ARTIFICE OF ALCIBIADES.

He had friends at Argos, to whom he pri- | His arguments or authority prevailed on the vately sent word that the Athenians were now people to send him to Sparta at the head of an in a temper to listen to proposals for an alli- embassy, which was instructed to demand satance with Argos. This, indeed, he perceived isfaction on the three most important points on to be the most natural and advantageous con- which the Athenians felt themselves aggrieved nexion for both states, though he was conscious-the restitution of Amphipolis, the rebuilding of other motives for bringing it about. His of Panactum, and the dissolution of the sepamessage was gladly received at Argos; the ne- rate alliance with Boeotia. This last was the gotiation with Sparta was immediately dropped, point which the Spartan government was most and an embassy, accompanied by envoys from unwilling to concede; and when the Athenian Elis and Mantinea, was despatched to Athens. envoys insisted on it as an indispensable conThe Spartan government lost no time in en-dition, on which alone Athens would decline to deavouring to prevent this formidable coalition, connect herself in like manner with Argos, and sent three ambassadors, Philocharidas, Xenares and his party obtained a majority for Leon, and Endius, selected as personally ac- returning a positive refusal. All that Nicias ceptable to the Athenians, to make such apolo- could carry to prevent his mission from appeargies and offers as might divert them from en- ing entirely fruitless was, that the existing tering into it. Endius belonged to the Spartan treaties should be ratified afresh. But the isfamily with which that of Alcibiades had been sue of the embassy, when reported at Athens, anciently connected, and from which he de- excited great indignation against Sparta, and rived his name and he was probably chosen murmurs against himself as the author of the for the purpose of soothing and winning Alcibi- once desired and applauded peace. Alcibiades ades-but the consequence was that Alcibiades no longer met with any opposition when he rethe more easily overreached him and his col-newed his motion; and a treaty was immedileagues. They were first introduced to the council of Five Hundred, where they announced that they were come with full powers to terminate all differences, and their explanations and proposals were received with such approbation as to alarm Alcibiades for the effect which they might produce in the assembly of the people. Taking advantage, therefore, of the confidence which he gained through his relation to Endius, he assumed the character of a friend, and promised with solemn assurances to aid them in obtaining the restitution of Pylus, the main object Still, this treaty was not construed as putting of their mission, which he had hitherto strenuously opposed, and in re-establishing a good an end to those which subsisted between Sparta understanding between the two states; but he and Athens. Corinth did not enter into it; but, persuaded them that it would be dangerous to as the breach between Sparta and Athens grew let the assembly know the extent of their pow-wider, became more disposed for a reconciliaers, and made it a condition of his co-operation, tion with her old ally; and she had already bethat they should disavow them. The Spartans trayed this change in her views by rejecting a fell into this trap, and when in the assembly proposal which had been made to her to con they were questioned as to their commission, tract an offensive alliance, in addition to her they made the answer which had been concert- former engagements, with Argos, Elis, and Maned with Alcibiades. But he now convicted tinea. Peloponnesus remained tranquil for the them of self-contradiction, and, armed with rest of the year, though in the middle of the such specious evidence of their double-dealing, summer it was threatened with a general outinveighed more vehemently than ever against break of hostilities through the animosity cherSpartan insincerity, and urged the people to ished by Elis against Sparta on the score of break off all negotiation with them, and at once Lepreum, which, as she could not safely vent to close with the proposals of Argos; and this it in any other way, she attempted to gratify by motion would have been immediately carried an abuse of her authority as president of the if the shock of an earthquake had not interrup- Olympic games. After the sacred truce for the festival of this summer-the ninetieth Olymted the business of the day. piad had been proclaimed according to the usual form in the Elean territory, but before the heralds had arrived at Sparta, a Lacedæmonian force had marched to Lepreum, and had made an attempt upon a fortress named Phyrcus, which seems to have been either in Elis or in the hands of the Eleans. They seized this pretext to sentence the Spartans to a fine, which being, according to what was called the Olympic law, proportioned to the number of the troops employed in the breach of the truce, amounted to upward of thirty-three talents. The Spartans contended that they were not. bound by the truce until it had been proclaimed to them, and that the legality of their conduct had been virtually recognised by the Eleans

