Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/203

DEFEAT OF THE SPARTANS. 181 main Theban army. The most zealous among the allies of Sparta present, the Phokians, the Phliasians, and the Herakleots, to- gether with a body of mercenaries, executed this movement ; which seems to have weakened the Lacedaemonians in the main battle, without doing any mischief to the Thebans. The cavalry first engaged, in frcnt of both lines ; and here the superiority of the Thebans soon became manifest. The Lacedse monian cavalry, at no time very good, but at this moment unu sually bad, composed of raw and feeble novices, mounted on horses provided by the rich, was soon broken and driven back upon the infantry, whose ranks were disturbed by the fugitives. To reestablish the battle, JOeombrotus gave the word for the in- fantry to advance, himself personally leading the right. The vic- torious Theban cavalry probably hung upon the Lacedaemonian infantry of the centre and left, and prevented them from making much forward movement ; while Epaminondas and Pelopidas with their left, advanced according to their intention to bear down Kle- ombrotus and his right whig. The shock here was terrible ; on both sides victory was resolutely and desperately disputed, in a close hand-combat, with pushing of opposite shields and opposite masses. But such was the overwhelming force of the Theban charge, with the sacred band or chosen warriors in front, com- posed of men highly trained hi the palaestra, 1 and the deep column of fifty shields propelling behind, that even the Spartans, with all their courage, obstinacy, and discipline, were unable to stand up against it. Kleombrotus, himself either in or near the front, was mortally wounded, apparently early in the battle ; and it was only by heroic and unexampled efforts, on the part of his comrades around, that he was carried off yet alive, so as to preserve him from falling into the hands of the enemy. Around him also fell the most eminent members of the Spartan official staff; Deinon the polemarch, Sphodrias, with his son Kleonymus, and several others. After an obstinate resistance and a fearful slaughter, the right wing of the Spartans was completely beaten, and driven back to their camp on the higher Around. It was upon this Spartan right wing, where the Theban left was irresistibly strong, that all the stress cf the battle fell, as 1 Plutarch, Symposiar . ii, 5, p 639 P