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Download: A 70k text-only version is <A HREF="cleomene.1b.txt" onMouseOver="window.status='Download text-only version'; return true;">available for download</A>. <HR SIZE="1" COLOR="990033" NOSHADE> <A NAME="1"></A><DIV ALIGN="CENTER">Cleomenes <A NAME="2"></A> (died 219 B.C.E.) By Plutarch <A NAME="3"></A> Written 75 A.C.E. Translated by John Dryden</DIV> <A NAME="start"></A> <A NAME="10"></A>Thus fell Agis. His brother Archidamus was too quick for Leonidas, and <A NAME="11"></A>saved himself by a timely retreat. But his wife, then mother of a young <A NAME="12"></A>child, he forced from her own house, and compelled Agiatis, for that was <A NAME="13"></A>her name, to marry his son Cleomenes, though at that time too young for <A NAME="14"></A>a wife, because he was unwilling that any one else should have her, being <A NAME="15"></A>heiress to her father Gylippus's great estate; in person the most youthful <A NAME="16"></A>and beautiful woman in all Greece and well-conducted in her habits of life. <A NAME="17"></A>And therefore, they say, she did all she could that she might not be compelled <A NAME="18"></A>to this new marriage. But being thus united to Cleomenes, she indeed hated <A NAME="19"></A>Leonidas, but to the youth showed herself a kind and obliging wife. He, <A NAME="20"></A>as soon as they came together, began to love her very much, and the constant <A NAME="21"></A>kindness that she still retained for the memory of Agis brought somewhat <A NAME="22"></A>of the like feeling in the young man for him, so that he would often inquire <A NAME="23"></A>of her concerning what had passed, and attentively listen to the story <A NAME="24"></A>of Agis's purpose and design. Now Cleomenes had a generous and great soul; <A NAME="25"></A>he was as temperate and moderate in his pleasures as Agis, but not so scrupulous, <A NAME="26"></A>circumspect, and gentle. There was something of heat and passion always <A NAME="27"></A>goading him on, and an impetuosity and violence in his eagerness to pursue <A NAME="28"></A>anything which he thought good and just. To have men obey him of their <A NAME="29"></A>own free-will, he conceived to be the best discipline; but likewise, to <A NAME="30"></A>subdue resistance, and force them to the better course was, in his opinion, <A NAME="31"></A>commendable and brave. <A NAME="32"></A> This disposition made him dislike the management of the city. The <A NAME="33"></A>citizens lay dissolved in supine idleness and pleasures, the king let everything <A NAME="34"></A>take its own way, thankful if nobody gave him any disturbance, nor called <A NAME="35"></A>him away from the enjoyment of his wealth and luxury. The public interest <A NAME="36"></A>was neglected, and each man intent upon his private gain. It was dangerous, <A NAME="37"></A>now Agis was killed, so much as to name such a thing as the exercising <A NAME="38"></A>and training of their youth: and to speak of the ancient temperance, endurance, <A NAME="39"></A>and equality, was a sort of treason against the state. It is said also <A NAME="40"></A>that Cleomenes, whilst a boy, studied philosophy under Sphaerus, the Borystenite, <A NAME="41"></A>who crossed over to Sparta, and spent some time and trouble in instructing <A NAME="42"></A>the youth. Sphaerus was one of the first of Zeno the Citiean's scholars, <A NAME="43"></A>and it is likely enough that he admired the manly temper of Cleomenes and <A NAME="44"></A>inflamed his generous ambition. The ancient Leonidas, as story tells, being <A NAME="45"></A>asked what manner of poet he thought Tyrtaeus, replied, "Good to whet young <A NAME="46"></A>men's courage;" for being filled with a divine fury by his poems, they <A NAME="47"></A>rushed into any danger. And so the Stoic philosophy is a dangerous incentive <A NAME="48"></A>to strong and fiery dispositions, but where it combines with a grave and <A NAME="49"></A>gentle temper, is most successful in leading it to its proper <A NAME="50"></A>good. <A NAME="51"></A> Upon the death of his father Leonidas, he succeeded, and observing <A NAME="52"></A>the citizens of all sorts to be debauched, the rich neglecting the public <A NAME="53"></A>good, and intent on their private gain and pleasure, and the poor distressed <A NAME="54"></A>in their own homes, and therefore without either spirit for war or ambition <A NAME="55"></A>to be trained up as Spartans, that he had only the name of king, and the <A NAME="56"></A>ephors all the power, he was resolved to change the posture of affairs. <A NAME="57"></A>He had a friend whose name was Xenares, his lover (such an affection the <A NAME="58"></A>Spartans express by the term, being inspired, or imbreathed with); him <A NAME="59"></A>he sounded, and of him he would commonly inquire what manner of king Agis <A NAME="60"></A>was, by what means and by what assistance he began and pursued his designs. <A NAME="61"></A>Xenares, at first, willingly complied with his request, and told him the <A NAME="62"></A>whole story, with all the particular circumstances of the actions. But <A NAME="63"></A>when he observed Cleomenes to be extremely affected at the relation, and <A NAME="64"></A>more than ordinarily taken with Agis's new model of the government, and <A NAME="65"></A>begging a repetition of the story, he at first severely chid him, told <A NAME="66"></A>him he was frantic, and at last left off all sort of familiarity and intercourse, <A NAME="67"></A>yet he never told any man the cause of their disagreement, but would only <A NAME="68"></A>say, Cleomenes knew very well. Cleomenes, finding Xenares averse to his <A NAME="69"></A>designs, and thinking all others to be of the same disposition, consulted <A NAME="70"></A>with none, but contrived the whole business by himself. And considering <A NAME="71"></A>that it would be easier to bring about an alteration when the city was <A NAME="72"></A>at war than when in peace, he engaged the commonwealth in a quarrel with <A NAME="73"></A>the Achaeans, who had given them fair occasions to complain. For Aratus, <A NAME="74"></A>a man of the greatest power amongst all the Achaeans, designed from the <A NAME="75"></A>very beginning to bring all the Peloponnesians into one common body. And <A NAME="76"></A>to effect this was the one object of all his many commanderships and his <A NAME="77"></A>long political course; as he thought this the only means to make them a <A NAME="78"></A>match for their foreign enemies. Pretty nearly all the rest agreed to his <A NAME="79"></A>proposals, only the Lacedaemonians, the Eleans, and as many of the Arcadians <A NAME="80"></A>as inclined to the Spartan interest, remained unpersuaded. And so as soon <A NAME="81"></A>as Leonidas was dead, he began to attack the Arcadians, and wasted those <A NAME="82"></A>especially that bordered on Achaea; by this means designing to try the <A NAME="83"></A>inclinations of the Spartans, and despising Cleomenes as a youth, and of <A NAME="84"></A>no experience in affairs of state or war. Upon this, the ephors sent Cleomenes <A NAME="85"></A>to surprise the Athenaeum, near Belbina, which is a pass commanding an <A NAME="86"></A>entrance into Laconia, and was then the subject of litigation with the <A NAME="87"></A>Megalopolitans. Cleomenes possessed himself of the place, and fortified <A NAME="88"></A>it, at which action Aratus showed no public resentment, but marched by <A NAME="89"></A>night to surprise Tegea and Orchomenus. The design failed, for those that <A NAME="90"></A>were to betray the cities into his hands turned afraid; so Aratus retreated, <A NAME="91"></A>imagining that his design had been undiscovered. But Cleomenes wrote a <A NAME="92"></A>sarcastic letter to him, and desired to know as from a friend, whither <A NAME="93"></A>he intended to march at night; and Aratus answering, that having heard <A NAME="94"></A>of his design to fortify Belbina, he meant to march thither to oppose him, <A NAME="95"></A>Cleomenes rejoined that he did not dispute it, but begged to be informed, <A NAME="96"></A>if he might be allowed to ask the question, why he carried those torches <A NAME="97"></A>and ladders with him. <A NAME="98"></A> Aratus laughing at the jest, and asking what manner of youth this <A NAME="99"></A>was, Damocrates, a Spartan exile, replied, "If you have any designs upon <A NAME="100"></A>the Lacedaemonians, begin before this young eagle's talons are grown." <A NAME="101"></A>Presently after this, Cleomenes, encamping in Arcadia with a few horse <A NAME="102"></A>and three hundred foot, received orders from the ephors, who feared to <A NAME="103"></A>engage in the war, commanding him to return home; but when upon his retreat <A NAME="104"></A>Aratus took Caphyae, they commissioned him again. In this expedition he <A NAME="105"></A>took Methydrium, and overran the country of the Argives; and the Achaeans, <A NAME="106"></A>to oppose him, came out with an army of twenty thousand foot and one thousand <A NAME="107"></A>horse, under the command of Aristomachus. Cleomenes faced them at Pallantium, <A NAME="108"></A>and offered battle, but Aratus, being cowed by his bravery, would not suffer <A NAME="109"></A>the general to engage, but retreated amidst the reproaches of the Achaeans <A NAME="110"></A>and the derision and scorn of the Spartans, who were not above five thousand. <A NAME="111"></A>Cleomenes, encouraged by this success, began to speak boldly among the <A NAME="112"></A>citizens, and reminding them of a sentence of one of their ancient kings, <A NAME="113"></A>said, it was in vain now that the Spartans asked not how many their enemies <A NAME="114"></A>were, but where they were. After this, marching to the assistance of the <A NAME="115"></A>Eleans, whom the Achaeans were attacking, falling upon the enemy in their <A NAME="116"></A>retreat near the Lycaeum, he put their whole army to flight, taking a great <A NAME="117"></A>number of captives, and leaving many dead upon the place; so that it was <A NAME="118"></A>commonly reported amongst the Greeks that Aratus was slain. But Aratus, <A NAME="119"></A>making the best advantage of the opportunity, immediately after the defeat <A NAME="120"></A>marched to Mantinea, and before anybody suspected it, took the city, and <A NAME="121"></A>put a garrison into it. Upon this, the Lacedaemonians being quite discouraged, <A NAME="122"></A>and opposing Cleomenes's designs of carrying on the war, he now exerted <A NAME="123"></A>himself to have Archidamus, the brother of Agis, sent for from Messene, <A NAME="124"></A>as he, of the other family, had a right to the kingdom; and besides, Cleomenes <A NAME="125"></A>thought that the power of the ephors would be reduced, when the kingly <A NAME="126"></A>state was thus filled up, and raised to its proper position. But those <A NAME="127"></A>that were concerned in the murder of Agis, perceiving the design, and fearing <A NAME="128"></A>that upon Archidamus's return that they should be called to an account, <A NAME="129"></A>received him on his coming privately into town, and joined in bringing <A NAME="130"></A>him home, and presently after murdered him. Whether Cleomenes was against <A NAME="131"></A>it, as Phylarchus thinks, or whether he was persuaded by his friends, or <A NAME="132"></A>let him fall into their hands, is uncertain; however, they were most blamed, <A NAME="133"></A>as having forced his consent. <A NAME="134"></A> He, still