Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/355

 ATTEMPTED SURPRISE OF MANTINEA. 333 they could be apprised of his change of purpose. Breaking up accordingly, with scarce any interval of rest, he marched back to Tegea ; where it became absolutely indispensable to give repose to his hoplites, after such severe fatigue. But he sent forward his cavalry without any delay, to surprise Mantinea, which would be now (he well knew) unprepared and undefended ; with its military force absent on the march to Sparta, and its remaining population, free as well as slave, largely engaged in the fields upon the carry- ing of harvest. Nothing less than the extraordinary ascendency of Epaminondas, coupled with his earnestness in setting forth the importance of the purpose, as well as the probable plunder, could have prevailed upon the tired horsemen to submit to such additional toil, while their comrades were enjoying refreshment and repose at Tegea. 1 Everything near Mantinea was found in the state which Epami- nondas anticipated. Yet the town was preserved, and his well- laid scheme defeated, by an unexpected contingency which the Mantineans doubtless ascribed to the providence of the gods, as Xenophon regards the previous warning given to Agesilaus. The Athenian cavalry had arrived, not an hour before, and had just dismounted from their horses within the walls of Mantinea. Hav- ing departed from Eleusis (probably after ascertaining that Epami- nondas no longer occupied Nemea), they took their evening meal and rested at the isthmus of Corinth, where they seem to have ex- perienced some loss or annoyance. 2 They then passed forward through Kleonae to Mantinea, arriving thither without having broken fast, either themselves or their horses, on that day. It was just after they reached Mantinea, and when they had yet taken no refreshment, that the Theban and Thessalian cavalry suddenly 1 Xen. Hellen. vii, 5, 14. IIu/Uv 6s iropevfielf oif iSvvaro ru^ioTa elf rrjv Te/eav, TOVQ JJ.EV OTr/Uraf avKiravae, Tot)f de tTTTreaf ETTEfzipev elf TTJV Mavri- veiav, tier/dele avruv n-poaKapTepTjaai, Kal diduaKuv wf travTa nev eiKbf Ifu elvai ra TUV 'Mavnvsuv /3oovc^uara, Travraf Je roi)f uvtipuTrovf, aA/lwf re /cat aiTOV avjKOfuSr)^ ovar](, Xen. Hellen. vii, 5, 15, 16. The words 6vaTv%r)fiaToc yeyevrj/isvov ev Kopiv&u roZf Imrevaiv al- lude to something which we have no means of making out. It is possible that the Corinthians, who were at peace with Thebes and had been ill-used by Athens (vii, 4, 6-10). may nave seen with displeasure, and even mo tested, the Athenian horsemen while resting on their territory.