Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/286

 264 HISTORY OF GREECE. years, under the care of Pammenes. 1 It was thus that Ptolemy and the family of Amyntas, though they had been maintained in Macedonia by the active intervention of Iphikrates and the Athe- nians not many months before, nevertheless now connected them- selves by alliance with the Thebans, the enemies of Athens. ./Eschines the Athenian orator denounces them for ingratitude ; but possibly the superior force of the Thebans left them no option. Both the Theban and Macedonian force became thus enlisted for '-he protection of the freedom of Amphipolis against Athens. 2 A.nd Pelopidas returned to Thebes, having extended the ascend- jncy of Thebes not only over Thessaly, but also over Macedonia, uwsured by the acquisition of the thirty hostages. 1 Plutarch, Pelopid. c. 26. 6i6daKuv, on TTpurov fiev vnep 'Aju07ro/lewf avTEnparre (Ptolemy) f> iroAet (to Athens), not npbf QrjlSalovf SiaQepopevav 'Adrjvaiuv, avftpax'iav ff niiaaTO, etc. >!ither Plutarch nor Diodorus appear to me precise in specifying and <*is*.nguishing the different expeditions of Pelopidas into Thessaly. I can- not, but think that he made four different expeditions ; two before his em- bassv to the Persian court (which embassy took place in 367 B. c. ; see Mr. Clinton, Fast. Hellen. on that year, who rightly places the date of the em- bassy), and two after it. 1. The first was, in 369 B. c., after the death of Amyntas, but during the short reign, less than two years, of his son Alexander of Macedon. Diodorus mentions this fact (xv, 67), but he adds, what is erroneous, that Pelopidas on this occasion brought back Philip as a hostage. 2. The second was in 368s. c. ; also mentioned by Diodorus (xv, 71) and by Plutarch (Pelop. c. 26). Diodorus (erroneously, as I think) connects this expedition with the sei- zure and detention of Pelopidas by Alexander of Pherae. But it was really on this occasion that Pelopidas brought back the hostages. 3. The third (which was rather a mission than an expedition) was in 366 B. c.) after the return of Pelopidas from the Persian court, which happened seemingly in the beginning of 366 B. c. In this third march, Pelopidas was seized and made prisoner by Alexander of Pherae, until he was released by Epaminondas. Plutarch mentions this expedition, clearly distinguishing it from the second (Pelopidas, c. 27 pera 6s ravra miXiv. etc.) ; but with this mistake, in my judgment, that he places it before the journey of Pclo- pidas to the Persian court: whereas it really occurred after and in conse- quence of that journey, which dates in 367 B. c. 4. The fourth and last, in 364-363 B.C.; wherein he was slain (Diodor
 * JEschines, De Fals. Leg. c. 14, p. 249.
 * v, 80 ; Plutarch, Pelopid. c 32).