G R E 
cfctraei any mearures which pfolYilfed them a faint hope 
of relief. Among tlie Theban fugitives who liad taken 
refuge in Athens, was Pelopidas, the fon of Hippocles, 
R youtii wliofe diftingiiifhed generofity and courage had 
marked him out as gifted by Providence for the defend¬ 
er of liis rountry. He liad often conferred with his fel- 
low-fufferers at Athens about the means of returning to 
Thebes, and reltoring the democracy; and while they 
fecretly deliberated on this important objeft, Mello, 
one of the exiles, introduced Pliyllidas, whofe enter- 
prifing activity and fingular boldnefs qualified him for 
the moft arduous undertaking. 
In Athens, the time and the means were adjufied for 
executing the confpiracy. A body of Theban exiles 
alfembled in the Thriafian plain, on the frontier of At¬ 
tica, where twelve of the molt enterprifing voluntarily 
offered to enter the capital, and to co-operate with 
Pliyllidas, fecretary to the council, in the deftrudtion 
of the magiftrates. Tlie diftance between Thebes and 
Athens was about thirty-five miles. The confpirators 
had thirteen miles to march tlirough a hoflile territory. 
They difguifed themfelves in the garb of pcafants, ar¬ 
rived at the city towards evening, and palled the gates 
without fufpicion. During that night, and the fucceed- 
ing day, the houfe of Charon, a wealthy and refpeftable 
citizen, the friend of Phyllidsts, and a determined enemy 
of the ariftocracy, afforded them a fecure refuge, till 
the fatal moment of action arrived. The important 
evening approached, when the artful fecretary had pre¬ 
pared a fumptuous entertainment in the treafury. Here 
the infidious and ill-fated Archias, with the Spartan 
iHagiflrates, revelling in debauch, were foon overcome 
with wine and folly. At a given lignal the confpirators 
drew their daggers, and effedted their purpofe. Charon 
and Mello were the principal adtors in this bloody feene, 
which was entirely diredted by Pliyllidas. But a more 
difficult talk remained. Leontiades, with other abet¬ 
tors of the tyranny, ftill lived, to avenge the murder of 
their afibciates. TJie confpirators, encouraged by their 
firft fuccefs, and condudfed by Pliyllidas, gained ad- 
miffion into their houl'es fuccedively, by means of the 
tuifufpedted fecretary. On the appearance of diforder 
and tumult, Leontiades feized his (word, and boldly pre¬ 
pared for his defence ; but Pelopidas inffantly alfailed 
and killed the principal author of the Theban flavery. 
His afibciates perifhed without refiffance; men whofe 
names may be configned to juft oblivion, fince they were 
diftinguifhed by nothing memorable but their cruel and 
oppreffive tyranny. 
The meafures of the confpirators were equally vigo¬ 
rous and prudent. Before alarming the city, they pro¬ 
ceeded to the different prifons, which were crowded with 
the unfortunate vittims of arbitrary power. Every door 
was open to Pliyllidas. The captives, tranfported with 
joy and gratitude, increafed the ftrength of their deli¬ 
verers. They broke open the arfenals, and provided 
themfelves with arms. The ftreets of Thebes now re¬ 
founded with alarm and terror. During a moment of 
awful filence, a herald proclaimed, with a clear and loud 
voice, the death of the tyrants, and fummoned to arms 
the friends of liberty and the republic. Among others 
wko obeyed the welcome invitation was Epaminondas, 
the fon of Polymnis, a youth of the moft illuftrious me¬ 
rit; who united the wifdom of the fage, and the mag¬ 
nanimity of the hero, with the pradtice of every mild 
and gentle virtue; in birth, valour, and patriotifm, not 
inferior to Pelopidas, with whom he had contraffed an 
early friendfhip. Encompalfcd by an invincible band, 
Pelopidas and his afibciates proceeded to the market¬ 
place; fummoned a general aflembly of the people; ex¬ 
plained the necefiity, the objett, and the extent, of the 
confpiracy; and, with the univerfal approbation of 
their feU/iw-citizens, reftored the democratic form of 
government. 
Exploits of valour and intrepidity may be difeovered 
Vpu. Vlll. No. 
