would bring him (though till then kept in close prison, indeed for his
safety, the Helots being so animated against him as else he could not
have lived) and so taking their leave of him, Kalander, Clitophon,
Palladius, and the rest of the Arcadians swearing that they would no
further in any sort molest the Helots, they straightway marched out of
the town, carrying both their dead and wounded bodies with them; and
by morning were already within the limits of Arcadia.
The Helots of the other side shutting their gates, gave themselves to
bury their dead, to cure their wounds, and rest their wearied bodies;
till (the next day bestowing the cheerful use of the light upon them)
Daiphantus, making a general convocation spake unto them in this
manner: “We are first,” said he, “to thank the gods, that (further
than we had either cause to hope, {34} or reason to imagine) have
delivered us out of this gulf of danger, wherein we were already
swallowed. For all being lost (had they not directed my return so just
as they did), it had been too late to recover that, which being had,
we could not keep. And had I not happened to know one of the principal
men among them, by which means the truce began between us, you may
easily conceive what little reason we have to think but that either by
some supply out of Arcadia, or from the nobility of this country, (who
would have made fruits of wisdom grow out of this occasion) we should
have had our power turned to ruin, our pride to repentance and sorrow.
But now, the storm as it fell, so it ceased: and the error committed,
in retaining Clitophon more hardly than his age or quarrel deserved,
becomes a sharply learned experience, to use, in other times, more
moderation.
“Now have I to deliver unto you the conclusion between the kings with
the nobility of Lacedaemon and you; which is in all points as
ourselves desired: as well for that you would have granted, as for the
assurance of what is granted. The towns and forts you presently have,
are still left unto you, to be kept either with, or without garrison,
so as you alter not the laws of the country, and pay such duties as
the rest of the Laconians do; yourselves are made, by public decree,
freemen, and so capable both to give and receive voice in election of
magistrates. The distinction of names between Helots and
Lacedaemonians to be quite taken away, and all indifferently to enjoy
both names and privileges of Laconians. Your children to be brought up
with theirs in the Spartan discipline: and so you (framing yourselves
to be good members of that estate) to be hereafter fellows and no
longer servants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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