and still some time before day, Philip approached the
city, and observing a great number of lights, and hearing
the noise of the men hurrying to and fro, as usual
on such an alarm, he halted his troops, and ordered
them to sit down and take some rest; resolving to
use open force, since his stratagem had not succeeded.
Accordingly he advanced on the side of Dipylos.
This gate, being situated in the principal approach
of the city, is somewhat larger and wider than the
rest. Both within and without the streets are
wide, so that the townsmen could form their troops
from the forum to the gate, while on the outside a
road of about a mile in length, leading to the school
of the academy, afforded open room to the foot and
horse of the enemy. The Athenians, who had formed
their troops within the gate, marched out with Attalus’s
garrison, and the cohort of Dioxippus, along that
road. Which, when Philip observed, thinking that
he had the enemy in his power, and was now about to
sate himself with their long wished for destruction,
(being more incensed against them than any of the
Grecian states,) he exhorted his men to keep their
eyes on him during the fight, and to take notice,
that wherever the king was, there the standards and
the army ought to be. He then spurred on his horse
against the enemy, animated not only with resentment,
but with a desire of gaining honour, for he reckoned
it a glorious thing to be beheld fighting from the
walls, which were filled with an immense multitude,
for the purpose of witnessing the engagement.
Advancing far before the line, and with a small body
of horse, rushing into the midst of the enemy, he
inspired his men with great ardour, and the Athenians
equally with terror. Having wounded many with
his own hand, both in close fight and with missive
weapons, and driven them back within the gate, he
still pursued them closely; and having made greater
slaughter among them while embarrassed in the narrow
pass, rash as the attempt was, he yet had an unmolested
retreat, because those who were in the towers withheld
their weapons lest they should hit their friends,
who were mingled in confusion among their enemies.
The Athenians, after this, confining their troops within
the walls, Philip sounded a retreat, and pitched his
camp at Cynosarges, a temple of Hercules, and a school
surrounded by a grove. But Cynosarges, and Lycaeum,
and whatever was sacred or pleasant in the neighbourhood
of the city, he burned to the ground, and levelled
not only the houses, but sepulchres, nor was any thing
either in divine or human possession preserved amidst
the violence of his rage.
[Footnote 1: Hemerodromoi.]


