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trating a wrong； changed their minds； and drew off from the main army。 Then Demaratus； son of Ariston； who was himself king of Sparta and joint…leader of the expedition； and who till now had had no sort of quarrel with Cleomenes； followed their example。 On account of this rupture between the kings； a law was passed at Sparta； forbidding both monarchs to go out together with the army； as had been the custom hitherto。 The law also provided； that； as one of the kings was to be left behind； one of the Tyndaridae should also remain at home； whereas hitherto both had accompanied the expeditions； as auxiliaries。 So when the rest of the allies saw that the Lacedaemonian kings were not of one mind； and that the Corinthian troops had quitted their post； they likewise drew off and departed。 This was the fourth time that the Dorians had invaded Attica： twice they came as enemies； and twice they came to do good service to the Athenian people。 Their first invasion took place at the period when they founded Megara； and is rightly placed in the reign of Codrus at Athens； the second and third occasions were when they came from Sparta to drive out the Pisistratidae； the fourth was the present attack； when Cleomenes； at the head of a Peloponnesian army； entered at Eleusis。 Thus the Dorians had now four times invaded Attica。 So when the Spartan army had broken up from its quarters thus ingloriously； the Athenians； wishing to revenge themselves； marched first against the Chalcideans。 The Boeotians； however； advancing to the aid of the latter as far as the Euripus； the Athenians thought it best to attack them first。 A battle was fought accordingly； and the Athenians gained a very complete victory； killing a vast number of the enemy； and taking seven hundred of them alive。 After this； on the very same day； they crossed into Euboea； and engaged the Chalcideans with the like success； whereupon they left four thousand settlers upon the lands of the Hippobotae；… which is the name the Chalcideans give to their rich men。 All the Chalcidean prisoners whom they took were put in irons； and kept for a long time in close confinement； as likewise were the Boeotians； until the ransom asked for them was paid； and this the Athenians fixed at two minae the man。 The chains wherewith they were fettered the Athenians suspended in their citadel； where they were still to be seen in my day； hanging against the wall scorched by the Median flames； opposite the chapel which faces the west。 The Athenians made an offering of the tenth part of the ransom…money： and expended it on the brazen chariot drawn by four steeds； which stands on the left hand immediately that one enters the gateway of the citadel。 The inscription runs as follows：…
When Chalcis and Boeotia dared her might； Athens subdued their pride in valorous fight； Gave bonds for insults； and； the ransom paid； From the full tenths these steeds for Pallas made。
Thus did the Athenians increase in strength。 And it is plain enough； not from this instance only； but from many everywhere； that freedom is an excellent thing since even the Athenians； who； while they continued under the rule of tyrants； were not a whit more valiant than any of their neighbours； no sooner shook off the yoke than they became decidedly the first of all。 These things show that； while undergoing oppression； they let themselves be beaten； since then they worked for a master； but so soon as they got their freedom； each man was eager to do the best he could for himself。 So fared it now with the Athenians。 Meanwhile the Thebans； who longed to be revenged on the Athenians； had sent to the oracle； and been told by the Pythoness that of their own strength they would be unable to accomplish their wish： 〃they must lay the matter；〃 she said； 〃before the many…voiced； and ask the aid of those nearest them。〃 The messengers； therefore； on their return； called a meeting； and laid the answer of the oracle before the people； who no sooner heard the advice to 〃ask the aid of those nearest them〃 than they exclaimed… 〃What！ are not they who dwell the nearest to us the men of Tanagra； of Coronaea； and Thespiae？ Yet these men always fight on our side； and have aided us with a good heart all through the war。 Of what use is it to ask them？ But maybe this is not the true meaning of the oracle。〃 As they were thus discoursing one with another； a certain man； informed of the debate； cried out…〃Methinks that I understand what course the oracle would recommend to us。 Asopus； they say； had two daughters； Thebe and Egina。 The god means that； as these two were sisters； we ought to ask the Eginetans to lend us aid。