phliasians were their Allies and though they were overthrown in the Battel of Leuctra several of their Country-men revolting the Slaves falling off most of the Confederates deserting and in a manner all Greece making War upon them yet the Phliasians continued faithful And though they were engaged in a War with the Argives and Arcadians the most Potent of the Peloponesians nevertheless they assisted them and though it fell to their lot to come the last of all the * Corinthians Epidaurians Traezenians Hermioneans Halienians Sicyonians and Pellenians Confederates to Prasiae yet they never forsook the Lacedemonians Nay when the General of the Mercenaries left them and departed with those who marched on before they would not turn back again but the Enemy being at Amyclae procured a Commander at Prasiae and got as well as they could to Sparta for which the Lacedemonians amongst other honours they did them made them a Present of an Ox for a welcom After the Enemy retired out of Laconia the Argives being offended at the Phliasians for their good Service to the Lacedemonians fell into the Territory of Phlius with all their Forces and ravaged the Country yet for all that the Phliasians would not desist But when the Argives destroyed all before them the Phliasian horse being but 60 came upon them and following them close attacked and defeated their Horse with the Companies that were placed in the Rear to secure their Retreat And though they killed but a few yet they erected a Trophy in view of the Argives and more they could not have done had they slain them all Again when the Lacedemonians and their Confederates kept Oneum the Thebans came with intent to pass it and as the Eleans and Arcadians were marching through Nemea to joyn them the Phliasian Exiles came and brought News that if they would but appear before Phlius they might take it When this was agreed on the Exiles and about six hundred others came by Night and lay with their Ladders under the Wall then the Watchmen discoveing the Approach of the Enemy from the Tricranum the Townsmen took the Alarm In the mean while those who were to betray the place made a sign to them that lay under the Wall to mount their Ladders which they did and seized the Arms that the Guards had left and fell upon the Warders who were ten in number for one out of every 5 was appointed to ward one whereof they killed as he lay asleep and another as he fled to the Temple of Juno The rest seeing this leaped confusedly off the Walls into the City and the Assailants made themselves Masters of the Citadel without any opposition Upon the noise that was made the Citizens came with Relief and then the Enemy at first went out of the Citadel and fought before the Gates that lead to the City but afterwards being encompassed by the Citizens they retired back again to the Citadel and the Heavy-arm'd men falling upon them immediately cleared the middle of the place The Enemy remounting the Walls darted their Javelins and galled those below but they on the ground defended themselves and fought at the foot of the Ladders Afterwards the Townsmen recovering several of the Turrets had a very hot Engagement with the Enemy who being pressed hard with the Courage and Valour of the Citizens were penn'd up in a little room In the mean while the Arcadians and Argives invested the City and threw down the highest part of the Citadel Wall. Some of the Townsmen who were in the Tower darted at the Enemy upon the Wall others at those who were scaling without and the rest at those who were possest of the Turrets and getting Fire out of the Huts carried Wisps of Hay that was cut in the Citadel and set fire to the Enemy in the Turrets Whereupon some of them leapt down for fear and those on the Walls were wounded and thrown down by the Townsmen After the Enemy began to give ground they immediately quitted the Cittadel and forthwith the horse marcht out after them when the Enemy discovered them they retired and left their Ladders and their Dead behind them together with some that were maimed but yet alive There were slain of the Enemy which fought within the Citadel and were intercepted without the Walls no less than eighty There you might see the men Congratulating one another the Women bringing them drink all shedding tears together for their great Deliverance at last every one present wept for joy The Year after the Argives and Arcadians attacked Phlius with their whole Forces 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cephisodorus Archon The reason why they lay so hard upon the Phliasians was partly because they were provoked by them and partly because they lay betwixt them both and thereby were continually in hopes of reducing them by want of Provisions The Horse and the chosen men of the Phliasians supported by the Athenians first attacked the Cavalry at the pass of a River and defeated them compelling them to retire the rest of the day into the Mountains as it were taking care that they might not trample down their Friends Corn in the Valleys Again the Governour of Sicyon made another Attempt upon Phlius drawing out the Thebans he had in Garison together with the Sicyonians and Pellenians for they then assisted the Thebans whom Euphron joyned with two thousand of his Mercenaries The rest marched down by the Tricranum to Juno's Temple making as if they would destroy all the Country before them The Sicyonians and Pellenians were posted by the Corinthian Gate on the top of an Hill that the Phliasians might not surround them and gain an Eminence which lay beyond Juno's Temple When the Phliasians perceived that the Enemy would fall into the Plain the Horse and chosen men made opposition and hindred them from entring it so that most part of the Day was spent in Skirmishing Euphron's men pursuing the Enemy as far as the Horse could pass and the Townsmen as far as Juno's Temple When the Enemy thought it was time to march off they went round to the Tricranum because the Valley before the Wall hindred them from passing the direct way to the Pellenians but the Phliasians pursuing them a little way as far as to the rising Ground they faced about and marched on by the Wall towards the Pellenians and their Associates The Theban Governour being inform'd of the Phliasians diligence did his utmost endeavour to give the Pellenians timely assistance but the Phliasian Horse prevented him and fell upon the Pellenians who
