The Lacedemonians seem, on this occasion, to have displayed more than their usual tardiness. They did not rouse themselves till some weeks after the expul-' sion of their adherents from the Pirxus. Then, how ever, Lysander marched with a formidable force, which Athens could not long have resisted, had not divisions arisen among the Spartan chiefs. All par ties in Sparta had become jealous of the overgrown power and influence of Lysander ; and Pausanias, one of the kings, having been joined with him in the com mand, thwarted all his measures. Through the in fluence of this monarch, a negotiation was set on foot, which terminated in the removal of the Lacedemo nian garrison, and the complete re-establishment of the independence of Athens. The tyrants vainly en deavoured to defend themselves in Eleusis ; they were speedily reduced ; several suffered, and the rest were spared by the clemency of Thrasybulus.
The Athenians were not long of making an ill use of their liberty, by the condemnation and death of Socrates, the best and wisest of their citizens. For the particulars of this event, we must refer to the of that great man.
Athens had often astonished Greece by the rapi dity with which she rose from her ashes ; but never was this elastic power more conspicuous than on the present occasion. Conon, of whom mention has al ready been made, was the chief artificer of her new greatness. Having formed an alliance with Evagoras of Cyprus, and with the Persian court, he was enabled to collect a formidable navy. With this he attacked the Lacedemonian fleet at Cnidus, under the command of Pisander, totally defeated it, and took 50 gallies. The maritime superiority of Athens was now restored, and the fine settlements on the coast of the Lesser Asia, accessible only by sea, were soon reduced again under her dominion.
Conon now returned to Athens, and with the aids of Persian treasure, actively employed himself in re building the walls, without which she could never have enjoyed any lasting security. This measure, joined to the successes of the Athenians, struck Spar ta with alarm. She now endeavoured to reconcile herself with Persia, against whom she had for some time been waging a successful way. Her intrigues were forwarded by the conduct of Conon, who, as was too common among the Grecian states, preferring patriotism to justice, employed the Persian fleet al-' most wholly in forwarding Athenian objects. Through the skilful mediation of Antalcidas, Lacedemon con cluded that treaty which goes by his name. By it she ignominiously abandoned to Persia the colonies of the Lesser Asia, which had now become, in her eyes, a secondary object. With regard to Greece, she sti pulated for the freedom of the smaller cities ; but by never executing this article herself, and only insisting on its being executed by others, she made it the means of rendering her authority paramount in Greece. Athens, however, being allowed also to retain her possessions, made no movement.
Sparta now proceeded under the guidance of Age silaus, to extend her usurpations over the states of Greece. Mantinea and Thebes, the two most power ful states next to Athens, were subdued, the one by force, the other by stratagem. Thebes, however, under the auspices of Pelopidas, soon re-asserted her independence, and began a career of success, which set bounds to Spartan encroachment. Athens, how
ever, did not interfere, till one Sphodrias, a Spartan officer, secretly instigated by the Theban chiefs, made an attempt to surprise the Pirxus. His project was discovered and frustrated ; but when the Athenians demanded satisfaction, the influence of Agesilaus screened the offender from punishment. Athens then took up arms, and, while the Thebans were carrying on the war by land, obtained important naval advan. tagei. Under the conduct of their distinguished leaders, Chabrias and Timotheus, they repeatedly de feated the Lacedemonians, ravaged their coasts, and re-established their own influence over the maritime states. After, however, the battle of Leuctra had raised Thebes to the highest pitch of power, and re duced her rival to the utmost distress, the Athenians, jealous of this new influence, began to slacken their efforts, and at length were even iriduced to interfere in behalf of Lacedemon. An army, sent into Pelo ponnesus under the command of Iphicrates, compelled the Thebans to retreat into Bccotia. Their prompti tude also frustrated an attempt made by Epaminon das to supplant them in the dominion of the sea. A body of Athenian cavalry vas present at the battle of Mantinea, and though the rest of the allied army. ere defeated, this part was victorious.
Thebes and Sparta being now worn out by mu tual contests, Athens, which had for some time act ed only a subordinate part, again rose to be the lead ing power in Greece. There were many circum stances, however, in her internal constitution, which kept her far beneath the level of her ancient great.. 'less. The democracy had now acquired a complete and uncontrouled ascendency ; the preceding convul sions had annihilated all the former checks on its li centiousness. The most worthless demagogues held the chief sway; the levity, characteristic of a popular assemby, had risen to such a height, that a measure decreed was almost as uncertain as if it had never been proposed. They retained all their former enterprizing and ambitious character, but were no longer disposed to employ the same means of render ing their resolutions effectual.' The bearing of arms was now considered as a.burdensome duty : " the so vereign people," says Mr Mitford, " more and more dispensed with their own services." Metics (a mix ed race between freemen and slaves) and foreign mer; cenaries, were soon exclusively employed in the army ; and though the sea service, formerly the least ho nourable, was now preferred on account of its oppor tunities of plunder, yet it gradually fell into the same hands. Such troops, acting without any mo; tive to animate them or secure their fidelity, did no honour to the Athenian name. Athens, indeed, even in her last decline, was still fruitful of great men, but these were resorted to.only on pressing emergencies ; at all other times, the command was vested in those who could best flatter the passions of the people. In the better times of the republic, the same person had united the characters of orator and general ,• these were now separated ; and every commander had an orator attached to him, who supported his interest in the popular assembly.