100 HISTORY OF GREECE. The presence of Sphodrias and his army in the Thriasian plain was communicated shortly after day-break at Athens, where it excited no less terror than surprise. Every man instantly put himself under arms for defence ; but news soon arrived that the invader had retired. When thus reassured, the Athenians passed from fear to indignation. The Lacedaemonian envoys, who were lodging at the house of Kallias the proxenus of Sparta, were im mediately put under arrest and interrogated. But all three affirmed that they were not less astonished, and not less exaspe- rated, by the march of Sphodrias, than the Athenians themselves ; adding, by way of confirmation, that had they been really privy to any design of seizing the Peirasus, they would have taken care not to let themselves be found in the city, and in their ordinary lodging at the house of the proxenus, where of course their persons would be at once seized. They concluded by assuring the Athen- ians, that Sphodrias would not only be indignantly disavowed, but punished capitally, at Sparta. And their reply was deemed so satisfactory, that they were allowed to depart ; while an Athenian embassy was sent to Sparta, to demand the punishment of the offending general. 1 The Ephors immediately summoned Sphodrias home to Sparta, to take his trial on a capital charge. So much did he himself despair of his case, that he durst not make his appearance ; while the general impression was, both at Sparta and elsewhere, that he would certainly be condemned. Nevertheless, though thus absent and undefended, he was acquitted, purely through private favor and esteem for his general character. He was of the party of Kleombrotus, so that all the friends of that prince espoused his cause, as a matter of course. But as he was of the party opposed to Agesilaus, his friends dreaded that the latter would declare (like Phcebidas) may have done wrong towards a foreign city from over- ambition in the service of his country. But if Agesilaus (who detested the Thebans beyond measure) had believed that Sphodrias was acting under the influence of bribes from them, he would not merely have been disposed to let justice take its course, but would have approved and promoted the condemnation. On a previous occasion (Hellen. iii, 5, 3) Xenophon had imputed to tha Thebans a similar refinement of stratagem; seemr'ogly with just as littla cause. 1 Xen. Hellen v. 4, 22 ; Plutarch, Agcsil c 24
