Kiril Boyadzhiev
Xenophon Hellenica 7-5 (1-14)
Kiril Boyadzhiev /
- Created on 2023-04-21 12:20:13
- Modified on 2023-06-10 14:29:09
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Ἑλληνική Transliterate
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ὡς δὲ ταῦτα ἀπηγγέλθη πρός τε τὸ κοινὸν τῶν Ἀρκάδων καὶ κατὰ πόλεις , ἐκ τούτου ἀνελογίζοντο Μαντινεῖς τε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἀρκάδων οἱ κηδόμενοι τῆς Πελοποννήσου , ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ Ἠλεῖοι καὶ Ἀχαιοί , ὅτι οἱ Θηβαῖοι δῆλοι εἶεν βουλόμενοι ὡς ἀσθενεστάτην τὴν Πελοπόννησον εἶναι , ὅπως ὡς ῥᾷστα αὐτὴν καταδουλώσαιντο .
τί γὰρ δὴ πολεμεῖν ἡμᾶς βούλονται ἢ ἵνα ἡμεῖς μὲν ἀλλήλους κακῶς ποιῶμεν , ἐκείνων δ᾽ ἀμφότεροι δεώμεθα ; ἢ τί λεγόντων ἡμῶν ὅτι οὐ δεόμεθα αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ παρόντι παρασκευάζονται ὡς ἐξιόντες ; οὐ δῆλον ὡς ἐπὶ τῷ κακόν τι ἐργάζεσθαι ἡμᾶς στρατεύειν παρασκευάζονται ;
ἔπεμπον δὲ καὶ Ἀθήναζε βοηθεῖν κελεύοντες : ἐπορεύθησαν δὲ καὶ εἰς Λακεδαίμονα πρέσβεις ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπαρίτων , παρακαλοῦντες Λακεδαιμονίους , εἰ βούλοιντο κοινῇ διακωλύειν , ἄν τινες ἴωσι καταδουλωσόμενοι τὴν Πελοπόννησον . περὶ μέντοι ἡγεμονίας αὐτόθεν διεπράττοντο ὅπως ἐν τῇ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστοι ἡγήσοιντο .
ἐν ὅσῳ δὲ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπράττετο , Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἐξῄει , Βοιωτοὺς ἔχων πάντας καὶ Εὐβοᾶς καὶ Θετταλῶν πολλοὺς παρά τε Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ τῶν ἐναντίων αὐτῷ . Φωκεῖς μέντοι οὐκ ἠκολούθουν , λέγοντες ὅτι συνθῆκαι σφίσιν αὐτοῖς εἶεν , εἴ τις ἐπὶ Θήβας ἴοι , βοηθεῖν : ἐπ᾽ ἄλλους δὲ στρατεύειν οὐκ εἶναι ἐν ταῖς συνθήκαις .
ὁ μέντοι Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἐλογίζετο καὶ ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ σφίσιν ὑπάρχειν Ἀργείους τε καὶ Μεσσηνίους καὶ Ἀρκάδων τοὺς τὰ σφέτερα φρονοῦντας . ἦσαν δ᾽ οὗτοι Τεγεᾶται καὶ Μεγαλοπολῖται καὶ Ἀσεᾶται καὶ Παλλαντιεῖς , καὶ εἴ τινες δὴ πόλεις διὰ τὸ μικραί τε εἶναι καὶ ἐν μέσαις ταύταις οἰκεῖν ἠναγκάζοντο .
ἐξῆλθε μὲν δὴ ὁ Ἐπαμεινώνδας διὰ ταχέων : ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐγένετο ἐν Νεμέᾳ , ἐνταῦθα διέτριβεν , ἐλπίζων τοὺς Ἀθηναίους παριόντας λήψεσθαι καὶ λογιζόμενος μέγα ἂν τοῦτο γενέσθαι τοῖς μὲν σφετέροις συμμάχοις εἰς τὸ ἐπιρρῶσαι αὐτούς , τοῖς δὲ ἐναντίοις εἰς τὸ εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἐμπεσεῖν , ὡς δὲ συνελόντι εἰπεῖν , πᾶν ἀγαθὸν εἶναι Θηβαίοις ὅτι ἐλαττοῖντο Ἀθηναῖοι .
