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to undergo the fatigue of war； he had filled their breasts with a
proud consciousness that they were equal to do battle with any
combatants in the world； and what was more； he had infused a wholesome
rivalry in those about him to prove themselves each better than the
rest。 He had filled all hearts with sanguine expectation of great
blessings to descend on all； if they proved themselves good men。 Such
incentives； he thought； were best calculated to arouse enthusiasm in
men's souls to engage in battle with the enemy。 And in this
expectation he was not deceived。
＇5＇ Lit。 〃Agesilaus。〃
＇6＇ See 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 iv。 1。
I proceed to describe the battle； for in certain distinctive features
it differed from all the battles of our day。 The contending forces met
on the plain of Coronea； Agesilaus and his troops approaching from the
Cephisus； the Thebans and their allies from the slopes of the Helicon。
These masses of infantry； as any eye might see； were of duly balanced
strength； while as near as could be the cavalry on either side was
numerically the same。 Agesilaus held the right of his own army； and on
his extreme left lay the men of Orchomenus。 On the opposite side the
Thebans themselves formed their own right and the Argives held their
left。 While the two armies approached a deep silence prevailed on
either side； but when they were now a single furlong's＇7＇ space apart
the Thebans quickened to a run； and； with a loud hurrah； dashed
forward to close quarters。 And now there was barely a hundred yards＇8＇
between them； when Herippidas； with his foreign brigade； rushed
forward from the Spartan's battle lines to meet them。 This brigade
consisted partly of troops which had served with Agesilaus ever since
he left home； with a portion of the Cyreians； besides Ionians；
Aeolians； and their neighbours on the Hellespont。 All these took part
in the foward rush of the attack just mentioned； and coming within
spear…thrust they routed that portion of the enemy in front of them。
The Argives did not even wait for Agesilaus and his division； but fled
towards Helicon； and at that moment some of his foreign friends were
on the point of crowning Agesilaus with the wreath of victory； when
some one brought him word that the Thebans had cut through the
division from Orchomenus and were busy with the baggage…train。
Accordingly he at once deployed his division and advanced by
counter…march against them。 The Thebans on their side； seeing that
their allies had scattered on Helicon； and eager to make their way
back to join their friends； began advancing sturdily。
＇7＇ Lit。 〃a stade。〃
＇8＇ Lit。 〃three plethra。〃
To assert that Agesilaus at this crisis displayed real valour is to
assert a thing indisputable； but for all that the course he adopted
was not the safest。 It was open to him to let the enemy pass in their
effort to rejoin their friends； and that done to have hung upon their
heels and overmastered their rear ranks； but he did nothing of the
sort： what he did was； to crash front to front against the Thebans。
And so with shields interlocked they shoved and fought and fought and
shoved； dealing death and yielding life。 There was no shouting； nor
yet was there even silence； but a strange and smothered utterance；
such as rage and battle vent。＇9＇ At last a portion of the Thebans
forced their way through towards Helicon； but many were slain in that
departure。
＇9＇ Or； 〃as the rage and fury of battle may give vent to。〃 See
〃Cyrop。〃 VII。 i。 38…40。 A graphic touch omitted in 〃Hell。〃 IV。
iii。 19。
Victory remained with Agesilaus。 Wounded himself； they bore him back
to his own lines； when some of his troopers came galloping up to tell
him that eighty of the enemy had taken refuge with their arms＇10＇
under cover of the Temple；＇11＇ and they asked what they ought to do。
He； albeit he had received wounds all over him； having been the mark
of divers weapons； did not even so forget his duty to God； and gave
orders to let them go whithersoever they chose； nor suffered them to
be ill…treated； but ordered his bodyguard of cavalry to escort them
out of reach of danger。
＇10＇ I。e。 〃they had kept their arms。〃
