he more
eagerness from the lucky coincidence of Argos soliciting the very thing
wanted by their friends at Lacedaemon. Shortly afterwards ambassadors
appeared from Argos with the proposals indicated; and the Boeotarchs
approved of the terms and dismissed the ambassadors with a promise to
send envoys to Argos to negotiate the alliance.

In the meantime it was decided by the Boeotarchs, the Corinthians,
the Megarians, and the envoys from Thrace first to interchange oaths
together to give help to each other whenever it was required and not
to make war or peace except in common; after which the Boeotians and
Megarians, who acted together, should make the alliance with Argos. But
before the oaths were taken the Boeotarchs communicated these proposals
to the four councils of the Boeotians, in whom the supreme power
resides, and advised them to interchange oaths with all such cities as
should be willing to enter into a defensive league with the Boeotians.
But the members of the Boeotian councils refused their assent to the
proposal, being afraid of offending Lacedaemon by entering into a league
with the deserter Corinth; the Boeotarchs not having acquainted
them with what had passed at Lacedaemon and with the advice given by
Cleobulus and Xenares and the Boeotian partisans there, namely, that
they should become allies of Corinth and Argos as a preliminary to a
junction with Lacedaemon; fancying that, even if they should say nothing
about this, the councils would not vote against what had been decided
and advised by the Boeotarchs. This difficulty arising, the Corinthians
and the envoys from Thrace departed without anything having been
concluded; and the Boeotarchs, who had previously intended after
carrying this to try and effect the alliance with Argos, now omitted to
bring the Argive question before the councils, or to send to Argos the
envoys whom they had promised; and a general coldness and delay ensued
in the matter.

In this same winter Mecyberna was assaulted and taken by the Olynthians,
having an Athenian garrison inside it.

All this while negotiations had been going on between the Athenians
and Lacedaemonians about the conquests still retained by each, and
Lacedaemon, hoping that if Athens were to get back Panactum from the
Boeotians she might herself recover Pylos, now sent an embassy to
the Boeotians, and begged them to place Panactum and their Athenian
prisoners in her hands, in order that she might exchange t