G R E 
dominion of its three ifiands. Accordingly it is ob- 
ferved by Xenophon, that the Laced;einonians eftablifhed 
their credit and influence in Greece much more com- 
plete'ly, and put tlieir commonwealth altogether in a 
much more fplendid fituation, by the peace which had 
its name iVom Antalcidas, than by that which had con¬ 
cluded the Peloponnelian war ; fo much all'o was Age- 
iilaus pcrl'uaded titat the intereft of Lacedaemon was 
well conlidered in the treaty, that when an orator, revi¬ 
ling the peace of Aritalcidas, faid, that Lacedaemon was 
gone over to the Perfian interett, ‘Rather, heanfwered, 
Perfia to the Lacediemonian and lb in truth it I'eems 
to have been.” 
From the PEACE of ANTALCIDAS, to the 
TERMINATION OF THE THIRD SOCIAL WAR. 
The peace of Antalcidas forms an important epoch in 
the Grecian hiltory. 'I'he valuable colonies in Afia, 
the caufe, the objebt, and the feene, of fo many memo- 
table wain, were now to ,be abandoned to the power of 
a barbarian mailer. The king of Perlia difmembered 
the dillant dependencies, and controuled the domellic 
arrangements, of a people who had given tlie law to his 
^nceltors. Their ancient confederacies were dilfolved ; 
and Greece felt the languor of peace without enjoying 
the benefits of fecurity. But if the whole Grecian 
iiame was diihonoured by accepting this ignominious 
treaty, what peculiar infamy mull attach to tlie magif- 
trates of Sparta, by whom it was propofed and pro¬ 
moted ? That intered and ambition, and not a generous 
deflre to promote the public tranquillity, had produced 
this perfidious treaty, could not long be kept a fecret. 
Thebes and Argos were required to comply with the 
terms of the peace ; but no mention was made of with¬ 
drawing the Lacediemonian garrifons from the llrong 
bolds which they occupied; and left this injuilice might 
occafion general difeontent, the Atlienians weie allowed 
the fame privilege. Meanwhile the Spartan emifiaries 
negociated and intrigued in all the fubordinate cities, en¬ 
couraging the ariftocratical fatlions, and fomenting the 
animofities of the citizens againft each other, and againft 
their refpeblive capitals. The jealoufies and com¬ 
plaints, which had been principally occafioned by thef'e 
cabals, were ufually referred to the Spartan fenate-; 
whofe afleclcd moderation, under pretence of defending 
tile caufe of the weak and the injured, always decided 
the conteft in the wc.y moft favourable for thenifeives. 
But the warlike difciples of I.ycurgus could not remain 
fdtisfied with thefe juridical ufurpations. I'hey de¬ 
termined to take arms, which they hoped to employ 
■with Inch artful dexterity as might prevent any dan¬ 
gerous alarm, beginning with fuch cities as had not en¬ 
tered into the late confederacy againft them, gradually 
extending their hoftilities to the more powerful mem¬ 
bers of tiiat confederacy ; and thus conquering I'uecef- 
fively tiiofe, whofe entii'e and collebtive ftrength it would 
have been vain to alfail. 
The firft victim of tliis ambitious policy was tlie flou- 
riniing.republic of Mantimea, whofe tenitory was lituate 
almoft in the centre of Arcadia, in f 1 ie Peloponnel'tis. 
The origin of Mantinaea was the lame with that of i'e- 
gea, Stymphalis, Menea, Orchomenps, and other neigh- 
bouring cities, wliicli had grown into populoufnefs'and 
pjower from the I'cattercd villages - of Ihepherds' inlia- 
biting the valleys and mountains of Arcadia. The ex¬ 
uberant fertility and pidlurefque feenery of this de¬ 
lightful region I’eemed peculiarly adapted to infpire and 
to gratify the love of rural happinefs; and to afford, 
in all their elegance and dignity, tiiol'c fublime and fa- 
cred joys ol' the country, which the genius of the an- 
cient poets felt and delcribed with I'o much fenfibility. 