ἐν δὲ τῇ διατριβῇ αὐτοῦ ταύτῃ συνῇσαν πάντες οἱ ὁμοφρονοῦντες εἰς τὴν Μαντίνειαν . ἐπεὶ μέντοι ὁ Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἤκουσε τοὺς Ἀθηναίους τὸ μὲν κατὰ γῆν πορεύεσθαι ἀπεγνωκέναι , κατὰ θάλατταν δὲ παρασκευάζεσθαι ὡς διὰ Λακεδαίμονος βοηθήσοντας τοῖς Ἀρκάσιν , οὕτω δὴ ἀφορμήσας ἐκ τῆς Νεμέας ἀφικνεῖται εἰς τὴν Τεγέαν .
εὐτυχῆ μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε φήσαιμι τὴν στρατηγίαν αὐτῷ γενέσθαι : ὅσα μέντοι προνοίας ἔργα καὶ τόλμης ἐστίν , οὐδέν μοι δοκεῖ ἁνὴρ ἐλλιπεῖν . πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἔγωγε ἐπαινῶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τὸ στρατόπεδον ἐν τῷ τείχει τῶν Τεγεατῶν ἐποιήσατο , ἔνθ᾽ ἐν ἀσφαλεστέρῳ τε ἦν ἢ εἰ ἔξω ἐστρατοπεδεύετο καὶ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐν ἀδηλοτέρῳ ὅ τι πράττοιτο . καὶ παρασκευάζεσθαι δέ , εἴ του ἐδεῖτο , ἐν τῇ πόλει ὄντι εὐπορώτερον ἦν . τῶν δ᾽ ἑτέρων ἔξω στρατευομένων ἐξῆν ὁρᾶν , εἴτε τι ὀρθῶς ἐπράττετο εἴτε τι ἡμάρτανον . καὶ μὴν οἰόμενος κρείττων τῶν ἀντιπάλων εἶναι , ὁπότε ὁρῴη χωρίοις πλεονεκτοῦντας αὐτούς , οὐκ ἐξήγετο ἐπιτίθεσθαι .
ὁρῶν δὲ οὔτε πόλιν αὑτῷ προσχωροῦσαν οὐδεμίαν τόν τε χρόνον προβαίνοντα , ἐνόμισε πρακτέον τι εἶναι : εἰ δὲ μή , ἀντὶ τῆς πρόσθεν εὐκλείας πολλὴν ἀδοξίαν προσεδέχετο . ἐπεὶ οὖν κατεμάνθανε περὶ μὲν τὴν Μαντίνειαν τοὺς ἀντιπάλους πεφυλαγμένους , μεταπεμπομένους δὲ Ἀγησίλαόν τε καὶ πάντας τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους , καὶ ᾔσθετο ἐξεστρατευμένον τὸν Ἀγησίλαον καὶ ὄντα ἤδη ἐν τῇ Πελλήνῃ , δειπνοποιησάμενος καὶ παραγγείλας ἡγεῖτο τῷ στρατεύματι εὐθὺς ἐπὶ Σπάρτην .
καὶ εἰ μὴ Κρὴς θείᾳ τινὶ μοίρᾳ προσελθὼν ἐξήγγειλε τῷ Ἀγησιλάῳ προσιὸν τὸ στράτευμα , ἔλαβεν ἂν τὴν πόλιν ὥσπερ νεοττιὰν παντάπασιν ἔρημον τῶν ἀμυνομένων . ἐπεὶ μέντοι προπυθόμενος ταῦτα Ἀγησίλαος ἔφθη εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀπελθών , διαταξάμενοι οἱ Σπαρτιᾶται ἐφύλαττον , καὶ μάλα ὀλίγοι ὄντες : οἵ τε γὰρ ἱππεῖς αὐτοῖς πάντες ἐν Ἀρκαδίᾳ ἀπῆσαν καὶ τὸ ξενικὸν καὶ τῶν λόχων δώδεκα ὄντων οἱ τρεῖς .