The correspondence between the Spartan envoys and Alcibiades had been concealed from Nicias, whose concurrence did not appear to be needed, and he was as much surprised as he had reason to be offended by the conduct of the Spartans. Still, in the assembly which was held the next day, he endeavoured to heal the breach made through their imprudence, and urged the expediency of ascertaining the intentions of Sparta before her alliance was abandoned for that of Argos. The delay required for this purpose could neither injure the interest nor the dignity of Athens, which occupied the vantage ground, and had no reason either to fear or to wish for war, while the power and pride of Sparta had suffered a severe shock.

people of Patræ to connect their city by means of long walls with its port. This success encouraged him to attempt to build a fort on the Achæan Rhium; but the maritime towns on this side of the Corinthian Gulf, which would have been most endangered by the accomplishment of his design, united with Corinth and Sicyon to force him to abandon it.

themselves, since the truce was proclaimed at | thinking Sparta too much occupied with the Sparta after the act by which it was now pre-affairs of Peloponnesus to protect her colony, tended that it had been broken; and they re- without consulting her, not only put a garrison fused to pay the penalty. Still, the Eleans into it, but sent Hegesippidas away. The Sparseem to have expected that the name of re- tans felt all the humiliation resulting from such ligion would at Sparta be powerful enough to an interference, but scarcely ventured to betray extort great concessions; and they offered, if their displeasure. Their attention was soon the Spartans would give up Lepreum, to dis- after drawn towards suspicious movements of charge them from the penalty; remitting the the Athenians nearer home. Alcibiades had part that belonged to themselves, and paying been appointed one of the ten generals, and, that which was due to the god in their stead. with a small Athenian force of heavy infantry When this offer was rejected, they demanded and bowmen, marched into Peloponnesus, where that the Spartans, before they were admitted he was joined by re-enforcements from the allied to the approaching festival, should, in the pres-states, and, traversing the peninsula in various ence of the nation assembled at Olympia, sol-directions, acted as if charged with a general emnly submit to this sentence, and bind them-commission and invested with the largest powselves by an oath to pay the fine at some future ers for promoting the interests of the Argive time. As they refused this acknowledgment, confederacy. The most important step towards they were put under a ban, and forbidden to this end was to introduce or consolidate democelebrate the usual sacrifices at Olympia by a cratical ascendency. It was partly with this public deputation, and to take part in the games. view, and partly to gain a firm footing for AtheIt was known that they would feel this exclu-nian influence in Achaia, that he persuaded the sion very keenly, and the Eleans apprehended that they might disturb the games by a forcible irruption, and not only stationed a body of their own troops to guard the sacred ground, but obtained succours from Argos and Mantinea, and a squadron of Athenian horse. Their fears were redoubled by an occurrence which took place during the games. A Spartan named Lichas had sent a chariot to contend for the prize; but as, on account of the ban, it was not permitted to enter the lists under the name of its owner, he caused it to be described as public property of the Baotian confederacy. His horses won, and the Baotian people was proclaimed victor. But Lichas, who was present, could not forbear from stepping forward and making the real competitor known by placing a chaplet on the head of his successful charioteer. This was a breach of order, at least in a subject of the state which was excluded from the games; and Lichas, a man of the first rank in the first city of Pelopon-invade the Epidaurian territory. There was at nesus, was ignominiously chastised by the Elean lictors. Those who offered this affront could scarcely believe that Sparta would brook it; yet the games passed off without interruption. Soon after the festival, the Argives and their allies made a fresh attempt to draw Corinth over to the new confederacy. Sparta sent envoys to Corinth to counteract their efforts; but the debate was prematurely closed by an earthquake. Yet the sentiments of the Corinthians were scarcely doubtful, and were soon more clearly discovered.

