The division was made, and a great majority were in favour of the
motion, recording their votes against Athens. The allies were then
called in, and informed to the result of the private debate, and a day
was named for a general synod of the whole Peloponnesian league, to
reconsider the situation and decide whether war was to be declared.
In the interval, before the final assembly of the allies, the Spartans
sent to ask the oracle at Delphi whether it was expedient for them to
make war; and the answer, according to common report, was that if they
fought with all their might they would conquer, and that the god
[Footnote: Apollo.] would be on their side. The Corinthians were at
the same time carrying on an active canvass against Athens, sending
their agents from city to city to blow up the flames of war.
In the autumn of the same year the allies met in full synod at Sparta,
and once more the Corinthian speaker led the cry against Athens, and
called for a unanimous war-vote, flattering his hearers with hopes of
a speedy victory. The Spartans, he said, had at last set a good
example to their allies, and shown themselves convinced that imperial
cities had imperial obligations, by pronouncing in favour of war.
Every member of the league must join heartily in the struggle, whether
he belonged to an inland or to a maritime city; for if the seaports
were closed by the Athenian fleets, the inland towns would be
prevented from exporting their products, and importing what they
wanted from abroad.
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