THE SACRED WAR. 291

tune’—must be hired; and to hire them money
must be had. The citizens of Delphi had already
been taxed; the Phocian treasury was empty;
where was money to be obtained ?

Philomelus settled this question by borrowing, with
great reluctance, a sum from the temple treasures,—
to be paid back as soon as possible. But as the war
went on and more money was needed, he borrowed
again and again,—now without reluctance. And the
practice of robbery once started, he not only paid
his troops, but enriched his friends and adorned his
wife from Apollo’s hoarded wealth.

By this means Philomelus got together an army
of ten thousand men,—reckless, dissolute characters,
the impious scum of Greece, for no pious Greek
would enlist in such a cause. The war was fero-
cious. The allies put their prisoners to death. Phil-
omelus followed their example. This was a losing
game, and both sides gave it up. At length Philo-
melus and his army were caught in an awkward
position, the army was dispersed, and he driven to
the verge of a precipice, where he must choose be-
tween captivity or death. He chose the latter and
leaped from the beetling crags.

The Thebans and their allies foolishly believed that
with the death of Philomelus the war was at an end,
and marched for their homes. Onomarchus, another
Phocian leader, took the opportunity thus afforded to
gather the scattered army together again, seized the
temple once more, and stood in defiance of all his foes,

In addition to gold and silver, the treasury con-
tained many gifts in brass and iron. The precious