Sect. V. The two Theban generals, at their return, are accused - and absolved. Sparta implores aid of Athens Sect. VI. Pelopidas marches against Alexander tyrant of Pheræ. Is killed in a battle. Tragical end of Alexander BOOK THIRTEENTH. Sect. III. Demosthenes excites the Athenians for war. Death of Mausolas. Grief of Artemisa his wife A THE HISTORY OF THE PERSIANS AND GRECIANS. CHAP. III. THE principal contents of this chapter are, the enterprises of the Lacedæmonians in Asia Minor, their defeat at Cnidos, the re-establishment of the walls and power of Athens, the famous peace of Antalcides, prescribed the Greeks by Artaxerxes Mnemon, the wars of that prince against Evagoras king of Cyprus, and the Cadusians. The persons who are most conspicuous in this interval, are Lysander and Agesilaus on the side of the Lacedæmonians, and Conon on that of the Athenians. SECTION T. GRECIAN CITIES OF IONIA IMPLORE AID OF THE LACE- CHARACTER. The cities of Ionia *, that had taken part with Cyrus, apprehending the resentment of Tissaphernes, had applied to the Lacedæmonians, as the deliverers of Greece, for their support in the possession of the liberty they enjoyed, and to prevent their country from being ravaged. We have already said that Thimbron was sent thither, to whose troops Xenophon had joined his, after their return from Persia. † Thimbron was soon recalled upon some dicontent, and had for his successor Dercyllidas, surnamed Sisyphus, from his industry in finding re sources, and his capacity in inventing machines of war. He took upon him the command of the army at Ephesus. When he arrived there, he was apprised that there was a difference between the two satraps who commanded in the country. * Xenoph. Hist. Græc. I. iii. p. 479–487. The provinces of the Persian monarchy, of which several, situated at the extremity of the empire, required too much ap-plication to be governed immediately by the prince, were confided to the care of the great lords, commonly called satraps. They had each of them in their government an almost sovereign authority, and were, properly speaking, not unlike the viceroys we see in our days in some neighbouring states. They were supplied with a number of troops sufficient for the defence of the country. They appointed all officers, disposed of the governments of cities, and were charged' with levying and remitting the tributes to the prince. They had power to raise troops, to treat with neighbouring states, and even with the generals of the enemy; in a word to do every thing necessary to the good order and tranquillity of their governments. They were independent of one another; and though they served the same mas-ter, and it was their duty to concur to the same ends, nevertheless, each being more affected with the particular advantage of his own province than the general good of the empire, they often differed among themselves, formed opposite designs, refused aid to their colleagues in necessity, and sometimes even acted entirely against them. The remoteness of the court, and the absence of the prince, gave room for these dissentions; and perhaps a secret policy contributed to keep them up, to elude or prevent conspiracies, which too good an understanding; amongst the governors might have excited.. Dercyllidas having heard, therefore, that Tissaphernes and Pharnabasus were at variance, made a truce with the former, that he might not have them both upon his hands at the same time, entered Pharnabasus's province, and advanced as far as Æolia. Zenis, the Dardanian, had governed that province, under the satrap's authority; and as after his death it was to have been given to another, Mania, his widow, went to Pharnabasus with troops and presents, and told him that having been the wife of a man who had rendered him great services, she desired him not to deprive her of her husband's reward; that she would serve him with the same zeal and fidelity; and that, if she failed in either, he was always at liberty to take her government from her. She was continued in it by this means, and acquitted herself with all the judgment and ability that could have been expected from the most consummate person in the arts of ruling. To the ordinary tributes which her husband had paid, she added presents of an extraordinary magni-ficence ; and when Pharnabasus came into her province she entertained him more splendidly than any of the other governors. She was not contented with the conservation of the cities committed to her care; she made new conquests, and took Larissa, Amaxita, and Colona *. * From the Lydians and Pisidians. – Hence we may observe, that prudence, good sense, and courage, are of all sexes. She was present in all expeditions in a chariot; and, in person, decreed rewards and punishments. None of the neighbouring provinces had a finer army than her's, in which she had a great number of Greek soldiers in her pay. She even attended Pharnabasus in all his enterprises, and was of no common support to him; so that the satrap, who knew all the value of so extraordinary a merit, did more honour to this lady than to all the other governors. He even admitted her into his council, and treated her with such a distinction as might have excited jealousy, if the modesty and affability of that lady had not prevented bad effects, by throwing, in a manner, a veil over all her perfections, which softened their lustre, and let them only appear to be the objects of admiration. She had no enemies but in her own family. Midias, her sonin-law, stung with the reproach of suffering a woman to command in his place, and abusing the entire confidence she reposed in him, which gave him access to her at all times, strangled her with her son. After her death he seized two fortresses, wherein she had secured her treasures; the other cities declared against him. He did not long enjoy the fruits of his crime. Dercyllidas happily arrived at this juncture. All the fortresses of Eolia, either voluntarily or by force, surrendered to him, and Midias was deprived of the possessions he had so unjustly acquired. The Lacedæmonian general having granted Pharnabasus a truce, took up his winter quarters in Bithynia, to avoid being chargeable to his allies. + The next year, being continued in the command, he march. ed into Thrace, and arrived at the Chersonesus. He knew that the deputies of the country had been at Sparta to represent the necessity of fortifying the isthmus with a good wall, against the frequent incursions of the barbarians, which prevented the cultivation of their lands. Having measured the space, which is more than league in breadth, he distributed the work among the soldiers, and the wall was finished in the autumn of the same year. Within this space were inclosed eleven cities, several ports, a great number of arable lands, and plantations, with pasture of all kinds. The work being finished, he returned into Asia, after having reviewed the cities, and found them all in good condition. *Conon the Athenian, after losing the battle of Ægospotamos, having condemned himself to a voluntary banishment, continued in the isle of Cyprus with king Evagoras, not only for the safety of his person, but in expectation of a change in affairs like one, says Plutarch, who waits the return of the A. M. 3606. Ant. J. C. 398. Xenoph. p. 487, 488. *Plut. in Artax. p. 1021, |