<w lemma="%2Adio%5C">Διὸ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxani%2Fda%7C">Μαχανίδᾳ</w> <w lemma="ceniko%5Cn">ξενικὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws">ἐκθύμως</w> <w lemma="a%29gwni%2Fzesqai">ἀγωνίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fws">βιαίως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%2Fontas">ἐφεδρεύοντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ce%2Fnois">ξένοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriou%5Cs">Ἰλλυριοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qwraki%2Ftas">θωρακίτας</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomei%3Dnai">ὑπομεῖναι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpiesqe%2Fntas">ἐκπιεσθέντας</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w> <w lemma="protropa%2Fdhn">προτροπάδην</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fas">Μαντινείας</w>, <w lemma="a%29pexou%2Fshs">ἀπεχούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fois">ἐνίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29porou%2Fmenon">ἀπορούμενον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmenon">ὁμολογούμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfane%2Fs">συμφανές</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="sunteloume%2Fnwn">συντελουμένων</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelei%3Dtai">ἐπιτελεῖται</w>.
<w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmatos">προτερήματος</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fnta">λαβόντα</w> <w lemma="prosqei%3Dnai">προσθεῖναι</w> <w lemma="ta%29ko%2Flouqon">τἀκόλουθον</w>, <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dzon">μεῖζον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfale%2Fnta">σφαλέντα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftais">πρώταις</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dnai">μεῖναι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxou%2Fntwn">εὐτυχούντων</w> <w lemma="a%29krisi%2Fan">ἀκρισίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunepiqe%2Fsqai">συνεπιθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%28marth%2Fmasin">ἁμαρτήμασιν</w>.
<w lemma="i%29dei%3Dn">ἰδεῖν</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dntas">δοκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="peproterhke%2Fnai">πεπροτερηκέναι</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29sfalme%2Fnous">ἐσφαλμένους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%3Ds">ἀρχαῖς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcantas">δόξαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29ptaike%2Fnai">ἐπταικέναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gxi%2Fnoian">ἀγχίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="katwrqwko%2Ftas">κατωρθωκότας</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frous">ἀμφοτέρους</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="cenikou%3D">ξενικοῦ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkekliko%2Ftos">ἐγκεκλικότος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paralelume%2Fnou">παραλελυμένου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="laiou%3D">λαιοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frws">κέρως</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxani%2Fdas">Μαχανίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenos">ἀφέμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="u%28perai%2Frein">ὑπεραίρειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="a%29panta%3Dn">ἀπαντᾶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peira%3Dsqai">πειρᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>,
<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpracen">ἔπραξεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29kratw%3Ds">ἀκρατῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meirakiwdw%3Ds">μειρακιωδῶς</w> <w lemma="sunekxuqei%5Cs">συνεκχυθεὶς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frois">μισθοφόροις</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeito">ἐπέκειτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgousin">φεύγουσιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29gkli%2Fnantas">ἐγκλίναντας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fxri">ἄχρι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w> <w lemma="sundiw%2Fkein">συνδιώκειν</w>.
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<head>Machanidas Changes his Plan</head>Thus it came about that the mercenaries in the army of Machanidas fought with such fury and violence, that even<pb n="60" />the Illyrians and men with body armour, who formed the reserve supporting the mercenaries of the Achaean army, were unable to withstand their assault; but were all driven from their position, and fled in confusion towards the city of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>, which was about seven stades distant.And now there occurred an undoubted instance of what some doubt, namely, that the issues in war are for the most part decided by the skill or want of skill of the commanders. For though perhaps it is a great thing to be able to follow up a first success properly, it is a greater thing still that, when the first step has proved a failure, a man should retain his presence of mind, keep a good look-out for any error of judgment on the part of the victors, and avail himself of their mistakes. At any rate one often sees the side, which imagines itself to have obtained a clear victory, ultimately lose the day; while those who seemed at first to have failed recover themselves by presence of mind, and ultimately win an unexpected victory. Both happened on this occasion to the respective leaders.The whole of the Achaean mercenaries having been driven<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note20">Machanidas pursues the fugitives, and thus allows the Achaean hoplites to get between him and his quarters.</note>from their ground, and their leftwing having been thoroughly broken up, Machanidas abandoned his original plan of winning the day by outflanking the enemy with some of his forces and charging their front with others, and did neither; but, quite losing his head, rushed forward heedlessly with all his mercenaries in pursuit of the fugitives, as though the panic was not in itself sufficient to drive those who had once given way up to the town gates.
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Walbank Commentary