Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/151

 48-50] ALARM AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES 143 Eleans replied that the truce (which they always proclaim first to themselves) had already begun with them, and that while they were quietly observing the truce, and expecting nothing less, the Lacedaemonians had treacherously attacked them. The Lacedaemonians rejoined by asking why the Eleans proclaimed the truce at all at Lacedaemon if they considered them to have broken it already — they could not really have thought so when they made the pro- clamation ; and from the moment when the announcement reached Lacedaemon all hostilities had ceased. The Eleans were still positive that the Lacedaemonians were in the wrong, and said that they would never be persuaded of the contrary. But if the Lacedaemonians were willing to restore Lepreum to them, they offered to remit their own share of the penalty, and pay on their behalf that part which was due to the God. As this proposal was rejected, the Eleans made another : 50 the Lacedaemonians need not give up r-. ,. . . or tear of a disturbance Lepreum if they did not like, but since „t the games, which they wanted to have access to the temple f">>'s out to be vn- of Olympian Zeus, they might go up to f""'"^- his altar and swear before all the Hellenes that they would hereafter pay the fine. But neither to this offer would the Lacedaemonians agree ; they were therefore excluded from the temple and from the sacrifices and games, and sacri- ficed at home. The other Hellenes, with the exception of the people of Lepreum, sent representatives to Olympia. The Eleans however, fearing that the Lacedaemonians would force their way into the temple and offer sacrifice, had a guard of young men under arms ; there came to their aid likewise a thousand Argives, and a thousand Mantineans, and certain Athenian horsemen, who had been awaiting the celebration of the festival at Argos. The whole assembly were in terror lest the Lacedaemonians should come upon them in arms, and their fears were re- doubled when Lichas, the son of Arcesilaus, was struck by the officers. As a Lacedaemonian he had been excluded