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PROJECT OF THE ATHENIANS. who had been sent by his countrymen to plead their cause amidst the Arcadian Ten Thousand, and who, among other arguments, denounced the enormities which darkened the heroic legends both of Thebes and Argos. " Were not Orestes and Alkmason, both mur- derers of their mothers (asked Kallistratus), natives of Argos? Was not CEdipus, who slew his father and married his mother, a native of Thebes ?" " Yes (said Epaminondas, in his reply) they were. But Kallistratus has forgotten to tell you, that these persons, while they lived at home were innocent, or reputed to be so. As soon as their crimes became known, Argos and Thebes banished them ; and then it was that Athens received them, stained with confessed guilt." 1 This clever retort told much to the credit of the rhetorical skill of Epaminondas ; but his speech as a whole, was not successful. The Arcadians concluded alliance with Athens ; yet without formally renouncing friendship with Thebes. As soon as such new alliance had been ratified, it became impor- tant to Athens to secure a free and assured entrance into Pelopon- nesus ; while at the same time the recent slackness of the Corin- thians, in regard to the summons to Oropus, rendered her mistrust- ful of their fidelity. Accordingly it was resolved in the Athenian assembly, on the motion of a citizen named Demotion, to seize and occupy Corinth; there being already some scattered Athenian garrisons, on various points of the Corinthian territory, ready to be concentrated and rendered useful for such a purpose. A fleet and land-force under Chares was made ready and despatched. But on reaching the Corinthian port of Kenchreas, Chares found him- self shut out even from admittance. The proposition of Demotion, and the resolution of the Athenians had become known to the Co- rinthians ; who forthwith stood upon their guard, sent soldiers of their own to relieve the various Athenian outposts on their terri- tory, and called upon these latter to give in any complaints for 1 Cornelius Nepos, Epaminond. c. 6 : Plutarch, Repub. Ger. Prsec. p. 810 F. ; Plutarch, Apophtheg. Eeg. p. 193 D. Compare a similar reference, on the part of others, to the crimes embodied in Theban legend (Justin, ix, 3). Perhaps it may have been during this embassy into Peloponnesus, that Kallistratus addressed the discourse to the public assembly at Messene, to which Aristotle makes alluskm (Rhetoric, iii, 17, 3); possibly enough, against Epaminondas also. VOL. x. 13 19oc.