at first received them and made them retreat but the latter joyning the Foot that were come up charged them again and closed Soon after the Enemy gave ground and some of the Sicyonians fell together with a great many brave men of the Pellenians For this Action the Phliasians erected a noble Trophy and according to the custom sang an Hymn In the mean while the Theban General and Euphron beheld this Skirmish from several places as if they had intended to have seen a sight Afterwards the Enemy returned home to Sicyon and the Townsmen to the City The Phliasians behaved themselves incomparably well in this Action and tho they were reduced to great want yet they discharged a Pellenian who had been their publick Host without ransom Who would not allow men who perform'd such Exploits as these to be both brave and couragious for 't is known to the whole world that they adhered to their Friends with invincible resolution When they were deprived of their Corn they lived partly upon Forage and partly by what they bought at Corinth going to Market through many dangers getting Money with great difficulty hardly procuring any to furnish them and scarcely hiring it upon the security of their labouring Beasts At last being in extreme want they prevailed with Chares to send them a Convoy to Phlius and after he arrived they desired him to conduct the useless people to Pellene which he did and left them there Then they bought provisions and loading as many Beasts as they could get departed by night and tho they knew that the Enemy way-laid them yet thinking it would be more grievous to starve than fight they proceeded on their way with Chares and meeting the Enemy encouraged one another and presently fell to work * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calling upon him for assistance Having obtain'd the Victory they beat the Enemy out of the Road and at last arrived safe with their Convoy The next day they slept late because they had watched that night At last when Chares rose the Horse and principal Men of the City came to him and said Chares You may do an excellent piece of Service today for the Sicyonians are fortifying a place in the Frontiers having with them a great many Masons but not many Soldiers Wherefore our Horse with the body of chosen Men will go before and if you will follow with your Mercenaries it may be you will find the work done to your hand or if you do but appear perhaps the Enemy will run as they did at Pellene But if any thing seem difficult do you consult the Gods by Sacrifice for we are of opinion that they had rather you should undertake this Enterprise than we Assure your self Chares that if you effect it you will not only defeat the Enemy but preserve a City that is in amity with you Besides you shall be the most honourable person in your Country and most Renown'd of all whether Allies or Enemies Chares embracing their proposal sacrificed and immediately the Phliasian Horse put on their Breast-plates and bridled their Horses the heavy-arm'd Men providing all things necessary for the Foot. When they had arm'd themselves and were gone to the place where he sacrificed he and the Priest met them and told them that the Sacrifice was auspicious Only stay a while said they till we march out with you Orders were immediately given and the Mercenaries went with full speed as it were by a divine impulse and when Chares began to march the Phliasian Horse and Foot went on before at the first marching nimbly then * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jogging on faster at last the Horse and Foot advancing gave a furious charge in the best order they were able and were seconded by Chares with diligence This was a little before Sun-set when they surprised some of the Enemy upon the Wall others washing some getting ready their provisions others kneading their Dough and some making their Beds When they saw the violence of the Attack they were soon terrified and fled abandoning all their provisions to those valiant men who supped on them and carried the Remainder home Then sacrificing for their good Fortune and singing an Hymn they set their Watches and reposed themselves The Corinthians receiving the News about Thyamia by night summoned all their Carriages and loading them with Provisions sent them very courteously to Phlius whither they went every day after till the Wall was finished This is the relation of the Phliasians how they persisted in their fidelity to their Friends and behaved themselves with Bravery in the War and remained firm to their alliance altho reduced to extreme want Much about this time Aeneas the Stymphalian General of the Arcadians thinking the Transactions at Sicyon were not to be endured went up into the Cittadel with his Army and assembled the principal Men of the Sicyonians recalling those who were banished without a publick Decree Euphron fearing this fled to the Port of Sicyon and sent for Pasimelus from Corinth by which means he delivered up the Port to the Lacedemonians and again embraced their Alliance professing he had ever been faithful to them for when it was put to a vote whether they should break with the Lacedemonians or no he with a few more declar'd against it Afterwards designing to call them that betrayed him to an account he constituted a Democracy And now says he I have banished all those that have betraid you and if it had lain in my power I had brought over the City to you but the Port which I was possess'd of I have delivered up Many heard him what he said tho how many believ'd him is not certain But since I have begun with Euphron's Designs I will go through with them The principal Men and People of Sicyon being divided Euphron return'd into his own Country bringing with him some Mercenaries from Athens by whose assistance he possess'd himself of the Town but the Theban Governor had the Cittadel Euphron knowing it was impossible to maintain the City whilst the Theban held the Cittadel raised money and going to Thebes perswaded the Thebans to banish the principal Men and deliver up the Town again But those who had been banished by him knowing his intent and scenting his journey and design went to Thebes to prevent him where fearing he might effect what he came for because they saw him familiar with the Magistrates they ventured the danger and cut his Throat in the Cittadel at the time the Magistrates and Senate were sitting The Magistrates brought the Men that committed the Fact before the Senate and spoke thus We Fellow-Citizens indict these Men who have kill'd Euphron for Murder The Murderers of Euphron indicted We find that sober Men never commit any unjust or villainous Act and when Rogues do they endeavour to hide it But these have so far transcended all Men in boldness and villany that without authority they have murdered a man in the face
