a smaller history of greece-第35部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　B。C。）　Conon；　with　the　assistance　of　Pharnabazus；　had　succeeded　in　raising　a　powerful　fleet；　partly　Phoenician　and　partly　Grecian；　with　which　he　either　destroyed　or　captured　more　than　half　of　the　Lacedaemonian　fleet。　　Agesilaus；　fearing　the　impression　which　such　sad　news　might　produce　upon　his　men；　gave　out　that　the　Lacedaemonian　fleet　had　gained　a　victory；　and；　having　offered　sacrifice　as　if　for　a　victory；　he　ordered　an　advance。

Agesilaus　soon　came　up　with　the　confederate　army；　which　had　prepared　to　oppose　him　in　the　plain　of　Coronea。　　The　Thebans　succeeded　in　driving　in　the　Orchomenians；　who　formed　the　left　wing　of　the　army　of　Agesilaus；　and　penetrated　as　far　as　the　baggage　in　the　rear。　　But　on　the　remainder　of　the　line　Agesilaus　was　victorious；　and　the　Thebans　now　saw　themselves　cut　off　from　their　companions；　who　had　retreated　and　taken　up　a　position　on　Mount　Helicon。　　Facing　about　and　forming　in　deep　and　compact　order；　the　Thebans　sought　to　rejoin　the　main　body；　but　they　were　opposed　by　Agesilaus　and　his　troops。　　The　shock　of　the　conflicting　masses　which　ensued　was　one　of　the　most　terrible　recorded　in　the　annals　of　Grecian　warfare。　　The　shields　of　the　foremost　ranks　were　shattered；　and　their　spears　broken；　so　that　daggers　became　the　only　available　arm。　　Agesilaus；　who　was　in　the　front　ranks；　unequal　by　his　size　and　strength　to　sustain　so　furious　an　onset；　was　flung　down；　trodden　on；　and　covered　with　wounds；　but　the　devoted　courage　of　the　50　Spartans　forming　his　body…guard　rescued　him　from　death。　　The　Thebans　finally　forced　their　may　through；　but　not　without　severe　loss。　　The　victory　of　Agesilaus　was　not　very　decisive；　but　the　Thebans　tacitly　acknowledged　their　defeat　by　soliciting　the　customary　truce　for　the　burial　of　their　dead。

Agesilaus；　on　his　arrival　at　Sparta；　was　received　with　the　most　lively　demonstrations　of　gratitude　and　esteem；　and　became　hence…　forward　the　sole　director　of　Spartan　policy。

Thus　in　less　than　two　months　the　Lacedaemonians　had　fought　two　battles　on　land；　and　one　at　sea；　namely；　those　of　Corinth；　Coronea；　and　Cnidus。　　But；　though　they　had　been　victorious　in　the　land　engagements；　they　were　so　little　decisive　as　to　lead　to　no　important　result；　whilst　their　defeat　at　Cnidus　produced　the　most　disastrous　consequences。　　It　was　followed　by　the　loss　of　nearly　all　their　maritime　empire；　even　faster　than　they　had　acquired　it　after　the　battle　of　AEgospotami。　　For　as　Conon　and　Pharnabazus　sailed　with　their　victorious　fleet　from　island　to　island；　and　from　port　to　port；　their　approach　was　everywhere　the　signal　for　the　flight　or　expulsion　of　the　Spartan　harmosts。

In　the　spring　of　the　following　year　（B。C。　393）　Conon　and　Pharnabazus　sailed　to　the　isthmus　of　Corinth；　then　occupied　as　a　central　post　by　the　allies。　　The　appearance　of　a　Persian　fleet　in　the　Saronic　gulf　was　a　strange　sight　to　Grecian　eyes；　and　one　which　might　have　served　as　a　severe　comment　on　the　effect　of　their　suicidal　wars。　　Conon　dexterously　availed　himself　of　the　hatred　of　Pharnabazus　towards　Sparta　to　procure　a　boon　for　his　native　city。　　As　the　satrap　was　on　the　point　of　proceeding　homewards；　Conon　obtained　leave　to　employ　the　seamen　in　rebuilding　the　fortifications　of　Piraeus　and　the　long　walls　of　Athens。　　Pharnabazus　also　granted　a　large　sum　for　the　same　purpose；　and　Conon　had　thus　the　glory　of　appearing；　like　a　second　Themistocles；　the　deliverer　and　restorer　of　his　country。　　Before　the　end　of　autumn　the　walls　were　rebuilt。　　Having　thus；　as　it　were；　founded　Athens　a　second　time；　Conon　sailed　to　the　islands　to　lay　again　the　foundations　of　an　Athenian　maritime　empire。

