y land still as ever,
with the further difficulty of Athenian hostility, or quasi-hostility,
now added. They resolved to collect bodies of mercenary troops, both
infantry and horse. At the head of these they were able at once to guard
their state and to inflict much injury on their neighbouring foes. To
Thebes, indeed, they sent ambassadors to ascertain whether they would
have any prospect of peace if they came to seek it. The Thebans bade
them come: "Peace they should have." Whereupon the Corinthians asked
that they might be allowed to visit their allies; in making peace they
would like to share it with those who cared for it, and would leave
those who preferred war to war. This course also the Thebans sanctioned;
and so the Corinthians came to Lacedaemon and said:

"Men of Lacedaemon, we, your friends, are here to present a petition,
and on this wise. If you can discover any safety for us whilst we
persist in warlike courses, we beg that you will show it us; but if
you recognise the hopelessness of our affairs, we would, in that case,
proffer this alternative: if peace is alike conducive to your interests,
we beg that you would join us in making peace, since there is no one
with whom we would more gladly share our safety than with you; if, on
the other hand, you are persuaded that war is more to your interest,
permit us at any rate to make peace for ourselves. So saved to-day,
perhaps we may live to help you in days to come; whereas, if to-day we
be destroyed, plainly we shall never at any time be serviceable again."

The Lacedaemonians, on hearing these proposals, counselled the
Corinthians to arrange a peace on their own account; and as for the rest
of their allies, they permitted any who did not care to continue the
war along with them to take a respite and recruit themselves. "As for
ourselves," they said, "we will go on fighting and accept whatever
Heaven has in store for us,"--adding, "never will we submit to be
deprived of our territory of Messene, which we received as an heirloom
from our fathers." (6)

(6) See Isocr. "Or." vi. "Archidamos," S. 70; Jebb, "Att. Or." ii.
193.

Satisfied with this answer, the Corinthians set off to Thebes in quest
of peace. The Thebans, indeed, asked them to agree on oath, not to peace
only but an alliance; to which they answered: "An alliance meant, not
peace, but merely an exchange of war. If they liked, they were ready
there and then," they repeated, "to establish a j