In the beginning of 419, the Boeotians gave a proof of their zeal in the cause of their allies, which indicated both how little reliance they placed on the continuance of peace, and how low Sparta had sunk in their estimation. In the preceding winter, the colonists at the Trachinean Heraclea had been attacked by the united forces of several neighbouring tribes, and been defeated in battle with a great loss. The colony was reduced by this blow to extreme weakness, and was unable to repel its enemies; and its distress was aggravated by the unwise administration of the Lacedæmonian governor, Hegesippidas. The Boeotian government feared that Athens might take the opportunity of seizing a place so important for the security of her northern possessions; and

He, however, concerted a plan with the Argive government for a similar object in another quarter. Argos was separated from the Saronic Gulf by the territories of Corinth and Epidaurus, and could only receive succours from Athens by a circuitous navigation. If Epidaurus was subjected to Argos, not only would the Argives be more secure, and better able, if necessary, to act on the offensive on the side of Corinth, but their communication with Athens through Egina would be direct and easy. A pretext was discovered on which they might

Argos a temple of Apollo for which the Argives claimed a periodical sacrifice from Epidaurus. The ground of the claim was perhaps obsolete : the offering had been intermitted, and Argos now took up arms in behalf of the god. The return of the month, which, on account of the festival of the Carnea, was held sacred by the Dorian tribes, afforded the Argives an opportunity of attacking their weaker neighbours when their allies would be prevented from protecting them. The month, indeed, was sacred among the Argives themselves, and their religion would not have permitted them to set out on the expedition in the course of it; but it did not oblige them to suspend operations which they might have already begun during the preceding month in an enemy's country. In or der, therefore, to reap the full benefit which they hoped for from the superstition of others, without sacrificing their own, they resolved to invade the territory of Epidaurus just before the beginning of the Carnean month. Yet it seems that some intelligence of their design had reached Sparta, for, while they were making their preparations, King Agis set out, with the whole force of Lacedæmon, to cross the northwestern border at Leuctra. The object of his march was kept profoundly secret; but it was probably to make a diversion in favour of Epidaurus.

Perhaps it was found that there would not be mained any longer a passive spectator of the time to spare for this purpose before the end of evils which Epidaurus was suffering in its the month. At Leuctra the sacrifices did not cause, it would soon see itself abandoned by permit Agis to cross the frontier, and he led the smaller Peloponnesian states, which were his troops back, but sent a summons round to now wavering. It sent a summons to the Boothe allies to get their forces in readiness for an tians and its other more distant allies to asexpedition as soon as the sacred month should semble their contingents at Phlius; and, about have expired. The Argives no sooner heard the middle of the summer, Agis, with the whole of his retreat than they began their march-on force of Sparta, together with those of the Tea day which they had always been used to keep geans and the other Arcadian allies, marched holy-and made an irruption, with the usual to join them. The Argives had early intelliravages, into the Epidaurian territory. The gence of this expedition, and, having united Epidaurians implored the aid of their allies; their forces with those of Mantinea, and 3000 but the sacred month was now so near that it Eleans, proceeded across Arcadia to intercept afforded some a pretext for remaining inactive, the Lacedæmonian army before it should reach and arrested the march of others when they Phlius, and come up with it near Methydrium; had reached the border. In the mean while a but Agis, breaking up in the night, eluded the congress met at Mantinea, summoned by the enemy and joined his allies at Phlius; and the Athenians, and attended by envoys from Co- Argives marched back to defend their own terrinth, to renew the negotiations which had ritory, which they expected would be invaded been broken off the year before by the earth- by the road leading from Nemea into the plain quake; but the Corinthian Euphamidas took of Argos, and posted themselves not far from an early occasion to protest against the conduct the pass. The army assembled at Phlius was, of the Argives, who were prosecuting hostilities both in numbers and for the quality of the against Epidaurus, while their allies were treat- troops, the finest, Thucydides says, that had ing at Mantinea, and insisted that, before any ever been collected in Greece. But Agis refarther discussion took place, the Epidaurians solved to distract the enemy's attention by dishould be delivered from their enemy's pres-viding his forces. He himself, with one divisence. The allies of Argos could not help com- ion, consisting of Lacedæmonians, Arcadians, plying with this demand, and the Argives were and Epidaurians, descended, by a rugged pass, induced to withdraw their forces. But, as the over Mount Lyrceum upon the western side of debates of the congress led to no conclusion, the Argolic plain, which he began to ravage; they repeated their invasion of Epidaurus; and another corps, which included the Baotians, they were not interrupted by the Spartans, who Megarians, and Sicyonians, with whom was again marched as far as the frontier at Caryæ, the whole of the cavalry, was ordered to take but were again turned back, as they professed, the road through Nemea, on which they expectby the aspect of the victims-really, perhaps, to ed to find the enemy; the third division, comavoid coming into collision with the Athenians, posed of the contingents of Corinth, Phlius, and who sent Alcibiades, with a thousand men, to Pellene, was to come down upon the plain by support the Argives. He returned when he another steep pass from the north. The result heard of the retreat of the Spartans, and the of these operations was nearly what Agis deArgive forces which had marched home on the signed. The Argives, who, as soon as they news of the Spartan preparations were left at heard that he had entered the plain, quitted liberty to renew their inroads. their position to seek him, found themselves separated from their city by his troops, while the two other divisions of his army threatened their flank and rear. They had no cavalry, for the Athenians, who were to have brought a squadron, had not yet arrived. To a discerning eye their situation appeared alarming and almost desperate; yet it was not generally viewed in this light by the army itself, which fancied that the Lacedæmonians, being cooped up between it and the city, were in much greater jeopardy. But Thrasyllus, one of the generals, and Alciphron, an Argive connected by the ties of public hospitality with Sparta, were either ignorant of the prevailing opinion, or thought the danger so pressing that they might safely neglect it, or generously resolved to sacrifice themselves for the public good, and, just as battle was about to be joined, without consulting any of their countrymen, obtained an interview with Agis, and, holding out to him the prospect of a permanent peace, prevailed on him to grant a truce of four months to the Argives, to afford time for negotiation. Agis himself took this step upon his own discretion, having only communicated it to one of the ephors who was in the camp, and immediately, without disclosing his motives to any of his allies, drew off his forces. His authority could

