Abundant examples might be found, alike in Hellenic and in foreign history, to prove that the Divine powers mark what is done amiss, winking1 neither at impiety2 nor at the commission of unhallowed acts; but at present I confine myself to the facts before me.465 The Lacedaemonians, who had pledged themselves by oath to leave the states independent, had laid violent hands on the acropolis of Thebes, and were eventually punished by the victims of that iniquity3 single-handed — the Lacedaemonians, be it noted4, who had never before been mastered by living man; and not they alone, but those citizens of Thebes who introduced them to their acropolis, and who wished to enslave their city to Lacedaemon, that they might play the tyrant5 themselves — how fared it with them? A bare score of the fugitives6 were sufficient to destroy their government. How this happened I will now narrate7 in detail.
There was a man named Phyllidas — he was secretary to Archias, that is, to the polemarchs.466 Beyond his official duties, he had rendered his chief other services, and all apparently8 in an exemplary fashion. A visit to Athens in pursuance of some business brought this man into contact with a former acquaintance of his, Melon, one of the exiles who had fled for safety to Athens. Melon had various questions to ask touching9 the sort of tyranny practised by Archias in the exercise of the polemarchy, and by Philip. He soon discovered that affairs at home were still more detestable to Phyllidas than to himself. It only remained to exchange pledges, and to arrange the details of what was to be done. After a certain interval10 Melon, accompanied by six of the trustiest comrades he could find among his fellow-exiles, set off for Thebes. They were armed with nothing but daggers11, and first of all crept into the neighbourhood under cover of night. The whole of the next day they lay concealed12 in a desert place, and drew near to the city gates in the guise13 of labourers returning home with the latest comers from the fields. Having got safely within the city, they spent the whole of that night at the house of a man named Charon, and again the next day in the same fashion. Phyllidas meanwhile was busily taken up with the concerns of the polemarchs, who were to celebrate a feast of Aphrodite on going out of office. Amongst other things, the secretary was to take this opportunity of fulfilling an old undertaking14, which was the introduction of certain women to the polemarchs. They were to be the most majestic16 and the most beautiful to be found in Thebes. The polemarchs, on their side (and the character of the men is sufficiently17 marked), were looking forward to the pleasures of the night with joyful19 anticipation20. Supper was over, and thanks to the zeal21 with which the master of the ceremonies responded to their mood, they were speedily intoxicated22. To their oft-repeated orders to introduce their mistresses, he went out and fetched Melon and the rest, three of them dressed up as ladies and the rest as their attendant maidens23. Having brought them into the treasury24 of the polemarchs’ residence,467 he returned himself and announced to Archias and his friends that the women would not present themselves as long as any of the attendants remained in the room; whereupon they promptly25 bade all withdraw, and Phyllidas, furnishing the servants with a stoup of wine, sent them off to the house of one of them. And now at last he introduced the mistresses, and led them to their seats beside their respective lords. It was preconcerted that as soon as they were seated they were to throw aside their veils and strike home. That is one version of the death of the polemarchs.468 According to another, Melon and his friends came in as revellers, and so despatched their victims.
