Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/383

TIRIBAZUS SEIZES KONON- 361 cause. But the real novelty now first exhibited iu her policy, is, the full development of what had before existed in manifest tendency, hostility against all the partial land-confederacies of Greece, disguised under the plausible demand of universal autono- my for every town, great or small. How this autonomy was construed and carried into act, we shall see hereafter ; at present, we have only to note the first proclamation of it by Antalkidas in the name of Sparta. On this occasion, indeed, his mission came to nothing, from the peremptory opposition of Athens and the others. But he was fortu- nate enough to gain the approbation and confidence of Tiribazus ; who saw so clearly how much both propositions tended to promote the interests and power of Persia, that he resolved to go up in person to court, and prevail on Artaxerxes to act in concert with S|arta. Though not daring to support Antalkidas openly, Tiri- bazus secretly gave him money to reinforce the Spartan fleet. He at the same time rendered to Sparta the more signal service of ar- resting and detaining Konon, pretending that the latter was acting contrary to the interests of the king. 1 This arrest was a gross act of perfidy, since Konon not only commanded respect in his character of envoy, but had been acting with the full confidence, and almost under the orders, of Pharnabazus. But the removal of an officer of so much ability, the only man who possessed the confidence of Pharnabazus, was the most fatal of all impediments to the naval renovation of Athens. It was fortunate that Konon had had time to rebuild the Long "Walls, before his means of action were thus abruptly intercepted. Respecting his subsequent fate, there exist contradictory stories. According to one, he was put to death by the Persians in prison ; according to another, he found means to escape and again took refuge with Evagoras in Cyprus, in which island he afterwards died of sickness. 2 The latter story appears undoubtedly to be the true one. But it is certain that he never afterwards had the means of performing any public service, and that his career was cut short by this treacherous detention, just at the moment when its promise was the most splendid for hia country. 1 Xcn. Hellen. iv, 8, 16 ; Diodor. xiv, 85. 2 Lysias, Or. xix, (Dc Bon. Aristoph.) s. 41, 42, 4-1 ; Corneliur. Nepoa, Conon, c. 5; Isokrates, Or. iv (Panegyr.) s. ISO. VOL. IX. 16