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                                      75 AD
                                   PELOPIDAS
                                 325?-364 B.C.
                                  by Plutarch
                           translated by John Dryden
PELOPIDAS

  CATO major, hearing some commend one that was rash, and
inconsiderately daring in a battle, said, "There is a difference
between a man's prizing valour at a great rate, and valuing life at
little; a very just remark. Antigonus, we know, at least, had a
soldier, a venturous fellow, but of wretched health and
constitution; the reason of whose ill-look he took the trouble to
inquire into; and, on understanding from him that it was a disease,
commanded his physicians to employ their utmost skill, and if possible
recover him; which brave hero, when once cured, never afterwards
sought danger or showed himself venturous in battle; and, when
Antigonus wondered and upbraided him with his change, made no secret
of the reason, and said, "Sir, you are the cause of my cowardice, by
freeing me from those miseries which made me care little for life."
With the same feeling, the Sybarite seems to have said of the
Spartans, that it was no commendable thing in them to be so ready to
die in the wars, since by that they were freed from such hard labour
and miserable living. In truth, the Sybarites, a soft and dissolute
people, might well imagine they hated life, because in their eager
pursuit of virtue and glory they were not afraid to die; but, in fact,
the Lacedaemonians found their virtue secured them happiness alike
in living or in dying; as we see in the epitaph that says-

         "They died, but not as lavish of their blood,
          Or thinking death itself was simply good;
          Their wishes neither were to live nor die,
          But to do both alike commendably."

  An endeavour to avoid death is not blamable, if we do not basely
desire to live; nor a willingness to die good and virtuous, if it
proceeds from a contempt of life. And therefore Homer always takes
care to bring his bravest and most daring heroes well armed into
battle; and the Greek law-givers punished those that threw away
their shields, but not him that lost his sword or spear; intimating
that self-defence is more a man's business than offence. This is
especially true of a governor of a city, or a general; for it, as
Iphicrates divides it out, the light-armed are the hands; the horse
the feet; the infantry the breast; and the general the head; and, when
he puts himself upon danger, not only ventures his own person, but all
those whose safety depends on his; and so on the contrary.
Callicratidas, therefore, though otherwise a great man, was wrong in
his answer to the augur who advised him, the sacrifice being
unlucky, to be careful of his life; "Sparta," said he, "will not
miss one man." It is true, Callicratidas, when simply serving in any
engagement either at sea or land, was but a single person, but as a
general, he united in his life the lives of all, and could hardly be
called one when his death involved the ruin of so many. The saying
of old Antigonus was better, who, when he was to fight at Andros,
and one told him, "The enemy's ships are more than ours;" replied,
"For how many then wilt thou reckon me?" intimating that a brave and
experienced commander is to be highly valued, one of the first
duties of whose office indeed it is to save him on whose safety
depends that of others. And therefore I applaud Timotheus, who, when
Chares showed the wounds he had received, and his shield pierced by
a dart, told him, "Yet how ashamed I was, at the siege of Samos,
when a dart fell near me, for exposing myself, more like a boy than
like a general in command of a large army." Indeed, where the
general's hazarding himself will go far to decide the result, there he
must fight and venture his person, and not mind their maxims, who
would have a general die, if not of, at least in old age; but when the
advantage will be but small if he gets the better, and the loss
considerable if he falls, who then would desire, at the risk of the
commander's life, a piece of success which a common soldier might
obtain? This I thought fit to premise before the lives of Pelopidas
and Marcellus, who were both great men, but who both fell by their own
rashness. For, being gallant men, and having gained their respective
countries great glory and reputation by their conduct in war against
terrible enemies, the one, as history relates, overthrowing
Hannibal, who was till then invincible; the other, in a set battle
beating the Lacedaemonians, then supreme both at sea and land; they
ventured at last too far, and were heedlessly prodigal of their lives,
when there was the greatest need of men and commanders such as they.
And this agreement in their characters and their deaths is the
reason why I compare their lives.
  Pelopidas, the son of Hippoclus, was descended, as likewise
Epaminondas was, from an honourable family in Thebes; and, being
brought up to opulence, and having a fair estate left him whilst he
was young, he made it his business to relieve the good and deserving
amongst the poor, that he might show himself lord and not slave of his
estate. For amongst men, as Aristotle observes, some are too
narrow-minded to use their wealth, and some are loose and abuse it;
and these live perpetual slaves to their pleasures, as the others to
their gain. Others permitted themselves to be obliged by Pelopidas,
and thankfully made use of his liberality and kindness; but amongst
all his friends he could never persuade Epaminondas to be a sharer
in his wealth. He, however, stepped down into his poverty, and took
pleasure in the same poor attire, spare diet, unwearied endurance of
hardships, and unshrinking boldness in war; like Capaneus in
Euripides, who had-

         "Abundant wealth and in that wealth no pride,"

he was ashamed any one should think that he spent more upon his person
than the meanest Theban. Epaminondas made his familiar and
hereditary poverty more light and easy by his philosophy and single
life; but Pelopidas married a woman of good family, and had
children; yet still thinking little of his private interests, and
devoting all his time to the public, he ruined his estate: and, when
his friends admonished and told him how necessary that money which
he neglected was: "Yes," he replied, "necessary to Nicodemus,"
pointing to a blind cripple.
  Both seemed equally fitted by nature for all sorts of excellence;
but bodily exercises chiefly delighted Pelopidas, learning
Epaminondas; and the one spent his spare hours in hunting and the
Palaestra, the other in hearing lectures or philosophizing. And,
amongst a thousand points for praise in both, the judicious esteem
nothing equal to that constant benevolence and friendship, which
they inviolably preserved in all their expeditions, public actions,
and administration of the commonwealth. For if any one looks on the
administrations of Aristides and Themistocles, of Cimon and
Pericles, of Nicias and Alcibiades, what confusion, what envy, what
mutual jealousy appears? And if he then casts his eye on the
kindness and reverence that Pelopidas showed Epaminondas, he must
needs confess that these are more truly and more justly styled
colleagues in government and command than the others, who strove
rather to overcome one another than their enemies. The true cause of
this was their virtue; whence it came that they did not make their
actions aim at wealth and glory, an endeavour sure to lead to bitter
and contentious jealousy; but both from the beginning being inflamed
with a divine desire of seeing their country glorious by their
exertions, they used to that end one another's excellences as their
own. Many, indeed, think this strict and entire affection is to be
dated from the battle at Mantinea, where they both fought, being
part of the succours that were sent from Thebes to the Lacedaemonians,
their then friends and allies. For, being placed together amongst
the infantry, and engaging the Arcadians, when the Lacedaemonian wing,
in which they fought, gave ground, and many fled, they closed their
shields together and resisted the assailants. Pelopidas, having
received seven wounds in the forepart of his body, fell upon an heap
of slain friends and enemies; but Epaminondas, though he thought him
past recovery, advanced to defend his arms and body, and singly fought
a multitude, resolving rather to die than forsake his helpless
Pelopidas. And now, he being much distressed, being wounded in the
breast by a spear, and in the arm by a sword, Agesipolis, the King
of the Spartans, came to his succour from the other wing, and beyond
hope delivered both.
