Agesilaus was also distracted by the disorderly and excited state of the city itself, for the old men were in an agony of grief, resentment, and wounded honour, while the women could not be kept quiet, but were wrought to frenzy, by hearing the cries of the enemy, and seeing the fires which they lighted.  He also suffered much at the thought of his own dishonour; for when he had ascended the throne, Sparta was the greatest and most powerful city in Greece, and now he beheld her shorn of all her glories, and his favourite boast, that no Laconian woman had ever seen the smoke of an enemy’s fire rendered signally untrue.  We are told that when some Athenian was disputing with Antalkidas about the bravery of their respective nations, and saying, “We have often chased you away from the Kephissus,” Antalkidas answered, “Yes, but we have never had to chase you away from the Eurotas.”  This is like the answer made by some Spartan of less distinction to an Argive, who said, “Many of you Spartans lie buried in Argive soil,” to which he replied, “But none of you are buried in Laconia.”

XXXII.  We are told at this time Antalkidas was one of the Ephors, and became so much alarmed that he sent his family away to the island of Kythera.  Agesilaus, when the enemy attempted to cross the river and force their way into the city, abandoned most part of it, and drew up his forces on the high hills in the centre.  At that time the river Eurotas was in high flood, as much snow had fallen, and the excessive cold of the water, as well as the strength of the stream, rendered it hard for the Thebans to cross.  Epameinondas marched first, in the front rank of the phalanx; and some of those who were present pointed him out to Agesilaus, who is said to have gazed long at him, saying merely, “O thou man of great deeds.”

Epameinondas was eager to assault the city itself, and to place a trophy of victory in its streets; but as he could not draw Agesilaus into a battle, he drew off his forces, and again laid waste the country.  Meanwhile, in Lacedaemon itself, a body of two hundred men, of doubtful fidelity, seized the Issorium, where the temple of Artemis stands, which is a strong and easily defensible post.  The Lacedaemonians at once wished to attack them, but Agesilaus, fearing that some deep-laid conspiracy might break out, ordered them to remain quiet.  He himself, dressed simply in his cloak, unarmed, and attended only by one slave, went up to the two hundred, and, in a loud voice, told them that they had mistaken their orders; that they had not been ordered to go thither, nor yet to go all together in a body, but that some were to be posted there, pointing to some other place, and the rest elsewhere in the city.  They, hearing his commands, were delighted, imagining that their treason was undiscovered, and immediately marched to the places which he indicated.  Agesilaus at once occupied the Issorium with troops which he could trust, and in the ensuing night seized and put to