〃 As no one was able to hit on any better explanation； the Thebans forthwith sent messengers to Egina； and； according to the advice of the oracle； asked their aid； as the people 〃nearest to them。〃 In answer to this petition the Eginetans said that they would give them the Aeacidae for helpers。 The Thebans now； relying on the assistance of the Aeacidae； ventured to renew the war； but they met with so rough a reception； that they resolved to send to the Eginetans again； returning the Aeacidae； and beseeching them to send some men instead。 The Eginetans； who were at that time a most flourishing people； elated with their greatness； and at the same time calling to mind their ancient feud with Athens； agreed to lend the Thebans aid； and forthwith went to war with the Athenians； without even giving them notice by a herald。 The attention of these latter being engaged by the struggle with the Boeotians； the Eginetans in their ships of war made descents upon Attica； plundered Phalerum； and ravaged a vast number of the townships upon the sea…board； whereby the Athenians suffered very grievous damage。 The ancient feud between the Eginetans and Athenians arose out of the following circumstances。 Once upon a time the land of Epidaurus would bear no crops； and the Epidaurians sent to consult the oracle of Delphi concerning their affliction。 The answer bade them set up the images of Damia and Auxesia； and promised them better fortune when that should be done。 〃Shall the images be made of bronze or stone？〃 the Epidaurians asked； but the Pythoness replied； 〃Of neither： but let them be made of the garden olive。〃 Then the Epidaurians sent to Athens and asked leave to cut olive wood in Attica； believing the Athenian olives to be the holiest； or； according to others； because there were no olives at that time anywhere else in all the world but at Athens。' The Athenians answered that they would give them leave； but on condition of their bringing offerings year by year to Minerva Polias and to Erechtheus。 The Epidaurians agreed； and having obtained what they wanted； made the images of olive wood； and set them up in their own country。 Henceforth their land bore its crops； and they duly paid the Athenians what had been agreed upon。 Anciently； and even down to the time when this took place； the Eginetans were in all things subject to the Epidaurians； and had to cross over to Epidaurus for the trial of all suits in which they were engaged one with another。 After this； however； the Eginetans built themselves ships； and； growing proud； revolted from the Epidaurians。 Having thus come to be at enmity with them； the Eginetans； who were masters of the sea； ravaged Epidaurus； and even carried off these very images of Damia and Auxesia； which they set up in their own country； in the interior； at a place called Oea； about twenty furlongs from their city。 This done； they fixed a worship for the images； which consisted in part of sacrifices； in part of female satiric choruses； while at the same time they appointed certain men to furnish the choruses； ten for each goddess。 These choruses did not abuse men； but only the women of the country。 Holy orgies of a similar kind were in use also among the Epidaurians； and likewise another sort of holy orgies； whereof it is not lawful to speak。 After the robbery of the images the Epidaurians ceased to make the stipulated payments to the Athenians； wherefore the Athenians sent to Epidaurus to remonstrate。 But the Epidaurians proved to them that they were not guilty of any wrong：…〃While the images continued in their country；〃 they said； 〃they had duly paid the offerings according to the agreement； now that the images had been taken from them； they were no longer under any obligation to pay： the Athenians should make their demand of the Eginetans； in whose possession the figures now were。〃 Upon this the Athenians sent to Egina； and demanded the images back； but the Eginetans answered that the Athenians had nothing whatever to do with them。 After this the Athenians relate that they sent a trireme to Egina with certain citizens on board； and that these men； who bore commission from the state； landed in Egina； and sought to take the images away； considering them to be their own； inasmuch as they were made of their wood。 And first they endeavoured to wrench them from their pedestals； and so carry them off； but failing herein； they in the next place tied ropes to them； and set to work to try if they could haul them down。 In the midst of their hauling suddenly there was a thunderclap； and with the thunderclap an earthquake； and the