48 HISTORY OF GREECK. Phokion on the intended Asiatic expedition, Alexander took some pains to flatter the pride of Athens by describing her as second only to himself, and as entitled to the headship of Greece, in case any thing should happen to liim.i Such complimenta were suitable to be repeated in the Athenian assembly : indeed the ]Iacedonian prince might naturally prefer the idea of Athen- ian headship to that of Spartan, seeing that Sparta stood aloof from him, an open recusant. The animosity of Alexander being appeased, Athens resumed her position as a member of the confederacy under his imperial authority. AYithoiit visiting Attica, he now marched to the Isth- mus of Corinth, vrhcre he probably received from various Gre- cian cities deputations deprecating his displeasure, and proclaim- ing their submission to his imperial authority. He also probably presided at a meeting of the Grecian synod, where he would dic- tate the contingents requii-ed for his intended Asiatic expedition in the ensuing spring. To the universal deference and submis- sion which greeted him, one exception was found — the Cynic philosopher Diogenes, who resided at Corinth, satisfied with a tub for shelter, and with the coarsest and most self-denying exist- ence. Alexander approached him with a numerous suite, and asked him if he wished for anything ; upon which Diogenes is said to have replied, — " Nothing, except that you would stand a little out of my sunshine." Both the philosopher and his reply provoked laughter from the bystanders, but Alexander himself was so impressed with the independent and self-sufficing charac- ter manifested, that he exclaimed, — "If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."2 Having visited the oracle of Delphi, and received or extorted from the priestess^ an answer bearing favorable promise for his Asiatic schemes, he returned to Macedonia before the winter. The most important permanent effect of his stay in Greece was the re-constitution of Bceotia ; that is, the destruction of Thebes, and the reconstitution of Orchomenus, Thespije, and PlatDea, di- viding between them Ihe Theban • territory ; all guarded and ' Plutarch, Phokicn, 17; Plutarch, Alexand. 13.
- Plutarch, Alex. 14. ' Plutarch, Alex. 14.
