B.C. 390.311 Subsequently the Lacedaemonians made a second expedition against Corinth. They heard from the exiles that the citizens contrived1 to preserve all their cattle in Peiraeum; indeed, large numbers derived2 their subsistence from the place. Agesilaus was again in command of the expedition. In the first instance he advanced upon the Isthmus3. It was the month of the Isthmian games,312 and here he found the Argives engaged in conducting the sacrifice to Poseidon, as if Corinth were Argos. So when they perceived the approach of Agesilaus, the Argives and their friends left the offerings as they lay, including the preparations for the breakfast, and retired4 with undisguised alarm into the city by the Cenchrean road.313 Agesilaus, though he observed the movement, refrained from giving chase, but taking up his quarters in the temple, there proceeded to offer victims to the god himself, and waited until the Corinthian exiles had celebrated5 the sacrifice to Poseidon, along with the games. But no sooner had Agesilaus turned his back and retired, than the Argives returned and celebrated the Isthmian games afresh; so that in this particular year there were cases in which the same competitors were twice defeated in this or that contest, or conversely, the same man was proclaimed victor twice over.
On the fourth day Agesilaus led his troops against Peiraeum, but finding it strongly defended, he made a sudden retrograde march after the morning meal in the direction of the capital, as though he calculated on the betrayal of the city. The Corinthians, in apprehension6 of some such possible catastrophe7, sent to summon Iphicrates with the larger portion of his light infantry8. These passed by duly in the night, not unobserved, however, by Agesilaus, who at once turned round at break of day and advanced on Piraeum. He himself kept to the low ground by the hot springs,314 sending a division to scale the top of the pass. That night he encamped at the hot springs, while the division bivouacked in the open, in possession of the pass. Here Agesilaus distinguished9 himself by an invention as seasonable as it was simple. Among those who carried provisions for the division not one had thought of bringing fire. The altitude was considerable; there had been a fall of rain and hail towards evening and the temperature was low; besides which, the scaling party were clad in thin garments suited to the summer season. There they sat shivering in the dark, with scarcely heart to attack their suppers, when Agesilaus sent up to them as many as ten porters carrying fire in earthen pots. One found his way up one way, one another, and presently there were many bonfires blazing — magnificently enough, since there was plenty of wood to hand; so that all fell to oiling themselves and many supped over again. The same night the sky was lit up by the blaze of the temple of Poseidon — set on fire no one knows how.
When the men in Piraeum perceived that the pass was occupied, they at once abandoned all thought of self-defence and fled for refuge to the Heraion315 — men and women, slaves and free-born, with the greater part of their flocks and herds10. Agesilaus, with the main body, meanwhile pursued his march by the sea-shore, and the division, simultaneously11 descending12 from the heights, captured the fortified13 position of Oenoe, appropriating its contents. Indeed, all the troops on that day reaped a rich harvest in the supplies they brought in from various farmsteads. Presently those who had escaped into the Heraion came out, offering to leave it to Agesilaus to decide what he would do with them. He decided14 to deliver up to the exiles all those concerned with the late butchery, and that all else should be sold. And so from the Heraion streamed out a long line of prisoners, whilst from other sides embassies arrived in numbers; and amongst these a deputation from the Boeotians, anxious to learn what they should do to obtain peace. These latter Agesilaus, with a certain loftiness of manner, affected15 not even to see, although Pharax,316 their proxenus, stood by their side to introduce them. Seated in a circular edifice16 on the margin17 of the lake,317 he surveyed the host of captives and valuables as they were brought out. Beside the prisoners, to guard them, stepped the Lacedaemonian warriors18 from the camp, carrying their spears — and themselves plucked all gaze their way, so readily will success and the transient fortune of the moment rivet19 attention. But even while Agesilaus was still thus seated, wearing a look betokening20 satisfaction at some great achievement, a horseman came galloping21 up; the flanks of his charger streamed with sweat. To the many inquiries22 what news he brought, the rider responded never a word; but being now close beside Agesilaus, he leaped from his horse, and running up to him with lowering visage narrated23 the disaster of the Spartan24 division318 at Lechaeum. At these tidings the king sprang instantly from his seat, clutching his spear, and bade his herald25 summon to a meeting the generals, captains of fifties, and commanders of foreign brigades.319 When these had rapidly assembled he bade them, seeing that the morning meal had not yet been tasted, to swallow hastily what they could, and with all possible speed to overtake him. But for himself, he, with the officers of the royal staff,320 set off at once without breakfast. His bodyguard26, with their heavy arms, accompanied him with all speed — himself in advance, the officers following behind. In this fashion he had already passed beyond the warm springs, and was well within the plateau of Lechaeum, when three horsemen rode up with further news: the dead bodies had been picked up. On receipt of these tidings he commanded the troops to order arms, and having rested them a little space, led them back again to the Heraion. The next day he spent in disposing of the captured property.321
The ambassadors of the Boeotians were then summoned, and, being asked to explain the object of their coming, made no further mention of the word “peace,” but replied that, if there was nothing to hinder it, they wished to have a pass to their own soldiers within the capital. The king answered with a smile: “I know your desire is not so much to see your soldiers as to feast your eyes on the good fortune of your friends, and to measure its magnitude. Wait then, I will conduct you myself; with me you will be better able to discover the true value of what has taken place.” And he was as good as his word. Next day he sacrificed, and led his army up to the gates of Corinth. The trophy27 he respected, but not one tree did he leave standing28 — chopping and burning, as proof positive that no one dared to face him in the field. And having so done, he encamped about Lechaeum; and as to the Theban ambassadors, in lieu of letting them pass into the city, he sent them off by sea across to Creusis.
