and lastly, there
were additional levies from the spot--Orchomenian and Phocian heavy
infantry. In light-armed troops, it must be admitted, the numbers told
heavily in favour of Agesilaus, but the cavalry (13) on both sides were
fairly balanced.

(10) Lit. "a mora"; for the numbers, see "Ages." ii. 6; Plut. "Ages."
17; Grote, "H. G." ix. 433.

(11) I.e. "enfranchised helots."

(12) See "Ages." ii. 10, 11; and above, "Hell." III. iv. 20.

(13) See Hicks, op. cit. 68.

Such were the forces of either party. I will describe the battle itself,
if only on account of certain features which distinguish it from the
battles of our time. The two armies met on the plain of Coronea--the
troops of Agesilaus advancing from the Cephisus, the Thebans and their
allies from the slopes of Helicon. Agesilaus commanded his own right
in person, with the men of Orchomenus on his extreme left. The Thebans
formed their own right, while the Argives held their left. As they drew
together, for a while deep silence reigned on either side; but when they
were not more than a furlong (14) apart, with the loud hurrah (15) the
Thebans, quickening to a run, rushed furiously (16) to close quarters;
and now there was barely a hundred yards (17) breadth between the two
armies, when Herippidas with his foreign brigade, and with them the
Ionians, Aeolians, and Hellespontines, darted out from the Spartans'
battle-lines to greet their onset. One and all of the above played their
part in the first rush forward; in another instant they were (18) within
spear-thrust of the enemy, and had routed the section immediately before
them. As to the Argives, they actually declined to receive the attack
of Agesilaus, and betook themselves in flight to Helicon. At this
moment some of the foreign division were already in the act of crowning
Agesilaus with the wreath of victory, when some one brought him word
that the Thebans had cut through the Orchomenians and were in among the
baggage train. At this the Spartan general immediately turned his army
right about and advanced against them. The Thebans, on their side,
catching sight of their allies withdrawn in flight to the base of the
Helicon, and anxious to get across to their own friends, formed in close
order and tramped forward stoutly.

(14) Lit. "a stade."

(15) Lit. "Alalah."

(16) Like a tornado.

(17) Lit. "about three plethra."

(18) Or, "All these made up the attacking columns... and coming