Agesilaus | Page 6

spring[12] he collected his whole armament at
Ephesus, and set himself to the work of training it. With that object he
proposed a series of prizes: one set for the cavalry squadron which rode
best, another for the heavy infantry divisions which presented the best
physique, another again for various light troops, peltasts, and bowmen,
which showed themselves most efficient in their respective duties.
[12] B.C. 395; see "Hell." III. iv. 16; Plut. "Marcel." (Clough, ii. 262);
Polyb. xii. 20, 7.
Thereupon it was a sight to see the gymnasiums thronged with warriors
going through their exercises, the racecourses crowded with troopers on
prancing steeds, the archers and the javelin men shooting at the butts.
Nay, the whole city in which he lay was transformed into a spectacle
itself, so filled to overflowing was the market-place with arms and
armour of every sort, and horses, all for sale. Here were coppersmiths
and carpenters, ironfounders and cobblers, painters and decorators--one
and all busily engaged in fabricating the implements of war; so that an
onlooker might have thought the city of Ephesus itself a gigantic
arsenal. It would have kindled courage in the breast of a coward to see
the long lines of soldiers, with Agesilaus at their head, all garlanded as
they marched in proud procession from the gymnasiums and dedicated
their wreaths to our Lady Artemis. Since, where these three elements
exist--reverence towards heaven, practice in military affairs, and
obedience to command--all else must needs be full of happy promise.
But seeing that contempt for the foe is calculated to infuse a certain
strength in face of battle, he ordered his criers to strip naked the

barbarians captured by his foraging parties, and so to sell them. The
soldiers who saw the white skins of these folk, unused to strip for toil,
soft and sleek and lazy-looking, as of people who could only stir
abroad in carriages, concluded that a war with women would scarcely
be more formidable. Then he published a further order to the soldiers:
"I shall lead you at once by the shortest route to the stronghold[13] of
the enemy's territory. Your general asks you to keep yourselves on the
alert in mind and body, as men about to enter the lists of battle on the
instant."
[13] Or, "the richest parts of the country," viz. Lydia; Plut. "Ages." x.
But Tissaphernes was persuaded that this was all talk on his part for the
purpose of outwitting him a second time: now certainly Agesilaus
would make an incursion into Caria. So once again the satrap
transported his infantry over into that country just has he had done
before, and as before he posted his cavalry in the plain of the
Maeander.
This time, however, Agesilaus was true to his word. In accordance with
his published order he advanced straight upon the region of Sardis, and,
during a three days' march through a country where not an enemy was
to be seen, provided his army with abundant supplies. On the fourth
day the enemy's cavalry came up. The Persian general ordered the
commandant of his baggage train to cross the Pactolus and encamp,
whilst his troopers, who had caught sight of the camp followers of the
Hellenes scattered in search of booty, put many of them to the sword.
Agesilaus, aware how matters were going, ordered his cavalry to the
rescue, and the Persians on their side, seeing the enemy's supports
approaching, collected and formed up in line to receive them with the
serried squadrons of their cavalry. And now Agesilaus, conscious that
his enemy's infantry had not as yet arrived, whilst on his side no
element in his preparation was lacking, felt that the moment was come
to join battle if he could. Accordingly he sacrificed and advanced
against the opposing lines of cavalry. A detachment of heavy infantry,
the ten-years-service men, had orders to close with them at the run,
while the light infantry division were told to show them the way at a
swinging pace. At the same time he passed the order along the line of
his cavalry to charge in reliance of the support of himself and the main
body in their rear. Charge they did, these troopers, and the pick of

Persian cavalry received them bravely, but in face of the conjoint
horror of the attack they swerved, and some were cut down at once in
the river-bed, while others sought safety in flight. The Hellenes
followed close on the heels of the flying foe, and captured his camp.
Here the peltasts, not unnaturally, fell to pillaging, whereupon
Agesilaus formed a cordon of troops, round the property of friends and
foes alike, and so encamped.
Presently hearing that the enemy were in a state of disorder, the result
of every one holding his fellow