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enemies regarded his oaths and solemn treaties as more to be relied on
than the tie of friendship amongst themselves。 These same men； who
would shrink from too close intercourse with one another； delivered
themselves into the hands of Agesilaus without fear。 And lest the
assertion should excite discredit； I may name some illustrious
examples。 Such was Spithridates the Persian； who knew that
Pharnabazus；＇1＇ whilst negotiating to marry the daughter of the great
king； was minded to seize his own daughter unwedded。 Resenting such
brutality； Spithridates delivered up himself； his wife； his children；
and his whole power； into the hands of Agesilaus。 Cotys＇2＇ also； the
ruler of Paphlagonia； had refused to obey a summons from the king；
although he sent him the warrant of his right hand；＇3＇ then fear came
upon him lest he should be seized； and either be heavily fined or die
the death； yet he too； simply trusting to an armistice； came to the
camp of Agesilaus and made alliance； and of his own accord chose to
take the field with Agesilaus； bringing a thousand horsemen and two
thousand targeteers。 Lastly； Pharnabazus＇4＇ himself came and held
colloquy with Agesilaus； and openly agreed that if he were not himself
appointed general…in…chief of the royal forces he would revolt from
the king。 〃Whereas； if I do become general；〃 he added； 〃I mean to make
war upon you； Agesilaus； might and main；〃 thus revealing his
confidence that； say what he might； nothing would befall him contrary
to the terms of truce。 Of so intrinsic a value to all； and not least
to a general in the field； is the proud possession of an honest and
God…fearing character； known and recognised。 Thus far； as touching the
quality of piety。
＇1＇ See 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 10； Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xi。 （Clough； iv。 9）。
＇2＇ See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 i。 3； Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xi。 （Clough； iv。 13）。
＇3＇ Diod。 xvi。 34。
＇4＇ See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 i。 37。
IV
To speak next of his justice＇1＇ in affairs of money。 As to this； what
testimony can be more conclusive than the following？ During the whole
of his career no charge of fraudulent dealing was ever lodged against
Agesilaus； against which set the many…voiced acknowledgmment of
countless benefits received from him。 A man who found pleasure in
giving away his own for the benefit of others was not the man to rob
another of his goods at the price of infamy。 Had he suffered from this
thirst for riches it would have been easier to cling to what belonged
to him than to take that to which he had no just title。 This man； who
was so careful to repay debts of gratitude； where＇2＇ the law knows no
remedy against defaulters； was not likely to commit acts of robbery
which the law regards as criminal。 And as a matter of act Agesilaus
judged it not only wrong to forgo repayment of a deed of kindness；
but； where the means were ample； wrong also not to repay such debts
with ample interest。
＇1＇ See Muller and Donaldson； 〃Hist。 Gk。 Lit。〃 ii。 196； note 2。
＇2＇ Or； 〃a state of indebtedness beyond the reach of a tribunal。〃 See
〃Cyrop。〃 I。 ii。 7。
The charge of embezzlement； could it be alleged； would no less outrage
all reason in the case of one who made over to his country the benefit
in full of grateful offerings owed solely to himself。 Indeed the very
fact that； when he wished to help the city or his friends with money；
he might have done so by the aid of others； goes a long way to prove
his indifference to the lure of riches； since； had he been in the
habit of selling his favour； or of playing the part of benefactor for
pay； there had been no room for a sense of indebtedness。＇3＇ It is only
the recipient of gratuitous kindness who is ever ready to minister to
his benefactor； both in return for the kindness itself and for the
confidence implied in his selection as the fitting guardian of a good
deed on deposit。＇4＇
＇3＇ Or； 〃no one would have felt to owe him anything。〃
＇4＇ See 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 i。 35； Rutherford； 〃New Phrynichus；〃 p。 312。
Again； who more likely to put a gulf impassable between himself and
