Tegyra, a village dependent upon Orchomenus (B.c. 375). The Spartan harmost of Orchomenus having left that town with the greater part of the garrison in order to make an incursion into Locris, Pelopidas formed the project of surprising Orchomenus, but finding it impracticable, was on his road home, when he fell in near Tegyra with the Lacedæmonians on their return from Locris. Pelopidas had with him only the Sacred Band and a small body of cavalry, while the Lacedæmonians were nearly twice as numerous. He did not, however, shrink from the conflict on this account; and when one of his men, running up to him, exclaimed, "We are fallen into the midst of the enemy," he replied, "Why so, more than they into the midst of us?" In the battle which ensued, the two Spartan commanders fell at the first charge, and their men were put to the rout. So signal a victory inspired the Thebans with new confidence and vigour, as it showed that Sparta was not invincible even in a pitched battle, and with the advantage of numbers on her side. By the year 374 B.C., the Thebans had succeeded in entirely expelling the Lacedæmonians from Boeotia, had put down the oligarchical factions in the various cities, and revived the Baotian confederacy. Orchomenus alone, which lay on the borders of Phocis, together with its dependency Chæronea, still remained under Spartan government. The Thebans now began to look beyond their own boundaries, and to retaliate on the Phocians for the assistance they had lent to Sparta. The success of the Thebans in that quarter would have laid open to them the temple of Delphi with all its treasures; nor did such a result seem improbable, as the Phocians were at the same time hard pressed by Jason, of Pheræ in Thessaly. But at the instance of the Phocians Cleombrotus came to their aid, and succeeded in assuring their safety, as well as that of Orchomenus.

§ 16. Such were the successes of the Thebans which revived the jealousy and distrust of Athens. Phocis was her ancient ally; and the Theban menace of that country, coupled with the anger excited by the refusal of the Thebai.s to pay the required tribute, induced the Athenians to make proposals of peace to Sparta. These were eagerly adopted, and Timotheus was instructed to sail back to Athens with the fleet. The peace, how

ever, was broken almost as soon as made. On his way back, Timotheus disembarked at Zacynthus some exiles belonging to that island, and assisted them in establishing a fortified post. For this proceeding Sparta demanded redress at Athens in the name of the Zacynthian government; which being refused, war was again declared. The Lacedæmonians now sent a large force under the command of Mnasippus to subdue the important island

of Corcyra, which has not appeared in Grecian history since the time of the fearful dissensions by which it was torn asunder in the Peloponnesian war. Mnasippus having effected a landing and blockaded the capital, the Corcyrians invoked the aid of the Athenians, who appointed Timotheus to conduct a fleet to their relief; and whilst this was preparing despatched Stesicles with 600 peltasts overland through Thessaly and Epirus. These being conveyed across the channel to Corcyra, contrived to get into the city, and revived the hopes of the besieged with the news of the approaching Athenian fleet. The distress and privation had now become very great within the city; but the misconduct of Mnasippus afforded the Corcyræans an opportunity of retrieving their affairs. His soldiers, who were mostly mercenaries, being irregu larly paid and harshly treated, became mutinous and insubordinate; the watch was badly kept; and the besieged, observing their opportunity, made a sally in which the Lacedæmonians were defeated, and Mnasippus himself slain. Shortly afterwards the approach of the Athenian fleet being announced, the Lacedæmonions hastily evacuated the island, leaving behind them a large store of provisions and many slaves, besides a considerable number of sick and wounded soldiers.

When the Athenian fleet arrived it was found to be commanded by Iphicrates, Chabrias, and the orator Callistratus. Timotheus had been superseded in the command, because he was thought to have wasted time unnecessarily in equipping the fleet. Iphicrates, soon after his arrival at Corcyra, captured nine out of ten triremes sent by Dionysius of Syracuse to the assistance of Sparta. From thence he crossed over to the opposite coast of Acarnania, and even laid waste the western shores of Peloponnesus.

§ 17. These successes of the Athenians occasioned great alarm at Sparta. Antalcidas was again despatched (B.c. 372) to solicit the intervention of Persia, on the plea that the peace had been infringed by the re-establishment of the Baotian confederation. But even Athens had become anxious for peace, in consequence of the increasing jealousy of Thebes, which had recently destroyed the restored city of Platæa, and obliged its inhabitants once more to seek refuge at Athens. Prompted by these feelings, the Athenians opened negotiations for a peace with Sparta; a resolution which was also adopted by the majority of the allies. Due notice of this intention was given to the Thebans, who were also invited to send deputies to Sparta.

