this juncture the Athenians, seeing the
Thebans growing strong at their expense without contributing a single
penny to the maintenance of the fleet, while they themselves, what
with money contributions, and piratical attacks from Aegina, and the
garrisoning of their territory, were being pared to the bone, conceived
a desire to cease from war. In this mood they sent an embassy to
Lacedaemon and concluded peace. (1)

(1) See Curtius, "H. G." vol. iv. p. 376 (Eng. trans.)

B.C. 374-373. This done, two of the ambassadors, in obedience to a
decree of the state, set sail at once from Laconian territory, bearing
orders to Timotheus to sail home, since peace was established. That
officer, while obeying his orders, availed himself of the homeward
voyage to land certain Zacynthian exiles (2) on their native soil,
whereupon the Zacynthian city party sent to Lacedaemon and complained of
the treatment they had received from Timotheus; and the Lacedaemonians,
without further consideration, decided that the Athenians were in the
wrong, and proceeded to equip another navy, and at length collected from
Laconia itself, from Corinth, Leucas, (3) Ambracia, Elis, Zacynthus,
Achaia, Epidaurus, Troezen, Hermione, and Halieis, a force amounting
to sixty sail. In command of this squadron they appointed Mnasippus
admiral, with orders to attack Corcyra, and in general to look after
their interests in those seas. They, moreover, sent an embassy to
Dionysius, instructing him that his interests would be advanced by the
withdrawal of Corcyra from Athenian hands.

(2) See Hicks, 81, p. 142.

(3) Ibid. 81, 86.

B.C. 373. Accordingly Mnasippus set sail, as soon as his squadron was
ready, direct to Corcyra; he took with him, besides his troops from
Lacedaemon, a body of mercenaries, making a total in all of no less
than fifteen hundred men. His disembarked, and soon became master of the
island, the country district falling a prey to the spoiler. It was in
a high state of cultivation, and rich with fruit-trees, not to speak of
magnificent dwelling-houses and wine-cellars fitted up on the farms: so
that, it was said, the soldiers reached such a pitch of luxury that they
refused to drink wine which had not a fine bouquet. A crowd of slaves,
too, and fat beasts were captured on the estates.

The general's next move was to encamp with his land forces about
three-quarters of a mile (4) from the city district, so that any
Corcyraean who attempted to