age.

(1) See "Pol. Lac." xiv. 4.

(2) See below, "Hell." IV. viii. 3.

(3) See "Ages." ii. 2; Grote, "H. G." ix. 420, note 2.

For some while he marched his troops in a hollow square, (4) posting
half his cavalry in front and half on his rear; but finding that the
Thessalians checked his passage by repeated charges from behind, he
strengthened his rearguard by sending round the cavalry from his van,
with the exception of his own personal escort. (5) The two armies stood
confronted in battle order; but the Thessalians, not liking the notion
of a cavalry engagement with heavy infantry, turned, and step by step
retreated, while the others followed them with considerable caution.
Agesilaus, perceiving the error under which both alike laboured, now
sent his own personal guard of stalwart troopers with orders that both
they and the rest of the horsemen should charge at full gallop, (6)
and not give the enemy the chance to recoil. The Thessalians were taken
aback by this unexpected onslaught, and half of them never thought of
wheeling about, whilst those who did essay to do so presented the
flanks of their horses to the charge, (7) and were made prisoners.
Still Polymarchus of Pharsalus, the general in command of their cavalry,
rallied his men for an instant, and fell, sword in hand, with his
immediate followers. This was the signal for a flight so precipitate on
the part of the Thessalians, that their dead and dying lined the road,
and prisoners were taken; nor was any halt made until they reached Mount
Narthacius. Here, then, midway between Pras and Narthacius, Agesilaus
set up a trophy, halting for the moment, in unfeigned satisfaction at
the exploit. It was from antagonists who prided themselves on their
cavalry beyond everything that he had wrested victory, with a body
of cavalry of his own mustering. Next day he crossed the mountains
of Achaea Phthiotis, and for the future continued his march through
friendly territory until he reached the confines of Boeotia.

(4) See Rustow and Kochly, S. 187 foll.

(5) See Thuc. v. 72; Herod. vi. 56, viii. 124.

(6) Lit. "and bids them pass the order to the others and themselves to
charge," etc.

(7) See "Horsemanship," vii. 16; Polyb. iv. 8.

Here, at the entrance of that territory, the sun (in partial eclipse)
(8) seemed to appear in a crescent shape, and the news reached him of
the defeat of the Lacedaemonians in a naval engagement, and the death
of the admir