18. A congress was accordingly opened in that city in the spring of 371 B.C. The Athenians were represented by Callias, Autocles, and Callistratus; and the Thebans by Epaminondas,

then one of the polemarchs. The terms of a peace were agreed upon, by which the independence of the various Grecian cities was to be recognized; the armaments on both sides were to be disbanded, and the Spartan harmosts and garrisons everywhere dismissed. Sparta ratified the treaty for herself and her allies; but Athens took the oaths only for herself, and was followed separately by her allies. But when the turn of the Thebans came, Epaminondas refused to sign except in the name of the Baotian confederation, and justified his refusal in a bold and eloquent speech, in which he maintained that the title of Thebes to the headship of Boeotia rested on as good a foundation as the claim of Sparta to the sovereignty of Laconia, which he maintained was derived only from the power of the sword. This novel and startling view of the matter, which nobody before had ever ventured to open, was peculiarly insulting to Spartan ears. Agesilaus was incensed beyond measure at what he regarded as another instance of Theban insolence. Starting abruptly from his seat, and addressing Epaminondas, he exclaimed: "Speak out-will you, or will you not leave each Boeotian city independent?" Epaminondas replied by another question: "Will you leave each of the Laconian towns independent?" Agesilaus made no answer, but directing the name of the Thebans to be struck out of the treaty, proclaimed them excluded from it.

Thus ended the congress. The peace concluded between Sparta, Athens, and their respective allies, was called the peace of Callias. The result with regard to Thebes and Sparta will appear in the following chapter.

§ 1. Invasion of Boeotia by Cleombrotus. § 2. Battle of Leuctra. §3. Its effect throughout Greece. §4. Jason of Pheræ joins the Thebans. § 5. Progress of Thebes. § 6. Assassination of Jason. § 7. Establishment of the Arcadian league. § 8. First invasion of Peloponnesus by Epaminondas. Alarm at Sparta. Vigorous measures of Agesilaus. $9. Epaminondas founds Megalopolis, and restores the Messenians. 10. Alliance between Athens and Sparta. Second invasion of Peloponnesus by Epaminondas. § 11. Invasion of Laconia by the Arcadians. § 12. Expedition of Pelopidas into Thessaly. The "Tearless Battle" between the Arcadians and Lacedæmonians. §13. Third invasion of Peloponnesus by Epaminondas. §14. Mission of Pelopidas to the court of Susa. 15. Seizure of Pelopidas by Alexander. His release. § 16. The Athenians acquire Oropus. AIliance between Athens and Arcadia. §17. Attempt of the Athenians to seize Corinth followed by an alliance between the Corinthians and Thebans. § 18. Success of the Athenians at sea. A Theban fleet commanded by Epaminondas. § 19. Death of Pelopidas. § 20. Wars between Elis and Arcadia. Battle at Olympia during the festival. 21. Dissensions among the Arcadians. 22. Fourth invasion of Peloponnesus by Epaminondas. Attempts upon Sparta and Mantinea. § 23. Battle of Mantinea, and death of Epaminondas. § 24. Death of Agesilaus.

§1. In pursuance of the treaty, the Lacedæmonians withdrew their harmosts and garrisons, whilst the Athenians recalled

Iphicrates with the fleet from the Ionian sea. Only one feeling prevailed at Sparta-a desire to crush Thebes; and this was carried to an almost insane extent; so that even Xenophon, a warm partizan of the Lacedæmonians, compares it to a misleading and fatal inspiration sent by the gods. But this was an after-thought. Before the actual collision, the general opinion not only at Sparta, but throughout Greece, was very different. Thebes was regarded as doomed to destruction; and it was not for a moment imagined that, single-handed, she would be able to resist the might of Sparta. At the time when the peace was concluded, Cleombrotus happened to be in Phocis at the head of a Lacedæmonian army; and he now received orders to invade Boeotia without delay. The Thebans, on their side, were equally determined on resistance. In order to prevent Cleombrotus from penetrating into Bœotia, Epaminondas occupied with a strong force the narrow pass near Coronea, situated between the lake Copais and a spur of Mount Helicon, through which Agesilaus had forced a passage on his homeward march from Asia. But Cleombrotus took a circuitous road, deemed hardly practicable, and therefore but slightly guarded, over the mountains to the south. Arriving thus unexpectedly before Creusis in the Crissæan gulf, he took that place by surprise, and seized twelve Theban triremes which lay in the harbour. Then, having left a garrison in the town, he directed his march through the territory of Thespiæ, and encamped on the memorable plain of Leuctra.

§ 2. This march of Cleombrotus displays considerable military skill. He had not only succeeded in penetrating into Boeotia almost without opposition; but, by seizing the port of Creusis, he had secured a safe retreat in case of disaster. The Thebans were discouraged at his progress, and it required all the energy and address of Epaminondas and Pelopidas to revive their drooping spirits. Omens of evil import had attended their march from Thebes; and when they encamped within sight of the Lacedæmonians, three out of the seven Bootarchs were for returning to the city and shutting themselves up in it, after sending away their wives and children to Athens. But Epaminondas had too much confidence in his own genius to listen to such timorous counsels. His own mind was proof against the fears of superstition, and luckily some favourable portents now gave encouragement to his troops. A Spartan exile serving with the Thebans bade them remark, that on that very spot stood the tomb of two Baotian virgins who slew themselves in consequence of having been outraged by Lacedæmonians. The shades of these injured maidens, he said, would now demand vengeance; and