ving them into the camp of the Boeotians. The immediate
effect was to make the Boeotian portion of the army more numerous and
closer packed than before. The next feature of the combat was that in
consequence of the flat space of plain (9) between the opposing armies,
the Lacedaemonians posted their cavalry in front of their squares
of infantry, and the Thebans followed suit. Only there was this
difference--the Theban cavalry was in a high state of training and
efficiency, owing to their war with the Orchomenians and again their war
with Thespiae, whilst the cavalry of the Lacedaemonians was at its worst
at this period. (10) The horses were reared and kept by the wealthiest
members of the state; but whenever the ban was called out, an appointed
trooper appeared who took the horse with any sort of arms which might
be presented to him, and set off on the expedition at a moment's notice.
Moreover, these troopers were the least able-bodied of the men: raw
recruits set simply astride their horses, and devoid of soldierly
ambition. Such was the cavalry of either antagonist.

(8) Or, "surrounded them."

(9) See Rustow and Kochly, op. cit. p. 173.

(10) See "Hipparch." ix. 4; also "Cyrop." VIII. viii.

The heavy infantry of the Lacedaemonians, it is said, advanced by
sections three files abreast, (11) allowing a total depth to the whole
line of not more than twelve. The Thebans were formed in close order of
not less than fifty shields deep, calculating that victory gained over
the king's division of the army implied the easy conquest of the rest.

(11) It would appear that the "enomoty" (section) numbered thirty-six
files. See "Pol. Lac." xi. 4; xiii. 4. For further details as to
the tactical order of the Thebans, see Diod. xv. 55; Plut.
"Pelop." xxiii.

Cleombrotus had hardly begun to lead his division against the foe
when, before in fact the troops with him were aware of his advance, the
cavalry had already come into collision, and that of the Lacedaemonians
was speedily worsted. In their flight they became involved with their
own heavy infantry; and to make matters worse, the Theban regiments were
already attacking vigorously. Still strong evidence exists for
supposing that Cleombrotus and his division were, in the first instance,
victorious in the battle, if we consider the fact that they could never
have picked him up and brought him back alive unless his vanguard had
been masters of the situation for