try at a point where his troops would have to fight on
level ground and under attack from the houses above; where also their
large numbers would give them no superiority over the small numbers of
the foemen. But, singling out a position which he conceived would give
him the advantage, he occupied it and began his advance against the city
upon a downward instead of an upward incline.

(7) Grote ("H. G." x. 455) says: "Though he crossed the Eurotas and
actually entered into the city of Sparta," as the words {epei de
egeneto en te polei ton Spartiaton} certainly seem to me to imply.
Others interpret "in the close neighbourhood of."

With regard to what subsequently took place, two possible explanations
suggest themselves: either it was miraculous, or it may be maintained
that there is no resisting the fury of desperation. Archidamus,
advancing at the head of but a hundred men, and crossing the one thing
which might have been expected to form an obstacle to the enemy, (8)
began marching uphill against his antagonists. At this crisis these
fire-breathing warriors, these victorious heroes of Leuctra, (9) with
their superiority at every point, aided, moreover, by the advantage of
their position, did not withstand the attack of Archidamus and those
with him, but swerved in flight.

(8) Or, "to serve as his defence"; or, "the one obstacle to his
progress," i.e. Archidamus's. It was a miraculous thing that the
Thebans did not stop him.

(9) See Mahaffy, "Hist. Gk. Lit." vol. ii. p. 268, 1st ed. See above,
"Hell." VI. iv. 24; Diod. xv. 39, 56.

The vanguard of Epaminondas's troops were cut down; when, however,
flushed with the glory of their victory, the citizens followed up their
pursuit beyond the right point, they in turn were cut down--so plainly
was the demarking line of victory drawn by the finger of God. So then
Archidamus set up a trophy to note the limit of his success, and gave
back those who had there fallen of the enemy under a truce. Epaminondas,
on his side, reflecting that the Arcadians must already be hastening
to the relief of Lacedaemon, and being unwilling to engage them in
conjunction with the whole of the Lacedaemonian force, especially now
that the star of Sparta's fortune shone, whilst theirs had suffered some
eclipse, turned and marched back the way he came with all speed possible
into Tegea. There he gave his heavy infantry pause and refreshment, but
his cavalry he sent on t