During　the　remainder　of　this　and　the　whole　of　the　following　year　（B。C。　392）　the　war　was　carried　on　in　the　Corinthian　territory。

One　of　the　most　important　events　at　this　time　was　the　destruction　of　a　whole　Lacedaemonian　MORA；　or　battalion；　by　the　light…armed　mercenaries　of　the　Athenian　Iphicrates。　　For　the　preceding　two　years　Iphicrates　had　commanded　a　body　of　mercenaries；　consisting　of　peltasts；　＇So　called　from　the　pelta；　or　kind　of　shield　which　they　carried。＇　　who　had　been　first　organised　by　Conon　after　rebuilding　the　walls　of　Athens。　　For　this　force　Iphicrates　introduced　those　improved　arms　and　tactics　which　form　an　epoch　in　the　Grecian　art　of　war。　　His　object　was　to　combine　as　far　as　possible　the　peculiar　advantages　of　the　hoplites　and　light…armed　troops。　　He　substituted　a　linen　corslet　for　the　coat　of　mail　worn　by　the　hoplites；　and　lessened　the　shield；　while　he　rendered　the　light　javelin　and　short　sword　of　the　peltasts　more　effective　by　lengthening　them　both　one…half　These　troops　soon　proved　very　effective。　　After　gaining　several　victories　he　ventured　to　make　a　sally　from　Corinth；　and　attacked　a　Lacedaemonian　mora　in　flank　and　rear。　　So　many　fell　under　the　darts　and　arrows　of　the　peltasts　that　the　Lacedaemonian　captain　called　a　halt；　and　ordered　the　youngest　and　most　active　of　his　hoplites　to　rush　forward　and　drive　off　the　assailants。　　But　their　heavy　arms　rendered　them　quite　unequal　to　such　a　mode　of　fighting；　nor　did　the　Lacedaemonian　cavalry；　which　now　came　up；　but　which　acted　with　very　little　vigour　and　courage；　produce　any　better　effect。　At　length　the　Lacedaemonians　succeeded　in　reaching　an　eminence；　where　they　endeavoured　to　make　a　stand；　but　at　this　moment　Callias　arrived　with　some　Athenian　hoplites　from　Corinth；　whereupon　the　already　disheartened　Lacedaemonians　broke　and　fled　in　confusion；　pursued　by　the　peltasts；　who　committed　such　havoc；　chasing　and　killing　some　of　them　even　in　the　sea；　that　but　very　few　of　the　whole　body　succeeded　in　effecting　their　escape。

The　maritime　war　was　prosecuted　with　vigour。　　Thrasybulus；　and　after　his　death　Iphicrates；　were　successful　upon　the　coast　of　Asia　Minor；　and　made　the　Athenians　again　masters　of　the　Hellespont。　　Under　these　circumstances　the　Lacedaemonians　resolved　to　spare　no　efforts　to　regain　the　good　will　of　the　Persians。　　Antalcidas；　the　Lacedaemonian　commander　on　the　Asiatic　coast；　entered　into　negotiations　with　Tiribazus；　who　had　succeeded　Tithraustes　in　the　satrapy　of　Ionia；　in　order　to　bring　about　a　general　peace　under　the　mediation　of　Persia。　　Conducted　by　Tiribazus；　Antalcidas　repaired　to　the　Persian　court；　and　prevailed　an　the　Persian　monarch　both　to　adopt　the　peace；　and　to　declare　war　against　those　who　should　reject　it。　　Antalcidas　and　Tiribazus　returned　to　the　coasts　of　Asia　Minor；　not　only　armed　with　these　powers；　but　provided　with　an　ample　force　to　carry　them　into　execution。　　In　addition　to　the　entire　fleet　of　Persia；　Dionysius　of　Syracuse　had　placed　20　triremes　at　the　service　of　the　Lacedaemonians；　and　Antalcidas　now　sailed　with　a　large　fleet　to　the　Hellespont；　where　Iphicrates　and　the　Athenians　were　still　predominant。　　The　overwhelming　force　of　Antalcidas；　the　largest　that　had　been　seen　in　the　Hellespont　since　the　battle　of　AEgospotami；　rendered　all　resistance　hopeless。　　The　supplies　of　corn　from　the　Euxine　no　longer　found　their　way　to　Athens：　　and　the　Athenians；　depressed　at　once　both　by　what　they　felt　and　by　what　they　anticipated；　began　to　long　for　peace。　　As　without　the　assistance　of　Athens　it　seemed　hopeless　for　the　other　allies　to　struggle　against　Sparta；　all　Greece　was　inclined　to　listen　to　an　accommodation。

