agesilaus-第7节
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a little man of a contemptible presence。〃
＇7＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xi。 （Clough； iv。 p。 14）； 〃Parall。 Min。〃 v； Ovid。
〃Met。〃 xi。 102 foll。
What construction some will put upon the story I am well aware； but
for myself I am persuaded that many more people can master their
enemeis than the foes we speak of。＇8＇ Doubtless such incidents when
known to but few may well be discredited by many； but here we are in
the region of establishing facts； seeing that the more illustrious a
man is the less can his every act escape notice。 As to Agesilaus no
eye…witness has ever reported any unworthy behaviour； nor； had he
invented it； would his tale have found credence； since it was not the
habit of the king； when abroad； to lodge apart in private houses。 He
always lay up in some sacred place； where behaviour of the sort was
out of the question； or else in public； with the eyes of all men
liable to be called as witnesses to his sobriety。 For myself； if I
make these statements falsely against the knowledge of Hellas； this
were not in any sense to praise my hero； but to dispraise myself。
＇8＇ Or； 〃than the seductions in question。〃
VI
Nor； in my opinion； were those obscure proofs of courage and true
manliness which he furnished by his readiness ever to wage war against
the strongest enemies； whether of Sparta or of Hellas； placing himself
in the forefront of the contests decided on。 If the enemy cared to
join issue in fair field he would not chance upon a victory won by
panic； but in stubborn battle； blow for blow； he mastered him； and set
up trophies worthy of the name； seeing that he left behind him
imperishable monuments of prowess； and bore away on his own body
indelible marks of the fury with which he fought；＇1＇ so that； apart
from hearsay； by the evidence of men's eyes his valour stood approved。
＇1＇ Or； 〃visible signs of the spirit；〃 etc。 See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xxxvi。
And amongst these we must not deem them trophies alone which he
actually set up； but reckon the many campaigns which he undertook；
since they were victories truly； even when the enemy refused to
encounter him； victories devoid of danger； yet fraught with even more
solid advantage to the state of Sparta and her fellow…combatants； just
as in our games we crown as victor him who walks over the field＇2＇ no
less than him who conquers by dint of battle。
＇2＇ Or； 〃without striking a blow。〃 Lit。 〃without the dust of the
arena； 'sine pulvere。'〃 See Thuc。 iv。 73； ｛akoniti｝。
And to speak next of his wisdom；＇3＇ I suppose there is not one of all
his doings but must illustrate it；this man whose bearing towards his
fatherland was such that by dint of implicit obedience ＇he grew to so
greate a height of power＇；＇4＇ whose zeal in the service of his
comrades won for him the unhesitating attachment of his friends； who
infused into the hearts of his soldiers a spirit； not of discipline
only； but of self…devotion to their chief。 And yet surely that is the
strongest of all battle…lines＇5＇ in which obedience creates tactical
efficieny； and alacrity in the field springs out of loyal affection
for the general。
＇3＇ Or； 〃his sagacity。〃
＇4＇ The words ｛pleiston iskhue｝ are supplied from Plutarch （〃Ages。〃
iv。）； who quotes the passage； 〃What Xenophon tells us of him； that
by complying with； and； as it were； ruled by his country； he grew
into such great power with them； that he could do what he pleased；
is meant；〃 etc。 （Clough； iv。 p。 4）。 The lacuna in the MS。 was
first noted； I believe； by Weiske。 See Breitenbach's note ad loc。
＇5＇ See 〃Cyrop。〃 VII。 i。 30； 〃Econ。〃 xxi。 7。
Enemies he had to cope with； who had little excuse to disparage；
however much they might be compelled to hate their opponent； seeing
that he was for ever contriving to give his allies some advantage over
themby sheer deception； if occasion offered； now anticipating them
if speed were requisite； now skulking in corners if concealment
served； in all points observing one rule of behaviour to his friends
and another towards his foes。 By turning night into day and day into
