cavalry, and the flower of the heavy infantry, the
ten-years-service men, charged by their side. The Theban cavalry at that
instant looked like men who had been imbibing too freely in the noontide
heat--that is to say, they awaited the charge long enough to hurl their
spears; but the volley sped without effect, and wheeling about within
that distance they left twelve of their number dead upon the field.

(18) By Cynoscephalae. See "Ages." ii. 22.

(19) Read, after Courier, {arti} for the vulg. {eti}; or, better
still, adopt Hartman's emendation (op. cit. p. 379), {ton men ede
katabebekoton ton de katabainonton}, and translate "some--already
dismounted, and others dismounting."

(20) Lit. "one of the perioeci."

(21) Reading {Thebaion} after Dind. for {'Athenaion}.

Agesilaus had not failed to note with what regularity the enemy
presented himself after the morning meal. Turning the observation to
account, he offered sacrifice with day's dawn, and marched with all
possible speed, and so crossed within the palisadings, through what
might have been a desert, as far as defence or sign of living being
went. Once well inside, he proceeded to cut down and set on fire
everything up to the city gates. After this exploit he beat a retreat,
retiring into Thespiae, where he fortified their citadel for them. Here
he left Phoebidas as governor, while he himself crossed the passes back
into Megara. Arrived here he disbanded the allies, and led the city
troops homewards.

After the departure of Agesilaus, Phoebidas devoted himself to harrying
the Thebans by sending out robber bands, and laid waste their land by
a system of regular incursions. The Thebans, on their side, desiring
to retaliate, marched out with their whole force into the territory
of Thespiae. But once well inside the district they found themselves
closely beset by Phoebidas and his light troops, who would not give
them the slightest chance to scatter from their main body, so that
the Thebans, heartily vexed at the turn their foray had taken, beat a
retreat quicker than they had come. The muleteers threw away with their
own hands the fruits they had captured, in their anxiety to get home as
quickly as possible; so dire a dread had fallen upon the invading army.
This was the chance for the Spartan to press home his attack boldly,
keeping his light division in close attendance on himself, and leaving
the heavy infantry under orders to follow him in ba