That over, Phyllidas, with three of the band, set off to the house of Leontiades. Arrived there, he knocked on the door, and sent in word that he had a message from the polemarchs. Leontiades, as chance befell, was still reclining in privacy after dinner, and his wife was seated beside him working wools. The fidelity27 of Phyllidas was well known to him, and he gave orders to admit him at once. They entered, slew28 Leontiades, and with threats silenced his wife. As they went out they ordered the door to be shut, threatening that if they found it open they would kill every one in the house. And now that this deed was done, Phyllidas, with two of the band, presented himself at the prison, telling the gaoler he had brought a man from the polemarchs to be locked up. The gaoler opened the door, and was at once despatched, and the prisoners were released. These they speedily supplied with arms taken from the armoury in the stoa, and then led them to the Ampheion,469 and bade them take up a position there, after which they at once made a proclamation calling on all Thebans to come out, horse and foot, seeing that the tyrants29 were dead. The citizens, indeed, as long as it was night, not knowing whom or what to trust, kept quiet, but when day dawned and revealed what had occurred, the summons was responded to with alacrity30, heavy infantry31 and cavalry32 under arms alike sallying forth33. Horsemen were also despatched by the now restored exiles to the two Athenian generals on the frontier; and they, being aware of the object of the mesage [promptly responded].470
On the other hand, the Lacedaemonian governor in the citadel34, as soon as that night’s proclamation reached his ears, was not slow to send to Plataeae471 and Thespiae for reinforcements. The approach of the Plataeans was perceived by the Theban cavalry, who met them and killed a score of them and more, and after that achievement returned to the city, to find the Athenians from the frontier already arrived. Then they assaulted the acropolis. The troops within recognised the paucity35 of their own numbers, whilst the zeal of their opponents (one and all advancing to the attack) was plainly visible, and loud were the proclamations, promising36 rewards to those who should be first to scale the walls. All this so worked upon their fears that they agreed to evacuate37 the place if the citizens would allow them a safe-conduct to retire with their arms. To this request the others gladly yielded, and they made a truce38. Oaths were taken on the terms aforesaid, and the citizens dismissed their adversaries39. For all that, as the garrison40 retired41, those of them who were recognised as personal foes42 were seized and put to death. Some were rescued through the good offices of the Athenian reinforcements from the frontier, who smuggled44 them across and saved them. The Thebans were not content with putting the men to death; if any of them had children, these also were sacrificed to their vengeance45.
B.C. 378. When the news of these proceedings47 reached Sparta the first thing the Lacedaemonians did was to put to death the governor, who had abandoned the Cadmeia instead of awaiting reinforcements, and the next was to call out the ban against Thebes. Agesilaus had little taste to head the expedition; he pointed48 out that he had seen more than forty years’ service,472 and that the exemption49 from foreign duty applicable to others at that age was applicable on the same principle to the king. Such were the ostensible50 grounds on which he excused himself from the present expedition, but his real objections lay deeper. He felt certain that if he led the expedition his fellow-citizens would say: “Agesilaus caused all this trouble to the state in order to aid and abet51 tyrants.” Therefore he preferred to leave his countrymen to settle the matter themselves as they liked. Accordingly the ephors, instructed by the Theban exiles who had escaped the late massacres52, despatched Cleombrotus. He had not commanded before, and it was the depth of winter.
Now while Chabrias, with a body of Athenian peltasts, kept watch and ward18 over the road through Eleutherae, Cleombrotus made his way up by the direct route to Plataeae. His column of light infantry, pushing forward in advance, fell upon the men who had been released from the Theban prison, guarding the summit, to the number of about one hundred and fifty. These, with the exception of one or two who escaped, were cut down by the peltasts, and Cleombrotus descended55 in person upon Plataeae, which was still friendly to Sparta. Presently he reached Thespiae, and that was the base for an advance upon Cynoscephalae, where he encamped on Theban territory. Here he halted sixteen days, and then again fell back upon Thespiae. At this latter place he now left Sphodrias as governor, with a third portion of each of the contingents56 of the allies, handing over to him all the moneys he had brought with him from home, with directions to supplement his force with a contingent57 of mercenaries.
While Sphodrias was so employed, Cleombrotus himself commenced his homeward march, following the road through Creusis at the head of his own moiety58 of the troops, who indeed were in considerable perplexity to discover whether they were at war with the Thebans or at peace, seeing that the general had led his army into Theban territory, had inflicted59 the minimum of mischief60, and again retired. No sooner, however, was his back turned than a violent wind storm assailed61 him in his rear, which some construed62 as an omen15 clearly significant of what was about to take place. Many a blow this assailant dealt them, and as the general and his army, crossing from Creusis, scaled that face of the mountain473 which stretches seaward, the blast hurled63 headlong from the precipices65 a string of asses66, baggage and all: countless67 arms were wrested68 from the bearers’ grasp and whirled into the sea; finally, numbers of the men, unable to march with their arms, deposited them at different points of the pass, first filling the hollow of their shields with stones. For the moment, then, they halted at Aegosthena, on Megarian soil, and supped as best they could. Next day they returned and recovered their arms. After this adventure the contingents lost no time in returning to their several homes, as Cleombrotus disbanded them.