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἐγένετο Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἐν τῇ πόλει τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν , ὅπου μὲν ἔμελλον ἔν τε ἰσοπέδῳ μαχεῖσθαι καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκιῶν βληθήσεσθαι , οὐκ εἰσῄει ταύτῃ , οὐδ᾽ ὅπου γε μηδὲν †πλέονες μαχεῖσθαι τῶν ὀλίγων πολλοὶ ὄντες : ἔνθεν δὲ πλεονεκτεῖν ἂν ἐνόμιζε , τοῦτο λαβὼν τὸ χωρίον κατέβαινε καὶ οὐκ ἀνέβαινεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν .
τό τε γε μὴν ἐντεῦθεν γενόμενον ἔξεστι μὲν τὸ θεῖον αἰτιᾶσθαι , ἔξεστι δὲ λέγειν ὡς τοῖς ἀπονενοημένοις οὐδεὶς ἂν ὑποσταίη . ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἡγεῖτο Ἀρχίδαμος οὐδὲ ἑκατὸν ἔχων ἄνδρας , καὶ διαβὰς ὅπερ ἐδόκει τι ἔχειν κώλυμα ἐπορεύετο πρὸς ὄρθιον ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀντιπάλους , ἐνταῦθα δὴ οἱ πῦρ πνέοντες , οἱ νενικηκότες τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους , οἱ τῷ παντὶ πλείους καὶ προσέτι ὑπερδέξια χωρία ἔχοντες , οὐκ ἐδέξαντο τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἀρχίδαμον , ἀλλ᾽ ἐγκλίνουσι .
καὶ οἱ μὲν πρῶτοι τῶν Ἐπαμεινώνδα ἀποθνῄσκουσιν : ἐπεὶ μέντοι ἀγαλλόμενοι τῇ νίκῃ ἐδίωξαν οἱ ἔνδοθεν πορρωτέρω τοῦ καιροῦ , οὗτοι αὖ ἀποθνῄσκουσι : περιεγέγραπτο γάρ , ὡς ἔοικεν , ὑπὸ τοῦ θείου μέχρι ὅσου νίκη ἐδέδοτο αὐτοῖς . καὶ ὁ μὲν δὴ Ἀρχίδαμος τροπαῖόν τε ἵστατο ἔνθα ἐπεκράτησε καὶ τοὺς ἐνταῦθα πεσόντας τῶν πολεμίων ὑποσπόνδους ἀπεδίδου .
ὁ δ᾽ Ἐπαμεινώνδας λογιζόμενος ὅτι βοηθήσοιεν οἱ Ἀρκάδες εἰς τὴν Λακεδαίμονα , ἐκείνοις μὲν οὐκ ἐβούλετο καὶ πᾶσι Λακεδαιμονίοις ὁμοῦ γενομένοις μάχεσθαι , ἄλλως τε καὶ ηὐτυχηκόσι , τῶν δὲ ἀποτετυχηκότων : πάλιν δὲ πορευθεὶς ὡς ἐδύνατο τάχιστα εἰς τὴν Τεγέαν τοὺς μὲν ὁπλίτας ἀνέπαυσε , τοὺς δ᾽ ἱππέας ἔπεμψεν εἰς τὴν Μαντίνειαν , δεηθεὶς αὐτῶν προσκαρτερῆσαι , καὶ διδάσκων ὡς πάντα μὲν εἰκὸς ἔξω εἶναι τὰ τῶν Μαντινέων βοσκήματα , πάντας δὲ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους , ἄλλως τε καὶ σίτου συγκομιδῆς οὔσης .
