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PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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PLUTARCH'S LIVES
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY BERNADOTTE PERRIN
IN ELEVEN VOLUMES X
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, TIBERIUS
AND CAIUS GRACCHUS PHILOPOEMEN AND FLAMININUS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD
MCMLIX
First Printed 1921 Reprinted 1950, 1959
Printed in Great Britain
PREFATORY NOTE
As in the preceding volumes of this series, agree- ment between the Sintenis (Teubner, 1873-1875) and Bekker (Tauchnitz, 1855-1857) editions of the Parallel Lives has been taken as a basis for the text Any preference of one to the other, and any im- portant deviation from both, have been indicated. An abridged account of the manuscripts of Plutarch may be found in the Introduction to the first volume. No attempt has been made to furnish either a diplomatic text or a fall critical apparatus. For these, the reader must be referred to the major edition of Sintenis (Leipzig, 1839-1846) or to the new text of the Lives by Lindskog and Ziegler (Teubner). In the present edition, the reading which follows the colon in the brief critical notes is that of the Teubner Sintenis, and also, unless stated in the note, that of the Tauchnitz Bekker.
In May, 1920, Professor Perrin put the finishing touches upon the eleventh and last volume of this series of the Lives of Plutarch for the " Loeb Clas- sical Library," a task which he had undertaken nine years before. On August 31, 1920, he died after a brief illness, having nearly completed his seventy- third year. During the nine years, of which he
PREFATORY NOTE
devoted the leisure hours to the translation of his favourite author, the very magnitude of the task, and the inspiration of the hope that he might leave behind him a version of the Lives that would make the famous men of ancient Greece and Rome, so wonderfully depicted by the great biographer, as familiar to the next generation as they were to the youth in his own boyhood, seemed to sustain and strengthen his powers. The wide and discriminating experience with modern men of action which the translator possessed, combined with the classical historian's special knowledge of the times which he was called upon to interpret after Plutarch, an author whom he had studied with sympathetic in- terest for many year?, gave Professor Perrin peculiar qualifications for the task ; and the English-speaking world already knows with what eminent success he achieved it.
The American Editor, who had been called in constant consultation by Professor Perrin during the progress of the work, has by the wish of his family undertaken to see the present and final volume through the press. Volume XI, which will contain an extensive General Index, will, it is hoped, be published in 1922.
THE EDITORS,
VI
CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFATORY NOTE V
ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES IN THIS EDITION . . . viii
TRADITIONAL ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES ix
AGIS AND CLEOSIKNES 1
TIBERIUS AND CAIUS GRACCHUS 143
COMPARISON OF AOIS AND CLEOBIENES AND THE
GRACCHI 241
PH1LOPOEMEN 255
TITUS FLAMININUS 321
COMPARISON OF PHILOPOEMEN AND TITUS 387
DICTIONARY OF PROPER NAMES 395
VII
ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES IN THIS
EDITION IN THE CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE
OF THE GREEK LIVES.
VOLUME I.
(1) Theseus and Romulus. Comparison.
(2) Lycurgus and Numa. Comparison.
(3) Solon and Publicola. Comparison.
VOLUME II.
(4) Themistocles and
Camillus.
(9) Aristides and Cato the
Elder. Comparison.
(13) Cimon and Lucullus. Comparison.
VOLUME III.
(5) Pericles and Fabius Max-
im us. Comparison.
(14) Nicias and Crassus. Comparison.
VOLUME IV.
(6) Alcibiades and Coriola-
nus.
Comparison.
(12) Lysander and Sulla. Comparison.
VOLUME V.
(16) Agesilaiis and Pompey.
Comparison.
(8) Pelopidas and Marcellus. Comparison.
VOLUME VI. Dion and Brutus. Comparison. Timoleon and Aemilius
Paul us. Comparison.
VOLUME VII. Demosthenes and Cicero. Comparison. (17) Alexander and Julius Caesar.
(22) (7)
(20)
VOLUME VIII. (15) Sertorius and Eumenes.
Comparison.
(18) Phocion and Cato the Younger.
VOLUME IX. (21) Demetrius and Antony.
Comparison. (11) Pyrrhus and Caius Marius.
VOLUME X.
(19) Agis and Cleomenes, and Tiberius and Caius Gracchus. Comparison. (10) Philopoemen and Flam-
ininus. Comparison.
VOLUME XI.
(24) Aratus. (23) Artaxerxes.
(25) Galba.
(26) Otho.
vni
THE TRADITIONAL ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES.
(1) Theseus and Romulus.
(2) Lycurgus and Numa.
(3) Solon and Publicola.
(4) Themistocles and Camillua.
(5) Pericles and Fabius Maximus.
(6) Alcibiades and Coriolanus.
(7) Timoleon and Aemiliua Paulus.
(8) Pelopidas and Marcellus.
(9) Aristides and Cato the Elder.
(10) Philopoemen and Flamininus.
(11) Pyrrhus and Caius Marius.
(12) Lysander and Sulla.
(13) Cimon and Lucullus.
(14) Nicias and Crassus.
(15) Sertorius and Eumenes.
(16) Agesilaiis and Pompey.
(17) Alexander and Julius Caesar.
(18) Phocion and Cato the Younger.
(19) Agis and Cleomenes, and Tiberius and Caius
Gracchus.
(20) Demosthenes and Cicero.
(21) Demetrius and Antony.
(22) Dion and Brutus.
(23) Artaxerxes.
(24) Aratus.
(25) Galba.
(26) Otho.
AGIS AND CLEOMENES
AH2 KAI KAEOMENH2
I. OVK aroTTO)? T^e? ovSe <£avXo>$ avyKelcrOai
TTyOO? TOU? <£iXoSo£oi>? VTTOVOOVCri TOV 67TI Tft) 'l^LOVl a- 1624> P
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yap
' dvdyfcr) Kal aictiTrwvTWV K\veiv.
2 oirep d\r}0a)<{ ol Tfyoo? €7ri0v/jiias o^XaM' Aral
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES
AGIS
I. NOT without rhyme or reason is the supposition of some writers that the tale about Ixion — how it was the cloud that he embraced instead of Hera and begat from thence the Centaurs — has an appli- cation to lovers of glory. For such men, consorting with glory, which we may call an image of virtue, produce nothing that is genuine and of true lineage, but much that is bastard and monstrous, being swept now along one course and now along another in their attempts to satisfy desire and passion. The herdsmen of Sophocles say,1 in speaking of their flocks: —
" Of these, indeed, though masters, we are yet the
slaves,
And to them we must listen even though they're dumb."
And this, in truth, is the experience of public men who act in conformity with the desires and impulses of multitudes, making themselves attendants and slaves in order that they may be called popular leaders and rulers. For just as a ship's lookout, who sees what lies ahead before the ship's captain does, nevertheless turns to him for orders and does what he ordains, so the public man whose eyes are fixed on glory is a servant of the multitude, although he has the name of ruler.
1 Probably in the lost " Poirnenes," or Shepherds (Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag.\ p. 249).
3
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
II. 'O /ue?' 'yap aTrrjKpi ftw/jievos Kal
5 /I \ J C>> 5\ rf~i ^ ' }- $ ' -\ \ "
ayavos ovo av oXo>? OO^T?? oeoiTO, TTM^V ocn] Trdpo&ov €7rl Ta? Trpdteis Sid TOV Trio-TevearQai1 BLSoMTi' ve(p Be CTI QVTI KOL ^Lkori^w Soreoi1 CLTTO TWV KO\.WV epycov /cal 5o|77 Tt Ka\\W7rio'aa'6ai /cal KO/jiTrdcrai. (^vo^evai yap ev TO?? TT)~\.IXOVTOI<; al dpeToi Kal (3d\acrTVOVG'ai TO re Karopdovfj-evov, W9 (^r]ai @eo</>pacrT09, €K/3e/3aiovvTai KOL TO \oi7rbv au^ovTai jj.era 2 pojuevai. TO Se c^ya^ Travra^ov
roXtTt/cat? <fci\oTifjLiai<; o\e9piov et? fJiavLav KOI irapa^pocrvv^v vjraiOpov
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elvai 6k
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" Ov Bvvao~ai," eljrev, " a^ua KCLI
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3 TOVTCO 7T/)0? TOU? TTO/VXoU?" " Ov $Vl>a(T0€ TOP
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4 TOVTO TTOXXOU? TWV 77/30? XaPiV «7r^z/'7"a 7T67roXiT6f-
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1 Sta TOV TT., Coraes, Bekker, and Ziegler, after Bryan :
& TOV IT.
2 girep Blass and Ziegler (with Se p.m.) : &ffirtp.
4
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, n. 1-4
II. The man, indeed, whose goodness is complete and perfect will have no need at all of glory, except so far as glory gives him access to achievement by reason of the confidence men have in him ; but a man who is still young and is fond of honours may be allowed t-3 plume and exalt himself somewhat even upon glory, provided that glory is the outcome of noble deeds. For the virtues, which are incipient and budding in the young, are confirmed in their proper development, as Theophrastus says, by the praises of men, and complete their growth under the incentive of pride. But excess is everywhere harmful, and in the case of men who cherish political ambitions, it is deadly ; for it sweeps them away into manifest folly and madness as they grasp after great power, when they refuse to regard what is honourable as glorious, but consider that what is glorious is good. There- fore, what Phocion said to Antipater, who demanded from him some dishonourable service, " Thou canst not have Phocion as thy friend and at the same time thy flatterer," this, or something akin to this, must be said to the multitude : ' ' Ye cannot have the same man as your ruler and your slave." Since in this case also one certainly can apply the fable of the serpent whose tail rebelled against its head and demanded the right to lead in turn instead of always following ; so it took the lead, and by the folly of its progress got itself into mischief and lacerated the head, which was compelled, contrary to nature, to follow a part that had neither eyes nor ears. This, as we see, has been the experience of many of the men whose whole political activity is directed towards the winning of popular favour; they made them- selves dependent on the multitude, which is borne
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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ra?
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6 TavTa fjiev ovv eiritcpiveLS auro? etc T>)? Trapa /3d\w/j,ev Be avTols AaKcoviKov
, *Ayiv Kal KXeo ^evr/v TOU? yap OVTOL TOV ^rjfjiov av^oines, axTTrep eKeivoi,
TTO\VV ^povov ava\a/jLj3dvovTes,
VOVTO TO?? SvvaTois fir) /3ov\o/mei>ois dtyeivai TY
arvvijdr) TT\eove%iav. «SeX0oi /j,ev ovv OVK
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, n. 4-6
about at random, and then could neither recover themselves nor put a stop to the progress of disorder.
These remarks upon the glory which comes from the favour of the multitude I have been led to make because I was reminded of its great influence by the fortunes of Tiberius and Caius Gracchus. They were men of most generous natures, and had a most generous rearing,, and adopted most generous political principles ; and yet they were ruined, I will not say by an immoderate desire for glory, but rather by a fear of losing it. And this fear had no unworthy origin. For after they had enjoyed great kindness from their fellow citizens, they were ashamed to leave it unpaid, like a debt of money ; and so they were forever striving by the excellence of their political services to surpass the honours conferred upon them, and were honoured all the more in consequence of their grateful political services. In this way, after kindling an equal ardour in themselves towards the people and in the people towards them- selves, they engaged in enterprises wherein, though they knew it not, it was no longer honourable for them to persist, and already disgraceful for them to stop.
As to this matter, however, my reader will judge for himself from my narrative ; and I shall compare with the Gracchi a pair of popular leaders in Sparta, Agis and Cleomenes the kings. For these also tried to exalt the people, just as the Gracchi did, and tried to restore an honourable and just civil polity which had lapsed for a long time ; and like the Gracchi they incurred the hatred of the nobles, who were unwilling to relax their wonted greed. It is true that the
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
d\\)]\a)i> OL AaKwves, (rwyyevovs Be Kal a
III. 'E-Trel Trapeio-eBu TrpwTOV e/9 TJ]V TTO\LV dpyvpov Kal %pv(rov £V}Xo9, real (TwrjKoXovOjjcre TOV TT\OVTOV Trj /ji€V KTijcrei, 7r\eovet;la real /Ji/cpo\oyia TTJ Se xpijcrei Kal cnroX^avaei T/3f</>?; KOI paXa/cia KoL I7ro\vre\€ia, TMV 7r\€icrT(ov e^eTreaev 1} ^TrdpTY) Ka\wv, Kal Taireiva TrpdrTovo-a Trap1 d^iav Stere-
\€t jiei TWV QVwv eiceivwv ev ot?
e/3acri\€vov,
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3 Be ' Ayis, Trepl ov rdBe yeypaTTTar AecoviBa? Be 6 KXeayi'Vfjiov T>}? jJiev erepas ot'/aa? r)V 'AyidBrjs, 07^00? Be CLTTO YLavcraviov TOV vLK^aavio^ ev riXaTamt? f^d^r] MapBoviov. TIavcravias yap viov eo")(€ nXeiCTTco^a/cra, TlXeLcrrwpa^ Be nau- craviaVi ov (frvyovros el$ rYeyeav eK AaKeBai/^ovos o re Trpeo-jSvrepos f/o? 'A 77/0-^770X^9 efiacriXevcre Kal TOVTOV TeXeuT?;cra(>'TO9 aTeKvov KXeoya/9/90TO9
4 o vea)T€pos. €K Be KXeo//-/3poToi' rrdXiv aXXo9
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8
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, n. 6.-m. 4
Spartans were not brothers ; still, they adopted political courses which were kindred and brother to one another. The occasion was as follows.
III. When once the love of silver and gold had crept into the city, closely followed by greed and par- simony in the acquisition of wealth and by luxury, effeminacy, and extravagance in the use and enjoy- ment of it, Sparta fell away from most of her noble traits, and continued in a low estate that was unworthy of her down to the times when Agis and Leonidas were kings. Agis was of the Eurypontid royal house, a son of Eudamidas, and the sixth in descent from the Agesilaiis who crossed into Asia and became the most powerful Greek of his time. For Agesilaiis had a son Archidamus, who was slain by the Messapians at Mandurium in Italy T ; Archidamus had an elder son Agis, and a younger son Eudamidas, who, after Agis was slain by Antipater at Megalopolis 2 leaving no issue, became king ; Eudamidas was succeeded by Archidamus, Archidamus by another Eudamidas, and Eudamidas by Agis,3 the subject of this Life. Leonidas, on the other hand, the son of Cleonymus, was of the other royal house, the Agiad, and was eighth in descent from the Pausanias who defeated Mardonius at Plataea. For Pausanias had a son Pleistoanax, and Pleistoanax a son Pausanias, upon whose exile and flight from Sparta to Tegea4 his elder son Agesipolis became king ; Agesipolis, dying without issue, was succeeded by a younger brother Cleombrotus, and Cleombrotus, in turn, had two sons, Agesipolis and Cleomenes, of whom Agesipolis reigned only a short time and left no sons, while Cleomenes, who became king after him, lived to
1 In 338 B.C. 2 In 330 B.C. 8 In 244 B.C. 4 In 395 B.C. See the Lysander, xxx. 1.
9
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
jrpecrftvTepov rwv viwv 'A/cporarov en d\6, veutrepov 8e KXeoavvfjLOV Kare\i7rev, o? ov/c e/3a<TL\ev(T6V, aXX' "Apevs vioovbs wv KXeo- , 'A/cpordrov S' woV "A/jew? 8e
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OVK e'yUyLteXw? fjL6TCt<f)epOVTl.
IV. 'O S'^AY^? OI;T&) 7roXi> 7r
-^1^779 OL» fjiovov TOVTOV, aXXa cLTTavras ocrot, per \Ay^ffi\aov TOV peyav ware fJLrjBeTTQ) yeyovcos eiKOcnov ero?, Se TrXouroi? /cal rpu^at? yvvai/cwv, TT}? re /jir)Tpb<i 'Ayrjo-ia'T paras Kal rfjs
, at TrXetcrra ^p^yct , TTyoo? re Ta? i)&ovd<t ev&v<? KCU rov eTTLTTpe^rai /j,d\icrra rfj 10
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, m. 4-iv
lose his elder son Acrotatus, but left behind him a younger son Cleonymus ; Cleonymus, however, did not come to the throne, but Areus,1 who was a grandson of Cleomenes and son of Acrotatus ; Areus fell in battle at Corinth/2 and his son Acrotatus came to the throne ; Acrotatus also was defeated and slain at Megalopolis, by the tyrant Aristodemus, leaving his wife with child ; and after she had given birth to a son. Leonidas the son of Cleonymus was made the child's guardian. But the young king died before reaching manhood, and the kingship therefore devolved upon Leonidas,8 who was al- together unacceptable to the people. For although the destruction of the constitution had alreadv led
•/
to a general decline in manners, there was in Leoni- das a very marked departure from the traditions of his country, since for a long time he had frequented oriental courts and had been a servile follower of Seleucus, and now sought to transfer the pride and pomp which prevailed abroad into Hellenic relations and a constitutional government, where they were out of place.
IV. Agis, on the contrary, far surpassed in native excellence and in loftiness of spirit not only Leonidas, but almost all the kings who had followed the great Agesilaiis. Therefore, even before he had reached his twentieth year, and although he had been reared amid the wealth and luxury of women, namely, his mother Agesistrata and his grandmother Archidamia (who were the richest people in Sparta), he at once set his face against pleasures. He put away from his person the adornments which were thought to
1 See the Pyrrhus, xxvi. 8 if.
* In 265 B.C., in battle with Antigonus Gonatas.
8 About 256 B.C.
II
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
s wpaifffjiov BoKovvTa TrepHTTraaas TOV , teal Traaav eVSu? Kal Bia^vywv 7ro\vre- \eiav, eyKa\\a)7Ti^€crdai, rco TpifScoviw, Kal Beljrva Kal \ovTpd Kal BiaiTas AaKcovi/ca? ^Telv, KOI \eyeiv &)? ovSev Securo T>)? /3acri\,€ias, el avrrjv avd\r)"fyoiTO TOU? vop.ov<; KOI rrjv
V. 'Ap%r)v f.i€v ovv Bia<f)0opas Kal TOV vocrelv
Ta Trpdyfjiara rwv AaKeSai/jiOViwv ov rrjv * KOqvai&v KaToXvcravTes Xpvcriov re /cal dpyvpuov KareTT^rjcrav eavrov?. ov (Jirjv aXXa /cal TWV O'LKWV ov o Av/covpyos wpicre dpi& JJLOV €V rat? £iaSo^at?, /cal TratSl TOV K\r)pov avroXetTro^TO?, a/ia)9 76 TTCO? TI TCL^LS avTr] ital laoTr)? 8ia/j,evov(ra TTJV 'TToX.iv €/c TU>V a\\wv avefyepev ap.apTrj^dTwv.
2 etpopevcras Be Ti? dvrjp &vvaTQ$, avQdo'rjs Se Kal ^aXeTro? TOV TpoTTOv, EtTriTaSevs ovo/ia, TT^OO? TOV vlov avTU) yevo/nevtis Sia^Oyoa? piJTpav e^elvai TOV O!KOV avTOv Kal TOV K\rjpov edeXoi Kal £wvTa Bovvai Kal KaTa\i7relv
3 fjievov. OUTO? /JLCV ovv avTOv TLva Ovfjiov diro-
iStov £.lcn]ve<yK€ TOV VO/JLOV ol Be aXXot eveKa Be^d/jievoi Kal KvpwcravTes aTrco- Xecra/; TTJV dpLaTrjv KaTaGTacriv. HKTWVTO yap d(j)eiBw$ jjBr) TrapayffovvTes ol BvvaTol TOL/? Trpocrij- Kovras GK TWV BiaBo^wv Kal Ta%v TT}? et? 6\i<yovs wppveicrris irevia TIJV TTO\LV acr^o\iav TWV Ka\wv Kal dve\ev6epiav e
12
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, iv.-v. 3
befit the grace of his figure, laid aside and avoided every extravagance, prided himself on his short Spartan cloak, observed sedulously the Spartan customs in his meals and baths and general ways of living, and declared that he did not want the royal power at all unless by means of it he could restore the ancient laws and discipline.
V. And here I may say that the Lacedaemonian state began to suffer distemper and corruption soon after its subversion of the Athenian supremacy filled it with gold and silver. However, since the number of families instituted by Lycurgus 1 was still pre- served in the transmission of estates, and father left to son his inheritance, to some extent the con- tinuance of this order and equality sustained the state in spite of its errors in other respects. But when a certain powerful man came to be ephor who was headstrong and of a violent temper, Epitadeus by name, he had a quarrel with his son, and in- troduced a law permitting a man during his lifetime to give his estate and allotment to any one he wished, or in his will and testament so to leave it. This man, then, satisfied a private grudge of his own in introducing the law ; but his fellow citizens welcomed the law out of greed, made it valid, and so destroyed the most excellent of institutions. For the men of power and influence at once began to acquire estates without scruple, ejecting the rightful heirs from their inheritances ; and speedily the wealth of the state streamed into the hands of a few men, and poverty became the general rule, bringing in its train lack of leisure for noble pursuits and occu- pations unworthy of freemen, along with envy and
1 See the Lycurgus, viii. f.
13
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
a <f)06vov Kal Sfcr/zeyeta? rrpos TOi/9 4 arrre\€L<^0->'ja'av ovv eTTTaKOcriajv ov TrXetot'e? Tiarai, KCLI TOVTWV I'cra)^ eKaTOv i]<jav ol
l K\r/pov 6 5' aXXo9 6'%Xo9 aTro/909 ev rfj 7ro\€i TrapeKaOrjro, TOU? fiev 7roXe//ou? a/jyw? /cat aTrpodv/ , aet Se Tiz^a tcaipov eiriTtjp&v fj-eracn-dcrews rcov Trapovrcov.