  After this the Lacedaemonians pretended to be friends to Thebes, but
in truth looked with jealous suspicions on the designs and power of
the city, and chiefly hated the party of Ismenias and Androclides,
in which Pelopidas also was an associate, as tending to liberty and
the advancement of the commonalty. Therefore Archias, Leontidas, and
Philip, all rich men, and of oligarchical principles, and immoderately
ambitious, urged Phoebidas the Spartan, as he was on his way past
the city with a considerable force, to surprise the Cadmea, and,
banishing the contrary faction, to establish an oligarchy, and by that
means subject the city to the supremacy of the Spartans. He, accepting
the proposal, at the festival of Ceres unexpectedly fell on the
Thebans, and made himself master of the citadel. Ismenias was taken,
carried to Sparta, and in a short time murdered; but Pelopidas,
Pherenicus, Androclides, and many more that fled were publicly
proclaimed outlaws. Epaminondas stayed at home, being not much
looked after, as one whom philosophy had made inactive and poverty
incapable.
  The Lacedaemonians cashiered Phoebidas, and fined him one hundred
thousand drachmas, yet still kept a garrison in the Cadmea; which made
all Greece wonder at their inconsistency, since they punished the
doer, but approved the deed. And though the Thebans, having lost their
polity, and being enslaved by Archias and Leontidas, had no hopes to
get free from this tyranny, which they saw guarded by the whole
military power of the Spartans, and had no means to break the yoke,
unless these could be deposed from their command of sea and land;
yet Leontidas and his associates, understanding the exiles lived at
Athens in favour with the people, and with honour from all the good
and virtuous, formed secret designs against their lives, and,
suborning some unknown fellows, despatched Androclides, but were not
successful on the rest. Letters, besides, were sent from Sparta to the
Athenians, warning them neither to receive nor countenance the exiles,
but expel them as declared common enemies of the confederacy. But
the Athenians, from their natural hereditary inclination to be kind,
and also to make a grateful return to the Thebans, who had very much
assisted them in restoring their democracy, and had publicly
enacted, that if any Athenian would march armed through Boeotia
against the tyrants, that no Boeotian should either see or hear it,
did the Thebans no harm.
  Pelopidas, though one of the youngest, was active in privately
exciting each single exile; and often told them at their meetings that
it was both dishonourable and impious to neglect their enslaved and
engarrisoned country, and, lazily contented with their own lives and
safety, depend on the decree of the Athenians, and through fear fawn
on every smooth-tongued orator that was able to work upon the
people: no, they must venture for this great prize, taking
Thrasybulus's bold courage for example, and as he advanced from Thebes
and broke the power of the Athenian tyrants, so they should march from
Athens and free Thebes. When by this method he had persuaded them,
they privately despatched some persons to those friends they had
left at Thebes, and acquainted them with their designs. Their plans
being approved, Charon, a man of the greatest distinction, offered his
house for their reception; Phillidas contrived to get himself made
secretary to Archias and Philip, who then held the office of polemarch
or chief captain; and Epaminondas had already inflamed the youth. For,
in their exercises, he had encouraged them to challenge and wrestle
with the Spartans, and again, when he saw them puffed up with
victory and success, sharply told them, that it was the greatest shame
to be such cowards as to serve those whom in strength they so much
excelled.
  The day of action being fixed, it was agreed upon by the exiles that
Pherenicus with the rest should stay at the Thriasian plain, while
some few of the younger men tried the first danger, by endeavouring to
get into the city; and, if they were surprised by their enemies, the
others should take care to provide for their children and parents.
Pelopidas first offered to undertake the business; then Melon,
Damoclides, and Theopompus, men of noble families, who, in other
things loving and faithful to one another, were rivals constant only
in glory and courageous exploits. They were twelve in all, and
having taken leave of those that stayed behind sent a messenger to
Charon, they went forward, clad in short coats, and carrying hounds
and hunting-poles with them, that they might be taken for hunters
beating over the fields, and prevent all suspicion in those that met
them on the way. When the messenger came to Charon, and told him
they were approaching, he did not change his resolution at the sight
of danger, but, being a man of his word, offered them his house. But
one Hipposthenidas, a man of no ill principles, a lover of his
country, and a friend to the exiles, but not of as much resolution
as the shortness of time and the character of the action required,
being as it were dizzied at the greatness of the approaching
enterprise; and beginning now for the first time to comprehend that,
relying on that weak assistance which could be expected from the
exiles, they were undertaking no less a task than to shake the
government, and overthrow the whole power of Sparta; went privately to
his house and sent a friend to Melon and Pelopidas, desiring them to
forbear for the present, to return to Athens and expect a better
opportunity. The messenger's name was Chlidon, who, going home in
haste and bringing out his horse, asked for the bridle; but, his
wife not knowing where it was, and, when it could not be found,
telling him she had lent it to a friend, first they began to chide,
then to curse one another, and his wife wished the journey might prove
ill to him and those that sent him; insomuch that Chlidon's passion
made him waste a great part of the day in this quarrelling, and
then, looking on this chance as an omen, he laid aside all thoughts of
his journey, and went away to some other business. So nearly had these
great and glorious designs, even in their very birth, lost their
opportunity.
  But Pelopidas and his companions, dressing themselves like
countrymen, divided, and, whilst it was yet day, entered at
different quarters of the city. It was, besides, a windy day, and
now it just began to snow, which contributed much to their
concealment, because most people were gone indoors to avoid the
weather. Those, however, that were concerned in the design received
them as they came, and conducted them to Charon's house, where the
exiles and others made up forty-eight in number. The tyrant's
affairs stood thus: the secretary, Phillidas, as I have already
observed, was an accomplice in and privy to all the contrivance of the
exiles, and he a while before had invited Archias, with others, to
an entertainment on that day, to drink freely, and meet some women
of the town, on purpose that when they were drunk, and given up to
their pleasures, he might deliver them over to the conspirators. But
before Archias was thoroughly heated notice was given him that the
exiles were privately in the town; a true report indeed, but
obscure, and not well confirmed: nevertheless, though Phillidas
endeavoured to divert the discourse, Archias sent one of his guards to
Charon, and commanded him to attend immediately. It was evening, and
Pelopidas and his friends with him in the house were putting
themselves into a fit posture for action, having their breastplates on
already, and their swords girt: but at the sudden knocking at the
door, one stepping forth to inquire the matter, and learning from
the officer that Charon was sent for by the polemarch, returned in
great confusion and acquainted those within; and immediately
conjectured that the whole plot was discovered, and they should be cut
in pieces, before so much as achieving any action to do credit to
their bravery: yet all agreed that Charon should obey and attend the
polemarch to prevent suspicion. Charon was, indeed, a man of courage
and resolution in all dangers, yet in this case he was extremely
concerned, lest any should suspect that he was the traitor and the
death of so many brave citizens he laid on him. And, therefore, when
he was ready to depart, he brought his son out of the women's
apartment, a little boy as yet, but one of the best looking and
strongest of all those of his age, and delivered him to Pelopidas with
these words: "If you find me a traitor, treat the boy as an enemy
without any mercy." The concern which Charon showed drew tears from
many; but all protested vehemently against his supposing any one of
them so mean-spirited and base, at the appearance of approaching
danger, as to suspect or blame him; and therefore desired him not to
involve his son, but to set him out of harm's way: that so he, perhaps
escaping the tyrant's power, might live to revenge the city and his
friends. Charon, however, refused to remove him, and asked, "What
life, what safety could be more honourable, than to die bravely with
his father and such generous companions?" Thus, imploring the
protection of the gods, and saluting and encouraging them all, he
departed, considering with himself, and composing his voice and
countenance, that he might look as little like as possible to what
in fact he really was.