τί γὰρ δὴ πολεμεῖν ἡμᾶς βούλονται ἢ ἵνα ἡμεῖς μὲν ἀλλήλους κακῶς ποιῶμεν , ἐκείνων δ᾽ ἀμφότεροι δεώμεθα ; ἢ τί λεγόντων ἡμῶν ὅτι οὐ δεόμεθα αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ παρόντι παρασκευάζονται ὡς ἐξιόντες ; οὐ δῆλον ὡς ἐπὶ τῷ κακόν τι ἐργάζεσθαι ἡμᾶς στρατεύειν παρασκευάζονται ;
ἔπεμπον δὲ καὶ Ἀθήναζε βοηθεῖν κελεύοντες : ἐπορεύθησαν δὲ καὶ εἰς Λακεδαίμονα πρέσβεις ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπαρίτων , παρακαλοῦντες Λακεδαιμονίους , εἰ βούλοιντο κοινῇ διακωλύειν , ἄν τινες ἴωσι καταδουλωσόμενοι τὴν Πελοπόννησον . περὶ μέντοι ἡγεμονίας αὐτόθεν διεπράττοντο ὅπως ἐν τῇ ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστοι ἡγήσοιντο .
ἐν ὅσῳ δὲ ταῦτ᾽ ἐπράττετο , Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἐξῄει , Βοιωτοὺς ἔχων πάντας καὶ Εὐβοᾶς καὶ Θετταλῶν πολλοὺς παρά τε Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ τῶν ἐναντίων αὐτῷ . Φωκεῖς μέντοι οὐκ ἠκολούθουν , λέγοντες ὅτι συνθῆκαι σφίσιν αὐτοῖς εἶεν , εἴ τις ἐπὶ Θήβας ἴοι , βοηθεῖν : ἐπ᾽ ἄλλους δὲ στρατεύειν οὐκ εἶναι ἐν ταῖς συνθήκαις .
ὁ μέντοι Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἐλογίζετο καὶ ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ σφίσιν ὑπάρχειν Ἀργείους τε καὶ Μεσσηνίους καὶ Ἀρκάδων τοὺς τὰ σφέτερα φρονοῦντας . ἦσαν δ᾽ οὗτοι Τεγεᾶται καὶ Μεγαλοπολῖται καὶ Ἀσεᾶται καὶ Παλλαντιεῖς , καὶ εἴ τινες δὴ πόλεις διὰ τὸ μικραί τε εἶναι καὶ ἐν μέσαις ταύταις οἰκεῖν ἠναγκάζοντο .
ἐξῆλθε μὲν δὴ ὁ Ἐπαμεινώνδας διὰ ταχέων : ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐγένετο ἐν Νεμέᾳ , ἐνταῦθα διέτριβεν , ἐλπίζων τοὺς Ἀθηναίους παριόντας λήψεσθαι καὶ λογιζόμενος μέγα ἂν τοῦτο γενέσθαι τοῖς μὲν σφετέροις συμμάχοις εἰς τὸ ἐπιρρῶσαι αὐτούς , τοῖς δὲ ἐναντίοις εἰς τὸ εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἐμπεσεῖν , ὡς δὲ συνελόντι εἰπεῖν , πᾶν ἀγαθὸν εἶναι Θηβαίοις ὅτι ἐλαττοῖντο Ἀθηναῖοι .
ἐν δὲ τῇ διατριβῇ αὐτοῦ ταύτῃ συνῇσαν πάντες οἱ ὁμοφρονοῦντες εἰς τὴν Μαντίνειαν . ἐπεὶ μέντοι ὁ Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἤκουσε τοὺς Ἀθηναίους τὸ μὲν κατὰ γῆν πορεύεσθαι ἀπεγνωκέναι , κατὰ θάλατταν δὲ παρασκευάζεσθαι ὡς διὰ Λακεδαίμονος βοηθήσοντας τοῖς Ἀρκάσιν , οὕτω δὴ ἀφορμήσας ἐκ τῆς Νεμέας ἀφικνεῖται εἰς τὴν Τεγέαν .
