§9.1Hic extremo tempore imperator apud Mantineam cum acie instructa audacius instaret hostes, cognitus a Lacedaemoniis, quod in unius pernicie eius patriae sitam putabant salutem, universi in unum impetum fecerunt neque prius abscesserunt, quam magna caede edita multisque occisis fortissime ipsum Epaminondam pugnantem, sparo eminus percussum, concidere viderunt.
At the very end of his life, when he as commander was pressing the enemy quite boldly with his battle line drawn up at Mantineia, he was recognized by the Lacedaemonians; and because they believed that the safety of their own country depended on the destruction of this one man, they all made an attack upon him alone, nor did they withdraw until, after causing a great slaughter and killing many men, they saw Epaminondas himself, fighting most bravely, fall, struck from a distance by a hunting spear.
§9.2huius casu aliquantum retardati sunt Boeoti, neque tamen prius pugna excesserunt, quam repugnantes profligarunt.
By his fall the Boeotians were somewhat checked, yet they did not withdraw from the battle until they had routed the resisting enemy.
§9.3at Epaminondas, cum animadverteret mortiferum se vulnus accepisse simulque, si ferrum, quod ex hastili in corpore remanserat, extraxisset, animam statim emissurum, usque eo retinuit, quoad renuntiatum est vicisse Boeotos.
But Epaminondas, when he perceived that he had received a mortal wound, and at the same time that, if he should draw out the iron head which had broken off from the shaft and remained in his body, he would immediately breathe his last, kept it in his wound until word was brought back that the Boeotians had conquered.
§9.4id postquam audivit, satis' inquit 'vixi: invictus enim morior. ' tum ferro extracto confestim exanimatus est.
After he heard this, he said, "I have lived long enough, for I die unconquered." Then, the iron having been drawn out, he immediately expired.