Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/165

 69 7 1] -46 IS CHANGES FRONT IN FACE OF ENEMY 1 57 Peloponnesus, they would both extend and secure their dominion, and need never fear an invader again. Such were the exhortations addressed to the Argives and to their allies. But the Lacedaemonians, both in their war- songs and in the words which a man spoke to his comrade, did but remind one another of what their brave spirits knew already'^. For they had learned that true safety was to be found in long previous training, and not in eloquent exhortations uttered when they were going into action. At length the two armies went forward. The Argives 70 and their allies advanced to the charge ., - , , . . The Areiiies march With great fury and determination. .,^^ /,„/^/, ,^,.^/, ^,.,^^ The Lacedaemonians moved slowly ftny ; the Lacedae- and to the music of many flute-players, "'o'"'«"5 quietly to the, . , . , . , , sound of iniistc. who were stationed in their ranks, and played, not as an act of religion, but in order that the army might march evenly and in true measure, and that the line might not break, as often happens in great armies when they go into battle. Before they had actually closed a thought occurred to 71 Agis. All armies, when engaging, are ^^,-^ /,,•„ ^^ ,,./^,„,i apt to thrust outwards their right wing ; his left wing by moving and either of the opposing forces tends "" Sciritae further off, , • 1 1 • ^^"'s leaving a gap to outHank his enemy s left with his ^Mch he endeavours to own right, because every soldier in- fill by a detachment dividually fears for his exposed side, ^''°"' ^"^ ^• which he tries to cover with the shield of his comrade on the right, conceiving that the closer he draws in the better he will be protected. The first man in the front rank of the right wing is originally responsible for the deflection, for he always wants to withdraw from the enemy his own exposed side, and the rest of the army, from a like fear, follow his example. In this battle the line of the Man- tineans, who were on the Argive right wing, extended far " Cp. iv. 17 med, 95 init., 126 init.