ar skirmishing order. When he had
induced them to put on complete armour he raised their spirit by
telling them that they would be unconquerable, while he also effected
a most wholesome change in their luxurious habits of life. It was
impossible entirely to do away with their long-standing passion for
fine purple robes and tapestry, rich banquets, and furniture: but he
directed this love of finery to useful purposes, and soon brought them
all to retrench their private expenditure, and to take a pride in the
splendour of their military equipments. Their plate was sent to the
crucible, and employed to gild corslets, shields, and caparisons;
their public places were full of young men training chargers or
exercising themselves in arms, while the women were busy fitting
plumes to helmets, and ornamenting buff coats and military cloaks. The
sight of all this activity roused up their courage, and made them
eager for battle. In all other cases too much care for outward show
and display leads to effeminacy and luxury, because the pleasure which
our senses receive from these things blunt our better judgment, but in
military matters this is not so, for a splendid appearance under arms
increases men's courage; as Homer tells us that Achilles, when his new
arms were brought to him, was at once excited by a vehement desire to
make use of them. The youth, thus equipped, were incessantly exercised
and practised in their new manoeuvres, which they performed with
zealous goodwill, being delighted with the close formation of the
phalanx, which seemed as though it could never be broken. They soon
began to move with ease in their heavy armour, priding themselves upon
its splendour, and longing to prove its value in battle against their
enemies. The Achaeans at this time were at war with Machanidas the
despot of Lacedaemon, who had immense resources at his disposal, and
menaced the whole of Peloponnesus. As soon as news came that he had
invaded Arcadia and had reached Mantinea, Philopoemen with his army
marched rapidly to attack him. Both sides drew up their forces near
the city of Mantinea, and both brought into the field not only nearly
all their own countrymen, but also large bodies of foreign mercenary
troops. Machanidas began the battle by a charge of his mercenaries,
who routed the Tarentines and other light troops of the Achaeans, but
then instead of moving at once to attack and overwhelm their main
body, hurried away in pursuit, leavi