valour, nor to the old in prudence, and as equally well qualified both to fight and to command.

Aratus was, indeed, the first who raised the com monwealth of the Achæans to dignity and power: For whereas before they were in a low condition, difperfed in unconnected cities, he united them in one body, and gave them a moderate civil government, worthy of Greece. And as it happens in running waters that when a few small bodies ftop, others ftick to them, and one part strengthening another, the whole becomes one firm and folid mass, fo it was with Greece. At a time when the was weak and easily broken, dispersed as the was in a variety of cities, which stood each upon its own bottom, the Achæans firft united themselves, and then drawing fome of the neighbouring cities to them, by affifting them to expel their tyrants, while others voluntarily joined them for the fake of that unanimity which they beheld in fo well-conftituted a government, they conceived the great defign of forming Peloponne fus into one community. It is true, that while Aratus lived, they attended the motions of the Macedonians, and made their court first to Ptolemy, and afterwards to Antigonus and Philip, who all had a great share in the affairs of Greece. But when Philopomen had taken upon him the administration, the Achæans, finding themselves refpectable enough to oppose their strongest adversaries, ceafed to call in foreign protectors. As for Aratus, not being so fit for conflicts in the field, he managed moft of his affairs by address, by moderation, and by the friendships he had formed with foreign princes, as we have related in his life. But Philopomen, being a great warrior, vigorous and bold, and fuccefsful withal in the first battles that he fought, raised the ambition of the Achæans together with their power; for under him they were used to conquer.

In the first place he corrected the errors of the Achæans in drawing up their forces, and in the make of their arms: For hitherto they had made use of bucklers, which were easy to manage on account of their mallness, but too narrow to cover the body, and lances

that were much shorter than the Macedonian pikes; for which reason they answered the end in fighting at a dif tance, but were of little use in close battle. As for the order of battle, they had not been accustomed to draw up in a spiral form, but in the fquare battalion, which having neither a front of pikes, nor fhields fit to lock together, like that of the Macedonians, was easily penetrated and broken. Philopomen altered both; perfuading them, instead of the buckler and lance, to take the fhield and pike; to arm their heads, bodies, thighs, and legs, and, instead of a light and defultory manner of fighting, to adopt a close and firm one. After he had brought the youth to wear complete armour, and on that account to confider themselves as invincible, his next step was to reform them with respect to luxury and love of expenfe. He could not, indeed, entirely cure them of the diftemper with which they had long been infected, the vanity of appearance, for they had vied with each other in fine clothes, in purple carpets, and in the rich service of their tables. But he began with diverting their love of show from fuperfluous things to thofe that were useful and honourable, and foon prevailed with them to retrench their daily expense upon their perfons, and to give into a magnificence in their arms and the whole equipage of war. The shops, therefore, were seen ftrewed with plate broken in pieces, while breaft-plates were gilt with the gold, and shields and bridles ftudded with the filver. On the parade the young men were managing horses, or exercifing their

* The Macedonian phalanx occafionally altered their form from the fquare to the spiral or obicular, and sometimes to that of the cuneus or wedge.

Tagis eis owergav might also be tranflated to draw up in platoons, the word anaga derived from raw, fignifying a band or platoon. But then in the original it would rather have been regas than ragav: befides, the context feems to determine it to the former fignification. It was neceflary for the phalanx to throw themselves into the spiral or orbicular form, whenever they were furrounded, in order that they might face and fight the enemy on every fide.

Vol. III.

P

arms. The women were feen adorning helmets and crefts with various colours, or embroidering military vefts both for the cavalry and infantry. The very fight of these things inflaming their courage, and calling forth their vigour, made them venturous and ready to face any danger: For much expenfe, in other things that attract our eyes, tempts to luxury, and too often produces effeminacy, the feafting of the fenfes relaxing the vigour of the mind; but in this inftance it strengthens and improves it. Thus Homer represents Achilles, at the fight of his new armour, exulting with joy *, and burning with impatience to use it. When Philopœmen had perfuaded the youth thus to arm and adorn themselves, he mustered and trained them continually, and they entered with pride and pleasure into his exercife: For they were greatly delighted with the new form of the battalion, which was fo cemented that it feemed impoffible to break it. And their arms became eafy and light in the wearing, because they were charmed with their richness and beauty, and they longed for nothing more than to use them against the enemy, and to try them in a real encounter.

