Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/202

 180 HISTORY OF GREECE. brotus united in provoking the order for battle, each in their ow language. The former urged him, since he hud never yet done anything against the Thebans, to strike a blow, and clear himself from the disparaging comparisons which rumor instituted between him and Agesilaus ; the latter gave it to be understood, that if Klfcombrotus were now backward, their suspicions would be con- firmed that he leaned in his heart towards the Thebans. 1 Proba- bly the king was himself sufficiently eager to fight, and so would any other Spartan general have been, under the same circum- stances, before the battle of Leuktra. But even had he been otherwise, the impatience, prevalent among the Lacedaemonian portion of his army, left him no option. Accordingly, the decided resolution to fight was taken. The last council was held, and the final orders issued by Kleombrotus, after his morning meal, where copious libations of wine both attested and increased the confident temper of every man. The army was mai'ched out of the camp, and arrayed on the lower portion of the declivity ; Kleombrotus with the Spartans and most of the Lacedaemonians being on the right, in an order of twelve deep. Some Lacedaemonians were also on the left, but respecting the order of the other parts of the line, we have no information. The cavalry was chiefly posted along the front. Meanwhile, Epaminondas also marched down his declivity, in his own chosen order of battle : his left wing being both forward, and strengthened into very deep order, for desperate attack. His cavah-y too were posted in front of his line. But before he com- menced his march, he sent away his baggage and attendants home to Thebes ; while at the same time he made proclamation that any of his Boeotian hoplites, who were not hearty in the cause, might also retire, if they chose. Of such permission the Thespians im- mediately availed themselves ; 2 so many were there, in the Theban camp, who estimated the chances to be all in favor of Lacedaemo- nian victory. But when these men, a large portion of them un- armed, were seen retiring, a considerable detachment from the army of Kleombrotus, either with or without orders, ran after to prevent their escape, and forced them to return ibr safety to the 1 Xcn. Hellen. vi, 4. 5.
 * Polysen. ii, 2, 2 ; Pausanias, ix, 13, 3; ix, 14, 1.