Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/162

 154 THE LACEDAEMOMANS DISAPPEAR [v withdrew his army in haste without actually engaging. He marched back into the district of Tegea, and proceeded to turn the water into the Mantinean territory. This water is a constant source of war between the Mantineans and Tegeans, on account of "the great harm which is done"^ to one or other of them according to the direction which the stream takes. Agis hoped that the Argives and their allies when they heard of this movement would come down from the hill and try to prevent it; he could then fight them on level ground. Accordingly he stayed about the water during the whole day, diverting the stream. Now the Argives and their confederates were at first amazed at the sudden retreat of their enemies when they were so near, and did not know what to think. But when the Lacedaemonians had retired and disappeared from view, and they found themselves standing still and not pursuing, they once more began to blame their own generals. Their cry was that they had already let the Lacedaemonians slip when they had them at a disadvantage close to Argos ; and now they were running away and no one pursued them ; the enemy were just allowed to escape, while their own army was quietly betrayed. The commanders were at first bewildered by the outcry ; but soon they quitted the hill, and advancing into the plain took up a position with the intention of attacking. 66 On the following day the Argives and their allies drew The Lacedaemonians themselves up in the order in which they arc surpnscd. Orgaiii- intended to fight should they meet with saiion of their army. jj^^ enemy. Meanwhile the Lacedae- monians returned from the water to their old encampment near the temple of Heracles. There they saw quite close to them the Argive army, which had moved on from the hill, and was already in order of battle. Never within their recorded history were the Lacedaemonians more dismayed than at that instant ; not a moment was to be " Or, 'the harm which is commonly done'