Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/199

DISCOURAGEMENT IN THE ARMY. 177 ing by the regular road from Phokis into Bceotia, he turned south- ward by a mountain-road scarcely deemed practicable, defeated the Theben division under Chasreas which guarded it, and crossed the ridge of Helikon to the Boeotian port of Kreusis on the Crissaeun Gulf. Coming upon this place by surprise, he stormed it, captur- ing twelve Theban triremes which lay in the harbor. He then left a garrison to occupy the port, and marched without delay over the mountainous ground into the territory of Thespise on the eastern declivity of Helikon ; where he encamped on the high ground, at a place of ever-memorable name, called Leuktra. 1 Here was an important success, skilfully gamed ; not only plac- ing Kleombrotus within an easy march of Thebes, but also opening a sure communication by sea with Sparta, through the port of Kreu sis, and thus eluding the difficulties of Mount Kithseron. Both the king and the Lacedaemonians around him were full of joy and confidence ; while the Thebans on their side were struck with dis- may as well as surprise. It required all the ability of Epaminon das, and ah 1 the daring of Pelopidas, to uphold the resolution of their countrymen, and to explain away or neutralize the terrific signs and portents, which a dispirited Greek was sure to see in every accident of the road. At length, however, they succeeded in this, and the Thebans with their allied Boeotians were marched out from Thebes to Leuktra, where they were posted on a declivity opposite to the Spartan camp. They were commanded by the seven Boeotarchs, of whom Epaminondas was one. But such was the prevalent apprehension of joining battle with the Spartans on equal terms, that even when actually on the ground, three of these Boeotarchs refused to concur in the order for fighting, and pro- posed to shut themselves up in Thebes for a siege, sending their wives and families away to Athens. Epaminondas was vainly com batting their determination, when the seventh Boeotarch, Bran- chylides, arrived from the passes of Kithasron, where he had been on guard, and was prevailed upon to vote in favor of the bolder course. Though a majority was thus secured for fighting, yet the feeling throughout the Theban camp was more that of brave de- spair than of cheering hope ; a conviction that it was better to perish in the field, than to live in exile with the Lacedaemonians 1 Xen. Hellen. vi, 4, 3, 4 ; Diodor. xv, 53 ; Pausan. ix, 13, 2. VOL. x. 8* 12oc,