of you the Magistrates who have the power of Life and Death if these therefore suffer not the utmost severity of the Law who will dare to come hereafter to this City And what will become of this place if every man may kill those that come hither before they declare what business they come about We prosecute these as the most impious and lawless Fellows who have in an high nature acted in contempt of the Government Now ye have heard the Case inflict on them what punishment you think they deserve Thus said the Magistrates the Ruffians denied all that they were concerned in the Murder except one who confess'd it and began to make his Defence in this manner My Lords of Thebes The Ruffians Defence That man dares not offer any contempt to you who knows that ye have power to use him as ye please I 'll now declare upon what Grounds I kill'd this man. Ye may assure your selves the first reason was because I thought it lawful another is that I might bring you to a right understanding of the case I found when Archias and Hypates perpetrated the same villanies that Euphron did ye never staid for the formality of a Trial but did justice on them the first opportunity for you grant that they who are sacrilegious persons notorious Traitors and Vsurpers have already received the sentence of death from all mankind And certainly Euphron was guilty of all these Crimes for he left the Temples naked which he found adorn'd with Offerings of Gold and Silver Who was a more profess'd Traitor than Euphron For being a great Friend to the Lacedemonians he preferr'd your interest before theirs and then having engaged himself to you forsook your interest again and delivered up the Port to your Enemies And was not he a notorious Tyrant in that he both freed the Slaves and naturalized them killing banishing and confiscating the Estates not only of the innocent but whomsoever he listed and amongst these Men of the chiefest Quality Beside being recalled from exile by the favour of the Athenians your inveterate Enemies he took Arms against your Governor and since he was not able to drive him out of the Cittadel he has scrap'd up money and is come hither If he had appear'd openly in Arms against you ye would have return'd me thanks for killing him now when he has brought mony to corrupt you and so to procure himself to be made supreme of his Country how can I in Justice be put to death for inflicting on him his deserved punishment They that are oppressed by violence suffer indeed yet cannot be thought unjust but those who are basely corrupted with Bribes both suffer and fall into disgrace too If therefore he were my Enemy and your Friend I confess I have then done ill in killing him amongst you But how came he that betray'd you to be more my Enemy than yours Perhaps some will say he came hither of his own accord therefore if any had killed him without your City he had been commended But now he is come to add more mischief to his former you can't deny but that he was justly put to death How can he that maintains He was unjustly killed make it appear that Traitors Renegades or Tyrants are comprehended in the publick Leagues amongst the Greeks Moreover I desire you would call to mind a Decree made by you wherein you give leave to seize Exiles and take them out of the confederate Cities Now can any one say that that Exile is unjustly killed who returns home without the general Decree of the Allies My Lords I affirm that if you put me to death you revenge the blood of him who was your most inveterate Enemy But if you find I have done according to Law you will not only do justice to your selves but all your Allies The Thebans hearing this decreed that Euphron had suffered condign punishment But his Fellow-Citizens having an high opinion of him carried him to Sicyon and buried him in the Market-place adoring him as their Founder For all people would have their Benefactors esteemed good men Hitherto I have spoken of Euphron and now return from my Digression Whilst the Phliasians were fortifying Thyamia and Chares was there the Exiles surprised Oropus to which place when the Athenians had drawn their whole Forces and sent for Chares they being assisted by the Arcadians retook the Port of Sicyon None of the Confederates aided the Athenians but marched away and deposited Oropus in the hands of the Thebans till the Controversie was decided But when Lycomedes understood the Athenians complained of the Confederates that these created them a great deal of trouble and yet no body assisted them he perswaded the ten thousand to treat with the Athenians about an Alliance At first the Athenians being in League with the Lacedemonians some of them thought it hard to confederate with their Enemies yet concluding it would be as advantageous to the Lacedemonians as themselves for the Arcadians to be deprived of the Thebans assistance they at last accepted the League Lycomedes having dispatch'd this Affair parted from Athens and died after a strange manner for there being several Ships he chose one which he liked best and agreeing to be set on shore where he pleased he fell by chance into the hands of the Exiles and so was killed The League was thus concluded but Demotion making a Speech to the people of Athens declared That in his opinion it was judiciously made yet that they ought to order the Generals to secure Corinth The Corinthians hearing this immediately sent sufficient Guards of their own to every place where the Athenians were in Garrison and commanded them to depart because they had no occasion for them Accordingly they complied Afterwards when the Athenians flocked out of the Forts into the City the Corinthians made Proclamation That if any of them had received any injury the Law was open and they should have Justice done them Whilst Affairs stood thus Chares arrived with his Fleet at Cenchreae and understanding what had passed told them that hearing of a Design against the City he was come to assist them they gave him their thanks yet did not receive his Fleet into their Harbour but ordered him to depart In like manner having paid off the heavy-arm'd Men they dismiss'd them Thus Corinth was clear'd of the Athenians who were obliged by the Treaty to assist the Arcadians with a Body of Horse in case their Country was invaded but not to enter Laconia therewith The Corinthians considering it would be difficult to secure themselves being they were already pressed at Land and had the Athenians for a new Enemy who alone were too great a Match resolved to raise Mercenary Horse and Foot and command them themselves whereby they might not only secure their own City but act offensively against their Enemies Besides they sent to Thebes to know whether they might have a peace the Thebans gave them encouragement yet they chose
