Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/465

 BEASIDAS IN LYNKESTIS. 443 into the territory of the Lynkestze, they were met by Arrhibaeus, and a battle ensued, in which that prince was completely worsted. They halted here for a few days, awaiting before they pushed forward to attack the villages in the territory of Arrhibseus the arrival of a body of Illyrian mercenaries, with whom Perdikkas had concluded a bargain. 1 At length Perdikkas became impa- tient to advance without them ; while Brasidas, on the contrary, apprehensive for the fato of Mende during his absence, was bent on returning back. The dissension between them becoming aggravated, they parted company and occupied separate encamp- ments at some distance from each other, when both received unexpected intelligence which made Perdikkas as anxious to retreat as Brasidas. The Illyrians, having broken their compact, had joined Arrhibseus, and were now in full march to attack the invaders. The untold number of these barbarians was reported as overwhelming, and such was their reputation for ferocity as well as for valor, that the Macedonian army of Perdikkas, seized with a sudden panic, broke up in the night and fled without orders, hurrying Perdikkas himself along with them, and not even send- ing notice to Brasidas, with whom nothing had been concerted about the retreat. In the morning, the latter found Arrhibasus and the Illyrians close upon him, while the Macedonians were already far advanced in their journey homeward. The contrast between the man of Hellas and of Macedonia, general as well as soldiers, was never more strikingly exhibited than on this critical occasion. The soldiers of Brasidas, though surprised as well as deserted, lost neither their courage nor their discipline : the commander preserved not only his presence of mind, but his full authority. His hoplites were directed to form in a hollow square, or oblong, with the light-armed and attend- ants in the centre, for the retreating march : youthful soldiers were posted either in the outer ranks, or in convenient stations, to run out swiftly and repel the assailing enemy ; while Brasidas himself, with three hundred chosen men, formed the rear-guard. 2 The short harangue which, according to a custom universal with Grecian generals, he addressed to his troops immediately before the enemy approached, is in many respects remarkable. 1 Thucyd. iv, 124. * Thucyd. iv, 125.