Iamque immissi in medium Persarum undique circumfusi egregie tuebantur se; sed conferti et quasi cohaerentes tela vibrare non poterant: simul erant emissa, invicem concurrentia implicabantur levique et vano ictu pauca in hostem, plura in humum innoxia cadebant.
And now, despite being surrounded on all sides, they were bravely defending themselves after entering the midst of the Persians. However, being tightly crowded together and almost attached man to man, they could not balance their weapons. As soon as they hurled them, the weapons collided with one another and became entangled. Therefore, only a few struck the enemy with a light and ineffective stroke while the majority fell harmlessly to the ground.