resolving to new model the state, bribed the ephors to <A NAME="135"></A>send him out to war; and won the affections of many others by means of <A NAME="136"></A>his mother Cratesiclea, who spared no cost and was very zealous to promote <A NAME="137"></A>her son's ambition; and though of herself she had no inclination to marry, <A NAME="138"></A>yet for his sake she accepted, as her husband, one of the chiefest citizens <A NAME="139"></A>for wealth and power. Cleomenes, marching forth with the army now under <A NAME="140"></A>his command, took Leuctra, a place belonging to Megalopolis; and the Achaeans <A NAME="141"></A>quickly coming up to resist him with a good body of men commanded by Aratus, <A NAME="142"></A>in a battle under the very walls of the city, some part of his army was <A NAME="143"></A>routed. But whereas Aratus had commanded the Achaeans not to pass a deep <A NAME="144"></A>watercourse, and thus put a stop to the pursuit, Lydiadas, the Megalopolitan, <A NAME="145"></A>fretting at the orders, and encouraging the horse which he led, and following <A NAME="146"></A>the routed enemy, got into a place full of vines, hedges, and ditches; <A NAME="147"></A>and being forced to break his ranks, began to retire in disorder. Cleomenes, <A NAME="148"></A>observing the advantage, commanded the Tarentines and Cretans to engage <A NAME="149"></A>him, by whom, after a brave defence, he was routed and slain. The Lacedaemonians, <A NAME="150"></A>thus encouraged, fell with a great shout upon the Achaeans, and routed <A NAME="151"></A>their whole army. Of the slain, who were very many, the rest Cleomenes <A NAME="152"></A>delivered up, when the enemy petitioned for them; but the body of Lydiadas <A NAME="153"></A>he commanded to be brought to him; and then putting on it a purple robe, <A NAME="154"></A>and a crown upon its head, sent a convoy with it to the gates of Megalopolis. <A NAME="155"></A>This is that Lydiadas who resigned his power as tyrant, restored liberty <A NAME="156"></A>to the citizens, and joined the city to the Achaean <A NAME="157"></A>interest. <A NAME="158"></A> Cleomenes, being very much elated by this success, and persuaded <A NAME="159"></A>that if matters were wholly at his disposal he should soon be too hard <A NAME="160"></A>for the Achaeans, persuaded Magistonus, his mother's husband, that it was <A NAME="161"></A>expedient for the state to shake off the power of the ephors, and to put <A NAME="162"></A>all their wealth into one common stock for the whole body; thus Sparta, <A NAME="163"></A>being restored to its old equality, might aspire again to the command of <A NAME="164"></A>all Greece. Megistonas liked the design, and engaged two or three more <A NAME="165"></A>of his friends. About that time, one of the ephors, sleeping in Pasiphaes <A NAME="166"></A>temple, dreamed a very surprising dream; for he thought he saw the four <A NAME="167"></A>chairs removed out of the place where the ephors used to sit and do the <A NAME="168"></A>business of their office, and one only set there; and whilst he wondered, <A NAME="169"></A>he heard a voice out of the temple, saying, "This is best for Sparta." <A NAME="170"></A>The person telling Cleomenes this dream, he was a little troubled at first, <A NAME="171"></A>fearing that he used this as a trick to sift him, upon some suspicion of <A NAME="172"></A>his design, but when he was satisfied that the relator spoke truth, he <A NAME="173"></A>took heart again. And carrying with him those whom he thought would be <A NAME="174"></A>most against his project, he took Heraea and Alsaea two towns in league <A NAME="175"></A>with the Achaeans, furnished Orchomenus with provisions, encamped before <A NAME="176"></A>Mantinea, and with long marches up and down so harassed the Lacedaemonians <A NAME="177"></A>that many of them at their own request were left behind in Arcadia, while <A NAME="178"></A>he with the mercenaries went on toward Sparta, and by the way communicated <A NAME="179"></A>his design to those whom he thought fitted for his purpose, and marched <A NAME="180"></A>slowly, that he might catch the ephors at supper. <A NAME="181"></A> When he was come near the city, he sent Euryclidas to the public <A NAME="182"></A>table, where the ephors supped, under pretence of carrying some message <A NAME="183"></A>from him from the army; Therycion, Phoebis, and two of those who had been <A NAME="184"></A>bred up with Cleomenes, whom they call mothaces, followed with a few soldiers; <A NAME="185"></A>and whilst Euryclidas was delivering his message to the ephors, they ran <A NAME="186"></A>upon them with their drawn swords and slew them. The first of them, Agylaeus, <A NAME="187"></A>on receiving the blow, fell, and lay as dead; but in a little time quietly <A NAME="188"></A>raising himself, and drawing himself out of the room, he crept, without <A NAME="189"></A>being discovered, into a little building which was dedicated to Fear, and <A NAME="190"></A>which always used to be shut, but then by chance was open; and being got <A NAME="191"></A>in, he shut the door, and lay close. The other four were killed, and above <A NAME="192"></A>ten more that came to their assistance; to those that were quiet they did <A NAME="193"></A>no harm, stopped none that fled from the city and spared Agylaeus when <A NAME="194"></A>he came out of the temple the next day. <A NAME="195"></A> The Lacedaemonians have not only sacred places dedicated to Fear, <A NAME="196"></A>but also to Death, Laughter, and the like Passions. Now they worship Fear, <A NAME="197"></A>not as they do supernatural powers which they dread, esteeming it hurtful, <A NAME="198"></A>but thinking their polity is chiefly kept up by fear. Therefore the ephors, <A NAME="199"></A>Aristotle is my author, when they entered upon their government, made proclamation <A NAME="200"></A>to the people, that they should shave their mustaches and be obedient to <A NAME="201"></A>the laws, that the laws might not be hard upon them, making, I suppose, <A NAME="202"></A>this trivial injunction to accustom their youth to obedience even in the <A NAME="203"></A>smallest matters. And the ancients, I think, did not imagine bravery to <A NAME="204"></A>be plain fearlessness, but a cautious fear of blame and disgrace. For those <A NAME="205"></A>that show most timidity towards the laws are most bold against their enemies; <A NAME="206"></A>and those are least afraid of any danger who are most afraid of a just <A NAME="207"></A>reproach. Therefore it was well said that- <A NAME="208"></A> "A reverence still attends on fear;" and by <A NAME="209"></A>Homer,- <A NAME="210"></A> "Feared you shall be, dear father, and revered;" and <A NAME="211"></A>again,- <A NAME="212"></A> "In silence fearing those that bore the sway;" for the generality <A NAME="213"></A>of men are most ready to reverence those whom they fear. And, therefore, <A NAME="214"></A>the Lacedaemonians placed the temple of Fear by the Syssitium of the ephors, <A NAME="215"></A>having raised that magistracy to almost royal authority. <A NAME="216"></A> The next day, Cleomenes proscribed eighty of the citizens whom <A NAME="217"></A>he thought necessary to banish, and removed all the seats of the ephors, <A NAME="218"></A>except one, in which he himself designed to sit and give audience; and <A NAME="219"></A>calling the citizens together he made an apology for his proceedings, saying, <A NAME="220"></A>that by Lycurgus, the counsel of Elders was joined to the kings, and that <A NAME="221"></A>that of government had continued a long time, and no other sort of magistrates <A NAME="222"></A>had been wanted. But afterwards, in the long war with the Messenians, when <A NAME="223"></A>the kings, having to command the army, found no time to administer justice, <A NAME="224"></A>they chose some of their friends, and left them to determine the suits <A NAME="225"></A>of the citizens in their stead. These were called ephors, and at first <A NAME="226"></A>behaved themselves as servants to the kings; but afterwards, by degrees, <A NAME="227"></A>they appropriated the power to themselves, and erected a distinct magistracy. <A NAME="228"></A>An evidence of the truth of this was the custom still observed by the kings, <A NAME="229"></A>who, when the ephors send for them, refuse, upon the first and the second <A NAME="230"></A>summons, to go, but upon the third rise up and attend them. And Asteropus, <A NAME="231"></A>the first that raised the ephors to that height of power, lived a great <A NAME="232"></A>many years after their institution. So long, therefore, he continued, as <A NAME="233"></A>they contained themselves within their own proper sphere, it had been better <A NAME="234"></A>to bear with them than to make a disturbance. But that an upstart introduced <A NAME="235"></A>power should so far subvert the ancient form of government as to banish <A NAME="236"></A>some kings, murder others, without hearing their defence, and threaten <A NAME="237"></A>those who desired to see the best and most divine constitution restored <A NAME="238"></A>in Sparta, was not to be borne. Therefore, if it had been possible for <A NAME="239"></A>him without bloodshed to free Lacedaemon from those foreign plagues, luxury, <A NAME="240"></A>sumptuosity, debts, and usury, and from those yet more ancient evils, poverty <A NAME="241"></A>and riches, he should have thought himself the happiest king in the world, <A NAME="242"></A>to have succeeded, like an expert physician, in curing the diseases of <A NAME="243"></A>his country without pain. But now, in this necessity, Lycurgus's example <A NAME="244"></A>favoured his proceedings, who being neither king nor magistrate, but a <A NAME="245"></A>private man, and aiming at the kingdom, came armed into the market-place, <A NAME="246"></A>so that King Charillus fled in alarm to the altar. He, being a good man, <A NAME="247"></A>and a lover of his country, readily concurred in Lycurgus's designs, and <A NAME="248"></A>admitted the revolution in the state. But, by his own actions, Lycurgus <A NAME="249"></A>had nevertheless borne witness that it was difficult to change the government <A NAME="250"></A>without force and fear, in the use of which he himself, he said, had been <A NAME="251"></A>so moderate as to do no more than put out of the way those who opposed <A NAME="252"></A>themselves to Sparta's happiness and safety. For the rest of the nation, <A NAME="253"></A>he told them, the whole land was now their common property; debtors should <A NAME="254"></A>be cleared of their debts, and examination made of those who were not citizens, <A NAME="255"></A>that the bravest men might thus be made free Spartans, and give aid in <A NAME="256"></A>arms to save the city, and "we," he said, "may no longer see Laconia, for <A NAME="257"></A>want of men to defend it, wasted by the Aetolians and <A NAME="258"></A>Illyrians." <A NAME="259"></A> Then he himself first, with his step-father, Megistonas, and his <A NAME="260"></A>friends, gave up all their wealth into one public stock, and all the other <A NAME="261"></A>citizens followed the example. The land was divided, and every one that <A NAME="262"></A>he had banished had a share assigned him; for he promised to restore all <A NAME="263"></A>as soon as things were settled and in quiet. And completing the number <A NAME="264"></A>of citizens out of the best and most promising of the country people, he <A NAME="265"></A>raised a body of four thousand men; and instead of a spear, taught them <A NAME="266"></A>to use a sarissa, with both hands, and to carry their shields by a band, <A NAME="267"></A>and not by a handle, as before. After this he began to consult about the <A NAME="268"></A>education of the youth, and the Discipline, as they call it; most of the <A NAME="269"></A>particulars of which Sphaerus, being then at Sparta, assisted in arranging; <A NAME="270"></A>and in a short time the schools of exercise and the common tables recovered <A NAME="271"></A>their ancient decency and order, a few out of necessity, but the most voluntarily, <A NAME="272"></A>returning to that generous and Laconic way of living. And, that the name <A NAME="273"></A>of monarch might give them no jealousy, he made Euclidas, his brother, <A NAME="274"></A>partner in the throne; and that was the only time that Sparta had two kings <A NAME="275"></A>of the same family. <A NAME="276"></A> Then, understanding that the Achaeans and Aratus imagined that <A NAME="277"></A>this change had disturbed and shaken his affairs, and that he would not <A NAME="278"></A>venture out of Sparta and leave the city now unsettled in the midst of <A NAME="279"></A>so great an alteration, he thought it great and serviceable to his designs <A NAME="280"></A>to show his enemies the zeal and forwardness of his troops. And, therefore, <A NAME="281"></A>making an incursion into the territories of Megalopolis, he wasted the <A NAME="282"></A>country far and wide, and collected considerable booty. And at last, taking <A NAME="283"></A>a company of actors as they were travelling from Messene, and building <A NAME="284"></A>a theatre in the enemy's country, and offering a prize of forty mince in <A NAME="285"></A>value, he sat spectator a whole day; not that he either desired or needed <A NAME="286"></A>such amusement, but wishing to show his disregard for his enemies, and <A NAME="287"></A>by a display of his contempt, to prove the extent of his superiority to <A NAME="288"></A>them. For his alone, of all the Greek or royal armies, had no stage-players, <A NAME="289"></A>no jugglers, no dancing or singing women attending it but was free from <A NAME="290"></A>all sorts of looseness, wantonness, and festivity, the young men being <A NAME="291"></A>for the most part at their exercises, and the old men giving them lessons, <A NAME="292"></A>or, at leisure times, diverting themselves with their native jests, and <A NAME="293"></A>quick Laconian answers; the good results of which we have noticed in the <A NAME="294"></A>life of Lycurgus. <A NAME="295"></A> He himself instructed all by his example; he was a living pattern <A NAME="296"></A>of temperance before every man's eyes; and his course of living was neither <A NAME="297"></A>more stately, nor more expensive, nor in any way more pretentious, than <A NAME="298"></A>that of his people. And this was a considerable advantage to him in his <A NAME="299"></A>designs on Greece. For men when they waited upon other kings did not so <A NAME="300"></A>much admire their wealth, costly furniture, and numerous attendance, as <A NAME="301"></A>they hated their pride and state, their difficulty of access, and imperious <A NAME="302"></A>answers to their addresses. But when they came to Cleomenes, who was both <A NAME="303"></A>really a king and bore that title, and saw no purple, no robes of state <A NAME="304"></A>upon him, no couches and litters about him for his ease, and that he did <A NAME="305"></A>not receive requests and return answers after a long delay and difficulty, <A NAME="306"></A>through a number of messengers and door-keepers, or by memorials, but that <A NAME="307"></A>he rose and came forward in any dress he might happen to be wearing, to <A NAME="308"></A>meet those that came to wait upon him, stayed, talked freely and affably <A NAME="309"></A>with all that had business, they were extremely taken, and won to his service, <A NAME="310"></A>and professed that he alone was the true son of Hercules. His common every-day's <A NAME="311"></A>meal was in an ordinary room, very sparing, and after the Laconic manner; <A NAME="312"></A>and when he entertained ambassadors, or strangers, two more couches were <A NAME="313"></A>added, and a little better dinner provided by his servants, but no savouring <A NAME="314"></A>sauces or sweetmeats; only the dishes were larger, and the wine more plentiful. <A NAME="315"></A>For he reproved one of his friends for entertaining some strangers with <A NAME="316"></A>nothing but barley bread and black broth, such diet as they usually had <A NAME="317"></A>in their phiditia; saying that upon such occasions, and when they entertained <A NAME="318"></A>strangers, it was not well to be too exact Laconians. After the table was <A NAME="319"></A>removed, a stand was brought in with a brass vessel full of wine, two silver <A NAME="320"></A>bowls, which held about a pint apiece, a few silver cups, of which he that <A NAME="321"></A>pleased might drink, but wine was not urged on any of the guests. There <A NAME="322"></A>was no music, nor was any required; for he entertained the company himself, <A NAME="323"></A>sometimes asking questions, sometimes telling stories; and his conversation <A NAME="324"></A>was neither too grave or disagreeably serious, nor yet in any way rude <A NAME="325"></A>or ungraceful in its pleasantry. For he thought those ways of entrapping <A NAME="326"></A>men by gifts and presents, which other kings use, dishonest and artificial; <A NAME="327"></A>and it seemed to him to be the most noble method, and most suitable to <A NAME="328"></A>a king, to win the affections of those that came near him, by personal <A NAME="329"></A>intercourse and agreeable conversation, since between a friend and a mercenary <A NAME="330"></A>the only distinction is, that we gain the one by one's character and conversation, <A NAME="331"></A>the other by one's money. <A NAME="332"></A> The Mantineans were the first that requested his aid; and when <A NAME="333"></A>he entered their city by night, they aided him to expel the Achaean garrison, <A NAME="334"></A>and put themselves under his protection. He restored them their polity <A NAME="335"></A>and laws, and the same day marched to Tegea; and a little while after, <A NAME="336"></A>fetching a compass through Arcadia, he made a descent upon Pherae, in Achaea, <A NAME="337"></A>intending to force Aratus to a battle, or bring him into disrepute for <A NAME="338"></A>refusing to engage, and suffer him to waste the country. Hyperbatas at <A NAME="339"></A>that time was general, but Aratus had all the power amongst the Achaeans, <A NAME="340"></A>marching forth with their whole strength, and encamping in Dymae, near <A NAME="341"></A>the Hecatombaeum, Cleomenes came up, and thinking it not advisable to pitch <A NAME="342"></A>between Dymae, a city of the enemies, and the camp of the Achaeans, he <A NAME="343"></A>boldly dared the Achaeans, and forced them to a battle, and routing their <A NAME="344"></A>phalanx, slew a great many in the fight, and took many prisoners, and thence <A NAME="345"></A>marching to Langon, and driving out the Achaean garrison, he restored the <A NAME="346"></A>city to the Eleans. <A NAME="347"></A> The affair of the Achaeans being in this unfortunate condition, <A NAME="348"></A>Aratus, who was wont to take the office every other year, refused the command, <A NAME="349"></A>though they entreated and urged him to accept it. And this was ill-done, <A NAME="350"></A>when the storm was high, to put the power out of his own hands, and set <A NAME="351"></A>another to the helm. Cleomenes at first proposed fair and easy conditions <A NAME="352"></A>by his ambassadors to the Achaeans, but afterwards he sent others, and <A NAME="353"></A>required the chief command to be settled upon him; in other matters offering <A NAME="354"></A>to agree to reasonable terms, and to restore their captives and their country. <A NAME="355"></A>The Achaeans were willing to come to an agreement upon those terms, and <A NAME="356"></A>invited Cleomenes to Lerna, where an assembly was to be held; but it happened <A NAME="357"></A>that Cleomenes, hastily marching on, and drinking water at a wrong time, <A NAME="358"></A>brought up a quantity of blood and lost his voice; therefore being unable <A NAME="359"></A>to continue his journey, he sent the chiefest of the captives to the Achaeans, <A NAME="360"></A>and, putting off the meeting for some time, retired to <A NAME="361"></A>Lacedaemon. <A NAME="362"></A> This ruined the affairs of Greece, which was just beginning in <A NAME="363"></A>some sort to recover from its disasters, and to show some capability of <A NAME="364"></A>delivering itself from the insolence and rapacity of the Macedonians. For <A NAME="365"></A>Aratus (whether fearing or distrusting Cleomenes, or envying his unlooked-for <A NAME="366"></A>success, or thinking it a disgrace for him who had commanded thirty-three <A NAME="367"></A>years to have a young man succeed to all his glory and his power, and be <A NAME="368"></A>head of that government which he had been raising and settling so many <A NAME="369"></A>years), first endeavoured to keep the Achaeans from closing with Cleomenes; <A NAME="370"></A>but when they would not hearken to him, for Cleomenes' daring spirit, and <A NAME="371"></A>thinking the Lacedaemonians' proposals to be very reasonable, who designed <A NAME="372"></A>only to reduce Peloponnesus to its own model, upon this he took his last <A NAME="373"></A>refuge in an action which was unbecoming any of the Greeks, most dishonourable <A NAME="374"></A>to him, and most unworthy his former bravery and exploits. For he called <A NAME="375"></A>Antigonus into Greece and filled Peloponnesus with Macedonians, whom he <A NAME="376"></A>himself, when a youth, having beaten their garrison out of the castle of <A NAME="377"></A>Corinth, had driven from the same country. And there had been constant <A NAME="378"></A>suspicion and variance between him and all the kings, and of Antigonus, <A NAME="379"></A>in particular, he has said a thousand dishonourable things in the commentaries <A NAME="380"></A>he has left behind him. And though he declares himself how he suffered <A NAME="381"></A>considerable losses, and underwent great dangers, that he might free Athens <A NAME="382"></A>from the garrison of the Macedonians, yet, afterwards, he brought the very <A NAME="383"></A>same men armed into his own country, and his own house, even to the women's <A NAME="384"></A>apartment. He would not endure that one of the family of Hercules, and <A NAME="385"></A>king of Sparta, and one that reformed the polity of his country, as it <A NAME="386"></A>were, from a disordered harmony, and returned it to the plain Doric measure <A NAME="387"></A>and rule of life of Lycurgus, should be styled head of the Tritaeans and <A NAME="388"></A>Sicyonians; and whilst he fled the barley-cake and coarse coat, and, which <A NAME="389"></A>were his chief accusations against Cleomenes, the extirpation of wealth <A NAME="390"></A>and reformation of poverty, he basely subjected himself, together with <A NAME="391"></A>Achaea, to the diadem and purple, to the imperious commands of the Macedonians <A NAME="392"></A>and their satraps. That he might not seem to be under Cleomenes, he offered <A NAME="393"></A>sacrifices, called Antigonea, in honour of