§5.38.1ἐν δὲ τούτῳ ἐδόκει πρῶτον τοῖς βοιωτάρχαις καὶ Κορινθίοις καὶ Μεγαρεῦσι καὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ Θρᾴκης πρέσβεσιν ὀμόσαι ὅρκους ἀλλήλοις ἦ μὴν ἔν τε τῷ παρατυχόντι ἀμυνεῖν τῷ δεομένῳ καὶ μὴ πολεμήσειν τῳ μηδὲ ξυμβήσεσθαι ἄνευ κοινῆς γνώμης, καὶ οὕτως ἤδη τοὺς Βοιωτοὺς καὶ Μεγαρέας (τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ ἐποίουν) πρὸς τοὺς Ἀργείους σπένδεσθαι.
Meanwhile, it was resolved first by the Boeotarchs, the Corinthians, the Megarians, and the envoys from Thrace to exchange oaths with one another, swearing that they would indeed help anyone who needed it in any sudden emergency, and would not make war or peace with anyone without common consent; and that under these conditions the Boeotians and Megarians (for they were acting in unison) should then make peace with the Argives. Meanwhile, it was resolved first by the Boeotarchs, the Corinthians, the Megarians, and the envoys from Thrace to exchange oaths with one another, swearing that they would indeed help anyone who needed it in any sudden emergency, and would not make war or peace with anyone without common consent; and that under these conditions the Boeotians and Megarians (for they were acting in unison) should then make peace with the Argives.
§5.38.2πρὶν δὲ τοὺς ὅρκους γενέσθαι οἱ βοιωτάρχαι ἐκοίνωσαν ταῖς τέσσαρσι βουλαῖς τῶν Βοιωτῶν ταῦτα, αἵπερ ἅπαν τὸ κῦρος ἔχουσιν, καὶ παρῄνουν γενέσθαι ὅρκους ταῖς πόλεσιν, ὅσαι βούλονται ἐπ’ ὠφελίᾳ σφίσι ξυνομνύναι.
But before the oaths were taken, the Boeotarchs communicated these proposals to the four councils of the Boeotians, which possess the supreme authority, and advised that oaths should be exchanged with all those cities that wished to join them in an alliance for mutual benefit. But before the oaths were taken, the Boeotarchs communicated these proposals to the four councils of the Boeotians, which possess the supreme authority, and advised that oaths should be exchanged with all those cities that wished to join them in an alliance for mutual benefit.
§5.38.3οἱ δ’ ἐν ταῖς βουλαῖς τῶν Βοιωτῶν ὄντες οὐ προσδέχονται τὸν λόγον, δεδιότες μὴ ἐναντία Λακεδαιμονίοις ποιήσωσι, τοῖς ἐκείνων ἀφεστῶσι Κορινθίοις ξυνομνύντες· οὐ γὰρ εἶπον αὐτοῖς οἱ βοιωτάρχαι τὰ ἐκ τῆς Λακεδαίμονος, ὅτι τῶν τε ἐφόρων Κλεόβουλος καὶ Ξενάρης καὶ οἱ φίλοι παραινοῦσιν Ἀργείων πρῶτον καὶ Κορινθίων γενομένους ξυμμάχους ὕστερον μετὰ τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων γίγνεσθαι, οἰόμενοι τὴν βουλήν, κἂν μὴ εἴπωσιν, οὐκ ἄλλα ψηφιεῖσθαι ἢ ἃ σφίσι προδιαγνόντες παραινοῦσιν.
But the members of the Boeotian councils did not accept the proposal, fearing that they might act in opposition to the Lacedaemonians by swearing oaths with the Corinthians, who had revolted from them; for the Boeotarchs had not told them the news from Lacedaemon, that Cleobulus and Xenares, the ephors, and their friends were advising them first to become allies of the Argives and Corinthians, and later to join the Lacedaemonians, assuming that the council, even if they did not tell them, would vote for nothing other than what they themselves, after prior determination, were advising. But the members of the Boeotian councils did not accept the proposal, fearing that they might act in opposition to the Lacedaemonians by swearing oaths with the Corinthians, who had revolted from them. For the Boeotarchs had not told them the news from Lacedaemon, that Cleobulus and Xenares, the ephors, and their friends were advising them first to become allies of the Argives and Corinthians, and later to join the Lacedaemonians; they assumed that the council, even if they did not tell them, would vote for nothing other than what they themselves, after prior determination, were advising.
§5.38.4ὡς δὲ ἀντέστη τὸ πρᾶγμα, οἱ μὲν Κορίνθιοι καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ Θρᾴκης πρέσβεις ἄπρακτοι ἀπῆλθον, οἱ δὲ βοιωτάρχαι μέλλοντες πρότερον, εἰ ταῦτα ἔπεισαν, καὶ τὴν ξυμμαχίαν πειράσεσθαι πρὸς Ἀργείους ποιεῖν, οὐκέτι ἐσήνεγκαν περὶ Ἀργείων ἐς τὰς βουλάς, οὐδὲ ἐς τὸ Ἄργος τοὺς πρέσβεις οὓς ὑπέσχοντο ἔπεμπον, ἀμέλεια δέ τις ἐνῆν καὶ διατριβὴ τῶν πάντων.
As the matter had thus turned out contrary to expectation, the Corinthians and the envoys from Thrace departed without having accomplished anything; and the Boeotarchs, who had previously intended, if they succeeded in this persuasion, to attempt next to make the alliance with the Argives, no longer brought the matter concerning the Argives before the councils, nor did they send to Argos the envoys whom they had promised; indeed, a certain neglect and delay came over the whole affair. As the matter had thus turned out contrary to expectation, the Corinthians and the envoys from Thrace departed without having accomplished anything; and the Boeotarchs, who had previously intended, if they succeeded in this persuasion, to attempt next to make the alliance with the Argives, no longer brought the matter concerning the Argives before the councils, nor did they send to Argos the envoys whom they had promised; indeed, a certain neglect and delay came over the whole affair.