in this world there is proof enough of the wisdom and the righteousness of God. Though for purposes often beyond our comprehension, He leaves men and nations to follow their own courses, they cannot follow those courses without punishing one another, and meeting, sooner or later, the due reward of their deeds. In a future world, the whole mystery will be cleared up. Then every man will find that he has not been unobserved by God in any moment of his life, and that he will be in His hands for ever. At what a price do men buy a place in history! At what an enormous sacrifice have they attained the objects of their ambition! And, in the end, how contemptible will all those objects appear, when contrasted with the fruits of self-denial, humility, justice, and benevolence! From these histories, statesmen have drawn the lessons of their policy; patriots the inspiration of their valour; and orators and poets the themes of eloquence and song. Let the Christian, however, read in these histories the character of fallen man, and trace the government of God. How true it is that the heart of the sons of men is "fully set" in them to do evil! And, at the same time, how plain it is, "that verily there is a God that ruleth in the earth."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE THEBANS.

Pelopidas-Epaminondas-Destruction of the Tyrants-Cleombrotus-Sphodrias attacks Piræus-New expedition against Thebes by Agesilaus-Convention of states at Sparta-Speech of Epaminondas-The Sacred Band-Spartans invade Boeotia-Cleombrotus slain-Victory won by the Thebans at Leuctra-Effects of it-Civil feuds in Greece-Foundation of Megalopolis-Invasion of Laconia -Founding of Messene-Congress at Delphi-Influence of Thebes-JasonHis death-Meeting of deputies at the Persian court-Epaminondas invades the Peloponnesus a third time-Conquers Achaia - Death of PelopidasBattle of Mantinea-Thebans victorious-Death of Epaminondas-CharacterRemarks on patriotism.

217. It was stated in the previous chapter, that four hundred exiles from Thebes escaped to Athens. As the distance between these two cities was not more than thirtyfive miles, the oppressed in the one would have many opportunities of communication with the exiles in the other; and in both the cities, there were parties, larger or smaller, prepared to help them to throw off the domination of the

Spartans, which had been so treacherously obtained, and which continued to be so oppressively administered. Though all the exiles from Thebes at Athens were not favourable to democratic government, the violent proceedings of the Spartans prepared them to unite with others in the common cause. Among the most distinguished Thebans of the time were Pelopidas, the son of Hippocles, and Epaminondas, the son of Polymnis.

218. Pelopidas was of high birth, and of great wealth, with an hereditary attachment to the freest form of government. Epaminondas, though of an honourable family, was poor, and addicted to the meditations of philosophy. These two men were united by the closest bonds of friendship, and in a steady devotion to the independence of their country. Pelopidas had accompanied the fugitives to Athens, when the Spartans took the Theban citadel; while Epaminondas, anxious to prevent violence, and the bloodshed of his fellow-citizens, remained at Thebes. The bold mind of Pelopidas formed a design for the deliverance of his country, which he communicated to his brother exiles at Athens. This design was fostered by their friends in Thebes. Epaminondas maintained a secret correspondence with Pelopidas and his companions in Athens, and encouraged the Theban youth to excel the Spartans of the citadel in exercises for the trial of strength. The brother of Epaminondas, Cephesius, entered warmly into the general plan. Phyllidas, one of their most vigorous friends, a man of singular activity and cunning, had won the confidence of the tyrants of the republic; and, repairing to Athens, under the cover of private business, opened to the exiles there a scheme for the destruction of the tyrants. He had promised an entertainment to two of them, Archias and Philippus. The same day was fixed for the conspiracy of the exiles. They resolved to assemble on the Thrasian plain, on the frontier between Attica and Boeotia; while Pelopidas, with a few more Thebans of rank and zeal, entered Thebes in the disguise of hunters, and were received into the house of Charon. On the evening of the banquet at the house of Phyllidas, a messenger from Archias required the attendance of Charon; but he returned to assure his friends that he had found the tyrants heated with wine, and alarmed by reports; but that he had calmed their fears. An

Athenian had sent a letter to Archias, revealing the particulars of the plot; yet so intent was he on his pleasures that he delayed to open the letter, saying, “Business to-morrow."

219. At the appointed moment, when Archias was expecting some Theban ladies, whom Phyllidas had promised to introduce, Mellon, and a few others, concealing their daggers beneath the female attire in which they were disguised, instantly dispatched their intoxicated victims. At the same time, Leontiades, who had betrayed the Theban citadel to the Spartans, fell by the hand of Pelopidas. The prisons were thrown open. Arms were seized in shops and in the public arsenals; and the whole city was thrown into confusion, in the midst of which the fall of the tyrants was proclaimed, and the Thebans were summoned by a herald to assert their freedom. In the morning the armed exiles came in from their post on the Thracian plain, amid the applauses of their fellow-citizens. Pelopidas, Mellon, and Charon were raised to the head of the government. The entire military force of Thebes rallied round them. The cavalry went out to drive back a body of troops coming to strengthen the Spartan garrison. The citadel was recovered, and the Thebans who had taken refuge among them were put to death. The news of this sudden revolution awoke the vengeance of the Spartans. Agesilaus, pleading his age as a ground of exemption, resigned to his brother Cleombrotus the command of an expedition to Thebes. Imitating the policy of his father Pausanias at Athens, Cleombrotus, after cutting off the liberated prisoners of Thebes who came to meet him, remained only sixteen days in the Theban territory, in a state of comparative repose, and leaving Sphodrias as Spartan governor at Thespiæ, a neighbouring city about twenty miles from Thebes, returned to Sparta.

