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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 presence。〃
＇7＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xi。 （Clough； iv。 p。 14）； 〃Parall。 Min。〃 v； Ovid。
〃Met。〃 xi。 102 foll。
What construction some will put upon the story I am well aware； but
for myself I am persuaded that many more people can master their
enemeis than the foes we speak of。＇8＇ Doubtless such incidents when
known to but few may well be discredited by many； but here we are in
the region of establishing facts； seeing that the more illustrious a
man is the less can his every act escape notice。 As to Agesilaus no
eye…witness has ever reported any unworthy behaviour； nor； had he
invented it； would his tale have found credence； since it was not the
habit of the king； when abroad； to lodge apart in private houses。 He
always lay up in some sacred place； where behaviour of the sort was
out of the question； or else in public； with the eyes of all men
liable to be called as witnesses to his sobriety。 For myself； if I
make these statements falsely against the knowledge of Hellas； this
were not in any sense to praise my hero； but to dispraise myself。
＇8＇ Or； 〃than the seductions in question。〃
VI
Nor； in my opinion； were those obscure proofs of courage and true
manliness which he furnished by his readiness ever to wage war against
the strongest enemies； whether of Sparta or of Hellas； placing himself
in the forefront of the contests decided on。 If the enemy cared to
join issue in fair field he would not chance upon a victory won by
panic； but in stubborn battle； blow for blow； he mastered him； and set
up trophies worthy of the name； seeing that he left behind him
imperishable monuments of prowess； and bore away on his own body
indelible marks of the fury with which he fought；＇1＇ so that； apart
from hearsay； by the evidence of men's eyes his valour stood approved。
＇1＇ Or； 〃visible signs of the spirit；〃 etc。 See Plut。 〃Ages。〃