262 HISTORICAL TALES.

was again levelled with the ground, her people were
once more sent into exile, and her soil was added to
that of Thebes. It may be well to say here that most
of the Greeian cities consisted of the walled town
and sufficient surrounding land to raise food for the
inbabitants within, and that the farmers went out
each morning to cultivate their fields, and returned
each night within the shelter of their walls. It was
this habit that gave Thebes its treacherous oppor-
tunity.

During the seven years mentioned we hear nothing
of Epaminondas, yet we know that he made himself
felt within the walls of Thebes; for when, in 371 B.c.,
the cities of, Greece, satisfied that it was high time
to stop cutting each other's throats, held a congress
at Sparta to conclude peace, we find him there as
the representative of Thebes.

The terms of peace demanded by Athens, and
agreed to by most of the delegates, were that each
city, small or large, should possess autonomy, or self-
government. Sparta and Athens were to become
mutual guarantees, dividing the headship of Greece
between them. As for Thebes and her claim to the
headship of Beeotia, her demand was set aside.

This conclusion reached, the cities one after an-
other took oath to keep the terms of peace, each
city swearing for itself except Sparta, which took
the oath for itself and its allies. When it came to
the turn of Thebes there was a break in this love-
feast. Sparta had sworn for all the cities of Laco-
nia; Epaminondas, as the representative of Thebes,
insisted on swearing not for Thebes alone, but for