εὐτυχῆ μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε φήσαιμι τὴν στρατηγίαν αὐτῷ γενέσθαι : ὅσα μέντοι προνοίας ἔργα καὶ τόλμης ἐστίν , οὐδέν μοι δοκεῖ ἁνὴρ ἐλλιπεῖν . πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἔγωγε ἐπαινῶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τὸ στρατόπεδον ἐν τῷ τείχει τῶν Τεγεατῶν ἐποιήσατο , ἔνθ᾽ ἐν ἀσφαλεστέρῳ τε ἦν ἢ εἰ ἔξω ἐστρατοπεδεύετο καὶ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐν ἀδηλοτέρῳ ὅ τι πράττοιτο . καὶ παρασκευάζεσθαι δέ , εἴ του ἐδεῖτο , ἐν τῇ πόλει ὄντι εὐπορώτερον ἦν . τῶν δ᾽ ἑτέρων ἔξω στρατευομένων ἐξῆν ὁρᾶν , εἴτε τι ὀρθῶς ἐπράττετο εἴτε τι ἡμάρτανον . καὶ μὴν οἰόμενος κρείττων τῶν ἀντιπάλων εἶναι , ὁπότε ὁρῴη χωρίοις πλεονεκτοῦντας αὐτούς , οὐκ ἐξήγετο ἐπιτίθεσθαι .
ὁρῶν δὲ οὔτε πόλιν αὑτῷ προσχωροῦσαν οὐδεμίαν τόν τε χρόνον προβαίνοντα , ἐνόμισε πρακτέον τι εἶναι : εἰ δὲ μή , ἀντὶ τῆς πρόσθεν εὐκλείας πολλὴν ἀδοξίαν προσεδέχετο . ἐπεὶ οὖν κατεμάνθανε περὶ μὲν τὴν Μαντίνειαν τοὺς ἀντιπάλους πεφυλαγμένους , μεταπεμπομένους δὲ Ἀγησίλαόν τε καὶ πάντας τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους , καὶ ᾔσθετο ἐξεστρατευμένον τὸν Ἀγησίλαον καὶ ὄντα ἤδη ἐν τῇ Πελλήνῃ , δειπνοποιησάμενος καὶ παραγγείλας ἡγεῖτο τῷ στρατεύματι εὐθὺς ἐπὶ Σπάρτην .
καὶ εἰ μὴ Κρὴς θείᾳ τινὶ μοίρᾳ προσελθὼν ἐξήγγειλε τῷ Ἀγησιλάῳ προσιὸν τὸ στράτευμα , ἔλαβεν ἂν τὴν πόλιν ὥσπερ νεοττιὰν παντάπασιν ἔρημον τῶν ἀμυνομένων . ἐπεὶ μέντοι προπυθόμενος ταῦτα Ἀγησίλαος ἔφθη εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀπελθών , διαταξάμενοι οἱ Σπαρτιᾶται ἐφύλαττον , καὶ μάλα ὀλίγοι ὄντες : οἵ τε γὰρ ἱππεῖς αὐτοῖς πάντες ἐν Ἀρκαδίᾳ ἀπῆσαν καὶ τὸ ξενικὸν καὶ τῶν λόχων δώδεκα ὄντων οἱ τρεῖς .
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἐγένετο Ἐπαμεινώνδας ἐν τῇ πόλει τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν , ὅπου μὲν ἔμελλον ἔν τε ἰσοπέδῳ μαχεῖσθαι καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκιῶν βληθήσεσθαι , οὐκ εἰσῄει ταύτῃ , οὐδ᾽ ὅπου γε μηδὲν †πλέονες μαχεῖσθαι τῶν ὀλίγων πολλοὶ ὄντες : ἔνθεν δὲ πλεονεκτεῖν ἂν ἐνόμιζε , τοῦτο λαβὼν τὸ χωρίον κατέβαινε καὶ οὐκ ἀνέβαινεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν .
τό τε γε μὴν ἐντεῦθεν γενόμενον ἔξεστι μὲν τὸ θεῖον αἰτιᾶσθαι , ἔξεστι δὲ λέγειν ὡς τοῖς ἀπονενοημένοις οὐδεὶς ἂν ὑποσταίη . ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἡγεῖτο Ἀρχίδαμος οὐδὲ ἑκατὸν ἔχων ἄνδρας , καὶ διαβὰς ὅπερ ἐδόκει τι ἔχειν κώλυμα ἐπορεύετο πρὸς ὄρθιον ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀντιπάλους , ἐνταῦθα δὴ οἱ πῦρ πνέοντες , οἱ νενικηκότες τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους , οἱ τῷ παντὶ πλείους καὶ προσέτι ὑπερδέξια χωρία ἔχοντες , οὐκ ἐδέξαντο τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἀρχίδαμον , ἀλλ᾽ ἐγκλίνουσι .
