Page:History of Greece Vol IV.djvu/193

 PROTEST OF THE CORINTHIANS. m restore Hippias, not less as a reparation for past wrong, than as a means, through his rule, of keeping Athens low and dependent But the proposition, though emanating from Sparta, was listened to by the allies with one common sentiment of repugnance. They had no sympathy for Hippias, no dislike, still less any fear, of Athens, and a profound detestation of the character f a despot. The spirit which had animated the armed contin- gents at Eleusis now reappeared among the deputies at Sparta, and the Corinthians again took the initiative. Their deputy Sosikl^s protested against the project in the fiercest and most indignant strain : no language can be stronger than that of the long harangue which Herodotus puts into his mouth, wherein the bitter recollections prevalent at Corinth respecting Kypselus and Periander are poured forth. " Surely, heaven and earth are about to change places, the fish are coming to dwell on dry land, and mankind going to inhabit the sea, when you, Spar- tans, propose to subvert the popular governments, and to set up in the cities that wicked and bloody thing called a Despot. 1 First try what it is, for yourselves at Sparta, and then force it upon others if you can : you have not tasted its calamities as we have, and you take very good care to keep it away from your- selves. We adjure you, by the common gods of Hellas, plant not despots in her cities : if you persist in a scheme so wicked, know that the Corinthians will not second you." This animated appeal was received with a shout of approba tion and sympathy on the part of the allies. All with one accord united wkh Sosikles in adjuring the Lacedaemonians a fc not to revolutionize any Hellenic city." No one listened to Hippias when he replied, warning the Corinthians that the time would come, when they, more than any one else, would dread and abhor the Athenian democracy, and wish the Peisistratidae back again. He knew well, says Herodotus, that this would be, for he was better acquainted with the prophecies than any man. But no one then believed him, and he was forced to take his 1 Herodot. v, 92 rvpavvldag tf ruf 7ro/Uf Kara/civ > OVTE adiKUTepoi oi'Slv iari nar 1 uv&puTrovf OVTE /itai$ovij-':pov.
 * Herodot. v, 93. ur) iroteeiv /ujdev veurepov xepi irol.iv '