472 
Sparta, however, was equally obstinate in refusing to’ 
acknowledge the: independence of the Messenians, and 
war was prolonged for some time with little effect, 
chiefly ‘between the confederates. of the two principal 
powers, The Thebans, having’ at length terminated 
the war with Thessaly; with the loss of their able ge- 
neral Pelopidas, were at liberty totake part more effec- 
tually in the transactions of Peloponnesus. A civil war 
having broken out in Arcadia between the cities of 
Mantinza and Tegea, the Thebans supported the cause 
of the latter, while the Athenians and Lacedemonians 
declared for the former. The very existence of Sparta 
was threatened by the bold and enterprising measures 
of Eparinondas, who had nearly taken the city by sur- 
prise ; but, frustrated in his plan by the activity of Age- 
silaus, he returned and gave battle to the Lacedemo- 
nians and their allies at Mantinea, where he was mor- 
tally wounded in the moment of victory, and where 
with him the power of the Theban state expired. © A 
general pacification succeeded, upon the basis of the 
former treaties prescribed by Persia, that every city 
should be independent; but the Lacedemonians still 
persisting in their wish to reduce the emancipated Mes- 
senians, were excluded from the treaty, and ‘remained 
nominally at war with the confederates of Thebes. Ex- 
asperated by the friendly dispositions which the Per- 
sian court had manifested to the Thebans, and perhaps 
-expecting to acquire some pecuniary resources for the 
recovery of their power in Greece, they sent an army 
to aid the insurgents in Egypt. After the death of 
Agesilaus, on his return from Africa, little occurs in 
the history of Greece deserving of notice, till the ap- 
pearance of Philip of Macedon. A great change had 
taken place in Grecian polities. There was now no 
leading state, either of the aristocratical or democratical 
interests; and, though every city exercised a jealous 
watchfulness to prevent atiy overbearing superiority in 
another, there were no extensive confederacies or hos- 
tilities ; but lassitude, indecision, and divisions, perva- 
ded the nation, and paved the way for the universal 
subjugation of their liberties by the Macedonian mo- 
narehy. See Acrsinaus, Epaminonpas, &c. 
In consequence of the blow given to the Spartan 
power in the battle of Mantinza, and the decline of 
Thebes after the loss of Epaminondas, Athens ‘remain« 
ed the most prominent and respected of the Grecian 
republics. In want, however, of any salutary check 
from a powerful rival, its government became extrava~ 
gant and irregular in the most extraordinary degree ; 
the inconsiderate voice of the multitude deciding eve 
measure, frequently ratifying at night what they had 
rejected in the morning, and ready to follow every 
varying scheme of every flattering orator. The citi- 
zens also, sinking into unboundéd Testiey, declined all 
inilitary service, and resorting to the aid of mercenaries, 
engaged in hostilities chiefly for the purpose of collect- 
ing plunder, or of extorting tribute, Every marauding 
expedition was approved, provided the leaders brought 
home a sufficiency of treasure to provide amusements 
for the people, and to bribe the orators to silence. The 
official men, in short, inadequately rewarded by their 
regular salaries, learned, as is almost uniformly the 
case, to recompense themselves ; and the people, either 
e necessitous by their idle attendance on political 
matters, or injudiciously supported by the public funds 
as an encouragement to population, actually depended 
for their subsistence npon the sacrifices, feasts, and 
spoils connected with their military expeditions. While 
Athens was in this situation, strangely feeble in the 
GREECE. 
whole’ constitution of its government and population, ¢ 
et by means of its naval force still the principal ; 
lie in Greece, a rival to its power arose in a quarter, — 
which had hitherto attracted little attention, and had 
even been regarded by the Grecian states as undeserv: ¢, 
ing of their notice. Though the kings of Ma 
etended to be the d ts of Hercules, the G 
PeKS 4 
considered them as no part of their nation, but always_ 
treated them as barbarians. | This ee existed _ 
more than four hundred years, but stood — 
in need of protection from Athens or from Sparta ; and’ 
had never risen toa ity of partaking in the emi- — 
nence of these republics. But it now furnished an ex. 
ample, similar to that of Thebes, of the power of one 
distinguished individual to accomplish, in favourable 4 
circumstances, the most i t revolutions. It-was of 
in Thebes, indeed, that the new leader of the Mace 
nians had received his best instructions in the art: 
policy and war. Philip had been taken to that city as 4 
a hostage when he was only ten years of age, and had 
been carefully educated under the eye of = 
assisted by the celebrated ——— phi Ly. 
sis. At twenty-four years of age he ascended the throne: _ 
of Macedon, and gave early indication of his talents for — 
government. At the period of his accessién, he found 
himself at war with the Athenians, who supported one _ 
of his competitors for the kingdom. Having defeated 
his ad , who was slain in the action, he instantly _ 
liberated, and Joaded with favours, all the’soldiers of 
Athens whom he had taken prisoners: Having discos 
vered, that the Athenians were intent upon the recom 
very of Amphipolis, which they claimed as one of theit 
colonies, but which he had seized as the key of his do- 
minions on that frontier, he was equally reluctant to’ 
ut it in their power, or to come to arupture for which 
he was not prepared. With his usual consummate pc 
licy, therefore, he declared it in the mean time a 
city, and left the inhabitants to maintain their own ins 
dependence. A peace and alliance were ratified be= 
tween the Macedonian prince and the city of Athens; 
but their agreement was of short duration. A contest — 
psp commenced, which led to the subversion of 
recian freedom by the arts and arms of Philip; but 
which owed its origin as much to the unprincip oe 
gressions of the Athenian democracy, as to the Ce 
tious views of the Macedonian monarch. Whileinfull py 
alliance and co-operation with Philip ‘against the Olyn~ be 
thians, they co indicated their hostility to his A 
interests, by detaching the town of Pydna from his king- © 
dom, and making a direct attempt to possess themselves ** 
of Amphipolis.. Failing in their design, it was soon af- _ 
ter occupied by Philip, and rend a strong barrier 
between his dominions and those of the Grecian states. 
Before this time had commenced “ the Sacred War,” 9, 
undertaken by the Boeotians, Locrians, Thessalians, &c. the ! 
in order to punish the Phocians, who Per eee aV 
field sacred to Apollo at Delphos, and h sed to. 
discharge the fine which the council of the Amphicty- 
ons had sentenced them to pay, as an atonement : 
the sacrilegious deed. They were supp by the 
Lacedemonians, Athenians, &c. and Philip, well pleas- 
ed to leave the Grecian states to exhaust their 
- 
¢ 
Macedonian to the Athenian alliance, he laid siege to 
that city ; and, having gained possession of the place’ 
