kind, and from that moment the Lacedaemonians
had made no attack upon their country. Nevertheless the Eleans adhered
to what they had said, that nothing would persuade them that an
aggression had not been committed; if, however, the Lacedaemonians would
restore Lepreum, they would give up their own share of the money and pay
that of the god for them.

As this proposal was not accepted, the Eleans tried a second. Instead
of restoring Lepreum, if this was objected to, the Lacedaemonians should
ascend the altar of the Olympian Zeus, as they were so anxious to have
access to the temple, and swear before the Hellenes that they would
surely pay the fine at a later day. This being also refused, the
Lacedaemonians were excluded from the temple, the sacrifice, and
the games, and sacrificed at home; the Lepreans being the only other
Hellenes who did not attend. Still the Eleans were afraid of the
Lacedaemonians sacrificing by force, and kept guard with a heavy-armed
company of their young men; being also joined by a thousand Argives, the
same number of Mantineans, and by some Athenian cavalry who stayed at
Harpina during the feast. Great fears were felt in the assembly of
the Lacedaemonians coming in arms, especially after Lichas, son of
Arcesilaus, a Lacedaemonian, had been scourged on the course by the
umpires; because, upon his horses being the winners, and the Boeotian
people being proclaimed the victor on account of his having no right
to enter, he came forward on the course and crowned the charioteer, in
order to show that the chariot was his. After this incident all
were more afraid than ever, and firmly looked for a disturbance: the
Lacedaemonians, however, kept quiet, and let the feast pass by, as we
have seen. After the Olympic games, the Argives and the allies repaired
to Corinth to invite her to come over to them. There they found some
Lacedaemonian envoys; and a long discussion ensued, which after all
ended in nothing, as an earthquake occurred, and they dispersed to their
different homes.

Summer was now over. The winter following a battle took place between
the Heracleots in Trachinia and the Aenianians, Dolopians, Malians, and
certain of the Thessalians, all tribes bordering on and hostile to the
town, which directly menaced their country. Accordingly, after having
opposed and harassed it from its very foundation by every means in their
power, they now in this battle defeated the Heracleots, Xenares, son of
Cnid