" Thanks to you," he argued, " we have been brought into a
state of war, and then you, without our advice or opinion asked,
make peace on your own account ; would it not be reasonable
to retort upon you the charge of treason in such conduct?
Anyhow, be assured," he added, "we shall bring an army
into Arcadia, and along with those who share our views carry
on the war which we have undertaken."

v. B.C. 362. — This answer was duly reported to the general
assembly of the Arcadians, and throughout the several states of
the league. Consequently the Mantineans, along with those
of the Arcadians who had the interests of Peloponnesus at
heart,^ as also the Eleians and the Achaeans, came to the
conclusion that the poHcy of the Thebans was plain. They
wished Peloponnesus to be reduced to such an extremity of
weakness that it might fall an easy prey into their hands who
were minded to enslave it. " Why else," they asked, " should

1 See note above, VII. iv. 35, p. 223.