the sordid love of gain＇5＇ than he； who nobly preferred to be stinted
of his dues＇6＇ rather than snatch at the lion's share unjustly？ It is
a case in point that； being pronounced by the state to be the rightful
heir to his brother's＇7＇ wealth； he made over one half to his maternal
relatives because he saw that they were in need； and to the truth of
this assertion all Lacedaemon is witness。 What； too； was his answer to
Tithraustes when the satrap offered him countless gifts if he would
but quit the country？ 〃Tithraustes； with us it is deemed nobler for a
ruler to enrich his army than himself； it is expected of him to wrest
spoils from the enemy rather than take gifts。〃
＇5＇ Or； 〃base covetousness。〃
＇6＇ Or reading； ｛sun auto to gennaio｝ （with Breitenbach）； 〃in
obedience to pure generosity。〃 See 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 iii。 38。
＇7＇ I。e。 Agis。 See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 iv。
V
Or again； reviewing the divers pleasures which master human beings； I
defy any one to name a single one to which Agesilaus was enslaved：
Agesilaus； who regarded drunkenness as a thing to hold aloof from like
madness； and immoderate eating like the snare of indolence。 Even the
double portion＇1＇ allotted to him at the banquet was not spent on his
own appetite； rather would be make distribution of the whole；
retaining neither portion for himself。 In his view of the matter this
doubling of the king's share was not for the sake of surfeiting； but
that the king might have the wherewithal to honour whom he wished。 And
so； too； sleep＇2＇ he treated not as a master； but as a slave；
subservient to higher concerns。 The very couch he lay upon must be
sorrier than that of any of his company or he would have blushed for
shame； since in his opinion it was the duty of a leader to excel all
ordinary mortals in hardihood； not in effeminacy。 Yet there were
things in which he was not ashamed to take the lion's share； as； for
example； the sun's heat in summer； or winter's cold。 Did occasion ever
demaned of his army moil and toil； he laboured beyond all others as a
thing of course； believing that such ensamples are a consolation to
the rank and file。 Or； to put the patter compendiously； Agesilaus
exulted in hard work： indolence he utterly repudiated。
＇1＇ See 〃Pol。 Lac。〃 xv。 4。 See J。 J。 Hartman； 〃An。 Xen。〃 257。
＇2＇ See Hom。 〃Il。〃 ii。 24； ｛ou khro pannukhion eudein boulephoron
andra｝； 〃to sleep all night through beseemeth not one that is a
counsellor。〃W。 Leaf。
And； as touching the things of Aphrodite； if for nothing else； at any
rate for the marvel of it； the self…restraint of the man deserves to
be put on record。 It is easy to say that to abstain from that which
excites no desire is but human； yet in the case of Megabates； the son
of Spithridates； he was moved by as genuine a love as any passionate
soul may feel for what is lovely。 Now； it being a national custom
among the Persians to salute those whom they honour with a kiss；
Megabates endeavoured so to salute Agesilaus； but the latter with much
show of battle； resisted〃No kiss might he accept。〃＇3＇ I ask whether
such an incident does not reveal on the face of it the self…respect of
the man； and that of no vulgar order。＇4＇ Megabates； who looked upon
himself as in some sense dishonoured； for the future endeavoured not
to offend in like sort again。＇5＇ Whereupon Agesilaus appealed to one
who was his comrade to persuade Megabates again to honour him with his
regard； and the comrade； so appealed to； demanding； 〃If I persuade
him； will you bestow on him a kiss？〃 Agesilaus fell into a silence；
but presently exclaimed： 〃No； by the Twins； not if I might this very
instant become the swiftest…footed； strongest； and handsomest of
men。＇6＇ And as to that battle I swear by all the gods I would far
rather fight it over again than that everything on which I set my eyes
might turn to gold。〃＇7＇
＇3＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 （Clough； iv。 p。 13 foll。）
＇4＇ Reading； ｛kai lian gennikon｝； or； 〃a refinement of self…respect；〃
〃a self…respect perhaps even over…sensitive。〃
＇5＇ Lit。 〃made no further attempt to offer kisses。〃
＇6＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 ii。 （Clough； iv。 p。 2）： 〃He is said to have been
a little man of a contemptible pres