VI. Ata ravra Bt] KO\OV o ' \r/i$, &cr7rep r)V, Tro/ou/ze^o? e^Lcrwcrai Kal dva7r\r)pa)aai rrjv Trokiv, eTreipdro TU>V dv6pu>7rwv. ol fJLev ovv veoi, Kal Trap* eXvrtSa? vm^Kovcrav avro), Kal cravro 7T/30? ir)v dperrjv, wcnrep la&rfra rrjv Siairav 2 eV e\ev6epia crf/^yLtera/^aXXo^Te?. TWV Se irpe- Tepwv, are Brj Troppw ciacfrdopds yeyovorcov, rot? TrXetcrrot? axiTrep eVi Seo-Trorrjv dyo/j.evovs €K Bpacr/jLOv BebievaL Kal rpe/j,eiv TOV \VKovpyov, Kai Ka9r)7rrovro TOV *Afyi$os oSvpo- fievov rd irapovra 7rpdy/j.aTa Kal TO 7ra\aiov 798
e o t/i'o? Ka a^6po/c\eta9 e Ayrja-£\ao<i aTreSe^avro Kal
3 avrov TTJV (^L\OTifjiiav> rjv Be A.vcrav$pos /j.ev ev
TWV iroKiT&v, ^lav&oKXei&as Be
7rpy/j.ara
i TO crvverov rovro Kal 8o\epbi> ToX/z?; /j,e/jiiy- pevov e%a*v 'Ayq<ri\aov Se 6elov ovra TOV ftacn-
6
14
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, v. 3-vi. 3
hatred towards the men of property. Thus there were left of the old Spartan families not more than seven hundred, and of these there were perhaps a hundred who possessed land and allotment ; while the ordin- ary throng, without resources and without civic rights, lived in enforced idleness, showing no zeal or energy in warding off foreign wars, but ever watching for some opportunity to subvert and change affairs at home.
VI. Agis, therefore, thinking it a noble achieve- ment, as it was, to equalize and restore to full numbers the body of citizens, began to sound the inclinations of people. The young men, as he found, quickly and beyond his expectations gave ear to him, and stripped themselves for the contest in behalf of virtue, like him casting aside their old ways of living as worn-out garments in order to attain liberty. But most of the older men, since they were now far gone in corruption, feared and shuddered at the name of Lycurgus as if they had run away from their master and were being led back to him, and they upbraided Agis for bewail- ing the present state of affairs and yearning after the ancient dignity of Sparta. Lysander, how- ever, the son of Libys, Mandrocleidas the son of Ecphanes, as well as Agesilaiis, approved of the king's aspirations and supported him in them. Lysander was in the highest repute among the citizens, and Mandrocleidas was the ablest Greek of his time in setting schemes on foot, and his sagacity and craft were mingled with daring ; Agesilaiis, who was the king's uncle on his mother's side, and a powerful orator, though otherwise effeminate and avaricious, was openly urged on and encouraged by his son
IS
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Kal TrapeOdppvvev, evSo/ayuo? eV 7ro\e/j.ois avrjp Kal /tie/a Si evvoiav TWV vewv 4 8vi'd/.iei'o<s' ->} Be aX>/$&>9 avaireicraaa TOV ' Xaoi' atria TWV Trparrofjievcov
/j.€Ta/3ci\\a)V TTJV TroXtreiay. 009 ovv Trpocnjydyero TOVTOV o 'A7t?, evOvs eTri%€ipei ^er avrov Ti]v firjrepa TreiOeiv, dBe\<pr)v ovcrav TOV 'Ayr](Ti\dov, rrr\if)6ei &e TreXarwv Kal (fjiXwv Kal Xpewarcov /j.eya Svva/jievTjv ev rfj 7ro\€t Kal TroXXa TCOV Koivaiv SiaTrpaTTO/uievriv.
VII. 'H Be aKovcracra TO /Jiev Trp&rov e^eTrXdyrj Kal Karejrave TO /jieipaKiov co? ovre SvvarMv ovre \vcriT€\a)v e^LejJLevov eVel Be ravra IJLCV 6 crtXao? e8L
7T/30? oav avra) TOV 7r\oi>TOV, a)? xptj/^ao'i, fiev ov Bwdfjievos 7Tyoo9 2 TOU9 aXXou9 /3ao~/Xet9 el-KrcoG'tjvai (aarpaTrwv yap Kal Bov\ow$ eTTLTpoTrwv
TWV ev ^Trdprrj /3acrtXe&)i/), eay Se \iror7jrt Kal yueyaXox^-u^/a T«9
Tpv(f)ds laor^ra Kal Koivwv'iav Kara-
009
, OI/TCO at vvaiKes vrro
TOV veavcrKOv, Ka ToaavTrj 3 (T^eOtjaav olov zTmrvoia 777309 TO Ka\ov, coo~Te TO
16
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, vi. 3-vn. 3
Hippomedon, who had won fair fame in many wars, and had great influence because he stood in favour with the young men. But what really induced Agesilaiis to take part in the king's enterprise was the multitude of his debts, of which he hoped to rid himself by changing the constitution. As soon, then, as Agis had won over Agesilaiis, he straightway sought with the aid of his uncle to persuade his mother, who was a sister of Agesilaiis, and owing to the multitude of her retainers, friends, and debtors, had great influence in the state and took a large part in public affairs.
VII. When she heard her son's plea, she was at first amazed, and tried to stop the young man from attempting what she thought was neither possible nor profitable ; but Agesilaiis tried to show her that the king's project would be feasible and its accom- plishment advantageous, and the king himself besought his mother to contribute her wealth for the advancement of his ambition and glory. For in the matter of property, he said, he could not equal the other kings (since the servants and slaves of the satraps and overseers of Ptolemy and Seleucus had larger possessions than all the kings of Sparta put together) ; but if in self-restraint, simplicity, and magnanimity he should surpass their luxury, and thereby establish equality and community of posses- sion among his citizens, he would win the name and fame of a really great king. The women, lifted up by the young man's high ambition, were so changed in their purposes, and possessed, as it were, by so great an inspiration to take the noble course, that they joined in urging and hastening on the projects of
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
crvvet;op/nav Kal avvemra^vveiv,
Be rou? <ptA,ou9 irapaKakelv teal rat? eyecrOai yvvaL^ivtare Br) rovs AaKeBai- s KarrjKoovs 6Wa9 del rwv
yvvaiKwv, teal rr\elov etceivais TWV ^fjLoaiwv r\ ISiwv aurot? TTokvTrpayiJLOvelv BiSovra?.
&€ rore T&v Aa/cwviKtov TT\OVTWV eV rat? l TO TrXetcrro^, Aral rovro Trjv Trpd^iv rc5
4 "AytSi Svcrepyov Kal ^aXeTrrjv eTroiycrev. avrk- (TTrjcrav <yap ai <yvvaiK€s ov /JLOVOV rpu^r}? €KTTL- TTTOvcrai $1 aireipoKa~\.iav ev&aifjiovi^o/jLev'tjs, aXXa real Ti[j.r)v Kal Bvva/j-tv, r)v e/c TOU r7T\ovrr€li> €/cap-
7TOVVTO, 7replK07rTO/jL€VT]l> CLVT&V OptoGai. KCU, TTyOO?
rov A.eu)vi$av rpaTro/Jievai TrapeKti\ovv ovra jrpe- (rfivrepov eTriXafJiBdveffOai rov "Ay^So? KOI ra
5 TrpaTTofjieva SiarcwXiieiv. ej3ov\€ro fjiev ovv 6
rot? 7rXou<rtot? fto^Oelv, Se&ia><$ Be rov rT/9 /xera/3oXr}? ovStv avre- \d6pa Be rrjv Trpa^iv etrjrei /ca/covpyelv /cat Bta(f)0eLpeiv evrvy^dvwv To?9 ap- %ovcri Kal Bia/3d\\ayv TOV *Ayiv a>? rvpawiBo? piaQov TOi? Trevrjcn ra TWV TrXoi/crtcoi/ TrpOTeivovra, Kal 7^9 fJ.eraB6<Tecn Kal xpewv dffreaea'i TroXXoi/9 eavro) Bopvcfropovs, ov rf)
VIII. Ov fjirfv d\\d
€(j>opov yeveaQai TOV AvaavBpov, evdvs elcre^epe avrov pijrpav et9 rou9 yepovras, ^9 Xpewv p.ev d(f)€0r)vai roL/9 o^)€tXo^Ta9, Trj? Be 7779 dvaBaa~0€iO'r)<$ rrjv /Jiev diro rov Kara HeXXijvrjv ^apdBpov 7T/309 TO Tau76To^ Kal MaX.eai' Kal
18
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, vn. 3-vin. i
Agis, sent for their friends among the men and invited them to help, and held conference with the women besides, since they were well aware that the men of Sparta were always obedient to their wives, and allowed them to meddle in public affairs more than they themselves were allowed to meddle in domestic concerns.
Now, at this time the greater part of the wealth of Sparta was in the hands of the women, and this made the work of Agis a grievous and difficult one. For the women were opposed to it, not only because they would be stripped of the luxury which, in the general lack of higher culture, made their lives seem happy, but also because they saw that the honour and in- fluence which they enjoyed in consequence of their wealth would be cut off. So they had recourse to Leonidas, and besought him, since he was an older man, to withstand Agis and hinder what he was trying to accomplish. Leonidas, accordingly, was desirous of aiding the rich, but he feared the people, who were eager for a revolution. He therefore made no open opposition to Agis, but secretly sought to damage his undertaking and bring it to nought by slandering him to the chief magistrates, declaring that he was purchasing a tyranny by offering to the poor the property of the rich, and by distribution of land and remission of debts was buying a large body-guard for himself, not many citizens for Sparta.
VIII. However, Agis procured Lysander's election as ephor, and at once employed him to introduce a bill into the senate,1 the chief provisions of which were that debtors should be relieved of their debts, and that the land should be divided up, that which lay between the water-course at Pellene and Taygetus,
1 About 243 B.C.
19
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
s irev-
2 /cal ravr^v p,ev rot? oTrXa tfcepew bwa/JLevois 799 rwv rrepioiKwv ^&pi(jQY\vait rrjv Be eVro? avrols ^rrapridraw ava7r\r)pw6rjvai Sc TOUTOU? CK re TrepioiKwv teal %evwv, OCTOL rpo(f>ij<; e\ev6epiov KOI
KOL Ka riKiav aK,ovres elev
TOVTWV ei? Tr€VT€KaiSeKa 'yeveaOai (f)i&L7ia Kara TCTpaKocTLov^ teal StaKOffiovs, /cal SiaiTav rf ol nrpo<yovoi SiairdaOai.
IX. Ypa$>ei(Tr)s &e T/}? pijrpas, /cal TWV
€i? TavTO rat9 ^vai^ ou
€KK\r)criav (rvvayayajv 6 AixravSpos auro? re TO?? TroXtra^?, /cal Ma^8/oo«:XetSa? «al e&eovro yu,?; St' oXtyou? evrpv<f)<0vra<i Trepu&eiv eppi/xfjievov TO d^itofia TT}? ZTrdp- , aXXa TCOI^ re Trporepwv %prjd JJLWV
rj
, KOL
2 'le/ooz; ^e ITacr^aa? /^at {jLavrelov rjv ev ©aXa- /zat? TLjJLMfJLevov, r]V rives [Jbev io-ropovcri rwv Ar- \avrL$a)v fjiiav ovcrav etc Aio? TOI^ "A/jL/acova retcelv, Tiz/e? £e ¥ia<jdv&pav ri]V Ylpta/iov
evravOa teal Sta TO rrdcn (fraivetv rd Hacri<f)dav rrpocrayopevdelcrav. 6 8e Oi^ 'Ayu,uA:Xa Ovyarepa, &,d<$>vi~iv rovvofia, faialv VTTO- (frevyovdav 'ATroXXaj^a (3ov\6/ji6vov avrfj fuyfjvai,, /cal /jiera(3a\ovcrav £i? TO (frvrov, ev rijjifi rov 6eov
3 yevecrOai, teal ^avriKriv \aftelv &vva/jiiv. e^acrav
20
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, vm. i-ix. 3
Malea, and Sellasia, into forty-five hundred lots, and that which lay outside this into fifteen thousand ; that this larger land should be apportioned among those of the provincials who were capable of bearing arms, and the smaller among the genuine Spartans : that the number of these Spartans should be filled up from the provincials and foreigners who had received the rearing of freemen and w^ere, besides, of vigorous bodies and in the prime of life ; and that these should be formed into fifteen public messes by four hundreds and two hundreds, and should practise the mode of life which the ancient Spartans had followed.
IX. The "rhetra" was introduced in the senate, and the senators were divided in opinion. Lysander therefore called together a general assembly and discussed the matter himself with the citizens, and Mandrocleidas and Agesilaiis begged them not to suffer the insolent opposition of a few to blind them to the prostration of Sparta's dignity, but to call to mind the earlier oracles which bade them beware of the love of riches as a fatal thing for Sparta, as well as the oracles which had lately been brought to them from Pasiphae.
Now there was a temple of Pasiphae at Thalamae, and her oracle there was held in honour. Some say that Pasiphae was one of the daughters of Atlas, and the mother of Ammon by Zeus, and some that Cas- sandra the daughter of Priam died at Thalamae, and was called Pasiphae because she declared her oracles to all. Phylarchus, however, says that she was a daughter of Amyclas, Daphne by name, and that, fleeing the embraces of Apollo, she was changed into the tree of like name, after which she was honoured by the god with the gift of prophetic power. Be
VOL. X. 21
15
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ovv Kol ra TrapcL ravrrj^ /juavrela TrpocrrdTreiv TO?? J^TrapTidrais f<joi><? yevecrOat, iravra^ Kad^ ov o AvKovpyo<; e% ap^rjs era^e vojuov. eVl Tracri Be o /3aai\ev$ Ayi$ eh /Jiecrov irape\0o)v teal
€<f>rj GV[ji(Bo\a<$ SiSovai rfj TJV KaOicrrrjo-i,' rrjv yap avrov Trpcorov ovcriav et? JACCTOV riOevai,, iroXXrjv jjuev ovcrav ev
rot? yewpyov/jLevois /cal v€/j,o/ji€vois, avev $f. rov- e^afcocria rd\avra vo^icr pharos e^ovaav TO avrb /cal ra? ^rea? Troielv Kal rovs
Kal ol/ceiovs, TrXofcr^wTttToi;? 6Vra?
X. 'O IJLGV ovv S^/zo? ej;€7r\dy)] rrjv fj,eya-
TOU veavicTKOV, Kal ireiarj^ rjv a>?
Si* erwv 6/jiov n BiaKoa-iaii'1 7T€(j)ijv6ro<; d^uov ^TrdpTris ySacriXeo)?' o Be Aew^tSa? Tore &rj fid- Xicrra Trpo? Tovvavrlov e'^iXozW/^cre. Xoyt^o- yuet'o? lyayo 6Vt ravrd ^ev avayKacrOi'icreTai Troielv, ov rrjv avrrjv 8e ^dpLv e^et rrapa rot? aXXa TTUVTCOV o/xotco? a KeKrijvrai fjiova) TW dp^a/jievco TrpocrO^crovcrL rjpcora rov *Ayiv el Strcaiov avSpa Kal (nrovSaiov 2 ijyeirai yeyovevai A.VKOvpyov. o/noXoyrjcravTos &* €K€ivov, " TIov Tolvvv" €(f>rj, " A VKovpyos aTTOKOTras eBaiKev 17 %evov<$ Karera^ev eh iro\iTeiav, 05 ovSe oXw? evofju.^ev vyiaiveiv rrjv
'O Be *Ayi<$ (nreKpivaTo /ULTJ @av/jid%eiv TOV Aewvi&av, el reOpa/jL/nevo^ ev %evy Kal
1 6f.'.ov n $tano<rlwv Blass (Fuhr) : 6/j.ov 22
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, ix. 3-x. 2 this as it may, it was now said that the oracles
•/ *
brought from this goddess ordained that all Spartans should be on an equality according to the original law made by Lycurgus. And finally, King Agis came forward and after a brief discourse said that he offered very large contributions to the constitutions which he was trying to establish ; for in the first place he put into the common stock his own estate, which included extensive tillage and pasture, and apart from this six hundred talents in money ; and, besides, his mother and his grandmother did likewise, together with their relatives and friends, and they were the wealthiest among the Spartans.
X. The people, accordingly, were filled with amazement at the magnanimity of the young man, and were delighted, feeling that after a lapse of nearly two hundred years a king had appeared who was worthy of Sparta ; but Leonidas, now more than ever, strove in opposition. For he reasoned that he would be compelled to do as Agis had done, and that he would not get the same gratitude for it among the citi- zens, but that if all the rich alike made their property a part of the common fund, the honour for it would be given to him alone who had led the way. He therefore asked Agis if he thought that Lycurgus had shown himself a just and worthy man, and when Agis said that he did, " When, then," said Leonidas, " did Lycurgus either grant abolition of debts or admit foreigners into citizenship — a man who held that the state was in no healthy way at all if it did not practise expulsion of foreigners ? "
But Agis replied that he was not astonished to find Leonidas, who had been reared in foreign lands and
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
e/c y/^fov (TaTpaTU/cwv yvoet rov Avfcovpyov, on TO //ei> o$ei\€iv /cal 8avei£etv a/xa
3 rco vo/jLicr/j-ari <rvvej;el3a\€V etc rfy TroXeo)?, rwv 8' ev TCU<? iroKevi %evwv TOU? rot? eTTLr^Sev/^acri KCU rat? Siairais acrv /Ji$v\ov<$ /j,a\\ov eSva^epaive' real yap eice'ivovs ^\avvev ov rots <rco/iacrt TroXe-
, d\\a rou? y9tou? avTwv KO\ roL/9 T/DOTTOU?
(Tvvava^pwi'vvfievoi rot? rpv(j)jj<f /cal yttaXa^ta? Aral TrXeoi/e^ta? e
eVel TepTravSpov ye fcal (8)aX??Ta /cat rjv %evov<; ovras, OTI ra avra TO* Av- Kovpyta &iere\ovv aSovres /cal (f)i\oao(f)OvvTes,
4 eV ^Trdprr) TifJurjOrji/at SiatyepovTa)?. " "2,v B€
[Jiev" etyrjaev, " eTraivels, o? eipopevcov
rou /jLovaiKOv crKe7rdpi>(p ra? evvia xopScov e^ere/ie, KOL rot/? eVl 7rd\LV TO auTO TOVTO Trpd^avras, rj/JLas Be yiteyu</>7i 800 rjv teal 7ro\VT€\€tav /cal dXa^oveiav etc T/}?
dvaipovvras, wcnrep ov%l TO eV jLOvaiK aojSapov fcal TrepiTTOv
evrav6a jir 7roeX.@r (>v\aTTojL€va)vt OTTOV
(i)v Ka rpoTToov /jLerpa Ka
eavrfj
XI. 'E/C TOUTOf TW fJL€V "Ajl&l TO 7r\?)00$ e
/co\ovOrja'6i>} ol oe 7r\ov(7iot rov re Aewvl&av 7rape/cd\ovv {JLTJ cr^>a? Trpoecrdai, /cal TOU? yepovras, ol? TO KpaTos ?)V ev TO) TrpoftpvXeveiv, Kal TreiOovTes icr^ua-av, ocrov evl TrXetoi'a? 2 crOat TOI;? a7ro"^r;04o-a/xeVoL'? r^v prfrpav. 6 AvcravSpos eri rrjv dp%r)V €%a)v ajp/^rjcre rov Aeco-
24
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, x. 2-xi. *
had children by an oriental marriage, ignorant that Lycurgus had banished from the state debts and loans along with coined money, and that foreigners in the cities were held by him in less displeasure than men to whom the Spartan practices and ways of living were not congenial ; these, indeed, he sought to drive away, not because he was hostile to their persons, but because he feared lest their lives and manners should contaminate the citizens, and breed in them a love of luxury, effeminacy, and greed ; for certainly Terpander and Thales and Pherecydes were foreigners, and yet, because the teachings of their songs and philosophy always ac- corded with those of Lycurgus, they were held in surpassing honour at Sparta. " Thou praisest Ecprepes," said Agis, " who, as ephor, cut out with an adze two of the nine lute-strings of Phrynis the musician, and likewise the magistrates in the time of Timotheus, who did the same thing in their turn, but thou blamest me for trying to remove luxury, extra- vagance, and ostentation from Sparta, as if those magistrates also wrere not on the watch to prevent the pompous and superfluous in music from making such advances as our lives and manners have come to, whose excess and discord has made the city dissonant and out of tune with itself."
XI. After this, the common people took sides with Agis, but the men of wealth entreated Leonidas not to abandon them. And by prayers and arguments with the senators, whose power lay in their privilege of presenting all measures to the people, they so far prevailed that by a single vote the proposed rhetra was rejected. Lysander, however, who was still ephor, set on foot an indictment of Leonidas by virtue of
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
viSav SiwKeiv Kara S?; riva vo^ov rraXatov, fa OVK ea rbv 'HpaKXeiSijv CK yvvaifcos dX\,oSarrr)s 7€Kvovcrdai, rov &€ drreXOovra TT}? ^rrdprt]^ em
JJ,€TOlKl(T/jLM TTyOO? 6Te'/90U9 aTTo6vr)<J KGtV K€\€V6i.
ravra Kara rov AewviSa \e*/€LV erepovs SiSa^a?, auro? 7rape(j)v\arr€ per a rwv crvvap^ovrwv TO
3 "Ecrrt Se roto^Se' St' eVcoi/ Ivvka \a(3ovre<$ ol e(f)Opoi vvKra Ka6apav Kal aaekyvoVy criwrrf) KaOe- fyvrai TT/OO? ovpavbv arrofiXerrovres. eav ovv €K (jiepovs nvbs et? erepov yu,e/?o? acrrrjp
KplVOVai TOVS fS(l(TL\€l<$ CO? 7T€pl TO 0GLOV
[jiaprdvovras, Kal Kararravovcrt. TT}?
av CK AeX(/)c5i> rj 'OXf/^vrta? ^J;CT/.IO? e'X^?; Tot?
rjXwKoai rwv ySacrtXecoj' j3orj0&v.