of Men amongst the Arcadians Epariti without the Works and set upon them the Horse endeavouring to break in with them The Arcadians received them in good order and maintain'd their Ground Then the rest attached them yet they would not give back but set up a loud shout and pressed forward upon the Enemy Archidamus relieved his Men and turned towards the Road that leads to Cromnus having drawn them up two deep but as soon as he began to move his Men were drawn up in File because they marched in the Road. The Arcadians with their close Body made a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Target-defense upon which the Lacedemonians were not able to maintain their Charge Archidamus being soon wounded through the Thigh Polyaenidas and Chilo that had married Archidamus's Sister and those who fought in the Front were slain and in all there were thirty killed Whereupon the Lacedemonians retired out of the Road and marched into the open Field drawing up in a close body nevertheless the Arcadians remained in their first order being inferior in numbers but superior in courage for they fell upon those that retreated and cut several of them in pieces On the contrary the Lacedemonians seeing Archidamus wounded and hearing the names of the valiant Men that were slain being some of the bravest they had were much disheartned At length they came near one another and one of the old men cried out Sirs why should we fight Why don't we make a Truce They willingly hearkened to this and came to Terms of Agreement So the Lacedemonians took their dead and marched off and the Arcadians returning to the place where they first began the Battel erected a Trophy Whiles the Arcadians invested Cromnus the Eleans marching to Pylus met with the Pylians that had been repulsed at Thalamae Thereupon the Elean Horse making use of the opportunity as soon as they saw them advanced forwards and immediately charged them killing some whilst the rest retired to an Hill but afterwards the Foot coming up they defeated those on the Hill killing and taking near two hundred They sold the Mercenaries for Slaves and put the Exiles to the sword After this none assisting the Pylians they took Pylus and recovered Margana A while after the Lacedemonians coming by night to Cromnus gained the Trench and immediately fetched off their besieged through the * Lege 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Palmer Argives Quarter For as many as were near and nick'd the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 time got out but those that the Arcadians prevented by their speed being driven back were taken and divided amongst the Victors one share whereof fell to the Argives another to the Thebans a third to the Arcadians and the last to the Messenians There were taken in all of the Spartans and their Neighbors above an hundred After the Arcadians had finished the Siege of Cromnus they turned their Arms upon the Eleans and reinforced the Garrison at Olympia Moreover the Olympick Year coming on they made preparations to keep the Games with the Pisans who pretended to be Presidents of Jupiter's Temple The Month being come Olymp. 104. Tâ—mocrates Archon in which the Olympick Games are celebrated and the day of Solemnity at hand the Eleans made open preparations and invited the Achoeans marching the way that goes to Olympia The Arcadians thinking they would never come up with them they ordered the Solemnity being assisted by the Pisans The Horse-Races were already over and the Foot-Races that belonged to the Five Games The Wrestlers did not play in the Course but between it and the Altar When the Eleans came to the Temple of Jupiter the Arcadians went not far to meet them but drew up in Battalia near the River Cladaus which runs by Alte and falls into the Alpheus The Arcadians were assisted by two thousand Argive heavy-arm'd Men and about four hundred Athenians The Eleans drew up by the River and having sacrified immediately advanced and altho neither the Arcadians Argives Acheans nor Athenians thought them Soldiers before that time yet then they led the Van as being the bravest Men of all the Confederates They first attacked the Arcadians and immediately routed them then receiving the Argives that seconded them defeated them too and pursued them to the place between the Senate-House and Vesta's Temple to which the Theatre joyns fighting still and driving them towards the Altar but being shot at both from the Porticoes Senate-House and great Temple at length they engaged on the plain ground and there several with Stratolas a Captain of three hundred were slain and after this Action they retired into their Camp. The Arcadians and their Auxiliaries so dreaded the following day that they plucked down their Tents in the night and intrenched themselves The next day the Eleans approaching and finding the Wall very strong and that several were got on the tops of the Temples returned to Elis Having approv'd themselves as brave Men as Heaven with its inspired valour could in one day make them for man cannot in a long space of time make Cowards valorous The States of Arcadia made use of the consecrated Money and paid the Epariti therewith but the Mantineans first of all declared they would not meddle with it and then raising their Quota due to the Epariti from them sent it to the States but these alledging that the Community of the Arcadians was ruined by the Mantineans summoned the Magistrates to appear before the Ten Thousand But the Mantineans refusing to obey they passed sentence on them and sent the Epariti to bring the Criminals before them yet they would not receive them but shut their Gates against them About this time some of the Ten Thousand themselves declared that they ought not to convert the consecrated Money to their own use lest they should thereby entail a Curse upon their Posterity Thereupon the whole Assembly resolv'd not to convert this consecrated Money to their own uses Upon this those Epariti which could not subsist without pay deserted and those Arcadians that could exhorted one another to succeed in their places that so the Epariti might be in their power and not they in the power of the Epariti The principal men that had * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fingered the Sacred Money considering they should be in danger of losing their Heads if they were called to an account sent to the Thebans to let them know that if they did not succour them it was to be feared that the Arcadians would side with the Lacedemonians Accordingly the Thebans made preparations to assist them On the contrary those who were inclined most to the Interest of Peloponesus perswaded the Community of the Arcadians to send Ambassadors and acquaint the Thebans that they should not enter Arcadia with their Army till they had farther invitation Nor did they declare themselves thus to the Thebans only but concluded themselves upon very good Reasons that they had no obligation to make a War
