Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/351

EPAMINONDAS IN TEGKA 329 large number of Thessalians (some even sent by Alexander of Phe- ras, whp had now become a dependent ally of Thebes), the Lokrians, Malians, jEnianes, and probably various other allies from North- ern Greece ; though the Phokians declined to join, alleging that their agreement with Thebes was for alliance purely defensive. 1 Having passed the line of Mount Oneium, which was no longer defended, as it had been at his former entrance, he reached Ne- mea, where he was probably joined by the Sikyonian contingent, 2 and where he halted, in hopes of intercepting the Athenian con- tingent in their way to join his enemies. He probably had infor- mation which induced him to expect them ; 3 but the information turned out false. The Athenians never appeared, and it was un- derstood that they were preparing to cross by sea to the eastern coast of Laconia. After a fruitless halt, he proceeded onward to Tegea, where his Peloponnesian allies all presently joined him : the Arcadians of Tegea, Pallantium, Asea, and Megalopolis, the Messenians (all these forming the line of frontier against Laco- nia) and the Argeians. The halt at Nemea, since Epaminondas missed its direct pur- pose, was injurious in another way, as it enabled the main body of his Peloponnesian enemies to concentrate at Mantinea; which junction might probably have been prevented, had he entered Ar- cadia without delay. A powerful Peloponnesian army was there united, consisting of the Mantineans with the major part of the other Arcadians, the Eleians, and the Achseans. Invitation had been sent to the Spartans ; and old Agesilaus, now in his eightieth year, was in full march with the Lacedemonian forces to Mantinea. Besides this, the Athenian contingent was immedi- ately expected ; especially valuable from its cavalry, since the Peloponnesians were not strong in that description of force, some of them indeed having none at all. Epaminondas established his camp and place of arms within the walls of Tegea ; a precaution which Xenophon praises, as making his troops more secure and comfortable, and his motions less ob- 1 Xen. Hellen, vii, 5, 5 ; Dioclor, xv, 85. Diodor. xv, 85. 3 The explanation which Xenophon gives of this halt at Nemea, as if Epuminondas was determined to it by a peculiar hatred of Athens (Hellen rii, 5, 6) seems alike fanciful and ill-tempered.