4 TOUTO 5?) TO aij/jLeiov auru) yeyovevai \€ja)V o
KpLuw ry Aea>i>i$a TrpovOrjKe, Kal rrapel^ev w? e'/c yvvaiKos 'Acrm^r??, r}v
avrw
Kal jjna-ovfjievo^ vrro TT)? <yvvaiKo$ errave\6oi rcapa 'yvoo/jHjv OiKaSe, Kal BiaBo^rj^ epijpov dv6\oiro TO 5 fta<Ji\eiov. dfjia Se ry SiKrj KXeo/ji/Bporov eireiQe TT}? /Sao-^Xeta? dvrnroieicrOai, yapfipov ovra rov AewvuSa, <y€vov<$ 8e TOI) fBacri\LKov. (po^yjOel^ ovv 6 AeamSa? Ixerrjf <yiverai Tr)? XaX/ciot/cou, Kal (jvviKerevev 1} dvydrrjp ra> rrarpi, rbv KXeo/z- fiporov drroXiTrovffa. KCL\OV fjiivov Se rrpbs rrjv Bi/crjv avrov Kal prj Karafiaivovros, CKGLVOV
26
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xi. 2-5
an ancient law which forbade any descendant of Heracles to beget children by a foreign woman, and ordained that anyone who left Sparta to settle among foreigners should be put to death.1 After instructing others to spread these charges against Leonidas, he himself, with his colleagues, proceeded to observe the traditional sign from heaven.
This is observed as follows. Every ninth year the ephors select a clear and moonless night, and in silent session watch the face of the heavens. If, then, a star shoots across the sky, they decide that their kings have transgressed in their dealings with the
c5 ?5 c>
gods, and suspend them from their office, until an oracle from Delphi or Olympia comes to the succour of the kings thus found guilty.
This sign Lysander now declared had been given him, and indicted Leonidas, and produced witnesses showing that he was the father of two children by a woman of Asia who had been given him to wife by one of the lieutenants of Seleucus ; and that owing to the woman's dislike and hatred of him he had come back home against his own wishes, where he had assumed the royal dignity, to which there was then no direct successor. Besides bringing this indictment, Lysander tried to persuade Cleombrotus to lay claim to the royal dignity. Cleombrotus was a son-in-law of Leonidas, and one of the royal line. Leonidas, accordingly, took fright, and fled as a sup- pliant to the temple of Athena of the Brazen House. His daughter also forsook Cleombrotus and became a suppliant with her father. When Leonidas was summoned to his trial and did not appear, he was
1 Plutarch here merges two separate laws. Cf. the Lycur- gus, xxvii. 3.
27
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ro>
TrapeBcoKav.
XII. 'Ei> TOVTW Be
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crtXeo)^, TO> ra jBe\Tiova \eyovTi Tr)V tyrifyov, OTCLV are/30? epi^rj 7T/30? TO (TVfjL<pepov' d/jL(f)Oiv Be TavTa {3ov\evo- d\VTOV elvau rr)i> e^ovcriav, Kal TT/OO? TOU? ftaaiX-eis, wv SLCLITCLV Kal ftpafteveiv avTols elvat, TrpocriJKov,
3 ov^l 7To\v7rpay/jiOveiv ofJLofypovovvTWv. oirra) Bi)
Kal yttera T&V
dyopdv /cara/Sayre? dve&Trjcrav /lev 6K TWV Bi(f>po)v TOU? e(f)6pov<;, aXXou? 8' ai/r' avTwv aTreBet^av, el? YJV yA.yrj(Ti\ao<;. o7rXto*a^re? Be TO)V vewv Kal Xuua^re? TOU? BeBefj,evov$ eye rot? virevavTiois a>? TroXXou? 4 vovvres. diTeOave Be ovBels VTT avrcov, d\\d t? Teyeav vTre^iovT TOV 'A^crtXaou, Kal
avTov et? Tijv 6Bbv avBpas, TrvOo/jievos 6 * 28
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xi. 5-xn. 4
deposed, and Cleombrotus was made king in hia place.1
XII. At this point, Ljsander's term expired and he went out of office. The new board of ephors encouraged Leonidas to leave his suppliant's asylum, and brought an indictment against Lysander and Mandrocleidas for violating the law in proposing an abolition of debts and a distribution of land. Thus put in legal peril, Lysander and Mandrocleidas persuaded the two kings to act together and disregard the edicts of the ephors ; for that board of magistrates, they said, derived its power from dissension between the two kings, by giving their vote to the king who offered the better advice, whenever the other was at variance with the public good ; but when the two kings were in accord, their power was indissoluble, and it would be unlawful for the ephors to contend against them, although when the kings were in contention with one another it was the privilege of the ephors to act as arbiters between them, but not to interfere when they were of one mind. Persuaded by these arguments, both the kings went with their friends into the market place, removed the ephors from their seats, and appointed others in their stead, one of whom was Agesilaiis.2 Then they armed a large body of young men and set free all who were in prison, thus striking fear into their opponents, who thought they would put many of them to death. No one, however, lost his life at their hands ; on the contrary, when Agis learned that Agesilaiis had plotted to make away with Leonidas as he was trying to withdraw to Tegea, and had sent men to assault him on the road, he sent out another company of
1 About 242 B.C. • See chapter vi. 3 f.
29
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
erepovs aTreareiXe TTKTTOIX;, 01 TOV Ae&viBav 7r€pi(T%6vT€S d<T(f)a\w$ et? Teyeav KaTe&Tijcrav.
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2 £>ia<fi0eLpa<;. €7rei8rj yap eKeKTijro JAW ev rot? /jLo\icrra 7ro\\r)V teal dyaOrjv ^oopav, wtfreiXe Be
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3 varepov ev&e^o/jievMV TOV dvaSacr/j,6v. ravra Be /cat rot? Trepl AvaavBpov eBo/cei, crvve^aTraTa)- p,evoi<$ VTTO TOV 'A^o'tXaoi', Kal ia irapa rcov XpeoccTTwv ypafJi/JLaTela avveveyKavTes et? dyopdi', a K\dpia KaXovcn, Kal Trdvra avvQkwres et? ev
apdeiar]^ Be (^Xoyo? ol ^Lev TT\OV- Kal Baveia-TiKol TrepiTraOovvTes dirffkOov, 6 Be 'A7?;c7tXao9 waTrep e<pv/3pi£a)v OVK €<prj \afji- TrpoTepov kwpaKevai <j5a>9 ouBe irvp eKeivov KaOa- pwrepov.
4 'AgiovvTGW Be TWV 7roX\a)V Kal Trjv yriv evQv<$ vefjLeaQat, Kal TWV /3acri\ea)v ovra) iroielv K€- \evovT(i)v, acr^oXta? Tii/a? €/A/3d\\a)V o
Xao? ael Kal Trpcxpdcreis \eya)v Traprjye
d^pi ov (TTpareia avveftr) ry "AyiBi,
1 Kal KaO* T]ffvxiav Coraes and Ziegler : icaff ^< 30
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xn. 4-xm. 4
trusted followers who took Leonidas under their protection and brought him safely to Tegea.
XIII. Thus the enterprise of the kings was making good progress and no one tried to oppose or hinder them, when one man, Agesilaiis, upset and ruined everything. He allowed a most shameful disease of avarice to wreck a most noble and most truly Spartan plan. For since he was an exceedingly large owner of valuable land, but owed huge sums of money, being unable to pay his debts and unwilling to give up his lands, he persuaded Agis that if both his projects should be carried through at the same time the resulting convulsion in the state would be great; but that if the men of property should first be won over by a remission of their debts, they would afterwards accept the distribution of land contentedly and quietly. This was also the opinion of Lysander, who was deceived in like manner by Agesilaiis. So they caused the mortgages (the Spartans call them " klaria," or allotment pledges) to be brought into the market-place, heaped them altogether, and set fire to them. As the flames rose, the men of wealth and the lenders of money went away with heavy hearts; but Agesilaiis, as if in mockery of them, declared that his eyes had never seen a brighter or purer flame than that.
And now the multitude demanded also that the land should at once be divided, and the kings gave orders that this should be done ; but Agesilaiis would always interpose some obstacle or make some excuse, and so consumed time until it became the duty of Agis to head a military expedi- tion, when the Achaeans, who were their allies, sent
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
€/c Aa/eeSatynoyo?. AlrwXol yap rjaav Bia TT}? MeyapLfcfjs efj,/3a\ovvTes et? Ile-
\OTTQVVr\GOV Kal TOVTO KW\.V<JU>V "ApaTO? O TCOI>
arparrjyo^ ijdpoi^e ^vvapiv Kal rot? eypa<pev.
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2 Kal dea/jLa rat? iroXecriv rja-av tt/3Xa/3w9
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eiy/jLa rot? Tra^Ta^ocre Sry/zot? yevrjrai. XV. SfyLt/xt^a? &e ra> 'Aparw Trepl K.6ptv0ov 6 6T« (3ov\evofjiei>w Trepl yua^? /cat irapaTa- 7T/3O? TOI/<? TToXe/itou?, eVeSet^aro Acal TT/JO- dvfuav TToXkrjv Kal ToX^iav ov fj.avixrjv ov&e
1 ffvffTpaTevo/j.fvuiv Blass : 32
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xin. 4-xv. i
for aid from Sparta. For the Aetolians were expected to invade Peloponnesus by way of Megara ; and Aratus, the general of the Achaeans, in an effort to prevent this, was assembling a force and wrote a letter to the ephors.
XIV. These at once sent out Agis, who was exalted in spirit by the ambition and ardour of the soldiers under him. For being young men for the most part and poor, and having now immunity from their debts and absolution, and expecting that they would receive allotments of land if they returned from the expedi- tion, their devotion to Agis was astonishing. And they were a spectacle to the cities as they marched through the Peloponnesus without doing any injury, without rudeness, and almost without noise, so that the other Greeks were amazed and asked themselves what must have been the discipline of a Spartan army under the command of the great Agesilaiis, or the famous Lysander, or Leonidas of old, since towards a stripling who was almost the youngest of the whole army so great reverence and fear were felt by his soldiers. And indeed the young man himself, owing to his simplicity, his love of hardships, and the pride he took in clothing and arming himself with no more splendour than a common soldier, won the admiration and devotion of the multitudes ; for to the rich, certainly, his innovating ways were not pleasing, owing to a fear that they might prove a disturbing force and set a bad example among the common people everywhere.
XV. Aratus, when Agis joined him near Corinth, was still deliberating whether or not to meet the enemy in open battle. Here Agis displayed great ardour, and courage which was sane and calculating.
33
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
d\6yi(TTOV. €^>rj yap avrq> fiev Sofceiv
Kal fJLrj irapievai, TOV iro\e[jLOv etrjw, ra? T/}<? Yle^OTTOwrjcrov Trpoejuevovs, iroi^aeiv Be TO SOKOVV 'Apdry KOI yap Trpecr/BvTepov re Kal tjT parity e Iv 'A^atw^, ol? ov^t, irpocr-
avrbv OVK
TJKOI, /cal /3oi]0ij<rcov. 2 fO &e ^ivtoTrevs
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, 7rape\6elv rov? TroXe/uou? rj pd^r) Kiv&vvevcrat, Trepl TWV o\wv.
3 'ETret 8* ouz> "A/oaro? aTreyvco fJid^jeaOaL KOI TOVS crv/A/jsd'Xovs eiraiveaa^ &ia(f)f}Ke, OavfiaaOels o TA7i9 dve^evyvvev, ijSr] TWV evbov ev ^Trdprrj 802 66pv/3ov TTO\VV G^OVTWV Kal [JLeTaj3o\r)v.
XVI. O yap 'Ayr)(Ti\ao$ €<popeva)v} d7rij\\ay- fjievos 049 TaTreivos rjv irpoTepov, ovSevos e^ei <f>epovro<; dpyvpiov dSiKrj/naro^, d\\d ^
, OVK ajraiTovari^ rore rr)s TrepioSov,
Trapa
TOt9 reXecrt Kal irapeirpaTre. SeSiax; Be TOU? Kal fjnaov^evo^ VTTO Trdvrwv erpecfre
Kal ^v\arTOfjL€Vo^ VITO TOVTWV 2 Kareftaivev et9 TO dp^elov. Kal TWV fBacri\€wv TOV fj.ev 6Xa>5 KaTafypovelv, TOV Se
34
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xv. i-xvi. 2
For he declared that in his opinion it was best to fight a decisive battle and not to abandon the gate of the Peloponnesus and suffer the enemy to pass inside : "However/' he said, " 1 will do as seems best to Aratus, for Aratus is an older man, and is general of the Achaeans ; I did not come hither to be their leader or to give them orders, but to give them aid and share their expedition."
Baton of Sinope, however, says that Agis himself was unwilling to give battle although Aratus urged it ; but Baton has not read what Aratus wrote about this matter,1 urging in self-defence that he thought it better, now that the husbandmen had gathered in almost all their crops, to suffer the enemy to pass by, instead of risking everything in battle.
When, therefore, Aratus decided not to give battle, and dismissed his allies with praises for their proffered aid, Agis, who had won universal admiration, led his forces back to Sparta, where there was already much commotion and a revolution.
XVI. For Agesilaiis, who was one of the ephors, being now freed from what had kept him in restraint before, shrank from no injustice that brought him money, nay, contrary to the customary arrangement of the calendar, and when the time for it had not yet come, he inserted a thirteenth month 2 and exacted the taxes for it. Moreover, in fear of the victims of his injustice and hated by all men, he kept an armed bodyguard, and would go down to his magistracy under their protection. And as for the kings, he wished men to think that he utterly despised the one,
1 In his "Commentaries." See the Aratus, iii. 2.
9 This was regularly done thrice during a period of nine years, but in distinctly specified years. The object was to equalize the lunar and solar years.
35
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Sia rrjv (rvyyev€iav fia\\ov rj Sia rrjv j3ao~i\€iav ev nvu ripy riOecrdat. SteSayfce 8e \6yov ft>? KOI avOis etyopevcrwv.
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a)pyi%ovTo yap TrefavaKicr/AevoL
fjurj vefirjOeLcrYi^. TOV /JLCV ovv
6 f/o? 'ITTTT o^i^wv, Seoytte^o? TWV TroKirwv real iracri 7rpocr<f)L\r)<? wv Si avSpayaQiav, vjrefyjyaye Kal Sieacocre' TWV Se ftaaiX-ewv 6 /JLCV 'A^? eVl Trjv Xa\KioiKOv Karefyvyev, 6 Be KXeo/i/3/9oro? et? TO rov IlocreiSw^o? lepbv €\0a)i> itce-reve' KOI yap e&o/cei TOVTW fjia\\ov o AewviSas ^aXevro? eivai, Kal 7ra/36t9 TOV *Ayiv eVl TOVTOV avefiri (7rparta)- ra? e^oiv Kal Karrjyopei /zer' opyijs on ya/j,/3pb<> &v e7ref3ovX6V(T€V avrw fcal Xero /cal avve%€[3a\e Trjs T
XVII. 'O fjiev ovv K\eo/zy5/ooT09 ovbev eiTrelv, aXX* rjTroprf/jievos eKaBrjro Kal CTIWTTWV' r) Be XtXwy/9, 77 rov AecoviSov Ovydrrjp, rrporepov
\>r\ / « \ p.« \^N
/j,ev aoiKOV/jLevy ray rrarpi avvrjOiKeiTO, KOI rov KXeoya/3poroL' TTJV /3a(Ti\€iav rrrapa\a^ovro^ arco- aracra rrjv rov rrarpos crvf-Kpopav eOepdireve, Kal irapovrt, fJL€V avviKereve, favyovros Be nrevOovcra 7ra)9 e%ovcra 77/309 rov KXeo^fiporov rore 5e av rrd\iv rat9 ru^at9 crva/j.era-
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvi. a-xvu. i
and held Agis in some slight honour more because of his near relationship than because he was king. He also spread reports that he was going to be ephor again.
For this reason his enemies lost no time in taking the great hazard, and banding together, openly brought home Leonidas from Tegea to exercise the royal power. Even the common people were glad to see this done, for they were incensed at their decep- tion in the promised division of the land. Agesilaiis, accordingly, was taken out of the country and saved by his son Hippomedon, who entreated his fellow- citizens, and was beloved of all because of his valour; and as for the kings, Agis fled for refuge to the temple of Athena of the Brazen House, while Cleombrotus went as a suppliant to the sanctuary of Poseidon;1 for Leonidas was thought to be more bitter against him, and in fact he left Agis unmolested and went up against Cleombrotus with soldiers. And when he arrived he denounced Cleombrotus angrily because, though a son-in-law, he had plotted against him, robbed him of the royal power, and helped in driving him from the country.
XVII. Cleombrotus, on his part, had naught to say for himself, but sat perplexed and speechless; Chilonis, however, the daughter of Leonidas, who before this had felt herself wronged in the wrongs done to her father, and when Cleombrotus was made king had left him and ministered to her father in his misfortunes, — sharing his suppliant life while he was in the city, and in his exile continually grieving for him and cherishing bitter thoughts of Cleombrotus — at this
1 On the promontory of Taenarum. See the Cleomenes, xxii. 5.
37
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ftd\\ovcra fjiera TOV dvSpb? IKCTIS a>cf)0r) rcaOe- %0/JLevr], TrepL^e^KrjKvla rav ^elpa^ eKeivq* Kal TWV
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K\eojj,/3poTov, Kal TO /SXeyuyua $Lecf>Oapfji€vov 38
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvn. i-xvm. i
time changed back again with the changed fortunes of the men, and was seen sitting as a suppliant with her husband, her arms thrown about him, and a little child clinging to her on either side. All beholders were moved to wonder and tears at the fidelity and devotion of the woman, who, touching her robes and her hair, alike unkempt, said: "This garb, my father, and this appearance, are not due to my pity for Cleombrotus ; nay, ever since thy sorrows and thine exile grief has been my steadfast mate and companion. Must I, then, now that thou art king in Sparta and victorious over thine enemies, continue to live in this sad state, or put on the splendid attire of royalty, after seeing the husband of my youth slain at thy hands ? That husband, unless he persuades and wins thee over by the tears of his wife and children, will pay a more grievous penalty for his evil designs than thou desirest, for he shall see me, his most beloved one, dead before he is. For with what assurance could I live and face the other women, I, whose prayers awakened no pity in either husband or father ? Nay, both as wife and as daughter I was born to share only the misfortune and dishonour of the men nearest and dearest to me. As for my husband, even if he had some plausible excuse for his course, I robbed him of it at that time by taking thy part and testifying to what he had done ; but thou makest his crime an easy one to defend by showing men that royal power is a thing so great and so worth fighting for that for its sake it is right to slay a son-in-law and ignore a child."
XVIII. Uttering such supplications Chilonis rested her face upon the head of Cleombrotus and turned
39
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6fov Coraes, Bekker, and Ziegler, after Bryan ; TT)S 6tov. * Kal /c«xP7JAt€'J/OJ Coraes and Bekker delete KOL(.
40
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvm. 1-4
her eyes, all melted and marred with grief, upon the bystanders. Then Leonidas, after conference with his friends, bade Cleombrotus leave his asylum and go into exile, but begged his daughter to remain, and not to abandon him, since he loved her so much, and had made her a free gift of her husband's life. He could not persuade her, however, but when her husband rose to go she put one of her children in his arms, took up the other one herself, and went forth in his company after an obeisance to the altar of the god; so that if Cleombrotus had not been wholly corrupted by vain ambition, he would have con- sidered that exile was a greater blessing for him than the kingdom, because it restored to him his wife.
After removing Cleombrotus from his asylum, Leonidas expelled the officiating ephors from their office, appointed others in their place, and at once began to lay plots against the life of Agis. To begin with, he tried to persuade Agis to leave his asylum and share the royal power with him, assuring Agis that the citizens had pardoned him, because, being a young man and ambitious, he had been one of those whom Agesilaiis had completely deceived. But Agis continued to be suspicious and would not leave his asylum. So Leonidas himself stopped trying to cheat and play tricks upon him, but Amphares, Damochares, and Arcesilaiis did not. They were wont to go up to the temple and con- verse with Agis ; and once they actually took him in charge and brought him down from the temple for a bath, and after he had bathed, restored him again to the temple. They were all comrades of his, but Amphares had also borrowed recently some
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvm. 4-xix. 4
costly vestures and beakers from Agesistrata, and therefore plotted to destroy the king and the women, that he might not have to return what he had borrowed. And he, certainly, more than any- one else, as we are told, followed the counsels of Leonidas and embittered the ephors, of whom he was one, against Agis.
XIX. Now Agis spent most of his time in the sanctuary, but was wont to go down from time to time to his bath. There, then, they determined to seize him, when he was outside the sanctuary. So they waited till he had finished his bath, and then came to meet him with friendly greetings, and walked along with him, conversing and jesting with him after the manner of youthful comrades. But at a certain point the road branched off towards the prison, and when they were come to that place, Amphares, by virtue of his office, laid hands on Agis and said : " I shall lead thee, Agis, to the ephors, to answer for thy measures of state " ; and Damochares, who was tall and robust, threw his cloak about the king's neck and dragged him along. Others pushed him along from behind, as had been agreed, and since he had no helper but was without a friend, they thrust him into the prison. At once Leonidas was at hand with a large band of mercenaries and surrounded the prison, while the ephors went in to Agis. After sending for those of the senators who were of the same mind as themselves, as though the king were to have a trial, the ephors ordered Agis to defend his conduct of affairs. The young king laughed at their dissimulation, whereupon Amphares threatened that he would rue the day and be punished for his temerity; but another ephor, as
43
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44
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xix. 4-xx. i
though plainly offering Agis a way ot escape from the charges against him, asked him if he had done what he did under compulsion from Lysander and Agesilaiis. And when Agis answered that he had suffered compulsion from no one, but that in admira- tion and imitation of Lycurgus he had adopted the same public policy as his, the same ephor asked again if he repented of what he had done. But the young king declared that he had no repentance for what he had most excellently planned, and would not have, even if he saw that he was to suffer the extremest penalty. So they condemned him to death, and ordered the officers to lead him into the " Dechas," as it was called. This is a chamber of the prison in which they strangle those who are under sentence of death. But Damochares, when he saw that the officers did not dare to lay hands on Agis, and like- wise that even the mercenaries who were there shrank from the deed and were loth to do it, feelin<r
y o
as they did that it was contrary to the laws of God and man to lay hands upon the person of a king, heaped threats and abuse upon them and himself dragged Agis into the chamber of death. For already many people were aware of the arrest, and there was a noisy throng at the door and many torches, and the mother and grandmother of Agis were there, with cries and prayers that the king of the Spartans should have a hearing and a trial before the citizens. For this reason especially the ephors hastened on the king's execution, believing that he would be taken out of their hands in the night if the concourse should increase.
