Agesilaus | Page 4

measured cadence.
And so I pass on at once to narrate the chief achievements of his reign,
since by the light of deeds the character of him who wrought them will,
if I mistake not, best shine forth.
Agesilaus was still a youth[5] when he obtained the kingdom, and he
was still but a novice in his office when the news came that the king of
Persia was collecting a mighty armament by sea and land for the
invasion of Hellas. The Lacedaemonians and their allies sat debating
these matters, when Agesilaus undertook to cross over into Asia. He
only asked for thirty Spartans and two thousand New Citizens,[6]
besides a contingent of the allies six thousand strong; with these he
would cross over into Asia and endeavour to effect a peace; or, if the
barbarian preferred war, he would leave him little leisure to invade
Hellas.
[5] B.C. 399; according to Plut. ("Ages." ad fin.) he was forty-three,
and therefore still "not old." See "Hell." III. iv. 1 for the startling news,

B.C. 396.
[6] For the class of Neodamodes, see Arnold's note to Thuc. v. 34
(Jowett, "Thuc." ii. 307); also Thuc. vii. 58; "Hell." I. iii. 15.
The proposal was welcomed with enthusiasm on the part of many.
They could not but admire the eagerness of their king to retaliate upon
the Persian for his former invasions of Hellas by counter-invasion on
his own soil. They liked the preference also which he showed for
attacking rather than awaiting his enemy's attack, and his intention to
carry on the war at the expense of Persia rather than that of Hellas; but
it was the perfection of policy, they felt, so to change the arena of battle,
with Asia as the prize of victory instead of Hellas. If we pass on to the
moment when he had received his army and set sail, I can conceive no
clearer exposition of his generalship than the bare narration of his
exploits.
The scene is Asia, and this his first achievement. Tissaphernes had
sworn an oath to Agesilaus on this wise: if Agesilaus would grant him
an armistice until the return of certain ambassadors whom he would
send to the king, he (Tissaphernes) would do his utmost to procure the
independence of the Hellenic cities in Asia. And Agesilaus took a
counter oath: without fraud or covin to observe the armistice during the
three months[7] necessary to that transaction. But the compact was
scarcely made when Tissaphernes gave the lie to the solemn
undertaking he had sworn to. So far from effecting peace, he begged
the King to send him a large armament in addition to that which he
already had. As to Agesilaus, though he was well aware of these
proceedings, he adhered loyally to the armistice.
[7] See Grote, "H. G." x. 359; "Hell." III. iv. 5.
And for myself, I look upon this as the first glorious achievement of the
Spartan. By displaying the perjury of Tissaphernes he robbed him of
his credit with all the world; by the exhibition of himself in contrast as
a man who ratified his oath and would not gainsay an article of his
agreement, he gave all men, Hellenes and barbarians alike,
encouragement to make covenant with him to the full extent of his
desire.
When Tissaphernes, priding himself on the strength of that army which
had come down to aid him, bade Agesilaus to be gone from Asia or to
prepare for war,[8] deep was the vexation depicted on the faces of the

Lacedaemonians there present and their allies, as they realised that the
scanty force of Agesilaus was all too small to cope with the armaments
of Persia. But the brow of their general was lit with joy as gaily he bade
the ambassadors take back this answer to Tissaphernes: "I hold myself
indebted to your master for the perjury whereby he has obtained to
himself the hostility of heaven, and made the gods themselves allies of
Hellas." And so without further pause he published a general order to
his soldiers to pack their baggage and prepare for active service; and to
the several cities which lay on the line of march to Caria, the order sped
to have their markets in readiness; while to the men of Ionia and the
Aeolid and the Hellespont he sent despatches bidding them send their
contingents to Ephesus to join in the campaign.
[8] Lit. "When Tissaphernes, priding himself . . . bade Agesilaus be
gone . . . deep was the annoyance felt."
Tissaphernes meanwhile was influenced by the fact that Agesilaus had
no cavalry, and that Caria was a hilly district unsuited for that arm.
Moreover, as he further bethought him, Agesilaus must needs be wroth
with him for his deceit. What could be