it, and a canal by which they communicate, on the other. It is entered by two bridges, on one of which is the statue of Hercules, or 'All-subduing Force,' and on the other that of Lycurgus, or 'Allregulating Law.'

In what condition is this once celebrated city at present? "Passing over the Eurotas," says Mr. Dodwell, "we viewed the first remains of the Lacedæmonian capital, now called Palaio-Kastro, consisting of uncertain traces and heaps of large stones, tossed about in a sort of promiscuous wreck. In a few minutes we reached the theatre, which is of large dimensions. The Koilon is excavated in the hill which rose nearly in the middle of the city, and which served as an Acropolis. The theatre appears of Roman construction, and the walls of the proscenium are principally of brick. The white marble of which Pausanius says it was composed has disappeared. Near the theatre are the remains of a Roman brick tower. Sparta was originally without walls, and Lycurgus prohibited their erection. Justin asserts that the Spartans first surrounded their capital with walls when Cassander entered the Peloponnesus; according to Livy, they were built by the tyrant; and Plutarch says they were destroyed by Philopœmen. Pausanias reports that the walls were constructed with precipitate haste, when Demetrius and Pyrrhus besieged Sparta. They were afterward strongly fortified by the tyrant Nabis, and destroyed by the Achæans, by whom, it appears, they were subsequently rebuilt.

"A fine sepulchral chamber, of a square form, and regularly constructed with large blocks, is situated nearly opposite the theatre, at a short distance from it. It has been opened, and the interior is found to be composed of brickwork. Many other ruins are dispersed in this direction, some of which are of Roman origin. They appear to have suffered more from sudden violence than from gradual decay; and

have, no doubt, been torn to pieces to supply materials for the modern town of Misithra. Several inscriptions have also been found." From all this it will appear that Chateaubriand is not quite correct when he asserts that "SPARTA is occupied by the single hut of a goatherd, whose wealth consists in the crop that grows upon the graves of Agis and Agesilaus."

LEUCTRA.

THIS city was in Boeotia, and famous for having been the scene of a great battle between the Thebans and Lacedæmonians, on the 8th of July, 371 B.C.

The two armies were very unequal in number. That of the Lacedæmonians consisted of twenty-four thousand foot and sixteen hundred horse, whereas the Thebans had only six thousand foot and four hundred horse; but all of them were choice troops, animated by experience in war, and determined to conquer or die. The Lacedæmonian cavalry, composed of men picked up by chance, without valour, and ill-disciplined, was as much inferior to their enemy in courage as it was superior in number. The infantry, too, could not be depended on, except the Lacedæmonians; their allies having engaged in the war with reluctance, because they did not approve of the motives of it, and were, for other reasons, dissatisfied with the Lacedæmonians.

On the day of battle, the two armies drew up on a plain. Cleombrotus was on the right, consisting of the Lacedæmonians, in whom he most confided. To secure the advantage which his superiority of horse gave him in an open country, he posted them in front of the Lacedæmonians. Archidamus, Ages

ilaus's son, was at the head of the allies, who formed the left wing.

The action was begun by the cavalry. As the Thebans were better mounted, and braver than the Lacedæmonian troops, the latter were soon broke, and driven upon the infantry, which they threw into some confusion. Epaminondas following closely after his horse, marched rapidly up to Cleombrotus, and fell upon his phalanx with all the weight of his heavy battalion. The latter, to make a diversion, detached a body of troops, with orders to take Epaminondas in flank and surround him. Pelopidas, upon seeing this movement, advanced with speed and boldness at the head of the second battalion to prevent the enemy's design, and flanked Cleombrotus himself; who, by so sudden and unexpected an attack, was put into disorder. The battle was very fierce and obstinate; and, while Cleombrotus could act, the victory continued in suspense, and declared for neither party. When at length he fell dead with his wounds, the Thebans, to complete the victory, and the Lacedæmonians, to avoid the shame of abandoning the body of their king, redoubled their efforts, and a great slaughter ensued on both sides. The Spartans fought with so much fury about the body, that they finally gained their point and carried it off. Animated by so glorious a triumph, they prepared to return to the charge, which would perhaps have proved successful, had the allies seconded their ardour. But the left wing, seeing the Lacedæmonian phalanx had been broke, and believing all lost, especially when they heard that the king was dead, took to flight, and drew off the rest of the army along with them. Epaminondas followed them vigorously, and killed a great number in the pursuit. The Thebans remained masters of the field of battle, erected a trophy, and permitted the enemy to bury their dead.

The Lacedæmonians had never received such a

blow. The most bloody defeats, till then, had scarce ever cost them more than four or five hundred of their citizens. Their loss was four thousand men, of whom one thousand were Lacedæmonians, and four hundred Spartans out of seven hundred who were in the battle. The Thebans had only three hundred men killed, among whom were few of their citizens.

The city of Sparta was celebrating at that time the gymnastic games, and was full of strangers, whom curiosity had brought thither. When the couriers arrived from Leuctra with the terrible news of their defeat, the ephori, though perfectly sensible of all the consequences, and that the Spartan empire had received à mortal wound, would not permit the representations of the theatre to be suspended, nor any changes to be made in the celebration of the festival. They sent to every family the names of their relations who had been slain, and stayed themselves in the theatre, to see that the dances and games were continued without interruption to the end.

The next day, in the morning, the loss of each family being known, the fathers and connexions of those who had perished in the battle met in the public place, and saluted and embraced each other with the greatest joy and serenity in their looks; while the others kept themselves close in their houses, or, if necessity obliged them to go abroad, it was with a sadness and dejection of aspect which sensibly expressed their profound anguish and affliction. This difference was still more remarkable in the women. Grief, silence, and tears distinguished those who expected the return of their sons; but such as had lost theirs were seen hurrying to the temples to thank the gods, and congratulating each other upon their glory and good fortune.

All that remains of this city, so celebrated by the battle just described, in which the Lacedæmonians

forfeited for ever the empire of Greece, after possessing it for three centuries, are some trifling remains near the village of Parapongi, and a few blocks of stone.

MANTINEA.

A CITY of the Peloponnesus, like Leuctra, distinguished for a great battle fought near it between the Lacedæmonians and Thebans. The Greeks had never fought against each other with more numerous armies. The Lacedæmonians consisted of 20,000 foot and 2000 horse; the Thebans of 30,000 foot and 3000 horse.

The Theban general Epaminondas marched in the same order of battle in which he intended to fight, that he might not be obliged, when he came up with the enemy, to lose, in the disposition of his army, that time which cannot be too much saved in great enterprises.

He did not march directly, and with his front to the enemy, but in a column upon the hills, with his left wing foremost, as though he did not intend to fight that day. When he was over against them, at a quarter of a league's distance, he made his troops halt and lay down their arms, as if designing to encamp there. The enemy were, in effect, deceived by this stand; and, reckoning no longer upon a battle, they quitted their arms, dispersed themselves about the camp, and suffered that ardour to subside which the near approach of a battle is wont to kindle in the hearts of soldiers. Epaminondas, however, by suddenly wheeling his troops to the right, having changed his column into a line, and drawn out the choicest troops, whom he had expressly posted in front upon his march, made them double their files upon the front of his left wing, to add to its strength,