where the Enemy might have engaged him in the Plain or where they might have thrown their Darts from off the Houses or where a small number could have done as much service as a greater but took a Place of which he thought he could make advantage and so went down not up into the City But what hapned there afterwards may be partly ascribed to Providence or else it may be said that no Power can resist the Desperate For though Archidamus had not an hundred men he not only passed over the River where in probability he might have been hindred but marched up a rising Ground to the Enemy and there those Souldiers that breathed Fire that had beaten the Lacedemonians that were in every respect stronger than they and on higher Ground could not sustain the Charge of Archidamus's Men but gave ground and the foremost of Epaminondas's Men were slain The Lacedemonians being transported with the Victory and pursuing the Enemy too far came off with some loss For as it seems Providence had circumscribed the bounds of the Victory how far it should extend Archidamus erected a Trophy in the Place where he had routed the Enemy and deliver'd their Dead upon Truce Epaminondas considering that the Arcadians were coming to the relief of Lacedemon would not fight them and the Lacedemonians together especially these having been lately successful and his own Men foiled Wherefore marching back again with all speed to Tegea and refreshing his Heavy-arm'd men he sent his Horse to Mantinea desiring them to hold out bravely telling them that probably all the Mantineans and their Cattel were without the Walls it being the time that they housed their Corn accordingly they went In the mean while the Athenian Horse marching from Eleusis Supped at the Isthmus and passing by Cleone arrived at Mantinea and took up their Quarters in the City The mantineans being certified that the Enemies Cavalry were coming thither desired the Athenian Horse to assist them if 't were possible for all their Cattel were abroad as also their Workmen a great many Children and old Men that were free The Athenians hearing this went out to their Assistance before either they or their Horses had eaten Here who can enough admire the Valour of these Horses who though they saw the Enemy were far stronger and tho they themselves had had a Disaster at Corinth they yet never call'd it to mind or that they were to fight with the Theban and Thessalian Horse which were counted the best in the World But ashamed to come thither without doing the Confederates any Service as soon as ever they came in view of the Enemy desirous to maintain the Glory of their Ancestors they engaged them and by this Encounter saved all that the Mantineans had abroad yet they lost some brave men and slew also some such of the Enemy For there was none on either side that had so short a Weapon but that he could reach his Enemy therewith At last they carried off their Friends that were slain and restored the Enemy theirs upon Truce Here Epaminondas considering that within a few days he should be obliged to depart because the time set for the Expedition was elapsed and that if he should leave them exposed whom he came to assist then they would be besieged by the Enemy and himself should lose all his former Glory because he and a strong body of Heavy-arm'd men had been beaten at Lacedemon by a few foiled at Mantinea in a Skirmish with the Horse and that his Voyage into Peloponnesus had given occasion to the Lacedemonians Arcadians Achaeans Eleans and Athenians to enter into a Confederacy thought it was not possible for him to retreat without fighting considering too that if he conquer'd he should remove all these Difficulties and that if he were killed it would be thought a Noble Death by having attempted to leave his Country the Soveraignty of Peloponnesus Nor is it any great wonder to me that he should entertain these Designs for these are the thoughts of men that are Lovers of Glory But this is a greater wonder that he so inur'd his Souldiers to refuse no kind of Toyl either by Day or Night to decline no Danger and to obey his Commands though they wanted Provisions For at last when he gave out orders to his Army to prepare themselves for Battel the Horse readily at his Command whitened their Head-pieces and some of the Arcadian Heavy-arm'd men form'd themselves into Companies and carried Clubs after the manner of the Thebans Lastly all whetted their Spears and Swords and scoured their Bucklers It is worth while to observe what he did after he had got them in this good Order At first as is usual he drew up in Battalia The Battel at Mantinea and then signified that Preparations should be made for a Battel after he had drawn up as he best liked he did not take the shortest Cut to the Enemy but led to the Hills that lay on the West of Tegea and opposite to the place where he was So that he made the Enemy believe he would not fight that Day But after he came to the Mountains and had extended his Army in Front he made a halt under the Hills as though he was about to Encamp and by this abated the prepared Fury of the Enemy to fight and made them negligent of the order of Battel they had drawn up in But bringing the Companies that were placed in File to the Front 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and making a strong Wedge about himself he commanded them to take up their Arms again and led them on When the Enemy saw them advance contrary to their expectation no one stood still but some ran to their Ranks others prepared themselves in Battalia some bridled their Horses and put on their Armour and seemed rather to be made a Carnage of than to make one On the other hand Epaminondas led on his Army being like the opposite Stem of a Galley concluding that where-ever he made an Impression there he should ruine their whole Body For he had prepared to charge with the Flower of his Forces leaving the Weaker part a good way off considering that if this were beaten it would put the rest into a Consternation and add Resolution to the Enemies The Enemy had drawn up their Horse in depth like a Battalion of Heavy-arm'd men not having flank'd them with Foot. on the contrary Epaminondas made a firm Wedge of his Horse and placed Foot by them thinking that after he had broke through the Enemies Horse he should beat all the rest of their Army For 't is very hard to find any that will abide by 't when they see their Fellow-Souldiers run Now that the Athenians on the left might not relieve those next them he posted some Horse and Heavy-arm'd men on the opposite Hills putting them in fear that if they went to the relief of their men these would fall on their Rear Nor did he sail of
