But to resume : at the first burst of spring the Lacedae-
monians again called out the ban, and gave orders to Cleoni-
brotus to lead the expedition. The king found himself
presently with his troops at the foot of Cithaeron, and his
light infantry advanced to occupy the pass which commands
the road. But here they found a detachment of Thebans and
Athenians already in occupation of the desired height, who for
a while suffered them to approach ; but when they were close
upon them, sprang from their position and charged, putting
about forty to the sword. This incident was sufiScient to
convince Cleombrotus that to invade Thebes by this mountain
passage was out of the question, and in this faith he led back
and disbanded his troops.
The allies met in Lacedaemon, and arguments were
adduced on the part of the allies to show that faintheartedness
would very soon lead to their being absolutely worn out by
the war. They had got it in their power, it was urged, to fit

' Or, " beautiful and brave if ever youth was. "

^ Pausanius (I. xi. 6) mentions a temple of Aphroditi 'EvKTrpotpia (Verli-
cordia), on the way up to the Carian Acropolis of Megara.
