rised at this, but, when he
knew her, addressed her by her father's name, for he was a companion
and friend of Jason. When she said, "I pity your wife," "So do I pity
you," answered he, "that without being a prisoner you stay with
Alexander." This speech somehow touched the lady, for she was grieved
at the ferocity and licentiousness of the tyrant, who, besides his
other atrocities, had debauched her youngest brother. She constantly
visited Pelopidas, and, talking to him of her sufferings, became
filled with courage, and with hatred of Alexander.

XXIX. The Theban generals invaded Thessaly, but through incompetence
or misfortune effected nothing, and had to retreat in disgrace. The
state fined them ten thousand drachmas, but sent Epameinondas with the
army. There was at once a great fluttering of hope among the cities of
Thessaly at the reputation of that general, and the cause of the
tyrant tottered to its fall, such fear fell upon his officers and
friends, and such a longing to subvert his government upon his
subjects, who viewed the future with hope, as now they expected to see
the tyrant meet with his deserts. However, Epameinondas, disregarding
his own glory in comparison with the safety of Pelopidas, and fearing
that if Alexander were driven to despair by seeing his kingdom falling
to pieces, he might turn upon him like a wild beast, conducted the war
remissly. By degrees and after slow preparation he surrounded the
tyrant and confined him to one spot, so as to be able to check any
attack that he might venture on, and yet not to excite his savage and
ferocious nature; for he had heard of his cruelty and disregard of
what is right, and how he would bury men alive, and dress them in the
skins of wild boars and bears and then set dogs at them and hunt them
with spears, making this his sport, and how he surrounded two
peaceful cities, Meliboea and Skottusa, with his body-guard when the
inhabitants were at their public assembly, and slew them all from the
youth upwards, and how he had consecrated and crowned the spear with
which he killed his uncle Polyphron, and used to address prayers to it
and call it the Slayer. Once when he saw a tragedian performing
Euripides' tragedy, the 'Troades,' he went suddenly out of the
theatre, and sent a message to him to be of good courage, and not act
worse for this, for he had not left the house because he disliked his
acting, but because he felt ashamed that the citizens should see