S'i'i G R E 
the plain of Stenyclara, and the moft remarkable at a 
place called the Boar’s Monument, from a tradition that 
Hercules had anciently facrificed there an animal of that 
fpecies.' The MefiTenians were reinforced by the affift- 
ance of their allies of Elis and Sicyon, as well as of 
Argos and Arcadia. The Spartans were followed by 
the Corinthians, their ancient confederates, and by the 
citizens of Leprea. The combined army was command¬ 
ed by Anaxander the Spartan king, whofe influence, 
however, was rivalled by the autliority of Hecatseus the 
diviner, and of Tyrtseus the poet. 
Thefe fuccefles were chiefly owing to the fpirited ex- 
ertion of the MefTenian g-jnera!; and they were cele¬ 
brated with great pomp at Andania. The men received 
their favourite heto with joyous acclamations; and their 
women, flrowing his way with flowers, fling in his praife 
a ftanza that has reached modern times, exprefling, with 
elegant fimplicity, the glorious vidtory obtained over 
the Lacedaemonians. This tribute of applaufe paid to 
the virtues of Arittomenes, infpired him with a generous 
ambition further to delerve the gratitude of f.is country¬ 
men. With unremitting activity he continued to over¬ 
run the hoftile territory, to deflroy the defenrelefs vil¬ 
lages, and to carry the inliabitants into fervltude. But 
after attacking Egila, he met with an unexiiefted check 
from tlie enthuliafin of the Spartan matrons, who were 
oflering facrifice to Ceres in a neiglibouring temple. 
As (bon as they perceived tlie approach of the enemy, 
the women, who, according to the inftitutions of Ly- 
CLirgus, had been trained to all the manly exercifes of 
the other fex, ilfued from the temple, and alfailing the 
Meflenians with knives, hatchets, burning torches, and 
the other inthuments of facrifice, threw them into a 
panic, and feized tlie perfon of their commander. Next 
day, however, Arifiomenes was delivered from capti¬ 
vity, through the kindly offices of Archidamea, priefiel's 
of Ceres, whofe fufceptible heart had long admired the 
merit and renown of the Mefietiiaiii hero. 
The vidlorics of the Melfenlans, wliich, in the courfe 
of three years, had been interrupted only by this fingular 
incident, difpofed th.e Spartans to abandon the war, 
and to allow their enemies to enjoy the iionoiir and ad¬ 
vantages which they had (b bravely earned. This refo- 
lution was approved by the fenate and affembly. The 
allies of Sparta adopted the fame opinion. Tyrtaeiis 
alone oppofed the difgraceful mcafure, with all the 
force of his authority. The lacred character of the 
bard, with the divine influence of his poetry, prevailed; 
and tlie Spartans again entered Melfenia with an army, 
as numeraus and powerful as any they had before coi- 
lebted. But at fight of the Meflenian troops, headed 
by Arifiomenes, they were thrown into new contterna- 
tion. A fecond time Tyrtaeus revived their drooping 
courage, while he expatiated on the glory of ancient 
warriors; tlie magnanimity of defpifing fortune; and 
tile honours and rewards of vidory. Thefe fentiments, 
dictated by the true i'pirlt of heroifm, fired their minds 
with martial ardour. One confideration only damped 
the generous warmth that animated their Ibuls. In an 
engagement, v\hich there was every reafon to believe 
would be fought with the mofi; obftinate valour on both 
fides, what crowds of warriors mull fall, whole bodies, 
heaped together in confulion, could not be recognized 
by their fiiends, or obtain, with due Iblemnity, the 
lacred rites of burial! This melancholy thought, which 
thilled the boldelt heart, might have formed an infur- 
mountable obftacle to their fuccefs, had not their ter¬ 
rors been removed by the millionary of Apollo. By tiie 
advice of Tyrtaeus, each foldier tied a token, infcribed 
with his name and defignation, round his riglit arm, by 
means of which his body, however disfigured, might be 
known to his friends and kindred. Thus fortified againfi 
the only illulioii tliat could alarm the minds of men who 
preferred death to a defeat, they rulhed forward to tlie 
attack, refolving to conquer or die. 