  When he was come to the door, Archias with Phillidas came out to
him, and said, "I have heard, Charon, that there are some men just
come, and lurking in the town, and that some of the citizens are
resorting to them." Charon was at first disturbed, but asking, "Who
are they? and who conceals them?" and finding Archias did not
thoroughly understand the matter, he concluded that none of those
privy to the design had given this information, and replied, "Do not
disturb yourselves for an empty rumour: I will look into it,
however, for no report in such a case is to be neglected."
Phillidas, who stood by, commended him, and leading back Archias,
got him deep in drink, still prolonging the entertainment with the
hopes of the women's company at last. But when Charon returned, and
found the men prepared, not as if they hoped for safety and success,
but to die bravely and with the slaughter of their enemies, he told
Pelopidas and his friends the truth, but pretended to others in the
house that Archias talked to him about something else, inventing a
story for the occasion. This storm was just blowing over, when fortune
brought another; for a messenger came with a letter from one
Archias, the Hierophant at Athens, to his namesake Archias, who was
his friend and guest. This did not merely contain a vague
conjectural suspicion, but, as it appeared afterwards, disclosed every
particular of the design. The messenger being brought in to Archias,
who was now pretty well drunk, and delivering the letter, said to him,
"The writer of this desired it might be read at once; it is on
urgent business." Archias, with a smile, replied, "Urgent business
tomorrow," and so receiving the letter, he put it under his pillow,
and returned to what he had been speaking of with Phillidas, and these
words of his are a proverb to this day amongst the Greeks.
  Now when the opportunity seemed convenient for action, they set
out in two companies; Pelopidas and Damoclides with their party went
against Leontidas and Hypates, that lived near together; Charon and
Melon against Archias and Philip, having put on women's apparel over
their breastplates, and thick garlands of fir and pine to shade
their faces; and so, as soon as they came to the door, the guests
clapped and gave an huzza, supposing them to be the women they
expected. But when the conspirators had looked about the room, and
carefully marked all that were at the entertainment, they drew their
swords, and making at Archias and Philip amongst the tables, disclosed
who they were. Phillidas persuaded some few of his guests to sit
still, and those that got up and endeavoured to assist the
polemarch, being drunk, were easily despatched. But Pelopidas and
his party met with a harder task; as they attempted Leontidas, a sober
and formidable man, and when they came to his house found his door
shut, he being already gone to bed. They knocked a long time before
any one would answer, but at last, a servant that heard them, coming
out and unbarring the door, as soon as the gate gave way, they
rushed in, and, overturning the man, made all haste to Leontidas's
chamber. But Leontidas, guessing at the matter by the noise and
running, leaped from his bed and drew his dagger, but forgot to put
out the lights, and by that means make them fall foul of one another
in the dark. As it was, being easily seen by reason of the light, he
received them at his chamber door and stabbed Cephisodorus, the
first man that entered: on his falling, the next that he engaged was
Pelopidas; and the passage being narrow and Cephisodorus's body
lying in the way, there was a fierce and dangerous conflict. At last
Pelopidas prevailed, and having killed Leontidas, he and his
companions went in pursuit of Hypates, and after the same manner broke
into his house. He perceived the design and fled to his neighbours;
but they closely followed, and caught and killed him.
  This done they joined Melon and sent to hasten the exiles they had
left in Attica: and called upon the citizens to maintain their
liberty, and taking down the spoils from the porches, and breaking
open all the armourers' shops that were near, equipped those that came
to their assistance. Epaminondas and Gorgidas came in already armed,
with a gallant train of young men and the best of the old. Now the
city was in a great excitement and confusion, a great noise and hurry,
lights set up in every house, men running here and there; however, the
people did not as yet gather into a body, but, amazed at the
proceedings, and not clearly understanding the matter, waited for
the day. And, therefore, the Spartan officers were thought to have
been in fault for not falling on at once, since their garrison
consisted of about fifteen hundred men, and many of the citizens ran
to them; but, alarmed with the noise, the fires, and the confused
running of the people, they kept quietly within the Cadmea. As soon as
day appeared, the exiles from Attica came in armed, and there was a
general assembly of the people. Epaminondas and Gorgidas brought forth
Pelopidas and his party, encompassed by the priests, who held out
garlands, and exhorted the people to fight for their country and their
gods. The assembly, at their appearance, rose up in a body and with
shouts and acclamations received the men as their deliverers and
benefactors.
  Then Pelopidas, being chosen chief captain of Boeotia, together with
Melon and Charon, proceeded at once to blockade the citadel and
stormed it on all sides, being extremely desirous to expel the
Lacedaemonians, and free the Cadmea, before an army could come from
Sparta to their relief. And he just so narrowly succeeded, that
they, having surrendered on terms and departed, on their way home
met Cleombrotus at Megara marching towards Thebes with a
considerable force. The Spartans condemned and executed Herippidas and
Arcissus, two of their governors, at Thebes, and Lysanoridas the
third, being severely fined, fled to Peloponnesus. This action so
closely resembling that of Thrasybulus, in the courage of the
actors, the danger, the encounters, and equally crowned with
success, was called the sister of it by the Greeks. For we can
scarcely find any other examples where so small and weak a party of
men by bold courage overcame such numerous and powerful enemies, or
brought greater blessings to their country by so doing. But the
subsequent change of affairs made this action the more famous; for the
war which forever ruined the pretensions of Sparta to command, and put
an end to the supremacy she then exercised alike by sea and by land,
proceeded from that night, in which Pelopidas not surprising any fort,
or castle, or citadel, but coming, the twelfth man, to a private
house, loosed and broke, if we may speak truth in metaphor, the chains
of the Spartan sway, which before seemed of adamant and indissoluble.
  But now the Lacedaemonians invading Boeotia with a great army, the
Athenians, affrighted at the danger, declared themselves no allies
to Thebes, and prosecuting those that stood for the Boeotian interest,
executed some, and banished and fined others: and the cause of Thebes,
destitute of allies, seemed in a desperate condition. But Pelopidas
and Gorgidas, holding the office of captains of Boeotia, designing
to breed a quarrel between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians, made this
contrivance. One Sphodrias, a Spartan, a man famous indeed for courage
in battle, but of no sound judgment, full of ungrounded hopes and
foolish ambition, was left with an army at Thespiae, to receive and
succour the Theban renegades. To him Pelopidas and his colleagues
privately sent a merchant, one of their friends, with money, and, what
proved more efficient, advice- that it more became a man of his
worth to set upon some great enterprise, and that he should, making
a sudden incursion on the unprotected Athenians, surprise the Piraeus;
since nothing could be so grateful to Sparta as to take Athens; and
the Thebans, of course, would not stir to the assistance of men whom
they now hated and looked upon as traitors. Sphodrias, being at last
wrought upon, marched into Attica by night with his army, and advanced
as far as Eleusis; but there his soldiers' hearts failing, after
exposing his project and involving the Spartans in a dangerous war, he
retreated to Thespiae. After this the Athenians zealously sent
supplies to Thebes, and putting to sea, sailed to many places, and
offered support and protection to all those of the Greeks who were
willing to revolt.
