desertion of his mercenaries, and learned that their property, wives
and children were for the most part placed in Pharsalus, so that by
capturing that place he could make them pay the penalty of their
crime, he got together a force of Thessalians and came to Pharsalus.
When he was just arrived, Alexander the tyrant appeared with his army.
Pelopidas and his friends supposed that he had come to establish his
innocence, and went to meet him, knowing him to be profligate and
bloodthirsty, yet fearing no harm, because of the name of Thebes and
their own personal prestige. But he, when he saw them approaching him
unarmed and alone, at once secured them and took Pharsalus, striking
fear and terror into all his subjects; for they expected that after an
act of such daring lawlessness he would spare no one, but treat them
as one who had made up his mind to lose his own life.

XXVIII. The Thebans when they heard of this were greatly moved, and at
once despatched an army to the rescue, but on account of some quarrel
with Epameinondas they appointed others to the command. The tyrant
took Pelopidas to Pheræ, and at first allowed any who chose to
converse with him, supposing that he would be cast down and humbled by
his misfortunes; but when the people of Pheræ came to lament over him,
Pelopidas bade them be of good courage, as now if ever the tyrant
would have to pay the penalty of his crimes: and he sent a message to
the tyrant himself, saving that he was a strange man, to torture and
murder his wretched and innocent citizens every day, and to spare him,
who he knew would be sure to wreak vengeance on him if he should
escape. The tyrant, admiring his spirit and fearlessness, said, "What!
does Pelopidas wish to die?" The other, hearing of this answered,
"Yes, that you may become even more hateful to heaven than you are
now, and so may die sooner."