καὶ οἱ μὲν πρῶτοι τῶν Ἐπαμεινώνδα ἀποθνῄσκουσιν : ἐπεὶ μέντοι ἀγαλλόμενοι τῇ νίκῃ ἐδίωξαν οἱ ἔνδοθεν πορρωτέρω τοῦ καιροῦ , οὗτοι αὖ ἀποθνῄσκουσι : περιεγέγραπτο γάρ , ὡς ἔοικεν , ὑπὸ τοῦ θείου μέχρι ὅσου νίκη ἐδέδοτο αὐτοῖς . καὶ ὁ μὲν δὴ Ἀρχίδαμος τροπαῖόν τε ἵστατο ἔνθα ἐπεκράτησε καὶ τοὺς ἐνταῦθα πεσόντας τῶν πολεμίων ὑποσπόνδους ἀπεδίδου .
ὁ δ᾽ Ἐπαμεινώνδας λογιζόμενος ὅτι βοηθήσοιεν οἱ Ἀρκάδες εἰς τὴν Λακεδαίμονα , ἐκείνοις μὲν οὐκ ἐβούλετο καὶ πᾶσι Λακεδαιμονίοις ὁμοῦ γενομένοις μάχεσθαι , ἄλλως τε καὶ ηὐτυχηκόσι , τῶν δὲ ἀποτετυχηκότων : πάλιν δὲ πορευθεὶς ὡς ἐδύνατο τάχιστα εἰς τὴν Τεγέαν τοὺς μὲν ὁπλίτας ἀνέπαυσε , τοὺς δ᾽ ἱππέας ἔπεμψεν εἰς τὴν Μαντίνειαν , δεηθεὶς αὐτῶν προσκαρτερῆσαι , καὶ διδάσκων ὡς πάντα μὲν εἰκὸς ἔξω εἶναι τὰ τῶν Μαντινέων βοσκήματα , πάντας δὲ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους , ἄλλως τε καὶ σίτου συγκομιδῆς οὔσης .
When
these
things
were
reported
back
to
the
general
assembly
of
the
Arcadians
and
to
the
several
cities
,
the
Mantineans
and
such
of
the
other
Arcadians
as
were
concerned
for
Peloponnesus
inferred
therefrom
,
as
did
likewise
the
Eleans
and
the
Achaeans
,
that
the
Thebans
manifestly
wanted
Peloponnesus
to
be
as
weak
as
possible
so
that
they
might
as
easily
as
possible
reduce
it
to
slavery
.
"
For
why
in
the
world
,
"
they
said
,
"
do
they
wish
us
to
make
war
unless
it
is
in
order
that
we
may
do
harm
to
one
another
and
consequently
may
both
feel
the
need
of
them
?
Or
why
,
when
we
say
that
we
do
not
at
present
need
them
,
are
they
preparing
to
march
forth
?
Is
it
not
clear
that
it
is
for
the
purpose
of
working
some
harm
upon
us
that
they
are
preparing
to
take
the
field
?
"
And
they
sent
to
Athens
also
,
bidding
the
Athenians
come
to
their
aid
,
while
ambassadors
from
the
Epariti
proceeded
to
Lacedaemon
as
well
,
to
invite
the
help
of
the
Lacedaemonians
in
case
they
wanted
to
join
in
checking
any
who
might
come
to
enslave
Peloponnesus
.
As
for
the
matter
of
the
leadership
,
they
arranged
at
once
that
each
people
should
hold
it
while
within
its
own
territory
.
