Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/93

 AGESILAUS AT PHLIUS. 71 with resolute bravery and endurance, under a citizen named L)el- phion ; who, with a select troop of three hundred, maintained con- stant guard at every point, and even annoyed the besiegers by frequent sallies. By public decree, every citizen was put upon half-allowance of bread, so that the siege was prolonged to double the time which Agesilaus, from the information of the exiles as to the existing stock of provisions, had supposed to be possible. Gradually, however, famine made itself felt; desertions from within increased, among those who were favorable, or not decidedly averse, to the exiles ; desertions, which Agesilaus took care to en- courage by an ample supply of food, and by enrolment as Phlia- sian emigrants on the Spartan side. At length, after about a year's blockade, 1 the provisions within were exhausted, so that the besieged were forced to entreat permission from Agesilaus to des- patch envoys to Sparta and beg for terms. Agesilaus granted their request. But being at the same time indignant that they submitted to Sparta rather than to him, he sent to ask the ephors that the terms might be referred to his dictation. Meanwhile he redoubled his watch over the city ; in spite of which, Delphion, with one of his most active subordinates, contrived to escape at this last hour. Phlius was now compelled to surrender at discre- tion to Agesilaus, who named a Council of One Hundred (half from the exiles, half from those within the city) vested with abso- lute powers of life and death over all the citizens, and authorized to frame a constitution for the future government of the city. Until this should be done, he left a garrison in the acropolis, with assured pay for six months. 2 Had Agesipolis been alive, perhaps the Phliasians might have obtained better terms. How the omnipotent Hekatontarchy named by the partisan feelings of Agesilaus, 3 conducted themselves, we 1 Xen. Hellen. v, 3, 25. Kal TU /J.EV Kepi <bfaovvTa ovruf av ETrerere/leoTO ev OKTU [iijal not evtavnt. This general expression " the matters relative to Phlius," comprises not merely the blockade, but the preliminary treatment and complaints of the, Phliasian exiles. One year, therefore, will be as much as we can allow for the blockade, perhaps more than we ought to allow. 1 Xen. Hellen. v, 3, 17-26. 2 The panegyrist of Agesilaus finds little to commend in these Phliasian proceedings, except the QiAsTaipcia or partisan-attachment of his hero CXenoph. Agesil. ii, 21 ).