  The Thebans, meantime, singly, having many skirmishes with the
Spartans in Boeotia, and fighting some battles, not great indeed,
but important as training and instructing them, thus had their minds
raised, and their bodies inured to labour, and gained both
experience and courage by these frequent encounters, insomuch that
we have it related that Antalcidas, the Spartan, said to Agesilaus,
returning wounded from Boeotia, "Indeed, the Thebans have paid you
handsomely for instructing them in the art of war, against their
wills." In real truth, however, Agesilaus was not their master in
this, but those that prudently and opportunely, as men do young
dogs, set them on their enemies, and brought them safely off after
they had tasted the sweets of victory and resolution. Of all those
leaders, Pelopidas deserves the most honour: as after they had once
chosen him general, he was every year in command as long as he
lived; either captain of the sacred band, or, what was most
frequent, chief captain of Boeotia. About Plataea and Thespiae the
Spartans were routed and put to flight, and Phoebidas, that
surprised the Cadmea, slain; and at Tanagra a considerable force was
worsted, and the leader Panthoides killed. But these encounters,
though they raised the victors' spirits, did not thoroughly dishearten
the unsuccessful; for there was no set battle, or regular fighting,
but mere incursions on advantage, in which, according to occasion,
they charged, retired again, or pursued. But the battle at Tegyrae,
which seemed a prelude to Leuctra, won Pelopidas great reputation; for
none of the other commanders could claim any hand in the design, nor
the enemies any show of victory. The city of the Orchomenians siding
with the Spartans, and having received two companies for its guard, he
kept a constant eye upon it, and watched his opportunity. Hearing that
the garrison had moved into Locris, and hoping to find Orchomenus
defenceless, he marched with his sacred band and some few horsemen.
But when he approached the city, and found that a reinforcement of the
garrison was on its, march from Sparta, he made a circuit round the
foot of the mountains, and retreated with his little army through
Tegyrae, that being the only way he could pass. For the river Melas,
almost as soon as it rises, spreads itself into marshes and
navigable pools, and makes all the plain between impassable. A
little below the marshes stands the temple and oracle of Apollo
Tegyraeus, forsaken not long before that time, having flourished
till the Median wars, Echecrates then being priest. Here they
profess that the god was born; the neighbouring mountain is called
Delos, and there the river Melas comes again into a channel; beyond
the temples rises two springs, admirable for the sweetness, abundance,
and coolness of the streams; one they called Phoenix, the other Elaea,
even to the present time, as if Lucina had not been delivered
between two trees, but fountains. A place hard by, called Ptoum, is
shown, where they say she was affrighted by the appearance of a
boar; and the stories of the Python and Tityus are in like manner
appropriated by these localities. I omit many of the points that are
used as arguments. For our tradition does not rank this god amongst
those that were born, and then made immortal, as Hercules and Bacchus,
whom their virtue raised above a mortal and passable condition; but
Apollo is one of the eternal unbegotten deities, if we may collect any
certainty concerning these things, from the statements of the oldest
and wisest in such subjects.
  As the Thebans were retreating from Orchomenus towards Tegyrae,
the Spartans, at the same time marching from Locris, met them. As soon
as they came in view, advancing through the straits, one told
Pelopidas, "We are fallen into our enemy's hands;" he replied, "And
why not they into ours?" and immediately commanded his horse to come
up from the rear and charge, while he himself drew his infantry, being
three hundred in number, into a close body, hoping by that means, at
whatsoever point he made the attack, to break his way through his more
numerous enemies. The Spartans had two companies (the company
consisting, as Ephorus states, of five hundred; Callisthenes says
seven hundred; others, as Polybius, nine hundred); and their
leaders, Gorgoleon and Theopompus, confident of success, advanced upon
the Thebans. The charge being made with much fury, chiefly where the
commanders were posted, the Spartan captains that engaged Pelopidas
were first killed; and those immediately around them suffering
severely, the whole army was thus disheartened, and opened a lane
for the Thebans as if they desired to pass through and escape. But
when Pelopidas entered, and turning against those that stood their
ground, still went with a bloody slaughter, an open flight ensued
amongst the Spartans. The pursuit was carried but a little way,
because they feared the neighbouring Orchomenians and the
reinforcements from Lacedaemon; they had succeeded, however, in
fighting a way through their enemies, and overpowering their whole
force; and, therefore, erecting a trophy, and spoiling the slain, they
returned home extremely encouraged with their achievements. For in all
the great wars there had ever been against Greeks or barbarians, the
Spartans were never before beaten by a smaller company than their own;
nor, indeed, in a set battle, when their number was equal. Hence their
courage was thought irresistible, and their high repute before the
battle made a conquest already of enemies, who thought themselves no
match for the men of Sparta even on equal terms. But this battle first
taught the other Greeks, that not only Eurotas, or the country between
Babyce and Cnacion, breeds men of courage and resolution, but that
where the youth are ashamed of baseness, and ready to venture in a
good cause, where they fly disgrace more than danger, there,
wherever it be, are found the bravest and most formidable opponents.
  Gorgidas, according to some, first formed the Sacred Band of three
hundred chosen men, to whom, as being a guard for the citadel, the
State allowed provision, and all things necessary for exercise: and
hence they were called the city band, as citadels of old were
usually called cities. Others say that it was composed of young men
attached to each other by personal affection, and a pleasant saying of
Pammenes is current, that Homer's Nestor was not well skilled in
ordering an army, when he advised the Greeks to rank tribe and
tribe, and family and family together, that-

         "So tribe might tribe, and kinsmen kinsmen aid."

but that he should have joined lovers and their beloved. For men of
the same tribe or family little value one another when dangers
press; but a band cemented by friendship grounded upon love is never
to be broken, and invincible; since the lovers, ashamed to be base
in sight of their beloved, and the beloved before their lovers,
willingly rush into danger for the relief of one another. Nor can that
be wondered at since they have more regard for their absent lovers
than for others present; as in the instance of the man who, when his
enemy was going to kill him, earnestly requested him to run him
through the breast, that his lover might not blush to see him
wounded in the back. It is a tradition likewise that Iolaus, who
assisted Hercules in his labours and fought at his side, was beloved
of him; and Aristotle observes that, even in his time, lovers plighted
their faith at Iolaus's tomb. It is likely, therefore, that this
band was called sacred on this account; as Plato calls a lover a
divine friend. It is stated that it was never beaten till the battle
at Chaeronea: and when Philip, after the fight, took a view of the
slain, and came to the place where the three hundred that fought his
phalanx lay dead together, he wondered, and understanding that it
was the band of lovers, he shed tears and said, "Perish any man who
suspects that these men either did or suffered anything that was
base."
