SAYINGS 107 sets of such material should have been attributed to him and pre- PART 3 SAYINGS served among his Moralia. The two most immediately relevant to this volume are what editors have called Sayings of Spartans and Sayings of Spartan Women. The second of these is much the shorter, as well as being separated from the first by a brief compilation of material outlining Spartan customs. In addition, considerable dupli- cation occurs between Sayings ifSpartans and the Spartan section of a further collection called -Sayings of Kings and Generals. Sayings of Spartans preserves something over 340 sayings of 68 INTRODUCTION named Spartiates arranged in (Greek) alphabetical order, followed'. by 72 anonymous sayings. 'Saying' here admits no strict definition. As Plutarch explained and illustrated at som~ length in hi:. Life ~f Most are indeed pointed remarks, but wide variations remain in- Lyeurgus, to develop 'the techniq.ue of expressmg a range ot ld~as l~ their length and in the explanation of their context. Other sayings .' t few spare words' was an Important part of every Spartiate s JUS a , . . . f h are in fact anecdotes of notable exploits or attitudes on the part of upbringing. Such Spartan 'sayings' caught the imagmanon 0 ot er Spartiates. The spread of material among named Spartiates is very Greeks and featured in written accounts as early as ~hat of.He~odotus uneven. While as many as 69 sayings are, attributed to Agesilaus, • in the fifth century. By the late fourth century Anstotle m. hIS R~et- next in order is Lycurgus withj I, then Agis son of Archidamus and ode can mention 'Laconic sayings' as a distinct type of maxim whl~h Cleomenes son of Anaxandridas with 18 each; at the other end of an orator will find useful. At the same period such sa~ings ~ls,o ca~~ the scale the majority have no more than one or two sayings attri- to have special appeal for Diogenes and his ~ollowers m th~Ir Cynic buted to them. In Sayings of Spartan Women a mere ten sayings are way of'life, which spumed materi~l p,os:e~slOns and questlo~ed con- attributed to four named women (even the last name beginning with ventions of every kind. The Cynics vision of S~artan sO~lety a?d no more than the fourth letter of the alphabet), followed by 30 traditional Spartan attitudes so tremendously stirred theIr· ad~u- anonymous sayings. ation that they were active in developing - or perhaps even. estabh:h- Sufficient accounts of Sparta and Spartan history survive to prove ing - collections of Spartan sayings which continued to enjoy a WIde how the sayings in these collections derive from a wide variety of popularity for centuries.. . _" . sources followed with varying degrees of conscientiousness. His':' Plutarch's interest in the sayings of Spartans and othe.rs de~lves ~o torical accuracy, however, was considered much less important than a marked extent from his concern for the character of hIS subjects m sharp, attractive presentation: occasionally even the Doric forms of the Lives. Thus he acknowledges his failure to give a full account of Greek, which Spartans would have used, are introduced for the sake the careers of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, and goes on to of 'authenticity'. Attribution of versions of the same saying to two excuse it in the following terms: or more Spartans (legendary figures among them!).is commonplace, but again unimportant to their inventors. The same applies to the For neither is it histories we are writing, but lives, nor is there by any confusion and anachronism which can occur in historical details. means display of merit or vice in the most outstanding actions, but o~ten a How different sayings were formulated and- embroidered over the trivial matter as well as a remark and some joke have o~ered a better. illus- centuries can no longer be traced. tration of character than clashes with countless casualties and the biggest From all this it follows that the sayings are to be relied upon as battalions and sieges of cities. historical sources only with the greatest caution. The sayings are Elsewhere Plutarch mentions that he made a practice of colle<;~ing mostly intended to reflect what were considered excellent features of anecdotes and sayings, and it is entirely understandable that vanous the Spartan character, and their value-lies rather in the demonstration �------

108 PLUTARCH ON SPARTA SAYINGS 1°9 they offer of how Sparta's admirers from the fourth century onwards (Plutarch among them) liked to dream of her citizens in Sayings of Spartans bygone days - bold, wise, just, free, unworldly. In Sayings of Spar- tans the correspondences with material in Plutarch's Lives are particularly close, so that this collection at any rate is most likely to have achieved its final form around his own time or soon afterwards. What part, if any, he played himself in its compilation or in that of AGASICLES ' Sayings of Spartan Women cannot be established, but the likelihood (Sixth-century Eurypontid king)

must be that it was a small one at best. I. Agasicles, king of the Spartans, despite his fondness for intellec- tual discourse, would not entertain the sophist Philophanes. Whe~ -208Ii This translation omits those sayings attributed to Lycurgus which someone expressed surprise at. this, he declared: 'I want to be the largely duplicate what is to be found in Plutarch's Life. Since most student of men whose son I should like to be as well. ' of the Sayings of Unnamed Spartans likewise repeat what may be found elsewhere in this volume, they are omitted also. A few other 2. When asked how anyone could rule the citizens 'safely without sayings are omitted because the text is in too poor a condition to having a bodyguard, he said: 'By ruling them in the way that fathers . render them comprehensible. do their sons.'