Antigonus, and sang paeans himself, <A NAME="394"></A>with a garland on his head, to the praise of a wasted, consumptive Macedonian. <A NAME="395"></A>I write this not out of any design to disgrace Aratus, for in many things <A NAME="396"></A>he showed himself a true lover of Greece, and a great man, but out of pity <A NAME="397"></A>to the weakness of human nature, which, in characters like this, so worthy <A NAME="398"></A>and in so many ways disposed to virtue, cannot maintain its honours unblemished <A NAME="399"></A>by some envious fault. <A NAME="400"></A> The Achaeans meeting again in assembly at Argas, and Cleomenes <A NAME="401"></A>having come from Tegea, there were great hopes that all differences would <A NAME="402"></A>be composed. But Aratus, Antigonus and he having already agreed upon the <A NAME="403"></A>chief articles of their league, fearing that Cleomenes would carry all <A NAME="404"></A>before him, and either win or force the multitude to comply with his commands, <A NAME="405"></A>proposed that, having three hundred hostages put into his hands, he should <A NAME="406"></A>come alone into the town, or bring his army to the place of exercise, called <A NAME="407"></A>the Cyllarabium, outside the city, and treat there. <A NAME="408"></A> Cleomenes, hearing this, said that he was unjustly dealt with; <A NAME="409"></A>for they ought to have told him so plainly at first, and not now he was <A NAME="410"></A>come even to their doors, show their jealousy and deny him admission. And <A NAME="411"></A>writing a letter to the Achaeans about the same subject, the greatest part <A NAME="412"></A>of which was an accusation of Aratus, while Aratus, on the other side, <A NAME="413"></A>spoke violently against him to the assembly, he hastily dislodged, and <A NAME="414"></A>sent a trumpeter to denounce war against the Achaeans, not to Argos, but <A NAME="415"></A>to Aegium, as Aratus writes, that he might not give them notice enough <A NAME="416"></A>to make provision for their defence. There had also been a movement among <A NAME="417"></A>the Achaeans themselves, and the cities were eager for revolt; the common <A NAME="418"></A>people expecting a division of the land, and a release from their debts, <A NAME="419"></A>and the chief men being in many places ill-disposed to Aratus, and some <A NAME="420"></A>of them angry and indignant with him for having brought the Macedonians <A NAME="421"></A>into Peloponnesus. Encouraged by these misunderstandings, Cleomenes invaded <A NAME="422"></A>Achaea, and first took Pellene by surprise, and beat out the Achaean garrison, <A NAME="423"></A>and afterwards brought over Pheneus and Pentelleum to his side. Now the <A NAME="424"></A>Achaeans, suspecting some treacherous designs at Corinth and Sicyon, sent <A NAME="425"></A>their horse and mercenaries out of Argos, to have an eye upon those cities, <A NAME="426"></A>and they themselves went to Argos to celebrate the Nemean games. Cleomenes, <A NAME="427"></A>advertised of this march, and hoping, as it afterwards fell out, that upon <A NAME="428"></A>an unexpected advance to the city, now busied in the solemnity of the games, <A NAME="429"></A>and thronged with numerous spectators, he should raise a considerable terror <A NAME="430"></A>and confusion amongst them by night, marched with his army to the walls, <A NAME="431"></A>and taking the quarter of the town called Aspis, which lies above the theatre, <A NAME="432"></A>well fortified, and hard to be approached, he so terrified them that none <A NAME="433"></A>offered to resist, but they agreed to accept a garrison, to give twenty <A NAME="434"></A>citizens for hostages, and to assist the Lacedaemonians, and that he should <A NAME="435"></A>have the chief command. <A NAME="436"></A> This action considerably increased his reputation and his power; <A NAME="437"></A>for the ancient Spartan kings, though they in many ways endeavoured to <A NAME="438"></A>effect it, could never bring Argos to be permanently theirs. And Pyrrhus, <A NAME="439"></A>the most experienced captain, though he entered the city by force, could <A NAME="440"></A>not keep possession, but was slain himself, with a considerable part of <A NAME="441"></A>his army. Therefore they admired the despatch and contrivance of Cleomenes; <A NAME="442"></A>and those that before derided him, for imitating, as they said, Solon and <A NAME="443"></A>Lycurgus, in releasing the people from their debts, and in equalizing the <A NAME="444"></A>property of the citizens, were now fain to admit that this was the cause <A NAME="445"></A>of the change in the Spartans. For before they were very low in the world, <A NAME="446"></A>and so unable to secure their own, that the Aetolians, invading Laconia <A NAME="447"></A>brought away fifty thousand slaves; so that one of the elder Spartans is <A NAME="448"></A>reported to have said, that they had done Laconia a kindness by unburdening <A NAME="449"></A>it; and yet a little while after, by merely recurring once again to their <A NAME="450"></A>native customs, and re-entering the track of the ancient discipline, they <A NAME="451"></A>were able to give, as though it had been under the eyes and conduct of <A NAME="452"></A>Lycurgus himself, the most signal instances of courage and obedience, raising <A NAME="453"></A>Sparta to her ancient place as the commanding state of Greece, and recovering <A NAME="454"></A>all Peloponnesus. <A NAME="455"></A> When Argos was captured, and Cleonae and Phlius came over, as they <A NAME="456"></A>did at once, to Cleomenes, Aratus was at Corinth, searching after some <A NAME="457"></A>who were reported to favour the Spartan interest. The news, being brought <A NAME="458"></A>to him, disturbed him very much; for he perceived the city inclining to <A NAME="459"></A>Cleomenes, and willing to be rid of the Achaeans. Therefore he summoned <A NAME="460"></A>the citizens to meet in the Council Hall, and slipping away without being <A NAME="461"></A>observed to the gate, he mounted his horse that had been brought for him <A NAME="462"></A>thither, and fled to Sicyon. And the Corinthians made such haste to Cleomenes <A NAME="463"></A>at Argos, that, as Aratus says, striving who should be first there, they <A NAME="464"></A>spoiled all their horses; he adds that Cleomenes was very angry with the <A NAME="465"></A>Corinthians for letting him escape; and that Megistonas came from Cleomenes <A NAME="466"></A>to him, desiring him to deliver up the castle at Corinth, which was then <A NAME="467"></A>garrisoned by the Achaeans, and offered him a considerable sum of money, <A NAME="468"></A>and that he answered that matters were not now in his power, but he in <A NAME="469"></A>theirs. Thus Aratus himself writes. But Cleomenes, marching from Argos, <A NAME="470"></A>and taking in the Troezenians, Epidaurians, and Hermioneans, came to Corinth, <A NAME="471"></A>and blocked up the castle, which the Achaeans would not surrender; and <A NAME="472"></A>sending for Aratus's friends and stewards, committed his house and estate <A NAME="473"></A>to their care and management; and sent Tritymallus, the Messenian, to him <A NAME="474"></A>a second time, desiring that the castle might be equally garrisoned by <A NAME="475"></A>the Spartans and Achaeans, and promising to Aratus himself double the pension <A NAME="476"></A>that he received from King Ptolemy. But Aratus, refusing the conditions, <A NAME="477"></A>and sending his own son with the other hostages to Antigonus, and persuading <A NAME="478"></A>the Achaeans to make a decree for delivering the castle into Antigonus's <A NAME="479"></A>hands, upon this Cleomenes invaded the territory of the Sicyonians, and <A NAME="480"></A>by a decree of the Corinthians, accepted Aratus's estate as a <A NAME="481"></A>gift. <A NAME="482"></A> In the meantime Antigonus, with a great army, was passing Geranea; <A NAME="483"></A>and Cleomenes, thinking it more advisable to fortify and garrison, not <A NAME="484"></A>the isthmus, but the mountains called Onea, and by a war of posts and positions <A NAME="485"></A>to weary the Macedonians, rather than to venture a set battle with the <A NAME="486"></A>highly disciplined phalanx, put his design into execution, and very much <A NAME="487"></A>distressed Antigonus. For he had not brought victuals sufficient for his <A NAME="488"></A>army; nor was it easy to force a way through whilst Cleomenes guarded the <A NAME="489"></A>pass. He attempted by night to pass through Lechaeum, but failed and lost <A NAME="490"></A>some men; so that Cleomenes and his army were mightily encouraged, and <A NAME="491"></A>so flushed with the victory, that they went merrily to supper; and Antigonus <A NAME="492"></A>was very much dejected, being driven, by the necessity he was in, to most <A NAME="493"></A>unpromising attempts. He was proposing to march to the promontory of Heraeum, <A NAME="494"></A>and thence transport his army in boats to Sicyon, which would take up a <A NAME="495"></A>great deal of time, and require much preparation and means. But when it <A NAME="496"></A>was now evening, some of Aratus's friends came from Argos by sea, and invited <A NAME="497"></A>him to return, for the Argives would revolt from Cleomenes. Aristoteles <A NAME="498"></A>was the man that wrought the revolt, and he had no hard task to persuade <A NAME="499"></A>the common people; for they were all angry with Cleomenes for not releasing <A NAME="500"></A>them from their debts as they expected. Accordingly, obtaining fifteen <A NAME="501"></A>hundred of Antigonus's soldiers, Aratus sailed to Epidaurus; but Aristoteles, <A NAME="502"></A>not staying for his coming, drew out the citizens, and fought against the <A NAME="503"></A>garrison of the castle; and Timoxenus, with the Achaeans from Sicyon, came <A NAME="504"></A>to his assistance. <A NAME="505"></A> Cleomenes heard the news about the second watch of the night, and <A NAME="506"></A>sending for Megistonas, angrily commanded him to go and set things right <A NAME="507"></A>at Argos. Megistonas had passed his word for the Argives' loyalty, and <A NAME="508"></A>had persuaded him not to banish the suspected. Therefore, despatching him <A NAME="509"></A>with two thousand soldiers, he himself kept watch upon Antigonus, and encouraged <A NAME="510"></A>the Corinthians, pretending that there was no great matter in the commotions <A NAME="511"></A>at Argos, but only a little disturbance raised by a few inconsiderable <A NAME="512"></A>persons. But when Megistonas, entering Argos, was slain, and the garrison <A NAME="513"></A>could scarce hold out, and frequent messengers came to Cleomenes for succours, <A NAME="514"></A>he fearing lest the enemy, having taken Argos, should shut up the passes <A NAME="515"></A>and securely waste Laconia, and besiege Sparta itself, which he had left <A NAME="516"></A>without forces, dislodged from Corinth, and immediately lost that city; <A NAME="517"></A>for Antigonus entered it and garrisoned the town. He turned aside from <A NAME="518"></A>his direct march, and assaulting the walls of Argos, endeavoured to carry <A NAME="519"></A>it by a sudden attack; and then, having collected his forces from their <A NAME="520"></A>march, breaking into the Aspis, he joined the garrison, which still held <A NAME="521"></A>out against the Achaeans; some parts of the city he scaled and took, and <A NAME="522"></A>his Cretan archers cleared the streets. But