allowed nothing.—Great power of the Spartans—they take revenge upon those who had displeased them—their invasion of Elis.—The Spartan king Agis invades the Eleian territory. He retires from it immediately in consequence of an earthquake.—Second invasion of Elis by Agis—he marches through Triphylia and Olympia; victorious march, with much booty.—Insurrection of the oligarchical party in Elis—they are put down.—The Eleians are obliged to submit to hard terms of peace.—Sparta refuses to restore the Pisatans to the Olympic presidency.—Triumphant position of Sparta—she expels the Messenians from Peloponnesus and its neighborhood. 181-229 CHAPTER LXXIII. AGESILAUS KING OF SPARTA.—THE CORINTHIAN WAR. Triumphant position of Sparta at the close of the war—introduction of a large sum of gold and silver by Lysander—opposed by some of the Ephors.—The introduction of money was only one among a large train of corrupting circumstances which then became operative on Sparta.—Contrast between Sparta in 432 B.C., and Sparta after 404 B.C.—Increase of peculation, inequality, and discontent at Sparta.—Testimonies of Isokrates and Xenophon to the change of character and habits at Sparta.—Power of Lysander—his arrogance and ambitious projects—flattery lavished upon him by sophists and poets.—Real position of the kings at Sparta.—His intrigues to make himself king at Sparta—he tries in vain to move the oracles in his favor—scheme laid for the production of sacred documents, as yet lying hidden, by a son of Apollo.—His aim at the kingship fails—nevertheless he still retains prodigious influence at Sparta.—Death of Agis, king of Sparta—doubt as to the legitimacy of his son Leotychides. Agesilaus, seconded by Lysander, aspires to the throne.—Character of Agesilaus.—Conflicting pretensions of Agesilaus and Leotychides.—Objection taken against Agesilaus on the ground of his lameness,—oracle produced by Diopeithes—eluded by the interpretation of Lysander.—Agesilaus is preferred as king—suspicions which always remained attached to Lysander’s interpretation.—Popular conduct of Agesilaus—he conciliates the ephors—his great influence at Sparta—his energy, combined with unscrupulous partisanship.—Dangerous conspiracy at Sparta—terror-striking sacrifices.—Character and position of the chief conspirator Kinadon—state of parties at Sparta—increasing number of malcontents.—Police of the ephors—information laid before them.—Wide-spread discontent reckoned upon by the conspirators.—Alarm of the ephors—their manœuvres for apprehending Kinadon privately.—Kinadon is seized, interrogated, and executed—his accomplices are arrested, and the conspiracy broken up.—Dangerous discontent indicated at Sparta.—Proceedings of Derkyllidas and Pharnabazus in Asia.—Persian preparations for reviving the maritime war against Sparta—renewed activity