Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/240

 218 HISTORY OF GREECE. united in safety. Undefended and deserted (seemingly) by tin* Spartans, Sellasia was now burnt and destroyed by the invaders, who, continuing their march along the plain or valley towards the Eurotas, encamped in the sacred grove of Apollo. On the next day they reached the Eurotas, at the foot of the bridge which crossed that river and led to the city of Sparta. Epaminondas found the bridge too well-guarded to attempt forc- ing it ; a strong body of Spartan hoplites being also discernible on the other side, in the sacred ground of Athene Alea. He there- fore marched down the left bank of the river, burning and plunder- ing the houses in his way, as far as Amyklae, between two and three miles below Sparta. Here he found a ford, though the river was full, from the winter season ; and accomplished the passage, de- fsating, after a severe contest, a body of Spartans who tried to oppose it. He was now on the same side of the river as Sparta, to which city he slowly and cautiously made his approach ; taking care to keep his Theban troops always in the best battle order, and protecting them, when encamped, by felled trees ; while the Arcadians and other Peloponnesian allies dispersed around to plunder the neighboring houses and property. 1 Great was the consternation which reigned in the city ; desti tute of fortifications, yet hitherto inviolate in fact and unassailable even in idea. Besides their own native force, the Spartans had no auxiliaries except those mercenaries from Orchomenus who had come back with Agesilaus ; nor was it certain beforehand that even these troops would remain with them, if the invasion became formidable. 2 On the first assemblage of the irresistible army on their frontier, they had despatched one of their commanders of foreign contingents (called Xenagi) to press the instant coming of such Peloponnesian allies as remained faithful to them ; and also envoys to Athens, entreating assistance from that city. Aux- iliaries were obtained, and rapidly put under march, from Pellene, peloponnesiaea, p. 342-352 ; Ross, Seisen im Peloponnes. p. 187; Berlin, /841). Upon such a point, the authority of Colonel Leake is very high ; vet the opposite opinion respecting the site of Sellasia seems to me preferable. - Xen. Hellen. vi, 5, 30 ; Diodor. xv, 65. s This I apprehend to be the meaning of the phrase end [IEVTOI iftn>v> it- o! if 'Qpxopevov /.jtuiW^opo/, etc.