Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/374

 352 HISTORY OF GREECE. sympathy. To these manifestations there was only one exception, the fathers, brothers, or sons of the slain warriors ; who not only showed no sorrow, but strutted about publicly with cheerful and triumphant countenances, like victorious athletes. 1 We shall find the like phenomenon at Sparta a few years subsequently, after the far more terrible defeat at Leuktra ; the relatives of the slain were joyous and elate, those of the survivors, downcast and mortified; 2 a fact strikingly characteristic both of the intense mental effect of the Spartan training, and of the peculiar associa- tions which it generated. We may understand how terrible was the contempt which awaited a Spartan who survived defeat, when we find fathers positively rejoicing that their sons had escaped such treatment by death. Sorely was Agesilaus requited for his supercilious insult towards the Theban envoys. When he at last consented to see them, after the news of the battle, their tone was completely altered. They said not a word about peace, but merely asked permission to pass through and communicate with then* countrymen in Corinth. " I understand your purpose (said Agesilaus, smiling), you want to witness the triumph of your friends, and see what it is worth. Come along with me, and I will teach you." Accordingly, on the next day, he caused them to accompany him while he marched his army up to the very gates of Corinth, defying those within to come out and fight. The lands had been so ravaged, that there remained little to destroy. But wherever there were any fruit- trees yet standing, the Lacedaemonians now cut them down. Iplii- krates was too prudent to compromise his recent advantage by hazarding a second battle ; so that Agesilaus had only the sat- isfaction of showing that he was master of the field, and then retired to encamp at Lechaeum ; from whence he sent back the Theban envoys by sea to Kreusis. Having then left a fresh mora or division at Lechaeum, in place of that which had been defeated, 1 Xen. Hellen. iv. 5, 10. "Are 6e u.f]dov<; rolf Aanedaifiovioif yeyvi}[j.evTif offuv ire&vaaav iv wp(z % viol r) Trarepe f T) attektyoi OVTOI 6e, uonep vi* nt)6poi, haftirpol Kal aja"k"k6i.zvoi ri olneiy iradtt jrcpt- yeoav. If any reader objects to the words which I have used in the text I request him to compare them with the Greek of Xenophou.
 * r^f TotavTTif avjKJiopue, irohi) 7rtvi?Of fjv Kara rb AaKovtubv arpiiTevfia, TT.!^*
 * Xen Hellen. vi, 4, 16.