AGESILAUS (Eurypontid king, 400-360)

I. When the great Agesilaus was once chosen by lot to preside at a drinking session, and the cupbearer asked him how much to serve each man, his answer was: 'If plenty of wine has been provided, then as much as each requests; but if there is only a little, then give everyone an equal amount.' ) 2. . When some criminal submitted calmly to torture, he remarked: 'What an exceptionally wicked man he is to apply such endurance and fortitude to evil and disreputable ends. ' 3: When somebody was praising an orator for his ability to mag- mfy small points, he said: 'In my opinion it's not a good cobbler who fits large shoes on small feet. ' 4· When somebody once said to him, 'You did agree,' and fre- quently repeated the point, he responded: 'Yes, by Zeus, I did, if it's right to; if not, though I spoke the words, I did not agree.' When the other added: 'But surely kings should fulfil "whate'er they assent to with a nod of the head"," he replied: 'No more than those who

I. ·A reference to Homer, Iliad, 1.527 (Penguin, p. 37). 110 PLUTARCH ON SPARTA SAYINGS III approach kings should make proper requests and statements, aiming . his question like this: 'Apollo; is your opinion the same as your both for the right moment and for something appropriate to kings." father's?' When Apollo concurred, Agesilaus was selected and thus .did go on the campaign. 5. Whenever he heard people being critical or complimentary, he considered it just as important to establish the characters of those II. From fear of Agesilaus, Tissaphernes' initially concluded a talking as of those being talked about. truce with an undertaking that at his request the Greek cities would 6. When he was still a boy, at a celebration of the Gymnopaediae be given their independence. But meanwhile he called up a substan- the choral director put him in an inconspicuous position. Even tial army from the Great King' and threatened Agesilauswith war unless he would leave Asia, Agesilaus welcomed this reversal of though he was already in line to become king, I he complied, and remarked: 'That's fine, for I shall show that it isn't positions which policy and advanced as if making for Caria. Once Tissaphernes had. lend men distinction, but men who enhance positions. ' concentrated his forces there, he set outand invaded Phrygia. When he had captured very many cities and a wealth ofloot, he said to his 7. : When some doctor prescribed for him a rather elaborate and friends that it was impious to inflict injury after concluding a truce, complicated course of treatment, he declared; 'By the two gods," I whereas outwitting the enemy was not only fair and honourable, surely have no prospect of remaining alive if I have to put up with but also enjoyable and lucrative. . all that.' 12. Since he was inferior in cavalry he withdrew to Ephesus and 8. Once he was standing sacrificing an ox at the altar of Athena of commanded the rich each to furnish a horse and a man as substitutes the Bronze House and a louse bit him, but he was not upset. Quite to release themselves from service. This way suitable horses and openly in front. of everybody he caught and killed it, with the men were quickly collected in place of wealthy cowards. And Agesi- remark: 'By the gods, what a pleasure to eliminate the conspirator laus said he was copying Agamemnon, who had in fact accepted a even at the altar.' fine mare and exempted a wealthy but worthless man from service. 3. 9. Another time he watched a mouse being pulled from its hole by 13· In accordance with his orders the sellers of booty put prisoners a small boy. When the mouse turned round, bit the hand ofits captor up for sale naked, and though there were plenty of purchasers for and escaped, he pointed this out to those present and said: 'When their clothes, their white bodies, So tender from sheltered living, the tiniest creature defends itself like this against aggressors, what were ridiculed as useless and good for nothing. AgesiIaus came on ought men to do, do you reckon?' the scene and remarked: 'These clothes are what you're fighting for, but it's these men you're fighting against.' . 10. When he wanted to go to war against Persia with the aim of liberating the Greeks living in Asia, he consulted the oracle of Zeus 14· After routing Tissaphernes in Lydia and killing large numbers at Dodona. Its instructions were to launch the campaign if the person of his men, he started to' overrun the Great King's territory .• The 209 responsible for the decision considered it feasible. He informed the latter sent him money and requested a cessation of hostilities, but ephors of this response, and they told him to go to Delphi and repeat Agesilausstated that to make peace was his city's prerogative. and his inquiry. So when he entered the shrine of the oracle, he framed it gave him pleasure to be making his soldiers rich, rather than

