in
the first instance sworn to and subscribed. If they did not wish to
be included in the treaty, he was willing to erase their name at their
bidding. So it came to pass that the rest of the world made peace, the
sole point of dispute being confined to the Thebans; and the Athenians
came to the conclusion that there was a fair prospect of the Thebans
being now literally decimated. (16) As to the Thebans themselves, they
retired from Sparta in utter despondency.

(14) Grote ("H. G." x. 236) thinks that Diod. xv. 38 ({exagogeis})
belongs to this time, not to the peace between Athens and Sparta
in 374 B.C.

(15) See, for a clear explanation of the matter, Freeman, "Hist. Red.
Gov." iv. p. 175, note 3, in reference to Grote, ib. x. 231 note,
and Paus. IX. xiii. 2; Plut. "Ages." 28; Thirlwall, "H. G." v. p
69 note.

(16) Or, "as the saying is, taken and tithed." See below, VI. v. 35,
and for the origin of the saying, Herod. vii. 132.

IV

In consequence of the peace the Athenians proceeded to withdraw their
garrisons from the different sates, and sent to recall Iphicrates with
his fleet; besides which they forced him to restore everything captured
subsequently to the late solemn undertaking at Lacedaemon. The
Lacedaemonians acted differently. Although they withdrew their governors
and garrisons from the other states, in Phocis they did not do so. Here
Cleombrotus was quartered with his army, and had sent to ask directions
from the home authorities. A speaker, Prothous, maintained that their
business was to disband the army in accordance with their oaths, and
then to send round invitations to the states to contribute what each
felt individually disposed, and lay such sum in the temple of Apollo;
after which, if any attempt to hinder the independence of the states on
any side were manifested, it would be time enough then again to invite
all who cared to protect the principle of autonomy to march against its
opponents. "In this way," he added, "I think the goodwill of heaven
will be secured, and the states will suffer least annoyance." But the
Assembly, on hearing these views, agreed that this man was talking
nonsense. Puppets in the hands of fate! (1) An unseen power, it would
seem, was already driving them onwards; so they sent instructions to
Cleombrotus not to disband the army, but to march straight against
the Thebans if they refused to recognise the autonomy of the states.
(Cleombrotu