agesilaus-第8节
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refused to seize the prize； or who regarded victory in a war waged
against fellow…Hellenes as a species of calamity。 Yet this man when a
message was brought him concerning the battle at Corinth；＇8＇ in which
but eight Lacedaemonians had fallen； but of their opponents ten
thousand nearly； showed no sign of exultation； but sighed； saying；
〃Alas for Hellas！ since those who now lie in their graves； were able；
had they lived； to conquer the hosts of Asia。〃＇9＇ Again； when some
Corinthian exiles informed him that their city was ripe for surrender；
and showed him the engines by which they were confident they would
take the walls； he refused to make the assault； saying that Hellene
cities ought not to be reduced to slavery； but brought back to a
better mind；＇10＇ and added； 〃For if we lop off our offending members；
haply we may deprive ourselves of the means to master the barbarians。〃
＇8＇ B。C。 394。 See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 ii。 9…23； Diod。 xiv。 83； Grote； 〃H。 G。〃
ix。 429。
＇9＇ Lit。 〃all the barbarians。〃
＇10＇ See 〃Econ。〃 i。 23。
Again； if it is a sacred duty to hate the Persian； who of old set out
on a campaign to enslave Hellas； the Persian； who to…day makes
alliance with these （no matter to him which the party； provided it
will help him to work the greater mischief＇11＇）； or gives presents to
those （who will take them and do the greatest harm to his foes the
Hellenes）； or else concocts a peace that shall presently involve us in
internecine war； as he anticipates：but why dwell on facts so patent？
I ask； did ever Hellene before Agesilaus so enter heart and soul
upon his duty； whether it were to help some tribe to throw off the
Persian yoke； or to save from destruction a revolted district； or if
nothing else； at any rate to saddle the Persian with such troubles of
his own that he should cease to trouble Hellas？ An ardent hater of
Persia surely was he； who； when his own country was at war with
Hellenes； did not neglect the common good of Hellas； but set sail to
wreak what harm he might upon the barbarians。＇12＇
＇11＇ Or； 〃the worse the mischief he can work； the better the side。〃
＇12＇ See Isocr。 〃Ep。〃 ix。 〃To Archidamus；〃 S。 11…14。
VIII
To turn to another side； that grace of manner which was his； claims
more than passing recognition。 Here was a man to whom honour was
vouchsafed and power present； and who； to crown all else； held in his
hands the sceptre of sovereigntya kingship not plotted against； but
respected and beloved。 Yet there was no trace of arrogance to be seen
in him； but of tender affection and courteous service to his friends
proof in abundance without seeking。 Witness the zest with which he
shared in the round of lovers' talk；＇1＇ the zeal with which he threw
himself into the serious concerns＇2＇ of friends。 By dint of a hopeful
and cheery disposition and unflagging gaiety of heart he attracted to
his side a throng of visitors； who came； not simply for the
transaction of some private interest； but rather to pass away the day
in pleasant sort。 Though little apt himself to use high…swelling
words； it did not annoy him to hear others sounding their own praises；
which he regarded as a harmless weakness； the pledge at least of high
endeavour＇3＇ in the future。
＇1＇ See 〃Hell。〃 V。 iii。 20； 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 iv。 27； 〃Econ。〃 ii。 7； Plut。
〃Ages。〃 ii。； xx。； Lyc。 xx。
＇2＇ Or； 〃he would discuss graver matters； according to the humour of
his friends。〃
＇3＇ Or； 〃of courageous conduct；〃 〃noble manhood。〃
But that he was capable of lofty sentiment and at the right season
must not be overlooked。 Thus when a letter reached him from the king
（I speak of that which was brought by the Persian agent in company
with Calleas＇4＇ of Lacedaemon； proposing terms of hospitality and
friendship with the Persian monarch）； he disdained to accept it；
telling the bearer to take back to the king this answer： 〃He need not
be at pains to send him letters in private； but if he could prove
himself a friend to Lacedaemon and the well…wisher of Hellas he should
have no cause to blame the ardour of his friendship；〃 but added； 〃if