XX. Agis, then, on his way to the halter, saw one of the officers shedding tears of sympathy for him.
45
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xx. 1-5
"My man/' said he, "cease weeping; for even though I am put to death in this lawless and unjust manner, I have the better of my murderers." And saying these words, he offered his neck to the noose without hesitation. But Amphares went to the door of the prison, where Agesistrata fell at his feet in an appeal to his friendship and intimacy. Amphares lifted her up and assured her that Agis was not to suffer violence or death ; and he bade her, if she wished, go in to her son. And when Agesistrata begged that her mother might go in with her, Amphares said there was nothing to prevent. So he admitted both the women, and after ordering the door of the prison to be locked again, delivered Archidamia first to the executioners. She was now a very aged woman, and had lived all her days in very high repute among her countrywomen. After she had been put to death, Amphares ordered Agesistrata to enter the chamber of execution. So she went in, and when she saw her son lying dead upon the ground, and her mother's dead body still hanging in the noose, with her own hands she helped the officers to take her down, laid her body out by the side of Agis, and composed and covered it. Then, embracing her son and kissing his face, she said : " My son, it was thy too great regard for others, and thy gentleness and humanity, which has brought thee to ruin, and us as well." Then Amphares, who stood at the door and saw and heard what she did and said, came in and said angrily to her : " If, then, thou hast been of the same mind as thy son, thou shalt also suffer the same fate." And Agesistrata, as she rose to present her neck to the
47
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48
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xx. 5-xxi. 3
noose, said : " My only prayer is that this may bring good to Sparta."
XXI. YVhen tidings of the sad event had been carried to the city and the three bodies were carried forth for burial, the fear felt by the citizens was not so strong as to prevent them from manifesting sorrow over what had been done, and hatred for Leonidas and Amphares. It was thought that nothing more dreadful or heinous had been done in Sparta since the Dorians had dwelt in Peloponnesus. For against a king of the Lacedaemonians, as it seems, not even their enemies would willingly raise their hands if they met him in battle, but they would spare him, out of fear and reverence for his dignity. And for this reason, although there had been many conflicts between Lacedaemonians and other Greeks, only one Spartan king had been slain up to the time of Philip of Macedon, namely, Cleom- brotus, who was smitten by a spear at Leuctra.1 The Messenians, however, say that Theopompus also fell in battle, at the hands of Aristomenes ; but the Lacedaemonians deny this, and say that their king was only wounded. This matter may be disputed : but Agis was certainly the first king of Sparta to be put to death by the ephors. And yet he had chosen a line of conduct that was noble and worthy of Sparta, and was of an age in which men are usually pardoned for their errors, and his friends could with more justice blame him than his enemies, because he spared the life of Leonidas, and, most mild and gentle man that he was, put faith in his other foes.
1 See the Pelopldas, xxiii.
49
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, i. 1-3
CLEOMENES
I. Upon the death of Agis l his brother Archidamus at once took to flight, and thus escaped arrest at the hands of Leonidas ; but his wife, who had an infant son, was taken from her home by Leonidas and com- pelled to marry his son Cleomenes. Cleomenes was too young for marriage, but Leonidas was unwilling to have Agiatis marry anyone else. For she was heir to the great estate of her father Gylippus, in youthful beauty she far surpassed the other women of Greece, and she had an excellent disposition. Therefore she begged most earnestly, we are told, that she should not be forced into this marriage, but after she was united to Cleomenes, though she hated Leonidas, to the young man himself she was a good and affec- tionate wife. And he, as soon as Agiatis was his, became passionately fond of her, and in a way sym- pathized with her devotion to the memory of Agis, so that he would often ask her about the career of Agis, and listen attentively as she told of the plans and purposes which Agis had formed.
And, besides, Cleomenes was aspiring and magna- nimous, and no less prone by nature than Agis to self-restraint and simplicity. He had not, however, the scrupulous and gentle nature for which Agis was remarkable, and his natural courage was always goading him on, as it were, and fiercely impelling him towards that which in any case appeared to be the honourable course. He thought it a most excellent thing to rule over willing subjects, but a good thing also to subdue such subjects as were disobedient, and force them towards the better goal.
1 About 241 B.a
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Be Kal \oywv <$>i\ocr6(f)c0v rov K.\eo- 'xeiv en fxeipctKiov ovra, ^(fraipov TOV BopvcrOeviTov Trapa(3a\6vTo<; eh TTJV AaKeBai/jiova Kal Trepl TOVS veovs Kal TOV$ €<f>i]/3ovs OVK ayiteXw? SiaTpijBovTos. o Be 2</>ai/oo? ev rot? TrpcoTois eye- TWV Ziijvwvos TOV KtTiew? fj,ad^T(t)i>, Kal TOV eoiKe TT}? ^ucrew? TO dvBpwBes dya-
T€ Kal TrpocreKKavaai Trjv 3 AewviBav /j,ev yap TOV Tra\aibv \eyovo-iv, eirepw- 7To?o? Ti? avTw (fraiveTai, 7ron)Trjs ye-
Tu/3rat09> elirelv "'Aya^o? veu>v
€/jL7rnr~\.d/jLevoi yap viro TMV evOova'iaa'iJLOv Trapd ra? /ita^a? rj<peiBovv o Be ^TCOIKOS Xoyo? e^ei TL TTpos ra? (frvcreis Kal o£aa? eVfcr^aXe? Kal irapd- fio\ov, (Badel Be Kal irpam Kepavvv^evos jjOei, udXiaTa et? TO olxelov dyaOov eTTiBiBcocriv. III. 'Evret Be TeXeuT^^crayTO? TOU AewviBov rrjv ?ra/)eXa/9e Kal TOU? TroXtTa? TOTC Bij eVXeXu/zeVou? ewpa, TWV /.iev TT\OV- criwv Ka@* rjBoi'd? ISia? Kal vrXeoi'e^ta? Trapo-
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, n. i-m. i
II. Of course, then, the condition of the city was not pleasing to him. The citizens had been lulled to sleep by idleness and pleasure ; the king was willing to let all public business go, provided that no one thwarted his desire for luxurious living in the midst of his wealth ; the public interests were neglected, while every man was eagerly intent upon his own private gain; and as for practice in arms, self-restraint in the young, hardiness, and equality, it was even dangerous to speak of these now that Agis was dead and gone.
It is said also that Cleomenes studied philosophy when he was still a stripling, after Sphaerus of Borysthenis had made a voyage to Sparta and busied himself sedulously there with the youth and young men. Sphaerus had become one of the leading disciples of Zeno of Citium, and it would appear that he admired the manly nature of Cleomenes and in- creased the fires of his high ambition. For Leonidas of old, as we are told, when asked what manner of poet he thought Tyrtaeus to be, replied; "A good one to inflame the souls of young men." And indeed they were filled with divine inspiration by his poems, and in battle were prodigal of their lives. However, for great and impetuous natures the Stoic doctrines are somewhat misleading and dangerous, although when they permeate a deep and gentle character, they redound most to its proper good.
III. But at the death of Leonidas1 Cleomenes came to the throne, and saw that the citizens were by that time altogether degenerate. The rich neglected the common interests for their own private
1 In 235 B.C. Cleomenes was then about twenty -four years of age.
TOL. T. 53
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
pcf)VT(0v TO, Kotvd, TWV Be TroXXooi/ Bid rb Trepl TCL ol/ceia KCU irpb^ TOV teal 7T/9O? TTjV ajwjrjv avTOv Be ovo^a {BaaiXevovTOs
2 fjibvov, TI Be dp\i] Trdcra TGOV e<$bpu>v, evOvs
et? vovv e0€TO TCL TrctpovTct pzQ iGTcuvai real Kivelv, 6Wo? Be avTM <f)i\ov Izevdpovs, epaarov <yeyovbro<$ (TOVTO Be efJurvelaOai Aa/ceBai/jiovLOi
rovrov Biairvv6avop.ei>os TOV * ryevoiro fiaai\evs KOI T'IVI Tpbirw KOI ejrl TUVT^V e\9oi Tr/v 6B6v. b Be TO fjiev TrpwTov OVK drjBws e/me/^i>r)TO TWV irpay- p,aT<t)v erceivfov, <W9 eTrpd^Or] tcaff efcaaTa fMv0o\o- 806
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KOI Tavra TroXXa/ff? dicoveiv
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Trjv Trb\tv, avTovs BiBbi'Tas e<yK\r)/jidTQ)v Trpo- (f)d(rei<t. b yap "A/oaro? Icr^ycov ^L^KJTOV ev rot? *A^aiot? efBovkeTO /JLCV e£ dp%rjs et? /j,iav avvTa^iv dyayeiv T\.e\OTrovvria-iov<;, Kal TOVTO TWV 7ro~\Xwv CLVT& KUL TT}? p.aKpd^ TroXtreta? t]v
54
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, in. 1-4
pleasure and aggrandizement; the common people, because of their wretched state at home, had lost all readiness for war and all ambition to maintain the ancient Spartan discipline; and he himself, Cleomenes, was king only in name, while the whole power was in the hands of the ephors. He therefore at once determined to stir up and change the existing order of things, and as he had a friend, Xenares, who had been his lover (or inspirer, as the Spartans say), he would make trial of his sentiments by inquiring in detail what sort of a king Agis had been, and in what way and with what assistants he had entered upon the course of action so fatal to him. At first Xenares was quite glad to recall those matters, and rehearsed the events at length and in detail ; but when it was apparent that Cleomenes took an unusual interest in the story, and was profoundly stirred by the innova- tions of Agis, and wished to hear about him over and over again, Xenares rebuked him angrily, calling him unsound in mind, and finally stopped visiting and conversing with him. To no one, however, did he tell the reason of their variance, but merely said that Cleomenes understood it.
And so Cleomenes, finding Xenares averse, and thinking that everybody else was of like mind with him, began to arrange his project all by himself. And because he thought that he could better bring about his reforms in time of war than in the midst of peace, he embroiled the state with the Achaeans, who were themselves giving grounds for complaint. For Aratus, the most powerful man among the Achaeans, was from the outset desirous of bringing all the Peloponnesians into one confederation, and this was the end pursued by him during his many
55
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
av oi/Tft>9
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/cal rov KXeo/jievovs co? veov Kal direipov Kara*
IV. 'E/c TOVTOV KXeofMevrj Trpwrov ol e
ara\ri^rop.evov TO irepl rrjv Be\/3ivav . e/x/SoXr/ Be TT}? AaKwviKrjs TO eVrt, Kal Tore vrpo? TOI;? MeyaXoTroXt'ra? &LKOV. KaTa\afBovTOs Be TOVTO Kal TOU KXeo/zeVou? o "A/jaro? ovdev e'-y/caXeVa?, aXXa VVKTOS eKGrparevcras eTre^eiprjae Teyedrai^ Kal 2 JOp%o/uieviot<$. TWV Be irpo^orwv dTroBeiKLacrdvTwv 6 /iei/ "A/oaro? dve^jcap^cfe \e\rjdevai VOJJLL^WV, o Se KXeoyLteVr;? elpwvela %pc0[j,evos eypatye
y a)? 8^ irapa <^L\ov TrvvOavo/JLevos trov OS e%e\0oi. rov Be avriypatyavros w? e
/JLe\\etv Tei^i^eiv aKovcra? Kara/Bail] TOVTO K(D\V<J(I)V, ird\iv 6 TOVTO
Kal Ta? /cXt/^a/tac," etjrev, " el /JLTJ TL aoi
Bia(j)epeit rypdtyov f)iMV, em Tt crof irapr]KO\ov- 3 QovvT TOV Be ' ApaTov vrpo? TO cr/cw^a <ye\d- Kal TTvvOavofievov TTOIO? Tt? o veavitr/eos o AaKeBai/novLOS (frvyds, " Et
" TT/OO? aKeaijjLovovs, wpa
56
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, in. 4-iv. 3
generalships and his long political activity, since he was of the opinion that in this way alone would they be safe from the attacks of their enemies without. Nearly all the other Peloponnesians adopted his views, but the Lacedaemonians, the Eleians, and the Arca- dians who sided with the Lacedaemonians, held aloof. Therefore, as soon as Leonidas was dead, Aratus be- gan to harass the Arcadians, and ravaged the terri- tories of those especially who were adjacent to Achaea. His object was to put the Lacedaemonians to the test, and he despised Cleomenes as a young and in- experienced man.
IV. Upon this, the ephors began operations by sending Cleomenes to occupy the precinct of Athena at Belbina. This commands an entrance into Laconia, and was at that time a subject of litigation with the Megalopolitans. After Cleomenes had occupied and fortified this place, Aratus made no public protest, but led out his forces one night and tried to surprise Tegea and Orchomenus. Those who were to betray the places to him, however, played the coward, and Aratus withdrew, thinking that his attempt had escaped notice. But Cleomenes wrote him an ironical letter, inquiring, as from a friend, whither he had marched out in the night. Aratus wrote back that hearing of Cleomenes' intention to fortify Belbina he had gone down there to prevent it. Whereupon Cleomenes sent back word again that he believed this story to be true; "but those torches and ladders," said he, "if it is all one to thee, tell me for what purpose thou hadst them with thee." Aratus burst out laughing at the jest, and inquired what manner of youth this was. Whereupon Damocrates, the Lacedaemonian exile, replied : " If thou hast designs
57
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
aoi Ta^vveiv Trpb TOV KevTpa (pvcrai TOVTOV TOV
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'E/e TOVTOV KXeo/teVet yuero. iTnriwv oXiycov Kal TpLaKoaiwv ev 'Ap/oiSia crTpaTOTreSevo/jLevw irpocreTa^av dva^wpelv ol e^opoi, (£>o(3ov/j,€voi TOV 4 TcoKefiov. eirel 8e dvaj(wpri(TavTO^ avTov Kac^ua? €\a/3ev 6 "ApaTO?, av0i<? e^eire/jiTrov TOV KXeo- /nevrj. Xa/Soi'To? Se avTov MeOvSpiov Kal TTJV KaTaSpa/novTOS, e^e&TpdTevcrav ol $(crp,vpiois Tre^ot? Kal p^tXtot? r;
KXeo/xei'OL'? /cat fiovXo/jievov , (f)o/3?jdels TTJV To\fiav 6 "Aparo? OVK eiacre BiaKivSwevcrat. TOV aTpaTiyyov, aXX' a7rrj\0e \oi&o povfjievos p,ev VTTo TWV 'Axaiwv, y^keva^o- Se Kal KaTa^povov/jLevo^ VTTO TMV AaxeSai- ovoe TrevTaKKT^iXiwv TO 7r\f}@os OVTWV.
ovv TU> <oviiaTi <e<ova)<; 6
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iwVt OV TTOCTOi 61CTLV, d\\a 7TOV 6L(riV.
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jBrj rot? 'A^ctfOi? €7TL^a\(t)v, airav /nev 807 Kal SieTTTOijcrev avTwv TO
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ou /uarrjy 6Vi Sinteuis (com.) and Blass, after Stephanus : tlirAvros on \ta.Ti\v (MSS.).
53
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, iv. 3-v. i
upon the Lacedaemonians, see that thou hastenest, before this young cock grows his spurs."
After this, when Cleomenes with a few horsemen and three hundred foot-soldiers was making an expe- dition in Arcadia, the ephors, fearing the issue of the war, ordered him to come back home. After he had returned, however, Aratus seized Caphyae, and the ephors sent Cleomenes forth again. He seized Me- thydrium and overran the territory of Argolis, where- upon the Achaeans marched out with twenty thousand foot-soldiers and a thousand horsemen under Aristo- machus as general. Cleomenes met them at Pallan- tium and offered battle, but Aratus, in fear of this boldness, would not suffer his general to hazard the issue, and retired. For this he was reproached by the Achaeans, and jeered at and despised by the Lacedaemonians, who were less than five thousand strong. Cleomenes was therefore greatly lifted up in spirit and began to show a bold front to the citizens ; and he would often remind them of one of their ancient kings 1 who said, and not idly either, " The Lacedaemonians are wont to ask, not how many, but where, their enemies are."
V. After this, he went to the aid of the Eleians, upon whom the Achaeans were making war, and falling upon the Achaeans near Mt. Lycaeum, as they were withdrawing, he put their entire army to panic flight, slew great numbers of them, and took many prisoners, so that even Aratus was widely reported among the Greeks to be dead. But Aratus, making the best use of his opportunity, immediately after
1 Agis II. (427-398 B.C.); cf. the Morals, pp. 190 c; 215 d.
59
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Mavriveiav ?)\9e KOI /z^Sez/o? dv TrpocrBoKijcravros 2 el\e rr]v rro\iv KOI Karea%e, rcov Be
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K\eo/jL€vei vrpo? ra? arpareias e
fjirjcre /neraTTe/^Treadat rov "A^ytSo? d$e\(f)ov '
SdfJLOV €/C M.€(T(7rjVT]<;, <j> /3a<Tl\€VeiV CLTTO T
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3 A^al o\oK\rjpov <yevofjLevri<$. ol Be avr)pr)Korres irpo- repov TOV* k<yiv alaQo^voi TOVTO, fcal (f)o/3r)6ei'T€S fir) BLKIJV BW<TI rov *Ap%i$dfj,ov /caTe\06i>Tos, eSe- %CLVTO fjiev avrov ei? TVJV TTQ\,IV irapa'yevo^Levov vfya KOL o-wyKaTrjyov, ev9vs Be aTrktcizivav, etre
a/covros TOU KXcoyLteVou?, &)? oterat elre Treicrflei'Tos iiiro TWV $i\wv real 7rpoe/j,evov rbv avOpwrrov avrols. rfjs yap dina? TO rr\el(Trov eV etceivovs rfkOe fteftidaOai rov KXeoyLteV^ Borcovvras. VI. Ou priv d\\a Kivelv evOus eyvwfecos ra Kara rrjv rro\iv, eVetcre TOU? e'^opoi;? xptfpatnv OTTO)? avrw tyijcfiia'wvrai crrpareiav. eOepaTrevcre £e ical rwv d\\o)i> cru^ou? Bid TT}?
<p6iBo)s crvy%opr)'yov(Tr)/$ Kal , r) ye Kal yd/Jiov /JLTJ Beo/j.ei'rj \eyerai, Bid rov vlov dvBpa \aftelv rrpwrevovra Bo^rj Kal 2 Bvvd/Jiei rwv rro\ira)v. effayayobv Be rrjv arpa- reiav Kara^\.a/jt,{3dvei, T?}? MeyaXoTroXtVtSo? %wpiov AevKrpa' Kal yevo/JLevij? vryoo? avrov o^eta? rwv
60
AG1S AND CLEOMENES, v. i-vi. 2
this defeat marched to Mantineia, and to everybody's surprise captured and held the city. At this the Lacedaemonians were altogether disheartened and opposed any further expedition on the part of Cleo- menes. He therefore determined to summon from Messene the brother of Agis, Archidamus,1 who was the rightful king from the other royal house, thinking that the power of the ephors would be diminished if the royal power were restored to its full strength so as to counterbalance it. But those who had formerly murdered Agis comprehended this design, and fear- ing that they would pay the penalty for their crime if Arcliidamus was restored, thev did indeed receive
+ •/
him when he came secretly into the city, and assisted in his restoration, but immediately put him to death. Cleomenes may have been opposed to this, as Phylarchus thinks, or perhaps he was persuaded by his friends to abandon the hapless man to his murderers. For the greater part of the blame attached itself to them, since they were thought to have constrained Cleomenes.
VI. However, having determined to attempt at once his reforms in the state, Cleomenes bribed the ephors to send him on an expedition. He also won the favour of large numbers of the citizens with the help of his mother Cratesicleia, who assisted him liberally in providing ways and means, and shared his ambitions. It is even said that although she had no desire to marry again, for the sake of her son she took a husband who was foremost among the citizens in reputation and influence. So Cleomenes led forth his forces and occupied Leuctra, a stronghold of Megalopolis. The Achaeans, under the command of
1 See chapter i. 1.
61
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
(SorjOelas 'Apdrov err parity ovvro<$, VTTO rrjv TroXiv avrrjv Trapara^dfjievos i]rri'-j9ri fiepei Tivl rov arparev/jiaros. errel Se %apd8pav nvd
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62
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, vi. 2-vn. i
Aratus, came swiftly to the aid of their allies against him, and Cleomenes, after drawing up his forces under the very walls of the city, was worsted at one point. But Aratus would not permit the Achaeans to cross a certain deep ravine, and brought his pursuit to a stop. Lydiadas the Megalopolitan, however, chafing at this, dashed on with the horsemen under his com- mand, and pursuing the enemy into a place full of vines, ditches, and walls, had his ranks broken and thrown into disorder thereby, and bes;an to fall into
•* •* o
difficulties. Cleomeiies, observing this, sent against him his Tarentines and Cretans, at whose hands Lydiadas, defending himself sturdily, fell. At this the Lacedaemonians took courage and with a shout fell upon the Achaeans and routed their entire army. Great numbers of them were slain, and their bodies Cleomenes restored at the enemy's request; but the body of Lydiadas he asked to have brought to him, arrayed it in a purple robe and put a crown upon the head, and then sent it back to the gates of Megalopolis. This was the Lydiadas who renounced the tyranny, gave back to the citizens their freedom, and attached the city to the Achaean league.
VII. After this, Cleomenes, being now greatly elated, and persuaded that if he could keep the control of things entirely in his own hands during the war with the Achaeans, he would easily obtain the mastery, began to instruct his mother's husband, Megistonoiis, that they must needs get rid of the ephors, put the property of the citizens into a common stock, and rouse and incite the Spartans, thus put upon their old footing of equality, to assume the supremacy in Greece. Megistonoiis was convinced, and enlisted in the cause two or three of his friends besides.
