and flower of the division had succumbed
that they were joined by their returning cavalry, in whose company they
once again attempted a charge. The light infantry gave way, but the
attack of the cavalry was feebly enforced. Instead of pressing home the
charge until at least they had sabred some of the enemy, they kept their
horses abreast of their infantry skirmishers, (20) charging and wheeling
side by side.

(17) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 467, note on the improvements of
Iphicrates.

(18) Grote, "H. G." ix. 484; cf. "Hell." IV. viii. 39; "Anab." IV. ii.
20; Herod. ix. 10-29.

(19) Youngest rank and file, between eighteen and twenty-eight years
of age, who formed the first line. The Spartan was liable to
service at the age of eighteen. From twenty-eight to thirty-three
he would belong to the fifteen-years-service division (the second
line); and so on. See below, IV. vi. 10.

(20) See Thuc. iv. 125.

Again and again the monotonous tale of doing and suffering repeated
itself, except that as their own ranks grew thinner and their courage
ebbed, the courage of their assailants grew bolder and their numbers
increased. In desperation they massed compactly upon the narrow slope of
a hillock, distant a couple of furlongs (21) or so from the sea, and a
couple of miles (22) perhaps from Lechaeum. Their friends in Lechaeum,
perceiving them, embarked in boats and sailed round until they were
immediately under the hillock. And now, in the very slough of despair,
being so sorely troubled as man after man dropped dead, and unable
to strike a blow, to crown their distress they saw the enemy's heavy
infantry advancing. Then they took to flight; some of them threw
themselves into the sea; others--a mere handful--escaped with the
cavalry into Lechaeum. The death-roll, including those who fell in the
second fight and the final flight, must have numbered two hundred and
fifty slain, or thereabouts. (23) Such is the tale of the destruction of
the Lacedaemonian mora.

(21) Lit. "two stades."

(22) Lit. "sixteen or seventeen stades."

(23) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 486.

Subsequently, with the mutilated fragment of the division, Agesilaus
turned his back upon Lechaeum, leaving another division behind to
garrison that port. On his passage homewards, as he wound his way
through the various cities, he made a point of arriving at each as late
in the day as possible, renewing his march as early as possible nex