380 PHILOPCEMEN.

there was no great account to be made of a man, who had suffered himself to be taken alive by his enemies. A few days after, news came that Dinocrates the Mes- senian, a particular enemy to Philopcemen, and for his wickedness and vUlanies generally hated, had induced Messene to revolt from the Achteans, and was about to seize upon a little place called Colonis. Philopoemen lay then sick of a fever at Ai-gos. Upon the news he hasted away, and reached Megalopolis, which was distant above four' hundred furlongs, in a day. From thence he imme- diately led out the horse, the noblest of the city, young men m the vigor of their age, and eager to proffer their service, both from attachment to Philopcemen, and zeal for the cause. As they marched towards Messene, they met with Dinocrates, near the hill of Evander, charged and routed him. But five hundred fresh men, who, being left for a guard to the country, came in late, happening to appear, the flying enemy rallied again about the hills. Philopoemen, fearing to be enclosed, and soUcitous for his men, retreated over ground extremely disadvantageous, bringing up the rear himself As he often faced, and made charges upon the enemy, he drew them upon him- self; though they merely made movements at a distance, and shouted about him, nobody daring to approach him. In his care to save every single man, he left his main body so often, that at last he found himself alone among the thickest of his enemies. Yet even then none durst come up to him, but being pelted at a distance, and driven to stony steep places, he had great difficulty, with much spurring, to guide his horse ai'ight. His age was no hinderance to him, for with perpetual exercise it was both strong and active ; but being weakened with sick- ness, and tired witli his long journey, his horse stumbling, he fell encumbered with his arms, and faint, upon a hard and rugged piece of ground. His head received such a