Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/373

RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. 351 the magnitude of the two contending armies, every one had ex^ pected that the victors, whichever they were, would become mas- ters, and the vanquished, subjects. But his assertion, that " thei e was more disturbance, and more matter of dispute, in Greece, after the battle than before it," must be interpreted, partly as the inspiration of a philo-Laconian sentiment, which regards a peace not accepted by Sparta as no peace at all, partly as based on the circumstance, that no definite headship was recognized as possessed by any state. Sparta had once enjoyed it, and had set the disgraceful example of suing out a confirmation of it from the Persian king at the peace of Antalkidas. Both Thebes and Athens had aspired to the same dignity, and both by the like means, since the battle of Leuktra ; neither of them had succeeded. Greece was thus left without a head, and to this extent the af- firmation of Xenophon is true. But it would not be correct to suppose that the last expedition of Epaminondas into Peloponne- sus, was unproductive of any results, though it was disappointed of its great and brilliant fruits by his untimely death. Before he marched in, the Theban party in Arcadia, (Tegea, Megalopolis, etc.), was on the point of being crushed by the Mantineans and their allies. His expedition, though ending in an indecisive vic- tory, nevertheless broke up the confederacy enlisted in support of Mantinea ; enabling Tegea and Megalopolis to maintain themselves against their Arcadian opponents, and thus leaving the frontier against Sparta unimpaired. While therefore we admit the affirm- ation of Xenophon, that Thebes did not gain by the battle either city, or territory, or dominion, we must at the same time add, that she gained the preservation of her Arcadian allies, and of her anti-Spartan frontier, including Messene. This was a gain of considerable importance. But dearly, indeed, was it purchased, by the blood of her first hero, shed on the field of Matinea ; not to mention his two seconds, whom we know only from his verdict, Daiphantus and lolaidas. 1 He was buried on the field of battle, and a monumental column was erected on his tomb. Scarcely any character in Grecian history has been judged with so much unanimity as Epaminondas. He has obtained a meed of admiration, from all, sincere and hearty, from some, 1 Pausanias, viii, 11, 4, 5.