-the Argeian body of allies, before whom they were now retiring, appeared contemptible in the comparison, and they separated with yet warmer and more universal indignation against the king who had betrayed their cause. On returning home, Agis incurred not less blame from the Spartan authorities than from his own army, for having thrown away so admirable an opportunity of subduing Argos. This was assuredly no more than he deserved: but we read, with no small astonishment, that the Argeians and their allies on returning were even more exasperated against Thrasyllus', whom they accused of having traitorously thrown away a certain victory. They had indeed good ground, in the received practice, to censure him for having concluded a truce without taking the sense of the people. It was their custom, on returning from a march, to hold a public courtmartial before entering the city, at a place called the Charadrus or winter torrent near the walls, for the purpose of adjudicating on offences and faults committed in the army. Such was their wrath on this occasion against Thrasyllus, that they would scarcely be prevailed upon even to put him upon his trial, but began to stone him. He was forced to seek personal safety at the altar; upon which the soldiers tried him, and he was condemned to have his property confiscated2. Very shortly afterwards the expected Athenian contingent arrived, which probably ought to have 1 Thucyd. v. 60. 'Αργεῖοι δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔτι ἐν πολλῷ πλέονι αἰτίᾳ εἶχον τοὺς σπεισαμένους ἄνευ τοῦ πλήθους, &c. 2 Thucyd. v. 60. Severe cen sure against Agis on his return to Sparta. val of Alki biadês, Lachês, &c. with the Athenian contingent at Argos of Atheni expedition Tardy arri- come earlier: 1000 hoplites, with 300 horsemen, under Lachês and Nikostratus. Alkibiadês came as ambassador, probably serving as a soldier also among the horsemen. The Argeians, notwithstanding their displeasure against Thrasyllus, nevertheless felt themselves pledged to observe the truce which he had concluded, and their magistrates acand Argei- cordingly desired the newly-arrived Athenians to the Arcadi depart. Nor was Alkibiadês even permitted to apan town of proach and address the public assembly, until the ans, Eleians, Mantineians, ans, against Orchome nus. Mantineian and Eleian allies insisted that thus capitulated. They agreed to become allies of Mantineia-to furnish hostages for faithful adhesion to such alliance-and to deliver up the hostages deposited with them by Sparta'. Tegea-the turn home. Encouraged by first success, the allies debated Plar.s what they should next undertake. The Eleians against contended strenuously for a march against Le- Eleians repreum, while the Mantineians were anxious to attack their enemy and neighbour Tegea. The Argeians and Athenians preferred the latter-incomparably the more important enterprise of the two: but such was the disgust of the Eleians at the rejection of their proposition, that they abandoned the army altogether, and went home. Notwithstanding their desertion, however, the remaining allies continued together at Mantineia organizing their attack upon Tegea, in which city they had a strong favourable party, who had actually laid their plans, and were on the point of proclaiming the revolt of the city from Sparta2, when the philo-Laconian Tegeans just saved themselves by despatching an urgent message to Sparta and receiving the most rapid succour. The Lacedæmonians, filled with indignation at the news of the surrender of Orchomenus, vented anew all their displeasure against Agis, whom they now threatened with the severe punishment of demolishing his house and fining him in the sum of 100,000 drachmæ or about 27 Attic talents. He urgently entreated, that an opportunity might be afforded to him of redeeming by some brave deed the ill name which he had incurred if he failed in doing so, then they might • Thucyd. v. 64. ὅσον οὐκ ἀφέστηκεν, &c. 1 Thucyd. v. 62. B.C. 418. Danger of TegeaAgis and the Lace march to its relief. inflict upon him what penalty they chose. The penalty was accordingly withdrawn: but a restriction, new to the Spartan constitution, was now placed upon the authority of the king. It had been, before, a part of his prerogative to lead out the army single-handed and on his own authority; but a council of Ten was now named, without whose concurrence he was interdicted from exercising such power'. To the great good fortune of Agis, the pressing message now arrived announcing imminent revolt of Tegea-the most important ally of Sparta, and dæmonians close upon her border. Such was the alarm occasioned by this news, that the whole military population instantly started off to relieve the place, Agis at their head-the most rapid movement ever known to have been made by Lacedæmonian soldiers. When they arrived at Orestheium in Arcadia in their way, perhaps hearing that the danger was somewhat less pressing, they sent back to Sparta one-sixth part of the forces, for home defence-the oldest as well as the youngest men. The remainder marched forward to Tegea, where they were speedily joined by their Arcadian allies. They farther sent messages to the Corinthians and Boeotians, as well as to the Phokians and Lokrians, invoking the immediate presence of these contingents in the territory of Mantineia. The arrival of such reinforcements, however, even with all possi Thucyd. v. 63. 2 Thucyd. v. 64. ἐνταῦθα δὴ βοήθεια τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων γίγνεται αὐτῶν τε καὶ τῶν Εἱλώτων πανδημεὶ ὀξεῖα καὶ οἷα οὔπω πρότερον. The outmarch of the Spartans just before the battle of Platæa (described in Herodot. vii. 10) seems however to have been quite as rapid and instantaneous. ble zeal on the part of the cities contributing, could not be looked for without some lapse of time; the rather, as it appears that they could not get into the territory of Mantineia except by passing through that of Argos'—which could not be safely attempted until they had all formed a junction. Accordingly Agis, impatient to redeem his reputation, marched at once with the Lacedæmonians and the Arcadian allies present into the territory of Mantineia, and took up a position near the Herakleion or temple. of Heraklês, from whence he began to ravage the neighbouring lands. The Argeians and their allies presently came forth from Mantineia, planted themselves near him, but on very rugged and impracticable ground-and thus offered him battle. Nothing daunted by the difficulties of the position, he marshalled his army and led it up to attack them. His rashness on the present occasion might have produced as much mischief as his inconsiderate concession to Thrasyllus near Argos, had not an ancient Spartan called out to him that he was now merely proceeding "to heal mischief by mischief." So forcibly was Agis impressed either with this timely admonition, or by the closer view of the position which he had undertaken to assault, that he suddenly halted the army, and gave orders for retreat--though actually within distance, no greater than the cast of a javelin, from the enemy3. 1 Thucyd. v. 64. ξυνέκλῃε γὰρ διὰ μέσου. * The Lacedæmonian kings appear to have felt a sense of protection in encamping near a temple of Hêraklês, their heroic progenitor (see Xenophon, Hellen. vii. 1, 31). 3 Thucyd. v. 65. See an exclamation by an old Spartan mentioned |