E- C E. 
The MefTenian general had drawn up his forc.es at a 
place called the Great Ditch, from which this engage¬ 
ment has been called the battle of the Trenches. The 
national llrength was reinforced by a confiderably body 
of Arcadian troops, commanded by their king Arifto- 
crates, to whofe treachery, as much as to tJieir own 
valour, the Spartans were indebted for tint vidtory. 
When tlie charge was founded, and the MefTenians, were 
preparing to refifi the firfi onfet of the enemy, Arifto- 
crates led off his Arcadians; and, to make his defedlion 
more apparent, he croffed the whole MefTenian army. 
The Meflenians, confounded with a treachery fo bold 
and manifeft, almofl forgot that they were contending 
againfi the Spartans, Many forfook their ranks, and 
ran after tlie Arcadians, fometimes conjuring them to 
return to their duty, and fometimes reproaching them 
with their perfidious ingratitude. Their entreaties and 
infiilts were alike vain; their army was furrounded on 
almofl every fide; the little band of Arifiomenes alone 
were able to refifi the efforts, and break through the 
embattled fquadrons of the enemy. 
Among the republics of ancient Greece, tlie fate of a 
nation often depended on the event of a battle. The 
contentioii was not between mercenary troops, who re¬ 
garded war as a trade, which they carried on merely 
from intereft, without emulation or refentment. Tlie 
citizens of free communities fought for their liberties 
and fortunes, their \yives and children, and for every 
objedl held dear or valuable among men. In fuch a 
ih uggle they exerted the utnioft efforts of tlieir firength ; 
nor did the conflift ceafe, till the one party had reduced 
the other to extremity. It was not extraordinary, there¬ 
fore, tliat after tlie battle of the Trenches, the MefTe¬ 
nians fhould be unable to keep the field. Arifiomenes, 
however, determined, while he preferved his life, to 
maintain his independence. With this view he collefiled 
the milerable remains of his troops ; aflembled the fcat- 
tered inhabitants of the open country ; abandoned the 
cities and villages on the plain to the mercy of the vic¬ 
tors; and feized, with his little army, the ftrong fortref's 
of Eira, fituate among the mountains which rife along 
the Ibuthern fliore of Mefienia, defended on the north 
by the river Neda, and open only on the fouth towards 
tlie harbours of Pylus and Methone, which offered it a 
plentiful fupply of corn, and other necelTary provifions. 
la this fituation the gallant MefTenian refified, for eleven 
years, from A. C. 682 to 671, the efforts of the Spar¬ 
tans, who endeavoured, with unremitting perfeverance, 
to gain pofTellion of the fortrefs. Nor was he fatisfied 
w'ith defending the place: on various occafionsnie made 
vigorous *and fuccelsful fallies againfi tiie befiegers. 
With a body of only three hundred MefTenians, he, at 
dift'erent times, over-ran the Spartan territories, and 
plundered fuch cities a; were either weakly garrifoned 
or negligently defended. Marching all night, they ar¬ 
rived by day-break at Amyclas, a Lacediemonian city, 
lituate on the banks of tli^ Eurotas, at the diflance only 
of a few miles from the capital. Having entered the 
place without reliftance, they carried off a conliderable 
booty in flaves and merchandife, before the Spartans 
could arrive to the afliflaiice of their neighbours. 
A continued feries of fuch exploits infpired the MeC- 
fenians with a degree of confidence, which at length 
proved fatal to their, caufe. Negledting thofe precau¬ 
tions to which they owed their paft advantages, they 
began to continue fo long in the field,, that tlie Spartans 
found an opportunity to intercept their return. The 
little band of Melfenians behaved with its ufual gallan¬ 
try, and long defended itfelf againfi fuperior numbers. 
Arifiomenes, after receiving many wounds, was taken 
pril'oner; and, with fifty of his bravefi companions, 
cariied in chains to the Lacedremonian capital. The 
refentment of that republic againfi thofe who had in- 
flidled on her Inch dreadful calamities, was net to be 
gratified by an ordinary'punifhment. After mucli deli¬ 
beration. 