your king be detected plotting； let him not think to find a friend in
me。 No； not if he sends me a thousand letters。〃 For my part； then； I
hold it praiseworthy that； by comparison with pleasing his fellow…
Hellenes； Agesilaus scorned such friendship。 And this； too； among his
tenets I find admirable： the truer title to self…congratulation
belonged not to the millionaire； the master of many legions； but to
him rather； who； being himself a better man； commanded the allegience
of better followers。
＇4＇ See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 i。 15； Plut。 〃Apophth。 Lac。〃 p。 777； Grote； 〃H。
G。〃 x。 402。
And this； in proof of mental forecast； I must needs praise in him。
Holding to the belief that the more satraps there were who revolted
from the king the surer the gain to Hellas； he did not suffer himself
to be seduced； either by gifts or by the mightiness in his power； to
be drawn into bonds of friendship with the king； but took precaution
rather not to abuse their confidence who were willing to revolt。
And lastly； as beyond all controversy admirable； note this contrast：
First； the Persian； who； believing that in the multitude of his riches
he had power to lay all things under his feet； would fain have swept
into his coffers all the gold and all the silver of mankind： for him；
and him alone； the costliest and most precious things of earth。 And
then this other； who contrariwise so furnished his establishment as to
be totally independent of every adventitious aid。＇5＇ And if any one
doubts the statement； let him look and see with what manner of
dwelling…place he was contented； let him view the palace doors： these
are the selfsame doors； he might well imagine； which Aristodemus；＇6＇
the great…great…grandson of Heracles； took and set up in the days of
the return。 Let him endeavour to view the furniture inside； there he
will perceive how the king feasted on high holy days； and he will hear
how the king's own daughter was wont to drive to Amyclae in a public
basket…carriage。＇7＇ Thus it was that by the adjustment of expenditure
to income he was never driven to the commission of any unjust deed for
money's sake。 And yet if it be a fine thing to hold a fortress
impregnable to attck； I count it a greater glory that a man should
hold the fortress of his soul inviolable against the assaults of
riches； pleasures； fears。
＇5＇ Or； 〃of all such external needs。〃
＇6＇ See Herod。 vi。 52。
＇7＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xix。 （Clough； iv。 p。 23）； the words ｛e thugater
autou｝ were supplied from this passage by Casaubon。
IX
I will here state to what extent the style of living which he
presented stands out in striking contrast to the ostentatious manner
of the Persian。＇1＇ In the first place； if the latter made a solemn
affectation of being but seldom seen； Agesilaus delighted to live in
the eye of day； believing that seclusion might accord well enough as a
screen for shameless conduct； but to a life of nobleness and beauty＇2＇
heaven's light added new ornament。＇3＇ And next； if the one prided
himself on being unapproachable； the other rejoiced in being
accessible to all the world； the one； with his airs and graces； was
pleased to transact business slowly； the other was never so happy as
when he could satisfy the demands of a petitioner without waste of
time。＇4＇
＇1＇ Or； 〃how he presented his own manner in antithesis to the false
pretences of the Persian。〃 For ｛alazoneia｝ see 〃Mem。〃 I。 vii。 1；
Aristot。 〃N。 E。〃 iv。 7； Theophr。 〃Char。〃 vi。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃a life striving towards beauteousness。〃
＇3＇ Or； 〃added but greater lustre。〃
＇4＇ Lit。 〃could satisfy and dismiss his petitioners without delay。〃
Again； it is worthy of observation how much easier and simpler to
satisfy was the standard of comfort which the Spartan aimed at。＇5＇ For
the Persian； men must compass sea and land to discover some beverage
which he will care to drink； he needs ten thousand pastrycooks to
supply the kick…shaws he will deign to eat； and to procure him the
blessing of sleep no tongue can describe what a world of trouble must
be taken。 But Agesilaus was a lover of toil； and therefore not so
dainty； the meanest bevera
