Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/248

 226 HISTORY OF GREECE. a long period unassaUed. After attacking, not very vigorously, the half-fortified city, and being repelled by the JEtolian auxili- aries, he marched onward to the harbor called Kyllene, still plundering the territory. So ample was the stock of slaves, cattle, and rural wealth generally, that his troops not only acquired riches for themselves by plunder, but were also joined by many Arcadian and Achaean volunteers, who crowded in to partake of the golden harvest. 1 The opposition or wealthy oligarchical party in Elis availed themselves of this juncture to take arms against the government ; hoping to get possession of the city, and to maintain themselves in power by the aid of Sparta. Xenias their leader, a man of im- mense wealth, with several of his adherents, rushed out armed, and assailed the government-house, in which it appears that Thra- sydaeus and his colleagues had been banqueting. They slew seve- ral persons, and among them one, whom, from great personal resemblance, they mistook for Thrasydseus. The latter was how- ever at that moment intoxicated, and asleep in a separate chamber. 2 They then assembled in arms in the market-place, believing them- selves to be masters of the city ; while the people, under the like impression that Thrasydseus was dead, were too much dismayed to offer resistance. But presently it became known that he was yet alive ; the people crowded to the government-house " like a swarm of bees," 3 and arrayed themselves for his protection as well as under his guidance. Leading them forth at once to battle, he completely defeated the oligarchical insurgents, and forced them to flee for protection to the Lacedaemonian army. 1 Xen. Hellen. iii, 2, 23, 26 ; Diodor. xiv, 17. 8 Xen. Hellen. iii, 2, 27 ; Pausanias, iii, 8, 2 ; v, 4, 5. The words of Xenophon are not very clear 'Bovhojievoi 6e ol nepl Eeviav rbv yigyofievov /tedifivy a.TTO[j.TpT/aa.cr&ai TO napa. rov Trarpdf apyvpiov (TTH> 7ro/Ui>) 61' aiiTuv Trpoa^up^craJ A.a,Ktdaifj.oviotf, eKTreadvref It; olKiaf Ztyjj e%ov- ref ff^ayaf TTOIOVGI, ical u/lAovf re rtvaf KTEIVOVCTI, Kal bfioiov riva Qpacvdaicp uTTOKTeivavTef, Tip TOV 8i][iov TrpoaTaTy, (ftovTO Qpa.ffv6a.lov uTrenTovevai . . ,'O <5e Qpaavdalof en Katievduv krvyxavev, oimep fj.e-&vo&7). Both the words and the narrative are here very obscure. It seems as if a oentence had dropped out, when we come suddenly upon the mention of ihe drunken state of Thrasydseus, without having before becii told of sun] circumstance either leading to or implying this condition.
 * Xen. Hellen. iii, 2, 28.