SAL AM IS. 165

suiting oracles, the answers of which do not seem to have been particularly encouraging, as he afterwards resorted to the more statesmanlike measure of endeav- ouring to detach the Athenians from the Greek alli- ance. For this mission he selected Alexander, the son of Amyntas, prince of Macedon. The Spartans, hear- ing of it, sent ambassadors on their part to beseech them not to desert the cause of Greece. The Athe- nians, with something of a lofty contempt, bade them have no fear, and told Alexander that they would carry on the war with the destroyers of their city and temples " so long as the sun held its course in heaven" and warned him, as he valued his safety, never again to bring them a like proposal. They were terribly in earnest ; for when one Lycidas, a fellow-townsman, counselled submission on another occasion, they stoned him to death.