Under　these　circumstances　deputies　from　the　Grecian　states　were　summoned　to　meet　Tiribazus；　who；　after　exhibiting　to　them　the　royal　seal　of　Persia；　read　to　them　the　following　terms　of　a　peace：　　〃King　Artaxerxes　thinks　it　just　that　the　cities　in　Asia　and　the　islands　of　Clazomenae　and　Cyprus　should　belong　to　him。　He　also　thinks　it　just　to　leave　all　the　other　Grecian　cities；　both　small　and　great；　independentexcept　Lemnos；　Imbros；　and　Scyros；　which　are　to　belong　to　Athens；　as　of　old。　　should　any　parties　refuse　to　accept　this　peace；　I　will　make　war　upon　them；　along　with　those　who　are　of　the　same　mind；　both　by　land　and　sea；　with　ships　and　with　money。〃　　All　the　Grecian　states　accepted　these　terms。

This　disgraceful　peace；　called　the　PEACE　OF　ANTALCIDAS；　was　concluded　in　the　year　B。C。　387。　　By　it　Greece　seemed　prostrated　at　the　feet　of　the　barbarians；　for　its　very　terms；　engraven　on　stone　and　set　up　in　the　sanctuaries　of　Greece；　recognised　the　Persian　king　as　the　arbiter　of　her　destinies。　　Although　Athens　cannot　be　entirely　exonerated　from　the　blame　of　this　transaction；　the　chief　guilt　rests　upon　Sparta；　whose　designs　were　far　deeper　and　more　hypocritical　than　they　appeared。　　Under　the　specious　pretext　of　securing　the　independence　of　the　Grecian　cities；　her　only　object　was　to　break　up　the　confederacies　under　Athens　and　Thebes；　and；　with　the　assistance　of　Persia；　to　pave　the　way　for　her　own　absolute　dominion　in　Greece。

No　sooner　was　the　peace　of　Antalcidas　concluded　than　Sparta；　directed　by　Agesilaus；　the　ever…active　enemy　of　Thebes；　exerted　all　her　power　to　weaken　that　city。　　She　began　by　proclaiming　the　independence　of　the　various　Boeotian　cities；　and　by　organizing　in　each　a　local　oligarchy；　adverse　to　Thebes　and　favourable　to　herself。　　Lacedaemonian　garrisons　were　placed　in　Orchomenus　and　Thespiae；　and　Plataea　was　restored　in　order　to　annoy　and　weaken　Thebes。　　Shortly　afterwards　the　Lacedaemonians　obtained　possession　of　Thebes　itself　by　an　act　of　shameful　treachery。　They　had　declared　war　against　Olynthus；　a　town　situated　at　the　head　of　the　Toronaic　gulf；　in　the　peninsula　of　the　Macedonian　Chalcidice；　the　head　of　a　powerful　confederation　which　included　several　of　the　adjacent　Grecian　cities。　　The　Thebans　had　entered　into　an　alliance　with　Olynthus；　and　had　forbidden　any　of　their　citizens　to　join　the　Lacedaemonian　army　destined　to　act　against　it；　but　they　were　not　strong　enough　to　prevent　its　marching　through　their　territory。　　Phoebidas；　who　was　conducting　a　Lacedaemonian　force　against　Olynthus；　halted　on　his　way　through　Boeotia　not　far　from　Thebes；　where　he　was　visited　by　Leontiades；　one　of　the　polemarchs　of　the　city；　and　two　or　three　other　leaders　of　the　Lacedaemonian　party　in　Thebes。　　It　happened　that　the　festival　of　the　Thesmophoria　was　on　the　point　of　being　celebrated；　during　which　the　Cadmea；　or　Theban　Acropolis；　was　given　up　for　the　exclusive　use　of　the　women。　　The　opportunity　seemed　favourable　for　a　surprise；　and　Leontiades　and　Phoebidas　concerted　a　plot　to　seize　it。　　Whilst　the　festival　was　ce