when he saw Antigonus with <A NAME="523"></A>his phalanx descending from the mountains into the plain, and the horse <A NAME="524"></A>on all sides entering the city, he thought it impossible to maintain his <A NAME="525"></A>post, and, gathering together all his men, came safely down and made his <A NAME="526"></A>retreat under the walls, having in so short a time possessed himself of <A NAME="527"></A>great power, and in one journey, so to say, having made himself master <A NAME="528"></A>of all Peloponnesus, and now lost all again in as short a time. For some <A NAME="529"></A>of his allies at once withdrew and forsook him, and others not long after <A NAME="530"></A>put their cities under Antigonus's protection. His hopes thus defeated, <A NAME="531"></A>as he was leading back the relics of his forces, messengers from Lacedaemon <A NAME="532"></A>met him in the evening at Tegea, and brought him news of as great a misfortune <A NAME="533"></A>as that which he had lately suffered, and this was the death of his wife, <A NAME="534"></A>to whom he was so attached and thought so much of her that even in his <A NAME="535"></A>most successful expeditions, when he was most prosperous, he could not <A NAME="536"></A>refrain, but would every now and then come home to Sparta, to visit <A NAME="537"></A>Agiatis. <A NAME="538"></A> This news afflicted him extremely, and he grieved, as a young man <A NAME="539"></A>would do, for the loss of a very beautiful and excellent wife; yet he did <A NAME="540"></A>not let his passion disgrace him or impair the greatness of his mind, but <A NAME="541"></A>keeping his usual voice, his countenance, and his habit, he gave necessary <A NAME="542"></A>orders to his captains, and took the precautions required for the safety <A NAME="543"></A>of Tegea. Next morning he came to Sparta, and having at home, with his <A NAME="544"></A>mother and children, bewailed the loss, and finished his mourning, he at <A NAME="545"></A>once devoted himself to the public affairs of the state. <A NAME="546"></A> Now Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, promised him assistance, but demanded <A NAME="547"></A>his mother and children for hostages. This, for some considerable time, <A NAME="548"></A>he was ashamed to discover to his mother; and though he often went to her <A NAME="549"></A>on purpose, and was just upon the discourse, yet he still refrained, and <A NAME="550"></A>kept it to himself; so that she began to suspect, and asked his friends, <A NAME="551"></A>whether Cleomenes had something to say to her, which he was afraid to speak. <A NAME="552"></A>At last, Cleomenes venturing to tell her, she laughed aloud, and said, <A NAME="553"></A>"Was this the thing that you had so often a mind to tell me, and were afraid? <A NAME="554"></A>Make haste and put me on ship-board, and send this carcass where it may <A NAME="555"></A>be most serviceable to Sparta, before age destroys it unprofitably here." <A NAME="556"></A>Therefore, all things being provided for the voyage, they went by land <A NAME="557"></A>to Taenarus, and the army waited on them. Cratesiclea, when she was ready <A NAME="558"></A>to go on board, took Cleomenes aside into Neptune's temple and embracing <A NAME="559"></A>him, who was much dejected and extremely discomposed, she said, "Go to, <A NAME="560"></A>King of Sparta; when we come forth at the door, let none see us weep, or <A NAME="561"></A>show any passion that is unworthy of Sparta, for that alone is in our own <A NAME="562"></A>power; as for success or disappointment, those wait on us as the deity <A NAME="563"></A>decrees." Having thus said and composed her countenance, she went to the <A NAME="564"></A>ship with her little grandson, and bade the pilot put at once out to sea. <A NAME="565"></A>When she came to Egypt, and understood that Ptolemy entertained proposals <A NAME="566"></A>and overtures of peace from Antigonus, and that Cleomenes, though the Achaeans <A NAME="567"></A>invited and urged him to an agreement, was afraid, for her sake, to come <A NAME="568"></A>to any, without Ptolemy's consent, she wrote to him, advising him to do <A NAME="569"></A>that which was most becoming and most profitable for Sparta, and not, for <A NAME="570"></A>the sake of an old woman and a little child, stand always in fear of Ptolemy. <A NAME="571"></A>This character she maintained in her misfortunes. <A NAME="572"></A> Antigonus, having taken Tegea, and plundered Orchomenus and Mantinea, <A NAME="573"></A>Cleomenes was shut up within the narrow bounds of Laconia; and making such <A NAME="574"></A>of the helots as could pay five Attic pounds free of Sparta, and, by that <A NAME="575"></A>means, getting together five hundred talents, and arming two thousand after <A NAME="576"></A>the Macedonian fashion, that he might make a body fit to oppose Antigonus's <A NAME="577"></A>Leucaspides, he undertook a great and unexpected enterprise. Megalopolis <A NAME="578"></A>was at that time a city of itself as great and as powerful as Sparta, and <A NAME="579"></A>had the forces of the Achaeans and of Antigonus encamping beside it; and <A NAME="580"></A>it was chiefly the Megalopolitans' doing, that Antigonus had been called <A NAME="581"></A>in to assist the Achaeans. Cleomenes, resolving to snatch the city (no <A NAME="582"></A>other word so well suits so rapid and so surprising an action), ordered <A NAME="583"></A>his men to take five days' provision, and marched to Sellasia, as if he <A NAME="584"></A>intended to ravage the country of the Argives; but from thence making a <A NAME="585"></A>descent into the territories of Megalopolis, and refreshing his army about <A NAME="586"></A>Rhoeteum, he suddenly took the road by Helicus, and advanced directly upon <A NAME="587"></A>the city. When he was not far off the town, he sent Panteus, with two regiments, <A NAME="588"></A>to surprise a portion of the wall between two towers, which he learnt to <A NAME="589"></A>be the most unguarded quarter of the Megalopolitans' fortifications, and <A NAME="590"></A>with the rest of his forces he followed leisurely. Panteus not only succeeded <A NAME="591"></A>at that point, but finding a great part of the wall without guards, he <A NAME="592"></A>at once proceeded to pull it down in some places, and make openings through <A NAME="593"></A>it in others, and killed all the defenders that he found. Whilst he was <A NAME="594"></A>thus busied, Cleomenes came up to him, and was got with his army within <A NAME="595"></A>the city, before the Megalopolitans knew of the surprise. When, after some <A NAME="596"></A>time, they learned their misfortune, some left the town immediately, taking <A NAME="597"></A>with them what property they could; others armed and engaged the enemy; <A NAME="598"></A>and though they were not able to beat them out, yet they gave their citizens <A NAME="599"></A>time and opportunity safely to retire, so that there were not above one <A NAME="600"></A>thousand persons taken in the town, all the rest flying, with their wives <A NAME="601"></A>and children, and escaping to Messene. The greater number, also, of those <A NAME="602"></A>that armed and fought the enemy were saved, and very few taken, amongst <A NAME="603"></A>whom were Lysandridas and Thearidas, two men of great power and reputation <A NAME="604"></A>amongst the Megalopolitans; and therefore the soldiers, as soon as they <A NAME="605"></A>were taken, brought them to Cleomenes. And Lysandridas, as soon as he saw <A NAME="606"></A>Cleomenes afar off, cried out, "Now, King of Sparta, it is in your power, <A NAME="607"></A>by doing a most kingly and a nobler action than you have already performed, <A NAME="608"></A>to purchase the greatest glory." And Cleomenes, guessing at his meaning, <A NAME="609"></A>replied, "What, Lysandridas, you will not surely advise me to restore your <A NAME="610"></A>city to you again?" "It is that which I mean," Lysandridas replied; "and <A NAME="611"></A>I advise you not to ruin so brave a city, but to fill it with faithful <A NAME="612"></A>and steadfast friends and allies, by restoring their country to the Megalopolitans, <A NAME="613"></A>and being the saviour of so considerable a people." Cleomenes paused a <A NAME="614"></A>while, and then said: "It is very hard to trust so far in these matters; <A NAME="615"></A>but with us let profit always yield to glory." Having said this, he sent <A NAME="616"></A>the two men to Messene with a herald from himself, offering the Megalopolitans <A NAME="617"></A>their city again, if they would forsake the Achaean interest, and be on <A NAME="618"></A>his side. But though Cleomenes made these generous and humane proposals, <A NAME="619"></A>Philopoemen would not suffer them to break their league with the Achaeans; <A NAME="620"></A>and accusing Cleomenes to the people, as if his design was not to restore <A NAME="621"></A>the city, but to take the citizens too, he forced Thearidas and Lysandridas <A NAME="622"></A>to leave Messene. <A NAME="623"></A> This was that Philopoemen who was afterwards chief of the Achaeans <A NAME="624"></A>and a man of the greatest reputation amongst the Greeks, as I have related <A NAME="625"></A>in his own life. This news coming to Cleomenes, though he had before taken <A NAME="626"></A>strict care that the city should not be plundered, yet then, being in anger, <A NAME="627"></A>and out of all patience, he despoiled the place of all the valuables, and <A NAME="628"></A>sent the statues and pictures to Sparta; and demolishing a great part of <A NAME="629"></A>the city, he marched away for fear of Antigonus and the Achaeans; but they <A NAME="630"></A>never stirred, for they were at Aegium, at a council of war. There Aratus <A NAME="631"></A>mounted the speaker's place, and wept a long while, holding his mantle <A NAME="632"></A>before his face; and at last, the company being amazed, and commanding <A NAME="633"></A>him to speak, he said, "Megalopolis is destroyed by Cleomenes." The assembly <A NAME="634"></A>instantly dissolved, the Achaeans being astounded at the suddenness and <A NAME="635"></A>greatness of the loss; and Antigonus, intending to send speedy succours, <A NAME="636"></A>when he found his forces gather very slowly out of their winter-quarters, <A NAME="637"></A>sent them orders to continue there still; and he himself marched to Argos <A NAME="638"></A>with a small body of men. And now the second enterprise of Cleomenes, though <A NAME="639"></A>it had the look of a desperate and frantic adventure, yet in Polybius's <A NAME="640"></A>opinion, was done with mature deliberation and great foresight. For knowing <A NAME="641"></A>very well that the Macedonians were dispersed into their winter-quarters, <A NAME="642"></A>and that Antigonus with his friends and a few mercenaries about him wintered <A NAME="643"></A>in Argos, upon these considerations he invaded the country of the Argives, <A NAME="644"></A>hoping to shame Antigonus to a battle upon unequal terms, or else if he <A NAME="645"></A>did not dare to fight, to bring him into disrepute with the Achaeans. And <A NAME="646"></A>this accordingly happened. For Cleomenes wasting, plundering, and spoiling <A NAME="647"></A>the whole country, the Argives, in grief and anger at the loss, gathered <A NAME="648"></A>in crowds at the king's gates, crying out that he should either fight, <A NAME="649"></A>or surrender his command to better and braver men. But