1. There must be confusion here. since Agesilaus only became king following the becoming rich himself; for in his opinion it was honourable that death of his elder half-brother Agis II and a dispute over the succession. Thus he Greeks did not accept bribes from the enemy, but gained booty. had passed through the agoge in the normal way: exceptionally this was noi required 1. Supreme Persian commander in western Asia Minor at this time (396 B.C.); the of an heir apparent. See Plutarch, Agesilaus, Chs. 1-3. . . Greek cities there were under Persian control. 2. The divine twins. Castor and Pollux. In myth they were the sons of the king of 2. The title normally used by Greeks for the ruler of the Persian Empire. Lacedaemon, Tyndareus, and his successors as joint kings. Thus the twins had a 3· Homer. Iliad. 23.295 (Penguin, p. 420). special link with the royal houses and in general were greatly revered at Sparta. 4· 39.5 B.C. 112 PLUTARCH ON SPARTA SAYINGS II3 15. When Megabates the son of Spithridates, who had a most 20. Certainly when somebody asked what gain' the laws of handsome figure, came up to embrace Agesilaus and kiss him - .Lycurgus had brought Sparta, he said: 'Contempt for pleasures.' under the impression that he was extremely fond of him - Agesilaus 21. To the man who was amazed at how modest his clothes and recoiled. Since Megabates then ceased to approach him, Agesilaus ~is meals :were, and those of the other Spartans as well, he said: asked after him. His friends told him that it was his own fault for Freedom ISwhat we reap from this way of life, my friend.' being frightened of a kiss from the handsome youth, but that if he were willing and wouldn't flinch, then Megabates would return. 23· Even when he~ad ~rown old he maintained the same regime. Agesilaus thought this over in silence for a while and declared: 'You So to the man. who inquired wh-y on attaining such an age he still needn't try to persuade him, since my view is that Ishould prefer to w~nt,about without any undergarment in the depthsof winter, he be above such things than to take by storm the best-manned city of said: So jhat the young men may do the same, with the oldest men - my opponents. For it is better to maintain one's own freedom than and office-holders as their example. ' to deprive others of theirs. ' 24· As he:was traversing the Thasians' territory with his army, 16. Although he was punctilious and law-abiding in other they sent him barley-meal, geese, desserts, honey cakes, and all sorts respects, where his friends' behaviour was concerned he thought of expensive thin~~ to ~at and dr~nk. He accepted just the barley- there was no call for excessive rectitude. At least there is an account ~eal, but .asfor ev~rythi~g else he Instructed those who had brought of a short note of his pleading with Hidrieus the Carian for one of It to take It back, SIncehISmen would have no use for it. Yet when his friends on these lines: 'If Nicias is not guilty, release him; but they begged and pleaded with him to accept it all the same he told even if he is guilty, release. him for my sake; in any case, release ~h;m t~ h~nd it ove~ to the helots. When they asked why.' he said: It s quite Inappr~pn~te for ~hose who profess true manly qualities him. ' t~ accept such delicacies. Things which attract slavish characters are 17. This, then, was how Agesilaus mostly acted on his friends' ahen to free men. ' . behalf, though there were occasions when he did take expediency ~5. The Thasians' again, because of their belief that he was bring- more into account in dealing with a crisis. Certainly once in the In~ the~ such notable benefits, had honoured him with temples and course of a fairly confused withdrawal he abandoned the man he deification and had despatched an embassy to him in this connection loved, who was 'sick. As the latter pleaded with him and in tears He r~ad the list of h?nours conveyed to him by the envoys and called