220. The new government at Thebes was alarmed at the conduct of the Athenians, on whose support they had counted, but who now showed signs of a wish to be on good terms with the Spartans. In these circumstances, the Thebans bribed Sphodrias, the Spartan governor of Thespiæ, to make an attempt to surprise Piræus, where the restoration of the walls was not yet finished. On hearing of his approach, the Athenians rose to arms. Sphodrias being saved from punishment by the influence

of Agesilaus at Sparta, the Athenians were exasperated. They completed their fortifications at Piræus, hastened to prepare a new fleet, and entered into a confederacy with Thebes against the common enemy. This confederacy was soon joined by Chios and Byzantium, and then by Rhodes, Mitylene, and other maritime and insular states.

221. A new expedition against Thebes was now con ducted by Agesilaus. He was successful only in "teaching the Thebans to conquer." Phoebidas, who had treacherously taken the Theban citadel in a time of peace, succeeded him; but he was slain at Thespiæ. The Spartan commander at Tanagra, was killed by Pelopidas. The Spartan army was put to flight in a pitched battle at Tegyra; Chabrias, the Athenian commander, defeated their navy, near the isle of Naxos. Timotheus, the son of Conon, and Iphicrates totally destroyed their fleet, and ravaged the coasts of Laconia, as well as the islands of Cephallenia, Leucadia, Zacynthus, and Corcyra.-Wearied with these harassing wars, both the Spartans and the Athenians, with most of their respective confederates, were induced by the Persians, who were seeking help against the Egyptians, to agree to a general peace. Into this peace the Thebans refused to enter. They could not submit to the Spartans; they felt themselves to be their equals. They razed to the earth the walls of Thespiæ, and then of Platæa, and banished the inhabitants.

222. These fugitives found refuge at Athens. Their tale of woe aroused the people there against their oppressors. The Athenians were still farther alienated from the Thebans by their invasion of Phocis; and they were increasingly disposed to form a lasting treaty of alliance with Sparta. For this purpose a convention of the states of Greece was summoned at Sparta. To that convention the Thebans sent Epaminondas to represent their interests. The Athenians sent Antocles and Callistratus, two of their ablest orators. Agesilaus represented Sparta. When the Athenian and the Spartan representatives had signed the treaty, in the terms of the peace of Antalcidas, Epaminondas rose and said: "The Athenians have signed this treaty for all the cities of Attica; the Spartans for all the Lacedæmonians and their allies in the provinces of the Peloponnesus; Thebes is entitled to the same prerogatives on behalf of her

M

dependent cities." Agesilaus asked him, "if it were the intention of Thebes to admit the independence of Bœotia?" "Is it the intention of Sparta," demanded Epaminondas, "to admit the independence of Laconia?" "Shall the Boeotians be free?" asked the king. To which Epaminondas firmly answered: "When you give freedom to the Lacedæmonians, Messenians, and the Peloponnesians, whom you keep in bondage under the name of allies!"-Then, turning to the representatives of the allies, he urged them to withhold their consent to a treaty for destroying the power of Thebes, their only protection from Spartan domi

nation.

223. Though the deputies were awed by the power of Sparta, the words of Epaminondas were not forgotten. There was much in the state of Grecian parties to encourage Epaminondas in his bold resolution. The power of Sparta had been weakened: the splendour of her name was fading. The Thebans, on the contrary, had lately been rising both in civil and military strength. Having achieved their freedom, they had instituted a Sacred Band, consisting of tried men in the prime of life, commanded by Pelopidas, and engaged to defend each other unto death. Some months after the congress, the Spartans invaded Bœotia. The expedition, conducted by Cleombrotus, consisted of twenty-four thousand foot, and sixteen hundred horse. They assembled in the plain of Leuctra, surrounded by the mountains of Helicon, Citharon, and Cynocephalæ, on the Boeotian frontier, about ten miles from Platæa, and the same distance from the sea. The Thebans, commanded by Epaminondas, took possession of the heights which overlooked the plain. On both sides there was considerable hesitation before an engagement was determined on. By the skilful tactics of Epaminondas, and the valour of Pelopidas and his Sacred Band, the Spartans were forced to yield; their king, pierced with many wounds, fell on the corpses of his defenders, and died soon after his removal from the field: thus the victory of Leuctra was won by the Thebans. The Spartans acknowledged their defeat by asking leave from the victors to bury their slain.

224. A herald was sent by the Thebans to announce their victory at Athens, and to arouse the Athenians to seize the opportunity of avenging their wrongs on Sparta.