64 fflSTORY OF GREECE. nishing two thirds of the whole fleet, and jet prosecuting the building of fresh ships until the last moment,i — sending forth the ablest and most forward leader in the common cause, while content themselves to serve like other states under the leadership of Sparta. During the winter preceding the march of Xerxes from Sardis, the congress at the Isthmus was trying, with little success, to bring the Grecian cities into united action. Among the cities north of Attica and Peloponnesus, the greater number were either inclined to submit, like Thebes and the greater part of Bceotia, or at least lukewarm in the cause of independence, — so rare at this trying moment (to use the language of the unfor- tunate Platseans fifty-three years afterwards), was the exertiou of resolute Hellenic patriotism against the invader.2 Even in the interior of Peloponnesus, the powerful Argos maintained an ambiguous neutrality. It was one of the first steps of the con- gress to send special envoys to Argos, to set forth the common danger and solicit cooperation ; the result is certain, that no cooperation was obtained, — the Argeians did nothing throughout the struggle ; but as to their real position, or the grounds of their refusal, contradictory statements had reached the ears of Herodo- tus. They themselves affirmed that they were ready to have joined the Hellenic cause, in spite of dissuasion from the Del- phian oracle, — exacting only as conditions, that the Spartans should conclude a truce with them for thirty years, and should equally divide the honors of headship with Argos. To the pro- posed truce there would probably have been no objection, nor was there any as to the principle of dividing the headship : but the Spartans added, that they had two kings, while the Argeiana liad only one ; and inasmuch as neither of the two Spartan kings could be deprived of his vote, the Argeian king could- only be admitted to a third vote conjointly with them. This proposition appeai'ed to the Argeians, who considered that even the undi- ided headship was no more than their ancient right, as nothing
- Herodot. vii, 144.
- Thucyd. iii, 56. iv Kuipoi^ olc anavLOv tjv tuv 'EXX^vuv Tivd. apeiijv ry
^ep^ov dvvafiEL avTira^aa'&ai. This view of the case is much more conformable to histoiy than the boasts of later orators respecting wide-spread patriotism in theie times. See Demosthen. Philipp. iii, 37, p. 120.
