THE SEVEN CONSPIRATORS
Three years passed before the Theban exiles, encouraged by Pelopidas,
formed a plot to deliver their city from the Spartans.
They were helped in their plans by Phyllidas, a Theban who had stayed
in the city and become secretary to the Spartan governors Archias and
Philippus. He had taken this position under the enemy that he might be
able the better to help his own countrymen. He agreed with Pelopidas
that the time to act had now come.
Epaminondas was also in Thebes, but he would have nothing to do with
the plot. He would fight when the time for fighting came, but to slay
even tyrants unawares was not to his liking.
Pelopidas and six other exiles did not share the scruples of
Epaminondas. They disguised themselves as farmers or country folk, and
one evening reaching Thebes as it began to grow dark, they slipped one
by one at different times into the city. They then found their way to
the house of a citizen named Charon, who had promised to shelter them.
Snow was falling and the streets were nearly deserted, so that the
return of the exiles was unnoticed.
On the following day, Archias and Philippus were to be present at a
great banquet. Phyllidas, the secretary, had promised to bring to the
feast seven beautiful Theban women. He told no one that the promised
guests were the seven exiles, who had resolved to don a second disguise
to enable them to be present at the banquet.
The day of the feast passed slowly for the conspirators, but at length
evening came, and the exiles were putting on the garments that were to
make them appear like beautiful women, when a loud knock came to the
door.
Already the long day had tried them sorely, and the knock filled them
with foreboding.
When the door was opened their hearts beat quicker, for there stood a
soldier who bade Charon come to the banqueting hall without delay.
Had Charon betrayed them? The exiles looked uncertainly one at the
other. Then they grew ashamed of their distrust and bade their host
hasten to Archias to allay his suspicions, if indeed they had been
aroused.
Charon was brave and true and he knew that the lives of the seven men
were in his hand. He hoped that they trusted him, yet he wished to
dispel any doubt that they might have. So he hastened to the nursery of
his little son, and carrying the child to Pelopidas, he placed him in
his arms, saying, ‘If you find me a traitor, treat the boy as an enemy
without any mercy.’
But the exiles protested, and truly, that they trusted him well and
needed no such hostage, while Pelopidas bade him take the child back to
his nurse.
Then Charon, staying only to ask the help of the gods, hastened to the
banqueting hall.
Archias and his secretary were awaiting him, and Archias said, ‘I have
heard, Charon, that there are some men just come lurking into the town.
We fear lest they have come to stir up the citizens.’
‘Who are they? Where are they hidden?’ asked Charon. For he wished to
find out how much Archias knew.
But Archias knew nothing. It was but a rumour that had reached him.
‘Do not disturb yourself because of a rumour,’ said Charon, who had now
no fear of discovery. ‘There are many tales told in the market-place.
But I will find out if there is truth in what you have heard.’
Archias was glad to leave the matter to Charon, for he was impatient
to go back to the feast. So Charon hastened back to his house to tell
Pelopidas and his comrades that their fears were needless, for Archias
suspected nothing.
But although Charon did not know it, a letter was at that moment being
placed in the hands of Archias that might easily have ruined both him
and the conspirators. For it told Archias the whole plot, as well as
the names of those who were to take part in it.
The letter had been sent from Athens, and as the messenger handed it
to the Spartan governor, he said, ‘The writer of this desired that it
might be read at once; it is on urgent business.’
But Archias could think of nothing that night save the banquet and the
beautiful Theban women, who should now soon arrive.
Thrusting the letter unopened under the cushion on which his head
rested, Archias cried, a smile upon his face, ‘Urgent business
to-morrow.’ And these words were ever after used as a proverb by the
Greeks.
The conspirators had now reached the hall. Their beautiful dresses were
wide and loose, for beneath their splendour they wore armour. On their
heads were garlands of pine and fir, so that their faces might not be
seen.
Archias and his guests clapped their hands gleefully. Here at last were
the beautiful Theban women whose presence Phyllidas had promised should
grace the banquet.
But in a moment the conspirators had torn off their disguise. Archias
and Philippus were slain almost before they had time to realise their
danger, while the guests who had rushed to their aid were also put to
death.
Pelopidas and his comrades then hastened to the house of Leontiades.
But he heard them knocking at the door, and when they rushed into his
room a few seconds later, he met them with his sword drawn, and slew
the first man who entered.
A terrible struggle then took place between Leontiades and Pelopidas,
but at length the traitor was wounded to death.
The conspirators then ran to the prison, ordered the gates to be
opened, and the prisoners to be set free and armed, for their only
crime had been loyalty to their city.
As day began to dawn, troops from Athens poured into the city to help
the Thebans. The Spartans fought fiercely, but after a few days the
garrison was forced to surrender, and once again Thebes was free.
The grateful citizens then assembled in the market-place, where the
priests crowned Pelopidas and Charon, while the people appointed them
governors of the city.