Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/500

 492 CLEOMENES. command to better and braver men. But Antigonus, as became an experienced captain, accounting it rather dis- honorable foolishly to hazard his army and quit his se- curity, than merely to be railed at by other people, would not march out against Cleomeues, but stood firm to his convictions. Cleomenes, in the mean time, brought his army up to the very walls, and having without opposition spoiled the country, and insulted over his enemies, drew off again. A little while after, being informed that Antigonus de- signed a new advance to Tegea, and thence to invade Laconia, he rapidly took his soldiers, and marching by a side road, appeared early in the morning before Argos, and wasted the fields about it. The corn he did not cut down, as is usual, with reaping hooks and knives, but beat it down with great wooden staves made like broad- swords, as if, in mere contempt and wanton scorn, while travelling on his way, without any effort or trouble, he spoiled and destroyed their harvest. Yet when his soldiers would have set Cyllabaris, the exercise ground, on fire, he stopped the attempt, as if he felt, that the mis- chief he had done at Megalopolis had been the effects of his passion rather than his wisdom. And when Antigo- nus, first of all, came hastily back to Argos, and then occupied the mountains and passes with his posts, he professed to disregard and despise it all ; and sent heralds to ask for the keys of the temple of Juno, as though he proposed to offer sacrifice there and then return. And with this scornful pleasantry upon Antigonus, having sac- rificed to the goddess under the walls of the temple, which was shut, he went to Phlius ; and from thence driving out those that garrisoned Oligyrtus, he marched down to Or- chomenus. And these enterprises not only encouraged the citizens, but made him appear to the very enemies to be a man worthy of high command, and capable of great