278 foll.

At the conclusion of this address, the Lacedaemonians requested the
allies to speak, bidding them give their joint advice as to the best
course to be pursued in the interests of Peloponnese and the allies.
Thereupon many members, and especially those who wished to gratify
the Lacedaemonians, agreed in counselling active measures; and it was
resolved that the states should severally send contingents to form a
total of ten thousand men. Proposals were also made to allow any state,
so wishing, to give money instead of men, at the rate of three Aeginetan
obols (19) a day per man; or where the contingent consisted of cavalry,
the pay given for one horseman was to be the equivalent to that of
four hoplites; while, in the event of any defaulting in service, the
Lacedaemonians should be allowed to mulct the said state of a stater
per man per diem. These resolutions were passed, and the deputies
from Acanthus rose again. They argued that, though excellent, these
resolutions were not of a nature to be rapidly carried into effect.
Would it not be better, they asked, pending the mobilisation of the
troops, to despatch an officer at once in command of a force from
Lacedaemon and the other states, not too large to start immediately. The
effect would be instantaneous, for the states which had not yet given in
their adhesion to Olynthus would be brought to a standstill, and those
already forcibly enrolled would be shaken in their alliance. These
further resolutions being also passed, the Lacedaemonians despatched
Eudamidas, accompanied by a body of neodamodes, with perioeci and
Sciritae, (20) to the number of two thousand odd. Eudamidas lost no time
in setting out, having obtained leave from the ephors for his brother
Phoebidas to follow later with the remainder of the troops assigned
to him. Pushing on himself to the Thracian territory, he set about
despatching garrisons to various cities at their request. He also
secured the voluntary adhesion of Potidaea, although already a member
of the Olynthian alliance; and this town now served as his base of
operations for carrying on war on a scale adapted to his somewhat
limited armament.

(19) I.e. "rather more than sixpence a day for a hoplite, and two
shillings for a horseman." "The Aeginetan stater weighed about 196
grains, rather more than two of our shillings, and was divided
into two drachms of 98 grains, each of which contained six obols
of about 16 grain