s dimensions more moderate. At daybreak, when the enemy began to
bestir themselves, the women armed the younger men, and handed over
the ditch to them, bidding them defend it, as it would be pleasant for
them to conquer in sight of their country, and glorious to die in the
arms of their mothers and wives after having fought worthily of
Sparta. Chilonis herself had retired to her own house, and had a
halter ready about her neck, in order that if the city were taken she
might not fall into the hands of Kleonymus.

XXVIII. Pyrrhus himself led a direct attack of his infantry against
the Spartans, who were drawn up in deep order, and endeavoured to
force his way through them, and to pass the ditch, which was
difficult, because the newly dug earth afforded no secure footing to
his soldiers. Meanwhile his son Ptolemy led a chosen body of two
thousand Gauls and Chaonians round the end of the ditch, and
endeavoured to break through the barricade of waggons. These stood so
thick and so close together that they made it hard, not only for the
assailants to cross them, but even for the Lacedaemonians to reach the
point where they were menaced. However, as the Gauls began to pull the
wheels out of the earth and to drag the waggons down towards the
river, the young Akrotatus perceiving the danger, sallied out from the
city at another point with three hundred men, and got round behind
Ptolemy's force, from whom he was concealed by some hilly ground. Then
he vigorously assailed the Gauls in the rear, and forced them to face
about and defend themselves, which caused great confusion, as they
were driven among the waggons and into the ditch by the Spartans until
at last they were forced to retreat. This glorious exploit of
Akrotatus was witnessed from the city walls by the old men and all the
women. As he returned through the city to his appointed post, covered
with blood and rejoicing in his victory, the Spartan women thought
that he had grown taller and more handsome than before, and they
envied Chilonis her lover. Some of the old men even followed him,
shouting, "Go home, Akrotatus, and enjoy yourself with Chilonis: only
beget brave sons for Sparta." Where Pyrrhus fought a terrible battle
took place, and many valiant deeds were wrought. A Spartan named
Phyllius, after greatly distinguishing himself and slaying many of the
assailants, when he felt himself mortally wounded, made way for his
rear rank-man to take his place, and died inside