Meanwhile at Athens and Thebes alike fear reigned70. To the Athenians the strength of the Lacedaemonians was unmistakable: the war was plainly no longer confined to Corinth; on the contrary, the Lacedaemonians had ventured to skirt Athenian territory and to invade Thebes. They were so worked upon by their alarm that the two generals who had been privy71 to the insurrection of Melon against Leontiades and his party had to suffer: the one was formally tried and put to death; the other, refusing to abide72 his trial, was banished73.
The apprehensions74 of the Thebans were of a different sort: their fear was rather lest they should find themselves in single-handed war with Lacedaemon. To prevent this they hit upon the following expedient75. They worked upon Sphodrias,474 the Spartan76 governor left in Thespiae, by offering him, as at least was suspected, a substantial sum, in return for which he was to make an incursion into Attica; their great object being to involve Athens and Lacedaemon in hostilities77. Sphodrias lent a willing ear, and, pretending that he could easily capture Piraeus in its present gateless condition, gave his troops an early evening meal and marched out of Thespiae, saying that he would reach Piraeus before daybreak. As a matter of fact day overtook him at Thria, nor did he take any pains even to draw a veil over his intentions; on the contrary, being forced to turn aside, he amused himself by recklessly lifting cattle and sacking houses. Meanwhile some who chanced upon him in the night had fled to the city and brought news to the men of Athens that a large body of troops was approaching. It needs no saying with what speed the cavalry and heavy infantry armed themselves and stood on guard to protect the city. As chance befell, there were some Lacedaemonian ambassadors in Athens at the moment, at the house of Callias their proxenos; their names were Etymocles, Aristolochus, and Ocyllus. Immediately on receipt of the news the Athenians seized these three and imprisoned78 them, as not improbably concerned in the plot. Utterly79 taken aback by the affair themselves, the ambassadors pleaded that, had they been aware of an attempt to seize Piraeus, they would hardly have been so foolish as to put themselves into the power of the Athenians, or have selected the house of their proxenos for protection, where they were so easily to be found. It would, they further urged, soon be plain to the Athenians themselves that the state of Lacedaemon was quite as little cognisant of these proceedings as they. “You will hear before long”— such was their confident prediction —“that Sphodrias has paid for his behaviour by his life.” On this wise the ambassadors were acquitted80 of all concern in the matter and dismissed. Sphodrias himself was recalled and indicted82 by the ephors on the capital charge, and, in spite of his refusal to face the trial, he was acquitted. This miscarriage83 of justice, as it seemed to many, who described it as unprecedented84 in Lacedaemon, has an explanation.
