agesilaus-第6章
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stopping at home he deftly turned his hand to； or when the call arose
and he could better help his country by departure he had no false
pride； he set off on foreign service； not as general； but as
ambassador。 Yet on such embassy he achieved acts worthy of the
greatest general。 Autophradates＇30＇ was besieging Ariobarzanes；＇31＇
who was an ally of Sparta； in Assos； but before the face of Agesilaus
he fled in terror and was gone。 Cotys；＇32＇ besieging Sestos； which
still adhered to Ariobarzanes； broke up the siege and departed
crestfallen。 Well might the ambassador have set up a trophy in
commemoration of the two bloodless victories。 Once more； Mausolus＇33＇
was besieging both the above…named places with a squadron of one
hundred sail。 He too； like； and yet unlike； the former two； yielded
not to terror but to persuasion； and withdrew his fleet。 These； then；
were surely admirable achievements； since those who looked upon him as
a benefactor and those who fled from before him both alike made him
the richer by their gifts。
＇30＇ Satrap of Lydia。
＇31＇ Satrap of Propontis or Hellespontine Phrygia。
＇32＇ Satrap of Paphlagonia； king of Thrace。 Iphicrates married his
daughter。 See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 x。 410。
＇33＇ Satrap of Caria。
Tachos；＇34＇ indeed； and Mausolus gave him a magnificent escort； and；
for the sake of his former friendship with Agesilaus； the latter
contributed also money for the state of Lacedaemon； and so they sped
him home。
＇34＇ King of Egypt。
And now the weight of； may be； fourscore years was laid upon him；＇35＇
when it came under his observation that the king of Egypt；＇36＇ with
his hosts of foot and horse and stores of wealth； had set his heart on
a war with Persia。 Joyfully he learned that he himself was summoned by
King Tachos； and that the command…in…chief of all the forces was
promised to him。 By this one venture he would achieve three objects；
which were to requite the Egyptian for the benefits conferred on
Lacedaemon； to liberate the Hellenes in Asia once again； and to
inflict on the Persian a just recompense； not only for the old
offences； but for this which was of to…day； seeing that； while
boasting alliance with Sparta； he had dictatorially enjoined the
emancipation of Messene。＇37＇ But when the man who had summoned him
refused to confer the proffered generalship； Agesilaus； like one on
whom a flagrant deception has been practised； began to consider the
part he had to play。 Meanwhile a separate division＇38＇ of the Egyptian
armies held aloof from their king。 Then； the disaffection spreading；
all the rest of his troops deserted him； whereat the monarch took
flight and retired in exile to Sidon in Phoenicia； leaving the
Egyptians； split in faction； to choose to themselves a pair of
kings。＇39＇ Thereupon Agesilaus took his decision。 If he helped
neither； it meant that neither would pay the service…money due to his
Hellenes； that neither would provide a market； and that； whichever of
the two conquered in the end； Sparta would be equally detested。 But if
he threw in his lot with one of them； that one would in all likelihood
in return for the kindness prove a friend。 Accordingly he chose
between the two that one who seemed to be the truer partisan of
Hellas； and with him marched against the enemy of Hellas and conquered
him in a battle； crushing him。 His rival he helped to establish on the
throne； and having made him a friend to Lacedaemon； and having
acquired vast sums besides； he turned and set sail homewards； even in
mid…winter； hastening so that Sparta might not lie inactive； but
against the coming summer be alert to confront the foe。
＇35＇ Or； 〃But to pass on； he was already； may be； eighty years of age；
when it came under his observation。 。 。 。〃
＇36＇ This same Tachos。
＇37＇ See 〃Hell。〃 VII。 i。 36； iv。 9。
＇38＇ I。e。 〃the army under Nectanebos。〃 See Diod。 xv。 92； Plut。 〃Ages。〃
xxxvii。 （Clough； iv。 44 foll。）
＇39＇ I。e。 〃Nectanebos and a certain Mendesian。〃
III
Such； then； is the chronicle of this man's achievements； or of such of
them as were wrought in the presence of a thousand witnesses。 Being of
this sort they have no need of further testimony； the mere recital of
them is sufficient； and they at once win credence。 But now I will
endeavour to reveal the excellence indwelling in his soul； the motive
power of his acts； in virtue of which he clung to all things
honourable and thrust aside all baseness。
Agesilaus showed such reverence for things divine that even his
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； wh
