Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/502

 494 CLEOMENES. that immediately after the battle in Sellasia was over, and Cleomenes had lost his army and his city, the messengers came up and called for Antigonus. And this above ev- ery thing made Cleoinenes's misfortune to be pitied ; for if he had gone on retreating and had forborne fighting two days longer, there had been no need of hazarding a battle ; since upon the departure of the Macedonians, he might have had what conditions he pleased from the Achasans. But now, as was said before, for want of money, being necessitated to trust every thing to arms, he was forced with twenty thousand (such is Polybius's account) to engage thirty thousand. And approving himself an ad- mirable commander in this difficulty, his citizens showing an extraordinary courage, and his mercenaries bravery enough, he was overborne by the different way of fight- ing, and the weight of the heavy-armed phalanx. Phy- larchus also affirms, that the treachery of some about him was the chief cause of Cleomenes's ruin. For Antigonus gave orders, that the Illyrians and Acar- nanians should march round by a secret way, and encom- pass the other wing, which Euclidas, Cleomenes's brother, commanded ; and then drew out the rest of his forces to the battle. And Cleomenes, from a convenient rising, viewing his order, and not seeing any of the Illyrians and Acarnanians, began to susjiect that Antigonus had sent them upon some such design ; and calling for Da- moteles, who was at the head of those specially appointed to such ambush duty, he bade him carefully to look after and discover the enemy's designs upon his rear. But Da- moteles, for some say Antigonus had bribed him, telling him that he should not be solicitous about that matter, for all was well enough, but mind and fight those that met him in the front, he was satisfied, and advanced against Antigonus ; and by the vigorous charge of his Spartans, made the Macedonian phalanx give ground, and pressed upon them with great advantage about half a mile ;