63
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
2 ^vveftrj Be rrepi ra? rjuepas etceivas /cal rcov efyopwv eva /coi/j,a)/ji6vov ev Tlacr/^aa? ovap IBeiv OavfJLacrrov eB6/cei <ydp ev w TOTTM rot? efyopois €$09 ecrrl /cafle^o/uLevots j^prffiaTi^eiv eva 8i(f>pov tcelcr@ai, TOU? 8e rerrapa? avijprj(r&ai, KOL &VTOS avrov $(t)i'r)v e/c rov tepov
3 ^ovaav <w? TOVTO rfj ^Trdprrj \u>ov eari. ravrrjv rrjv o^riv Sirjyov/jievov rov efiopov Trpbs TOV KXeo- 808 fjL€i»), TO fjiev TrpwTov Sierapd^drj /cad' V
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4 TrapecrrparoTreBevae, Kal 6'Xw? di'w /cal Karco
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64
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, vn. 2-vin. i
Now, it came to pass about that time that one of the ephors, who was sleeping in the precinct of Pasiphae, had an astonishing dream. He dreamed that in the place where the ephors were wont to sit for the prosecution of business, one chair only stood, but the other four had been taken away ; and that in his amazement at this a voice came to him from the temple saying that this was better for Sparta. This dream the ephor related to Cleomenes, who at first was much disturbed, and thought that the other had some suspicion of his design and was making trial of him ; but when he was convinced that the relater spoke the truth, his courage revived. So taking all the citizens who, as he suspected, would be most opposed to his designs, he seized Heraea and Alsaea, two cities belonging to the Achaean league, intro- duced supplies of food into Orchomenus, and en- camped by Mantineia, from whence he made long marches up and down the land, and utterly wore out the Lacedaemonians, so that it was at their own request that he left most of them in Arcadia, while with his mercenaries he himself set out for Sparta. On the march he imparted his design to those whom he believed to be most favourably disposed to him, and went forward slowly, that he might fall upon the ephors while they were at supper.
VIII. When the city was close at hand, he sent Eurycleidas to the mess-table of the ephors, osten- sibly to carry some message of the king from the army; but Therycion, Phoebis, and two of the Helots, who had been bred up along with Cleomenes l (they call them " mothakes "), followed after with a few
1 Such Helot companions afterwards became freemen, and sometimes even citizens in Sparta.
65
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
en Be TOV T&vpVK\6iBa Bia'keyo/jievov rot? e<fiopoi<> emSpafiiovTes ecriracr/mevai^ Tat9 //a^atpat? eTreuov 2 avTovs. 6 fjuev ovv 7r/90)T09 *A.yv\aios, &>? efn-\rjyr)t 7T€O~a)i> Kal TeOvdvat B6£as arpe^a crvvayayajv 7rape\Kwv eavrov etc TOV olKijfjiaros e\aOev ei'? SwjAaTiov elcrepTTvcras /bUKpov, o <p6/3ou fiev iepov, aXXw9 Se K€K\ei(7/jievov aei, Tore e'/e avewyfjievov eTvy^avev. et? TOVTO <jvveicrev€ryKU)V eavrbv a7T6K\€Lcre TO Bvpiov. ol Be Tea-crapes avrjpe0^crai>, KOI T&V eTTijBoriOovvTwv auroi? ov TrXetoi^e? 77 Be/ca. TOU? (y^/3 t]crv")(iav ayovras ovtc eKTeivav, ovBe TOU? aTTto^ra? eV T/}? TroXew? e
ecfreicravTo Be Kal TOV 'Ayv\aiov
e/c TOV Iepov Trpoe\9ovTOS.
JX. "EcrTt Be AaKeBai/AovLois ov (f)6j3ov JJLOVOV, aXXa Kal OavaTOV Kal 7eXa)TO? Kal TOIOVTCOV a\\a)V TraO^fJLCiTwv tepd. TifJiuxri Be TOV
01)9
{3\a/3ep6v, d\\a TYJV TroXiTeiav /zaXicrra avve- 2 'xecrOai fyoftw VOJJLI^OVTGS. Bio Kal TrpoeKrjpvTTov
o e<)opOL roi9 Trotrai? et? rrjv upx*l
TOV fJLV<JTCLKa
Trpoae^eLV rot9 VO^JLOL^, i'va fir) ^aXeTrol &CTIV aurot9* TO TOU fjLvaTaKos, ol/jiai,
07TC09 ATal 7T6/)l TCL [JilKpOTaTa TOl/9
Kal T7]v dvBpeiav Be \JLOI BOKOVCTIV OVK a$o(Biav, aXXa fyojSov -^rojov Kal Beos dBo^ias ol 7i~a\aiol vo/jiL^eiv. ol <yap ^etXoTarot Trpos TOVS v6/j,ov<; 6appa\€<t)TaTOt, irpos TO 1/9 TroXeyutoi'9 eld* 66
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, vm. i-ix. 3
soldiers. These men, while Eurycleidas was still making his report to the ephors, ran in upon them with drawn swords and smote them. The first of them, Agylaeus, on receiving the blow, fell and lay still as though dead ; but afterwards he quietly pulled himself together, dragged himself out of the room, and crept unobserved into a little building which was a temple of Fear. Usually it was closed, but at this time it chanced to be open. Into this build- ino; he betook himself and locked the door. But
O
the other four were slain, and also about ten of those who came to their aid. For the people who kept quiet were not killed, nor were those who wished to leave the city prevented. And even Agylaeus was spared when he came out of the temple next day.
IX. Now, the Lacedaemonians have temples of Death, Laughter, and that sort of thing, as well as of Fear. And they pay honours to Fear, not as they do to the powers which they try to avert because they think them baleful, but because they believe that fear is the chief support of their civil polity. For this reason, too, when the ephors enter upon their office, as Aristotle says, they issue a proclamation command- ing all men to shave their moustaches, and to obey the laws, that these may not be severe upon them. They insist upon the shaving of the moustache, I think, in order that they may accustom the young men to obedience in the most trifling matters. And the men of old, in my opinion, did not regard bravery as a lack of fear, but as fear of reproach and dread of disgrace. For the men who feel most dread of the laws have most courage in
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Kal TO Tradelv V\KIGTCL Seoiacnv ol pokier TO- <f>o/3ov 4 pevoi TO KCIKWS oKovaai. Sib /cal /ca\a)<$ o elircov
v \ ^ / "/i \ '^' . . . iva yap 6eo9, ei^c/a /tat atooo?.
? T€ /^ot eaai, <f>i\e etcvpe, Set^o? re
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TO
X. 'O S* ovv K.\eo/jL€vr)s T^yue
oy^o^Kovra TWV 7ro\t,TO)v 01)9 e i, /cal TOU? &L(j)povs avel\e TMV efiopwv evos, ev c5 KadtjfAevos e/jL€\\€V CLVTOS xpij- iv. €KK\rja-iav Se 7rot>;Va? direXoyeiTo irepl TreTrpay/jievwv. ex/»; yap VTTO TOV Av/covpyou Tot? /3acn\€V(TL (rv^/jLix&ijvai TOI)? yepovTas, Kal
TTO\VV %pOVOV OVTO) ^LOLKeldOai Tj)l> TTO\iV OV&CV
2 eTe/ja? aycr^r}? $eo[i€vr)v, vaTepov ^e ToO TT/JO? TTO\€/JLOV fjiaicpov yevo/Aevov TOV<$ fia-
7T/J09 TO KpiveiVy aipetadai Tivas etc T&V <f)i\a)i> KOI a7ro\€L7reiv Tot9 7roXtTat9 ai^^' eauT&v, €(f)6povs 809
Kal &taTe\elv ye Toi/roi/9 TO
68
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, ix. 3-x. 2
facing their enemies; and those shun death least who most fear ill fame. Therefore it has been well said 1 :
"... for where dread is, there also is reverence." And Homer says 2 :
" Revered art thou by me, dear father-in-law, and
dreaded too ; ' and
" Without a word, in dread of their leaders.3 "
For by the multitude reverence is most apt to be felt towards those whom they also fear. For this reason, too, the Lacedaemonians erected a temple to Fear alongside the mess-hall of the ephors, after they had endowed this magistracy with almost absolute powers. X. And now to resume ; Cleomenes, when day came, published a list of eighty citizens who must go into exile, and removed all the ephoral chairs except one; in this he purposed to sit himself for the transaction of public business. Then he called a general assembly and made a defence of his proceedings. He said that Lycurgus had blended the powers of senate and kings, and that for a long time the state was admin- istered in this way and had no need of other officials. But later, when the Messenian war proved to be long, the kings, since their campaigns abroad left them no time to administer justice themselves, chose out some of their friends and left them behind to serve the citizens in their stead. These were called ephors, or guardians, and as a matter of fact they
1 By Stasinua of Cyprus. Of. Plato, Euthyphro, 12 a ; Kinkel, Ep. Graec. Frag. i. p. 30.
2 Iliad, iii. 172, Helen to Priam.
8 Iliad, iv. 431, of the Achaeaus marshalled for battle.
69
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
v vTTvjperas TWV /3acri\ea)i> ovras, elra Kara fjbi/cpov fit'? eavrovs TTJV e^ovcriav e7ricrTp€(f)Oi>Ta<; OUTGO? \ci6elv tSiov dp%eiov
3 arj,€Lov £e rovrov TO
TOV ftacriXea TWV e<f)opa)v TO irpwrov a /cal TO Bevrepov, TO $e rpiTOV Ka\ovvra)V ava-
777509 avrovs' /cal TOV Trp&TOV T^V ap^rjv KCU avaTeivd^evov vaTepov TroXXa?? €(f)0pov fi67 •pia'Cpvi as p-tv ovv CLVTOVS, 6<j)ij,
KaTa\vovTa<$ ap")(rjv, wcrTe T&V /BacriXetov TOU? fikv e%€\avveiv, TOVS $e aTTOKTivvveiv dtcp[- aTceL\elv ^e TO?? TroOovcriv CLV&IS ejriSelv
al 0eiOTa.Trjv ev ^TrdpTr 4 OVK aveterov. el [JLZV ovv SWCLTOV r)V avev
Ta? eireiad/eTovs
s KOA, TroXuTeXeta? KOI %/oea Kal /cal TO, Trpeaftinepa TOVTCOV /ca/cd, Tcevlav Kal TT\OVTOV, evTv^eaTaTov av aikewv eavTov wairep laTpov TTJV iraTpuBa' vvv Be TT}? dvdy/cqs eyje.iv TOV Av/covpyov, o? OUT6 /3acri\.ev<> a)v t'cUooTr;? 8e ^aan\evei.v eiri^etp&v ev Tot? OTrXot? rrporfkOev et? dyopdv, axTTe TOV /SaatXea \dpi\\ov eirl ficouov 5 aXX' e/celvov fxev ovTa %pi]<TTov Kal (j)i\o7raTpti' Ta^v TO) Av/covpyw T&V irpaTToaevcov 70
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, x. 2-5
continued at first to be assistants of the kings, but then gradually diverted the power into their own hands, and so, ere men were aware, established a magistracy of their own. As proof of this, Cleomenes cited the fact that down to that day, when the ephors summoned a king to appear before them, he refused to go at the first summons, and at the second, but at the third rose up and went to them ; and he said that the one who first added weight to the office, and extended its powers, Asteropus, was ephor many generations later. As long, then, he said, as the ephors kept within bounds, it had been better to bear with them ; but when with their assumed power they subverted the ancient form of government to such an extent as to drive away some kings, put others to death without trial, and threaten such as desired to behold again in Sparta her fairest and most divinely appointed constitution, it was not to be endured. If, then, it had been possible without bloodshed to rid Sparta of her imported curses, namely luxury and extravagance, and debts and usury, and those elder evils than these, namely, poverty and wealth, he would have thought himself the most fortunate king in the world to have cured the disease of his country like a wise physician, without pain ; but as it was, he said, in support of the necessity that had been laid upon him, he could cite Lycurgus, who, though he was neither king nor magistrate, but a private person attempting to act as king, proceeded with an armed retinue into the market-place, so that Charillus the king took fright and fled for refuge to an altar. That king, however, Cleomenes said, since he was an excellent man and a lover of his country, speedily concurred in the measures of Lycurgus and accepted
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
tca\ TTJV fJLGTa^oX^v Se^acrOaL T/}? TroXtreia?, epyw Be fiapTvprjcrai TOV AvKovpyov ori Tro\neiav /uera- (BaXelv avev /3ia9 fcal (£o/3ou ^aXerrov GGTIV, ol? avrov e'(£?7 /jLerpLcorara Ke^p^vQai, rou^ eVicrra- fjievovs Tr) crwr^pia ri}^ Aa/ce^at/xoi^o? eK7ro&a)v 6 Troirjcrd/jLevov. TO!? ^6 a\\oi<? €(j)rj TTCLGI TTJV re <yr)v airaaav et? fiecov TiQkvai, KOL %pewv rou? o(f>€L\oi>Ta$ a7ra\\drTeivt KOI rwv %evwv Kpiaiv fcal BoKi/jLaaiav, OTTW? oi fcpaTicrroi, yevo- TrapTidrai crai^aMTt TTJV 7ro\iv Tot? O7rXo£9, Kal 7ravcra)/jL€0a rrjv Aarccovi/crjv AtVwXw^ tca\ \eiav ovaav e
XI. 'E«r TOI^TOU Trp&Tov fjiev auro? et?
ovcriav €0rjK€ KOI MeyicrTOvovs 6 CLVTOV Kal TWV d\\cov fyiXwv e/cacrro?, eVetra Aral
Ot \Ol7Tol TToXiTtti TTaf T6?, ?; &6 X(*>P&
K\yjpov Se /cat TWI' UTT' avrov yeyovorw direveifJiev efcdaTW, Kal Kard^eiv airavra^ a>yLto- \6yrjcr6 rwv Trpay/jLarcov ev ri<rv% 2 ai'aTT\ripu)aas Se TO TroXtreu/ia rot?
TWV TTCplOLKGOV OTrXtTtt? TGTpaKl cr
Kal Si&d^as avrovs dvrl &6paTO$
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TTopTraKOS, €7rl TTJV Trai&eiav ra)v vewv Kal rrjv \eyo/jL€vr)v dytoytjv, 77? ra TrXeFcrTa o ^^atpo? avTfp avyKadiarrj, Ta%v TOV TrpocnjKovra TWV re yv/^vaaicov Kal TWV (rva-
cri>crTeXXo-
72
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, x. 5-xi. 2
the change of constitution ; still, as a matter of fact Lycurgus by his own acts bore witness to the difficulty of changing a constitution without violence and fear. To these, Cleomenes said, he had himself resorted with the greatest moderation, for he had but put out of the way the men who were opposed to the salva- tion of Sparta. For all the rest, he said, the whole land should be common property, debtors should be set free from their debts, and foreigners should be examined and rated, in order that the strongest of them might be made Spartan citizens and help to preserve the state by their arms. e< In this way," he said, " we shall cease to behold Sparta the booty of Aetolians and Illyrians through lack of men to defend her."
XI. After this, to begin with, Cleomenes himself placed his property in the common stock, as did Megistonoiis his step-father and every one of his friends besides ; next, all the rest of the citizens did the same, and the land was parcelled out. Cleomenes also assigned a portion of land to each man who had been exiled by him, and promised to bring them all home after matters had become quiet. Then he filled up the body of citizens with the most promising of the free provincials, and thus raised a body of four thousand men-at-arms, whom he taught to use a long pike, held in both hands, instead of a short spear, and to carry their shields by a strap instead of by a fixed handle. Next he devoted himself to the training of the young men and to the " agoge," or ancient discipline, most of the details of which Sphaerus, who was then in Sparta, helped him in arranging. And quickly was the proper system of bodily training and public messes resumed, a few out
73
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ciXiywv pev vrf dvdyKris, eKovalws &e rwv Tr\e'icrra>v et? rrjv evreXfj Kal AaKcoviKrjv eKeivrjV 3 Statrav. o/xw? £e TO rr)<$ /jLovap^ias b'vo/j,a rrapa- fjiv6ovp.€vos aTreBet^e /ueO* eavrov /3acri~\.ea rov d&e\(j)bv RvK'XeiSav. KOI Tore JJLOVOV €K fJLLa^ oi/cfca? crvvefBr) Svo a^elv
XII. Alcr06/jLevos Be TOU? \\%aiovs Kal rbv "Aparov, a>? eV/o-^aXw? avrw TWV e^ovTcov bid rbv ve^TepLarfJibv, OVK av olofie nrpoeXOelv e£a) TT}? AaKeSai/jLOvos ov&e d7ro\L7relv
/jL6T€C0pOV eV KlVr'jfjiaTl Tr)\lKOVT(p Tf}V TTOX.IV, OVK
dyevves ov$e a%pr)(TTov r/jijuaro
2 rov o-rparev/jiaros eirtBel^at roT?
ovv et? TTJV ^/Ieya\o7ro\iri/cr)v w^eXetas- re -t'jOpoicre Kal <f)0opdi> TTO\\TJV diret-pyd- craro TT}? %oypas. reXo? Se TOL»? rrepl rbv ktovvcrov 810 Te^tra? ex Mecr<T?;'w;9 SiaTr opevop.evovs \a/3a>v, KOL 7rr)£dfA€vos dearpov ev rfj 7ro\euia, /cal rrpo- 6e\s drrb rerrapaKovra fivcov dywva, fiiav ^fjuepav eOearo KaOrfiuei'os, ov Se6/J.ei>os 6eas, aXV olov €vrpv<f)oov Tot9 TroXe/xtof? Kal rcepiovcriav rivd rov Kparelv TroXu rw Karatypoveiv em&eiKvviJLevos.
3 evrel aXXco? ye rwv eEi\\r)viK(i)v Kal (Bacn\iK&v arparev/jidrcov eKelvo fjibvov ov /JLLJAOVS rrapaKO- \ov6ovvras el^ev, ov 0av/naro7roiovs, OVK o arpiSas, ov -^ra\rpias, aXXa
Kal /9ft)/xoXo^/a? Kal rravr^yvpKTfJLOv KaOapbv ijv, rd fj.ev TroXXa fjLe\er(£vrwv rwv vewv Kal TWV TTpecrfivrepcov SiSao-KcvrMv, T«? $e TraiSm?, brrbre a"xo\d£oiev, Tat? (rvvr)9e<TLV 6vrpaire\iais Kal rro \eyeiv rt, %dpiev Kal AaKcoviKov TT^O? a
74
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xi. a-xn. 3
of necessity, but most with a willing spirit, subjecting themselves to the old Spartan regime with all its simplicity. And yet, desiring to give the name of absolute power a less offensive sound, he associated with himself in royal power his brother Eucleidas. And this was the only time when the Spartans had two kings from the same house.
XII. Learning that Aratus and the Achaeans believed that this revolution had jeopardized his position, and therefore did not think that he would venture forth outside of Sparta, or leave the city while it was still in the suspense of so great an agitation, he thought it a fine and helpful thing to make a display of the ready zeal of his army to his enemies. Accordingly, he invaded the territory of Megalopolis, collected large booty, and devastated the country far and wide. And finally arresting a company of actors who were passing through the country from Messene, he built a theatre in the enemy's territory, instituted a contest for a prize of forty minae, and sat spectator for a whole day; not that he felt the need of a spectacle, but in exultant mockery, as it were, of his enemies, and to show to the world by his contempt for them that he held com- plete control of affairs, with something, as it were, to spare. For at other times, the Spartan alone of Greek or Macedonian armies had no players in attendance, no jugglers, no dancing-girls, no harpists, but was free from every kind of licence, scurrility, and general festivity ; while for the most part the young men practised themselves and the elder men taught them, and for amusement, when their work was over, they had recourse to their wonted pleasantries and the interchange of Spartan
75
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
. i}v Be e^ei TO TOIOVTOV r???
', ev TW Av/covpyov /3iw yeypaTTTai. XIII. HdvTMV B' ai)ro? eyuyveTO BiBd(TKa\o$, evreXrj Kal d</>eX?} KCU (froprifcov ovBev ovBe vrrep TOU? TToXXou? e~%ovra TOV eavrov (Biov
ev j,ecr(a eevo^' o KCU
7T/30? ra? fEX\r;;^/ca? TTpd^ei^ pOTrrjv Tiva Trape- aura), rot? /lev yap aXXot? e
o avw-TTOL aa-ievcnv ov ovrco
rovs TrXourou? ical ra? TroXureXeta?, co? e386\vr- TOVTO TTJV virepo^rlav avrwv fcal TOV oyxov eVa^;(9a)? KOU T/^a^eco? Trpoo-fapo/jLevw rot? eV-
2 Tvy^dvovcrL' irpos 8e KXeo/^evr] fiaBi^omes, OVTCL re $rj (Sacri\ecL KOI Ka\ou/Aevov, elra o/3w^re? ov 7rop(})vpa<; TLVCLS ov ^XatVa? ire pi avrov ovoe K\L- viBicov fcal (popeLwv KaTaa/cevas, ouS' VTT
o%\ov teal tfvpaypwv r) Sia ypa^/jLareicoif £ovra ^aXeTrw? KOL /xoXt?, aXX' O.VTOV ev I
TO) TVfcOVTL TTyOO? Ttt? Se£ld)Cr€LS CUTCaVTMVTa KCU
ov Kai a")(o\d^ovTa rot? '%pr]£ov(ri,v /col (f)i\avdpos)7rco<>, €KT]\OVVTO Kal /care- yovvTO, Kal [JLOVOV aft 'H.pa/c\eovs eiceivov yeyovevai.
3 Tw^ Be SeiTTvcov avTOV TO /JLCV /caOtj pep LVOV ev TpiK\ivw (i(j)6Bpa avveo~Ta\p,evov Ka VLKOV, el Be 7r/3ecr/3et5 rj %evov$ Se^oiro, Bvo aXXat TrpoaTrapeftdXXovTo K\ivai, JJLLKP& Be fjid\- \ov oi VTrrjpeTai T)]V Tpdrre^av eireXdf^Trpvi'ov, ov
~ vBe Trejiiiacriv, aXX'
Tio~v ove Tre/ji/iiacriv, a w<jre
elvai ra9 irapaOecreL'S Kal <^L\av9pa)- TTOTepov TOV olvov. Kal yap €7reTtyu?;cre Tiva TMV
76
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xn. 3-xm. 3
witticisms. Of what great advantage this sort of amusement is, I have told in my Life of Lycurgus.1
XIII. In all these matters Cleomenes was himself a teacher. His own manner of life was simple, plain, and no more pretentious than that of the common man, and it was a pattern of self-restraint for all. This gave him a great advantage in his dealings with the other Greeks. For when men had to do with the other kings, they were not so much awed by their wealth and extravagance as they were filled with loathing for their haughtiness and pomp as they gave offensive and harsh answers to their auditors ; but when men came to Cleomenes, who was a real as well as a titled king, and then saw no profusion of purple robes or shawls about him, and no array of couches and litters ; when they saw, too, that he did not make the work of his petitioners grievous and slow by employing a throng of messengers and door-keepers or by requiring written memorials, but came in person, just as he happened to be dressed, to answer the salutations of his visitors, conversing at length with those who needed his services and devoting time cheerfully and kindly to them, they were charmed and completely won over, and declared that he alone was a descendant of Heracles.
