owing, and the town-hall was full also. Besides
the number lodged in prison, a number had escaped by leaping down the
walls, and there were others who were suffered to pass through the
gates (a laxity easily explained, since no one, excepting those who were
anticipating their own downfall, cherished any wrathful feeling against
anybody). But what was a source of still graver perplexity to the Theban
commander and those acting with him--of the Mantineans, the very people
whom they had set their hearts on catching, they had got but very few.
Nearly all of them, owing to the proximity of their city, had, in fact,
betaken themselves home. Now, when day came and the Mantineans learned
what had happened, they immediately sent and forewarned the other
Arcadian states to be ready in arms, and to guard the passes; and they
set the example themselves by so doing. They sent at the same time to
Tegea and demanded the release of all Mantineans there detained. With
regard to the rest of the Arcadians they further claimed that no one
should be imprisoned or put to death without trial. If any one had any
accusation to bring against any, than by the mouth of their messengers
there present they gave notice that the state of Mantinea was ready to
offer bail, "Verily and indeed to produce before the general assembly
of the Arcadians all who might be summoned into court." The Theban
accordingly, on hearing this, was at a loss what to make of the affair,
and released his prisoners. Next day, summoning a congress of all the
Arcadians who chose to come, he explained, with some show of apology,
that he had been altogether deceived; he had heard, he said, that "the
Lacedaemonians were under arms on the frontier, and that some of the
Arcadians were about to betray Tegea into their hands." His auditors
acquitted him for the moment, albeit they knew that as touching
themselves he was lying. They sent, however, an embassy to Thebes and
there accused him as deserving of death. Epaminondas (who was at that
time the general at the head of the war department) is reported to have
maintained that the Theban commander had acted far more rightly when he
seized than when he let go the prisoners. "Thanks to you," he argued,
"we have been brought into a state of war, and then you, without our
advice or opinion asked, make peace on your own account; would it not
be reasonable to retort upon you the charge of treason in such conduct?
Anyhow, be assured," he added,