night＇6＇ he drew so close a veil of mystery over his movements that
frequently there was no saying where he was； or whither he would go；
or what he might do next。 The fastnesses of the enemy he transformed
into so many weaknesses；＇7＇ passing this one by； and scaling that； and
stealing like a thief into a third。
＇6＇ See 〃Hell。〃 VI。 i。 15； 〃Pol。 Lac。〃 v。 7； 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 v。 12。
＇7＇ Or； 〃the strongholds of the enemy might to all intents and
purposes have been open places。〃
When he was on the march； and was well aware that an enemy might； if
he chose； deliver battle； his habit was to lead his troops in compact
battle order ready to confront emergencies； with soft； slow step；
advancing； as it were； with maidenly demureness；＇8＇ for in such
procedure； as he believed； lay the secret of true calm； engendering a
dauntless self…assurance； imperturbable； unerring； impervious to
treacherous assault。 Therefore by such behaviour he was a terror to
the enemy； whilst he infused courage and strength in the hearts of his
friends； so that throughout his life he continued to be a man whom his
foes dared not despise； whom his fellow…citizens cared not to arraign；
within the circle of his friends held blameless； the idol and
admiration of the outer world。＇9＇
＇8＇ See above； ii。 3； 〃Pol。 Lac。〃 iii。 5。
＇9＇ Cf。 Tacitus's phrase concerning Titus； 〃deliciae humani generis。〃
VII
To describe his patriotism＇1＇ point by point in detail were a tedious
story； since； as I suppose； there is not one of his several
achievements but must finally resolve itself into that。 For； to put it
briefly； we all know well that where Agesilaus expected in any way to
benefit his country there was no toil he shrank from； no danger he
avoided； no money he stinted； no excuse whether of age or body he
admitted； but deemed it ever the true function of a good king＇2＇ to
shower blessings to the utmost on the subjects of his rule。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃love for his own city。〃
＇2＇ Or； 〃regarded it as the cardinal virtue of a real prince。〃 See
〃Mem。〃 III。 ii。 3。
And for my part I hold it as chief among the magnificent benefits so
conferred by him upon his country that； being the most powerful member
of the state； he made no secret of his absolute submission to the
laws；＇3＇ since what lesser man； seeing the king's obedience； would
take＇4＇ on himself to disobey？ Who； in discontentment at his own poor
lot； would venture on revolution； knowing that the king himself could
condescend to constitutional control？ And that； too； a king who bore
himself towards political opponents with a paternal mildness。＇5＇ If he
rebuked them sharply for their misdemeanours； he none the less
honoured their high endeavours； and proved himself a present help to
them in time of trouble。＇6＇ No citizen could be his personal foe； of
that he was assured。 His desire was to commend them one and all alike；
counting the common salvation of all a gain； and reckoning it as a
loss if even a mean man perished。 For thus he reasoned； nor made a
secret of the conclusion he had come to： so long as her citizens
continued tranquilly adherent to the laws the happiness of Sparta was
secure。＇7＇ And for the rest Sparta would once again be strong on that
day when the states of Hellas should learn wisdom。
＇3＇ Or； 〃he was at the same time the most obvious in his allegiance to
the laws。〃
＇4＇ Lit。 〃would have taken on himself 。 。 。 would have ventured on
revolution。〃
＇5＇ Lit。 〃as a father to his children。〃
＇6＇ Or； 〃and was ready to stand by their side in time of trouble。〃
＇7＇ Or； 〃For this was the clear tenor of his thought； that by tranquil
continuance within the laws the citizens of Sparta might secure
her happiness。 And as to power； Sparta； etc。〃 See 〃Mem。〃 II。 vi。
27。
And if； by admission； it is noble for every Hellene to be a lover of
his fellow…Hellenes； yet we must fare far afield to find another
instance of a general who； expecting to sack some city； would have
refused to seize the prize； or who regarded victory in a war waged
against fellow…Hellenes as a species of calamity。 Yet this
