266 HISTORICAL TALES,

It was a crushing defeat. Of seven hundred Spar-
tans who had marched in confidence from the camp,
only three hundred returned thither in dismay. A
thousand and more Lacedemonians besides were left
dead upon the field. Not since the day of Ther-
mopyle had Sparta lost a king in battle. The loss
of the Theban army was not more than three hun-
dred men. Only twenty days had elapsed since
Epaminondas left Sparta, spurned by the scorn of
one of her kings; and now he stood victor over
Sparta at Leuctra, with her second king dead in his
camp of refuge. It is not surprising that to Greece,
which had felt sure of the speedy overthrow of
Thebes, these tidings came like a thunderbolt.
Sparta on land had been thought irresistible. But
here on equal ground, and with nearly double force,
she had been beaten by insignificant Thebes.

We must hasten to the end of this campaign.
Sparta, wrought to desperation by her defeat, sent
all the men she could spare in reinforcement. ‘Thebes,
too, sought allies, and found a powerful one in Jason
of Phere, a city of Thessaly. The Theban leaders,
flushed with victory, were eager to attack the enemy
in his camp, but Jason gave them wiser advice.

“Be content,” he said, “with the great victory
you have gained. Do not risk its loss by attacking
Lacedemonians driven to despair in their camp.
You yourselves were in despair a few days ago.
Remember that the gods take pleasure in bringing
about sudden changes of fortune.”

This advice taken, Jason offered the enemy the
opportunity to retreat in safety from their danger-