While these things were being done , Epaminondas was on his outward march at the head of all the Boeotians , the Euboeans , and many of the Thessalians , who came both from Alexander and from his opponents . The Phocians , however , declined to join the expedition , saying that their agreement was to lend aid in case anyone went against Thebes , but that to take the field against others was not in the agreement . Epaminondas reflected , however , that his people had supporters in Peloponnesus also — the Argives , the Messenians , and such of the Arcadians as held to their side . These were the Tegeans , the Megalopolitans , the Aseans , the Pallantians , and whatever cities were constrained to adopt this course for the reason that they were small and surrounded by these others . Epaminondas accordingly pushed forth with speed ; but when he arrived at Nemea he delayed there , hoping to catch the Athenians as they passed by , and estimating that this would be a great achievement , not only in the view of his people ' s allies , so as to encourage them , but also in that of their opponents , so that they would fall into despondency — in a word , that every loss the Athenians suffered was a gain for the Thebans . And during this delay on his part all those who held the same views were gathering together at Mantinea . But when Epaminondas heard that the Athenians had given up the plan of proceeding by land and were preparing to go by sea , with the intention of marching through Lacedaemon to the aid of the Arcadians , under these circumstances he set forth from Nemea and arrived at Tegea . Now I for my part could not say that his campaign proved fortunate ; yet of all possible deeds of forethought and daring the man seems to me to have left not one undone . For , in the first place , I commend his pitching his camp within the wall of Tegea , where he was in greater safety than if he had been encamped outside , and where whatever was being done was more entirely concealed from the enemy . Furthermore , it was easier for him , being in the city , to provide himself with whatever he needed . Since the enemy , on the other hand , was encamped outside , it was possible to see whether they were doing things rightly or were making mistakes . Again , while he believed that he was stronger than his adversaries , he could never be induced to attack them when he saw that they held the advantage in position . However , when he perceived that no city was coming over to him and that time was passing on , he decided that some action must be taken ; otherwise , in place of his former fame , he must expect deep disgrace . When he became aware , therefore , that his adversaries had taken up a strong position in the neighbourhood of Mantinea and were sending after Agesilaus and all the Lacedaemonians , and learned , further , that Agesilaus had marched forth and was already at Pellene , he gave orders to his men to get their dinner and led his army straight upon Sparta . And had not a Cretan by a kind of providential chance come and reported to Agesilaus that the army was advancing , he would have captured the city , like a nest entirely empty of its defenders . But when Agesilaus , having received word of this in time , had got back to the city ahead of the enemy , the Spartiatae posted themselves at various points and kept guard , although they were extremely few . For all their horsemen were away in Arcadia and likewise the mercenary force and three of the battalions , which numbered twelve .
Now when Epaminondas had arrived within the city of the Spartiatae , he did not attempt to enter at the point where his troops would be likely to have to fight on the ground-level and be pelted from the house-tops , nor where they would fight with no advantage over the few , although they were many ; but after gaining the precise position from which he believed that he would enjoy an advantage , he undertook to descend ( instead of ascending ) into the city . As for what happened thereupon , one may either hold the deity responsible , or one may say that nobody could withstand desperate men . For when Archidamus led the advance with not so much as a hundred men and , after crossing the very thing which seemed to present an obstacle , marched uphill against the adversary , at that moment the fire-breathers , the men who had defeated the Lacedaemonians , the men who were altogether superior in numbers and were occupying higher ground besides , did not withstand the attack of the troops under Archidamus , but gave way . And those in the van of Epaminondas ' army were slain , but when the troops from within the city , exulting in their victory , pursued farther than was fitting , they in their turn were slain ; for , as it seems , the line had been drawn by the deity indicating how far victory had been granted them . Archidamus accordingly set up a trophy at the spot where he had won the victory , and gave back under a truce those of the enemy who had fallen there . Epaminondas , on the other hand , reflecting that the Arcadians would be coming to Lacedaemon to bring aid , had no desire to fight against them and against all the Lacedaemonians after they had come together , especially since they had met with success and his men with disaster ; so he marched back as rapidly as he could to Tegea , and allowed his hoplites to rest there , but sent his horsemen on to Mantinea , begging them to endure this additional effort and explaining to them that probably all the cattle of the Mantineans were outside the city and likewise all the people , particularly as it was harvest time .