out to him, Agesilaus turned away and remarked: 'How bard enquired whether their country had power to deify humans. When it is to feel pity and at the same time act rationally.' they said it did, he replied: 'Very well, make yourselves gods first, 18. His personal lifestyle was in no way superior to that of his and when you have achieved that, then I shall believe your claim that you will be able to make me a god too. ' . comrades. He totally abstained from eating and drinking to excess, , while he treated sleep not as his master; but rather as a subject ~6. :Vhen the Greek peoples in Asia voted to erect statues of him 210 governed by his own activities. His reactions to heat and 'cold were ~ntheir mo.st famous .ciries, he was quick in writing to them: 'There such that he alone always took advantage of the changing seasons. ISto be no Image of me, either painted or modelled or constructed. ' He would pitch his tent in the midst of his troops and had bedding of no better quality than anyone else. 27· On noticing a house in Asia roofed withsquare beams, he asked the owner whether timber grew square in that area. When , . 19. He frequently remarked that the commander should outclass his troops not in fastidiousness and high living, but in stamina and I. The ~orr:ct proper name has been garbled irrecoverably in the manuscripts. Plu- tarch sLife. Ch. 36, relates no. 24 here in the context of Agesilaus' service in courage. Egypt as a mercenary commander (361 B.C.): for this. see further nos. 76-9 below. 114 PLUTARCH ON SPARTA SAYINGS lIS told no, it grew round-he said: 'What then? Ifit were square, would 39· When the ephors recalled him' because Sparta was ringed by i ~u make it round?' ' Greek enemies thanks to the money sent overiby the Persians, he :.,..", i, <7 ;',1 Asked once how, far, Sparta's b~undaries str~tched, he bran- declared that the good commander should be commanded by the 'c •fi ) ~hed his spear and said: As far as this can reach, laws, and sailed from Asia, leaving behind deeplonging for him among the Greeks there. '~r 29. When somebody else asked why Sparta lacked fortification , , walls, he pointed to the citizens under arms and said: 'These are the 40. Since it was an archer that was stamped on the Persian coinage,. Spartans' walls.' as he struck camp he remarked that he was being expelled from Asia by the Great King with 30,000 archers - because it was die fact 30. When another person put the same question to him, his reply that Timocrates had arranged for this number of gold dories to be was: 'Cities shouldn't be fortified with stones or timbers, but with conveyed to Athens and Thebes and distributed to their popular the valour oftheir inhabitants. ' leaderswhich had caused the citizen. bodies there to declare war em 3I. He recommended his friends to strive to be rich not in pos- the .Spartiares. sessions, but in courage and merit. 41. He also wrote this letter back to the ephors: 'Agesilaus to 32. Whenever he wanted some job done promptly by his troops, the ephors, greetings. Wehave'subjugated the greater part of Asia, he first got down to it personally in full view of everyone. routed the Persians, and established many strongholds in Ionia. But since your orders are that I come over by the date set, I am following 33. He was prouder of working just as hard as anyone, and in after this letter, and shall nearly be there first. I do not hold the exercising self-discipline, than he was of being king. command in my own interest, but in that of our city and allies. After 34. Noticing a lame Spartan setting off to fight and looking for a all, a genuinely dutiful commander is One who always exercises his horse, he said: 'Don't you realize that war requires not men who command subject to the instructions of both laws and ephors, or of flee, but those who stand their ground?' whatever other authorities a city may have.' 35. 