<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratte">ἔπραττε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Atrifuli%2Fan">Τριφυλίαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Axei%2Flwn">Χείλων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnios">Λακεδαιμόνιος</w>, <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnwn">ὑπολαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkein">καθήκειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frwn">φέρων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gegenhme%2Fnhn">γεγενημένην</w> <w lemma="u%28peroyi%2Fan">ὑπεροψίαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frwn">ἐφόρων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsei">κρίσει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w>, <w lemma="kinei%3Dn">κινεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kaqestw%3Dta">καθεστῶτα</w>.
<w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flqoi">ἔλθοι</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnei">Κλεομένει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcai">ὑποδείξαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="klhrouxi%2Fas">κληρουχίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nadasmw%3Dn">ἀναδασμῶν</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pakolouqh%2Fsein">ἐπακολουθήσειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>.
<w lemma="sumfronh%2Fsas">συμφρονήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="koinwnou%5Cs">κοινωνοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs">τόλμης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dn">συντελεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>.
<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Fdion">ἐμπόδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frous">ἐφόρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="periqe%2Fntas">περιθέντας</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>.
<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frous">ἐφόρους</w> <w lemma="deipnou%3Dntas">δειπνοῦντας</w> <w lemma="katalabw%2Fn">καταλαβών</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsface">κατέσφαξε</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzousan">ἁρμόζουσαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqei%2Fshs">ἐπιθείσης</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkhn:">δίκην·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpaqon">ἔπαθον</w>, <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fseie">φήσειε</w> <w lemma="peponqe%2Fnai">πεπονθέναι</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Axei%2Flwn">Χείλων</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="suntelesa%2Fmenos">συντελεσάμενος</w>, <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Flabe">κατέλαβε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29dunh%2Fqh">ἐδυνήθη</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>.
<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tinwn">τινων</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="geito%2Fnwn">γειτόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29kklapei%5Cs">ἐκκλαπεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diadra%5Cs">διαδρὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqen">ἔλαθεν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhse">ἀνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nodi%2Fais">ἀνοδίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Atripo%2Flei">Τριπόλει</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w> <w lemma="%2Apellh%2Fnhn">Πελλήνην</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Axei%2Flwn">Χείλων</w> <w lemma="a%29pesfalme%2Fnos">ἀπεσφαλμένος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kuriwta%2Ftou">κυριωτάτου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29qu%2Fmws">ἀθύμως</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkeito">διέκειτο</w>, <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fzeto">ἠναγκάζετο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fs">συνεχές</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cn">ἀγορὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbalw%5Cn">εἰσβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Ffere">προσέφερε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fous">οἰκείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipoi%3Ds">λοιποῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pedei%2Fknue">ὑπεδείκνυε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="r%28hqei%2Fsas">ῥηθείσας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxontos">προσέχοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>, <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sustrefome%2Fnwn">συστρεφομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>, <w lemma="sunnoh%2Fsas">συννοήσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frei">ἀπεχώρει</w> <w lemma="laqrai%2Fws">λαθραίως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielqw%5Cn">διελθὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kpeptwkw%2Fs">ἐκπεπτωκώς</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w>,
<w lemma="dei%2Fsantes">δείσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w>, <w lemma="ta%29po%5C">τἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29peskeua%2Fzonto">ἀπεσκευάζοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopolitw%3Dn">Μεγαλοπολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqh%2Fnaion">Ἀθήναιον</w> <w lemma="kataska%2Fyantes">κατασκάψαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flipon">ἐξέλιπον</w>. <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>,
<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="nomoqesi%2Fas">νομοθεσίας</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fsth%7C">καλλίστῃ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fktrois">Λεύκτροις</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w>, <w lemma="au%29%3Dtis">αὖτις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="trapei%2Fshs">τραπείσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fmpalin">τοὔμπαλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dron">χεῖρον</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="probainou%2Fshs">προβαινούσης</w>,
<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnwn">πόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsewn">στάσεων</w> <w lemma="e%29mfuli%2Fwn">ἐμφυλίων</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Flaisan">ἐπάλαισαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nadasmoi%3Ds">ἀναδασμοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugai%3Ds">φυγαῖς</w>, <w lemma="pikrota%2Fths">πικροτάτης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="doulei%2Fas">δουλείας</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Fbidos">Νάβιδος</w> <w lemma="turanni%2Fdos">τυραννίδος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pri%5Cn">πρὶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fnoma">τοὔνομα</w> <w lemma="dunhqe%2Fntes">δυνηθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29nasxe%2Fsqai">ἀνασχέσθαι</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w>.
<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fde">τάδε</w>. <w lemma="e%29narge%2Fstata">ἐναργέστατα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fluse">κατέλυσε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>. <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="r%28hqh%2Fsetai">ῥηθήσεται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>.
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At the same time that Philip was operating in Triphylia, Chelion, the Lacedaemonian, considering that he was the lawful heir to the throne and deeply resenting having been passed over by the ephors when they selected Lycurgus as king, resolved to bring about a revolution.
Thinking that if he followed in Cleomenes' footsteps and held out to the multitude the hope of allotments and redivision of the land, he would soon have the masses behind him, he set to work on his design.
Having come to an understanding with his friends on this subject and secured the co-operation of about two hundred in the venture, he entered on the execution of the project.
Perceiving that the greatest hindrance to the success of his plot lay in Lycurgus and the ephors who had set him on the throne, he directed his attack first on them. Falling on the ephors while they were at supper he slew them all on the spot, chance thus visiting them with the fitting penalty for their crime. For when we consider the person at whose hands and the person for whose sake they suffered death we must confess that they met with their deserts.
Cheilon, after thus disposing of the ephors, hastened to the house of Lycurgus, where he found the king, but failed to get possession of his person; for he was smuggled out by some servants and neighbours, and got away unperceived, escaping afterwards across country to Pellene in the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tripolis&groupId=1047&placeId=1841">Tripolis</a>.
Chelion, thus baulked of his most important object, had now little heart for his enterprise, but still was forced to continue his pursuit.
He therefore advanced into the agora, cutting down his enemies, calling upon his relatives and friends to join him, and tempting the rest of the people by those hopes and promise I just spoke of.
But as no one listened to him, but on the contrary a hostile crowd collected, as soon as he perceived how matters stood, he left <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> secretly, and passing through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> arrived in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, alone and an exile.
The Lacedaemonians, now dreading the arrival of Philip, brought in all property from the country and evacuated the Athenaeum in the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> after razing it to the ground.
Thus the Lacedaemonians who ever since the legislation of Lycurgus had enjoyed the best form of government and had the greatest power until the battle of Leuctra, when chance henceforth turned against them, and their system of government instead of improving began to go rapidly from bad to worse,
finally had more experience than any other people of civic trouble and discord. No other nation was so harassed by banishment of citizens and confiscations of property, none had to submit to more cruel servitude culminating in the tyranny of Nabis, although formerly they could not even bear to hear the word "tyrant" mentioned.
However, the ancient history of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and the subsequent history of her elevation and decline had been narrated by many. The progress of the latter is most conspicuous since the entire subversion of the ancient constitution by Cleomenes; and I shall continue to speak of it whenever the occasion offers.
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Walbank Commentary