His usual supper was held in a room which had only three couches, and was very circumscribed and Spartan ; but if he was entertaining ambassadors or guest-friends, two more couches would be brought in, and the servants would make the table a trifle more brilliant, not with sauces or sweetmeats, but with more generous dishes and a kindlier wine. And indeed he censured one of his friends, when he heard
1 Chapter xii.
77
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
<£>i\(ov aKovGas on £eyoi/9 ecrTiwv ^WJJLOV avTols fjieXava /cal fid^av, wcnrep €$09 TJV ev rot? <£>L$L- rto£9, irapeOrj/cew ov yap e<pij Beiv ev TOVTOLS ovSe
7Ty009 TOU9 £eVOVS \ldV aKpl/3a)S \CLKWV l£,€W*
4 airapOeicrr]^ $e rr}? rpavre^? elcreKO/n-i^eTO Tpijrovs Kparrfpa ^dXKOVv e%G)v oivov /UL€<TTOV KOI (j)id\as dpyvpas $IKOTV\OV<; Svo Kal TTortfpia rwv dpyv- pwv o\ija TravTCLTracriv, e^ wv e-nivev 6 /3ov\6-
Koi'Ti &€ ouSet? iroTi^piov 7rpo<je$>epev. Se OVT v]V our' eVe^reiro' €7rai$aya)>yei yap auro? ofjiikia TOV TTOTOV, ra ^lv epwiMV, ia Be ^Lrj'yovp.evo^, ovre Tyv a7rov$r]V drj^rj TWV \6ya>v Tt'iv re TraiSiav eiri^apiv teal dao\otKov
5 e^ovrwv, a? fJitv yap ol \oi7rol TMV /3acri\€(ov eirl TOU? dvOptoTTovs drjpas eirotovvTO, ^p^aai KOI $a> peals ^eXea^o^re? avrovs /cal
drexyovs /cal dSlrcovs evofu&v elvat' TO oe o teal \6yrn yjdpiv e^ovTi /cal TTIO-TLV OLKeio real TrpoadyeaPai TOU? evrvy^dvovra^ e<paivero Ka\\i<jTOV avrw /cal fiaaiX-i/cc
(f)epovTa JJLKI 6 WTOV r) ro3 TOV
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78
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xm. 3-xiv. i
that in entertaining guest-friends he had set before them the black soup and barley-bread of the public mess-tables; " for," said he, "in these matters and before foreigners we must not be too strictly Spartan." After the table had been removed, a tripod would be brought in on which were a bronze mixer full of wine, two silver boAvls holding a pint apiece, and drinking cups of silver, few all told, from which he who wished might drink ; but no one had a cup forced upon him. Music there was none, nor was any such addition desired ; for Cleomenes entertained the company hinself by his conversation, now asking questions, now telling stories, and his discourse was not unpleasantly serious, but had a sportiveness that charmed and was free from rudeness. For the hunt which all the other kings made for men, ensnaring them with gifts and bribes and corrupting them, Cleomenes considered unskilful and unjust. In his eyes it was the noblest method, and one most fit for a king, to win over his visitors and attach them to himself by an intercourse and conversation which awakened pleasure and confidence. For he felt that a hireling differed from a friend in nothing except that the one \vas captured by a man's character and conversation, the other by a man's money.
XIV. To begin with, then, the Mantineians invited him to help them, and after he had made his way into the city by night, they expelled the Achaean garrison and put themselves in his hands. Cleomenes restored to them their laws and constitution, and on the same day marched away to Tegea. Then, shortly after- wards, he fetched a compass through Arcadia and marched down upon the Achaean city of Pherae. His
79
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
/3ov\6fjievos rj f^d^rjv OecrOcn Trpos TOU? ' rf Bia/3d\\eiv rov'" A par ov a>9 djroBiBpda-Kovra KCLI Trpole/jLevov avrw rr/v ^wpav. ecrrpar^yei p,ev yap "TTTepftaras rare, rov Be 'Apdrov TO TTO.V rjv 2 A-/9aro? ev rot? 'A^mot?. e%e\06vT
rcot' 'A^atfoi^ Kal <TTpaTOTTeSeva-a/Ji€V(i)v ev vrepl TO 'Ej/caTO/jifiaiov, e7re\0coi> 6 fiev ov /ca\ws eV yttecrw r/}? re , 7TO\e/JLLas ovcrrj^, fcal rov
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\ajya TTO\\OV$ f^ev ev rfj fJid^rj bie^Qeipev CIVTWV, 7ro\\(ov $e KOL favTcov eKVpLevaev. eire\6(t)v Se Adyycovi Kal TWV ^A^aicov TOU? (ppovpovvTas e'^eXacra? djreScoKev 'HXetoi? rrjv 7ro\tv.
XV. OvTCO Be (TVVT€TpifJL^eVOl^ TOt? 'A^GUOt? 6
"Ayoaro?, ela)6a)$ Trap' eviavrov del crrpanj-
yev, TreiTraro rrjv dp^rjv Kal Traprjrrjcraro
\OVVTWV Kal Beo/jLevcov ov /caXw?, olov ev irpajfjLdTWV fie'i^ovi, fietfels erepriy rov oaica, Kal Trpoe/nevos rrjv e^ovcrLav. 6 Be KXeo/AeV?/1? Trpwrov [lev /jberpia rot? 'A^atoi? eBoxei Trpecrfiecriv eTrtrdrreiv, erepov^ Be TT e [JLTT wv eKekevev avra> TrapaBiBovai TTJV rjyefjLOviav, &>? rd\\a p.rj Bioicro- fjievos 7rpo9 avroi;?, d\\a Kal rovs al^fj,a\a)Tov<? 2 evOvs aTToBcoawv Kal ra ^wpia. /3ov\o^eva}v Be rwv 'A^atwi/ eVl rovroi? Be%€cr0at, ra? BiaXvaeis Kal TOV K.\eo/j,ew)j KaXovvrcov et? Aepvav, OTTOV
So
AC7IS AND CLEOMENES, xiv. i-xv. 2
desire was either to fight a battle with the Achaeans, or to bring Aratus into disrepute for running away and abandoning the country to him. For although Hyperbatas was general at that time, Aratus had the entire power in the Achaean league. Moreover, after the Achaeans had marched out with all their forces and pitched their camp at Dymae, near the Hecatom- baeum, Cleomenes came up against them. He did not think it well, however, to pitch his own camp between the city of Dyinae, which was hostile, and the army of the Achaeans, and therefore boldly challenged the Achaeans and forced them to engage. He was completely victorious, routed their phalanx, slew many of them in the battle, and took many prisoners also. Then he went up against Langon, drove out the Achaean garrison, and restored the city to the Eleians.
XV. The Achaeans having been thus utterly over- whelmed, Aratus, who was wont to be their general every other year, refused the office and declined to listen to their invitations and prayers ; thus unwisely, when the ship of state was in a heavy storm, handing over the helm to another and abandoning the post of authority. Cleomenes, on the other hand, at the first was thought to impose moderate terms upon the Achaean embassy, but afterwards he sent other en- voys and bade them hand over to him the leadership among the Greeks, assuring them that on other points he would not quarrel with them, but would at once restore to them their captives and their strongholds.1 The Achaeans were willing to settle matters on these terms, and invited Cleomenes to come to Lerna,
1 Cf. the Aralus, xxxviii. 5 f.
Si
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TOP
o^evaai'Ta Kal 'xpr/crdftevov rrapa Kaipov iq atyLtaro? ir\ffdo^ aveveyfcelv Kal cficovrjv dTTOKOTrfjvai. Bio TWV fjiev a aTreVe/Li^e rot? 'A^a^oi? TOV<$ eVf<^a TOV Be crv\\oyov vTrepOe/jievos ave^wp^crev
XVI. Tovro ^LekvjJH]vaTo ra TrpdyfjLara 'EXXaSo?, ayaco? 76 TTW? e/c TO>Z> irapovruiv ava\a- (Belv CLVTTJV en KOI Siafivyeiv TI~JV Ma/ce&oi'tov vfipiv KOI irXeove^iav &vvap.€V)]s. 6 'yap "Aparos, elre airiaTia Kal (/>o/3ro TOV KXeo/ze^ou?, etre (frQovwv evTv^ovvTL Trap1 eXiriSa Kal vo^i^wv errj Tpia Kal rpiaKovra TTpwrevovTOS avrov Seivov elvai Tj]v &6j;av a/j.a Kal T^V ovvapiv zirifyvvTa 2 veov tiv&pa KaOe\elv, Kal 7rapa\a^elv 7Tparyp,drrwv
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xv. 2-xvi. 3
where they were about to hold their assembly. But it fell out that Cleomenes, who had made a strenuous march and then too soon had drunk water, brought up a great quantity of blood and lost his speech. For this reason he sent back to the Achaeans the most prominent men among their captives, but postponed the conference and went back home to Sparta.
XVI. This ruined the cause of Greece, at a time when she was still able in some way or other to recover from her grievous plight and escape Macedo- nian greed and insolence. For Aratus (whether it was through distrust and fear of Cleomenes, or because he envied the king his unlocked for success, and thought it a terrible thing after three and thirty years of leadership to have his own fame and power stripped from him by an upstart of a young man, and the authority taken over in a cause which he himself had built up and controlled for so long a time),, in the first place tried to force the Achaeans aside and hinder their purpose ; but when they paid no heed to him in their consternation at the daring spirit of Cleomenes, but actually saw justice in the demands of the Lacedaemonians, who were seeking to restore the Peloponnesus to its ancient status, Aratus took a step which would have been unmeet for any Greek to take, but was most shameful for him and most unworthy of his career as soldier and statesman. For he invited Antigonus into Greece and filled the Peloponnesus with Macedonians, whom he himself had driven out of Peloponnesus when, as a young man, he delivered Acrocorinthus from their power 1 • — he who had incurred the suspicion and hostility of all the reigning kings, and of this very Antigonus had 1 See the Aratus, xvi. ff. 0
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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XVII. 'Ei\06vT(i)v Be 'A%aia)v et? "Apyos av6i<; eirl TOV crv\\oyov Kal TOV KXeo/^ei'oi;? eic Teyeas KaTafteftrjKOTOS e'X7rt9 r)v TroXX?; TWV dvdpWTrwv eaeaQai TTJV 8td\variv. 6 Be "ApaTO?, 778?; BIW/JLO- \oyijfjLeva)V avTa> Trpo? TOJ^ 'AvTiyovov TCOV /te-
84
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvi. 3-xvn. i
said countless evil things in the commentaries which he left behind him. Arid still, though he had incurred many hardships and dangers in behalf of Athens, as he says himself, in order that the city might be set free from its garrison of Macedonians, he afterwards brought these Macedonians, under arms, into his own country and into his own home ; aye, even into the apartments of his women;1 but he would not consent that the man who was a descen- dant of Heracles and king of Sparta, and was seeking to bring its ancient polity., now like a decadent melody, back again to that restrained and Dorian law and life
O
which Lycurgus had instituted, should be entitled leader of Sicyon and Tritaea. Instead of this, to avoid the Spartan barley-bread and short-cloak, and the most dreadful of the evils for which he denounced Cleomenes, namely, abolition of wealth and restora- tion of poverty, he cast himself and all Achaea down before a diadem, a purple robe, Macedonians, and oriental behests. And that he might not be thought to obey Cleomenes, he offered sacrifices to Antigonus and sang paeans himself, with a garland on his head, in praise of a man who was far gone with consumption.
1 write this, however, not with any desire to denounce Aratus, for in many ways he was a true Greek and a great one, but out of pity for the weak- ness of human nature, which, even in characters so notably disposed towards excellence, cannot produce a nobility that is free from blame.
XVII. When the Achaeans came to Argos again for the conference, and Cleomenes had come down from Tegea, everyone had a strong hope that they would come to an agreement. But Aratus, since the most important questions between him and Antigonus
1 See the Aratus, xlix. 1.
VOL. X. 85
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TOP eojLevr j,r irdvra
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\aftovra Tpiarcocriovs ojjiij fjibvov elcnevai rrpos avrovs, rj Kara e^codev TO Kv\\apd(3iov rrpoa-e\96i'ra //.era 2 Swd/nect)? Sia\eyea0ai. raDr' aKovcras 6 KXeo- aSirca Trda")(€iv €(f>acrfC6' Beiv yap ev0v<? Tore Trpoenrelv, ov vvv, ij/covTOs eVt ra? 0vpas ra? eiceivwv, dirtarelv Kol drr€\avveiv. Be rrepl rovrwv €7rtaro\r)V TT/OO? TOU? u?, 775 fjv rb 7r\elcrTOV 'Apdrov /earrjyopia, a Be Kal rov 'Apdrov ^oiSop/icravTos avrbv 7T/30? TO 7r\rj6ost ave%€V%€ Bia Ta^ewv KOL tcijpv/ca Trpoepovvra roi? 'A^atot? eire^-^rev, OVK ALJIOV, W9
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1 TU>V >Axa'<^J/ with 131 ass : /xera TOJV
86
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvn. 1-4
had already been settled, and because he was afraid that Cleomenes would carry all his points by either winning over or constraining the multitude, demanded that Cleomenes, after receiving three hundred hostages, should come into the city alone for his conference with them, or else should come with his army as far as the gymnasium outside the city called Cyllarabium, and treat with them there. When Cleomenes heard this, he declared that he had been wronged ; for he ought to have been told of this when
o y o
the conference was first proposed, and not be dis- trusted and driven away now, when he had come to their very doors. Then, after writing a letter to the Achaeans on the matter, most of which was denun- ciation of Aratus, and after Aratus on his part had abused him at great length to the multitude, Cleomenes broke camp with all speed and sent a herald to declare war upon the Achaeans, not to Argos, but to Aegium, in order, as Aratus says, that he might anticipate their preparations for defence.1
Now, there had been agitation among the Achaeans, and their cities were eager for revolt, the common people expecting division of land and abolition of debts, and the leading men in many cases being dissatisfied with Aratus, and some of them also enraged at him for bringing Macedonians into Pelop- onnesus. Therefore Cleomenes, encouraged by these conditions, invaded Achaea. First, he took Pellene by a sudden assault, and drove out the Achaean garrison ; next, he brought over to his cause Pheneus and Penteleium. Presently the Achaeans, who were afraid that some treachery was afoot in Corinth and
1 Cf. the Aratus, xxxix.
87
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
irrrrels KCL\ TOVS t;evovs aTrecrreiXav e'£ "Apyov? Trapa(f)V\d£o2'Tas, avrol ce ra Xe'/ie^a Ka~a- es eis "Apyos rjyov, e'XvriVa?, orrep TJV, 6 f???, cr^Xou TravrjyvpiKov Kal Oearwv TTJV
VVKTOS 7;ye TT/^O? ra ^€1 TO arp- 5 ~ev/j.a, KCLI rbv Trepi TTJV 'AcrTrt'ca rorrov Ka~a- \a3uv v—'ep TOV Oedrpov %CL\€TTOV OVTOL KCL\ Bvcnrpocrodov ourco? TOL/? di'dpoo—ov? e^eTrXrjPev TpaTrea'Oai TT/JO? d\Ki]v, d\\a /cat lv, KCLI &OVVO.L rwv TTO\ITOJV 6/juypow$ eitcocri, Kal yevevOai crv/jLfjLd^ov<; \a.K6baip.oviwv,
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88
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvn. 4-xvm. 3
Sicyon, sent their horsemen and their mercenaries out of Argos to keep watch over those cities, while they themselves went down to Argos and began celebrating the Nemean games. So Cleomenes, expecting, as was the case, that while the throng was holding festival and the city was full of spectators, his unexpected approach would be more apt to cause confusion, led his army by night up to the walls, occupied the region about the Aspis overlooking the theatre, a region which was rugged and hard to come at, and so terrified the inhabitants that not a man of them thought of defence, but they accepted a garrison and gave twenty citizens as hostages, agreeing to become allies of the Lacedaemonians, and to give Cleomenes the chief command.
XVII I. This greatly increased the reputation and power of Cleomenes. For the ancient kings of Sparta, in spite of numerous efforts, were not able to secure the abiding allegiance of Argos ; and the most form- idable of generals, Pyrrhus, although he fought his way into the city, could not hold it, but was slain there, and a great part of his army perished with him.1 Therefore men admired the swiftness and intelligence of Cleomenes ; and those who before this had mocked at him for imitating, as they said, Solon and Lycurgus in the abolition of debts and the equaliza- tion of property, were now altogether convinced that this imitation was the cause of the change in the Spartans. For these were formerly in so low a state and so unable to help themselves, that Aetolians invaded Laconia and took away fifty thousand slaves. It was at this time, we are told, that one of the elder Spartans remarked that the enemy had helped Sparta
1 See the Pyrrhus, xxxii. ff.
89
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xvin. 4 xix. 3
by lightening her burden. But now only a little time had elapsed, and they had as yet barely resumed their native customs and re-entered the track of their famous discipline, when, as if before the very eyes of Lycurgus and with his co-operation, they gave abun- dant proof of valour and obedience to authority, by recovering the leadership of Hellas for Sparta and making all Peloponnesus their own again.
XIX. Thus Argos was taken by Cleomenes, and immediately afterwards Cleonae and Phlius came over to him. When this happened, Aratus was at Corinth, holding a judicial examination of those who were reputed to favour the Spartan cause. The unexpected tidings threw him into consternation, and perceiving that the city was leaning towards Cleomenes and wished to be rid of the Achaeans, he summoned the citizens into the council-hall, and then slipped away unnoticed to the city gate. There his horse was brought to him, and mounting it he fled to Sicyon. The Corinthians were so eager to get to Cleomenes at Argos that, as Aratus says, all their horses were ruined. Aratus says also that Cleomenes upbraided the Corinthians for not seizing him, but letting him escape ; however, Megistonoiis came to him, he says, bringing from Cleomenes a request for the surrender of Acrocorinthus (which was held by an Achaean garrison) and an offer of a large sum of money for it ; to which he replied that he did not control affairs, but rather affairs controlled him. This is what Aratus writes.
But Cleomenes, marching up from Argos and taking over Troezen, Epidaurus, and Hermione, came to Corinth. Its citadel he blockaded, since the Achaeans would not abandon it, and after summon-
91
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
€K\i7T6iv, rov Be 'Apdrov TOVS <£tXou9 /cat TOV?
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92
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xix. 3-xx. 3
ing the friends and stewards of Aratus, ordered them to take the house and property of Aratus into their charge and management. Then he sent Tritymallus the Messenian once more to Aratus, proposing that Acrocorinthus should be garrisoned by Achaeans and Lacedaemonians together, and promising Aratus personally double the stipend which he was receiving from King Ptolemy.1 Aratus, however, would not listen to the proposition, but sent his son to Anti- gonus along with the other hostages, and persuaded the Achaeans to vote the surrender of Acrocorinthus to Antigonus. Therefore Cleomenes invaded the territory of Sicyon and ravaged it, and accepted the property of Aratus when the Corinthians voted it to him as a gift.
XX. When Antigonus with a large force was crossing the mountain-range of Geraneia, Cleomenes thought it more advisable to fortify thoroughly, not the Isthmus, but the Oneian range of hills, and to wear out the Macedonians by a war of posts and positions, rather than to engage in formal battle with their disciplined phalanx. He carried out this plan, and thereby threw Antigonus into straits. For he had not a sufficient store of provisions, and it was no easy matter to force his passage while Cleomenes sat entrenched. Moreover, when he attempted to slip past his enemy in the night by way of Lechaeum, he was driven out and lost some of his soldiers. There- fore Cleomenes was altogether encouraged, and his men, elated by their victory, betook themselves to supper ; but Antigonus was dejected, since he was shut up by necessity to difficult plans. For he was
1 Ptolemy III. , surnamed Euergetes, king of Egypt 247- 222 B.C. See the Aratus, xli. 3.
93
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94
AGLS AND CLEOMENES, xx. 3-xxi. 2
planning to march off to the promontory of the Heraeum, and from there to put his army across to Sicyon in transports — an undertaking requiring much time and extraordinary preparations. But when it was already towards evening, there came to him from Argos by sea some friends of Aratus, who sum- moned him to the city, on the ground that the Argives were ready to revolt from Cleomenes. The author of the revolt was Aristotle ; and the multitude were easy to persuade, being incensed because Cleomenes had not brought about the abolition of debts which they expected. Accordingly, Aratus took fifteen hundred soldiers from Antigonus and sailed to Epidaurus. Aristotle, however, did not await his coming, but at the head of the citizens made an attack upon the garrison of the citadel ; and Timoxenus came to his aid from Sicyon with the Achaean army.
XXI. It was about midnight when Cleomenes heard of these things, and summoning Megistonoiis, he angrily ordered him to go at once to Argos with assistance ; for it was Megistonoiis who had given him most assurances of the fidelity of the Argives, and had thereby prevented him from expelling the suspected citizens. After sending off Megistonoiis, then, with two thousand soldiers, he himself kept watch upon Antigonus and tried to encourage the Corinthians, telling them that there was no great trouble at Argos, but only a slight disturbance made by a few men. However, when Megistonoiis, who had made his way into Argos, was slain in battle, and the garrison held out with difficulty and kept sending frequent messengers to Cleomenes, he was afraid that if the enemy made themselves masters of
95
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxi. 2-xxii. i
Argos and shut up the passes, they might ravage at will the Laconian territory and lay siege to Sparta, which he had left without defenders. He therefore led his army away from Corinth. This city was at once lost to him, for Antigonus entered it and set a garrison there ; but Cleomenes, on reaching Argos, made an attempt to scale the walls, and with this in view drew his forces together from their march, and cutting his way through the tunnels running under the Aspis, or citadel, he made the ascent and effected a junction with his garrison inside, which was still holding out against the Achaeans. He actually got possession of some portions of the city by using scaling-ladders, and cleared the streets of the enemy by bringing his Cretan archers into action. But when he saw Antigonus with his phalanx descending from the heights into the plain, and his horsemen already streaming into the city, he gave up trying to master it; and gathering all his troops about him he made his way safely down from the citadel and with- drew along past the city wall. He had made the greatest possible conquests in the briefest possible time, and had come within a little of making himself master of all Peloponnesus by a single march through it, but had quickly lost everything again. For some of his allies left him at once, and others after a little while handed their cities over to Antigonus.