  It was not the disaster of Laius, as the poets imagine, that first
gave rise to this form of attachment amongst the Thebans, but their
lawgivers, designing to soften whilst they were young their natural
fierceness, brought, for example, the pipe into great esteem, both
in serious and sportive occasions, and gave great encouragement to
these friendships in the Palaestra, to temper the manners and
characters of the youth. With a view to this they did well, again,
to make Harmony, the daughter of Mars and Venus, their tutelar
deity; since, where force and courage is joined with gracefulness
and winning behaviour, a harmony ensues that combines all the elements
of society in perfect consonance and order. Gorgidas distributed
this Sacred Band all through the front ranks of the infantry, and thus
made their gallantry less conspicuous; not being united in one body,
but mingled with so many others of inferior resolution, they had no
fair opportunity of showing what they could do. But Pelopidas,
having sufficiently tried their bravery at Tegyrae, where they had
fought alone and around his own person, never afterward divided
them, but, keeping them entire, and as one man, gave them the first
duty in the greatest battles. For as horses ran brisker in a chariot
than singly, not that their joint force divides the air with greater
ease, but because being matched one against the other emulation
kindles and inflames their courage; thus he thought brave men,
provoking one another to noble actions, would prove most
serviceable, and most resolute, where all were united together.
  Now when the Lacedaemonians had made peace with the other Greeks,
and united all their strength against the Thebans only, and their
king, Cleombrotus, had passed the frontier with ten thousand foot
and one thousand horse, and not only subjection, as heretofore, but
total dispersion and annihilation threatened, and Boeotia was in a
greater fear than ever- Pelopidas, leaving his house, when his wife
followed him on his way, and with tears begged him to be careful of
his life, made answer, "Private men, my wife, should be advised to
look to themselves, generals to save others." And when he came to
the camp, and found the chief captains disagreeing, he, first,
joined the side of Epaminondas, who advised to fight the enemy; though
Pelopidas himself was not then in office as chief captain of
Boeotia, but in command of the Sacred Band, and trusted as it was
fit a man should be, who had given his country such proofs of his zeal
for its freedom. And so when a battle was agreed on, and they encamped
in front of the Spartans at Leuctra, Pelopidas saw a vision, which
much discomposed him. In that plain lie the bodies of the daughters of
one Scedasus, called from the place Leuctridae, having been buried
there after having been ravished by some Spartan strangers. When
this base and lawless deed was done, and their father could get no
satisfaction at Lacedaemon, with bitter imprecations on the
Spartans, he killed himself at his daughters' tombs: and from that
time the prophecies and oracles still warned them to have a great care
of the divine vengeance at Leuctra. Many, however, did not
understand the meaning, being uncertain about the place, because there
was a little maritime town of Laconia called Leuctron, and near
Megalopolis in Arcadia a place of the same name; and the villainy
was committed long before this battle.
  Now Pelopidas, being asleep in the camp, thought he saw the
maidens weeping about their tombs, and cursing the Spartans, and
Scedasus commanding, if they desired the victory, to sacrifice a
virgin with chestnut hair to his daughters. Pelopidas looked on this
as an harsh and impious injunction, but rose and told it to the
prophets and commanders of the army, some of whom contended that it
was fit to obey, and adduced as examples from the ancients, Menoeceus,
son of Creon; Macaria, daughter of Hercules; and from later times,
Pherecydes the philosopher, slain by the Lacedaemonians, and his skin,
as the oracles advised, still kept by their kings. Leonidas, again,
warned by the oracle, did as it were sacrifice himself for the good of
Greece; Themistocles offered human victims to Bacchus Omestes,
before the engagement at Salamis; and success showed their actions
to be good. On the contrary, Agesilaus, going from the same place, and
against the same enemies that Agamemnon did, and being commanded in
a dream at Aulis to sacrifice his daughter, was so weak as to disobey;
the consequence of which was, that his expedition was unsuccessful and
inglorious. But some on the other side urged that such a barbarous and
impious obligation could not be pleasing to any Superior Beings;
that typhons and giants did not preside over the world, but the
general father of gods and men; that it was absurd to imagine any
divinities or powers delighted in slaughter and sacrifices of men; or,
if there were such, they were to be neglected as weak and unable to
assist; such unreasonable and cruel desires could only proceed from,
and live in, weak and depraved minds.
  The commanders thus disputing, and Pelopidas being in a great
perplexity, a mare colt breaking from the herd, ran through the
camp, and when she came to the place where they were stood still;
and whilst some admired her bright chestnut colour, others her mettle,
or the strength and fury of her neighing, Theocritus, the augur,
took thought, and cried out to Pelopidas, "O good friend! look, the
sacrifice is come; expect no other virgin, but use that which the gods
have sent thee." With that they took the colt, and, leading her to the
maidens' sepulchres, with the usual solemnity and prayers, offered her
with joy, and spread through the whole army the account of Pelopidas's
dream, and how they had given the required sacrifice.
  In the battle, Epaminondas, bending his phalanx to the left, that,
as much as possible, he might divide the right wing, composed of
Spartans, from the other Greeks, and distress Cleombrotus by a
fierce charge in column on that wing, the enemies perceived the
design, and began to change their order, to open and extend their
right wing, and, as they far exceeded him in number, to encompass
Epaminondas. But Pelopidas with the three hundred came rapidly up,
before Cleombrotus could extend his line, and close up his
divisions, and so fell upon the Spartans while in disorder; though the
Lacedaemonians, the expertest and most practised soldiers of all
mankind, used to train and accustom themselves to nothing so much as
to keep themselves from confusion upon any change of position, and
to follow any leader, or right-hand man, and form in order, and
fight on what part soever dangers press. In this battle, however,
Epaminondas with his phalanx, neglecting the other Greeks, and
charging them alone, and Pelopidas coming up with such incredible
speed and fury, so broke their courage and baffled their art that
there began such a flight and slaughter amongst the Spartans as was
never before known. And so Pelopidas, though in no high office, but
only captain of a small band, got as much reputation by the victory as
Epaminondas, who was general and chief captain of Boeotia.
  Into Peloponnesus, however, they both advanced together as
colleagues in supreme command, and gained the greater part of the
nations there from the Spartan confederacy; Elis, Argos, all
Arcadia, and much of Laconia itself. It was the dead of winter, and
but few of the last days of the month remained, and, in the
beginning of the next, few officers were to succeed, and whoever
failed to deliver up his charge forfeited his head. Therefore, the
other chief captains fearing the law, and to avoid the sharpness of
the winter, advised a retreat. But Pelopidas joined with
Epaminondas, and, encouraging his countrymen, led them against Sparta,
and, passing the Eurotas, took many of the towns, and wasted the
country as far as the sea. This army consisted of seventy thousand
Greeks, of which number the Thebans could not make the twelfth part;
but the reputation of the men made all their allies contented to
follow them as leaders, though no articles to that effect had been
made. For, indeed, it seems the first and paramount law, that he
that wants a defender is naturally a subject to him that is able to
defend: as mariners, though in a calm or in the port they grow
insolent, and brave the pilot, yet when a storm comes, and danger is
at hand, they all attend, and put their hopes in him. So the
Argives, Eleans, and Arcadians, in their congresses, would contend
with the Thebans for superiority in command, yet in a battle, or any
hazardous undertaking, of their own will followed their Theban
captains. In this expedition they united all Arcadia into one body,
and expelling the Spartans that inhabited Messenia, they called back
the old Messenians, and established them in Ithome in one body;-
and, returning through Cenchreae, they dispersed the Athenians, who
designed to set upon them in the straits, and hinder their march.
