Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/164

 156 LAST WORDS OF THE GENERALS [v say, for the secrecy of the government did not allow the Numbers of neither Strength of the Lacedaemonian army ^ army could be acai- to be known, and the numbers on rateh asceriaimd. ^^^ ^^^^^ gj j^ ^^.^j.^ thought to be ex- aggerated by the vanity natural to men when speaking of their own forces. However, the following calculation may give some idea of the Lacedaemonian numbers. There were seven divisions in the field, besides the Sciritae who numbered six hundred; in each division there were four pentecosties, in every pentecosty four enomoties, and of each enomoty there fought in the front rank four. The depth of the line was not everywhere equal, but was left to the discretion of the generals commanding divisions ; on an average it was eight deep. The front line consisted of four hundred and forty-eight men, exclusive of the Sciritae •'^. 69 The two armies were now on the point of engaging, but The Maniineaus Ar- ^^^^ the Several commanders addressed gives, mid Athenians exhortations to their own contingents. received eloquent exhor- jj^^ Mantineans Were told that they tations ' front then- n 1 r 1 ■ lenders. But the Lace- ^ere not Only about to fight for their daenwnians had no country, but would have to choose needoftiwni. between dominion '' or slavery ; having tried both, did they want to be deprived of the one, or to have anymore acquaintance with the other? The Argives were reminded that in old times they had been sovereign, and more recently the equals of Sparta, in Pelopon- nesus ; would they acquiesce for ever in the loss of their supremacy, and lose at the same time the chance of re- venging themselves upon their hateful neighbours, who had wronged them again and again ? The Athenians were told that it was glorious to be fighting side by side with a host of brave allies and to be found equal to the bravest. If they could conquer a Lacedaemonian army in " The whole number of the Lacedaemonians is 3584 without the Sciritae, or with them 4184. '' Cp. v. 29 init.