his Design for fighting in this order he beat that Part he charged and put the whole Army to flight But after he fell himself the others knew not how to use the Victory for when the Battalion that charged them fled the Heavy-arm'd men killed no body nor advanced from the place where the Fight began In like manner when the Enemies Horse sled the Thebans did not pursue them nor their Heavy-arm'd men but as if they had been beaten got disorderly away through the flying Enemy The Foot and the Targetiers by agreement moved together with the Horse to the left as if they had been Victorious where most of them were cut in pieces by the Athenians This Action hapned contrary to the expectation of all men for most part of Greece being got together and drawn up in Battalia every one believed that if there were a Fight the Victors would rule and the Vanquisht obey But Providence so ordered it that both sides as Victors set up Trophies and neither side hindred the other from erecting them both as Conquerors delivered the Slain upon Truce and both as Conquered received them upon Truce And though both pretended to the Victory yet neither the one nor the other enlarg'd their Territories or encreased their Power but after the Fight there arose greater Confusion and Troubles in Greece than ever were at any time before Thus far have I deduc'd my History and perhaps that which follows may be done by some other hand An Advertisement THE Chronology of this History being obscure it will be necessary to offer something towards the clearing of it Our Author continues the History of the Peloponnesian War which Thucydides began and brought down as far as the end of Summer in the Twenty first Year of the War to the Second Battel at Mantinea containing the Space of Forty eight Years Didorus Siculus affirms in his XIII Book that Xenophon was the Continuator of Thucydides but mistakes in asserting that Thucydides wrote to the Twenty second Year of the War because the latter in the close of his VIII Book says That the Twenty first Year would not be Compleated till the Winter that succeeded the Summer where he breaks off his History was elapsed Some learned men allow Xenophon to be the Continuator of Thucydides but yet they would have the History of some Years wanting concluding it both from the abrupt beginning which has no Introduction as the rest of his Works and from the Account by Olympiades and Archons 'T is very probable the first may be so far true that something may be defective though not whole Years but the Argument they fetch from the Olympiades and Archons to prove it is insufficient because that Account was not so early in use as these Authors as has been formerly observ'd by a learned Gentleman and therefore I have set them in the Margin as being a Gloss and inserted into the Text. Moreover the constant Notation of Time throughout Thucydides and Xenophon is by Summer and Winter and 't is by accident that either of them make any mention of Olympick Years and when they do 't is not in relation to the Annals of the History but to some dependance the History has on them But further to prove that Xenophon was the Continuator of Thucydides I shall alledge a Law of the Lacedemonians that barred the same person from being twice Admiral which is mentioned both in the second Book of this History and by Plutarch in the Life of Lysander on this occasion The Lacedemonians being vanquisht by the Athenians in the Sea Fight at Arginusae their Affairs were reduced to a very ill Condition yet the Confederates resolving to repair their former Losses Requested the Lacedemonians to send them Lysander to Command their Fleet having the experience of his Conduct in the Fight at Notium wherein he overthrew the Athenians The Lacedemonians answered them that by their Law none might be twice Admiral thereupon they gave Aracus the Command of the Fleet choosing Lysander to go in Quality of his Vice-Admiral Moreover the Admirals continued but a year in their Office For we find in the first Book of this History that as soon as Lysander's year was elaps'd the Lacedemonians sent Callicratidas to succeed him Furthermore Thucydides in his last Book witnesses that Mindarus succeeded Astyochus in the Command of the Fleet and Xenophon in the first Book of his History implies that he was Admiral because he mentions Hegesandridas as his Vice-Admiral Therefore since none could be twice Admiral by the Lacedemonian Law and none could bear that Office longer than a year And being Thucydides in the end of the eighth Book and Xenophon in the beginning of this History affirm that Mindarus was Admiral it follows that the one ends and the other begins in the same year In the next place it is to be considered that there are two Opinions concerning the duration of the War. Thucydides in his Fifth Book says That it lasted Twenty seven years and ended when the Walls of the Pireus were demolished but Xenophon says Twenty eight and an half acounting till the time that Lysander return'd home in Triumph Yet there was but half a year betwixt the Demolishing of the Walls and Lysander's Triumph so that there is the difference of a year between both Accounts To this I answer that as there are two ends of this War so there are as many beginnings For Thucydides accounts from the time of Action and Xenophon from the Declaration of the War which was when the Ambassadors of the Allies assembled at Lacedemon to Confederate against the Athenians and the like Supputation Thucydides makes in his Second Book where he says That Pericles died two years and an half after the War began which must be understood in Xenophon's sense and not in his own Having thus proved that Xenophon is the Continuator of Thucydides and that there is no defect of any year I proceed to set out the Six years and an half of the Peloponnesian War that this Author writes of the end of the Twenty first year and beginning of the Twenty second are not distinguished Whereupon I have followed Diodorus Siculus herein and placed the Death of Mindarus in the end of the Twenty first year and began the Twenty second with the Banishment of the Syracusian Captains the other five years are expresly distinguished The rest of the Chronology is very obscure which amongst other things makes me think that Xenophon did not finish this Piece because the Notation of Time is frequently omitted and in many places the Sequel of an Action not continued but interrupted with some new relation I have in order to the clearing of it made four Periods the first to the Fight at Cnidus the second to the Antalcidean Peace the third to the Battel at Leuctra and the fourth to that at Mantinea And because the Marks of Time are wanting in Xenophon I have fitted them to the Annals of Diodorus Siculus