But in proportion to the unwontedness of such a calamity29 befalling Lacedaemonians, a widespread mourning fell upon the whole Laconian army, those alone excepted whose sons or fathers or brothers had died at their post. The bearing of these resembled that of conquerors,322 as with bright faces they moved freely to and fro, glorying in their domestic sorrow. Now the tragic30 fate which befell the division was on this wise: It was the unvaried custom of the men of Amyclae to return home at the Hyacinthia,323 to join in the sacred paean31, a custom not to be interrupted by active service or absence from home or for any other reason. So, too, on this occasion, Agesilaus had left behind all the Amyclaeans serving in any part of his army at Lechaeum. At the right moment the general in command of the garrison32 at that place had posted the garrison troops of the allies to guard the walls during his absence, and put himself at the head of his division of heavy infantry with that of the cavalry33,324 and led the Amyclaeans past the walls of Corinth. Arrived at a point within three miles or so325 of Sicyon, the polemarch turned back himself in the direction of Lechaeum with his heavy infantry regiment34, six hundred strong, giving orders to the cavalry commandant to escort the Amyclaeans with his division as far as they required, and then to turn and overtake him. It cannot be said that the Lacedaemonians were ignorant of the large number of light troops and heavy infantry inside Corinth, but owing to their former successes they arrogantly35 presumed that no one would attack them. Within the capital of the Corinthians, however, their scant36 numbers — a thin line of heavy infantry unsupported by light infantry or cavalry — had been noted37; and Callias, the son of Hipponicus,326 who was in command of the Athenian hoplites, and Iphicrates at the head of his peltasts, saw no risk in attacking with the light brigade. Since if the enemy continued his march by the high road, he would be cut up by showers of javelins38 on his exposed right flank; or if he were tempted40 to take the offensive, they with their peltasts, the nimblest of all light troops, would easily slip out of the grasp of his hoplites.
With this clearly-conceived idea they led out their troops; and while Callias drew up his heavy infantry in line at no great distance from the city, Iphicrates and his peltasts made a dash at the returning division.
The Lacedaemonians were presently within range of the javelins.327 Here a man was wounded, and there another dropped, not to rise again. Each time orders were given to the attendant shield-bearers328 to pick up the men and bear them into Lechaeum; and these indeed were the only members of the mora who were, strictly41 speaking, saved. Then the polemarch ordered the ten-years-service men329 to charge and drive off their assailants. Charge, however, as they might, they took nothing by their pains — not a man could they come at within javelin39 range. Being heavy infantry opposed to light troops, before they could get to close quarters the enemy’s word of command sounded “Retire!” whilst as soon as their own ranks fell back, scattered42 as they were in consequence of a charge where each man’s individual speed had told, Iphicrates and his men turned right about and renewed the javelin attack, while others, running alongside, harassed43 their exposed flank. At the very first charge the assailants had shot down nine or ten, and, encouraged by this success, pressed on with increasing audacity44. These attacks told so severely45 that the polemarch a second time gave the order (and this time for the fifteen-years-service men) to charge. The order was promptly46 obeyed, but on retiring they lost more men than on the first occasion, and it was not until the pick and flower of the division had succumbed47 that they were joined by their returning cavalry, in whose company they once again attempted a charge. The light infantry gave way, but the attack of the cavalry was feebly enforced. Instead of pressing home the charge until at least they had sabred some of the enemy, they kept their horses abreast48 of their infantry skirmishers,330 charging and wheeling side by side.
Again and again the monotonous49 tale of doing and suffering repeated itself, except that as their own ranks grew thinner and their courage ebbed50, the courage of their assailants grew bolder and their numbers increased. In desperation they massed compactly upon the narrow slope of a hillock, distant a couple of furlongs331 or so from the sea, and a couple of miles332 perhaps from Lechaeum. Their friends in Lechaeum, perceiving them, embarked51 in boats and sailed round until they were immediately under the hillock. And now, in the very slough52 of despair, being so sorely troubled as man after man dropped dead, and unable to strike a blow, to crown their distress53 they saw the enemy’s heavy infantry advancing. Then they took to flight; some of them threw themselves into the sea; others — a mere54 handful — escaped with the cavalry into Lechaeum. The death-roll, including those who fell in the second fight and the final flight, must have numbered two hundred and fifty slain55, or thereabouts.333 Such is the tale of the destruction of the Lacedaemonian mora.
Subsequently, with the mutilated fragment of the division, Agesilaus turned his back upon Lechaeum, leaving another division behind to garrison that port. On his passage homewards, as he wound his way through the various cities, he made a point of arriving at each as late in the day as possible, renewing his march as early as possible next morning. Leaving Orchomenus at the first streak56 of dawn, he passed Mantinea still under cover of darkness. The spectacle of the Mantineans rejoicing at their misfortune would have been too severe an ordeal57 for his soldiers.
But Iphicrates had not yet reached the summit of his good fortune. Success followed upon success. Lacedaemonian garrisons58 had been placed in Sidus and Crommyon by Praxitas when he took these fortresses59, and again in Oenoe, when Peiraeum was taken quite lately by Agesilaus. One and all of these now fell into the hands of Iphicrates. Lechaeum still held out, garrisoned60 as it was by the Lacedaemonians and their allies; while the Corinthian exiles, unable since334 the disaster of the mora any longer to pass freely by land from Sicyon, had the sea passage still open to them, and using Lechaeum as their base,335 kept up a game of mutual61 annoyance62 with the party in the capital.
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1
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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isthmus
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| n.地峡 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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rivet
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| n.铆钉；vt.铆接，铆牢；集中(目光或注意力) | |
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betokening
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的现在分词 ) | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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paean
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| n.赞美歌，欢乐歌 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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arrogantly
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| adv.傲慢地 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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42
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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47
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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48
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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50
ebbed
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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51
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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53
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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