Antigonus, as became <A NAME="650"></A>an experienced captain, accounting it rather dishonourable foolishly to <A NAME="651"></A>hazard his army and quit his security, than merely to be railed at by other <A NAME="652"></A>people, would not march out against Cleomenes, but stood firm to his convictions. <A NAME="653"></A>Cleomenes, in the meantime, brought his army up to the very walls, and <A NAME="654"></A>having without opposition spoiled the country, and insulted over his enemies, <A NAME="655"></A>drew off again. <A NAME="656"></A> A little while after, being informed that Antigonus designed a <A NAME="657"></A>new advance to Tegea, and thence to invade Laconia, he rapidly took his <A NAME="658"></A>soldiers, and marching by a side-road, appeared early in the morning before <A NAME="659"></A>Argos, and wasted the fields about it. The corn he did not cut down, as <A NAME="660"></A>is usual, with reaping books and knives, but beat it down with great wooden <A NAME="661"></A>staves made like broadswords, as if, in mere contempt and wanton scorn, <A NAME="662"></A>while travelling on his way, without any effort or trouble, he spoiled <A NAME="663"></A>and destroyed their harvest. Yet when his soldiers would have set Cyllabaris, <A NAME="664"></A>the exercise ground, on fire, he stopped the attempt, as if he felt that <A NAME="665"></A>the mischief he had done at Megalopolis had been the effort of his passion <A NAME="666"></A>rather than his wisdom. And when Antigonus, first of all, came hastily <A NAME="667"></A>back to Argos, and then occupied the mountains and passes with his posts, <A NAME="668"></A>he professed to disregard and despise it all; and sent heralds to ask for <A NAME="669"></A>the keys of the temple of Juno, as though he proposed to offer sacrifice <A NAME="670"></A>there and then return. And with this scornful pleasantry upon Antigonus, <A NAME="671"></A>having sacrificed to the goddess under the walls of the temple, which was <A NAME="672"></A>shut, he went to Phlius; and from thence driving out those that garrisoned <A NAME="673"></A>Oligyrtus, he marched down to Orchomenus. And these enterprises not only <A NAME="674"></A>encouraged the citizens, but made him appear to the very enemies to be <A NAME="675"></A>a man worthy of high command, and capable of great things. For with the <A NAME="676"></A>strength of one city, not only to fight the power of the Macedonians and <A NAME="677"></A>all the Peloponnesians, supported by all the royal treasures, not only <A NAME="678"></A>to preserve Laconia from being spoiled, but to waste the enemy's country, <A NAME="679"></A>and to take so many and such considerable cities, was an argument of no <A NAME="680"></A>common skill and genius for command. <A NAME="681"></A> But he that first said that money was the sinews of affairs, seems <A NAME="682"></A>especially in that saying to refer to war. Demades, when the Athenians <A NAME="683"></A>had voted that their galleys should be launched and equipped for action, <A NAME="684"></A>but could produce no money, told them, "The baker was wanted first, and <A NAME="685"></A>the pilot after." And the old Archidamus, in the beginning of the Peloponnesian <A NAME="686"></A>war, when the allies desired that the amount of their contributions should <A NAME="687"></A>be determined, is reported to have answered, that war cannot be fed upon <A NAME="688"></A>so much a day. For as wrestlers, who have thoroughly trained and, disciplined <A NAME="689"></A>their bodies, in time tire down and exhaust the most agile and most skilful <A NAME="690"></A>combatant, so Antigonus, coming to the war with great resources to spend <A NAME="691"></A>from, wore out Cleomenes, whose poverty made it difficult for him to provide <A NAME="692"></A>the merest sufficiency of pay for the mercenaries, or of provisions for <A NAME="693"></A>the citizens. For, in all other respects, time favoured Cleomenes; for <A NAME="694"></A>Antigonus's affair at home began to be disturbed. For the barbarians wasted <A NAME="695"></A>and overran Macedonia whilst he was absent, and at that particular time <A NAME="696"></A>a vast army of Illyrians had entered the country; to be freed from whose <A NAME="697"></A>devastations, the Macedonians sent for Antigonus, and the letters had almost <A NAME="698"></A>been brought to him before the battle was fought upon the receipt of which <A NAME="699"></A>he would at once have marched away home and left the Achaeans to look to <A NAME="700"></A>themselves. But Fortune, that loves to determine the greatest affairs by <A NAME="701"></A>a minute, in this conjuncture showed such an exact niceness of time, that <A NAME="702"></A>immediately after the battle in Sellasia was over, and Cleomenes had lost <A NAME="703"></A>his army and his city, the messengers came up and called for Antigonus. <A NAME="704"></A>And this above everything made Cleomenes's misfortune to be pitied; for <A NAME="705"></A>if he had gone on retreating and had forborne fighting two days longer, <A NAME="706"></A>there had been no need of hazarding a battle; since upon the departure <A NAME="707"></A>of the Macedonians, he might have had what conditions he pleased from the <A NAME="708"></A>Achaeans. But now, as was said before, for want of money, being necessitated <A NAME="709"></A>to trust everything to arms, he was forced with twenty thousand (such is <A NAME="710"></A>Polybius's account), to engage thirty thousand. And approving himself an <A NAME="711"></A>admirable commander in this difficulty, his citizens showing an extraordinary <A NAME="712"></A>courage, and his mercenaries bravery enough, he was overborne by the different <A NAME="713"></A>way of fighting, and the weight of the heavy-armed phalanx. Phylarchus <A NAME="714"></A>also affirms that the treachery of some about him was the chief cause of <A NAME="715"></A>Cleomenes's ruin. <A NAME="716"></A> For Antigonus gave orders that the Illyrians and Acarnanians should <A NAME="717"></A>march round by a secret way, and encompass the other wing, which Euclidas, <A NAME="718"></A>Cleomenes's brother, commanded; and then drew out the rest of his forces <A NAME="719"></A>to the battle. And Cleomenes, from a convenient rising, viewing his order, <A NAME="720"></A>and not seeing any of the Illyrians and Acarnanians, began to suspect that <A NAME="721"></A>Antigonus had sent them upon some such design; and calling for Damoteles, <A NAME="722"></A>who was at the head of those specially appointed to such ambush duty, he <A NAME="723"></A>bade him carefully to look after and discover the enemy's designs upon <A NAME="724"></A>his rear. But Damoteles, for some say Antigonus had bribed him, telling <A NAME="725"></A>him that he should not be solicitous about that matter, for all was well <A NAME="726"></A>enough, but mind and fight those that met him in the front, he was satisfied, <A NAME="727"></A>and advanced against Antigonus; and by the vigorous charge of his Spartans, <A NAME="728"></A>made the Macedonian phalanx give ground, and pressed upon them with great <A NAME="729"></A>advantage about half a mile; but then making a stand, and seeing the danger <A NAME="730"></A>which the surrounding wing, commanded by his brother Euclidas, was in, <A NAME="731"></A>he cried out, "Thou art lost, dear brother, thou art lost, thou brave example <A NAME="732"></A>to our Spartan youth and theme of our matron's songs." And Euclidas's wing <A NAME="733"></A>being cut in pieces, and the conquerors from that part falling upon him, <A NAME="734"></A>he perceived his soldiers to be disordered, and unable to maintain the <A NAME="735"></A>fight, and therefore provided for his own safety. There fell, we are told, <A NAME="736"></A>in the battle, besides many of the mercenary soldiers, all the Spartans, <A NAME="737"></A>six thousand in number, except two hundred. <A NAME="738"></A> When Cleomenes came into the city, he advised those citizens that <A NAME="739"></A>he met to receive Antigonus; and as for himself, he said, which should <A NAME="740"></A>appear most advantageous to Sparta, whether his life or death, that he <A NAME="741"></A>would choose. Seeing the women running out to those that had fled with <A NAME="742"></A>him, taking their arms, and bringing drink to them, he entered into his <A NAME="743"></A>own house, and his servant, who was a freeborn woman, taken from Megalopolis <A NAME="744"></A>after his wife's death, offering, as usual, to do the service he needed <A NAME="745"></A>on returning from war, though he was very thirsty, he refused to drink, <A NAME="746"></A>and though very weary to sit down; but in his corselet as he was, he laid <A NAME="747"></A>his arm sideway against a pillar, and leaning his forehead upon his elbow, <A NAME="748"></A>he rested his body a little while, and ran over in his thoughts all the <A NAME="749"></A>courses he could take; and then with his friends set out at once for Gythium; <A NAME="750"></A>where, finding ships which had been got ready for this very purpose, they <A NAME="751"></A>embarked. Antigonus, taking the city, treated the Lacedaemonians courteously, <A NAME="752"></A>and in no way off any insult or offence to the dignity of Sparta, but permitting <A NAME="753"></A>them to enjoy their own laws and polity, and sacrificing to the gods, dislodged <A NAME="754"></A>the third day. For he heard that there was a great war in Macedonia, and <A NAME="755"></A>that the country was devastated by the barbarians. Besides, his malady <A NAME="756"></A>had now thoroughly settled into a consumption and continual catarrh. Yet <A NAME="757"></A>he still kept up, and managed to return and deliver his country, and meet <A NAME="758"></A>there a most glorious death, in a great defeat and vast slaughter of the <A NAME="759"></A>barbarians. As Phylarchus says, and as is probable in itself, he broke <A NAME="760"></A>a blood-vessel by shouting in the battle itself. In the schools we used <A NAME="761"></A>to be told that, after the victory was won, he cried out for joy, "O glorious <A NAME="762"></A>day!" and presently bringing up a quantity of blood, fell into a fever, <A NAME="763"></A>which never left him till his death. And thus much concerning <A NAME="764"></A>Antigonus. <A NAME="765"></A> Cleomenes, sailing from Cythera, touched at another island called, <A NAME="766"></A>Aegialia, whence as he was about to depart for Cyrene, one of his friends, <A NAME="767"></A>Therycion by name, a man of a noble spirit in all enterprises, and bold <A NAME="768"></A>and lofty in his talk, came privately to him, and said thus: "Sir, death <A NAME="769"></A>in battle, which is the most glorious, we have let go; though all heard <A NAME="770"></A>us say that Antigonus should never tread over the King of Sparta, unless <A NAME="771"></A>dead. And now that course which is next in honour and virtue is presented <A NAME="772"></A>to us. Whither do we madly sail, flying the evil which is near, to seek <A NAME="773"></A>that which is at a distance? For if it is not dishonourable for the race <A NAME="774"></A>of Hercules to serve the successors of Philip and Alexander, we shall save <A NAME="775"></A>a long voyage by delivering ourselves up to Antigonus, who, probably, is <A NAME="776"></A>as much better than Ptolemy, as the Macedonians are better than the Egyptians; <A NAME="777"></A>but if we think it mean to submit to those whose arms have conquered us, <A NAME="778"></A>why should