THE HUMILIATION OF SPARTA. 261

Epaminondas proved himself a thinker of the.
highest military genius, Pelopidas a leader of the
greatest military vigor. The work of the latter was
largely performed with the Sacred Band, a warlike
association of three hundred youthful Thebans,
sworn to defend the citadel until death, bound by
bonds of warm friendship, and trained into the
highest military efficiency. Pelopidas was the cap-
tain of this noble band, which was never overcome
until the fatal battle of Cheeronéa, and then only by
death, the Three Hundred lying dead in their ranks
as they had stood.

For the events with which we have now to deal
we must leap over seven years from the freeing of
Thebes. It will suffice to say that for two years of
that time Sparta fought fiercely against that city,
but could not bring it under subjection again. Then
wars arose elsewhere and drew her armies away.
Thebes now took the opportunity to extend her
power over the other cities of Boeotia, and of one of
these cities there is something of interest to tell.

We have told in an earlier tale how Sparta and
Thebes captured Plata and swept it from the face
of the earth. Recently Sparta had rebuilt the city,
recalled its exiled citizens, and placed it asa Spartan
outpost against Thebes. But now, when the armies
of Sparta had withdrawn, the Thebans deemed it a
good opportunity to conquer it again. One day,
when the Platewan men were at work in their fields,
and unbroken peace prevailed, a Theban force sud-
denly took the city by surprise, and forced the
Plateeans to surrender at discretion. Poor Plata