n Thebes;
to assist in a hostile expedition against others was not in the bond.
Epaminondas, however, reflected that inside Peloponnesus itself they
might count upon the Argives and the Messenians, with that section of
the Arcadians which shared their views. These latter were the men of
Tegea and Megalopolis, of Asea and Pallantium, with any townships which
owing to their small size or their position in the midst of these larger
cities were forced to follow their lead.

(2) For Alexander of Pherae, see above, VI. iv. 34. In B.C. 363 the
Thebans had sent an army under Pelopidas into Thessaly to assist
their allies among the Thessalians with the Phthiot Achaeans and
the Magnetes against Alexander. At Kynos Kephelae Alexander was
defeated, but Pelopidas was slain (see Grote, "H. G." x. 420
foll.). "His death, as it brought grief, so likewise it produced
advantage to the allies; for the Thebans, as soon as they heard of
his fall, delayed not their revenge, but presently sent seven
thousand foot and seven hundred horse, under the command of
Malcitas and Diogiton. And they, finding Alexander weak and
without forces, compelled him to restore the cities he had taken,
to withdraw his garrisons from the Magnesians and Achaeans of
Phthiotos and swear to assist the Thebans against whatsoever
enemies they should require."--Plut. "Pelop." 35 (Clough, ii.
236).

Epaminondas advanced with rapid strides; but on reaching Nemea he
slackened speed, hoping to catch the Athenians as they passed,
and reflecting on the magnitude of such an achievement, whether in
stimulating the courage of his own allies, or in plunging his foes into
despondency; since, to state the matter concisely, any blow to Athens
would be a gain to Thebes. But during his pause at Nemea those who
shared the opposite policy had time to converge on Mantinea. Presently
the news reached Epaminondas that the Athenians had abandoned the idea
of marching by land, and were preparing to bring their supports to
Arcadia by sea through Lacedaemon. This being so, he abandoned his base
of Nemea and pushed on to Tegea.

That the strategy of the Theban general was fortunate I will not pretend
to assert, but in the particular combination of prudence and daring
which stamps these exploits, I look upon him as consummate. In the first
place, I cannot but admire the sagacity which led him to form his camp
within the walls of Tegea,