It was only in tlie year immcdiaiely following the treaty 
of Antalcidas, that Lacedaemonian ambafladors were 
fent to Mantinaea, to exprels the refentment of their re¬ 
public againft a people, who, pretending to live in 
% 
E C E. 90T 
friendftiip with them, had in the late war repeatedly 
fiirnifhed with corn tiieir avowed enemies the Argives, 
Tliey added, that, on other occafions, the Mantinaians 
had difeovered a fetret hatred to Sparta, rejoicing in 
lier misfortunes, and envying her profperity ; and tliat 
it was time to anticipate this dangerous animofity ; for 
which puirpofe the Spartans’commanded them to demo- 
lifli tlieir walls, to abandon their city, and return to 
thofe peaceful villages in which their anceftors had 
lived and flouriflied.. The Mantimeans received this 
propofal with the indignation it merited ; ihe ambafl-a- 
dors retired in difguft: ; the Spartans' declared war; 
lummoned the afliftance of their confederates ; and a 
powerful army, commanded by king AgefipoHs, in¬ 
vaded Arcadia, in the year before Chrift 386. 
Blit tlie moft deftruttive ravages could not bend the 
ftubborn heroifm of tlie Mantinieans. The ftrength and 
loftinefs of their walls feemed to bid defiance to alfault) 
yet Agefipolis prepared for a vigorous fiege ; and this 
tedious fervice exhaufted the patience of the befiegers, 
without ftiaking the firmnefs of the befieged-. The 
Spartans were afraid to detain longer in the field their 
reluTant confederates ; but Agefipolis propol'ed a new 
meafure, which was attended witli fuccefs. The river 
Ophis, formed by the collcTed torrents from mount 
Ancliifuis, ariver broad and rapid, wliich flowed through 
the plain, was, notwithftanding tlie laborious under¬ 
taking, turned againft the walls of Mantinaea, whereby 
they were fapped to the foundation, and began to totter. 
TJie activity of the inhabitants propped them witli 
wood, but without any permanent advantage ; fo that, 
dcfpairing of being able to elude the enemy, they fent 
to capitulate, requefting that tliey might be permitted 
to keep poirellion of their city, on condition that they 
demoliftied their fortifications, and followed, in peace 
and war, the fortune of Sparta. But Agefipolis reftifed 
to grant them any other terms than thofe which had 
been originally propofed by the republic. He infilled,, 
therefore, that the Mantimeans Ihould deftroy their 
houfes in the city ; feparate into four diftiinfl commu¬ 
nities ; and return to thofe villages which their ancef- 
lors had inhabited ; and they were forced into a com¬ 
pliance with tills humiliating demand. 
Meanwhile ambalfadors arrived from A-canthus and 
Apolionia, two cities Oi' the ChalcidiCe, requefting tlie 
Lacedicnionian allifttince againft the ambitious and over- 
bearing citizens ef Olyr.thus. Cleigene.*, the Acan- 
thian, fpoke in the name of his colieagues: “ We ap¬ 
prehend, O LaceciKinonians .and allies! that aiiiidft 
tile multiplied objects of your care and corredlion, you 
have overlooked a great and grovving dilorder which 
tlireatens, like a pelliiencc, to infeCt ami pervade Greece. 
The ambition or the Olynthians'has increafed with tlieir 
pow-cr. By the voluntary fuL'iiiiliion of the Inuiller ci¬ 
ties in their neiglibourhood, tiiey have been enabled to 
fnbdue the more powerful. Emboldened by tlii.-- accel- 
lion of ftrength, they iiave wreited from the king of 
Macodon his moft valuable provinces. They actually 
poliels Pella, the greateft city in that kingdom ; and tiie 
uhfor'uiiate Aniyntas is on the point’of abtmdouing thc 
remainder of his dominions, vihicii Ire is unable to de¬ 
fend. 'idle prefent emergency, therefore, calls tdotid 
for tlie activity and valour of your republic. By yield¬ 
ing a feafonable afliftance to ^Acanthus and Apolionia, 
you will fave from oppreflion tw o peaceful comiminkies, 
and-check the ambition of an ufurpiiig tyrant.” d'iie 
Lacediemonians, with’ an aff'edied impartiality, defired 
tlie opinion of their allies, before declaring their own. 
d'iie confederates with, one conlent, but efpocially tiiole 
who wilhed to ingratiate tliemfelves with Sparta, deter¬ 
mined to undertake tn'e expedition againft Olyn-thus. 
d he Spartans commended tlie facility of tlieir relbiii- 
tion, and it was refolved immediately to iurnifli ten 
thoufaiid eft'eCtive men; and a lift was prepared, con- 
Uiiiin'g tlie refpeiftive contingents to be fupulied by the 
fevsral 
