Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/154

 146 THE MONTH CARNEUS [v whence the troops came, knew whither the expedition was The Lacedaemonians going. But at the frontier the sacrifices* intending to make war provcd Unfavourable ; so they returned, upon rgosaieti aui ^^^^ ^^^^ word to their alHes that, when by the sacnjiccs and the _ _ ' sacred month. The the coHiing Hionth was ovcr, which was latter obligation is Carncus, a month hold sacred by the evaded by the Argives, D^^j^^,^ j,, gi^^^.j^ prepare for an who i^o on u'ttli the •' * ' expedition against Epi- expedition. When they had retreated, dannis. the Argives, setting out on the twent}'- seventh day of the month before Carneus, and continuing the observance of this day during the whole time of the expedition, invaded and devastated the territory of Epidaurus. The Epidaurians summoned their allies, but some of them refused to come, pleading the sanctity of the month ; others came as far as the frontier of Epidauria and there stopped. 55 While the Argives were in Epidauria, envoys from the difit^rent cities met at Mantinea, on the Conference held at. . . /- • a » • » r Mantmea. JVar be- uivitation of the Athenians. A confer- tween Epidauuis and ence was held, at which Euphamidas the Argos intermitted and Corinthian remarked that their words then renewed. 1 .1 • • ^ • and their actions were at variance ; for they were conferring about peace while the Argives and the Epidaurians with their allies were in the field against each other; first let envoys from both parties go and induce the armies to disband, and then they might come back and discuss the peace. His advice was approved; so they went straight to the Argives and compelled them to with- draw from Epidauria. But, when they re-assembled, they were still unable to agree, and the Argives again invaded and began to ravage the Epidaurian territory. Whereupon the Lacedaemonians likewise made an expedition as far as Caryae ; but again the sacrifices at the frontier proved unfavourable, and they returned home. The Argives, after devastating about one-third of Epidauria, also returned home. One thousand Athenian hoplites, under the com- mand of Alcibiades, had come to their aid. But hearing