we choose him for our master, by whom we have not yet been beaten? <A NAME="779"></A>Is it to acknowledge two superiors instead of one, whilst we run away from <A NAME="780"></A>Antigonus, and flatter Ptolemy? Or, is it for your mother's sake that you <A NAME="781"></A>retreat to Egypt? It will indeed be a very fine and very desirable sight <A NAME="782"></A>for her to show her son to Ptolemy's women, now changed from a prince into <A NAME="783"></A>an exile and a slave. Are we not still masters of our own swords? And whilst <A NAME="784"></A>we have Laconia in view, shall we not here free ourselves from this disgraceful <A NAME="785"></A>misery, and clear ourselves to those who at Sellasia died for the honour <A NAME="786"></A>and defence of Sparta? Or, shall we sit lazily in Egypt, inquiring what <A NAME="787"></A>news from Sparta, and whom Antigonus hath been pleased to make governor <A NAME="788"></A>of Lacedaemon?" Thus spoke Therycion; and this was Cleomenes's reply: "By <A NAME="789"></A>seeking death, you coward, the most easy and most ready refuge, you fancy <A NAME="790"></A>that you shall appear courageous and brave, though this flight is baser <A NAME="791"></A>than the former. Better men than we have given way to their enemies, having <A NAME="792"></A>been betrayed by fortune, or oppressed by multitude; but he that gives <A NAME="793"></A>way under labour or distresses, under the ill-opinions or reports of men, <A NAME="794"></A>yields the victory to his own effeminacy. For a voluntary death ought not <A NAME="795"></A>to be chosen as a relief from action but as an exemplary action itself; <A NAME="796"></A>and it is base either to live or to die only to ourselves. That death to <A NAME="797"></A>which you now invite us, is proposed only as a release from our present <A NAME="798"></A>miseries, but carries nothing of nobleness or profit in it. And I think <A NAME="799"></A>it becomes both me and you not to despair of our country; but when there <A NAME="800"></A>are no hopes of that left, those that have an inclination may quickly die." <A NAME="801"></A>To this Therycion returned no answer; but as soon as he had an opportunity <A NAME="802"></A>of leaving Cleomenes's company, went aside on the seashore, and ran himself <A NAME="803"></A>through. <A NAME="804"></A> But Cleomenes sailed from Aegialia, landed in Libya, and, being <A NAME="805"></A>honourably conducted through the king's country, came to Alexandria. When <A NAME="806"></A>he was first brought to Ptolemy, no more than common civilities and usual <A NAME="807"></A>attentions were paid him; but when, upon trial, he found him a man of deep <A NAME="808"></A>sense and great reason, and that his plain Laconic way of conversation <A NAME="809"></A>carried with it a noble and becoming grace, that he did nothing unbecoming <A NAME="810"></A>his birth, nor bent under fortune, and was evidently a more faithful counsellor <A NAME="811"></A>than those who made it their business to please and flatter, he was ashamed, <A NAME="812"></A>and repented that be had neglected so great a man, and suffered Antigonus <A NAME="813"></A>to get so much power and reputation by ruining him. He now offered him <A NAME="814"></A>many marks of respect and kindness, and gave him hopes that he would furnish <A NAME="815"></A>him with ships and money to return to Greece, and would reinstate him in <A NAME="816"></A>his kingdom. He granted him a yearly pension of four-and-twenty talents; <A NAME="817"></A>a little part of which sum supplied his and his friends' thrifty temperance; <A NAME="818"></A>and the rest was employed in doing good offices to, and in relieving the <A NAME="819"></A>necessities of, the refugees that had fled from Greece, and retired into <A NAME="820"></A>Egypt. <A NAME="821"></A> But the elder Ptolemy dying before Cleomenes's affairs had received <A NAME="822"></A>a full dispatch, and the successor being a loose, voluptuous, and effeminate <A NAME="823"></A>prince, under the power of his pleasures and his women, his business was <A NAME="824"></A>neglected. For the king was so besotted with his women and his wine, that <A NAME="825"></A>the employments of his most busy and serious hours consisted at the utmost <A NAME="826"></A>in celebrating religious feasts in his palace, carrying a timbrel, and <A NAME="827"></A>taking part in the show; while the greatest affairs of state were managed <A NAME="828"></A>by Agathoclea, the king's mistress, her mother, and the pimp Oenanthes. <A NAME="829"></A>At the first, indeed, they seemed to stand in need of Cleomenes; for Ptolemy, <A NAME="830"></A>being afraid of his brother Magas, who by his mother's means had a great <A NAME="831"></A>interest among the soldiers, gave Cleomenes a place in his secret councils, <A NAME="832"></A>and acquainted him with the design of taking off his brother. He, though <A NAME="833"></A>all were for it, declared his opinion to the contrary, saying. "The king, <A NAME="834"></A>if it were possible, should have more brothers for the better security <A NAME="835"></A>and stability of his affairs." And Sosibius, the greatest favourite, replying <A NAME="836"></A>that they were not secure of the mercenaries whilst Magas was alive, Cleomenes <A NAME="837"></A>returned, that he need not trouble himself about that matter; for amongst <A NAME="838"></A>the mercenaries there were above three thousand Peloponnesians, who were <A NAME="839"></A>his fast friends, and whom he could command at any time with a nod. This <A NAME="840"></A>discourse made Cleomenes for the present to be looked upon as a man of <A NAME="841"></A>great influence and assured fidelity; but afterwards, Ptolemy's weakness <A NAME="842"></A>increasing his fear, and he, as it usually happens, where there is no judgment <A NAME="843"></A>and wisdom, placing his security in general distrust and suspicion, it <A NAME="844"></A>rendered Cleomenes suspected to the courtiers, as having too much interest <A NAME="845"></A>with the mercenaries; and many had this saying in their mouths, that he <A NAME="846"></A>was a lion amidst a flock of sheep. For, in fact, such he seemed to be <A NAME="847"></A>in the court, quietly watching and keeping his eye upon all that went <A NAME="848"></A>on. <A NAME="849"></A> He therefore gave up all thought of asking for ships and soldiers <A NAME="850"></A>from the king. But receiving news that Antigonus was dead, that the Achaeans <A NAME="851"></A>were engaged in a war with the Aetolians, and that the affairs of Peloponnesus, <A NAME="852"></A>being now in very great distraction and disorder, required and invited <A NAME="853"></A>his assistance, he desired leave to depart only with his friends, but could <A NAME="854"></A>not obtain that, the king not so much as hearing his petition, being shut <A NAME="855"></A>up amongst his women, and wasting his hours in bacchanalian rites and drinking <A NAME="856"></A>parties. But Sosibius, the chief minister and counsellor of state, thought <A NAME="857"></A>that Cleomenes, being detained against his will, would grow ungovernable <A NAME="858"></A>and dangerous, and yet that it was not safe to let him go, being an aspiring, <A NAME="859"></A>daring man, and well acquainted with the diseases and weakness of the kingdom. <A NAME="860"></A>For neither could presents and gifts conciliate or content him; but even <A NAME="861"></A>as Apis, while living in all possible plenty and apparent delight, yet <A NAME="862"></A>desires to live as nature would provide for him, to range at liberty, and <A NAME="863"></A>bound about the fields, and can scarce endure to be under the priests' <A NAME="864"></A>keeping, so he could not brook their courtship and soft entertainment, <A NAME="865"></A>but sat like Achilles- <A NAME="866"></A> "and languished far, <A NAME="867"></A> Desiring battle and the shout of war." <A NAME="868"></A> His affairs standing in this condition, Nicagoras, the Messenian, <A NAME="869"></A>came to Alexandria, a man that deeply hated Cleomenes, yet pretended to <A NAME="870"></A>be his friend; for he had formerly sold Cleomenes a fair estate, but never <A NAME="871"></A>received the money because Cleomenes was either unable as it may be, or <A NAME="872"></A>else, by reason of his engagement in the wars and other distractions, had <A NAME="873"></A>no opportunity to pay him. Cleomenes, seeing him landing, for he was then <A NAME="874"></A>walking upon the quay, kindly saluted him, and asked what business brought <A NAME="875"></A>him to Egypt. Nicagoras returned his compliment, and told him that he came <A NAME="876"></A>to bring some excellent war-horses to the king. And Cleomenes, with a smile, <A NAME="877"></A>subjoined, "I could wish you had rather brought young boys and music-girls; <A NAME="878"></A>for those now are the king's chief occupation." Nicagoras at the moment <A NAME="879"></A>smiled at the conceit, but a few days after, he put Cleomenes in mind of <A NAME="880"></A>the estate that he had bought of him, and desired his money, protesting <A NAME="881"></A>that he would not have troubled him, if his merchandise had turned out <A NAME="882"></A>as profitable as he had thought it would. Cleomenes replied, that he had <A NAME="883"></A>nothing left of all that had been given him. At which answer, Nicagoras, <A NAME="884"></A>being nettled, told Sosibius Cleomenes's scoff upon the king. He was delighted <A NAME="885"></A>to receive the information; but desiring to have some greater reason to <A NAME="886"></A>excite the king against Cleomenes, persuaded Nicagoras to leave a letter <A NAME="887"></A>written against Cleomenes, importing that he had a design, if he could <A NAME="888"></A>have gotten ships and soldiers, to surprise Cyrene. Nicagoras wrote such <A NAME="889"></A>a letter, and left Egypt. Four days after, Sosibius brought the letter <A NAME="890"></A>to Ptolemy, pretending it was just then delivered him, and excited the <A NAME="891"></A>young man's fear and anger; upon which it was agreed that Cleomenes should <A NAME="892"></A>be invited into a large house, and treated as formerly, but not suffered <A NAME="893"></A>to go out again. <A NAME="894"></A> This usage was grievous to Cleomenes, and another incident that <A NAME="895"></A>occurred made him feel his hopes to be yet more entirely overcast. Ptolemy, <A NAME="896"></A>the son of Chrysermas, a favourite of the king's, had always shown civility <A NAME="897"></A>to Cleomenes; there was a considerable intimacy between them, and they <A NAME="898"></A>had been used to talk freely together about the state. He, upon Cleomenes's <A NAME="899"></A>desire, came to him, and spoke to him in fair terms, softening down his <A NAME="900"></A>suspicions and excusing the king's conduct. But as he went out again, not <A NAME="901"></A>knowing that Cleomenes followed him to the door, he severely reprimanded <A NAME="902"></A>the keepers for their carelessness in looking after "so great and so furious <A NAME="903"></A>a wild beast." This Cleomenes himself heard, and retiring before Ptolemy <A NAME="904"></A>perceived it, told his friends what had been said. Upon this they cast <A NAME="905"></A>off all former hopes and determined for violent proceedings, resolving <A NAME="906"></A>to be revenged on Ptolemy for his base and unjust dealing, to have satisfaction <A NAME="907"></A>for the affronts, to die as it became Spartans, and not stay till, like <A NAME="908"></A>fatted