DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70030#0109
Greece.] EPAMINONDAS.
palliate the enormity of his crime ; he required only that
his sentence might be couched in these terms “ Epa-
minondas is condemned todeath by the Thebans, because
at the battle of Leuctrahe conquered the Lacedsemonians,
which no Theban general had done before him; and
in a single action, saved not only the liberty of Thebes,
but even that of Greece : and this punishment is also in-
flicted upon him because he would not terminate the
war until he had re-established the city of Messina, and
Tendered it capable of enchaining the restless ambition of
the Lacedaemonians.” A defence so skilful and so little
expected, disarmed his judges, overcame his adversa-
ries, and caused him to be admired no less for his'pre-
sence of mind than his valour.
The Spartans perceived that the fortune of their ene-
mies rested on the talents of a single man. At the battle
of Mantinea they directed all their efforts against Epa-
minondas : this illustrious general there received a mortal
wound. He felt that if he drew out the weapon with
which he had been struck, his life would issue with his
blood; he therefore waited until the fate of the battle
was decided. Having learnt that the Boeotians were
conquerors, he exclaimed :—“ I have lived long enough :
I die revenged.” He then drew the arrow from his
wound, expired, and the glory of Thebes, which origi-
nated in his valour, buried itself in his tomb.
Epaminondas is one of those brilliant characters which
take possession of the heart, and impress the soul with
profound esteem. His life presents no foibles, no repre-
hensible act. His patriotism was a religious sentiment,
and a sublime passion. When he fought the Spartans it
was difficult to equal him in talent, and impossible to
palliate the enormity of his crime ; he required only that
his sentence might be couched in these terms “ Epa-
minondas is condemned todeath by the Thebans, because
at the battle of Leuctrahe conquered the Lacedsemonians,
which no Theban general had done before him; and
in a single action, saved not only the liberty of Thebes,
but even that of Greece : and this punishment is also in-
flicted upon him because he would not terminate the
war until he had re-established the city of Messina, and
Tendered it capable of enchaining the restless ambition of
the Lacedaemonians.” A defence so skilful and so little
expected, disarmed his judges, overcame his adversa-
ries, and caused him to be admired no less for his'pre-
sence of mind than his valour.
The Spartans perceived that the fortune of their ene-
mies rested on the talents of a single man. At the battle
of Mantinea they directed all their efforts against Epa-
minondas : this illustrious general there received a mortal
wound. He felt that if he drew out the weapon with
which he had been struck, his life would issue with his
blood; he therefore waited until the fate of the battle
was decided. Having learnt that the Boeotians were
conquerors, he exclaimed :—“ I have lived long enough :
I die revenged.” He then drew the arrow from his
wound, expired, and the glory of Thebes, which origi-
nated in his valour, buried itself in his tomb.
Epaminondas is one of those brilliant characters which
take possession of the heart, and impress the soul with
profound esteem. His life presents no foibles, no repre-
hensible act. His patriotism was a religious sentiment,
and a sublime passion. When he fought the Spartans it
was difficult to equal him in talent, and impossible to