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while the light infantry division were told to show them the way at a
swinging pace。 At the same time he passed the order along the line of
his cavalry to charge in reliance of the support of himself and the
main body in their rear。 Charge they did； these troopers； and the pick
of Persian cavalry received them bravely； but in face of the conjoint
horror of the attack they swerved； and some were cut down at once in
the river…bed； while others sought safety in flight。 The Hellenes
followed close on the heels of the flying foe； and captured his camp。
Here the peltasts； not unnaturally； fell to pillaging； whereupon
Agesilaus formed a cordon of troops； round the property of friends and
foes alike； and so encamped。
Presently hearing that the enemy were in a state of disorder； the
result of every one holding his fellow responsible for what had
happened； he advanced without further stay on Sardis。 Having arrived；
he fell to burning and ravaging the suburbs； while at the same time he
did not fail to make it known by proclamation that those who asked for
freedom should join his standard； or if there were any who claimed a
right of property in Asia he challenged them to come out and meet her
liberators in fair fight and let the sword decide between them。
Finding that no one ventured to come out to meet him； his march became
for the future a peaceful progress。 All around him he beheld Hellenes
who formerly were forced to bow the knee to brutal governors now
honoured by their former tyrants； while those who had claimed to enjoy
divine honours were so humbled by him that they scarce dared to look a
Hellene in the face。 Everywhere he saved the territory of his friends
from devastation； and reaped the fruits of the enemy's soil to such
good effect that within two years he was able to dedicate as a tithe
to the god at Delphi more than one hundred talents。＇14＇
＇14＇ = 25；000 pounds nearly。
It was then that the Persian king； believing that Tissaphernes was to
blame for the ill success of his affairs； sent down Tithraustes and
cut off the satrap's head。 After this the fortunes of the barbarians
grew still more desperate； whilst those of Agesilaus assumed a bolder
front。 On all side embassies from the surrounding nations came to make
terms of friendship； and numbers even came over to him； stretching out
eager arms to grasp at freedom。 So that Agesilaus was now no longer
the chosen captain of the Hellenes only； but of many Asiatics。
And here we may pause and consider what a weight of admiration is due
to one who； being now ruler over countless cities of the continent；
and islands also （since the state had further entrusted the navy to
his hands）； just when he had reached this pinnacle of renown and
power； and might look to turn to account his thronging fortunes； when；
too； which overtops all else； he was cherishing fond hopes to dissolve
that empire which in former days had dared to march on Hellas；at
such a moment suffered himself not to be overmastered by these
promptings； but on receipt of a summons of the home authorities to
come to the assistance of the fatherland； obeyed the mandate of his
state as readily＇15＇ as though he stood confronted face to face with
the Five in the hall of ephors； and thus gave clear proof that he
would not accept the whole earth in exchange for the land of his
fathers； nor newly…acquired in place of ancient friends； nor base
gains ingloriously purchased rather than the perilous pursuit of
honour and uprightness。＇16＇
＇15＇ Cf。 Hor。 〃Od。〃 III。 v。 50。
＇16＇ See Pindar； 〃Olymp。〃 vi。 14。
And； indeed； glancing back at the whole period during which he
remained in the exercise of his authority； no act of deeper
significance in proof of his kingly qualities need be named than this。
He found the cities which he was sent out to govern each and all a
prey to factions； the result of constitutional disturbances consequent
on the cessation of the Athenian empire； and without resort to exile
or sanguinary measures he so disposed them by his healing presence
that civil concord and material prosperity were permanently
maintained。 Therefore it was that the Hellenes in Asia deplored his
departure；＇17＇ as though they had lost； not simply a ruler； but a
father or bosom friend； and in the end they showed that their
friendship was of no fictitious character。 At any rate； they
voluntarily helped him to succour Lacedaemon； though it involved； as
they knew； the need of doing battle with combatants of equal prowess
with themselves。 So the tale of his achievements in Asia has an end。
＇17＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xv。
II
He crossed the Hellespont and made his way through the very tribes
traversed by the Persian＇1＇ with his multitudinous equipment in former
days； and the march which cost the barbarian a year was accomplished
by Agesilaus in less than a single month。 He did not want to arrive a
day too late to serve his fatherland。 And so passing through Macedonia
he arrived in Thessaly； and here the men of Larissa； Crannon；
Scotussa； and Pharsalus； who were allies of the Boeotians； and indeed
all the Thessalians； with the exception of those who were in exile at
the time； combined to dog his steps and do him damage。 For a while he
led his troops in a hollow square； posting one half of his cavalry in
the van and the other half on his rear； but finding his march hindered
by frequent attacks of the Thessalians on his hindmost divisions； he
sent round the mass of his cavalry from the vanguard to support his
rear； reserving only his personal escort。＇2＇ And now in battle order
the rival squadrons faced each other； when the Thessalians； not liking
a cavalry engagement in face of heavy infantry； wheeled and step by
step retreated； their opponents with much demureness following。 Then
Agesilaus； detecting the common error under which both parties
laboured； sent round his own bodyguard of stalwart troopers with
orders to their predecessors （an order they would act upon themselves）
to charge the enemy at full gallop and not give him a chance to rally。
The Thessalians； in face of this unexpected charge； either could not
so much as rally； or in the attempt to do so were caught with their
horses' flanks exposed to the enemy's attack。 Polycharmus； the
Pharsalian； a commandant of cavalry； did indeed succeed in wheeling；
but was cut down with those about him sword in hand。 This was the
signal for a flight so extraordinary that dead and dying lined the
road； and the living were captured wholesale； nor was a halt made
until the pursuers reached Mount Narthacius。 Here； midway between Pras
and Narthacius； Agesilaus erected a trophy； and here for the moment he
halted in unfeigned satisfaction at his exploit； since it was from an
antagonist boasting the finest cavalry in the world that he had
wrested victory with a body of cavalry organised by himself。
＇1＇ I。e。 〃Xerxes。〃
＇2＇ I。e。 〃the Three hundred。〃 See Thuc。 v。 72； 〃Pol。 Lac。〃 xiii。 6。
Next day； crossing the mountain barrier of Achaea Phthiotis； his march
lay through friendly territory for the rest of the way as far as the
frontiers of Boeotia。 Here he found the confederates drawn up in
battle line。 They consisted of the Thebans； the Athenians； the
Argives； the Corinthians； the Aenianians； the Euboeans； and both
divisions of the Locrians。＇3＇ He did not hesitate； but openly before
their eyes drew out his lines to give them battle。 He had with him a
division＇4＇ and a half of Lacedaemonians； and from the seat of war
itself the allied troops of the Phocians and the men of Orchomenus
only； besides the armament which he had brought with him from Asia。
＇3＇ See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 ii。 7。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃mora。〃
I am not going to maintain that he ventured on the engagement in spite
of having far fewer and inferior forces。 Such an assertion would only
reveal the senselessness of the general＇5＇ and the folly of the writer
who should select as praiseworthy the reckless imperilling of mighty
interests。 On the contrary； what I admire is the fact that he had
taken care to provide himself with an army not inferior to that of his
enemy； and had so equipped them that his cohorts literally gleamed
with purple and bronze。＇6＇ He had taken pains to enable his soldiers
to undergo the fatigue of war； he had filled their breasts with a
proud consc