Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/92

 70 HISTORY OF GREECE. many of them directly interested as purchasers, who refused them the right of appealing to any extraneous and impartial authority ; and that there were even in the city itself many who thought them wronged. Such allegations were, probably, more or less founded in truth. At the same tune, the appeal to Sparta, abrogating the independence of Phlius, so incensed the ruling Phliasians that they passed a sentence of fine against all the appellants. The latter insisted on this sentence as a fresh count for strengthening their complaints at Sparta ; and as a farther proof of anti-Spartan feeling, as well as of high-handed injustice, in the Phliasian rulers. 1 Their cause was warmly espoused by Agesilaus, who had personal relations of hospitality with some of the exiles ; while it appears that his colleague, King Agesipolis, was on good terms with the ruling party at Phlius, had received from them zealous aid, both in men and money, for his Olynthian expedition, and had publicly thanked them for their devotion to Sparta. 2 The Phlia- sian government, emboldened by the proclaimed testimonial of Agesipolis, certifying their fidelity, had fancied that they stood upon firm ground, and that no Spartan coercion would be enforced against them. But the marked favor of Agesipolis, now absent in Thrace, told rather against them in the mind of Agesilaus , pursuant to that jealousy which usually prevailed between the two Spartan kings. In spite of much remonstrance at Sparta, from many who deprecated hostilities against a city of five thou- sand citizens, for the profit of a handful of exiles, he not only seconded the proclamation of war against Phlius by the ephors, but also took the command of the army. 3 The army being mustered, and the border sacrifices favorable, Agesilaus marched with his usual rapidity towards Phlius ; dis- missing those Phliasian envoys, who met him on the road and bribed or entreated him to desist, with the harsh reply that the government had already deceived Sparta once, and that he would be satisfied with nothing less than the surrender of the acropolis. This being refused, he marched to the city, and blocked it up by a wall of circumvallation. The besieged defended themselves 'Xen. Hellcn. v, 3, 10,11. ffiTro/UfJof, dri troM.u. Koi Ta%eu$ ci>7vj xp'/! lara f Tqv yrpariilv edopav, etc, 3 Xen. Hellen. v, 3, 12, 13; Plutarch, Agesil. c. 24 ; Diodor. xv, 2(.
 * Xen. Hellen. v, 3, 10. f) $iaaluv 7r61<f, EKaivE-&laa fiev inrb TOV 'A-yrf-