Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/315

 ASSISTANCE TO THEBES. 2'J3 and units in tlie regiment of Spartan allies, and to work out anew the old traditions of Athens as a self-acting and primary power, at least. if not once again an imperial power. The vote pro- claimed a renovated life in Athens, and its boldness under the existing weakness of the city, is extolled two generations after- wards by Demosthenes. 1 After having heard the Theban orator ( we are told even by the philo-Laconian Xenophon), 2 " very many Athenian citizens rose and spoke in support of his prayer, and the whole assembly with one accord voted to grant it." Thrasybulus proposed the resolution, and communicated it to the Theban envoys. He told them that Athens knew well the risk which she was incurring while Peiraeus was undefended ; but nevertheless she was prepared to show her gratitude by giving more in requital than she had received ; for she was prepared to give the Thebans positive aid, in case they were attacked while the Thebans had done nothing more for her than to refuse to join in an aggressive march against her. 3 Without such assurance of succor from Athens, it is highly probable that the Thebans might have been afraid to face, single- handed, Lysander and the full force of Sparta. But they now prepared for a strenuous defence. The first approach of Lysan- der with his army of Herakleots, Phokians, and others, from the north, was truly menacing ; the more so, as Orchomenus, the sec- ond city next to Thebes in the Bosotian confederacy, broke off its allegiance and joined him. The supremacy of Thebes over the cities composing the Boeotian confederacy appears to have been often harsh and oppressive, though probably not equally oppressive towards all, and certainly not equally odious to all. To Platsea on the extreme south of Boeotia, it had been long 1 Demosthen. de Corona, c. 28, p. 258 ; also Philipp. i, c. 7, p. 44. Com- pare also Lysias, Orat. xvi, (pro Mantitheo, s. 15). 2 Xen. Hellen. iii, 5, 16. Tuv 6' 'A.-&7]vaiuv irafmoTiho} /lev gwyyopevov, TTavres 6' tyrjfyiaavTO fioiT&elv avrolf. 3 Xen. Hellen. ut sup. Pausanias (iii, 9, 6) says that the Athenians sent envoys to the Spartans to entreat them not to act aggressively against Thebes, but to submit their complaint to equitable adjustment. This seems to me improbable. Diod- orus (xiv, 81} briefly states the general fact in conformity with Xenophon