, flying from these, were caught by the chariots.
[29] And now Abradatas could wait no longer. "Follow me, my friends,"
he shouted, and drove straight at the enemy, lashing his good steeds
forward till their flanks were bloody with the goad, the other
charioteers racing hard behind him. The enemy's chariots fled before
them instantly, some not even waiting to take up their fighting-men.
[30] But Abradatas drove on through them, straight into the main body of
the Egyptians, his rush shared by his comrades on either hand. And then,
what has often been shown elsewhere was shown here, namely, that of
all strong formations the strongest is a band of friends. His
brothers-in-arms and his mess-mates charged with him, but the others,
when they saw that the solid ranks of the Egyptians stood firm, swung
round and pursued the flying chariots. [31] Meanwhile Abradatas and his
companions could make no further way: there was not a gap through the
Egyptian lines on either hand, and they could but charge the single
soldiers where they stood, overthrow them by the sheer weight of horse
and car, and crush them and their arms beneath the hoofs and wheels. And
where the scythes caught them, men and weapons were cut to shreds. [32]
In the midst of indescribable confusion, the chariots rocking among the
weltering mounds, Abradatas was thrown out and some of his comrades with
him. There they stood, and fought like men, and there they were cut
down and died. The Persians, pouring in after them, dealt slaughter
and destruction where Abradatas and his men had charged and shaken the
ranks, but elsewhere the Egyptians, who were still unscathed, and they
were many, moved steadily on to meet them.

[33] There followed a desperate struggle with lance and spear and sword,
and still the Egyptians had the advantage, because of their numbers and
their weapons. Their spears were immensely stout and long, such as they
carry to this day, and the huge shield not only gave more protection
than corslet and buckler, but aided the thrust of the fighter, slung as
it was from the shoulder.

[34] Shield locked into shield, they thrust their way forward; and the
Persians could not drive them back, with their light bucklers borne on
the forearm only. Step by step they gave ground, dealing blow for blow,
till they came under cover of their own artillery. Then at last a second
shower of blows fell on the Egyptians, while the reserves would allow no
flight of the arch