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Pythoness； and the Pythoness had schemed against themselves； and against the Pisistratidae； and the discovery was a double grief to them； for while they had driven their own sworn friends into exile； they found that they had not gained thereby a particle of good will from Athens。 They were also moved by certain prophecies； which declared that many dire calamities should befall them at the hands of the Athenians。 Of these in times past they had been ignorant； but now they had become acquainted with them by means of Cleomenes； who had brought them with him to Sparta； having found them in the Athenian citadel； where they had been left by the Pisistratidae when they were driven from Athens： they were in the temple； and Cleomenes having discovered them； carried them off。 So when the Lacedaemonians obtained possession of the prophecies； and saw that the Athenians were growing in strength； and had no mind to acknowledge any subjection to their control； it occurred to them that； if the people of Attica were free； they would be likely to be as powerful as themselves； but if they were oppressed by a tyranny； they would be weak and submissive。 Under this feeling they sent and recalled Hippias； the son of Pisistratus； from Sigeum upon the Hellespont； where the Pisistratidae had taken shelter。 Hippias came at their bidding； and the Spartans on his arrival summoned deputies from all their other allies； and thus addressed the assembly：… 〃Friends and brothers in arms； we are free to confess that we did lately a thing which was not right。 Misled by counterfeit oracles； we drove from their country those who were our sworn and true friends； and who had； moreover； engaged to keep Athens in dependence upon us； and we delivered the government into the hands of an unthankful people… a people who no sooner got their freedom by our means； and grew in power； than they turned us and our king； with every token of insult； out of their city。 Since then they have gone on continually raising their thoughts higher； as their neighbours of Boeotia and Chalcis have already discovered to their cost； and as others too will presently discover if they shall offend them。 Having thus erred； we will endeavour now； with your help； to remedy the evils we have caused； and to obtain vengeance on the Athenians。 For this cause we have sent for Hippias to come here； and have summoned you likewise from your several states； that we may all now with heart and hand unite to restore him to Athens； and thereby give him back that which we took from him formerly。〃 （SS 1。） Such was the address of the Spartans。 The greater number of the allies listened without being persuaded。 None however broke silence but Sosicles the Corinthian； who exclaimed… 〃Surely the heaven will soon be below； and the earth above； and men will henceforth live in the sea； and fish take their place upon the dry land； since you； Lacedaemonians； propose to put down free governments in the cities of Greece； and to set up tyrannies in their room。 There is nothing in the whole world so unjust； nothing so bloody； as a tyranny。 If； however； it seems to you a desirable thing to have the cities under despotic rule； begin by putting a tyrant over yourselves； and then establish despots in the other states。 While you continue yourselves； as you have always been； unacquainted with tyranny； and take such excellent care that Sparta may not suffer from it； to act as you are now doing is to treat your allies unworthily。 If you knew what tyranny was as well as ourselves； you would be better advised than you now are in regard to it。 （SS 2。） The government at Corinth was once an oligarchy … a single race； called Bacchiadae； who intermarried only among themselves； held the management of affairs。 Now it happened that Amphion； one of these； had a daughter； named Labda； who was lame； and whom therefore none of the Bacchiadae would consent to marry； so she was taken to wife by Aetion； son of Echecrates； a man of the township of Petra； who was； however； by descent of the race of the Lapithae； and of the house of Caeneus。 Aetion； as he had no child； either by this wife or by any other； went to Delphi to consult the oracle concerning the matter。 Scarcely had he entered the temple when the Pythoness saluted him in these words…
No one honours thee now； Aetion； worthy of honour… Labda shall soon be a mother… her offspring a rock； that will one day Fall on the kingly race； and right the city of Corinth。
By some chance this address of the oracle to Aetion came to the ears of the Bacchiadae； who till then had been unable to perceive the meaning of another earlier prophecy which likewise bore upon Corinth； and pointed to the same event as Aetion's prediction。 It was the following：…
When mid the rocks an eagle shall bear a carnivorous lion； Mighty and fierce； he shall loosen the limbs of many beneath them…
Brood ye well upon this； all ye Corinthian people； Ye who dwell by fair Peirene； and beetling Corinth。
（SS 3。） The Bacchiadae had possessed this oracle for some time； but they were quite at a loss to know what it meant until they heard the response given to Aetion； then however they at once perceived its meaning； since the two agreed so well together。 Nevertheless； though the bearing of the first prophecy was now clear to them； they remained quiet； being minded to put to death the child which Aetion was expecting。 As soon； therefore； as his wife was delivered； they sent ten of their number to the township where Aetion lived； with orders to make away with the baby。 So the men came to Petra； and went into Aetion's house； and there asked if they might see the child； and Labda； who knew nothing of their purpose； but thought their inquiries arose from a kindly feeling towards her husband； brought the child； and laid him in the arms of one of them。 Now they had agreed by the way that whoever first got hold of the child should dash it against the ground。 It happened； however； by a providential chance； that the babe； just as Labda put him into the man's arms； smiled in his face。 The man saw the smile； and was touched with pity； so that he could not kill it； he therefore passed it on to his next neighbour； who gave it to a third； and so it went through all the ten without any one choosing to be the murderer。 The mother received her child back； and the men went out of the house； and stood near the door； and there blamed and reproached one another； chiefly however accusing the man who had first had the child in his arms； because he had not done as had been agreed upon。 At last； after much time had been thus spent； they resolved to go into the house again and all take part in the murder。 （SS 4。） But it was fated that evil should come upon Corinth from the progeny of Aetion； and so it chanced that Labda； as she stood near the door； heard all that the men said to one another； and fearful of their changing their mind； and returning to destroy her baby； she carried him off and hid him in what seemed to her the most unlikely place to be suspected； viz。； a 'cypsel' or corn…bin。 She knew that if they came back to look for the child； they would search all her house； and so indeed they did； but not find