Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/114

96 96 HISTORY OF GREECE. Arcadian subjects, and delivering up the hostages of these latter, according to the stipulation in the treaty between Lacedsemcri and Argos. 1 The Lacedaemonians do not seem to have meddled farther with Elis. Being already possessed of Lepreum, through the Brasideian settlers planted there, they perhaps did not wish again to provoke the Eleians, from fear of being excluded a second time from the Olympic festival. Meanwhile the conclusion of the alliance with Lacedsemon about November or December, 418 B.C. had still farther depressed the popular leaders at Argos. The oligarchical faction, and the chosen regiment of the Thousand, all men of wealth and family, as well as bound together by their common military training, now saw their way clearly to the dissolution of the democracy by force, and to the accomplishment of a revolution. Instigated by such ambitious views, and flattered by the idea of admitted headship jointly with Sparta, they espoused the new policy of the city with extreme vehemence, and began imme- diately to multiply occasions of collision with Athens. Joint Lacedaemonian and Argeian envoys were despatched to Thrace and Macedonia. With the Chalkidians of Thrace, the revolted subjects of Athens, the old alliance was renewed and even new engagements concluded ; while Peridikkas of Macedonia was urged to renounce his covenants with Athens, and join the new confederacy. In that quarter the influence of Argos was considerable ; for the Macedonian princes prized very highly their ancient descent from Argos, which constituted them brethren of the Hellenic family. Accordingly, Perdikkas consented to the demand and concluded the new treaty ; insisting, however, with his habitual duplicity, that the step should for the moment be kept secret from Athens. 2 In farther pursuance of the new tone of hostility to that city, joint envoys were also sent thither, to require that the Athenians should quit Peloponnesus, and especially that they should evacuate the fort recently erected near Epidaurus. It seems to have been held jointly by Argeians, Mantincians, Eleians, and Athenians ; and as the latter were only a minority of the whole, the Athenians in the city judged 1 Thucyd. v, 81 ; Diodur. xii, 81. 2 Compare Tlmoyd. v, SO, and v.