to you who far excel other Nations in the Art of Navigation Most of you subsist by the Sea so that at the same time you follow your own private occasions and gain experience in the Maritine Discipline Nor can any set out so numerous a Fleet of Gallies as you which is of no small moment towards the obtaining the Command in Chief For all desire to join with them that are most powerful and Heaven has conferr'd that Happiness on you for tho you have had so many and so great Engagements at Sea yet you have seldom miscarried but commonly been victorious so that there can hardly be any Enterprise in which the Allies will refuse to engage with you Consider then that this is a matter of the greatest moment and consequence to you for tho the Lacedemonians have made war upon you so many years and possess'd themselves of your Country yet they never endanger'd your Ruine till Heaven gave them the Sovereignty of the Sea and then they soon brought you under subjection 'T is plain therefore your preservation depends wholly on the Sea and since you are so fitted for it by nature how can you in honor suffer the Lacedemonians to command there For first they acknowledge themselves less experienced in Naval Affairs than you are and besides the dangers that they run in Sea-fights are not equal to yours for they adventure only the loss of their Men on board their Gallies but you fight for your Wives your Children and your whole Country This is the state of your Affairs and that of the Lacedemonians is as follows First they inhabit an in-land Country and therefore tho they be shut out from Sea they can subsist well enough on the Land. For this reason they are trained up immediately from their Child-hood in the Land-service and by their exact Discipline which is very material become as powerful at Land as you at Sea. Moreover they they can as soon draw out a potent Army as you can equip a Fleet which in all probability will be a strong inducement to the Confederates to join with them Again as Heaven has given them success by Land so it has to you at Sea for of the many Battels they have fought they have been victorious in most and miscarried but in few You may understand then by their Atchievments that the care of the Land-service is no less necessary for them than that of Sea for you For tho you have made war with them at Sea these several years and beat them several times yet you did nothing considerable towards the subduing them till once they were vanquish'd by Land and then their Wives their Children and all their Country were in danger Would it not then be an hard case for them to resign up their command at Land to others who are capable of discharging it so well themselves I therefore have declared my self to be of the opinion of the Senate as judging it most advantageous for both sides and may all your Counsels be crowned with success whilest you consult the common interest of us all Thus he His Oration was highly commended both by the Athenians and all the Lacedemonians there present Then Cephisodotus rising up came forth into the midst of the Assembly and spoke My Lords of Athens Don't you perceive your selves to be imposed upon and if you will please to hear me I 'll soon make it appear in what manner You forfooth shall command at Sea and the Lacedemonians your Confederates will perhaps find Captains of Gallies and Soldiers that are Lacedemonians but the Seamen shall be either Slaves or Hirelings and these are the men that you must command But when they shall summon you to joyn with them in any Expedition by Land you must send them Horse and heavy-arm'd men so that they shall command you your selves but you only their Slaves and such kind of pitiful Fellows Answer me then said he you Timocrates of Lacedemon did you not affirm but just now that you came to treat with us upon equal terms I did so said Timocrates Is there any thing then said Cephisodotus more equal than that we should command in our turns both at Sea and Land and if there be any advantage in the command at Sea that ye should participate of it as well as we of that at Land The Athenians hearing this were perswaded to alter their opinion and decreed that each side should command five days alternately Afterwards when they and their Confederates made War against Corinth 't was thought convenient to guard the Mount Oneum with their joint Forces so that when the Thebans and their Allies march'd thither they posted themselves in several parts of the Mount and the Lacedemonians with the Pellenians in those places which were easiest to be assaulted When the Thebans came within thirty Furlongs of the Enemy they encamped on the Plain and computing what time they should spend in their March from their first setting out they advanced towards the Lacedemonians by twilight Nor were they mistaken in their time for they fell upon them and the Pellenians just as the Night-Watch ended and every one was raising himself out of his Bed. There the Thebans being provided fell upon those that were not those in order upon the disordered As soon as those that escaped the Action retired to the adjacent Hill the Lacedemonian Collonel might have taken what heavy-arm'd Men and Targetiers of the Confederates he would and by their assistance have possess'd himself of the place for Provisions might easily have been conveyed from Cenchreoe thither but he neglected this opprtunity For whilst the Thebans were in suspence whether they should march down the way to Sicyon or retreat back again the Colonel made Truce though most people thought 't was more for the Theban's advantage than his own after this he marched off with his Army The Thebans march'd severally down the Hill and having joyned their Confederates immediately attacked Sicycon and Pellene Afterwards they entred Epidaurus burnt all the Country and marched back greatly scorning and contemning their Enemy and when they approach'd near Corinth they run full speed up to the Gates that look towards Phlius with an intention to break in if they found them open but some of the Light-arm'd men sallying out of the Town met their Body not above four hundred foot from the Walls and mounting upon the Monuments and Eminent Places killed a great many of the foremost of them with their Spears and Lances routing and pursuing them about three or four Furlongs After the Action the Corinthians dragging the dead bodies nearer the Walls restored them upon Truce and erected a Trophy Upon this the Lacedemonian Allies took heart again About this time there arrived Auxiliaries from Dionysius to the Lacedemonians with above twenty Gallies that brought on board about fifty Celtic and Iberian horse Next day the Thebans and their Confederates entred the Country in an Hostile manner covering the Plain as far as
