Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/107

 THE POLEMARCHS SLAIN. 85 U> the philo-Laconian party at Athens. The messenger who bore this despatch delivered it to Archias with an intimation, that it related to very serious matters. " Serious matters for to-morrow," said the polemarch, as he put the despatch, unopened and unread, under the pillow of the couch on which he was reclining. 1 Returning to their carousal, Archias and Philippus impatiently called upon Phyllidas to introduce the women according to his promise. Upon this the secretary retired, and brought the con- spirators, clothed in female attire, into an adjoining chamber ; then going back to the polemarchs, he informed them that the women would not come in unless all the domestics were first dismissed. An order was forthwith given that these latter should depart, while Phyllidas took care that they should be well provided with wine at the lodging of one among their number. The polemarchs were thus left only with one or two friends at table, half-intoxicated as well as themselves ; among them Kabeirichus, the archon of the year, who always throughout his term kept the consecrated spear of office in actual possession, and had it at that moment close to his person. Phyllidas now conducted the pretended women into the banqueting-room ; three of them attired as ladies of distinction, the four others following as female attendants. Their long veils, and ample folds of clothing, were quite sufficient as disguise, even had the guests at table been sober, until they sat down by the side of the polemarchs ; and the instant of lifting their veils was the signal for using their daggers. Archias and Philippus were slain at once and with little resistance ; but Kabeirichus with his spear tried to defend himself, and thus per- ished with the others, though the conspirators had not originally intended to take his life. 2 1 Plutarch, Pelopidas, c. 10 ; Plutarch, De Gen. Socr. c. 30, p. 596 JF. Ei? avjnov TO. cmovdala. This occurrence also finds no place in the narrative of Xenophon. Cor- nelius Nepos, Pelopidas, c. 3. JEneas (Poliorcetic. c. 31 ) makes a general reference to the omission of immediate opening of letters arrived, as having caused the capture of the Kadmeia; which was, however, only its remote consequence. 2 The description given by Xenophon, 01 ihis assassination of the pole marchs at Thebes, differs materially from that of Plutarch. I follow Xen- ophon in the main ; introducing, however, several of tha details found io Plutarch, which are interesting, and which ha-e the air ol being authentic.