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

262 Thebes Attempts to Gain Supremacy
The club of
Heracles was
the Theban
coat of arms.
the word; the cavalry fell to whitening their helmets, the
heavy infantry of the Arcadians began inscribing clubs as
the crest on their shields,
as though they were Thebans,
and all were engaged in sharpening their lances and swords
and polishing their heavy shields. When the preparations
were complete and he had led them out, his next movement
is worthy of attention. First, as was natural, he
paid heed to their formation, and in
so doing seemed to
give clear evidence that he intended battle; but no sooner
was the army drawn up in
the formation which he preferred
than he advanced, not by the shortest route to meet
the enemy, but toward the westward-lying mountains
which face Tegea, and by this movement created in the
enemy an expectation that he would not do battle on that
He deceives day. In keeping with this expectation, as soon as he
the enemy.
arrived at the mountain-region, he extended his phalanx
His tactics.
in long line and piled arms under the high cliffs; and to all
appearance he was there encamping. The effect of this
manoeuvre on the enemy in general was to relax the prepared
bent of their souls for battle,
tactical arrangements.
and to weaken their
Presently, however, wheeling his
regiments, which were marching in column, to the front,
with the effect of strengthening the beak-like attack
which he proposed to lead himself, at the same instant he
gave the order, "Shoulder arms, forward," and led the
way, the troops following.
When the enemy saw them so unexpectedly approaching,
not one of them was able to maintain tranquillity.
Some began running to their divisions, some fell into line,
some might be seen bitting and bridUng their horses, some
donning their cuirasses, and one and all were hke men
about to receive rather than to inflict a blow. Meanwhile
he with steady impetus pushed forward his
armament,