'Questioned as to how he had gained his great reputation, he 42· After crossing the Hellespont he did not make demands of any said: 'By having despised death.' . of the barbarians as he passed through Thrace, but sent an inquiry to each tribe about whether it would be friendly country, or hostile, 211 36. When someone asked why Spartiates go into battle to the that he would be traversing. Now they all gave him a friendlyrecep- music of pipes, he said: 'So that, as they proceed in step to the music, tionand let him through, except for the so-called Trochaleis ..Even both the cowards and the brave may be clearly distinguished." Xerxes- is said to have presented them with gifts, and they tI ~ When someone was extolling the happy circumstances of the demanded from Agesilaus 100 talents of silver and the same number r kfug of the Persians, who :-ras quite a yo~ng ~an, ~e remarked: of women in payment for his transit. He gave them the sarcastic 'But at that age not even Pnam had met WIth disaster. reply: 'Why haven't you come straight away to collect all that, then?' He next advanced and engaged them iii' a set battle; after routing 38. After gaining much of Asia he decided to advance against the them and killing a substantial number, he moved on. ' ' Great King himself with the intention of putting an end to his leisure and his bribery of the Greeks' popular leaders. 43· He sent ahead the same query to the king of the Macedonians. When he decla~ed that he would consider it, Agesilaus remarked:

I. 394 B.C. I. Presumably the eager advance of the brave will contrast with the nervous shuffling z. The Greek text uses the Doric dialect throughout for the sake of 'authenticity'. of the 'Cowards. 3· The Great King who mounted a massive invasion of Greece in 480. ------....

116 PLUTARCH ON SPARTA , SAYINGS 117 'So let him consider it, but we shall already be on our way.' Thus 48. Once he returned home, such great success and victories did amazed and apprehensive at his daring, the king instructed him to not prompt him to make any changes in his personal habits and advance as a friend. lifestyle. 44. Since the Thessalianswere allied to his enemies he began to 49· Observing that, just because they bred horses, some of the plunder their territory. But he sent Xenocles and' Scythes to Larissa citizens arrogantly thought themselves to. be quite something, he to discuss an accord. Yet once these two had been arrested and persuaded 'his sister Cynisca to compete at the Olympic Games by were being held, the other Spartans were very annoyed and felt that entering a chariot, since he wanted to show the Greeks that this kind Agesilaus should ring Larissa with the army and lay siege to it. But of activity was unconnected with excellence, but simply a matter ~f he said that if it meant losing either of those men he would not want having wealth and spending it. to gain even the whole of Tbessaly, and he got them back under a \ 50. While he had the company of that learned man Xenophon, he truce. treated him respectfully and would urge him to send for his children 45. When he learned that a battle had been fought near Corinth, I and'have them brought up at Sparta, I so that they would be educated and that while Spartiate casualties had been altogether low, they had in the finest of lessons, to give orders and to take them. been very high among the Corinthians and Athenians and their other allies, he gave no sign of being delighted or excited about the vic- 5I. When asked another time for what particular reason the Sparti- tory, but sighed very deeply and said: 'Alas for Greece, that she has ates enjoyed notably more success than others, he said: 'Because herself been responsible for the deaths of so many men - the very more than others they train to give orders and to take them.' number that would be enough to defeat all the barbarians. ' 52. He discovered after Lysander's death' that a substantial cabal 46. When the Pharsalians were pursuing his army and harassing had been formed which the latter, as soon as he returned from Asia, it, he routed them with 500 cavalry and erected a trophy below intended to deploy against Agesilaus. So he determined to offer full Mount Narthacium. Of all his victories he was particularly pleased proof of what kind of a citizen Lysander was when alive, and he with this one, since the formation of the cavalry force had been his read a speech leftin written form, which Cleon ofHalicarnassus had own personal initiative, and using it alone he had defeated menwho composed but which Lysander intended to learn and deliver before took the greatest pride in their horsemanship. , the people, on the topic of revolution and reform of governments Agesilaus wanted to make this public, but one of the Elders, after 212 47. After Diphridas brought him from home the message that he should immediately turn aside to invade Boeotia (something which perusing the speech and feeling alarmed at its cunning, advised him he had planned to do- though later, when he was better prepared), not to disinter Lysander but instead to bury the speech with him, he was not disobedient to the magistrates but sent for two of the Agesilaus was persuaded and kept quiet. moras' on service near Corinth and entered Boeotia. At Coronea he 53. 