History of the Peloponnesian War

The Argives and their allies, on seeing them, occupied a position that was strong and difficult of access, and drew up their troops for action.

The Lacedaemonians and their allies immediately advanced against them, and proceeded to within stone's throw or arrow-shot; when one of the elders called out to Agis,

that he was purposing to cure evil with evil;

He then, whether in consequence of this exclamation, or because he was himself suddenly struck by some resolution different from what he had before adopted, led his army back again with all speed, before the engagement had begun;

and going into the Tegean country, diverted over that of the Mantineans the water about which the Tegeans and Mantineans are continually engaged in hostilities, as it causes a general injury to whichever country it falls into. His object was to bring the Argives and their allies down from the hill, on their coming [*]( Though it is true, as Arnold observes, that neither βοηθοῦντας, nor the participle in the other passages quoted by Poppo, is, strictly speaking, a present put for a future; yet the full meaning of those participles appears to be most naturally conveyed in English by the sign of the future, since they are expressive of intention; a force which the present indicative frequently has, and which might therefore be expected in the participle a. well. For other instances of it in Thucydides, compare II. 65. 8, διά τὸ μὴ κτώμενος ἐξ οὐ προσηκόντων τὴν δύναμιν πρὸς ἡδονήν τε λέγειν. IV. 61. 1 χρὴ τὰ μὴ προσήκοντα ἐπικτωμένους μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ ἑτοῖμα βλάπτοντα ξυμμάχους τε ἐπάγεσθαι, κ. τ. λ.) to resist the diversion of the water, when they heard of it, and so to fight the battle on the plain. Accordingly, after staying there in the neighbourhood of the water during that day, he turned it off.

The Argives and their allies, on the other hand, were at first amazed at his sudden retreat, when at so short a distance from them, and did not know what to conjecture. Afterwards, when the enemy had withdrawn out of sight, while they themselves remained still, and did not follow them, they then began to blame their generals again; both because, on the former occasion, the Lacedaemonians, when fairly caught near Argos, had been suffered to escape; and now, when they were running away, no one pursued them; but with perfect quiet the enemy were saving themselves, while they were being betrayed.

The generals, then, were at the moment confounded, but afterwards they led them off from the hill, and having advanced on to the plain, pitched their camp, with the intention of advancing against the enemy.