But though the Spartan government was not prepared for coming immediately to an open breach with Athens, it was desirous of saving Epidaurus, and, in the autumn, found means of sending 300 men by sea to its relief. The Argives immediately made a complaint at Athens, insisting that, by the late treaty, the Athenians were bound to prevent the passage of these troops over the sea, which was their own; and they required, by way of satisfaction, that the Messenian garrison should be brought back to Pylus. Alcibiades supported this demand, and prevailed upon the people not only to grant it, but to order a declaration to be annexed at the foot of the treaty with Sparta, on the stone pillar on which it was inscribed at Athens, that the Spartans had broken their covenant. The Argives continued, throughout the winter, to harass the Epidaurians with repeated incursions, and, towards the spring of 418, attempted to take their town by escalade, in the hope of finding them too weak or too much occupied with the defence of their territory to resist; but the assailants were baffled by the vigour of the citizens or of the Spartan garrison.

But the Spartan government now began to feel that some exertion was necessary to maintain its credit, and to apprehend that, if it reVOL. 1.-E EE

not be disputed; but the army, which believed by which he had flung away so fair an opportuitself secure of a decisive victory, loudly mur-nity of reducing Argos to subjection. The pubmured at its disappointment. On the other lic resentment was still more violently inflamed hand, the Argives, who had no less confidently by the news of the breach of the truce, and the looked for an easy and brilliant triumph, was loss of Orchomenus; and measures of extraorequally indignant at the conduct of their gen-dinary rigour were proposed against the author eral, who had suffered the enemy to escape. of this misfortune. Yet the Spartan moderaAccording to the law of Argos, the generals, on tion showed itself even in the heat of a just antheir return from an expedition, before they en- ger; for the penalty with which the delinquent tered the city, were liable to render an account was threatened did not extend beyond a fine of their proceedings at a place without the and the disgrace of pulling down his house, and walls, on the banks of the Charadus. On this thus would have fallen short of the punishment occasion the troops, now become the judges of inflicted on Thrasyllus for saving his country. Thrasyllus, were so transported by their fury But Agis, by humble deprecations, induced the as to forget both characters, and assailed him ephors or the people to pardon his fault, pledgwith stones, from which he only found refuge ing himself to make amends for it by his future at a neighbouring altar; but though his life was services. They contented themselves with spared, his property was confiscated by a formal | marking their displeasure and distrust by the appointment of a new council of war, composed of ten Spartans, without whose sanction he was no longer at liberty to take the field.

sentence.

