courage, and made him long to take part in it,
he violently strained one leg forward and the other back, so as to
break the javelin in the middle, after which the pieces were pulled
out. Being thus set free, he drew his sword, ran through the first of
the combatants and attacked the enemy, animating all his men and
setting them on fire with emulation. After the victory was won
Antigonus enquired of the Macedonians why the cavalry had charged
without orders. They answered that they were forced to charge against
their will by a young citizen of Megalopolis, who attacked on his own
account. Antigonus smiled, and answered, "That young man acted like a
veteran commander."

VII. Philopoemen, as may be supposed, gained great glory by this
action. Antigonus was eager to obtain his services, and offered him a
command and high pay, but he excused himself, knowing that his temper
would not endure to be under the orders of another man. Still, as he
could not be idle, he sailed for Crete to serve a campaign there, in
order to gain experience of war. He spent a considerable time there,
living amongst warlike, sober, and temperate men, and returned to the
Achaeans with so great a reputation that they at once put him in
command of the knights. These horsemen, he found, were in the habit of
using any chance horses they could pick up when required for a
campaign, while in many cases they did not serve in person, but sent
substitutes. They were entirely without discipline or bravery, while
all this was passed over unnoticed by their commanders, because the
knights were the most influential men among the Achaeans, and were able
to promote or degrade whom they pleased. Philopoemen, however, could
not allow this state of things to continue. He went round to each of
the cities of the Achaean League, and by personally appealing to the
young men's sense of honour, by punishment where it was necessary, and
by careful training, exercises, and contests among them before as many
spectators as possible, in a short time produced great efficiency and
military spirit. He made them quick at manoeuvring in squadrons, and in
wheeling round and managing their horses, which is so valuable a
quality in cavalry soldiers, and taught the whole body to move with
ease at the will of one man. Once during a severe battle with the
Eleans and AEtolians on the banks of the river Larissa, Damophantus,
the commander of the Elean horse, rode furiously to attack Philopoem