XXII. Such was the result of his expedition, and he was leading his army home, when, as it was already evening and he was near Tegea, messengers from Sparta came with tidings of a fresh and even greater calamity, the death of his wife. It was because of her that even in his most successful campaigns he could not endure to the end, but would
97
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98
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxn. 1-5
continually be coming home to Sparta, out of love for Agiatis and in supreme devotion to her. Of course, then, he was smitten with grief, as was natural for a young man who had lost a most beautiful and most sensible wife, but he did not allow his suffering to shame or betray the loftiness of his thought or the greatness of his spirit. He maintained his usual speech, dress, and bearing, gave the customary orders to his captains, and took thought for the safety of Tegea. Next morning he returned to Sparta, and after duly mourning his loss with his mother and children at home, he at once engaged in the measures which he planned for the public good.
Now, Ptolemy the king of Egypt promised him aid and assistance, but demanded his mother and his children as hostages. For a long time, therefore, he was ashamed to tell his mother, and though he often went to her and was at the very point of letting her know, he held his peace, so that she on her part became suspicious and enquired of his friends whether there was not something which he wished to impart to her but hesitated to do so. Finally, when Cleomenes plucked up courage to speak of the matter, his mother burst into a hearty laugh and said : " Was this the thing which thou wast often of a mind to tell me but lost thy courage ? Make haste, put me on board a vessel, and send this frail body wheresoever thou thinkest it will be of most use to Sparta, before old age destroys it sitting idly here."
Accordingly, when all things were ready, they came to Taenarus by land, while the army escorted them under arms. And as Cratesicleia was about to embark, she drew Cleomenes aside by himself into the temple of Poseidon, and after embracing and kissing
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxn. 5-xxin. 2
him in his anguish and deep trouble, said : " Come, O king of the Lacedaemonians, when we go forth let no one see us weeping or doing anything unworthy of Sparta. For this lies in our power, and this alone ; but as for the issues of fortune, we shall have what the Deity may grant." After saying this, she composed her countenance and proceeded to the ship with her little grandson, and bade the captain put to sea with all speed. And when she was come to Egypt, and learned that Ptolemy was entertaining embassies and proposals from Antigonus, and heard that although the Achaeans invited Cleomenes to make terms with them, he was afraid on her account to end the war without the consent of Ptolemy, she sent word to him that he must do what was fitting and advantageous for Sparta, and not, because of one old woman and a little boy, be ever in fear of Ptolemy. Such, then, as we are told, was the bearing of Cratesicleia in her misfortunes.
XXIII. After Antigonus had taken Tegea by siege, and had surprised Orchomenus and Mantineia> Cleomenes, now reduced to the narrow confines of Laconia, set free those of the Helots who could pay down five Attic minas (thereby raising a sum of five hundred talents), armed two thousand of them in Macedonian fashion as an offset to the White Shields of Antigonus, and planned an undertaking which was great and entirely unexpected. Megalopolis was at that time of itself fully as large and strong as Sparta, and could have assistance from the Achaeans and from Antigonus ; for Antigonus was encamped near by, and it was thought that the Megalopolitans were chiefly responsible for his being called in by the
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102
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxm. 3-xxiv. 2
Achaeans. This city Cleomenes planned to snatch away (for nothing else could better describe the speed and unexpectedness of his famous achievement), and ordering his men to take five days' rations, he led them forth to Sellasia, as though he would ravage the territory of Argos. But from there he descended into the territory of Megalopolis, and after giving his men their supper at the Rhoeteium, he marched at once by way of Helicus against the city itself. When he was not far away he dispatched Panteus with two divisions of Lacedaemonians, ordering him to seize a portion of the wall between two towers which he had learned was the most unprotected part of the walls of Megalopolis, while he himself with the rest of his army followed slowly after. Panteus found not only that particular spot, but also a great part of the wall, undefended, and at once tore down some portions of it, undermining others, and slaying all the defenders whom he encountered. Cleomenes promptly joined him, and before the Megalopolitans were aware of it, he was inside the city with his army.
XXIV. At last the disaster became clear to the citizens, and some of them at once fled the city, taking with them what property they could lay hands on, while others banded together under arms, resist- ing and assaulting the enemy. These they were not strong enough to eject from the city, but they af- forded a safe escape to the citizens who wished to flee, so that not more than a thousand persons were taken in the place ; all the rest, together with their wives and children, succeeded in escaping to Messene. Moreover, the greater part of those who tried to save the city by fighting got off alive ; but a few of them,
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104
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxiv. 2-5
all told, were captured, among whom were Lysandri- das and Thearidas, men of the greatest reputation and influence in Megalopolis. Therefore the soldiers had no sooner seized them than they brought them to Cleomenes. Then Lvsandridas, when he saw
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Cleomenes from afar, cried out with a loud voice and said : " It is in thy power now, O king of the Lacedaemonians, to display an action fairer and more worthy of a king than any that has preceded it, and thereby win men's highest esteem." But Cleomenes, conjecturing what the speaker wished, said : " What meanest thou, Lysandridas ? Thou surely canst not bid me give your city back again to you." To which Lysandridas replied : " Indeed, that is just what I mean, and I advise thee in thine own interests not to destroy so great a city, but to fill it with friends and allies who are trusty and true by giving back to the Megalopolitans their native city and becoming the preserver of so large a people." Accordingly, after a short silence, Cleomenes said: "It is difficult to believe that all this will happen, but with us let what makes for good repute always carry the day, rather than what brings gain." And with these words he sent the two men off to Messene attended by a herald from himself, offering to give back their city to the Megalopolitans on condition that they renounce the Achaean cause and be his friends and allies.
However, although Cleomenes made this benevo- lent and humane offer, Philopoemen would not allow the Megalopolitans to break their pledges to the Achaeans, but denounced Cleomenes on the ground that he sought, not so much to give their city back to its citizens, as rather to get the citizens with their city1; then he drove Thearidas and Lysandridas out 1 See the Philopoemen, \.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxiv. 5-xxv. 4
of Messene. This was that Philopoemen who after- wards became the leader of the Achaeans and won the greatest fame among the Greeks, as I have written in his own Life.
XXV. When tidings of these things were brought to Cleomenes, although he had taken strict care that the city should be inviolate and unharmed, so that no one took even the least thing without being detected, he was now so incensed and embittered that he plundered it, and sent its statues and pictures off to Sparta ; then, after completely demolishing most and the largest portions of the city, he marched back towards home, being in fear of Antigonus and the Achaeans. But these did nothing. For they were holding a general assembly at Aegium ; and here Aratus, after mounting the bema, wept for a long time, holding his mantle before his face ; and when his audience was amazed and bade him speak, he told them that Megalopolis had been destroyed by Cleomenes. Then the assembly at once broke up, the Achaeans being filled with consternation at the swiftness and magnitude of the calamity. Antigonus at first attempted to give aid, but afterwards, since his forces came up to him but slowly from their winter quarters, he ordered them to remain where they were, while he himself proceeded to Argos, having only a few soldiers with him.
And this was the reason why the next attempt of Cleomenes, which was thought to be a deed of extravagant and frantic daring, was really made with great forethought, as Polybius says.1 For Cleomenes
1 "Most people thought this a hazardous and foolhardy step ; but those who were capable of judging regarded the measure as at once safe and prudent" (ii. 6i, I).
107
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1 «ara iro'A.jy Blass and Zicgler, after Schoemanu : TroAfi' ws <j>r)ffi.
108
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxv. 4-xxvi. 2
knew that the Macedonians were dispersed among the cities in their winter quarters, and that Antigonus had only a few mercenaries with him at Argos, where he was spending the winter with his friends. Cleo- menes therefore invaded the territory of Argos, calculating that Antigonus would either be shamed into fighting and would be overpowered, or, in case he did not venture to fight, would incur odium among the Argives. And this was what actually came to pass. For while Cleomenes was wasting the country and robbing it of all that was there, the Argives, in distress, kept thronging the doors of the king and calling upon him with loud voices either to fight or yield the leadership to his betters. But Antigonus, as became a prudent general, considering that disgrace lay in taking unreasonable risks and throwing away his security, rather than in being abused by the outside rabble, would not go forth from the city, but stood by his previous plans. So Cleomenes came up to the very walls of the city with his army, wrought insolent havoc, and then with- drew unmolested.
XXVI. A little later, however, hearing that Antigonus had advanced to Tegea with intent to invade Laconia from that city, Cleomenes quickly took his soldiers, marched past the enemy by a different route, and at daybreak appeared suddenly before the city of Argos, ravaging the plain and destroying the grain, not cutting this down, as usual, with sickles and knives, but beating it down with great pieces of wood fashioned like spear-shafts. These his soldiers plied as if in sport, while passing by, and with no effort at all they would crush and ruin all the crop. When, however, they were come to the
109
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxvi. 2-xxvii. i
Cyllarabis and attempted to set the gymnasium on fire, Cleomenes stopped them, feeling that his work at Megalopolis had been done to satisfy his anger rather than his honour.
As for Antigonus, in the first place he went back at once to Argos, and then occupied the hills and all the passes with outposts. But Cleomenes pretended to despise and ignore all this, and sent heralds to the king demanding the keys to the Heraeum, that he might offer sacrifice to the goddess before he went away. Then, after this jest and mockery, and after sacrificing to the goddess under the walls of the temple, which was closed, he led his army off to Phlius. From thence, after expelling the garrison of Oligyrtus, he marched past Orchomenus, not only infusing high spirits and courage into its citizens, but also leading his enemies to think him a man capable of leadership and worthy to wield great power. For he drew his resources from but a single city, and yet waged war against the Macedonian power, all the Peloponnesians, and the treasures of a king together, and not only kept Laconia inviolate, but actually ravaged his enemies' territory and took cities of great size ; and men thought this a proof of no ordinary ability and largeness of purpose.
XXVII. But he who first declared that money is the sinews of affairs would seem to have spoken with special reference to the affairs of war. And Demades, when the Athenians once ordered that their triremes should be launched and manned, but had no money,
•/ J
said : " Dough must be moistened before it is kneaded." It is said also that Archidamus of old,
Schoemann : TOV 7rp&>paTeC<rcu TI> (pvpairai (before the lookout- man comes the bread-maker) with the MSS.
II I
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
6 rra\aio<i vrro rrjv dp^rjv rov IleXo-
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112
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxvn. 1-5
towards the beginning of the Peloponnesian war, when the allies ordered their contributions for the war to be fixed, said : " War has no fixed rations." 1 And indeed, just as athletes who have taken a full course of training, in time bear down and overpower those who are merely graceful and skilful, so also did Antigonus, who engaged in the war with large resources, wear out and prostrate Cleomenes, who could only meagrely and with difficulty provide pay for his mercenaries and sustenance for his citizen- soldiers. And yet in all other respects, certainly, time was on the side of Cleomenes ; for affairs at home demanded the presence of Antigonus. During his absence Barbarians had been overrunning and devas- tating Macedonia, and at this particular time a large army of Illyrians from the interior had burst in, and in consequence of their ravages the Macedonians summoned Antigonus home. Their letters came within a little of reaching him before the decisive battle. If they had so reached him, he would at once have gone away and left the Achaeans to their own devices. But Fortune, who decides the most impor- tant affairs by a narrow margin, favoured him with so slight a preponderance in the scale of opportunity and power, that no sooner had the battle at Sellasia been fought, where Cleomenes lost his army and his city, than the messengers summoning Antigonus arrived. And this more than anything else made the misfor- tune of Cleomenes to be greatly pitied. For if he could have held out only two days, and continued his defensive tactics, he would not have needed to fight a battle, but the Macedonians would have gone away and he could have made his own terms with the Achaeans. But now, as I said before, his lack of 1 See the Crassus, ii. 7.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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114
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxvii. S-XXYIII. 4
resources forced him to stake the whole issue on a battle where, as Polybius says,1 he could oppose only twenty thousand men to thirty thousand.
XXVIII. He showed himself an admirable general in the hour of peril, his fellow countrymen gave him spirited support, and even his mercenaries fought in a praiseworthy manner, but he was overwhelmed by the superior character of his enemies' armour and the weight of their heavy-armed phalanx. Phylarchus, however, says that there was treachery also, and that this was chiefly what ruined Cleomenes. For Antigo- nus ordered his Illyrians and Acarnanians to go round by a secret way and envelope the other wing, which Eucleidas, the brother of Cleomenes, commanded, and then led out the rest of his forces to battle ; and when Cleomenes, from his post of observation, could nowhere see the arms of the Illyrians and Acarnanians, he was afraid that Antigonus was using them for some such purpose. He therefore called Damoteles, the commander of the secret service contingent,2 and ordered him to observe and find out how matters stood in the rear and on the flanks of his array. But Damoteles (who had previously been bribed, as we are told, by Antigonus) told him to have no concern about flanks and rear, for all was well there, but to give his attention to those who assailed him in front, and repulse them. So Cleomenes, putting faith in what he was told, advanced upon Antigonus, and by the sweeping onset of his Spartans drove back the phalanx of the Macedonians for about five furlongs,
1 Hint. ii. 65. 2 and 7. The battle of Sellasia was fought in June of 221 B.C.
2 A rural police with the special duty of watching the Helots, or slave population.
"5
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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XXIX. 'ETrel Se et? Tr/v TTO\LV a(j)LKero, rot? airavrriaacTi rwv 7ro\iTwv iraprjvei Se^ea-dai rov 'Avriyovov, airro? Se eiTrev el're ^wi^ el're a?ro- tiv, o yueXXot TT; ^rrdpry cruvoiaeiv, rovro opwv Se ra? ^vvaiKa^ Tot? /ACT' avrov Trecfrevyocri rcpocrrpe^ovo-a^ /cal Se^OyueW? ra oVXa 2 /cat TTorbv rrpoa-fyepovuas, avros ela"r)\0€ rrjv oiKiav rrjv eavrov, TT}? Se rraL^icrKT]^, rjv €\ev0€pav ovaav e/c MeyaX?;? TroXeco? az'
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• 16
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxvm. 4-xxix. 3
and followed after them victoriously. Then, after Eucleidas with the other wing had been encircled, he came to a stop, and seeing their peril, said ; " I have lost thee, my dearest brother, I have lost thee, thou noble heart, thou great example to Spartan boys, thou theme for a song to Spartan wives ! After
Eucleidas and his forces had in this way been cut to pieces, and the enemy, after their victory there, were coming on against the other wing, Cleomenes, seeing that his soldiers were in disorder and no longer had courage to stand their ground, took measures for his own safety. Many of his mercenaries fell, as we are told, and all the Spartans, six thousand in number, except two hundred.
XXIX. When Cleomenes came to the city, he advised the citizens who met him to receive Antigo- nus ; as for himself, he said he would do whatever promised to be best for Sparta, whether it called for his life or death. Then, seeing the women running up to those who had escaped with him, relieving them of their arms, and bringing drink to them, he went into his own house. Here his concubine, a free woman of Megalopolis whom he had taken to him- self after the death of his wife, came to him, as was her wont upon his return from the field, and wished to minister to him ; but he would neither drink, though he was faint with thirst, nor sit down, though he was worn out. Instead, all in armour as he was, he put his arm aslant against one of the pillars of the house, dropped his face upon his forearm, and after resting himself in this way for a short time, and running over in his thoughts all possible plans, he set out with his friends for Gythium. There he went on board of vessels provided for this very purpose and
put to sea.
117
VOL. X. E
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118
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxx. i-xxxi. 2
XXX. Antigonus marched up and took the city without resistance. He treated the Lacedaemonians humanely,, and did not insult or mock the dignity of Sparta, but restored her laws and constitution,1 sacrificed to the gods, and went away on the third day. For he learned that there was a great war in Macedonia and that the Barbarians were ravaging the country. Moreover, his disease was already in full possession of him, having developed into a quick consumption and an acute catarrh. He did not, however, give up, but had strength left for his conflicts at home, so that he won a very great victory, slew a prodigious number of the Barbarians, and died gloriously, having broken a blood-vessel (as it is likely, and as Phylarchus says) by the very shout that he raised on the field of battle. And in the schools of philosophy one used to hear the story that after his victory he shouted for joy, " O happy day I " and then brought up a quantity of blood, fell into a high fever, and so died. So much concerning Antigonus.
XXXI. As for Cleomenes, he sailed from Cythera to Aegialia, another island, and put in there. As he was about to cross from thence to Cyrene, one of his friends, Therycion by name, a man who brought a large spirit to the conduct of affairs and was always somewhat lofty in his speech and grandiloquent, came to him privately and said : " The noblest death, O King, a death in battle, we have put away from us ; and yet all men heard us declare that Antigonus should not pass the king of Sparta except over his dead body. But a death that is second in virtue and glory is now still in our power. Whither do we
1 As they were before the reforms of Cleomenes.
119
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
eyyvs bv /ca/cov real ^aicpav ; el yap ovrc ala-^pov ean Sov\eveiv rot? <£>i\,L7T7rov KOI ' A\€%dvSpov TGI)? d(j) ' , TT\OVV TTO\VV K€pSai>ov/jLev ' AvTiyovM
eauroi;?, w et'/co? eVr^ TTroXe/za/ou 3 6Voz> A.lyv7TTLCi)v MatceSovas. el Se £(£' coj/ K€/cpa- rr)/ji€0a rot? oVXoi? ou/c d%iov/j,ev ap^eaOai, TI rov /jiij veviKrjKora Seo-TTOTtjv TTOIOV/JLCV avrwv, "va avO ez^o? Bveiv Kafciovs (pavco/nev, *Avriyovov
t9 ALJVTTTOV r)tcet,v; fca\bv avrfj Qkapa yevoio KOI tyjKwrov eTriSeitcvv- rat? UroXe/jtaiov yvvai^lv al^/jLd\coTov etc Kal (frvydSa TOP vlov. oi>% ew? en rwv dp%Ofi€V Kal TYJV AaKwviicrjv d(j)opa)- evravOa TT}? TU^?;? aTraXXa^az/re? eauroi/? d7ro\oyt](r6/jL€@a rot? ev SeXauta Kei/JLevois virep 27ra/)T7^?, aXX' eV AlyvTrra) K Tiva T/]?
TotaOra TOU t&rjpVKiwvos eiTrovros 6 KXeo-
yue^9 aTre/cpLvaro, " Twv dvO pwrrivwv TO pacrTOVt
a) Trovrjpe, Kal Trdcriv ev erot/zft) &KMK.WV, diro-
Oavelv, dv&pelos elvai SOKCIS, fyevywv alayiova
5 (f)vyr)V rfjs Trporepov; TroXe/ucu? p,6v yap eve
Kal KpeiTTOves ^fJLwvy rj Tv%fl o^aXe^Te? fj VTTO 7r\ij0ov<;' 6 Be TT/JO? TTOZ^OU? Kal ias r) tyoyovs Kal So^a? dvOpanrcov dira-
120
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxi. 2-5
unreasoningly sail, fleeing an evil that is near and pursuing one that is afar off? For if it is not shame- ful that the descendants of Heracles should be in subjection to the successors of Philip and Alexander, we shall spare ourselves a long voyage by surrender- ing to Antigonus, who is likely to surpass Ptolemy as much as Macedonians surpass Egyptians. But if we cannot consent to be ruled by those who have conquered us in arms, why should we make him our master who has not defeated us, thus showing ourselves inferior to two instead of one by running away from Antigonus and joining the flatterers of Ptolemy ? Or, shall we say that it is on thy mother's account that we come to Egypt ? Surely thou wilt make a noble spectacle for her, and one to awaken envy, when she displays her son to the wives of Ptolemy, a captive instead of a king, and a runaway. Let us rather, while we are still masters of our own swords and can gaze upon the land of Laconia, here rid ourselves of Fortune's yoke, and make our peace with those who at Sellasia died in defence of Sparta, instead of sitting idly down in Egypt and asking every now and then whom Antigonus has left as satrap of Lacedaemon."
Such were the words of Therycion, and to them Cleomenes replied : " It is the easiest possible step thou urgest, wretched man, and one that any man may take, this dying ; and dost thou think thyself brave when thou art making a flight more shameful than the one preceding it ? Better men than we have given in to their enemies before this, having been betrayed by Fortune or overwhelmed by numbers. But he who in the face of toils and hardships, or of the censorious judgments of men, gives up the fight,
121
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
f)TTaTai TJ}? avrov /taXa/aa9« Bel ydp TOV av6aipeTOV OdvaTOv ov (pvyrjv elvai aXXa rrpd^LV. ala^pov ydp Kal %r)i eavTols Kal drrodvijo-Keiv' e<$> o vvv av rrapaKa- 820 XeZ? f]fJLQ-s, (TTrevBwv drra\\ayrjvaL TWV TrapovTcov, Ka\ov Be ovBev ovBe %p)']crifjLov aXXo BiaTrparTO- 6 /jievos. eya) Be Kal o~e Kal €fjiavTov OLO/JLOL Belv ra? vTrep TT}? Trarpt'So? e'Xvr/^a? an KaTa\iTfelv
ll' r it
OTTOV B* av 77/109 eKelvai ^araX/Trftxri, pa&Ta (3ov- Xo/tez/ot9 aTToOavelv virdp^ei"
11/309 TavTa @rjpvKLO)v ovBev dvTenrcov, ore 7rpo)TOV eo~%e Kaipov dTro&TrjvaL TOV KXeo/tei^oL'9, eKTpaTrofievos irapd TOV alyia\bv eo~<f)aj;€V eavTov.
XXXII. 'O Be KXeo/te^7;9 a?ro TWV dva'xOels Trj Aifivy Trpo cre/SaXe, Kal Bid TWV \IKWV Traparre/JLTTo/jLevos YJKGV el? 'A\e£dvBpeiav.
