A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

248 The Supremacy of Sparta
The patriots
attack the
camp of the
enemy.
Hoplites are
heavy-armed
'infantry.
The patriots
occupy Peiraeus.
A ncient
World, 193.
But by this time the small garrison above them had
increased tenfold, until there were now about seven
hundred men collected in Phyle; and with this force
Thrasybulus one night descended. When he was not quite
half a mile from the enemy's encampment he grounded
arms, and a deep silence was maintained until it drew
toward day. In a little while the men opposite, one by
one, were getting to their legs or leaving the camp for
necessary purposes, while a suppressed din and murmur
arose, caused by the grooms currying and combing their
horses. This was the moment for Thrasybulus and his
men to snatch up their arms and make a dash at the
enemy's position. Some they felled on the spot; and
routing the whole body, pursued them six or seven stadia,
killing one hundred and twenty hoplites and more. Of
the cavalry, Nicostratus,
"the beautiful," as men called
him, and two others besides were slain; they were caught
while still in their beds. Returning from the pursuit, the
victors set up a trophy, got together all the arms they had
taken, besides baggage, and retired again to Phyle. A
reinforcement of horse sent from the city
could not discover
the vestige of a foe, but waited on the scene of
battle until the bodies of the slain had been picked up by
their relatives, whereupon they withdrew again to the
city. . . .
But now Thrasybulus at the head of his followers,
this time about one thousand strong, descended from
Phyle and reached Peirasus in the night. The Thirty, on
their side, informed of this new move, were not slow to
come to the rescue with the Laconian guards, supported
by their own cavalry and hoplites. And so they advanced,
marching down along the broad carriage road
which leads into Peiraeus. The men from Phyle seemed
by