  For these exploits, all the other Greeks loved their courage and
admired their success; but among their own citizens, envy, still
increasing with their glory, prepared them no pleasing nor agreeable
reception. Both were tried for their lives, because they did not
deliver up their command in the first month, Bucatius, as the law
required, but kept it four months longer, in which time they did these
memorable actions in Messenia, Arcadia, and Laconia. Pelopidas was
first tried, and therefore in greatest danger, but both were
acquitted. Epaminondas bore the accusation and trial very patiently,
esteeming it a great and essential part of courage and generosity
not to resent injuries in political life. But Pelopidas, being a man
of a fiercer temper, and stirred on by his friends to revenge the
affront, took the following occasion. Meneclidas, the orator, was
one of those that had met with Melon and Pelopidas at Charon's
house; but not receiving equal honour, and being powerful in his
speech, but loose in his manners, and ill-natured, he abused his
natural endowments, even after this trial, to accuse and calumniate
his betters. He excluded Epaminondas from the chief captaincy, and for
a long time kept the upper hand of him, but he was not powerful enough
to bring Pelopidas out of the people's favour, and therefore
endeavoured to raise a quarrel between him and Charon. And since it is
some comfort to the envious to make those men, whom themselves
cannot excel, appear worse than others, he studiously enlarged upon
Charon's actions in his speeches to the people, and made panegyrics on
his expeditions and victories; and, of the victory which the
horsemen won at Plataea, before the battle at Leuctra, under
Charon's command, he endeavoured to make the following sacred
memorial. Androcydes, the Cyzicenian, had undertaken to paint a
previous battle for the city, and was at work in Thebes: and when
the revolt began, and the war came on, the Thebans kept the picture
that was then almost finished. This picture Meneclidas persuaded
them to dedicate, inscribed with Charon's name, designing by that
means to obscure the glory of Epaminondas and Pelopidas. This was a
ludicrous piece of pretension, to set a single victory, where only one
Gerandas, an obscure Spartan, and forty more were slain, above such
numerous and important battles. This motion Pelopidas opposed, as
contrary to law, alleging that it was not the custom of the Thebans to
honour any single man, but to attribute the victory to their
country; yet in all the contest he extremely commended Charon, and
confined himself to showing Meneclidas to be a troublesome and envious
fellow, asking the Thebans, if they had done nothing that was
excellent insomuch that Meneclidas was severely fined; and he, being
unable to pay, endeavoured afterwards to disturb the government. These
things give us some light into Pelopidas's life.
  Now when Alexander, the tyrant of Pherae, made open war against some
of the Thessalians, and had designs against all, the cities sent an
embassy to Thebes, to desire succours and a general; and Pelopidas,
knowing that Epaminondas was detained by the Peloponnesian affairs,
offered himself to lead the Thessalians, being unwilling to let his
courage and skill lie idle, and thinking it unfit that Epaminondas
should be withdrawn from his present duties. When he came into
Thessaly with his army, he presently took Larissa, and endeavoured
to reclaim Alexander, who submitted, and bring him, from being a
tyrant, to govern gently, and according to law; but finding him
untractable and brutish, and hearing great complaints of his lust
and cruelty, Pelopidas began to be severe, and used him roughly,
insomuch that the tyrant stole away privately with his guard. But
Pelopidas, leaving the Thessalians fearless of the tyrant, and friends
amongst themselves, marched into Macedonia, where Ptolemy was then
at war with Alexander the King of Macedon; both parties having sent
for him to hear and determine their differences, and assist the one
that appeared injured. When he came, he reconciled them, calling
back the exiles; and receiving for hostages Philip the king's brother,
and thirty children of the nobles, he brought them to Thebes;
showing the other Greeks how wide a reputation the Thebans had
gained for honesty and courage. This was that Philip who afterwards
endeavoured to enslave the Greeks; then he was a boy, lived with
Pammenes in Thebes; and hence some conjecture that he took
Epaminondas's actions for the rule of his own; and perhaps, indeed, he
did take example from his activity and skill in war, which, however,
was but a small portion of his virtues; of his temperance, justice,
generosity, and mildness, in which he was truly great, Philip
enjoyed no share either by nature or imitation.
  After this, upon a second complaint of the Thessalians against
Alexander of Pherae, as a disturber of the cities, Pelopidas was
joined with Ismenias, in an embassy to him; but led no forces from
Thebes not expecting any war, and therefore was necessitated to make
use of the Thessalians upon the emergency. At the same time, also,
Macedon was in confusion again, as Ptolemy had murdered the king,
and seized the government: but the king's friends sent for
Pelopidas, and he being willing to interpose in the matter, but having
no soldiers of his own, enlisted some mercenaries in that country, and
with them marched against Ptolemy. When they faced one another Ptolemy
corrupted these mercenaries with a sum of money, and persuaded them to
revolt to him; but yet fearing the very name and reputation of
Pelopidas, he came to him as his superior, submitted, begged his
pardon, and protested that he kept the government only for the
brothers of the dead king, and would prove a friend to the friends,
and an enemy to the enemies of Thebes; and, to confirm this, he gave
his son, Philoxenus, and fifty of his companions, for hostages.
These Pelopidas sent to Thebes; but he himself, being vexed at the
treachery of the mercenaries, and understanding that most of their
goods, their wives, and children lay at Pharsalus, so that if he could
take them the injury would be sufficiently revenged, got together some
of the Thessalians, and marched to Pharsalus. When he just entered the
city, Alexander, the tyrant, appeared before it with an army; but
Pelopidas and his friends, thinking that he came to clear himself from
those crimes that were laid to his charge, went to him; and though
they knew very well that he was profligate and cruel, yet they
imagined that the authority of Thebes, and their own dignity and
reputation, would secure them from violence. But the tyrant, seeing
them come unarmed and alone, seized them, and made himself master of
Pharsalus. Upon this his subjects were much intimidated, thinking that
after so great and so bold an iniquity he would spare none, but behave
himself toward all, and in all matters, as one despairing of his life.
  The Thebans, when they heard of this, were very much enraged, and
despatched an army, Epaminondas being then in disgrace, under the
command of other leaders. When the tyrant brought Pelopidas to Pherae,
at first he permitted those that desired it to speak with him,
imagining that this disaster would break his spirit, and make him
appear contemptible. But when Pelopidas advised the complaining
Pheraeans to be comforted, as if the tyrant was now certain in a short
time to smart for his injuries, and sent to tell him, "that it was
absurd daily to torment and murder his wretched innocent subjects, and
yet spare him, who, he well knew, if ever he got his liberty, would be
bitterly revenged;" the tyrant, wondering at his boldness and
freedom of speech, replied, "And why is Pelopidas in haste to die?"
