Philopoemen   

next to the Illyrian foot, a numerous body of bold fighters who completed
the line of battle, forming, together with the Achaeans, the reserve.
Their orders were to keep their ground, and not engage till from the
other wing, where the king fought in person, they should see a red
coat lifted up on the point of a spear. The Achaeans obeyed their
order and stood fast, but the Illyrians were led on by their commanders
to the attack. Euclides, the brother of Cleomenes, seeing the foot
thus severed from the horse, detached the best of his light-armed
men, commanding them to wheel about, and charge the unprotected Illyrians
in the rear. This charge putting things in confusion, Philopoemen,
considering those light-armed men would be easily repelled, went first
to the king's officers to make them sensible what the occasion required.
But they not minding what he said, but slighting him as a hare-brained
fellow (as indeed he was not yet of any repute sufficient to give
credit to a proposal of such importance), he charged with his own
citizens, at the first encounter disordered, and soon after put the
troops to flight with great slaughter. Then, to encourage the king's
army further, to bring them all upon the enemy while he was in confusion,
he quitted his horse, and fighting with extreme difficulty in his
heavy horseman's dress, in rough uneven ground, full of water-courses
and hollows, had both his thighs struck through with a thonged javelin.
It was thrown with great force, so that the head came out on the other
side, and made a severe, though not a mortal, wound. There he stood
awhile, as if he had been shackled, unable to move. The fastening
which joined the thong to the javelin made it difficult to get it
drawn out, nor would any about him venture to do it. But the fight
being now at the hottest, and likely to be quickly decided, he was
transported with the desire of partaking in it, and struggled and
strained so violently, setting one leg forward, the other back, that
at last he broke the shaft in two; and thus, got the pieces pulled
out. Being in this manner set at liberty, he caught up his sword,
and running through the midst of those who were fighting in the first
ranks, animated his men, and set them afire with emulation. Antigonus
after the victory asked the Macedonians, to try them, how it happened
the horse had charged without orders before the signal? They answering,
that they were against their wills forced to it by a young man of
Megalopolis, who had fallen in before his time: "This young man,"
replied Antigonus, smiling, "did like an experienced commander."
This, as was natural, brought Philopoemen into great reputation. Antigonus
was earnest to have him in his service, and offered him very advantageous
conditions, both as to command and pay. But Philopoemen, who knew
that his nature brooked not to be under another, would not accept
them; yet not enduring to live idle, and hearing of wars in Crete
for practice' sake he passed over thither. He spent some time among
those very warlike, and, at the same time, sober and temperate men,
improving much by experience in all sorts of service; and then returned
with so much fame that the Achaeans presently chose him commander
of the horse. These horsemen at that time had neither experience nor
bravery, it being the custom to take any common horses, the first
and cheapest they could procure, when they were to march; and on almost
all occasions they did not go themselves, but hired others in their
places, and stayed at home. Their former commanders winked at this,
because, it being an honour among the Achaeans to serve on horseback,
these men had great power in the commonwealth, and were able to gratify
or molest whom they pleased. Philopoemen, finding them in this condition,
yielded not to any such considerations, nor would pass it over as
formerly; but went himself from town to town, where, speaking with
the young men, one by one, he endeavoured to excite a spirit of ambition
and love of honour among them, using punishment also, where it was
necessary. And then by public exercises, reviews, and contests in
the presence of numerous spectators, in a little time he made them
wonderfully strong and bold, and, which is reckoned of greatest consequence
in military service, light and agile. With use and industry they grew
so perfect, to such a command of their horses, such a ready exactness