there with a reserve, but sent his son and several of his officers with a large part of his forces to assist the Argives within their city walls.  Areus the king of Sparta also arrived, with a thousand Cretans and the swiftest footed of the Spartans.  All these troops now at once attacked the Gauls and threw them into great disorder.  As Pyrrhus, however, marched in by the street called Kylarabis, his soldiers raised a warlike shout:  and he, noticing that the shout was echoed by the Gauls in the market-place in an undecided, faint-hearted fashion, at once guessed that they were being hard pressed.  He instantly pressed the horsemen with him to charge, which they did with great difficulty, as the horses kept falling into the water-courses with which the whole city is intersected.  The night was spent in wild tumult and skirmishing in the narrow lanes, both parties being unable to recognize or obey their leaders, and eagerly awaiting the dawn.  The first rays of light showed Pyrrhus the whole open square called “the Shield” full of enemies, while he was even more disturbed by the sight of a brazen statue in the market-place, representing a wolf and a bull about to attack one another; for he remembered an oracle which had long before foretold that he must die when he should see a wolf fighting with a bull.  The Argives say that this statue commemorates the legend that Danaus when he first landed in the country at Pyramia, near Thyrea, was marching towards Argos when he saw a wolf fighting with a bull.  Danaus decided that the wolf must represent himself, because he was a stranger, and was come to attack the people of the country, like it; and he stopped and watched the fight.  When the wolf gained the day, he offered prayer to Apollo Lykius, made his attempt upon the throne of Argos, and was successful, as Gelanor, who was then king, was forced into exile by a revolution.  This is the account which the Argives give of these statues.

XXXIII.  This sight, and the failure of his plans, disheartened Pyrrhus, and he began to think of retreating.  As the gates were narrow, he sent to his son Helenus, who had been left with a large force without the city, ordering him to break down a part of the wall, and protect the fugitives, if they were pressed by the enemy.  But in the hurry and confusion the messenger did not clearly explain his orders, and by some mistake the young Helenus took all the remaining elephants and the best troops, and marched through the gate with them to help his father.  Pyrrhus was already beginning to retire.  As long as he fought in the market-place, where there was ample room, he effected his retreat in good order, and kept off the assailants by occasional movements in advance.  But when his troops began to march down the narrow street leading to the gate, they were met face to face by the reinforcement coming to their assistance.  At this crisis some of the soldiers refused to obey Pyrrhus’s order to retreat, while others who were willing enough to