\5.\«TT-\ ' '' V \>/
?t-9 oe T&) llTOA-euatw, KaT ap^as u.ev eTvy^ave 'nXavOpcoTrov Kal fieTpiov 7T/909 avrov Be yvut/Jir]^ BiBovs rrelpav dvrjp e^aiveTO e/A<f)pwv, Kal T7/9 KaO* i]/j,epav o/ttXta9 avTOV TO AaKwviKov Kal a^>eXe9 TTJV ^dpiv e\ev&epiov el)(€, Kal TIJV evyeveiav ovBa/j.fj KaTaia^vvwv ovBe /ca/tTTTO/tei'09 t'Tro rr)9 Tu^7;9, TWV ?r/)09 rjBovrjv Kal KO\aK€uav Bia\eyo/j,ev(ov jriOavcoTepos e<pai- 2 V6TO, TroXXr; u.ev aiBws Kal /terai'ota TOV fjLdiov el^ev dvBpos a/teX/;cra^ra TOLOVTOV TTpoefjievov TW ' AvTiyovtp, Bo^av a/ta rr)\iKavT^v Kal Bvva/Aiv, dva\au.^dvwv Be Tiyaat9 Kal <f)L\o(})po(Tvvai$ TOV KXeo/JLevrj Tcapeddppvvev a>9 /tera vewv Kal %pr)/jidTCt)v dTrocrT€\wv avTOV et9 rrjv 'EXXa^a Kal KaTaaT^awv 6/9 TTJV fiaai- 1 Kal $riv Blass and Ziegler, after Richards.
122
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxi. 5-xxxn. 2
is vanquished by his own weakness. For a self-inflicted death ought to be, not flight from action, but an action in itself. For it is shameful to die, as well as to live, for one's self alone. And yet it is to this that thou now invitest me in thine eagerness to be rid of present troubles, though beyond that thou wilt effect nothing that is honourable or useful. I, however, think it right that neither thou nor I should abandon our hopes for our country ; when these abandon us, death will be very easy if we wish it."
To this Therycion made no reply, but as soon as he got an opportunity to leave Cleomenes, he turned aside along the sea-beach and slew himself.
XXXII. But Cleomenes, putting to sea from Aegia- lia, landed in Libya, and travelled through the King's country to Alexandria. After coming into the presence of Ptolemy, at first he met with only ordin- ary and moderate kindness from him ; but when he had given proof of his sentiments and shown himself to be a man of good sense, and when, in his daily intercourse, his Laconian simplicity retained the charm which a free spirit imparts, while he in no wise brought shame upon his noble birth or suffered the blows of Fortune to bow him down, but showed himself more winning than those whose conversation sought only to please and flatter, then Ptolemy was filled with great respect for him, and deeply repented that he had neglected such a man and abandoned him to Antigonus, who had thereby won great glory and power. Ptolemy therefore sought to regain Cleo- menes by honours and kindnesses, and kept encour- aging him with assurances that he would send him back to Greece with ships and treasure and restore
123
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 \eiav. eBiSov be Kal crvvTa^iv avTw Tecrcrapa
TO\aVTa KdO^ GKCLGTOV CViaVTOV. a<£' 0)V
avTov real rou? <f>i\ovs euTeXco? real <ra)-
BtOlKWV, TO, 7r\ei(TTa K.aTa,V1]\l(J K€V
($)i\av6 pwrrlas KOL yueraoocre/? rwv OLTTO 80? et? AiyvTTTov GKTreirTWKoTwv.
XXXIII. 'O p,ev ovv TT peer ft VT epos jrplv e/CTeXecrai ra> K\eo/j,evei rrjv eKTre^-^nv ere- Xevrrjcre' Ti}? Be /SacriXeia? ev&vs et? 7ro\\r)i> dcreXyeiav KOL irapoiviav real yvvaiKO/cpariav 2 e/jLTreaovcrris ^/zeXetro KOI ra rov KXeo/ie^ou?. 6 fi,€v jap /SacrtXeu1? auro? ovrco SiecfrOapro TTJV VTTO <yvvaiKa)i> real TTOTWV axrre, OTTOTC fJLa\.ia"Ta real (TTrovSaiorarof avrov yevoiro, reXera? re\€lv /cal rv/jLTravov €%(0v ev roi^; ftaai- dyeupeiv, ra &€ /neyiara TT}? apxf)S irpd<y- *A<yadoK\eiav Trjv ep(OfjL€i>rjv TOV
teal rrjv raur>;? ^rfTepa fca 3 Qivdv0r)v. oyaco? 8' ovv eBo^e rt? ev dp%fj real TOV
s %/oeta yeyovevai,. SeSico? <yap TOV doe\<f)ov IlToXe/u.a4O?, a><? Icr^vovTa Baa
ev TO) aTpaTiwTiKw, TOV K.\eo/jievrj irpoa-- €\d/jL/3ave Kal /AeTeSiSov TWV aTroppiJTcov trvve&pifov, /3ov\evo/ji€vos dveXelv TOV dSe\$6v. 6 Be, Ka'urep
CLTrdvTWV TOVTO TTpaTTClV K6\6V OVT O)V , /JiOVO^ aTTI}-
yopevo'ev, eiTrcov a>? fjiaXXov, el Bvvarov r)v, eBei
4 \eiav Kal Bia/Aovrjv TWV TTpay/^aTcov.
Be TOV rrXelcTTOV ev rot? (jbtXoi? Bwa/nevov (f)rjcravTo<; OVK elvai Ta TWV fjLi(rdo<p6pa)V aurot? /9e/3ata TOV
o
124
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxn. 3-xxxm. 4
him to his kingdom. He also gave him an annual pension of twenty-four talents. With this money Cleomenes maintained himself and his friends in a simple and modest manner, and spent the greater part in good offices and contributions to the refugees from Greece who were in Egypt.
XXXIII. Well, then, the elder Ptolemy1 died before sending Cleomenes off as he had promised ; and since the court at once plunged into excessive wantonness and drunkenness, and women wielded the power, the affairs of Cleomenes were neglected. For the king himself was so corrupted in spirit by wine and women that, in his soberest and most serious moments, he would celebrate religious rites and act the mountebank in his palace , timbrel in hand, while the most important affairs of the government were managed by Agathocleia, the mistress of the king, and Oenanthe her mother, who was a bawd. But in spite of all this, at the outset Cleomenes seemed to be of some use. For Ptolemy was afraid of his brother Magas, believing that Magas had a strong following among the soldiers owing to his mother's influence, and he therefore took Cleomenes into his following and gave him a place in his privy council, all the while plotting to kill his brother. But Cleomenes, although all other counsellors urged the king to take this step, alone advised against it, saying that it were better, were it possible, to get the king more brothers to increase the security and stability of his affairs. And when Sosibius, who had the most influence among the king's ministers, declared that they could not be sure of the mercenaries as long as Magas was alive, Cleomenes bade him have no concern on that
1 Ptolemy III., surnamed Euergetes, died in 220 B.C., and was followed by Ptolemy IV., surnamed Philopator.
125
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
eveKa 76 rovrov vrXeiof? jap i] rpi(T^i\iov<; TMV
elvai
KCLV fJLOVOV VfVCrrj, TTpodvfJLWS JJL6TCL TMV OTT\0)l>
irapecrofjievov^- ovros 6 \6yos Tore /Jiev ov fu/cpav KXeo/xeVei KCU TC'KJTLV evvoias teal SOKIJCTIV aeO^Kev, vcrrepov &€, TOV nroXe/^atof acrQei'eias eTTiTeivovcn-jS TI-JV Bet\iav, fcal KaO- eicodev ev rw /jiijSev (ftpovelv, rou Trdvra
KOL Tracriv aTTtarrep
&OKOVVTOS elrai, (fro/Sepai* evroLei rbv KXeo/Aey?; rot? 6 av\ifcoi<;, a>? laynuovra Trapa rot? ^eVot?' fcal TToXXcoi^ TJV dfcoveiv 'h.eyovTcoi' OTI " OL>TO? 6 \ecov ev rovrois rot? TTpo/SaTOis dvaa'TpeffreTai" TO> yap OVTL TOIOVTOV Sieipaivev r}^o? ev rot? /Bacrt- \iKols, v7ro/3\£Tra)i> drpi/JLa KOI TrapeTTicrKOTrwv ra 821
XXXIV. Nau9 f^ev ovv air&v KOI arpariav direlire' TrvvOavo/JLevos Se reOi'dvai TOV *Avrt-
€ 7TO\€/LL(i) (TV /J,7T€7r\e%8ai TOL/?
ra Be Trpdy/^ara Trodeii' CLVTOV Kal 7rapaKa\eiv,1 ev rapa^fj Kal Bia<T7raa'fjL& T?}? TIe\oTTOvvi]crov yeyevrj/nevrjs, tj^iov fjiev /JLOVOS djro- 2 (TTaXf/vai fierd rwv (friXwv, eireide Be ovBeva, TOV fjiev /SacTiXew? OVK elcraKovovros, aXX' ev yvvaigl Kal Oidarois Kal KW/JLOIS avve^ovro^ eavrov, 6 Be rcov o\a)v TrpoecTTrjKax; Kal 7rpo/3ov\eva)v ^.wcrl- jSios /jievovra p,ev rbv K.\eo/j,evj] irapa jvco^irjv rjjeiro Bva/jLeraxeiptcTTOv elvai Kal (frofiepov, d<f>€- 0ev-ra Be ro\/jLrjp6v, dvBpa Kal /J,eya\o7rpdyfj,ova l TT}? /SacriXeta? vo<rovarijs Oea-r^v yeyevrj^evov.
j' Ziegler : Trapa.foXea1 ttcelcre Bekker : f'iv tKflvov (with the MSS.).
126
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxni. 4-xxxiv. 2
point at least ; for more than three thousand of the mercenaries were Peloponnesians and attached to himself, and if he but gave them a nod they would readily come to his side in arms. At the time this speech won for Cleomenes no little faith in his good will and belief in his strength; but afterwards, when Ptolemy's weakness intensified his cowardice, and, as is wont to happen where there is no sound judgment, his best course seemed to him to lie in fearing every- body and distrusting all men, it led the courtiers to be afraid of Cleomenes, on the ground that he had a strong following among the mercenaries ; and many of them were heard to say : " There goes the lion up and down among these sheep." And such, in fact, he clearly was among the courtiers, eyeing with quiet contempt and closely watching what was going on.
XXXIV. For ships, therefore, and an army, he gave up asking ; but on learning that Antigonus was dead l and that the Achaeans were involved in a war with the Aetolians, and that affairs yearned and called for him now that Peloponnesus was rent asunder and in confusion, he demanded to be sent away with his friends merely ; but he could persuade no one. The king would not give him a hearing, but was absorbed with women and Dionysiac routs and revels ; and Sosibius, the prime minister and chief counsellor, thought that if Cleomenes remained against his will he might be hard to manage, in- deed, and an object of fear, but that if he were sent away he would make some bold attempt, being a man of large undertakings, and one who had been an eye-witness of the distempers of the realm.
1 Cf. chapter xxx. 2.
127
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 ovBe jap at Bwpeal Karerrpdvvov avrov, dXX' OKTTTep rov *ATTIV ev dtyOovoiS Biairai/uevov KOI rpvcj)di' BoKOvvra rov Kara fyvcriv jBiov real
KOI
cart Bvaavao")£€ra)V rrjv iv rat? SiaTpifttjv,
OdKWV,
e/celvov
wcnrep
avOi, fji€V(0v, 7ro0€€O'/c€ S' diJTijv re TrroXe- fjiov re.
XXXV. Toiovrcov Se r&v Kar avrov ovrwv 7rpayfj,dra>v dfafcveirai NiKayopas 6 et? 'AXe^dvSpeiav, dvrjp /ULHTWV /j,ev rov frpoairoiov/Jievo^ Be ^>t\09 elvar ywpiov Be Trore ica\ov avrw TreTrpaKoos KOL Bi* acr^oXta^, a>? eo^/ce, Bia TroXeyLtof? OVK a7retX?7<^a>9 TO dpyvpiov. rov- rov ovv eK/Baivovra rore T/}? 6\KaBo<; IBwv o (erv^e yap ev rf] KprjTrlBi rov
tea r/9 avrov
2 et<? AiyvTrrov ayot Trpo^aai^ rjpwra. rov Be Ni/cayopov <pi\o(f)p6va)<; avraarfa^o^kvov KOLI <£>ij- aavros ITTTTOU? ciyeiv TOO {3aai\et /caXou? rwv
av," e(f)r], " ere yuaXXof "]/ceiv ayovra
teal KivatBovs' ravra yap vvv
xareTreiyei rov j3acri\€a" ical 6 NiKayopas rore [lev e/jLeiBiacrev ^/nepais Be vcrrepov 6\LyaL$ VTTO- /jLvij&as rov yjapiov rov KXeo/JLevtjv vvv yovv eBeiro rj]V rijArjv aTroKaftelv, &>9 OVK av
128
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxiv. 3-xxxv. 2
For not even gifts would soften him, but just as the sacred bull Apis, though living in plenty and believed to be having a luxurious time, feels a desire for the life that was his by nature, for coursings without restraint, and leaps and bounds, and is manifestly disgusted with his treatment at the hands of the priests, so Cleomenes took no pleasure in his life of ease and luxury,
— " but kept pining away in his dear heart," like Achilles,1
" As he lingered there, and kept yearning for war- cry and battle."
XXXV. While matters stood thus with him, Nica- goras the Messenian came to Alexandria, a man who hated Cleomenes, but pretended to be a friend. He had at one time sold Cleomenes a fine estate, and owing to the constant demands of war upon the king, as it would seem, had not received the money for it. And so now, when Cleomenes, who chanced to be taking a walk along the quay, saw Nicagoras landing from his vessel, he greeted him heartily and asked what errand brought him to Egypt. Nicagoras re- turned his greeting in a friendly manner, and said that he was bringing horses for the king, some fine ones for use in war. At this, Cleomenes gave a laugh and said : " I could wish that thou hadst rather brought sambuca-girls and catamites ; for these now most interest the king." At the time Nicagoras merely smiled ; but a few days later he reminded Cleomenes of the estate, and asked that now at any rate he might get the money for it, saying that he would not have troubled him about the matter if he had not
1 Iliad, i. 491 f.
129
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
el fJirj Trepl T^V TWV (fropricov
3 ety/JiiovTO. TOV 8e KXeo/u.eVou? (f»jcravTos ovbev avTW Trepieivai TWV ceSo/jievcov, \V7rr)0€ls 6 Nt/ta- <y6pa$ €K<fiep€i ra> Zuxri/Biw TO crKWfjifjLa TOV KXeo-
6 5e KOI rovro /j.ev acr/ieVa)? eXa/Sei^, etc vo^ atrta? TOZ^ ySacriXea irapo^vvai ^IJTWI> oy Nitcayopav eTTicrrdXrjv ypdtyavra Kara rov K\eo/ieVou? dTroXnreiv, co? eyvciy/coros, el \u{3oi Tpir)pei<$ /cal crTyoaT^cora? Trap' avTov, Ku-
4 pi'ivijv KCLTaa^elv. o fiev ovv Ni/cayopas Tavra 7pa^a? aTreTrXefo-e* TOU 8e Sft)0"i/Stov //.era recr- cra/oa? ^epa? T?;^ eTTKJToX.^v TT/OO? roy IlToA,e- /JLCIIOV aveveyKOVTos co? dpTicos avTw Se$o/jLevi]v teal
TO /ueipdtciov, €&oj;6V e/9 ol/ciav elcrayayeiv TOV KXeo/<ieV>7i>, /cal
XXXVI. 'Hi; ^aev ow /cat raOra \VTrrjpd
ra?
ea^ev etc TOICLVT^ 6 Xpvaep/jiov 0tXo? wz^ TOU
TOV %pOVOV €TTLeiKWS Sl€L\€KTO TW KXfO-
fj,€vei, Kal avvijOeid Ti? V7rr)p%ev auroi? /cat 7ra/o- 2 pijaia TTyOO? aXXr/Xof?. OUTO? out/ Tore, TOV KXco/aeyou? BeyOevTos e\6elv TT/JO? avTov, fjL€V /cal SLe\e^6r) /jb€Tpia, TO VTTOTTTOV e^aip irepl TOV /SacrtXea)? a7roXo70UyU6z^o?* diTLuiv oe TT(i\iv ex TT}? oliclas, Kal /JLTJ Trpovot'jcras e^o
a^pl TWV 0VpO)V €7TaKO\OV00VVTa TOV
iriKpct)*; €7T€TLfjL7ja-e rot? (frvXagiv a>9
Oripiov Kal SvcrTrjprjTov a/t6Xa>9 <ftv\aTTovcri Kai 822
1 jnfrplus Bekker and Blasa correct to oi» per plus, after Reiske.
130
AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxv. 2-xxxvi. 2
met with a considerable loss in the disposition of his cargo ; and when Cleomenes declared that he had nothing left of the moneys that had been given him, Nicagoras was vexed, and reported to Sosibius the pleasantry of Cleomenes. Sosibius was glad to get even this matter, but he desired to have some larger accusation with which to exasperate the king, and therefore persuaded Nicagoras to write and leave behind him a letter accusing Cleomenes of planning, in case he got triremes and soldiers from Ptolemy, to seize Cyrene. So Nicagoras wrote a letter to this effect and sailed away ; and Sosibius, after four days had passed, brought the letter to Ptolemy, pretend- ing that he had just received it, and so exasperated the young man that it was decided to remove Cleomenes into a large house, and while treating him in other ways just as before, to prevent his egress.
XXXVI. Even this usage was grievous to Cleo- menes, but his hopes for the future received a greater shock from the following incident. Ptolemy the son of Chrysermus, a friend of King Ptolemy, had all the while been on friendly terms with Cleomenes, and they were quite intimate and outspoken with one another. This Ptolemy, then, now that Cleomenes begged a visit from him, came and conversed in a reasonable way with him, seeking to remove his suspicions and excusing the conduct of the king ; but when he was leaving the house and did not perceive that Cleomenes was following on behind him as far as the doors, he bitterly reproached the guards for the careless and easy watch they kept upon a great wild beast that was so hard to keep.
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
3 pa6v/Jitt>$. TOVTWV 6 KXeOyUez;?;? avrrjKoos yevo- fievos, KOI Trplv alaOeaQat TOV [IroXe/jLaiov ava- vwpricra? e<f>0acre rot? <itXo(?. ev9vs ovv
* ' * *\ '£ '
a? Trporepov et%ov eA-TTtoa? e opyfyv 6J3ov\€V<ravTO TOV TlroXe^atou afivvdfjievoi KOI rrjv v/Spiv a^ta)? rr}? airo9avelv, KOA, fjir] Trepifieveiv wcnrep lepela iriav-
4 Oevras KaraKOTTrjvai' Seivov 'yap, el ra? 71720? 'Avrtyovov, avSpa TroXe/j.ta'rrjv KCU Bpacmjpiov, Sia\vcrei<; virepiStoV KXeo/ze^? fcdd^rai, f.i^rpa- ryvprov /SacriXeo)? cr^o\,rjv dva/nevcov, orav irpwrov aTroOrjraL TO TV/jLTravov KCU /caraTravcrrj TOV 6ia-
(TOV, aTTOKTGl'OVVTOS avTOV.
XXXVII. *E7rel S^ eBo^e TCLVTCL KOI Kara TV^TIV o ITroXe/zaiO? et? JLdva>j3ov •jrpwrov fj,€v SieSaifcav \6yov co? TrapakvoiTO
V7TO TOV 3a(7tX6ft)9' 67T6LTa GfC
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxvi. 3-xxxvn. 2
Cleomenes heard this with his own ears, and without Ptolemy's being aware of his presence went back and told his friends. At once, then, they all aban- doned the hopes they had been cherishing and wrathfully determined to avenge themselves on Ptolemy for his injustice and insolence, and die in a manner worthy of Sparta, instead of waiting like sacrificial victims to be first fattened and then smitten down. For it was an intolerable thing that Cleomenes, after scorning to come to terms with Antigonus, a man who fought well and wrought much, should sit idly down and await the leisure of a begging-priest of a king, who, as soon as he could lay aside his timbrel and stop his dancing, would slay him. XXXVII. Such being their resolve, and Ptolemy, as chance would have it, making a visit to Canopus, in the first place word was sent about that Cleomenes had been set free by the king ; and next, in view of a custom which the king had of sending presents and a banquet to those who were going to be released from imprisonment, the friends of Cleomenes in the city prepared and sent in to him an abundance of such things, thus completely deceiving the guards, who thought the king had sent them. For Cleomenes made a sacrifice and gave the guards a bountiful share of his provisions, and then took his place at table with garlands on his head and feasted with his friends. We are told, too, that he set out upon his enterprise sooner than he had intended, because he learned that a slave who was privy to it had passed the night outside in company with a mistress. So fearing that his plans would be revealed, when noon came and he perceived that his guards were sleeping off their wine, he put on his tunic, opened the seam
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AGIS AND CLEOMENES, xxxvii. 2-6
over his right shoulder, and with drawn sword sprang forth, accompanied by his friends, who were likewise arrayed, thirteen in number. Hippitas, who was lame, joined in making the first onset with all his soul, but when he saw that he was a hindrance to the progress of his companions, he bade them kill him, and not ruin the enterprise by waiting for a useless fellow. As it chanced, however, an Alexan- drian was leading a horse past the doors, so they seized the animal, put Hippitas on its back, and then rushed at full speed through the narrow streets of the city, summoning the throng to win their freedom. These had enough courage, as it would seem, to admire and praise the daring of Cleomenes, but not a man was bold enough to follow and help him.
Well, then, as Ptolemy the son of Chrysermus was coming out of the palace, three of them straightway fell upon him and slew him; and as another Ptolemy, who had the city in his charge, was driving towards them in a chariot, they rushed to meet him, scattered his servants and mercenaries, dragged him from his chariot, and slew him. Then they proceeded to the citadel, purposing to break open the prison and avail themselves of the multitude of prisoners. But the guards were too quick for them and barred the way securely, so that Cleomenes, baffled in this attempt