They were constantly victorious till they were opposed to Philip's admirably disciplined phalanx at Charonea; and even at Chaeronea they were not defeated but slain in their ranks, fighting to the last.

It was this band, directed by the skill of great captains, which gave the decisive blow to the Lacedaemonian power.

It is to be observed that there was no degeneracy among the Lacedaemonians.

Even down to the time of Pyrrhus they seem to have been in all military qualities equal to their ancestors who conquered at Plataea.

But their ancestors at Plataea had not such enemies to encounter.] [Footnote 3: L'Hermitage, Dec.