History of the Peloponnesian War

This however not being quick enough for him, he joined the retreat in person and made the right wing wheel round, thus turning its unarmed side to the enemy.

It was then that Brasidas seeing the Athenian force in motion and his opportunity come, said to the men with him and the rest, ‘Those fellows will never stand before us, one can see that by the way their spears and heads are going. Troops which do as they do seldom stand a charge. Quick, some one, and open the gates I spoke of, and let us be out and at them with no fears for the result.’

Accordingly issuing out by the palisade gate and by the first in the long wall then existing, he ran at the top of his speed along the straight road, where the trophy now stands as you go by the steepest part of the hill, and fell upon and routed the center of the Athenians, panic-stricken by their own disorder and astounded at his audacity.

At the same moment Clearidas in execution of his orders issued out from the Thracian gates to support him, and also attacked the enemy.