G R E 
beration, the prifoners were tlirovvn, alive, into the 
Ceada ; a profound cavern, commonly employed as a 
receptacle for the mod atrocious criminals. All the 
companions of Aridomenes were killed by the fall; he 
■alone was preferved by an accident, which, though na¬ 
tural in itfelf, has been disfigured by many fabulous cir- 
cumdances. The Spartans, who regarded valour even 
in an enemy, permitted him, at his earned defire, to be 
buried with his fliield ; a weapon of defence held in pe¬ 
culiar veneration by the Grecian foldiers. As he de- 
feended into tlic deep cavity, the edge of his buckler, 
Ih'iking againd the fides of the rock, broke the force of 
the fall, and faved liis life. Two days he continued in 
this mii'erable dungeon, amidd the dench of dead bo¬ 
dies, his face covered with his cloak, waiting the flow 
approaches of certain death. 'J'he third day he heard 
a noife, and looking up, perceived a fox devouring the 
mangled remains of his companions. He allowed the 
animal to approach Jiim, and catching hold of it with 
one hand, while he defended himfelf againd its bite 
with the other, he determined to follow wherever it 
fiiould conduct him. The fox drew towards a chink in 
the rock, by which he had entered the cavity. Arido- 
mencs then gave liberty to his guide, whom he followed 
with muc]\ didieulty, fcrambling through the padage 
which had been opened for his deliverance. He imme¬ 
diately took the road' of Eira, and was received with 
unfpeakable adonifiimeat and delight by his admiring 
fubjects. 
The news of his wonderful efcape reached Sparta by 
fomc Medenian deferters, whofe information was not 
more credited, than if they had brought intelligence of 
one rifen from the dead. But, in the fpacc of a few 
days, the exploits of Aridomenes convinced the incre¬ 
dulity of the Spartans. He was informed that the Co- 
rintliian army was on its march, obferving no order or 
difeipkne in the day, and encamping during night with¬ 
out giiar:'s or centinels. Aridomenes refolved to fiir- 
prile them. That no appearance of danger might alarm 
the negligence of the Corinthians, he waited their ap¬ 
proach in concealment, attacked their camp in the dead 
of night, marked his route with blood, and returning 
loaded with fpoils to Eira, offered to Medenian Jove 
tlie Hecatomphonia i a facrifice of an hundred victims, 
which he alone was entitled to perform, who with his 
own hand had killed an luindred of his enemies. This 
was the third time the Medenian hero had celebrated 
the fame favage rite. 
Eleven years had tlie vigorous and perfevering efforts 
of a fingle man prolonged the dediny of Eira. Arido- 
inenes might have dill witlidood the impetuous ardour 
of the Spartans, but for the fecret treachery of a Lace- 
d.xmonian adulterer, who was the dave of Einperanius, 
the Spartan general. The perfidious dave liad efcaped 
to Eira witli his mader’s property, and had formed an 
intrigue with a Medenian woman, whom he vifited as 
often as lier hufband was called in his turn to guard the 
citadel. Amidd the miferable joys of their infamous 
commerce, the lovers were one night didurbed by the 
hiifband, who loudly claimed admittance, which how- 
•ever lie did not obtain till his wife had concealed the 
adulterer. V/hen the wife, witii the mod infidious flat¬ 
tery, iiiquiring by what good fortune flie was bkjfed with 
her luitband’s unexpected return, the fmiple Melfeniaa 
related, tliat the inclemency of the weather had driven 
the foldiers from their pods, and that Aridomenes was 
prevented by a recent wound from walking the rounds 
as ufual, and it was not to be expeCted that the Spar¬ 
tans would venture an attack againd the citadel during 
the horror of a temped, The Lacedaemonian (lave over¬ 
hearing this recital, cautioully efcaped from his con¬ 
cealment, and fought with the iitmod celerity the Spar¬ 
tan camp, Emperamus readily pardoned the fortunate 
treachery of a fei vant that had afforded him the hopes 
flf obtaining the liighelt objeiff of iiis ambition. Hot- 
VoL.VIlI. No. 549. 
