s, and keeping this as the day during the whole time
that they were out, invaded and plundered Epidaurus. The Epidaurians
summoned their allies to their aid, some of whom pleaded the month as
an excuse; others came as far as the frontier of Epidaurus and there
remained inactive.

While the Argives were in Epidaurus embassies from the cities assembled
at Mantinea, upon the invitation of the Athenians. The conference having
begun, the Corinthian Euphamidas said that their actions did not agree
with their words; while they were sitting deliberating about peace, the
Epidaurians and their allies and the Argives were arrayed against each
other in arms; deputies from each party should first go and separate the
armies, and then the talk about peace might be resumed. In compliance
with this suggestion, they went and brought back the Argives from
Epidaurus, and afterwards reassembled, but without succeeding any
better in coming to a conclusion; and the Argives a second time invaded
Epidaurus and plundered the country. The Lacedaemonians also marched out
to Caryae; but the frontier sacrifices again proving unfavourable, they
went back again, and the Argives, after ravaging about a third of the
Epidaurian territory, returned home. Meanwhile a thousand Athenian heavy
infantry had come to their aid under the command of Alcibiades, but
finding that the Lacedaemonian expedition was at an end, and that they
were no longer wanted, went back again.

So passed the summer. The next winter the Lacedaemonians managed to
elude the vigilance of the Athenians, and sent in a garrison of three
hundred men to Epidaurus, under the command of Agesippidas. Upon this
the Argives went to the Athenians and complained of their having allowed
an enemy to pass by sea, in spite of the clause in the treaty by which
the allies were not to allow an enemy to pass through their country.
Unless, therefore, they now put the Messenians and Helots in Pylos to
annoy the Lacedaemonians, they, the Argives, should consider that faith
had not been kept with them. The Athenians were persuaded by Alcibiades
to inscribe at the bottom of the Laconian pillar that the Lacedaemonians
had not kept their oaths, and to convey the Helots at Cranii to Pylos
to plunder the country; but for the rest they remained quiet as
before. During this winter hostilities went on between the Argives and
Epidaurians, without any pitched battle taking place, but only forays
and ambuscades, in which