'It was not his practice to confound openly his secret opponents. engaged Thebans, Athenians, Argives, Corinthians and both Instead he would arrange for some of them always to have postings Locrian peoples, and despite the fact that his many wounds had put as commanders and governors, and would then demonstrate how him in bad physical shape, he won what was (as Xenophon! states) in wielding their authority they had become vicious and greedy. the greatest of all the battles in his own day. Next, when they were on trial he would assist them once again and I. 394 B.C. 2. Regiments. See Xenophon, Spartan Society. Ch. II. 3. For the Athenian Xenophon, see further in general pp. 164-5 below. He fought in Agesilaus' army at this battle in 394. Strictly his comment in A History of my I. Xenophon did send both of his sons there to complete the agoge and so become Times (4.3.16) is that the battle was quite unlike others in his day. But the likeli- trophlmoi xenoi (compare A History ofmy Times, 5.3.9). hood is that be tremendously admired Agesilaus' victory all the same. 2. 395 B.C. 118 PLUTARCH ON SPARTA SAYINGS 119 take their side, so that he made them his friends and converted them Laconia, while the city of Athens had been walJedwith funds

to his own cause; as a result he had not a single opponent. granted by Phamabazus. J The Spartans sent their citizen Antalcidas . 54· When somebody asked him to write to his friends in Asia so to Tiribazus" and handed over to the Great King the Greeks in Asia, that he might gain justice there, he replied: 'But my friends do what in whose defence Agesilaus had gone to war. Consequently there is right of their own accord, even without a letter from me. ' was no possibility of Agesilaus being involved in this shameful scheme. In fact Antalcidas was at odds with him and kept making 55· Somebody drew his attention to the solid city-wall with its every effort to achieve peace, because in his view the war had exceptionally strong construction and inquired if it made a favour- exalted Agesilaus and was bringing him to the height of glory and able impression on him. 'By Zeus,' he said, 'favourable, but for greatness. J women to live inside, not men, ' 61. All the same his response to the man who said that the 56. He said to some Megarian who was bragging about his city to Lacedaemonians were medizing was that instead the Medes were him: 'Young man, a great deal of force is required to back up your laconizing.s remarks.' 62. When asked once which of the two virtues was finer, courage 57. He appeared not even to notice things which he saw others or justice, he declared: 'Courage has no value if justice is not in admiring. Once in fact the tragic actor Callippidas, whose name and evidence too; but if everyone were to be just,' then no one would reputation were famous among the Greeks and who was treated need courage. ' . with respect by everyone, first presented himself to him and 63· As for the habit of people living in Asia, of addressing the addressed him, and then made an exhibition of himself by osten- Persian king as 'Great', Agesilaus said: 'How on earth is he greater tatiously thrusting himself upon Agesilaus' escort, in the expectation than I,unless he's both more just and wiser?' that the king-would initiate some cordial exchange. Eventually he said: '0 king, don't you recognize me and haven't you heard who I 64· He used to remark that those living in Asia were worthless as am?' Agesilaus, however, with a glance at him, asked: 'Yes, aren't free men, but good slaves.' you Callippidas the deicelictas?' This is the Spartan name for people 65. When he was asked how someone might most surely earn who perform mimes. ' ... people's esteem, he replied: 'By the best words and the finest 58. When he was invited to listen to the man who used to imitate actions. ' the nightingale's song, he declined, with the statement: 'I've heard 66. He used to say that a general needs to show daring towards his the bird herself often. ' opponents, goodwill towards his subordinates and a cool head in 213 59. The doctor Menecrates, who had been hailed as Zeus because cnses. of his success incertain desperate cases, adopted this nickname with 67· When someone inquired of him what children should learn, he such vulgarity that he even had the nerve to. write to Agesilaus as said: 'What they will also use when they become men. ' follows: 'Menecrates Zeus to King Agesilaus, greeting.' Without' reading further Agesilaus wrote back: 'King Agesilaus to Mene- 68. When he was trying a case and the prosecutor had spoken well, crates, sanity.' 