2-4] AGIS AT DECELEA 337 successful termination of the war they would be finally delivered from dangers such as would have surrounded them if the Athenians had become masters of Sicily a. Athens once overthrown, they might assure to themselves the undisputed leadership of all Hellas. At the beginning therefore of this winter, Agis the 3 Lacedaemonian king led out a body ^^,-, ^^,,,^.5 „.^.„y of troops from Decelea, and collected ihecatikoftheOetacaiis, from the allies contributions towards "'"' ^'V^'^ money from , r^. . the Achaeans of Phihia. the expenses of a navy. Then passmg j,,, Lacedaemoniaus to the Malian Gulf, he carried off from and allies are to build a the Oetaeans, who were old enemies'*, l"'»(^>ed ships. the greater part of their cattle, and exacted money of them ; from the Achaeans of Phthia, and from the other tribes in that region, without the leave and in spite of the remonstrance of the Thessalians, to whom they were sub- ject, he likewise extorted money and took some hostages, whom he deposited at Corinth, and tried to force upon them the Lacedaemonian alliance. The whole number of ships which the allies were to build was fixed by the Lacedae- monians at a hundred : twenty-five were to be built by themselves and twenty-five by the Boeotians, fifteen by the Phocians and Locrians, fifteen by the Corinthians, ten by the Arcadians, Pellenians, and Sicyonians, ten by the Megarians, Troezenians, Epidaurians, and Hermionians. Every sort of preparation was made, for the Lacedaemon- ians were determined to prosecute the war at the first appearance of spring. The Athenians also carried out their intended prepara- 4 tions during this winter. They col- _, .^, , .,, ° _ -^ The Athenia)is btiild lected timber and built ships; they a fleet and fortify fortified Sunium for the protection of Suninm. They cut their corn-ships on the voyage round '"' ^■■^■p^""d keep ^ ./ o ^,j gy^ Upon their allies. to Athens ; also they abandoned the fort in Laconia which they had erected while sailing to Sicily c, and cut down any expenses which seemed un-
- Cp. i. 90. Cp. iii. 92 foil. "^ Cp. vii. 26 med.