His colleagues, however, and most of the persons in office, appear to have thought differently, and to have been awed by the display Shortly after advice was received from Tewhich Sparta had made of her force, and were gea that the party there friendly to Sparta, unwell content to observe the truce. But short-less it was promptly supported by aid from ly after a body of 1000 infantry and 300 horse without, must soon give way to the machinaarrived from Athens, under the command of tions of its adversaries, which were backed by Laches and Nicostratus, accompanied by Alcib- all the weight of the Argive confederacy. This iades as ambassador. The Argive government danger excited so much alarm, that the whole was with difficulty persuaded, by the importu- force of Laconia was put in motion with ununity of the Eleans and the Mantineans, who sual rapidity, and proceeded to the border, while had not yet taken their departure, to grant him the Arcadian allies were summoned to join it an audience before the assembly. There, how- at Tegea. After passing the frontier, Agis sent ever, the eloquence of Alcibiades prevailed over back a sixth of his army- the veterans and their prudence. He easily convinced the peo- striplings-and, while his presence restored ple that the truce, concluded without the con- tranquillity at Tegea, he despatched orders to sent of their allies, was void, and urged them the northern states-Corinth, Boeotia, Phocis, to take the favourable opportunity of striking a and Locris-to meet him before Mantinea. In blow while the enemy was unprepared for re- the mean while, with the Arcadian re-enforcesistance. The allies of Argos eagerly adopted ments, he prosecuted his march into the Manhis proposal, which was, to march against the tinean territory, and having encamped near a Arcadian Orchomenus, where the Spartans had sanctuary of Hercules, began to ravage the deposited some hostages which they had taken plain. The Argive-Athenian army, which was from several of the Arcadian towns. Yet, in the neighbourhood of Mantinea, took up a though the Argive assembly annulled the truce strong position, and prepared for battle; and, and approved of the expedition, the influence of notwithstanding the steepness of the ground, some of their leading men seems to have delay- Agis, eager to repair his late error, advanced ed hostilities a little longer, and the Argive to attack it, and was within reach of the enetroops did not set out till their confederates had my's missiles, when one of the elder Spartans, sat down before Orchomenus. The town was who was near his person, cried out to him not weakly fortified, and succour uncertain. The to mend one evil with another. Struck either Orchomenians made no resistance, but deliver- by the hint or by a sudden thought of his own, ed up the hostages intrusted to them, gave oth- Agis suddenly halted, and gave orders for reers of their own to the Mantineans, and became treat, and marching back into the plain of Temembers of the Argive confederacy. The al- gea, set about turning the course of the waters, lies then deliberated upon the next operation. which thence found a subterraneous discharge, The Eleans proposed that they should turn their so as to make them overflow the lands of Manarms against Lepreum, which, though a point tinea. As the diversion of these streams had of no importance to the rest, was the only ob- frequently been a subject of contention between ject in which they felt any concern. The Man- the Tegeans and their neighbours, he hoped tineans were desirous of gratifying their own that the enemy would be drawn from his posiambition and old animosity by the reduction of tion to give battle upon the even ground; and Tegea. This was an enterprise of great mo- he was not disappointed. His sudden retroment to the general interests of the confedera- grade movement had astonished the Argives, cy; and a secret correspondence, which had both commanders and men, the men, after rebeen opened with a party in Tegea, afforded covering from the first surprise, were eager to strong hopes of success. The Argives and pursue; and when the Lacedæmonian army Athenians, therefore, acceded to this proposal; was suffered to retreat unmolested, reproached but the Eleans were so angry because their their generals with a repetition of the fault wishes were not consulted before any other which they had committed near Argos. The motive, that they marched away home. commanders, perplexed by the enemy's unexpected movement, and apprehensive of some stratagem, were still more confused by the im

Agis, on his return to Sparta, had been severely censured for his imprudent concession,

BATTLE OF MANTINEA.-BLOCKADE OF EPIDAURUS.

403

patience of their troops; at length, however, I was not obeyed; and the left wing, remaining they descended from their position, and en- insulated, was routed, and pursued with much camped upon the plain.

slaughter to the baggage wagons; but the rest of the Lacedæmonian army obtained an easy victory. The mere terror of its approach was sufficient to put the greater part of the enemy to flight, and the Athenians who were in the left wing were nearly surrounded. They would have suffered a much greater loss, not

ed from their cavalry, had not Agis thought it necessary to proceed with his main body to the relief of his left wing. The victorious Mantineans did not wait for him; but in the mean while the Athenians had leisure to effect their retreat. The Spartans, according to their usage, made no long pursuit; and the whole loss of the enemy was not reckoned at more than 1100 men; their own at about 300.

