the comparison of pompey with agesilaus-第2节
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advantage of his fleet and his superiority at sea; if he would but
have followed the examples of Maximus; Marius; Lucullus; and even
Agesilaus himself; who endured no less tumults within the city of
Sparta; when the Thebans provoked him to come out and fight in
defence of the land; and sustained in Egypt also numerous calumnies;
slanders; and suspicions on the part of the king; whom he counselled
to abstain from a battle。 And thus following always what he had
determined in his own judgment upon mature advice; by that means he
not only preserved the Egyptians against their wills; not only kept
Sparta; in those desperate convulsions; by his sole act; safe from
overthrow; but even was able to set up trophies likewise in the city
over the Thebans; having given his countrymen an occasion of being
victorious afterwards by not at first leading them out; as they
tried to force him to do; to their own destruction。 The consequence
was that in the end Agesilaus was commended by the very men; when
they found themselves saved; upon whom he had put this compulsion;
whereas Pompey; whose error had been occasioned by others; found
those his accusers whose advice had misled him。 Some indeed profess
that he was deceived by his father…in…law Scipio; who; designing to
conceal and keep to himself the greatest part of that treasure which
he had brought out of Asia; pressed Pompey to battle; upon the
pretence that there would be a want of money。 Yet admitting he was
deceived; one in his place ought not to have been so; nor should have
allowed so slight an artifice to cause the hazard of such mighty
interests。 And thus we have taken a view of each; by comparing
together their conduct and actions in war。
As to their voyages into Egypt; one steered his course thither out
of necessity in flight; the other neither honourably; nor of
necessity; but as a mercenary soldier; having enlisted himself into
the service of a barbarous nation for pay; that he might be able
afterwards to wage war upon the Greeks。 And secondly; what we charge
upon the Egyptians in the name of Pompey; the Egyptians lay to the
charge of Agesilaus。 Pompey trusted them and was betrayed and
murdered by them; Agesilaus accepted their confidence and deserted
them; transferring his aid to the very enemies who were now attacking
those whom he had been brought over to assist。
THE END