s, proved that such contrivances are but child's play when
tried against a truly experienced general.

XIV. Returning to Peloponnesus with a great reputation from his Cretan
successes, he found Philip beaten by Titus Quintius, and Nabis at war
both with the Romans and the Achaeans. He was at once elected general
to attack Nabis, and in a sea fight suffered the same misfortune as
Epameinondas, that is to say, he effected much less at sea than was
expected of a man of his courage and reputation.

Indeed some writers tell us that Epameinondas was unwilling that his
countrymen should taste the advantages of the sea, and fearing that,
as Plato says, they might from steady soldiers be transformed into
licentious wandering sailors, purposely returned from the coast of
Asia Minor and the islands without having effected anything.

Philopoemen, imagining that his knowledge of war on land would enable
him to fight equally well at sea, learned by experience how greatly
practice assists men's courage, and how much their strength is
increased by being trained to use it. Not only was he worsted in a
sea-fight through inexperience, but having selected an old ship, which
had once been a famous vessel, but now was forty years old, she leaked
so much as to endanger the lives of those on board. After the action,
finding that the enemy despised him, as though his ships had been
entirely driven from the sea, and that they were ostentatiously
besieging Gythium, he sailed straightway thither and found them quite
unprepared, and with their discipline relaxed in consequence of their
victory. He landed his men at night, burned the enemy's tents, and
slew many of them. A few days afterwards, being surprised by Nabis in
a mountainous spot, while all the Achaeans gave themselves up for lost,
despairing of extricating themselves from such a difficult position,
Philopoemen, after a short survey of the country, proved that strategy
is the greatest of military qualities. He quietly and steadily changed
his front, manoeuvred his army out of its disadvantageous position,
attacked the enemy, and completely routed them. Perceiving that the
fugitives did not make for the city, but scattered themselves all over
the country, which was hilly and wooded, full of torrents and
precipices, and impassable for cavalry, he made no pursuit, but
encamped before dark. As he conjectured that the enemy after their
rout would straggle back into the city by twos and threes