He, hearing of it, rejoined, "That you may be the sooner ruined, being
then more hated by the gods than now." From that time he forbade any
to converse with him; but Thebe, the daughter of Jason and wife to
Alexander, hearing from the keepers of the bravery and noble behaviour
of Pelopidas, had a great desire to see and speak with him. Now when
she came into the prison, and, as a woman, could not at once discern
his greatness in his calamity, only judging by the meanness of his
attire and general appearance, that he was used basely and not
befitting a man of his reputation, she wept. Pelopidas, at first not
knowing who she was, stood amazed; but when he understood, saluted her
by her father's name- Jason and he having been friends and
familiars- and she saying, "I pity your wife, sir," he replied, "And I
you, that though not in chains, can endure Alexander." This touched
the woman, who already hated Alexander for his cruelty and
injustice, for his general debaucheries, and for his abuse of her
youngest brother. She, therefore, often went to Pelopidas, and,
speaking freely of the indignities she suffered, grew more enraged and
more exasperated against Alexander.
  The Theban generals that were sent into Thessaly did nothing, but,
being either unskillful or unfortunate, made a dishonourable
retreat, for which the city fined each of them ten thousand
drachmas, and sent Epaminondas with their forces. The Thessalians,
inspirited by the fame of this general, at once began to stir, and the
tyrant's affairs were at the verge of destruction; so great was the
fear that possessed his captains and his friends, and so eager the
desire of his subjects to revolt, in hope of his speedy punishment.
But Epaminondas, more solicitous for the safety of Pelopidas than
his own glory, and fearing that if things came to extremity
Alexander would grow desperate, and, like a wild beast, turn and worry
him, did not prosecute the war to the utmost; but, hovering still over
him with his army, he so handled the tyrant as not to leave him any
confidence, and yet not to drive him to despair and fury. He was aware
of his savageness, and the little value he had for right and
justice, insomuch that sometimes he buried men alive, and sometimes
dressed them in bears' and boars' skins, and then baited them with
dog, or shot at them for his divertisement. At Meliboea and
Scotussa, two cities, his allies, he called all the inhabitants to
an assembly, and then surrounded them and cut them to pieces with
his guards. He consecrated the spear with which he killed his uncle
Polyphron, and, crowning it with garlands, sacrificed to it as a
god, and called it Tychon. And once seeing a tragedian act Euripides's
Troades, he left the theatre; but sending for the actor, bade him
not to be concerned at his departure, but act as he had been used to
do, as it was not in contempt of him that he departed, but because
he was ashamed that his citizens should see him, who never pitied
any man that he murdered, weep at the sufferings of Hecuba and
Andromache. This tyrant, however alarmed at the very name, report, and
appearance of an expedition under the conduct of Epaminondas,
presently-

         "Dropped like a craven cock his conquered wing."

and sent an embassy to entreat and offer satisfaction. Epaminondas
refused to admit such a man as an ally to the Thebans, but granted him
a truce of thirty days, and Pelopidas and Ismenias being delivered up,
returned home.
  Now the Thebans, understanding that the Spartans and Athenians had
sent an embassy to the Persians for assistance, themselves,
likewise, sent Pelopidas; an excellent design to increase his glory,
no man having ever before passed through the dominions of the king
with greater fame and reputation. For the glory that he won against
the Spartans did not creep slowly or obscurely; but, after the fame of
the first battle at Leuctra was gone abroad, the report of new
victories continually following, exceedingly increased, and spread his
celebrity far and near. Whatever satraps or generals or commanders
he met, he was the object of their wonder and discourse. "This is
the man," they said, "who hath beaten the Lacedaemonians from sea
and land, and confined that Sparta within Taygetus and Eurotas, which,
but a little before, under the conduct of Agesilaus, was entering upon
a war with the great king about Susa and Ecbatana." This pleased
Artaxerxes, and he was the more inclined to show Pelopidas attention
and honour, being desirous to seem reverenced, and attended by the
greatest. But when he saw him and heard his discourse, more solid than
the Athenians, and not so haughty as the Spartans, his regard was
heightened, and, truly acting like a king, he openly showed the
respect that he felt for him; and this the other ambassadors
perceived. Of all other Greeks he had been thought to have done
Antalcidas, the Spartan, the greatest honour, by sending him that
garland dipped in an unguent, which he himself had worn at an
entertainment. Indeed, he did not deal so delicately with Pelopidas,
but, according to the custom, gave him the most splendid and
considerable presents, and granted him his desires- that the
Grecians should be free, Messenia inhabited, and the Thebans accounted
the king's hereditary friends. With these answers, but not accepting
one of the presents, except what was a pledge of kindness and
good-will, he returned. This behaviour of Pelopidas ruined the other
ambassadors; the Athenians condemned and executed their Timagoras,
and, indeed, if they did it for receiving so many presents from the
king, their sentence was just and good; as he not only took gold and
silver, but a rich bed, and slaves to make it, as if the Greeks were
unskillful in that art; besides eighty cows and herdsmen, professing
he needed cows' milk for some distemper; and, lastly, he was carried
in a litter to the seaside, with a present of four talents for his
attendants. But the Athenians, perhaps, were not so much irritated
at his greediness for the presents. For Epicrates the
baggage-carrier not only confessed to the people that he had
received gifts from the king, but made a motion, that instead of
nine archons, they should yearly choose nine poor citizens to be
sent ambassadors to the king, and enriched by his presents, and the
people only laughed at the joke. But they were vexed that the
Thebans obtained their desires, never considering that Pelopidas's
fame was more powerful than all their rhetorical discourse, with a man
who still inclined to the victorious in arms. This embassy, having
obtained the restitution of Messenia, and the freedom of the other
Greeks, got Pelopidas a great deal of good-will at his return.
  At this time, Alexander the Pheraean falling back to his old nature,
and having seized many of the Thessalian cities, and put garrisons
upon the Achaeans of Phthiotis, and the Magnesians, the cities,
hearing that Pelopidas was returned, sent an embassy to Thebes
requesting succours, and him for their leader. The Thebans willingly
granted their desire; and now when all things were prepared, and the
general beginning to march, the sun was eclipsed, and darkness
spread over the city at noonday. Now when Pelopidas saw them
startled at the prodigy, he did not think it fit to force on men who
were afraid and out of heart, nor to hazard seven thousand of his
citizens; and therefore with only three hundred horse volunteers,
set forward himself to Thessaly, much against the will of the augurs
and his fellow-citizens in general, who all imagined this marked
portent to have reference to this great man. But he was heated against
Alexander for the injuries he had received, and hoped likewise, from
the discourse which formerly he had with Thebe, that his family by
this time was divided and in disorder. But the glory of the expedition
chiefly excited him; for he was extremely desirous at this time,
when the Lacedaemonians were sending out military officers to assist
Dionysius the Sicilian tyrant, and the Athenians took Alexander's pay,
and honoured him with a brazen statue as a benefactor, that the
Thebans should be seen, alone, of all the Greeks, undertaking the
cause of those who were oppressed by tyrants, and destroying the
violent and illegal forms of government in Greece.
  When Pelopidas was come to Pharsalus, he formed an army, and
presently marched against Alexander; and Alexander understanding
that Pelopidas had few Thebans with him, and that his own infantry was
double the number of the Thessalians, faced him at Thetidium. Some one
told Pelopidas, "The tyrant meets us with a great army;" "So much
the better," he replied, "for then we shall overcome the more."