Sphodrias had a son named Cleonymus. He was just at the age when youth emerges from boyhood, very handsome and of high repute among his fellows. To this youth Archidamus, the son of Agesilaus, was passionately85 attached. Now the friends of Cleombrotus, as comrades of Sphodrias, were disposed to acquit81 him; but they feared Agesilaus and his friends, not to mention the intermediate party, for the enormity of his proceeding46 was clear. So when Sphodrias addressed his son Cleonymus: “You have it in your power, my son, to save your father, if you will, by begging Archidamus to dispose Agesilaus favourably86 to me at my trial.” Thus instructed, the youth did not shrink from visiting Archidamus, and implored87 him for his sake to save his father. Now when Archidamus saw how Cleonymus wept, he too was melted to tears as he stood beside him, but to his petition he made answer thus: “Nay88, Cleonymus, it is the bare truth I tell you, I cannot so much as look my father in the face;475 if I wished anything transacted89 for me in the city I would beg assistance from the whole world sooner than from my father. Still, since it is you who bid me, rest assured I will do my best to bring this about for you as you desire.” He then left the common hall476 and retired home to rest, but with dawn he arose and kept watch that his father might not go out without his knowledge. Presently, when he saw him ready to go forth, first some citizen was present, and then another and another; and in each case he stepped aside, while they held his father in conversation. By and by a stranger would come, and then another; and so it went on until he even found himself making way for a string of petitioning attendants. At last, when his father had turned his back on the Eurotas, and was entering his house again, he was fain to turn his back also and be gone without so much as accosting90 him. The next day he fared no better: all happened as on the previous day. Now Agesilaus, although he had his suspicions why his son went to and fro in this way, asked no questions, but left him to take his own course. Archidamus, on his side, was longing91, as was natural, to see his friend Cleonymus; but how he was to visit him, without having held the desired conversation with his father, he knew not. The friends of Sphodrias, observing that he who was once so frequent a visitor had ceased coming, were in agony; he must surely have been deterred92 by the reproaches of his father. At last, however, Archidamus dared to go to his father, and said, “Father, Cleonymus bids me ask you to save his father; grant me this boon93, if possible, I beg you.” He answered: “For yourself, my son, I can make excuse, but how shall my city make excuse for me if I fail to condemn94 that man who, for his own base purpose, traffics to the injury of the state?” For the moment the other made no reply, but retired crestfallen96 before the verdict of justice. Afterwards, whether the thought was his own or that he was prompted by some other, he came and said, “Father, if Sphodrias had done no wrong you would have released him, that I know; but now, if he has done something wrong, may he not be excused by you for our sakes?” And the father answered: “If it can be done without loss of honour on our parts, so shall it be.” At that word the young man, in deep despondency, turned and went. Now one of the friends of Sphodrias, conversing97 with Etymocles, remarked to him: “You are all bent98 on putting Sphodrias to death, I take it, you friends of Agesilaus?” And Etymocles replied: “If that be so, we all are bent on one thing, and Agesilaus on another, since in all his conversations he still harps99 upon one string: that Sphodrias has done a wrong there is no denying, yet Sphodrias is a man who, from boyhood to ripe manhood,477 was ever constant to the call of honour. To put such a man as that to death is hard; nay, Sparta needs such soldiers.” The other accordingly went off and reported what he had just heard to Cleonymus; and he in the joy of his heart went straightway to Archidamus and said: “Now we know that you care for us; rest assured, Archidamus, that we in turn will take great pains that you shall never have cause to blush for our friendship.” Nor did his acts belie100 his words; but so long as he lived he was ever faithful to the code of Spartan chivalry101; and at Leuctra, fighting in front of the king side by side with Deinon the polemarch, thrice fell or ever he yielded up his breath — foremost of the citizens amidst the foe43. And so, albeit102 he caused his friend the bitterest sorrow, yet to that which he had promised he was faithful, seeing he wrought103 Archidamus no shame, but contrariwise shed lustre104 on him.478 In this way Sphodrias obtained his acquittal.
At Athens the friends of Boeotia were not slow to instruct the people that his countrymen, so far from punishing Sphodrias, had even applauded him for his designs on Athens; and in consequence of this the Athenians not only furnished Piraeus with gates, but set to work to build a fleet, and displayed great zeal in sending aid to the Boeotians.479 The Lacedaemonians, on their side, called out the ban against the Thebans; and being persuaded that in Agesilaus they would find a more prudent105 general than Cleombrotus had proved, they begged the former to undertake the expedition.480 He, replying that the wish of the state was for him law, began making preparations to take the field.
Now he had come to the conclusion that without the occupation of Mount Cithaeron any attack on Thebes would be difficult. Learning then that the men of Cleitor were just now at war with the men of Orchomenus,481 and were maintaing a foreign brigade, he came to an understanding with the Cleitorians that in the event of his needing it, this force would be at his service; and as soon as the sacrifices for crossing the frontier proved favourable106, he sent to the commander of the Cleitorian mercenaries, and handing him a month’s pay, ordered him to occupy Cithaeron with his men. This was before he himself reached Tegea. Meanwhile he sent a message to the men of Orchomenus that so long as the campaign lasted they must cease from war. If any city during his campaign abroad took on itself to march against another city, his first duty, he declared, would be to march against such offending city in accordance with a decree of the allies.
