s, it is understood, had, on hearing the news of the
establishment of peace, sent to the ephorate to ask for guidance;
and then they sent him the above instructions, bidding him under the
circumstances named to march upon Thebes. (2))

(1) See Grote, "H. G." x. 237: "The miso-Theban impulse now drove them
on with a fury which overcame all other thoughts... a
misguiding inspiration sent by the gods--like that of the Homeric
Ate."

(2) This passage reads like an earlier version for which the above was
substituted by the author.

The Spartan king soon perceived that, so far from leaving the Boeotian
states their autonomy, the Thebans were not even preparing to disband
their army, clearly in view of a general engagement; he therefore felt
justified in marching his troops into Boeotia. The point of ingress
which he adopted was not that which the Thebans anticipated from Phocis,
and where they were keeping guard at a defile; but, marching through
Thisbae by a mountainous and unsuspected route, he arrived before
Creusis, taking that fortress and capturing twelve Theban war-vessels
besides. After this achievement he advanced from the seaboard and
encamped in Leuctra on Thespian territory. The Thebans encamped in
a rising ground immediately opposite at no great distance, and were
supported by no allies except the Boeotians.

At this juncture the friends of Cleombrotus came to him and urged upon
him strong reasons for delivering battle. "If you let the Thebans escape
without a battle," they said, "you will run great risks of suffering
the extreme penalty at the hands of the state. People will call to mind
against you the time when you reached Cynoscephelae and did not ravage a
square foot of Theban territory; and again, a subsequent expedition when
you were driven back foiled in your attempt to make an entry into the
enemy's country--while Agesilaus on each occasion found his entry
by Mount Cithaeron. If then you have any care for yourself, or any
attachment to your fatherland, march you against the enemy." That was
what his friends urged. As to his opponents, what they said was, "Now
our fine friend will show whether he really is so concerned on behalf of
the Thebans as he is said to be."

Cleombrotus, with these words ringing in his ears, felt driven (3) to
join battle. On their side the leaders of Thebes calculated that, if
they did not fight, their provincial cities (4) would hold aloof from
them and T