Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/469

 RETREAT OF BRAS1DAS. 447 number governs the larger, simply by reason of superior prowess in themselves and conquest by their ancestors." First, it is re- markable that a large proportion of the Peloponnesian soldiers, whom Brasidas thus addresses, consisted of Helots, the conquered race, not the conquerors : yet so easily does the military or reg- imental pride supplant the sympathies of race, that these men would feel flattered by being addressed as if they were them- selves sprung from the race which had enslaved their ancestors. Next, we here see the right of the strongest invoked as the legi- timate source of power, and as an honorable and ennobling re- collection, by an officer of Dorian race, oligarchical politics, unperverted intellect, and estimable character: and we shall accordingly be prepared, when we find a similar principle here- after laid down by the Athenian envoys at Melos, to disallow the explanation of those who treat it merely as a theory invented by demagogues and sophists, upon one or other of whom it is com- mon to throw the blame of all that is objectionable in Grecian politics or morality. Having finished his harangue, Brasidas gave orders for retreat. As soon as his march began, the Illyrians rushed upon him with all the confidence and shouts of pursuers against a flying enemy, believing that they should completely destroy his army. But wherever they approached near, the young soldiers specially stationed for the purpose, turned upon and beat them back with severe loss ; while Brasidas himself, with his rear-guard of three hundred, was present everywhere rendering vigorous aid. When J .he Lynkestae and Illyrians attacked, the army halted and re- palled them, after which it resumed its retreating march. The barbarians found themselves so rudely handled, and with such unwonted vigor, for they probably had had no previous expe- rience of Grecian troops, that after a few trials they desisted from meddling with the army in its retreat along the plain. They ran forward rapidly, partly in order to overtake the Macedonians under Ferdikkas, who had fled before, partly to occupy the nar- row pass, with high hills on each side, which formed the entrance into Lynkestis, and which lay in the road of Brasidas. When the latter approached this narrow pass, he saw the barbarians masters of it ; several of them were already on the summits, and more were ascending to reinforce them ; while a portion of