sacrifices, they were butchered. For it was both grievous and dishonourable <A NAME="909"></A>for Cleomenes, who had scorned to come to terms with Antigonus, a brave <A NAME="910"></A>warrior, and a man of action, to wait an effeminate king's leisure, till <A NAME="911"></A>he should lay aside his timbrel and end his dance, and then kill <A NAME="912"></A>him. <A NAME="913"></A> These courses being resolved on, and Ptolemy happening at the same <A NAME="914"></A>time to make a progress to Canopus, they first spread abroad a report that <A NAME="915"></A>his freedom was ordered by the king, and, it being the custom for the king <A NAME="916"></A>to send presents and an entertainment to those whom he would free, Cleomenes's <A NAME="917"></A>friends made that provision, and sent it into the prison, thus imposing <A NAME="918"></A>upon the keepers, who thought it had been sent by the king. For he sacrificed, <A NAME="919"></A>and gave them large portions, and with a garland upon his head, feasted <A NAME="920"></A>and made merry with his friends. It is said that he began the action sooner <A NAME="921"></A>than he designed, having understood that a servant who was privy to the <A NAME="922"></A>plot had gone out to visit a mistress that he loved. This made him afraid <A NAME="923"></A>of a discovery; and therefore, as soon as it was full noon, and all the <A NAME="924"></A>keepers sleeping off their wine, he put on his coat, and opening his seam <A NAME="925"></A>to bare his right shoulder, with his drawn sword in his hand, he issued <A NAME="926"></A>forth, together with his friends provided in the same manner, making thirteen <A NAME="927"></A>in all. One of them, by name Hippitas, was lame, and followed the first <A NAME="928"></A>onset very well, but when he presently perceived that they were more slow <A NAME="929"></A>in their advances for his sake, he desired them to run him through and <A NAME="930"></A>not ruin their enterprise by staying for a useless, unprofitable man. By <A NAME="931"></A>chance an Alexandrian was then riding by the door; him they threw off, <A NAME="932"></A>and setting Hippitas on horseback, ran through the streets, and proclaimed <A NAME="933"></A>liberty to the people. But they, it seems, had courage enough to praise <A NAME="934"></A>and admire Cleomenes's daring, but not one had the heart to follow and <A NAME="935"></A>assist him. Three of them fell on Ptolemy, the son of Chrysermas, as he <A NAME="936"></A>was coming out of the palace, and killed him. Another Ptolemy, the officer <A NAME="937"></A>in charge of the city, advancing against them in a chariot, they set upon, <A NAME="938"></A>dispersed his guards and attendants, and pulling him out of the chariot, <A NAME="939"></A>killed him upon the place. Then they made toward the castle, designing <A NAME="940"></A>to break open the prison, release those who were confined, and avail themselves <A NAME="941"></A>of their numbers; but the keepers were too quick for them, and secured <A NAME="942"></A>the passages. Being baffled in this attempt, Cleomenes with his company <A NAME="943"></A>roamed about the city, none joining with him, but all retreating from and <A NAME="944"></A>flying his approach. Therefore, despairing of success, and saying to his <A NAME="945"></A>friends, that it was no wonder that women ruled over men that were afraid <A NAME="946"></A>of liberty, he bade them all die as bravely as became his followers and <A NAME="947"></A>their own past actions. This said, Hippitas was first, as he desired, run <A NAME="948"></A>through by one of the younger men, and then each of them readily and resolutely <A NAME="949"></A>fell upon his own sword, except Fanteus, the same who first surprised Megalopolis. <A NAME="950"></A>This man, being of a very handsome person, and a great lover of the Spartan <A NAME="951"></A>discipline, the king had made his dearest friend; and he now bade him, <A NAME="952"></A>when he had seen him and the rest fallen, die by their example. Fanteus <A NAME="953"></A>walked over them as they lay, and pricked every one with his dagger, to <A NAME="954"></A>try whether any was alive; when he pricked Cleomenes in the ankle, and <A NAME="955"></A>saw him turn upon his back, he kissed him, sat down by him, and when he <A NAME="956"></A>was quite dead, covered up the body, and then killed himself over <A NAME="957"></A>it. <A NAME="958"></A> Thus fell Cleomenes, after the life which we have narrated, having <A NAME="959"></A>been King of Sparta sixteen years. The news of their fall being noised <A NAME="960"></A>through the city, Cratesiclea, though a woman of a great spirit, could <A NAME="961"></A>not bear up against the weight of this affliction; but embracing Cleomenes's <A NAME="962"></A>children broke out into lamentations. But the eldest boy, none suspecting <A NAME="963"></A>such a spirit in a child, threw himself headlong from the top of the house. <A NAME="964"></A>He was bruised very much, but not killed by the fall, and was taken up <A NAME="965"></A>crying, and expressing his resentment for not being permitted to destroy <A NAME="966"></A>himself. Ptolemy, as soon as an account of the action was brought him, <A NAME="967"></A>gave order that Cleomenes's body should be flayed and hung up, and that <A NAME="968"></A>his children, mother, and the women that were with her, should be killed. <A NAME="969"></A>Amongst these was Panteus's wife, a beautiful and noble-looking woman, <A NAME="970"></A>who had been but lately married, and suffered these disasters in the height <A NAME="971"></A>of her love. Her parents would not have her embark with Panteus so shortly <A NAME="972"></A>after they were married, though she eagerly desired it, but shut her up, <A NAME="973"></A>and kept her forcibly at home. But a few days after she procured a horse <A NAME="974"></A>and a little money, and escaping by night, made speed to Taenarus, where <A NAME="975"></A>she embarked for Egypt, came to her husband, and with him cheerfully endured <A NAME="976"></A>to live in a foreign country. She gave her hand to Cratesiclea, as she <A NAME="977"></A>was going with the soldiers to execution held up her robe, and begged her <A NAME="978"></A>to be courageous; who of herself was not in the least afraid of death, <A NAME="979"></A>and desired nothing else but only to be killed before the children. When <A NAME="980"></A>they were come to the place of execution, the children were first killed <A NAME="981"></A>before Cratesiclea's eyes, and afterwards she herself, with only these <A NAME="982"></A>words in her mouth, "O children, whither are you gone?" But Panteus's wife, <A NAME="983"></A>fastening her dress close about her, and being a strong woman, in silence <A NAME="984"></A>and perfect composure, looked after every one that was slain, and laid <A NAME="985"></A>them decently out as far as circumstances would permit; and after all were <A NAME="986"></A>killed, rearraying her dress, and drawing her clothes close about her, <A NAME="987"></A>suffering none to come near or be an eye-witness of her fall, besides the <A NAME="988"></A>executioner, she courageously submitted to the stroke, and wanted nobody <A NAME="989"></A>to look after her or wind her up after she was dead. Thus in her death <A NAME="990"></A>the modesty of her mind appeared, and set that guard upon her body which <A NAME="991"></A>she always kept when alive. And she, in the declining age of the Spartans, <A NAME="992"></A>showed that women were no unequal rivals of the men, and was an instance <A NAME="993"></A>of a courage superior to the affronts of fortune. <A NAME="994"></A> A few days after, those that watched the hanging body of Cleomenes, <A NAME="995"></A>saw a large snake winding about his head, and covering his face, so that <A NAME="996"></A>no bird of prey would fly at it. This made the king superstitiously afraid, <A NAME="997"></A>and set the women upon several expiations, as if he had been some extraordinary <A NAME="998"></A>being, and one beloved by the gods, that had been slain. And the Alexandrians <A NAME="999"></A>made processions to the place, and gave Cleomenes the title of hero, and <A NAME="1000"></A>son of the gods, till the philosophers satisfied them by saying, that as <A NAME="1001"></A>oxen breed bees, putrifying horses breed wasps, and beetles rise from the <A NAME="1002"></A>carcasses of dead asses, so the humours and juices of the marrow of a man's <A NAME="1003"></A>body, coagulating, produce serpents. And this the ancients observing, appropriate <A NAME="1004"></A>a serpent, rather than any other creature, to heroes. <A NAME="end"></A> <DIV ALIGN="CENTER">THE END</DIV> <HR SIZE="1" COLOR="990033" NOSHADE></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV ALIGN="CENTER"><TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="15"> <TR ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"> <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM" NOWRAP><A HREF="/index.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Go to home page'; return true;" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="/Images/home-icon.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="21" BORDER="0" ALT="Go to home page"></A> <A HREF="/index.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Go to home page'; return true;" TARGET="_top">Home</A>  </TD> <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM" NOWRAP><A HREF="/Browse/index-Plutarch.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Browse a list of titles'; return true;" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="/Images/browse-icon.gif" WIDTH="30" HEIGHT="30" BORDER="0" ALT="Browse a list of titles"></A> <A HREF="/Browse/index-Plutarch.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Browse a list of titles'; return true;" TARGET="_top">Browse and Comment</A></TD> <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM" NOWRAP><A HREF="/Search/index.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Search texts'; return true;" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="/Images/search-icon.gif" WIDTH="19" HEIGHT="29" BORDER="0" ALT="Search texts"></A> <A HREF="/Search/index.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Search texts'; return true;" TARGET="_top">Search</A>  </TD> <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM" NOWRAP><A HREF="/Buy/Plutarch.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Buy books and CD-ROMs'; return true;" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="/Images/buy-icon.gif" WIDTH="32" HEIGHT="28" BORDER="0" ALT="Buy books and CD-ROMs"></A> <A HREF="/Buy/Plutarch.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Buy books and CD-ROMs'; return true;" TARGET="_top">Buy Books and CD-ROMs</A></TD> <TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM" NOWRAP><A HREF="/Help/general.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Get help'; return true;" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="/Images/help-icon.gif" WIDTH="26" HEIGHT="26" BORDER="0" ALT="Get help"></A> <A HREF="/Help/general.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Get help'; return true;" TARGET="_top">Help</A>  </TD> </TR> </TABLE></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="RIGHT"><A HREF="/Help/permissions.html" onMouseOver="window.status='View information on copyright and permissions'; return true;">© 1994-2009</A></DIV> </BODY> </HTML>