Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/77

 92,93] THE BOEOTIANS PREPARE TO FIGHT 69 and gave Boeotia that complete security which has lasted to this day". Remember the past: let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds, and the younger who are the sons of those valiant fathers do their best not to tarnish the virtues of their race. Confident that the God whose temple they have impiously fortified and now occupy will be our champion, and relying on the sacrifices, which are favourable to us, let us advance to meet them. They may satisfy their greed by attacking those who do not defend themselves ; but we will show them that from men whose generous spirit ever impels them to fight for the liberties of their countr}^, and who will not see that of others unjustly enslaved, — from such men they will not part without a battle.' With this exhortation Pagondas persuaded the Boeo- 93 tians to march against the Athenians, j,,^ Boeotian mmy, and quickly moved his army forward numbcvmg not less than (for the day was far advanced). As ''S^"'"' thousand five . Ill, linudred in all, the soon as he approached the enemy he 7-/,^^,,,, ^■^■^i^,^ „,,. took up a position where a hill inter- tanged twenty-five deep, cepted the view, and there drew up "PM>-s over the acst his army and prepared for action. Hippocrates, who was still at Delium, heard that the Boeotians were advancing, and sent a message to the army bidding them get into position. He himself came up shortly afterwards, having left three hundred cavalry at Delium, in order that they might protect the place if assailed, and also might watch their opportunity and attack the Boeotians while the battle was going on. To these the Boeotians opposed a separate force. When everything was ready they appeared over the crest of the hill, and halted in the order which they proposed to maintain in the engagement ; they numbered about seven thousand hoplites, more than ten thousand light-armed troops, a thousand cavalry, and five hundred targeteers. " Cp. iii. 62 fin.