Passing by Tegea, Agis entered the district of Mantinea, and having
pitched his camp began to lay waste the country. Informed of his
approach, the Argives and their allies marched out to meet him, and
choosing a position on the slope of a hill, defended in front by
rugged and broken ground, they drew up in order of battle. The
Spartans, incited, doubtless, by the example of their king, who was
eager to redeem his reputation, rushed impetuously to the assault; and
they were already within a stone's-throw of the enemy when a Spartan
veteran cried out to Agis: "Heal not ill with ill!" His meaning was
that in Argos Agis had been too cold, and now he was too hot. Agis
heard the warning voice, and his own good sense must have shown him
how rashly he was acting; accordingly, at the very moment of
encounter, he gave the word to retreat, and fell back to the
neighbourhood of Tegea. At this place there was a copious head of
water, which, when properly regulated, served to irrigate the fields
of Tegea and Mantinea. The disposal of the water-supply was a constant
source of dispute between the two rival cities; and Agis now prepared
to turn the whole volume of the fountain towards Mantinea, expecting
that the Mantineans, when they saw their fields threatened with
inundation, would come down into the plain to hinder the mischief.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182