Not so much is here meant even as that which Dr. Arnold supposes.
There was no agreement at all, either in words or by oath. There
was a simple absence of hostilities, _de facto_, not arising out
of any recognized pledge. Such is the meaning of ἀνακωχὴ, i, 66;
iii, 25, 26.
The answer here made by the Athenians to the application of
Corinth is not easy to understand. They might, with much better
reason, have declined to conclude the ten day’s armistice with
the _Bœotians_, because these latter still remained allies of
Sparta, though refusing to accede to the general peace; whereas
the Corinthians, having joined Argos, had less right to be
considered allies of Sparta. Nevertheless, we shall still find
them attending the meetings at Sparta, and acting as allies of
the latter.
Meanwhile the Lacedæmonians were not unmindful of the affront which
they had sustained by the revolt of Mantineia and Elis. At the
request of a party among the Parrhasii, the Arcadian subjects of
Mantineia, they marched under king Pleistoanax into that territory,
and compelled the Mantineians to evacuate the fort which they had
erected within it; which the latter were unable to defend, though
they received a body of Argeian troops to guard their city, and
were thus enabled to march their whole force to the threatened
spot. Besides liberating the Arcadian subjects of Mantineia,
the Lacedæmonians also planted an additional body of Helots and
Neodamodes at Lepreum, as a defence and means of observation on
the frontiers of Elis.[31] These were the Brasidean soldiers, whom
Klearidas had now brought back from Thrace. The Helots among them had
been manumitted as a reward, and allowed to reside where they chose.
But as they had imbibed lessons of bravery under their distinguished
commander, their presence would undoubtedly be dangerous among the
serfs of Laconia: hence the disposition of the Lacedæmonians to
plant them out. We may recollect that not very long before, they
had caused two thousand of the most soldierly Helots to be secretly
assassinated, without any ground of suspicion against these victims
personally, but simply from fear of the whole body and of course
greater fear of the bravest.[32]
[31] Thucyd. v, 33, 34. The Neodamodes were Helots previously
enfranchised, or the sons of such.
[32] Thucyd. iv, 80.
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