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And as for the condition of the Thebans, surely you have not failed to note that also. They won a splendid victoryBattle of Leuctra, 371 B.C. and covered themselves with glory, but because they did not make good use of their success they are now in no better case than those who have suffered defeat and failure. For no sooner had they triumphed over their foes than, neglecting everything else, they began to annoy the cities of the Peloponnese;Epaminondas invaded the Peloponnese in 369, 368, 366, 362, stirring up the cities there against Sparta. Dio. Sic. 15.62-75. they made bold to reduce Thessaly to subjection;By conquering Alexander of Pherae. Dio. Sic. 15.67. they threatened their neighbors, the Megarians;The Megarians sided with Sparta when Agesilaus invaded Boeotia in 378. Xen. Hell. 5.4.41. they robbed our city of a portion of its territory;The border town of Oropus, 366 B.C. Xen. Hell. 7.4.1. they ravaged Euboea;See Dem. 18.99. they sent men-of-war to Byzantium,One hundred ships under Epaminondas, 364 B.C. Dio. Sic. 15.78-79. as if they purposed to rule both land and sea;
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and, finally, they began war upon the Phocians,Ten years, 356-346 B.C. See Isoc. 5.50. expecting that in a short time they would conquer their cities, occupy all the surrounding territory, and prevail over all the treasures at DelphiThe Phocians met their expenses in the war from the rich treasures in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. by the outlay of their own funds. But none of these hopes has been realized; instead of seizing the cities of the Phocians they have lost cities of their own;Orchomenus, Coroneia, Corsiae. Dio. Sic. 16.33-58. and now when they invade the enemy’s territory they inflict less damage upon them than they suffer when they are retreating to their own country;
