16 HISTORY OF GREECE. resolution which we may deem suitable, after consultation wiUt our friends here present." With this unsatisfactory answer the Lacedaemonian envoys were compelled to return home. Yet some Argeian envoys, who were also present in the assembly for the purpose of urging the Corinthians to realize forthwith the hopes of alliance which they had held out to Argos, were still unable on their side to obtain a decided affirmative, being requested tc come again at the next conference. 1 Though the Corinthians had themselves originated the idea of the new Argeian confederacy and compromised Argos in an open proclamation, yet they now hesitated about the execution of their own scheme. They were restrained in part doubtless by the bitterness of Lacedaemonian reproof; for the open con- summation of this revolt, apart from its grave political conse- quences, shocked a train of very old feelings ; but still more by the discovery that their friends, who agreed with them in reject- ing the peace, decidedly refused all open revolt from Sparta and all alliance with Argos. In this category were the Boeotians and Megarians. Both of these states left to their own im- pression and judgment by the Lacedemonians, who did not address to them any distinct appeal as they had done to the Corinthians spontaneously turned away from Argos, not less from aversion towards the Argeian democracy than from sympa- thy with the oligarchy at Sparta : 2 they were linked together by 1 Thucyd. v, 30. 2 Thucyd. v, 31. Botwrot tie ical Meyap^f rd avrb heyovrsf ijcv^a^ov. Tf/uopw/ifvoi {JTTO TUV A a K s 6 a i po v i u i>, Ktdvofu&nrnfOfiei rf/i 'Apyeiuv tirj/iOKpariav avrolf bfayapxov/ievoLf IJGVOV vp<(>opov elvai T^C These words, nepioputtevoi inrb TUV Aaicedai [toviuv, are not clear, and have occasioned much embarrassment to the commentators, as well as some prop- ositions for altering the text. It would undoubtedly be an improvement in the sense, if we were permitted (with Dobree) to strike out the word? IITTO riJv AaKedai/toviuv as a gloss, and thus to construe irepiopufievot as n middle verb, "waiting to see fhe event," or literally, keeping a look-out about them." But taking the text as it now stands, the sense which I have given to it seems the best which can be elicited. Most of the critics translate irfpiopu/ievoi t; slighted or despised by the Lacedaemonians." But in the first place, this is not true as a matter of
fact : in the next place, if it were true, we ought to have an adversative
