these they judged would be a match for all the forces that could be
brought against them by the Persians, though ever so numerous. When the
general of the Persians saw the small number of his enemies, he imagined
it would be an easy matter to take them prisoners or to destroy them.
Besides, as he was immensely rich, and possessed a number of palaces,
furnished with everything that was fine and costly, and had a great
quantity of gold and silver, and jewels, and slaves, he could not
conceive it possible that anybody could resist him. He therefore raised
a large army, several times greater than that of the Spartans, and
attacked Agesilaus, who was not in the least afraid of him; for the
Spartans, joining their shields together, and marching slowly along in
even ranks, fell with so much fury upon the Persians, that in an instant
they put them to flight."

Here Tommy interrupted the story, to inquire what a shield was.
"Formerly," answered Mr Barlow, "before men were acquainted with the
pernicious effects of gunpowder, they were accustomed to combat close
together with swords or long spears, and for this reason they covered
themselves in a variety of ways, to defend their bodies from the weapons
of their enemies. The shield was worn upon their left arm, and composed
of boards fixed together, and strengthened with the hides of animals,
and plates of iron, sufficiently long and broad to cover almost the
whole body of a man. When they went out to battle, they placed
themselves in even rows or ranks, with their shields extended before
them, to secure them from the arrows and weapons of their enemies. Upon
their heads they wore a helmet, which was a cap of iron or steel,
ornamented with the waving feathers of birds or the tails of horses. In
this manner, with an even pace, marching all at once, and extending
their spears before them, they went forward to meet their enemies." "I
declare," said Tommy, "that an army in full march, in such array, must
have been prodigiously fine; and when I have accidentally met with
soldiers myself, I thought they made such a figure, walking erect with
their arms all glittering in the sun, that I have sometimes thought I
would be a soldier myself whenever I grew big enough." "This
soldier-spirit of Tommy's brings to my recollection," said Mr Barlow, "a
circumstance that once occurred in the French army, which I cannot help
relating. After an execution had taken place in Paris, of a nobleman who
h