of the king's
moneys, or for whatever reason were most directly interested in the war,
that if they did not promptly put the peace party out of the way, ten
chances to one the old laconising policy would again hold the field. It
seemed there was nothing for it but the remedy of the knife. There was a
refinement of wickedness in the plan adopted. With most people the life
even of a legally condemned criminal is held sacred during a solemn
season, but these men deliberately selected the last day of the Eucleia,
(3) when they might reckon on capturing more victims in the crowded
market-place, for their murderous purposes. Their agents were supplied
with the names of those to be gotten rid of, the signal was given, and
then, drawing their daggers, they fell to work. Here a man was struck
down standing in the centre of a group of talkers, and there another
seated; a third while peacably enjoying himself at the play; a fourth
actually whilst officiating as a judge at some dramatic contest. (4)
When what was taking place became known, there was a general flight on
the part of the better classes. Some fled to the images of the gods
in the market-place, others to the altars; and here these unhallowed
miscreants, ringleaders and followers alike, utterly regardless of
duty and law, fell to butchering their victims even within the sacred
precincts of the gods; so that even some of those against whom no hand
was lifted--honest, law-abiding folk--were filled with sore amazement
at sight of such impiety. In this way many of the elder citizens, as
mustering more thickly in the market-place, were done to death. The
younger men, acting on a suspicion conceived by one of their number,
Pasimelus, as to what was going to take place, kept quiet in the
Kraneion; (5) but hearing screams and shouting and being joined anon by
some who had escaped from the affair, they took the hint, and, running
up along the slope of the Acrocorinthus, succeeded in repelling an
attack of the Argives and the rest. While they were still deliberating
what they ought to do, down fell a capital from its column--without
assignable cause, whether of earthquake or wind. Also, when they
sacrificed, the aspect of the victims was such that the soothsayers said
it was better to descend from that position.

(2) Others assign the incidents of this whole chapter iv. to B.C. 393.

(3) The festival of Artemis Eucleia.

(4) See Diod. xiv. 86.

(5) See Paus. II. ii. 4.