Thus crossing Cithaeron he reached Thespiae,482 and from that base made the territory of Thebes his objective. Finding the great plain fenced round with ditch and palisade, as also the most valuable portions of the country, he adopted the plan of shifting his encampment from one place to another. Regularly each day, after the morning meal, he marched out his troops and ravaged108 the territory, confining himself to his own side of the palisadings and trench109. The appearance of Agesilaus at any point whatever was a signal to the enemy, who within the circuit of his entrenchment110 kept moving in parallel line to the invader111, and was ever ready to defend the threatened point. On one occasion, the Spartan king having retired and being well on the road back to camp, the Theban cavalry, hitherto invisible, suddenly dashed out, following one of the regularly constructed roads out of the entrenchment. Taking advantage of the enemy’s position — his light troops breaking off to supper or busily preparing the meal, and the cavalry, some of them on their legs just483 dismounted, and others in the act of mounting — on they rode, pressing the charge home. Man after man of the light troops was cut down; and three cavalry troopers besides — two Spartans112, Cleas and Epicydidas by name, and the third a provincial484 named Eudicus, who had not had time to mount their horses, and whose fate was shared by some Theban485 exiles. But presently Agesilaus wheeled about and advanced with his heavy infantry to the succour; his cavalry dashed at the enemy’s cavalry, and the flower of the heavy infantry, the ten-years-service men, charged by their side. The Theban cavalry at that instant looked like men who had been imbibing114 too freely in the noontide heat — that is to say, they awaited the charge long enough to hurl64 their spears; but the volley sped without effect, and wheeling about within that distance they left twelve of their number dead upon the field.
Agesilaus had not failed to note with what regularity115 the enemy presented himself after the morning meal. Turning the observation to account, he offered sacrifice with day’s dawn, and marched with all possible speed, and so crossed within the palisadings, through what might have been a desert, as far as defence or sign of living being went. Once well inside, he proceeded to cut down and set on fire everything up to the city gates. After this exploit he beat a retreat, retiring into Thespiae, where he fortified116 their citadel for them. Here he left Phoebidas as governor, while he himself crossed the passes back into Megara. Arrived here he disbanded the allies, and led the city troops homewards.
After the departure of Agesilaus, Phoebidas devoted117 himself to harrying118 the Thebans by sending out robber bands, and laid waste their land by a system of regular incursions. The Thebans, on their side, desiring to retaliate119, marched out with their whole force into the territory of Thespiae. But once well inside the district they found themselves closely beset120 by Phoebidas and his light troops, who would not give them the slightest chance to scatter121 from their main body, so that the Thebans, heartily122 vexed123 at the turn their foray had taken, beat a retreat quicker than they had come. The muleteers threw away with their own hands the fruits they had captured, in their anxiety to get home as quickly as possible; so dire53 a dread124 had fallen upon the invading army. This was the chance for the Spartan to press home his attack boldly, keeping his light division in close attendance on himself, and leaving the heavy infantry under orders to follow him in battle order. He was in hopes even that he might put the enemy to complete rout54, so valiantly125 did he lead the advance, encouraging the light troops to “come to a close grip with the invadors,” or summoning the heavy infantry of the Thespiaeans to “bring up their supports.” Presently the Theban cavalry as they retired found themselves face to face with an impassable glen or ravine, where in the first instance they collected in a mob, and next wheeled right-about-face in sheer resourcelessness where to cross. The handful of light troops who formed the Spartan vanguard took fright at the Thebans and fled, and the Theban horsemen seeing this put in practice the lesson of attack which the fugitives taught them. As for Phoebidas himself, he and two or three with him fell sword in hand, whereupon his mercenary troops all took to their heels.
