It was a kind of warfare to
which the Spartans were totally unaccustomed: if they attempted to
advance, their nimble assailants drew back, and pursuit was impossible
on the rocky and broken ground. For a time the light-armed troops
approached them with caution, being somewhat cowed in spirit when
brought face to face with the renowned warriors of Sparta, hitherto
supposed to be invincible. But seeing how the Spartans were
embarrassed, they took courage, and came on in a roaring multitude,
surrounding them on all sides, and leaving them not a moment to take
breath. The air was darkened by a tempest of missiles; and a fine
dust, caused by the ashes of the late fire, rose in choking clouds
from the trampling of many feet. Exhausted by their violent exertions,
stunned by the uproar, and blinded by the dust, the Spartans began to
give ground, and closing their ranks fell back on the stronghold where
their reserve was stationed. They were hotly pursued, and some few
were cut off in the retreat, but the greater part succeeded in
reaching the fort, where they turned at bay, and prepared to defend
themselves to the last. Until a late hour in the day the Athenians
made vain attempts to dislodge them from their position, which was
only assailable in front.
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