Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/193

 THEBES IS EXCLUDED. 171 Such was the close of this memorable congress at Sparta in June, 371 B. c. Between the Spartans and Athenians, and their respective allies, peace was sworn. But the Thebans were ex- cluded, and their deputies returned home (if we may believe Xenophon 1 ) discouraged and mournful. Yet such a man as Epa- minondas must have been well aware that neither his claims nor his arguments would be admitted by Sparta. If therefore he was disappointed with the result, this must be because he had counted upon, but did not obtain, support from the Athenians or others. The leaning of the Athenian deputies had been adverse rather than favorable to Thebes throughout the congress. They were disinclined, from their sympathies with the Plataeans, to advocate the presidential claims of Thebes, though on the whole it was the political interest of Athens that the Boeotian federation should be have formed the Theban creed, in reference to the Boeotian cities ; such as were actually urged by the Theban orator in 427 B. c., when the fate of the Plataean captives was under discussion. After Epaminondas had once laid out the reasons in support of his assertion, he might then, if the same brief question were angrily put to him a second time, meet it with another equal- ly brief counter-question or retort. It is this final interchange of thrusts which Plutarch has given, omitting the arguments previously stated by Epa- minondas, and necessary to warrant the seeming paradox which he ad- vances. We must recollect that Epaminondas does not contend that Thebes was entitled to as much power in Bceotia as Sparta in Laconia. He only contends that Bceotia, under the presidency of Thebes, was as much an integral political aggregate; as Laconia under Sparta, in reference to the Grecian world. Xenophon differs from Plutarch in his account of the conduct of the Theban envoys. He does not mention Epaminondas at all, nor any envoy by name ; but he says that " the Thebans, having entered their name among the cities which had taken the oaths, came on the next day and requested, that the entry might be altered, and that ' the Boeotians ' might be substituted in place of the Thebans, as having taken the oath. Agesilaus told them that he could make no change ; but he would strike their names out if they chose, and he accordingly did strike them out " (vi, 3, 19). It seems to me that this account is far less probable than that of Plutarch, and bears every mark of being incorrect. Why should such a man as Epaminondas (who doubtless was the envoy) consent at first to waive the presidential preten- sions of Thebes, and to swear for her alone 1 If he did consent, why should he retract the next day ? Xenophon is anxious to make out Agesilaus to be as much in the right as may be ; since the fatal consequences of his pro- ceedings manifested themselves but too soon. 1 Xenoph. Hellcn. vi. 3. 20.