E C E. QOt) 
in the hiftory of every nation. But the revolution of 
Thebes difplayed not lefs wifdom of defign, than gal¬ 
lantry in execution. Amidft the tumult of adtion, and 
ardour of victory, the confpirators poirefied fufficient 
coolnefs and forefight to reflcdl that tlie Cadmtea, or 
citadel, which ivas held by a Lacedtemonian garriibn of 
fifteen hundred men, would be reinforced, on the firft 
intelligence, by the adfivity of Sparta. To anticipate 
this event, they difpatcited a melfenger to Athens, to 
communicate the news of a revolution w hicli could not 
fail to be highly agreeable to tliat (late, and to fblicit 
the immediate afiiftance of the Athenians. 'I'his incffage 
was attended with the moft falutary eftedts. I hedif- 
cernment of the Athenians eagerly feized the favourable 
opportunity of weakening Sparta, which, if once neg- 
ledted, migiit never return. Several thouland men were 
ordered to march, who reached Thebes the day after 
Pelopidas had re-eftabliflied the democracy. The events 
of the fiege are varioufly related. According to the 
moft probable account, the garrifon made but a feeble 
refiftance, beitig intimidated by the impetuous alacrity 
and increafing numbers of the afi'ailants, who already 
amounted to foitrteen thoufand men, and received con¬ 
tinual accefiions of ftrength front the neighbouring cities 
of Boeotia. In a few days the Lacedaemonians defired 
to capitulate, on condition of being allowed to depart 
in fafety with their arms. Their propofal wai readily 
accepted ; but they made no terms for thofe unfortu. 
nate Thebans, whole attachment to the Spartan intereft 
ftrongly folicited their protebfion. The greater part of 
them peri filed by tlie cruel refentment of ilieir country¬ 
men; and only a remnant remained, which was laved 
by the humane interpofition of the Athenians. 
The emancipation of Thebes gave a deep wound t6 
the tyranny of Sparta ; and occafioned the Boeotian war* 
which commencing in the year before Chrift 378, lafted 
with little interruption during feven years, and ended 
with the battle of Lcubfra, which produced a total re¬ 
volution in the affairs of Greece. In the lieart of a fe- 
vere winter, Cleonibrotus, with a well-appointed army, 
commenced the war by entering Boeotia. His prefence 
confirmed the obedience of Thefpia', Platsea, and other 
inferior communities. He defeated lome ftraggling par¬ 
ties of the Thebans, repelled their incurlions, ravaged 
their territory, burned their villages, but attempted not 
to make any impreflion on the ftrength of tiieir city. 
After a campaign of two months, he returned home, 
leaving a numerous garrifon in Thefpiae, commanded 
by Sphodrias, a general of great enterprife, but little 
prudence. 
Meanwhile the Athenians, alarmed by a nearer view 
of danger, difavovved the afiiftance which they had given 
to Thebes; and baniflied, or put to death, the advifers 
of that meafure, in order to renew their alliance with 
Sparta. The Thebans felt the full importance of this 
defeftion, and left nothing untried to prevent its fatal 
tendency^; a defign in which they fucceeded by a very 
fingular Itratagem. The light and rafli charatter of 
Sphodrias was well known to the Theban chiefs, who 
employed fecret cmiffaries to perfuade him, by argu¬ 
ments moft flattering to his paliions, to attack by fur- 
prife the harbour of Athens. The diftance between 
Thebes and Thefpia;, which was not more than twenty 
miles, furnlflied an eafy opportunity for carrying on 
thele fecret pradlices ; but the diftance, whicli exceeded 
forty miles, between Thebes and Athens, rendered the 
enterprife of Sphodrias abortive. He marched from 
Thelpite with the flower of his army, early in tlie morn¬ 
ing, expefling to reach the Piratus before the dawn of 
the fucceeding day. But tjie report flew to Athens, and 
the citizens, with their ufual alacrity, feized their arms, 
and prepared for a vigorous defence. The mad defign, 
and the ftill greater madnefs of Sphodrias, in ravaging 
the country on his retreat, provoked the fury of the 
Tlf^y immediately feized the perfons of 
iS? Y I'ucii. 