Between the two armies lay some steep high hills about
Cynoscephalae, which both parties endeavoured to take by their foot.
Pelopidas commanded his horse, which were good and many, to charge
that of the enemies; they routed and pursued them through the plain.
But Alexander meantime took the hills, and charging the Thessalian
foot that came up later, and strove to climb the steep and craggy
ascent, killed the foremost, and the others, much distressed, could do
the enemies no harm. Pelopidas, observing this, sounded a retreat to
his horse, and gave orders that they should charge the enemies that
kept their ground; and he himself, taking his shield, quickly joined
those that fought about the hills, and advancing to the front,
filled his men with such courage and alacrity, that the enemies
imagined they came with other spirits and other bodies to the onset.
They stood two or three charges, but finding these come on stoutly,
and the horse, also, returning from the pursuit, gave ground, and
retreated in order. Pelopidas now perceiving, from the rising
ground, that the enemy's army was, though not yet routed, full of
disorder and confusion, stood and looked about for Alexander; and when
he saw him in the right wing, encouraging and ordering his
mercenaries, he could not moderate his anger, but inflamed at the
sight, and blindly following his passion, regardless alike of his
own life and his command, advanced far before his soldiers, crying out
and challenging the tyrant who did not dare to receive him, but
retreating, hid himself amongst his guard. The foremost of the
mercenaries that came hand to hand were driven back by Pelopidas,
and some killed; but many at a distance shot through his armour and
wounded him, till the Thessalians, in anxiety for the result, ran down
the hill to his relief, but found him already slain. The horse came up
also, and routed the phalanx, and following the pursuit a great way
filled the whole country with the slain, which were above three
thousand.
  No one can wonder that the Thebans then present should show great
grief at the death of Pelopidas, calling him their father,
deliverer, and instructor in all that was good and commendable. But
the Thessalians and the allies, outdoing in their public edicts all
the just honours that could be paid to human courage, gave, in their
display of feeling, yet stronger demonstrations of the kindness they
had for him. It is stated that none of the soldiers, when they heard
of his death, would put off their armour, unbridle their horses, or
dress their wounds, but still hot and with their arms on, ran to the
corpse, and, as if he had been yet alive and could see what they
did, heaped up spoils about his body. They cut off their horses' manes
and their own hair, many kindled no fire in their tents, took no
supper, and silence and sadness was spread over all the army; as if
they had not gained the greatest and most glorious victory, but were
overcome by the tyrant and enslaved. As soon as it was known in the
cities, the magistrates, youths, children, and priests came out to
meet the body, and brought trophies, crowns, and suits of golden
armour; and, when he was to be interred, the elders of the Thessalians
came and begged the Thebans that they might give the funeral; and
one of them said, "Friends, we ask a favour of you, that will prove
both an honour and comfort to us in this our great misfortune. The
Thessalians shall never again wait on the living Pelopidas, shall
never give honours of which he can be sensible, but if we may have his
body, adorn his funeral, and inter him, we shall hope to show that
we esteem his death a greater loss to the Thessalians than to the
Thebans. You have lost only a good general, we both a general and
our liberty. For how shall we dare to desire from you another captain,
since we cannot restore Pelopidas?"
  The Thebans granted their request, and there was never a more
splendid funeral in the opinion of those who do not think the glory of
such solemnities consists only in gold, ivory, and purple; as
Philistus did, who extravagantly celebrates the funeral of
Dionysius, in which his tyranny concluded like the pompous exit of
some great tragedy. Alexander the Great, at the death of
Hephaestion, not only cut off the manes of his horses and his mules,
but took down the battlements from the city walls, that even the towns
might seem mourners, and instead of their former beauteous appearance,
look bald at his funeral. But such honours, being commanded and forced
from the mourners, attended with feelings of jealousy towards those
who received them, and of hatred towards those who exacted them,
were no testimonies of love and respect, but of the barbaric pride,
luxury, and insolence of those who lavished their wealth in these vain
and undesirable displays. But that a man of common rank, dying in a
strange country, neither his wife, children, nor kinsmen present, none
either asking or compelling it, should be attended, buried, and
crowned by so many cities that strove to exceed one another in the
demonstrations of their love, seems to be the sum and completion of
happy fortune. For the death of happy men is not, as Aesop observes,
most grievous, but most blessed, since it secures their felicity,
and puts it out of fortune's power. And that Spartan advised well,
who, embracing Diagoras, that had himself been crowned in the
Olympic Games, and saw his sons and grandchildren victors, said, "Die,
Diagoras, for thou canst not be a god." And yet who would compare
all the victories in the Pythian and Olympian Games put together
with one of those enterprises of Pelopidas, of which he successfully
performed so many? Having spent his life in brave and glorious
actions, he died at last in the chief command, for the thirteenth
time, of the Boeotians, fighting bravely and in the act of slaying a
tyrant, in defence of the liberty of the Thessalians.
  His death, as it brought grief, so likewise it produced advantage to
the allies; for the Thebans, as soon as they heard of his fall,
delayed not their revenge, but presently sent seven thousand foot
and seven hundred horse, under the command of Malcitas and Diogiton.
And they, finding Alexander weak and without forces, compelled him
to restore the cities he had taken, to withdraw his garrisons from the
Magnesians and Achaeans of Phthiotis, and swear to assist the
Thebans against whatsoever enemies they should require. This contented
the Thebans, but punishment overtook the tyrant for his wickedness,
and the death of Pelopidas was revenged by Heaven in the following
manner. Pelopidas, as I have already mentioned, had taught his wife
Thebe not to fear the outward splendour and show of the tyrant's
defences, since she was admitted within them. She, of herself, too,
dreaded his inconstancy, and hated his cruelty; and therefore,
conspiring with her three brothers, Tisiphonus, Pytholaus, and
Lycophron, made the following attempt upon him. All other apartments
were full of the tyrant's night guards, but their bed-chamber was an
upper room, and before the door lay a chained dog to guard it, which
would fly at all but the tyrant and his wife and one servant that
fed him. When Thebe, therefore, designed to kill her husband, she
hid her brothers all day in a room hard by, and she, going in alone,
according to her usual custom, to Alexander, who was asleep already,
in a little time came out again, and commanded the servant to lead
away the dog, for Alexander wished to rest quietly. She covered the
stairs with wool, that the young men might make no noise as they
came up; and then, bringing up her brothers with their weapons, and
leaving them at the chamber door, she went in, and brought away the
tyrant's sword that hung over his head, and showed it them for
confirmation that he was fast asleep. The young men appearing fearful,
and unwilling to do the murder, she chid them, and angrily vowed she
would wake Alexander and discover the conspiracy; and so, with a
lamp in her hand, she conducted them in, they being both ashamed and
afraid, and brought them to the bed; when one of them caught him by
the feet, the other pulled him backwards by the hair, and the third
ran him through. The death was more speedy, perhaps, than was fit;
but, in that he was the first tyrant that was killed by the
contrivance of his wife, and as his corpse was abused, thrown out, and
trodden under foot by the Pheraeans, he seems to have suffered what
his villainies deserved.


                           THE END