The Messenians, on receipt of Philip's dispatch demanding troops, were no less eager to comply than the other allies, and at once started on the expedition sending their finest troops, a thousand foot and two hundred horse.
Owing, however, to the distance they missed Philip at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> and at first were at a loss what to do, but anxious as they were not to seem intentionally remiss owing to the suspicions they had incurred on previous occasions, they marched hastily through the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> with the object of joining Philip.
On arriving at a village called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Glympeis&groupId=605&placeId=1118">Glympeis</a>, which lies on the borders of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argolis&groupId=360&placeId=687">Argolis</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, they encamped near it with an unmilitary lack of precaution;
for they neither protected their camp with a trench and palisade, nor did they look round for a favourable spot, but relying in the simplicity of their hearts on the goodwill of the inhabitants pitched their camp just under the wall.
Lycurgus, when the arrival of the Messenians was announced to him, set out with his mercenaries and a few Lacedaemonians, and reaching the place just as day was breaking, made a bold attack on the camp.
The Messenians, who had acted foolishly in every way and especially in advancing from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> with such an inadequate force and without any expert advice, yet now when they were attacked and in actual danger took the best means open to them to ensure their safety.
For as soon as they saw the enemy coming up, they abandoned everything and hastily took refuge within the walls of the village.
So that Lycurgus captured most of their horses and their baggage, but did not make a single prisoner and only killed eight cavalry soldiers.
The Messenians, then, having met with this reverse returned home by way of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a>.
But Lycurgus was highly elated at his success; and on arriving at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> began to make preparations and hold councils of his friends, with the view of not allowing Philip to retire from the country without giving battle.
The king, leaving the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Helos&groupId=621&placeId=1142">Helos</a>, now advanced laying the country waste, and on the fourth day about midday again descended on Amyclae with his whole army.
Walbank Commentary