1. 393 B.C. 2. Satrap of Lydia. 60. The Spartans made peace with the Great King at the time 3· Antalcidas represented Sparta in a series of peace negotiations between 392 and when, thanks to the Great King's fleet, Conon and Phamabazus 387, when the 'King's Peace' was eventually agreed. 4· In other words, the Spartans were taking the Persian side, and the Persians the were enjoying naval supremacy and blockading the coasts of Spartan. PLUTARCH ON SPARTA 122 SAYINGS 123

of the Egyptians. I But the plainness of his dress led the natives to AGESIPOLIS SON OF CLEOMBROTUS regard him with contempt, since they were expecting to see the (Agird king, 371-370) person of the Spartan king, like the Persian one, superbly attired - a misguided notion to have of kings. At any rate, in the meantime ~. When someone remarked that Philip had demolished Olynthus Agesilaus .did demonstrate to them that brains "and courage are In.a few days, I Agesipolis son ofCleombrotus said: 'By the gods, it needed to achieve greatness and importance. will take him much longer than that to build another equal to it. ' 77. When he saw that his men were On the verge of giving way in 2. . When some~ne el~e re~arked that during his reign he, along their fear of the impending danger created by the mass of the enemy wI~h other me~ In their pnme, had served as hostage, while their children and WIves had not, he responded: 'That was fair since it (200,000 of them) and the small number of men he had, he decided to make a sacrifice before marshalling his forces. And without the is entirely proper that we should personally suffer for ~ur own mistakes.' others' knowledge he wrote on his hand the word 'Victory' with the letters facing left. Then, when the diviner gave him the liver, he 3· When he wanted to send for young dogs from home and some- placed it on the hand with the writing on it and held it there fora one said: 'We don't permit their export,' he remarked: 'Previously suitable period while appearing puzzled and pretending to be at a the same was true of men too, but it's happened now.' loss, until the marks of the letters should have stained the liver and been imprinted on it. And then he displayed it to the men who were AGESIPOLIS SON OF PAUSANIAS about to accompany him into battle, declaring that by means of (Agiad king, 395-380) what had been written the gods had foretold a victory. Thus his men's morale was high as they went into battle believing it had been When the.Athenians put to Agesipolis son of Pausanias the proposal proved convincingly that they would win. tha~ the CItyof Megara should arbitrate complaints which each had against the other; he said: 'Athenians, it is a disgrace that those who 78. When the enemy, thanks to their huge numbers, were digging ha,:,eb~en the leaders of the Greeks should have a slighter knowledge a trench around his camp and his ally Nectanabius demanded to of justice than Megarians. ' . make a sortie and do battle with them, he said that he would not obstruct the enemy in their wish to become equal to themselves. AGIS SON OF ARCHIDAMUS 215 But once the trench was al~ost complete all round, then he mar- (Eurypontid king, 427-400) shalled his men in front of the remaining space and in a fight where both sides were equally matched he achieved a rout, and with' his I. Once .when .the ep?ors said to him: 'Take the young men and few soldiers caused Widespread slaughter of the enemy as well as march agaI~st,thIS.man s countr~: he will personally conduct you to sending back plenty of money to his city. the acropo~s, Agis son of Archidamus replied: 'And how is it pro- per, ephors, for so many young men to trust this one man who is 79. As he was dying on the voyage back from Egypt, he gave betraying his own country?' instructions to those close to him that they should not be responsible / for making any image of his person, be it modelled or painted or 2. ~h~n asked wha~ form