no extravagant delight at the news.  When the Ephors heard of the battle at Mantinea, which is mentioned by Thucydides in his history, they gave the messenger who brought the tidings a piece of meat from the public dining-table, as a present for his good news, and nothing more.  But now, when the news of this battle reached Sparta, and Archidamus marched triumphantly into the town, all their accustomed reserve broke down.  His father was the first to meet him, weeping for joy.  After him came the senate, and the elders and women flocked down to the river side, holding up their hands to heaven and giving thanks to the gods for having put away the undeserved reproach of Sparta, and having once more allowed her to raise her head.  It is said, indeed, that the Spartans before this battle were so much ashamed of themselves, that they dared not even look their wives in the face.

XXXIV.  The independence of Messenia had been restored by Epameinondas, and its former citizens collected together from all quarters of Greece.  The Lacedaemonians dared not openly attack these men, but they felt angry with Agesilaus, because during his reign they had lost so fine a country, as large as Laconia itself, and as fertile as any part of Greece, after having enjoyed the possession of it for so many years.  For this reason Agesilaus refused to accept the terms of peace offered by the Thebans.  He was so unwilling to give up his nominal claim to Messenia, although he had practically lost that country, that instead of recovering it he very nearly lost Sparta as well, as he was out-manoeuvred by Epameinondas.  This happened in the following manner.  The people of Mantinea revolted from the Thebans, and solicited aid from the Lacedaemonians.  When Epameinondas heard that Agesilaus was marching thither at the head of an army, he eluded the Mantineans by a night march from Tegea, invaded the Lacedaemonium territory, and very nearly succeeded in avoiding the army of Agesilaus and catching Sparta defenceless.  However, Euthynus of Thespiae, according to Kallisthenes, or, according to Xenophon, a certain Cretan warned Agesilaus of his danger, upon which he at once sent a mounted messenger to the city with the news, and shortly afterwards marched thither himself.  Soon the Thebans appeared, crossed the Eurotas, and assaulted the city with great fury, while Agesilaus, old as he was, defended it with all the spirit and energy of youth.  He did not, as on the former occasion, consider that caution would be of any service, but perceived that reckless daring alone could save Sparta.  And by incredible daring he did then snatch the city from the grasp of Epameinondas, and set up a trophy of victory, having afforded to the women and children the glorious spectacle of the men of Lacedaemon doing their duty on behalf of the country which reared them.  There, too, might Archidamus be seen in the thick of the fight, displaying the courage of a man, and the swiftness of a youth, as