At that time the Achæans were at war with Machanidas, the tyrant of Lacedæmon, who, with a powerful army, was watching his opportunity to fubdue all Peloponnefus. As foon as news was brought that he was fallen upon the Mantineans, Philopomen took the field, and marched againft him. They drew up their armies near Mantinea, each having a good number of mercenaries in pay, befide the whole force of their respective cities. The engagement being begun, Machanidas with his foreign troops attacked and put to flight the spearmen and the Tarentines, who were placed in the * She drops the radiant burden on the ground; Clang the ftrong arms, and ring the fhores around. Back fhrink the Myrmidons with dread surprise, And from the broad effulgence turn their eyes. Unmov'd, the hero kindles at the show, And feels with rage divine his bosom glow; From his fierce eyeballs living flames expire,

And flash inceffant like a ftream of fire.Pope, Iliad 19.

Achæan front; but afterwards, inftead of falling upon that part of the army who ftood their ground, and breaking them, he went upon the pursuit of the fugitives *; and when he should have endeavoured to rout the main body of the Achæans, left his own uncovered. Philopomen, after fo indifferent a beginning, made light of the misfortune, and represented it as no great matter, though the day feemed to be loft. But when he faw what an error the enemy committed in quitting their foot, and going upon the purfuit, by which they left him a good opening, he did not try to stop them in their career after the fugitives, but fuffered them to pass by. When the pursuers were got at a great distance, he rushed upon the Lacedæmonian infantry, now left unfupported by their right wing. Stretching, therefore, to the left, he took them in flank, deftitute as they were of a general, and far from expecting to come to blows; for they thought Machanidas abfolutely fure of victory when they faw him upon the pursuit.

After he had routed this infantry with great flaughter (for it is faid that four thoufand Lacedæmonians were left dead upon the fpot), he marched against Machanidas, who was now returning with his mercenaries from the pursuit. There was a broad and deep ditch between them, where both ftrove a while, the one to get over and fly, the other to hinder him. Their appearance was not like that of a combat between two generals, but between two wild beafts (or rather between a hunter and a wild beaft) whom neceffity reduces to fight. Philopomen was the great hunter.— The tyrant's horse being strong and spirited, and violently fpurred on both fides, ventured to leap into the ditch, and was raifing his fore feet in order to gain the oppofite bank, when Simmias and Polyænus, who always fought by the fide of Philopomen, both rode up and levelled their fpears against Machanidas. But Philopamen prevented them; and perceiving that the horfe, with his head high reared, covered the tyrant's body, he turned his own a little, and pushing his fpear * See Polybius, book xi.

at him with all his force, tumbled him into the ditch. The Achæans, in admiration oft his exploit, and of his conduct in the whole action, set up his statue in brass at Delphi, in the attitude in which he killed the tyrant. It is reported, that at the Nemean games, a little after he had gained the battle of Mantinea, Philopomen, then chofen general the second time, and at leisure on account of that great festival, first caused this phalanx, in the beft order and attire, to pass in review before the Greeks, and to make all the movements which the art of war teaches, with the utmost vigour and agility. After this he entered the theatre, while the musicians were contending for the prize. He was attended by the youth in their military clokes and scarlet vests.→ These young men were all well made, of the fame age and ftature; and though they showed great respect for their general, yet they seemed not a little elated themfelves with the many glorious battles they had fought. In the moment that they entered, Pylades the mufician happened to be finging to his lyre the Perfæ of Timotheus*, and was pronouncing this verse, with which it begins,

The palm of Liberty for Greece I won;

when the people, ftruck with the grandeur of the poetry, fung by a voice equally excellent, from every part of the theatre turned their eyes upon Philopomen, and welcomed him with the loudeft plaudits. They caught in idea the ancient dignity of Greece, and in their prefent confidence afpired to the lofty fpirit of former times.

As young horfes require their accustomed riders, and are wild and unruly when mounted by ftrangers, fo it was with the Achæans. When their forces were under any other commander, on every great emergency, they grew difcontented, and looked about for Philopcemen; and if he did but make his appearance, they were foon

*Timotheus was a dithyrambic poet, who flourished about the ninety-fifth Olympiad, three hundred and ninety-eight years before the Chr istian era.