When the stream of fugitives reached the Thespiaean heavy infantry reserves, they too, in spite of much boasting beforehand that they would never yield to Thebans, took to flight, though there was now absolutely no pursuit whatever, for it was now late. The number slain126 was not large, but, for all that, the men of Thespiae did not come to a standstill until they found themselves safe inside their walls. As a sequel, the hopes and spirits of the Thebans were again kindled127 into new life, and they made campaigns against Thespiae and the other provincial113 cities of Boeotia.486 It must be admitted that in each case the democratical party retired from these cities to Thebes; since absolute governments had been established in all of them on the pattern previously128 adopted at Thebes; and the result was that the friends of Lacedaemon in these cities also needed her assistance.487 After the death of Phoebidas the Lacedaemonians despatched a polemarch with a division by sea to form the garrison of Thespiae.
B.C. 377. With the advent69 of spring488 the ephors again called out the ban against Thebes, and requested Agesilaus to lead the expedition, as on the former campaign. He, holding to his former theory with regard to the invasion, even before sacrificing the customary frontier sacrifice, sent a despatch26 to the polemarch at Thespiae, with orders to seize the pass which commands the road over Cithaeron, and to guard it against his arrival. Then, having once more crossed the pass and reached Plataeae, he again made a feint of marching first into Thespiae, and so sent a despatch ordering supplies to be in readiness, and all embassies to be waiting his arrival there; so that the Thebans concentrated their attention on the approaches from Thespiae, which they strongly guarded. Next morning, however, Agesilaus sacrificed at daybreak and set out on the road to Erythrae,489 and completing in one day what was a good two days’ march for an army, gave the Thebans the slip, and crossed their palisade-work at Scolus before the enemy had arrived from the closely-guarded point at which he had effected his entrance formerly129. This done he proceeded to ravage107 the eastward-facing districts of the city of Thebes as far as the territory of Tanagra, for at that date Tanagra was still in the hands of Hypatodorus and his party, who were friends of the Lacedaemonians. After that he turned to retire, keeping the walls of Thebes on his left. But the Thebans, who had stolen, as it were, upon the scene, drew up at the spot called “The Old Wife’s Breast,”490 keeping the trench and palisading in their rear: they were persuaded that here, if anywhere, lay their chance to risk a decisive engagement, the ground at this point being somewhat narrow and difficult to traverse. Agesilaus, however, in view of the situation, refused to accept the challenge. Instead of marching upon them he turned sharp off in the direction of the city; and the Thebans, in alarm for the city in its undefended state, abandoned the favourable ground on which they were drawn130 up in battle line, and retired at the double towards the city along the road to Potniae, which seemed the safer route. This last move of Agesilaus may be described as a stroke of genius:491 while it allowed him to retire to a distance, it forced the enemy themselves to retreat at the double. In spite of this, however, one or two of the polemarchs, with their divisions, charged the foe as he raced past. But again the Thebans, from the vantage-ground of their heights, sent volleys of spears upon the assailants, which cost one of the polemarchs, Alypetus, his life. He fell pierced by a spear. But again from this particular crest95 the Thebans on their side were forced to turn in flight; so much so that the Sciritae, with some of the cavalry, scaled up and speedily cut down the rearmost ranks of the Thebans as they galloped131 past into the city. When, however, they were close under cover of their walls the Thebans turned, and the Sciritae seeing them retreated at more than a steady walking pace. No one, it is true, was slain; but the Thebans all the same set up a trophy132 in record of the incident at the point where the scaling party had been forced to retreat.