knowing that they had no Title to be Presidents of Jupiter's Temple but that they should do a greater piece of Justice and which would be more pleasing to the God by restoring the Presidentship to the Eleans The Eleans approving of it both sides thought fit to conclude a Peace and accordingly one was concluded When all as well the Tegeans as the Theban that commanded three hundred Boeotian heavy-arm'd Men at Tegea had taken the Oaths some of the Arcadians that remained at Tegea feasted and were merry offering Sacrifices and singing Hymns as tho the Peace had been already Ratified The Thebans and chief of the Arcadians as also the Baeotians that were afraid lest they should be call'd to an account about the consecrated Money and the Epariti that were under the same Circumstances causing the Gates of Tegea to be shut sent Officers to those that were making merry and seized the Principal Persons amongst them For every one being desirous of Peace there was a great Concourse of People from all the Cities of Arcadia whereby there must needs be a great many taken insomuch that the Prison and Town-House were filled with them Several were committed to Custody some leap'd down the Walls and others were let out at the Gates for no body was incens'd against any one except those that thought they should be put to death which put the Theban Commander and his Complices to their Wits-ends because they had seized very few of the Mantineans whom chiefly they design'd to take for their City being near most of them escaped home When it was day and the Mantineans heard how Affairs went they sent immediately to all the Arcadian Towns summoning them to appear in Arms and to be upon their Guard as they were At the same time they sent to Tegea and demanded the Mantineans they had seiz'd Adding that no Arcadian ought to be imprisoned or put to death without a tryal And some there were who blam'd them for these Proceedings because the Mantineans had engag'd to produce any before the Community of the Arcadians that should be Impeached The Theban Commander hearing this could not tell how to govern himself but discharged all the Prisoners and the Day following calling together as many Arcadians as would assemble excused himself before them saying he was mistaken and told them that he heard that the Lacedemonians were in the Frontiers with their Army and that some of the Arcadians were ready to betray Tegea to them which when they heard they let him go though they knew that he imposed upon them The Arcadians sent Ambassadors to Thebes to Impeach this Commander of Treason and then they report that Epaminondas who was at that time their General should say That he did much better in seizing the Arcadians than in discharging them For said he Why may not he accuse you of Treason when we for your sakes made War and you without our Consent have concluded a Peace Assure your selves said he we will employ our Arms against Arcadia and make a joynt War with our Confederates When this was reported to the Community of the Arcadians and the Account hereof spread through every City the rest of the Arcadians and * Mantineans Eleans Achaeans those that were concern'd for Peloponefus gathered from hence that the Thebans did endeavour to weaken the Peloponesians what they could that so they might enslave them with the more ease For said they Why would they have us both involv'd in a War unless it was to weaken one another that so both of us may stand in need of their assistance Why do they make Preparations for a Campagn tho' we have told them that we have no occasion at this time for them Is it not manifest that they design us mischief Thereupon they sent to Athens for assistance and dispatch'd the Epariti on an Embassie to the Lacedemonians requiring them to joyn Forces and preserve Peloponnesus from slavery Then they determined the matter about the Command in Chief how that each Republick should command in their own Territories Whilst these things were in agitation Chariclides Archon Epaminondas took the Field with all the Boeotians Eubaeans and several Thessalians he had from Alexander and from his Enemies The Phoceans did not joyn them alledging they had agreed to assist the Thebans if any invaded them but it was not in the Articles to make a War Offensive Epaminondas considered that they had the Argives Messenians and the Arcadians in Peloponnesus which sided with them the Tegeans also Megalapolitans Aseans Palanteans and some other small Towns that lay amongst these which were compelled to follow them He marched out with great diligence and arriving at Nemea made an halt there hoping to intercept the Athenians that were passing that way thinking this would be of great moment to confirm the Confederates and to put the Enemy into a Consternation and in short every thing would be advantageous to him that incommoded the Athenians Whilst he remained there all the Peloponnesians that had confederated together assembled at Mantinea But as soon as Epaminondas understood that the Athenians had changed their resolution of marching by Land and made Preparations by Sea to pass with their Army through Lacedemon to the relief of the Arcadians he decamped from Nemea and arrived at Tegea I cannot say that this Expedition of his was much successful though I find nothing of Conduct or Courage wanting in him First I cannot but commend him for encamping within the Walls of Tegea as having there a securer Post than if he had been without and being more private from the Enemies understanding his Designs Besides if he had occasion for any necessaries they might be easier procured in the City and the Enemy encamping without the Town might be discovered if they did any thing well or committed any mistake And because he thought himself stronger than the Enemy as often as he saw them attempt the taking any advantageous Posts he went not out to attack them But wen he found never a Town would surrender to him and that the Season advanced he thought he must perform some remarkable Exploit or else expect some great Disgrace instead of his former Glory Therefore being Advertised that the Enemy was strongly encamped near Mantinea and had sent for Agesilaus and all the Lacedemonians being informed also that Agesilaus was already marcht as far as Pellene he Supped and giving Orders to the Army moved directly towards Sparta And if a certain Cretan by a special Providence had not informed Agesilaus that the Army was upon their march Epaminondas had surprized the City like a Nest of young Ones wholly defenceless But Agesilaus having first Intelligence of it reached the City before the Enemy and posted his Spartans who though but an handfull defended the Place For all their Horse their Mercenary Troops and three Companies out of Ten were march'd on before into Arcadia After Epaminondas was come to Sparta he did not enter the Town