running backwards and forwards, they lay still, and contented themselves with guarding the citadel, after having sent couriers to Sparta with the news of what had happened, and to demand an immediate reinforcement. The next day at sunrise the exiles arrived with their arms, and an assembly of the people was convened. Epaminondas and Gorgidas conducted Pelopidas and his company thither, surrounded with all their sacrificers, carrying in their hands the sacred fillets, and exhorting the citizens to assist their country, and to join with their gods. At this sight, the whole assembly rose up with loud acclamations and clapping of hands, and received the conspirators as their benefactors and deliverers. The same day, Pelopidas, Melon, and Charon, were elected Bootarchs. The arrival of the exiles was followed by that of five thousand foot, and five hundred horse, sent by the Athenians to Pelopidas, under the command of Demophoon. Those troops, with others which joined them shortly after from all the cities of Boeotia, composed an army of twelve thousand foot and two thousand horse, and without loss of time besieged the citadel, that it might be taken before relief could come from Sparta. The besieged made a vigorous defence in hopes of a speedy succour, and seemed resolved rather to die than surrender the place; at least the Lacedæmonians were of that opinion. But they were not the greatest number of the garrison. When provisions began to fall short, and famine to press them, the rest of the troops obliged the Spartans to surrender. The garrison had their lives granted them, and were permitted to retire whither they thought fit. They were scarce marched out, when the aid arrived. The Lacedæmonians found Cleombrotus at Megara, at the head of a powerful army, which, with a little more expedition, might have saved the citadel. But this was not the first time that the natural slowness of the Lacedæmonians had occasioned the miscarriage of their most important enterprises. The three commanders who had capitulated were tried. Two of them were punished with death; and the third had so great a fine laid upon him, that not being able to pay it, he banished himself from Peloponnesus. Pelopidas had all the honour of this great exploit, the most memorable of any that were ever executed by surprise and stratagem. Plutarch, with reason, compares it to that of Thrasybulus. Both exiles, destitute in themselves of all resource, and compelled to implore a foreign support, form the bold design of attacking a formidable power with a handful of men; and having overcome all obstacles to their enterprise solely by their valour, had each of them the good fortune to deliver their country, and to change the face of affairs entirely. For the Athenians were indebted to Thrasybulus for that sudden and happy change, which, freeing them from the oppression under which they groaned, not only restored their liberty, but with it their ancient splendour, and put them into a condition to humble, and make Sparta, their ancient and constant rival, tremble in her turn. We shall see in like manner, that the war which is to reduce the pride of Sparta, and deprive her of empire over both sea and land, was the work of this single night, in which Pelopidas, without taking either citadel or fortress, but entering only one of twelve into a private house, * unloosed and broke the chains imposed by the Lacedæmonians on all the other states of Greece, though they appeared to be so firmly rivetted as never to be broken or unloosed. A. M. 877. SECT. III. SPHODRIAS THE LACEDEMONIAN FORMS A DESIGN AGAINST THE PIREUS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE ATHENIANS DECLARE FOR THE THEBANS. SKIR- Ant. J. C. MISHES BETWEEN THE LATTER AND THE LACEDEMONIANS.-P The Lacedæmonians, after the injury they pretended to have received by the enterprise of Pelopidas, did not continue quiet, but applied themselves in earnest to take their revenge. Agesilaus, rightly judging that an expedition of that kind, the end of which was to support tyrants, would not reflect much honour upon him, left it to Cleombrotus, who had lately succeeded king Agesipolis; under pretence that his great age dispensed with his undertaking it. Cleombrotus entered Boeotia with his army. The first campaign was not vigorous, PXenoph. Hist. Gr. 1. v. p. 568-572. Plut. in Ages. p. 609, 610. Id. in Pelop. p. 284, 285. * Πελοπίδας, εἰ δεῖ μεταφορᾷ τὸ ἀληθὲς εἰπεῖν, ἔλυσε καὶ διέκοψε τὸς δεσμὸς τῆς Λακεδαιμονίων ήγεμονίας, αλύτως καὶ ἀρξήκτες εἶναι δοκῶντας. and terminated in committing some ravages in the country; after which the king retired; and detaching part of his troops to Sphodrias, who commanded at Thespiæ, returned to Sparta. The Athenians, who did not think themselves in a condition to make head against the Lacedæmonians, and were afraid of the consequences of the war in which their league with the Thebans was likely to engage them, repented their having entered into it, and renounced it. Of those who persisted to adhere to the Theban party, some were imprisoned, some put to death, others banished, and the rich severely fined. The Theban affairs seemed almost desperate; as no one came forward to support them. Pelopidas and Gorgidas were then in office, and were concerting together means to embroil the Athenians with the Lacedæmonians; and this was the stratagem they contrived. Sphodrias the Spartan had been left at Thespiæ with a body of troops, to receive and protect such of the Boeotians as should revolt against Thebes. He had acquired some reputation amongst the soldiery, and wanted neither courage nor ambition; but he was