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rather an effect of his near relationship； than any duty or submission
to the royal authority。 He gave it out also that he was to continue
ephor the ensuing year。
His enemies； therefore； alarmed by this report； lost no time in
risking an attempt against him； and openly bringing back Leonidas from
Tegea； re…established him in the kingdom； to which even the people；
highly incensed for having been defrauded in the promised division
of lands； willingly consented。 Agesilaus himself would hardly have
escaped their fury； if his son； Hippomedon； whose manly virtues made
him dear to all； had not saved him out of their hands； and then
privately conveyed him from the city。
During the commotion； the two kings fled； Agis to the temple of
the Brazen House； and Cleombrotus to that of Neptune。 For Leonidas was
more incensed against his son…in…law； and leaving Agis alone； went
with his soldiers to Cleombrotus's sanctuary； and there with great
passion reproached him for having； though he was son…in…law； conspired
with his enemies； usurped his throne； and forced him from his country。
Cleombrotus； having little to say for himself； sat silent。 His wife；
Chilonis； the daughter of Leonidas； had chosen to follow her father in
his sufferings； for when Cleombrotus usurped the kingdom； she
forsook him； and wholly devoted herself to comfort her father in his
affliction； whilst he still remained in Sparta； she remained also；
as a suppliant； with him； and when he fled； she fled with him；
bewailing his misfortune； and extremely displeased with Cleombrotus。
But now； upon this turn of fortune； she changed in like manner； and
was seen sitting now； as a suppliant； with her husband； embracing
him with her arms； and having her two little children beside her。
All men were full of wonder at the piety and tender affection of the
young woman； who pointing to her robes and her hair； both alike
neglected and unattended to； said to Leonidas； 〃I am not brought； my
father； to this condition you see me in； on account of the present
misfortunes of Cleombrotus； my mourning habit is long since familiar
to me。 It was put on to condole with you in your banishment； and now
you are restored to your country； and to your kingdom； must I still
remain in grief and misery？ Or would you have me attired in my royal
ornaments； that I may rejoice with you； when you have killed； within
my arms； the man to whom you gave me for a wife？ Either Cleombrotus
must appease you by mine and my children's tears； or he must suffer
a punishment greater than you propose for his faults； and shall see
me； whom he loves so well； die before him。 To what end should I
live； or how shall I appear among the Spartan women； when it shall
so manifestly be seen； that I have not been able to move to compassion
either a husband or a father？ I was born； it seems； to participate
in the ill…fortune and in the disgrace； both as a wife and a daughter；
of those nearest and dearest to me。 As for Cleombrotus I
sufficiently surrendered any honourable plea on his behalf； when I
forsook him to follow you； but you yourself offer the fairest excuse
for his proceedings； by showing to the world that for the sake of a
kingdom it is just to kill a son…in…law； and be regardless of a
daughter。〃 Chilonis； having ended this lamentation； rested her face on
her husband's head； and looked round with her weeping and woe…begone
eyes upon those who stood before her。
Leonidas； touched with compassion； withdrew a while to advise with
his friends； then returning； bade Cleombrotus leave the sanctuary
and go into banishment； Chilonis； he said； ought to stay with him it
not being just she should forsake a father whose affection had granted
to her intercession the life of her husband。 But all he could say
would not prevail。 She rose up immediately； and taking one of her
children in her arms； gave the other to her husband； and making her
reverence to the altar of the goddess； went out and followed him。 So
that； in a word； if Cleombrotus were not utterly blinded by
ambition； he must surely choose to be banished with so excellent a
woman rather than without her to possess a kingdom。
Cleombrotus thus removed； Leonidas proceeded also to displace the
ephors； and to choose others in their room； then he began to
consider how he might entrap Agis。 At first； he endeavoured by fair
means to persuade him to leave the sanctuary； and partake with him
in the kingdom。 The people； he said； would easily pardon the errors of
a young man； ambitious of glory； and deceived by the craft of
Agesilaus。 But finding Agis was suspicious； and not to be prevailed
with to quit his sanctuary； he gave up that design； yet what could not
then be effected by the dissimulation of an enemy； was soon after
brought to pass by the treachery of friends。
Amphares； Damochares； and Arcesilaus often visited Agis； and he
was so confident of their fidelity that after a while he was prevailed
on to accompany them to the baths； which were not far distant； they
constantly returning to see him safe again in the temple。 They were
all three his familiars； and Amphares had borrowed a great deal of
plate and rich household stuff from Agesistrata； and hoped if he could
destroy her and the whole family； he might peaceably enjoy those
goods。 And he； it is said； was the readiest of all to serve the
purposes of Leonidas； and being one of the ephors； did all he could to
incense the rest of his colleagues against Agis。 These men； therefore；
finding that Agis would not quit his sanctuary； but on occasion
would venture from it to go to the bath； resolved to seize him on
the opportunity thus given them。 And one day as he was returning； they
met and saluted him as formerly； conversing pleasantly by the way； and
jesting； as youthful friends might； till coming to the turning of a
street which led to the prison； Amphares； by virtue of his office；
laid his hand on Agis； and told him； 〃You must go with me； Agis；
before the other ephors； to answer for your misdemeanours。〃 At the
same time Damochares； who was a tall； strong man； drew his cloak tight
round his neck； and dragged him after by it； whilst the others went
behind to thrust him on。 So that none of Agis's friend being near to
assist him； nor any one by； they easily got him into the prison； where
Leonidas was already arrived； with a company of soldiers； who strongly
guarded all the avenues； the ephors also came in； with as many of
the Elders as they knew to be true to their party； being desirous to
proceed with some semblance of justice。 And thus they bade him give an
account of his actions。 To which Agis； smiling at their dissimulation；
answered not a word。 Amphares told him it was more seasonable to weep；
for now the time was come in which he should be punished for his
presumption。 Another of the ephors； as though he would be more
favourable； and offering as it were an excuse； asked him whether he
was not forced to what he did by Agesilaus and Lysander。 But Agis
answered； he had not been constrained by any man； nor had any other
intent in what he did but only to follow the example of Lycurgus；
and to govern conformably to his laws。 The same ephor asked