ed them not to turn back
without invading the territory of Laconia. But the Thebans, albeit they
listened to their prayers, urged arguments on the other side. In the
first place, Laconia was by all accounts most difficult to invade;
and their belief was that garrisons were posted at all the points most
easily approached. (As a matter of fact, Ischolaus was posted at Oeum
in the Sciritid, with a garrison of neodamodes and about four hundred
of the youngest of the Tegean exiles; and there was a second outpost on
Leuctrum above the Maleatid. (25)) Again it occurred to the Thebans
that the Lacedaemonian forces, though disbanded, would not take long to
muster, and once collected they would fight nowhere better than on their
own native soil. Putting all these considerations together, they
were not by any means impatient to march upon Lacedaemon. A strong
counter-impulse, however, was presently given by the arrival of
messengers from Caryae, giving positive information as to the
defenceless condition of the country, and offering to act as guides
themselves; they were ready to lose their lives if they were convicted
of perfidy. A further impulse in the same direction was given by the
presence of some of the provincials, (26) with invitations and promises
of revolt, if only they would appear in the country. These people
further stated that even at the present moment, on a summons of the
Spartans proper, the provincials did not care to render them assistance.
With all these arguments and persuasions echoing from all sides, the
Thebans at last yielded, and invaded. They chose the Caryan route
themselves, while the Arcadians entered by Oeum in the Sciritid. (27)

(22) Or, "effect a junction with."

(23) Or, "in practising gymnastics about the place of arms." See "Pol.
Lac." xii. 5.

(24) See "Hell." IV. vii. 1; "Ages." ii. 20. For a sketch of the
relations of Acarnania to Athens and Sparta, see Hicks, No. 83, p.
150; and above, "Hell." V. iv. 64.

(25) Leuctrum, a fortress of the district Aegytis on the confines of
Arcadia and Laconia ("in the direction of Mount Lycaeum," Thuc. v.
54). See Leake, "Morea," ii. 322; also "Peloponn." p. 248, in
which place he corrects his former view as to the situation of
Leuctrum and the Maleatid.

Oeum or Ium, the chief town of the Sciritis, probably stood in the
Klisura or series of narrow passes through the watershed of the
mountains forming the n