The next day they put the army in battle array, though they did not know where they might light upon the enemy. In the mean while Agis was returning to ascertain the effect of his manœuvre, with the design of occupying the ground where he had posted himself the day before. A projecting ridge concealed the Argive-Athe-withstanding the protection which they receivnian army from his view, until, by a sudden turn, the head of his column came close upon it. Greater consternation, Thucydides observes, was not remembered ever to have seized a Lacedæmonian army. Yet on this occasion the excellence of their system of tactics, as it was brought to an unusual test, was the more signally displayed. The line of battle was quietly and rapidly formed-every man falling into his place with his wonted ease-before the en- Yet the battle of Mantinea was not only, as emy could take any advantage of their vicinity. Thucydides observes, the most memorable that Thucydides who has described the engage- had been fought for a long time on account of ment which ensued with a minuteness which the parties engaged in it, but was attended seems to indicate that he was either himself with important results. The absence of the present, or had access to some peculiarly ac- northern allies left Sparta the whole honour of curate information-still does not venture to the victory; and it was rendered the more sigstate the numbers on either side, but observes nal by the faults which had been committed by that the superiority appeared to the eye to be the conquerors. It effaced the impression on the side of the Lacedæmonians. While the which their disaster at Sphacteria had made on commanders of the Argive confederacy anima- the minds of the Greeks, revived the high repted their men with the various motives proper utation of their military qualities, and thus gave to each national division-the Mantineans with new confidence and strength to their partisans the danger of their native land, and the alterna- throughout Greece. With these fruits of their tive of subjection or imperial rule; the Argives victory they seemed to be satisfied, and showed with the hope of regaining their ancient suprem- as little eagerness to push their advantage after acy, the Athenians with that of disabling their the battle, as they had on the field in the purold enemy from again invading their country-suit. They countermanded the re-enforcements the Spartans needed no other incitement than the war songst which had roused the valour of successive generations, perhaps from the time of Tyrtæus; and, while the foe rushed impetuously forward, they advanced with their usual steadiness to the sound of their flutes, preserving an even and unbroken front. The event of the battle was only rendered doubtful for a short time, through a breach of discipline which exposed a part of the Spartan line to imminent danger. There was a constant tendency in the ancient armies, as Thucydides remarks, when they came to action, to lean towards the right wing, so as gradually to outflank the enemy's left, each man endeavouring to keep close to his right-hand neighbour, for the protection of his own unshielded side. This had taken place to an unusual extent before the battle began; and Agis saw his left wing-which was occupied, according to a hereditary privilege, by the men of Sciritis, next to whom, on this occasion, were posted the Brasidean freedmen, and Neodamodes from Lepreum-in danger of being taken in flank by the Mantineans, who held the enemy's right wing. To guard against this danger, he ordered the Scirites and Brasideans to break away from the main body, and move towards the left, and directed two of the polemarchs to draw off their divisions from the right wing, where they could be better spared, and to fill up the vacant space. This last command, given just as the onset was taking place,

which were coming up from the north, and returned home to celebrate the Carnean festival.

The enemy was more alert; after the battle, the loss he had sustained was repaired by the arrival of 3000 Eleans and 1000 Athenians, and the allies determined to avail themselves of the leisure in which they were left by the inactivity of the Spartans, to make a more vigorous attack on Epidaurus. To this they were more especially excited by the spirit which had just been shown by the Epidaurians, who, the day before the battle of Mantinea, had made an irruption into the Argive territory, and had wasted that part of the Argive forces which was left to defend the city. To avenge this insult, while the Spartans were keeping their holyday, the confederates set about investing Epidaurus with a wall. The work of circumvallation was to be divided among them ac cording to the amount of the national forces, and the Athenians soon completed the part assigned to them, which was the fortification of a promontory, called, from a temple which stood there, the Heraum. But their allies wanted zeal or patience to finish their task, and finally resolved to content themselves with putting a garrison, drawn from each division of the army, into the Heræum: this done, all returned home.

But as soon as the festival was at an end, the Spartans again took the field, and advanced on the road to Argos as far as Tegea; here they halted to try the effect of negotiation, for which a fair opening seemed now to be made at Argos. They were in correspondence with a