TALES OF THE GREEKS
"The queen."
"I pity the queen," said he, "for being the wife of a cruel tyrant."
And soon he found that she was ashamed of her husband's evil deeds, and longed to see the end of his wickedness.
The friends of Pelopidas came to his rescue, and at the approach of their army Alexander gave up his prisoner and craved for peace.
At that time the Greek States were sending ambassadors to the King of Persia, and Pelopidas was chosen to go in the name of the city of Thebes. The King of Persia took more pleasure in meeting the valiant Theban than any of the others. To the ambassadors he usually gave gifts. For instance, to one—an Athenian—he gave gold and silver, a grand bed and servants to make it, eighty cows and herdsmen to tend them, and a litter or travelling-chair to carry him about! But when the Persian king asked Pelopidas what gift he desired, the reply was:
"I desire that you will treat all the Greeks as free and independent."
Thus Pelopidas sought the good of the people, and not presents for himself.
In the year 364 b.c. a message again came from the Thessalians asking for help against Alexander. Pelopidas was about to march when darkness fell on the earth during an eclipse of the sun. He
86
