they poured out of their houses, and fell upon the enemy, who were
still stationed in the market-place. Though taken by surprise, the
Thebans defended themselves stoutly, and standing shoulder to shoulder
repulsed the assault of the Plataeans two or three times. But they
were greatly inferior in numbers, wearied by their long vigil, and
soaked with the heavy rain which had fallen in the night; the
Plataeans returned again and again to the attack, assailing them with
furious cries; and the women and slaves who crowded the roofs added to
their discomfiture, pelting them with tiles and stones, and stunning
their ears with a frightful uproar of yells and shrieks; so that at
last their hearts failed them, and breaking their ranks they fled
wildly through the streets. Some succeeded in reaching the gate by
which they had entered, but only to find that their escape was cut off
in this direction; for one of the Plataeans had closed the gate, using
the spike of his javelin to secure the bolt. Others lost their way in
the narrow and muddy streets, and wandered up and down until they were
slain by the Plataeans. A few contrived to escape by an unguarded
postern-gate, having cut through the bolt with an axe given them by a
woman. Others, in despair, flung themselves from the walls, and for
the most part perished. But a good number, who had kept together, were
caught in a trap; for coming to a large building which abutted on the
wall, and finding the doors open, they thought that they had reached
the town-gate, and rushed headlong in. The pursuers, who were close at
their heels, made fast the doors, and then the question arose what
they should do with their captives. Some proposed to set fire to the
building, and to burn it down, with the Thebans in it; but at last
those who were thus taken, and the few who were still straggling in
the town, were allowed to surrender at discretion.

Meanwhile a strong reinforcement of Thebans, who had started after the