While these things were being done , Epaminondas was on his outward march at the head of all the Boeotians , the Euboeans , and many of the Thessalians , who came both from Alexander and from his opponents . The Phocians , however , declined to join the expedition , saying that their agreement was to lend aid in case anyone went against Thebes , but that to take the field against others was not in the agreement . Epaminondas reflected , however , that his people had supporters in Peloponnesus also — the Argives , the Messenians , and such of the Arcadians as held to their side . These were the Tegeans , the Megalopolitans , the Aseans , the Pallantians , and whatever cities were constrained to adopt this course for the reason that they were small and surrounded by these others . Epaminondas accordingly pushed forth with speed ; but when he arrived at Nemea he delayed there , hoping to catch the Athenians as they passed by , and estimating that this would be a great achievement , not only in the view of his people ' s allies , so as to encourage them , but also in that of their opponents , so that they would fall into despondency — in a word , that every loss the Athenians suffered was a gain for the Thebans . And during this delay on his part all those who held the same views were gathering together at Mantinea . But when Epaminondas heard that the Athenians had given up the plan of proceeding by land and were preparing to go by sea , with the intention of marching through Lacedaemon to the aid of the Arcadians , under these circumstances he set forth from Nemea and arrived at Tegea . Now I for my part could not say that his campaign proved fortunate ; yet of all possible deeds of forethought and daring the man seems to me to have left not one undone . For , in the first place , I commend his pitching his camp within the wall of Tegea , where he was in greater safety than if he had been encamped outside , and where whatever was being done was more entirely concealed from the enemy . Furthermore , it was easier for him , being in the city , to provide himself with whatever he needed . Since the enemy , on the other hand , was encamped outside , it was possible to see whether they were doing things rightly or were making mistakes . Again , while he believed that he was stronger than his adversaries , he could never be induced to attack them when he saw that they held the advantage in position . However , when he perceived that no city was coming over to him and that time was passing on , he decided that some action must be taken ; otherwise , in place of his former fame , he must expect deep disgrace . When he became aware , therefore , that his adversaries had taken up a strong position in the neighbourhood of Mantinea and were sending after Agesilaus and all the Lacedaemonians , and learned , further , that Agesilaus had marched forth and was already at Pellene , he gave orders to his men to get their dinner and led his army straight upon Sparta . And had not a Cretan by a kind of providential chance come and reported to Agesilaus that the army was advancing , he would have captured the city , like a nest entirely empty of its defenders . But when Agesilaus , having received word of this in time , had got back to the city ahead of the enemy , the Spartiatae posted themselves at various points and kept guard , although they were extremely few . For all their horsemen were away in Arcadia and likewise the mercenary force and three of the battalions , which numbered twelve .
Now when Epaminondas had arrived within the city of the Spartiatae , he did not attempt to enter at the point where his troops would be likely to have to fight on the ground-level and be pelted from the house-tops , nor where they would fight with no advantage over the few , although they were many ; but after gaining the precise position from which he believed that he would enjoy an advantage , he undertook to descend ( instead of ascending ) into the city . As for what happened thereupon , one may either hold the deity responsible , or one may say that nobody could withstand desperate men . For when Archidamus led the advance with not so much as a hundred men and , after crossing the very thing which seemed to present an obstacle , marched uphill against the adversary , at that moment the fire-breathers , the men who had defeated the Lacedaemonians , the men who were altogether superior in numbers and were occupying higher ground besides , did not withstand the attack of the troops under Archidamus , but gave way . And those in the van of Epaminondas ' army were slain , but when the troops from within the city , exulting in their victory , pursued farther than was fitting , they in their turn were slain ; for , as it seems , the line had been drawn by the deity indicating how far victory had been granted them . Archidamus accordingly set up a trophy at the spot where he had won the victory , and gave back under a truce those of the enemy who had fallen there . Epaminondas , on the other hand , reflecting that the Arcadians would be coming to Lacedaemon to bring aid , had no desire to fight against them and against all the Lacedaemonians after they had come together , especially since they had met with success and his men with disaster ; so he marched back as rapidly as he could to Tegea , and allowed his hoplites to rest there , but sent his horsemen on to Mantinea , begging them to endure this additional effort and explaining to them that probably all the cattle of the Mantineans were outside the city and likewise all the people , particularly as it was harvest time .