PHILOPE@MEN AND THE FALL OF SPARTA. 339

thong to the javelin made it difficult to get it drawn
out, nor would any one about him venture to do it.
But the fight being now at its hottest, and likely to
be quickly decided, he was transported with the
desire of partaking in it, and struggled and strained
so violently, setting one leg forward, the other back,
that at last he broke the shaft in two; and thus got
the pieces pulled out. Being in this manner set at
liberty, he caught up his sword, and running through
the midst of those who were fighting in the first
ranks, animated his men, and set them afire with
emulation.”

As may be imagined, a man of such indomitable
courage could not fail to make his mark. Antigonus
wished to engage him in his service, but Philopcemen
refused, as he knew his temper would not let him
serve under others. His thirst for war took him to
Crete, where he brought the cavalry of that island
to a state of perfection never before known in
Greece.

And now a new step in political progress took
place in the Peloponnesus. The cities of Achea
joined into a league for common aid and defence.
Other cities joined them, until it was hoped that all
Peloponnesus would be induced to combine into one
commonwealth. There had been leagues before in
Greece, but they had all been dominated by some one
powerful city. The Achwan League was the first
that was truly a federal republic in organization,
each city being an equal member of the confederacy.

Philopeemen, whose name had grown to stand
highest among the soldiers of Greece, was chosen as