And now, since the hour was come, Agesilaus fell back and encamped on the very site on which he had seen the enemy drawn up in battle array. Next day he retired by the road to Thespiae. The light troops, who formed a free corps133 in the pay of the Thebans, hung audaciously at his heels. Their shouts could be heard calling out to Chabrias492 for not bringing up his supports; when the cavalry of the Olynthians (who now contributed a contingent in accordance with their oaths)493 wheeled round on them, caught the pursuers in the heat of their pursuit, and drove them uphill, putting large numbers of them to the sword — so quickly are infantry overhauled134 by cavalry on steep ground which can be ridden over. Being arrived within the walls of Thespiae, Agesilaus found the citizens in a state of party feud135, the men of Lacedaemonian proclivities136 desiring to put their political opponents, one of whom was Menon, to death494 — a proceeding which Agesilaus would not sanction. After having healed their differences and bound them over by solemn oath to keep the peace with one another, he at once retired, taking his old route across Cithaeron to Megara. Here once more he disbanded the allies, and at the head of the city troops himself marched back to Sparta.
The Thebans had not gathered in the fruits of their soil for two years now, and began to be sorely pinched for want of corn; they therefore sent a body of men on board a couple of triremes to Pagasae, with ten talents495 in hand for the purchase of corn. But while these commissioners137 were engaged in effecting their purchases, Alcetas, the Lacedaemonian who was garrisoning138 Oreus,496 fitted out three triremes, taking precautions that no rumour139 of his proceedings should leak out. As soon as the corn was shipped and the vessels140 under weigh, he captured not only the corn but the triremes, escort and all, numbering no less than three hundred men. This done he locked up his prisoners in the citadel, where he himself was also quartered. Now there was a youth, the son of a native of Oreus, fair of mien142 and of gentle breeding,497 who danced attendance on the commandant: and the latter must needs leave the citadel and go down to busy himself with this youth. This was a piece of carelessness which the prisoners did not fail to observe, and turned to good account by seizing the citadel, whereupon the town revolted, and the Thebans experienced no further difficulty in obtaining corn supplies.
B.C. 376. At the return of spring Agesilaus lay sick — a bedridden invalid143. The history of the case is this: During the withdrawal144 of his army from Thebes the year before, when at Megara, while mounting from the Aphrodision498 to the Government house he ruptured145 a vein146 or other vessel141 of the body. This was followed by a rush of blood to his sound leg. The knee was much swelled147, and the pain intolerable, until a Syracusan surgeon made an incision148 in the vein near the ankle. The blood thus let flowed night and day; do what they could to stop the discharge, all failed, till the patient fainted away; then it ceased. In this plight149 Agesilaus was conveyed home on a litter to Lacedaemon, and remained an invalid the rest of that summer and throughout the winter.
But to resume: at the first burst of spring the Lacedaemonians again called out the ban, and gave orders to Cleombrotus to lead the expedition. The king found himself presently with his troops at the foot of Cithaeron, and his light infantry advanced to occupy the pass which commands the road. But here they found a detachment of Thebans and Athenians already in occupation of the desired height, who for a while suffered them to approach; but when they were close upon them, sprang from their position and charged, putting about forty to the sword. This incident was sufficient to convince Cleombrotus that to invade Thebes by this mountain passage was out of the question, and in this faith he led back and disbanded his troops.
The allies met in Lacedaemon, and arguments were adduced on the part of the allies to show that faintheartedness would very soon lead to their being absolutely worn out by the war. They had got it in their power, it was urged, to fit out a fleet far outnumbering that of Athens, and to reduce that city by starvation; it was open to them, in the self-same ships, to carry an army across into Theban territory, and they had a choice of routes — the road into Phocis, or, if they preferred, by Creusis. After thus carefully considering the matter they manned a fleet of sixty triremes, and Pollis was appointed admiral in command. Nor indeed were their expectations altogether belied150. The Athenians were soon so closely blockaded that their corn vessels could get no farther than Geraestus;499 there was no inducing them to coast down father south, with a Lacedaemonian navy hovering151 about Aegina and Ceos and Andros. The Athenians, making a virtue152 of necessity, manned their ships in person, gave battle to Pollis under the leadership of Chabrias, and came out of the sea-fight500 victorious153.
