Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/345

DISSENSIONS IN ARCADIA 323 thus summoned, Laving refused to appear, and being condemned in their absence by the Ten Thousand, a detachment of the epariti was sent to Mantinea to secure their persons. But the gates were found shut, and the order was set at defiance. So much sympathy was manifested in Arcadia towards the Manti- neans, that many other towns copied their protest. Nay, even the majority of the Ten Thousand themselves, moved by repeated appeals made to them in the name of the offended gods, were gradually induced to adopt it also, publicly renouncing and inter- dicting all farther participation in the Olympian treasures. Here was a just point carried, and an important advantage gained, in desisting from a scandalous misappropriation. The party which had gained it immediately sought to push it farther. Beginning as the advocates of justice and of the Olympian Zeus, the Mantineans speedily pronounced themselves more clearly as the champions of oligarchy ; friendly to Sparta and adverse to Thebes. Supplies from Olympia being no longer obtained, the means presently failed, of paying the epariti or public militia. Accordingly, such members of that corps as were too poor to con- tinue without pay, gradually relinquished the service ; while on the other hand, the more wealthy and powerful citizens, by pre- concerted understanding with each other, enrolled themselves in large numbers, for the purpose of getting the national force out of the hands of the opposite party and into their own. 1 The leaders of that opposite party saw plainly, that this oligarchical move- ment would not only bring them to severe account for the appro- priation of the sacred treasure, but would also throw Arcadia again into alliance with Sparta. Accordingly they sent ifjiiraation to the Thebans of the impending change of policy, inviting them to prevent it by an immediate expedition into Arcadia. Informed of this proceeding, 2 the opposite leaders brought it before the Pan- Arcadian assembly ; in which they obtained a resolution, that 1 Xen. Hellen. vil, 4, 34. z Xen. Hcllen. vii, 4, 34. Ot <5e TU Kpariara ry Tl.E?iOKOvvfia(f f)ov%ev6[i.ev o i Eireicav rb Koivbv TUV 'Ap/ca&jv, Trepparraf f3piof3eif elTrelv T"j?f Oi]/3aiotr, etc. The phrase here used by Xenophon, to describe the oligarchical party, marks his philo-Laconian sentiment. Compare vii, 5, 1. ol KTi66/jtevM rj?< HeAoirowTjaov, etc.