rash, superficial, self-conceited, and consequently apt to entertain vain hopes. Pelopidas and Gorgidas sent privately a merchant of his own acquaintance to him, with the offer, as from himself, of a considerable sum of money, and with insinuations better calculated to persuade him than money, since they flattered his vanity. After having represented to him that a person of his merit and reputation ought to form some great enterprise which might immortalize his name, he proposed to him the seizing of the Piræus, by attacking the Athenians by surprise, and when they could have no expectation of such an attempt. He added, that nothing could be more grateful to the Lacedaemonians, than to see themselves masters of Athens; and that the Thebans, enraged at the Athenians, whom they considered as traitors and deserters, would lend them no assistance.' Sphodrias anxious to acquire a great name, and envying the glory of Phoebidas, who, in his opinion, had rendered himself renowned and illustrious by his unjust attempt upon Thebes, conceived it would be a much more brilliant and glorious exploit to seize the Piræus of his own accord, and deprive the Athenians of their great power at sea, by an unforeseen attack by land. He undertook therefore with great joy an enterprise, which was neither less unjust nor less horrid than that of the Cadmea, but executed neither with the same boldness nor with the same success. For having set out in the night from Thespiæ, with the view of surprising the Piræus before light, the daybreak overtook him in the plain of Thriasium near Eleusis, and finding himself discovered, he returned shamefully to Thespiæ with some booty which he had taken. The Athenians immediately sent ambassadors with their complaints to Sparta. Those ambassadors found that the Lacedæmonians had not waited their arrival to accuse Sphodrias, but had already cited him before the council to answer for his conduct. He was afraid to obey that summons, having just reason to apprehend the issue of a trial, and the resentment of his country. He had a son, who had contracted a strict and tender friendship with the son of Agesilaus. The latter solicited his father so earnestly, or rather tormented him with such extreme importunity and perseverance, that he could not refuse Sphodrias his protection, and got him fully acquitted. Agesilaus had little delicacy, as we have seen already, with respect to the duties of justice, when the service of his friends was in question. He was, besides, of all mankind the most tender and indulgent father to his children. It is reported of him, that when they were little, he would play with them, and divert himself with riding upon a stick amongst them: and that having been one day surprised by a friend in that action, he desired him not to tell any body of it till himself was a father. The unjust sentence passed in favour of Sphodrias by the Spartans exceedingly incensed the Athenians, and determined them to renew their alliance with Thebes immediately, and to assist them with all their power. They fitted out a fleet of sixty sail, and gave the command of it to Timotheus, son of the illustrious Conon, whose reputation he well sustained by his own valour and exploits. It was he whom his enemies, 9 Xenoph. 1. v. p. 584-589. Plut. in Ages. p. 610, 611. Id. in Pelop. p. 285-288. through envy of the glory he had acquired by his great success, painted sleeping, with the goddess Fortune at his feet, taking towns in nets for him but upon this occasion he proved that he was not asleep. After having ravaged the coast of Laconia, he attacked the isle of Corcyra," which he took. He treated the inhabitants with great humanity, and made no alteration in their liberty or laws, which very much inclined the neighbouring cities in favour of Athens. The Spartans on their side made powerful preparations for the war, and were principally intent upon retaking Corcyra. Its happy situation between Sicily and Greece rendered that island very important. They therefore engaged Dionysius the tyrant in this expedition, and demanded aid of him. In the mean time they despatched their fleet under the command of Mnasippus. The Athenians sent sixty sail against them to the relief of Corcyra, under the command of Timotheus at first; but soon after, upon his seeming to act too slowly, Iphicrates was substituted in his place. Mnasippus having made himself odious to his troops by his haughtiness, rigour, and avarice, was very ill obeyed by them, and lost his life in an engagement. Iphicrates did not arrive till after his death, when he received advice that the Syracusan squadron of ten galleys was approaching, which he attacked so successfully that not one of them escaped. He had demanded, that the orator Callistratus, and Chabrias one of the most renowned captains of his time, should be joined in commission with him. Xenophon admires his wisdom and greatness of soul upon that account, in being not unwilling to appear to have occasion for advice, and not apprehending that others might share the glory of his victories with himself. Agesilaus had been prevailed upon to take the command of the troops against Thebes. He entered Boeotia, where he did abundance of damage to the Thebans, not without considerable loss on his own side. The two armies came every day to blows, and were perpetually engaged, though not in formal battle, yet in skirmishes, which served to instruct the Thebans in the art of war, and to inspire them with valour, boldness, and experience. It is reported that the Spartan Antalcidas told Agesilaus very justly upon this head one day, when he was Plut. in Syl. p. 454 • Corfu. |