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

394 The End of Greek Freedom
grantly against the laws of gods and man. The envoys
however separated; Gnaeus Papirius went to Athens and
thence to Sparta to watch the turn of events; Aulus
Gabinius went to Naupactus; and the other two remained
at Athens, waiting for the arrival of Caecilius Metellus.
This was the state of things in the Peloponnese.
rV.
The Decisive Battle
Overthrow
of the
Achaeans.
Pausanias
vii. 16.
Mummius
commands
the Romans.
A ncient
World, 392 f.
Meantime Mummius, and with him Orestes,
who was
first sent from Rome to settle the disputes between the
Lacedaemonians and Achaeans, reached the Roman army
one morning, took over the command, and sent Metellus
and his forces back to Macedonia, and himself waited at
the Isthmus till he had concentrated all his troops. His
cavalry amounted to 3,500 and his infantry to 22,000.
There were also some Cretan bowmen, and Philopoemen
had brought some soldiers from Attalus, from Pergamus
across the Caicus. Mummius placed some of the Italian
troops and allies, so as to be an advanced post for all his
army, 12 stades in the van. And the Achaeans, as this
vanguard was left without defence through the confidence
of the Romans, attacked them, and slew some, but drove
still more back to the camp, and captured about 500 shields.
By this success the Achaeans were so elated that they
attacked the Roman army without waiting for them to
begin the battle. But when Mummius led out his army
to battle in turn, then the Achaean cavalry, which was
opposite the Roman cavalry,
ran immediately, not venturing
to make one stand against the attack of the enemy's
cavalry. And the infantry, though dejected at the rout
of the cavalry, stood their ground against the wedge-like
attack of the Roman infantry, and though out-numbered