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eaving a son； Archidamus。 Leotychides； when Zeuxidamus was taken from him； married a second wife； named Eurydame； the sister of Menius and daughter of Diactorides。 By her he had no male offspring； but only a daughter called Lampito； whom he gave in marriage to Archidamus； Zeuxidamus' son。 Even Leotychides； however； did not spend his old age in Sparta； but suffered a punishment whereby Demaratus was fully avenged。 He commanded the Lacedaemonians when they made war against Thessaly； and might have conquered the whole of it； but was bribed by a large sum of money。 It chanced that he was caught in the fact； being found sitting in his tent on a gauntlet； quite full of silver。 Upon this he was brought to trial and banished from Sparta； his house was razed to the ground； and he himself fled to Tegea； where he ended his days。 But these events took place long afterwards。 At the time of which we are speaking； Cleomenes； having carried his proceedings in the matter of Demaratus to a prosperous issue； forthwith took Leotychides with him； and crossed over to attack the Eginetans； for his anger was hot against them on account of the affront which they had formerly put upon him。 Hereupon the Eginetans； seeing that both the kings were come against them； thought it best to make no further resistance。 So the two kings picked out from all Egina the ten men who for wealth and birth stood the highest； among whom were Crius； son of Polycritus； and Casambus； son of Aristocrates； who wielded the chief power； and these men they carried with them to Attica； and there deposited them in the hands of the Athenians； the great enemies of the Eginetans。 Afterwards； when it came to be known what evil arts had been used against Demaratus； Cleomenes was seized with fear of his own countrymen； and fled into Thessaly。 From thence he passed into Arcadia； where he began to stir up troubles； and endeavoured to unite the Arcadians against Sparta。 He bound them by various oaths to follow him whithersoever he should lead； and was even desirous of taking their chief leaders with him to the city of Nonacris； that he might swear them to his cause by the waters of the Styx。 For the waters of Styx； as the Arcadians say； are in that city； and this is the appearance they present： you see a little water； dripping from a rock into a basin； which is fenced round by a low wall。 Nonacris； where this fountain is to be seen； is a city of Arcadia near Pheneus。 When the Lacedaemonians heard how Cleomenes was engaged； they were afraid； and agreed with him that he should come back to Sparta and be king as before。 So Cleomenes came back； but had no sooner returned than he； who had never been altogether of sound mind； was smitten with downright madness。 This he showed by striking every Spartan he met upon the face with his sceptre。 On his behaving thus； and showing that he was gone quite out of his mind； his kindred imprisoned him； and even put his feet in the stocks。 While so bound； finding himself left alone with a single keeper； he asked the man for a knife。 The keeper at first refused； whereupon Cleomenes began to threaten him； until at last he was afraid； being only a helot； and gave him what he required。 Cleomenes had no sooner got the steel than； beginning at his legs； he horribly disfigured himself； cutting gashes in his flesh； along his legs； thighs； hips； and loins； until at last he reached his belly； which he likewise began to gash； whereupon in a little time he died。 The Greeks generally think that this fate came upon him because he induced the Pythoness to pronounce against Demaratus； the Athenians differ from all others in saying that it was because he cut down the sacred grove of the goddesses when he made his invasion by Eleusis； while the Argives ascribe it to his having taken from their refuge and cut to pieces certain argives who had fled from battle into a precinct sacred to Argus； where Cleomenes slew them； burning likewise at the same time； through irreverence； the grove itself。 For once； when Cleomenes had sent to Delphi to consult the oracle； it was prophesied to him that he should take Argos； upon which he went out at the head of the Spartans； and led them to the river Erasinus。 This stream is reported to flow from the Stymphalian lake； the waters of which empty themselves into a pitch…dark chasm； and then （as they say） reappear in Argos； where the Argives call them the Erasinus。 Cleomenes； having arrived upon the banks of this river； proceeded to offer sacrifice to it； but； in spite of all that he could do； the victims were not favourable to his crossing。 So he said that he admired the god for refusing to betray his countrymen； but still the Argives should not escape him for all that。 He then withdrew his troops； and led them down to Thyrea； where he sacrificed a bull to the sea； and conveyed his men on shipboard to Nauplia in the Tirynthian territory。 The Argives； when they heard of this； marched down to the sea to defend their country； and arriving in the neighbourhood of Tiryns； at the place which bears the name of Sepeia； they pitched their camp opposite to the Lacedaemonians； leaving no great space between the hosts。 And now their fear was not so much lest they should be worsted in open fight as lest some trick should be practised on them； for such was the danger which the oracle given to them in common with the Milesians seemed to intimate。 The oracle ran as follows：…
Time shall be when the female shall conquer the male； and shall chase him Far away… gaining so great praise and honour in Argos； Then full many an Argive woman her cheeks shall mangle Hence； in the times to come 'twill be said by the men who are unborn； 〃Tamed by the spear expired the coiled terrible serpent。〃
At the coincidence of all these things the Argives were greatly cast down； and so they resolved that they would follow the signals of the enemy's herald。 Having made this resolve； they proceeded to act as follows： whenever the herald of the Lacedaemonians gave an order to the soldiers of his own army； the Argives did the like on their side。 Now when Cleomenes heard that the Argives were acting thus； he commanded his troops that； so soon as the herald gave the word for the soldiers to go to dinner； they should instantly seize their arms and charge the host of the enemy。 Which the Lacedaemonians did accordingly； and fell upon the Argives just as； following the signal； they had begun their repast； whereby it came to pass that vast numbers of the Argives were slain； while the rest； who were more than they which died in the fight； were driven to take refuge in the grove of Argus hard by； where they were surrounded； and watch kept upon them。 When things were at this pass Cleomenes acted as follows： Having learnt the names of the Argives who were shut up in the sacred precinct from certain deserters who had come over to him； he sent a herald to summon them one by one； on pretence of having received their ransoms。 Now the ransom of prisoners among the Peloponnesians is fixed at two minae the man。 So Cleomenes had these persons called forth severally； to the number of fifty； or thereabouts； and massacred them。 All this while they