E C E. 645 
vvithdanding the flipperinefs of the deep afeent, the 
Spartans, by the direction of the Have, mounted the un¬ 
guarded citadel in the midd of forked lightning and 
loud peals of thunder, and obtained poffedion of all the 
principal pods, before the Meffeiiians were fenlible ot 
their danger. But as foon as it was known that the 
enemy had entered the city, Aridomenes, accompanied 
by the warlike Theocles, together with their refpeefive 
fons Gorgus and Manticles, endeavoured to animate the 
defpair of tlieir fellow.citizens, and to make them de¬ 
fend to the lad extremity, the little fpot of ground to 
wJiich they could yet apply the endearing name ot coun¬ 
try. Such however were the terrors and confLifion of 
the niglit, that it was inij olliblc to fonii the Mclfenians 
into any order of battle; and, as the morning dawned, 
they faw the impoflibility <»f any other adidance than 
what may be derived from dclpair. They determined, 
at every hazard, to attack and penetrate the Spartan bat¬ 
talions. Even the women aimed themieives with tiles 
and dones, and every weapon that prefented itfcll to their 
fury. They lamented that the violence of the hurricane 
prevented them from mounting to the roofs of the lioufes, 
which they had purpofed to tlirow down on the enemy j 
and declared that they would rather be buried under 
the ruins of their country, than dragged in captivity 
to Sparta. Such generous refolucions ought to have 
retarded the fate of Melfene ; but it was impoffible to 
hold out for ever againd fuperior numbers. For three 
days and nights they withdood the coinhined lorce of 
their iirefiltible enemies; and when at length they be¬ 
gan to give way, the heroic Theocles threw hnnlelf 
into the midd of the Spartans, crying out, “ That they 
were not always to be victorious, nor the Med'enians 
always to be their (laves. Such was the will ot the 
godsl who commanded him to peridi in the wreck of a. 
country, which, in a future age, was deftined to rife 
from its ruins.” 
It might have been expefted that the patriotifni of 
Aridomenes would have chofen the fame fate with 
Theocles; but he preferred life for the fake ot defend¬ 
ing the fniall remnant of a community, which, he flat- 
tered himfelf, might yet be preferved tor the redoration 
of his country. For this purpofe, the only expedient 
that could be employed, was the founding a retreat, 
and tlie collefting into one body fuch ot his foldiers as 
were not already too far engaged with the Spartans. 
Having accomplidied this meal'ure, he placed the wo¬ 
men and children in the centre ot the battalion, and 
committed the command of the rear to Gorgus and 
Manticles. He himfelf conduced the van, and march¬ 
ing towards the enemy with his fpear equably poized, 
diewed, by his mien and countenance, that he v\as re¬ 
folved to defend to the lad extremity the little remnant 
of the Meffenian (late. The Spartans, as directed by 
Hecatus their diviner, opened their ranks, and allowed 
them to pafs unhurt, judicioully avoiding to irritate 
their defpair. . The Med'enians abandoned tlieir city, 
and marciied towards Arcadia. 
As the wars of the Grecian republics were more 
bloody and dedruefive than thofe of modern times, fo 
were their alliances more generous and (incere. Whe'n 
the Arcadiarf^.were informed of the taking or Eira, they 
travelled in great numbers towards the frontiers of their 
kingdom, carrying with them viChials, clothing, and all 
things necslfary to the relief of the unfortunate fugitives; 
whom, having met at mount Lycaea, they invited into 
their cities, offered to divide with them their lands, and 
to give them their daughters in marriage. The generous 
fympatliy of the Arcadians animated Aridomenes to an 
exploit, the boldnefs of which little correfponded with 
the depreffion incident to his fortune. He had only five 
hundred foldiers whofe activity and drengtii were (till 
equal to their valour; and thele he commanded, in the 
prefence of his allies, to march (traightway to Sparta'. 
Three hundred Arcadians defired to (hare the glory o'f 
10 F the 