＇11＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xix。； Paus。 ix。 34。
And now that the battle had ceased； it was a sight to see where the
encounter took place； the earth bedabbled with gore； the dead lying
cheek by jowl； friend and foe together； and the great shields hacked
and broken to pieces； and the spears snapped asunder； the daggers
lying bare of sheaths； some on the ground； some buried in the bodies；
some still clutched in the dead men's hands。 For the moment then；
seeing that it was already late in the day； they dragged together the
corpses of their slain apart from those of the enemy＇12＇ and laid them
within the lines； and took their evening meal and slept； but early
next morning Agesilaus ordered Gylis； the polemarch； to marshal the
troops in battle order and to set up a trophy； while each man donned a
wreath in honour of the god； and the pipers piped。 So they busied
themselves； but the Thebans sent a herald asking leave to bury their
dead under cover of a truce。 And so it came to pass that a truce was
made； and Agesilaus departed homewards； having chosen； in lieu of
supreme greatness in Asia； to rule； and to be ruled； in obedience to
the laws at home。
＇12＇ Reading； ｛tous ek ton polemion nekrous｝； after Weiske。
It was after this＇13＇ that his attention was drawn to the men of
Argos。 They had appropriated Corinth； and were reaping the fruits of
their fields at home。 The war to them was a merry jest。 Accordingly he
marched against them； and having ravaged their territory throughout；
he crossed over by the pass＇14＇ down upon Corinth and captured the
long walls leading to Lechaeum。 And so having thrown open the gates of
Peloponnese he returned home in time for the Hyacinthia；＇15＇ where； in
the post assigned to him by the master of the chorus； he shared in the
performance of the paean in honour of the god。
＇13＇ B。C。 393。
＇14＇ ｛kata ta stena｝。 See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 iv。 19。 ｛kata Tenean｝； according
to Koppen's emendation。
＇15＇ See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 v。 208； Herod。 ix。 7； 〃Hell。〃 IV。 v。 10。
Later on； it being brought to his notice that the Corinthians were
keeping all their cattle safely housed in the Peiraeum； sowing the
whole of that district； and gathering in their crops； and； which was a
matter of the greatest moment； that the Boeotians； with Creusis as
their base of operations； could pour their succours into Corinth by
this routehe marched against Peiraeum。 Finding it strongly guarded；
he made as if the city of Corinth were about to capitulate； and
immediately after the morning meal shifted his ground and encamped
against the capital。 Under cover of night there was a rush from
Peiraeum to protect the city； which he was well aware of； and with
break of day he turned right about and took Peiraeum； defenceless as
it lay； capturing all that it contained； with the various fortresses
within； and having so done retired homewards。
After these exploits＇16＇ the Achaeans were urgent for an alliance； and
begged him to join them in an expedition against Acarnania。 In the
course of this the Acarnanians attacked him in a defile。 Storming the
heights above his head with his light troops；＇17＇ he gave them battle；
and slew many of them； and set up a trophy； nor stayed his hand until
he had united the Acarnanians； the Aetolians； and the Argives；＇18＇ in
friendship with the Achaeans and alliance with himself。
＇16＇ B。C。 390…389？
＇17＇ See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 vi。 9…11； where it is expressly stated that the
action was won by the Spartan hoplites。 See Hartman； 〃An。 Xen。〃
（cap。 xi。 〃De Agesilao libello〃）； p。 263； for other discrepancies
between the historian and the encomiast。
＇18＇ See perhaps 〃Hell。〃 IV。 iv。 19； vii。 2 foll。
When the enemy； being desirous of peace； sent an embassy； it was
Agesilaus who spoke against the peace；＇19＇ until he had forced the
states of Corinth and of Thebes to welcome back those of them who； for
Lacedaemon's sake； had suffered banishment。
＇19＇ I。e。 〃of Antalcidas； B。C。 387。〃 See 〃Hell。〃 V。 i。 36； Grote； 〃H。
G。〃 ix。 537 note。
And still later；＇20＇ again； he restored the exiles of the Phliasians；
who had su