Argives raced past, their enemies
thrust at their unprotected (20) sides and killed many of them. The
Corinthians were caught in the same way as they retired, and when their
turn had passed, once more the Lacedaemonians lit upon a portion of the
Theban division retiring from the pursuit, and strewed the field with
their dead. The end of it all was that the defeated troops in the first
instance made for safety to the walls of their city, but the Corinthians
within closed the gates, whereupon the troops took up quarters once
again in their old encampment. The Lacedaemonians on their side withdrew
to the point at which they first closed with the enemy, and there set up
a trophy of victory. So the battle ended.

(14) Or, "then they lost no time in discovering that the victims
proved favourable."

(15) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 428; cf. Lys. "pro Mant." 20.

(16) Lit. "a stade."

(17) Lit. "our Lady of the Chase." See "Pol. Lac." xiii. 8.

(18) Lit. "men on either side kept dropping at their post."

(19) Lit. "tribes."

(20) I.e. "right."

III

Meanwhile Agesilaus was rapidly hastening with his reinforcements from
Asia. He had reached Amphipolis when Dercylidas brought the news of this
fresh victory of the Lacedaemonians; their own loss had been eight men,
that of the enemy considerable. It was his business at the same time to
explain that not a few of the allies had fallen also. Agesilaus
asked, "Would it not be opportune, Dercylidas, if the cities that have
furnished us with contingents could hear of this victory as soon as
possible?" And Dercylidas replied: "The news at any rate is likely
to put them in better heart." Then said the king: "As you were an
eye-witness there could hardly be a better bearer of the news than
yourself." To this proposal Dercylidas lent a willing ear--to travel
abroad (1) was his special delight--and he replied, "Yes, under your
orders." "Then you have my orders," the king said. "And you may further
inform the states from myself that we have not forgotten our promise;
if all goes well over here we shall be with them again ere long."
So Dercylidas set off on his travels, in the first instance to the
Hellespont; (2) while Agesilaus crossed Macedonia, and arrived in
Thessaly. And now the men of Larissa, Crannon, Scotussa, and Pharsalus,
who were allies of the Boeotians--and in fact all the Thessalians except
the exiles for the time being--hung on his heels (3) and did him dam