Page 474 now further to Consider) he made it his business to defend himself with all the Resolution imaginable, and so ply'd both parties, that he made a great slaughter amongst 'em. At length Ten thousand Men and upwards being kill'd, Datamis put the rest to Flight, and Cut off in the pursuit great numbers of them, and at length caus'd the Trumpet to sound a Retreat, and call'd off his Men. Some of the Horsemen that surviv'd return'd to Datamis and begg'd for pardon; the rest wander'd about, and knew not whither to turn themselves. But Datamis caus'd his Army to surround Five hundred of those Traytors and to dart them to Death. And tho' he had formerly gain'd the reputation of an excellent Soldier; yet now by this instance of his Valour and prudent Conduct, his Name grew much more famous than before. Artaxerxes the King being inform'd of this Stratagem, made all the haste he could to be rid of Datamis, and within a short time after, cut him off by an Ambuscade▪
Whilst these things were in acting, Rheomithres was sent by the Rebels into Aegypt, to Tacho the King, and having receiv'd Five hundred Talents, and Fifty Sail of Men of War, he return'd to Leucas in Asia; and sending for many of the revolting Lords, and Officers to come to him thither, he laid hold of them, and sent them all away Prisoners to the King; and by this piece of Treachery regain'd the King's favour, who was formerly much displeas'd with him.
Now Tacho King of Aegypt had prepar'd all things necessary for the War: But he had a Fleet of Two hundred Sail, Ten thousand Grecian Mercenaries, and Fourscore thousand Aegyptian Foot. He gave the Command of the Ten thousand Mercenaries to Agesilaus, who was sent from the Lacedemonians with a Thousand Men to the Aid of the Aegyptians; because he was counted the best Soldier of any among them, and had the repute of a most expert Commander. Chabrias was made Admiral of the Fleet, who was not sent there by publick Authority, but (upon the persuasion of Tachos,) serv'd him as a private Man, The King reserv'd to himself the Generalship of all the Army. But Agesilaus would have persuaded him to continue in Aegypt, and to manage the War by his Lieutenants; but he would not hearken to it, tho he advis'd him to the best. For when the Army was far distant from Aegypt, and now encamp'd in Phenicia, the Governour of Aegypt whom he had deputed in his absence, revolted, and sent to Nectanabus the King's Son to take upon him the Kingdom of Aegypt, which kindled the Sparks which afterward broke forth into a most cruel and bloody War. For Nectanabus being made General of the Aegyptian Forces, and before sent out of Phenicia to take in some Cities in Syria, being privy and consenting to the Treason against his Father, drew the Commanders of the Army▪ by large Gifts, and the Soldiers by as large promises, to join with him in the War. Aegypt therefore being now possessed by the Rebels, Tachos was so terrifi'd at the thing, that he fled through Arabia to the King of Persia, and beg'd his pardon for what he had done; whom, Artaxerxes not only forgave, but made him General of the Army he had rais'd against the Egyptians.
Not long after the King of Persia dy'd, having Reign'd Three and fourty Years. Ochus succeeded him, and govern'd. Three and twenty Years, and took upon him the sirname of Artaxerxes. For Artaxerxes ruling the Kingdom with great Justice and Integrity, and being an earnest promoter and lover of Peace, and prosperous in all his Affairs, the Persians decreed, that all the succeeding Kings should be call'd by his Name. And now Tacho the King of Egypt return'd to Agesilaus, and presently Nectanabus led above an Hundred thousand Men against his Father, and dar'd him to try his Title to the Kingdom by the Sword. When Agesilaus discern'd that the King was fearful, not daring to Engage, he heartned him up all he could, and bid him be of good Courage; for it was not Number; but Valour that carry'd away the Victory. But not being able to prevail, he was forc'd to go back with him, into a certain large City, there to shelter himself; where they were presently Besieg'd by the Egyptians, who after the loss of a great number of their Men in assaulting the Town; drew a Trench and a Wall round the City; which was suddenly finish'd by having many hands at Work. At length when Provision fail'd, Tacho gave up all for gone: But Agesilaus (encouraging the Soldiers telling 'em all would be well) in the Night broke through the Enemies Guards, and to admiration got off safe with all his Men: But the Egyptians (pursuing close at their Heels, and being in an open Champion Country) purpos'd by their great Numbers to inclose them round, and so to Cut them off every Man.
But Agesilaus in the mean time having possess'd himself of a place secur'd on both sides by Water, from the River (convey'd through Sluces and Trenches made by Art) waited there for the Enemy. And having drawn up his Men in such Order as best suted with the Ground, (and being defended by the Arms of the River, so as he could not be