Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/111

THE LACEDEMONIAN GARRISON CAPITULATE. 89 the city reinforced by the other exiles, and by the auxiliary volun- teers. 1 Meanwhile, Pelopidas and the other new Boetarchs found them- selves at the head of a body of armed citizens, full of devoted patriotism and unanimous in hailing th } recent revolution. They availed themselves of this first burst of fervor to prepare for storming the Kadmeia without delay, knowing the importance of forestalling all aid from Sparta. And the citizens were already rushing up to the assault, proclamation being made of large rewards to those who should first force their way in, when the Lacedaemonian commander sent proposals for a capitulation. a Undisturbed egress from Thebes, with the honors of war, being readily guaranteed to him by oath, the Kadmeia was then sur- rendered. As the Spartans were marching out of the gates, many Thebans of the defeated party came forth also. But against these latter the exasperation of the victors was so ungovernable, that several of the most odious were seized as they passed, and put to death ; in some cases, even their children along with them. And more of them would have been thus despatched, had not the Athenian auxiliaries, with generous anxiety, exerted every effort to get them out of sight and put them into safety. 3 We are not told, nor is it certain, that these Thebans were protected un- der the capitulation. Even had they been so, however, the wrath- ful impulse might still have prevailed against them. Of the three harmosts who thus evacuated the Kadmeia without a blow, two were put to death, the third was heavily fined and banished, by the authorities at Sparta. 4 We do not know what the fortifi- 1 Xenoplion expressly mentions that the Athenians who were invited to come, and who actually did come, to Thebes, were the two generals and the volunteers ; all of whom were before privy to the plot, and were in readi- ness on the borders of Attica roijf Trpdf rol( 6pioie 'A'&rjvaiuv ical rove 6i>o TUV GTpaTTj-yuv oL 'A$r)vai,oi and -Civ dpiuv rjtiri Tcaprjaav (Hellen. v, 4, 9, 10). 2 Xen. Hellen. v, 4, 10, 11. Trpoaefla'hov Trpdf rrjv uKpoTcoTuv rqv 7rpo#w- ftiav ruv Kpoaibvruv airavruv bupuv, etc. Diodorus, xv, 25. eireira roi)<; -Ko^lraq kitl TIJV khevd-epiav Trapa/caAecravrr* (the successful Theban conspirators, Pelopidas, etc.) avvepyovf soft,* airavraf roijf Qrj/3aiovf. 3 Xaa. Hellen. v, 4, 12. 4 Xen. Hellen. v, 4, 13 ; Diodor. xv, 21