B.C. 375. Then the corn supplies flowed freely into Athens. The Lacedaemonians, on their side, were preparing to transport an army across the water into Boeotia, when the Thebans sent a request to the Athenians urging them to despatch an armament round Peloponnesus, under the persuasion154 that if this were done the Lacedaemonians would find it impossible at once to guard their own or the allied155 territory in that part of the world, and at the same time to convery an army of any size to operate against Thebes. The proposals fell in with the present temper of the Athenians, irritated with Lacedaemon on account of the exploit of Sphodrias. Accordingly they eagerly manned a fleet of sixty vessels, appointing Timotheus as admiral in command, and despatched it on a cruise round Peloponnesus.
The Thebans, seeing that there had been no hostile invasion of their territory for so long (neither during the campaign of Cleombrotus nor now,501 whilst Timotheus prosecuted156 his coasting voyage), felt emboldened157 to carry out a campaign on their own account against the provincial cities;502 and one by one they again recovered them.
Timotheus in his cruise reached Corcyra, and reduced it at a blow. That done, he neither enslaved the inhabitants nor drove them into exile, nor changed their laws. And of this conduct he reaped the benefit of the increased cordiality503 of all the cities of those parts. The Lacedaemonians thereupon fitted out and despatched a counter fleet, with Nicolochus in command, an officer of consummate158 boldness. This admiral no sooner caught sight of Timotheus’s fleet than without hesitation159, and in spite of the absence of six Ambraciot vessels which formed part of his squadron, he gave battle, with fifty-five ships to the enemy’s sixty. The result was a defeat at the moment, and Timotheus set up a trophy at Alyzia. But as soon as the six missing Ambraciot vessels had reinforced him — the ships of Timotheus meanwhile being docked and undergoing repairs — he bore down upon Alyzia in search of the Athenian, and as Timotheus refused to put out to meet him, the Lacedaemonian in turn set up a trophy on the nearest group of islands.
B.C. 374. Timotheus, after repairing his original squadron and manning more vessels from Corcyra, found himself at the head of more than seventy ships. His naval160 superiority was undisputed, but he was forced to send to Athens for moneys, seeing his fleet was large and his wants not trifling161.
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1
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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impiety
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| n.不敬；不孝 | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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paucity
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| n.小量，缺乏 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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evacuate
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| v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便 | |
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truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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51
abet
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| v.教唆，鼓励帮助 | |
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massacres
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| 大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败 | |
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53
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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54
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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55
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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56
contingents
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| （志趣相投、尤指来自同一地方的）一组与会者( contingent的名词复数 )； 代表团； （军队的）分遣队； 小分队 | |
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57
contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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58
moiety
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| n.一半；部分 | |
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59
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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61
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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62
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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63
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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64
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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65
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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66
asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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67
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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68
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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69
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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70
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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71
privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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72
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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73
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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75
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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77
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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80
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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81
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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82
indicted
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| 控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
miscarriage
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| n.失败，未达到预期的结果；流产 | |
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84
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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85
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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86
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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87
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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89
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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accosting
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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91
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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92
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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94
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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95
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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harps
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| abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
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100
belie
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| v.掩饰，证明为假 | |
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101
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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102
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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103
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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104
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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105
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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106
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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107
ravage
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| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
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108
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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109
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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110
entrenchment
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| n.壕沟，防御设施 | |
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111
invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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112
spartans
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| n.斯巴达（spartan的复数形式） | |
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113
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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114
imbibing
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| v.吸收( imbibe的现在分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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115
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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116
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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117
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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118
harrying
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| v.使苦恼( harry的现在分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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119
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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120
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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121
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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123
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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124
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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125
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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126
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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128
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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129
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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130
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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131
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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132
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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133
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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134
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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135
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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136
proclivities
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| n.倾向，癖性( proclivity的名词复数 ) | |
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137
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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138
garrisoning
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的现在分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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139
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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140
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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141
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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142
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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143
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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144
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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ruptured
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| v.（使）破裂( rupture的过去式和过去分词 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交 | |
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146
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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147
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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148
incision
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| n．切口，切开 | |
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149
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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150
belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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151
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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152
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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153
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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154
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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155
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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156
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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157
emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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158
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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159
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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160
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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161
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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