agesilaus-第2章
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support an army。 That he felt。 A more perennial source of supply was
surely to be found in waving cornfields and thickly clustering
homesteads。 So with infinite pains he set himself not merely to crush
his foes by force； but also to win them to his side by gentleness。 In
this spirit he often enjoined upon his soldiers to guard their
captives as fellow…men rather than take vengeance upon them as
evildoers；＇10＇ or； on a change of quarters； if aware of little
children left behind by the dealers （since the men often sold them in
the belief that it would be impossible to carry them away and rear
them）； he would show concern in behalf of these poor waifs and have
them conveyed to some place of safety； or he would entrust them to the
care of fellow…prisoners also left behind on account of old age； in no
case must they be left to ravening dogs and wolves。 In this way he won
the goodwill not only of those who heard tell of these doings but of
the prisoners themselves。 And whenever he brought over a city to his
side； he set the citizens free from the harsher service of a bondsman
to his lord； imposing the gentler obedience of a freeman to his ruler。
Indeed； there were fortresses impregnable to assault which he brought
under his power by the subtler force of human kindness。
＇10＇ See Grote； vol。 ix。 p。 365 foll。
But when； in Phrygia even； the freedom of his march along the flats
was hampered by the cavalry of Pharnabazus； he saw that if he wished
to avoid a skulking warfare under cover； a force of cavalry was
indispensable。 Accordingly he enlisted the wealthiest members of every
city in those parts to breed and furnish horses； with this saving
clause； however： that the individual who furnished a horse and arms
with a good rider should be exempt from service himself。 By this means
he engendered an eagerness to discharge the obligation； not unlike
that of the condemned man； casting about to discover some one to die
in his place。＇11＇ He further ordered some of the states themselves to
furnish contingents of mounted troopers； and this in the conviction
that from such training…centres he would presently get a pick of
cavaliers proud of their horsemanship。 And thus once more he won
golden opinions by the skill with which he provided himself with a
body of cavalry in the plenitude of strength and ripe for active
service。
＇11＇ Instead of the plain ｛zetoie｝ of the parallel passage （〃Hell。〃
III。 iv。 15） the encomiast prefers the poetical ｛masteuoi｝。
On the approach of early spring＇12＇ he collected his whole armament at
Ephesus； and set himself to the work of training it。 With that object
he proposed a series of prizes： one set for the cavalry squadron which
rode best； another for the heavy infantry divisions which presented
the best physique； another again for various light troops； peltasts；
and bowmen； which showed themselves most efficient in their respective
duties。
＇12＇ B。C。 395； see 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 16； Plut。 〃Marcel。〃 （Clough； ii。
262）； Polyb。 xii。 20； 7。
Thereupon it was a sight to see the gymnasiums thronged with warriors
going through their exercises； the racecourses crowded with troopers
on prancing steeds； the archers and the javelin men shooting at the
butts。 Nay； the whole city in which he lay was transformed into a
spectacle itself； so filled to overflowing was the market…place with
arms and armour of every sort； and horses； all for sale。 Here were
coppersmiths and carpenters； ironfounders and cobblers； painters and
decoratorsone and all busily engaged in fabricating the implements
of war； so that an onlooker might have thought the city of Ephesus
itself a gigantic arsenal。 It would have kindled courage in the breast
of a coward to see the long lines of soldiers； with Agesilaus at their
head； all garlanded as they marched in proud procession from the
gymnasiums and dedicated their wreaths to our Lady Artemis。 Since；
where these three elements existreverence towards heaven； practice
in military affairs； and obedience to commandall else must needs be
full of happy promise。
But seeing that contempt for the foe is calculated to infuse a certain
strength in face of battle； he ordered his criers to strip naked the
barbarians captured by his foraging parties； and so to sell them。 The
soldiers who saw the white skins of these folk； unused to strip for
toil； soft and sleek and lazy…looking； as of people who could only
stir abroad in carriages； concluded that a war with women would
scarcely be more formidable。 Then he published a further order to the
soldiers： 〃I shall lead you at once by the shortest route to the
stronghold＇13＇ of the enemy's territory。 Your general asks you to keep
yourselves on the alert in mind and body； as men about to enter the
lists of battle on the instant。〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃the richest parts of the country；〃 viz。 Lydia； Plut。 〃Ages。〃
x。
But Tissaphernes was persuaded that this was all talk on his part for
the purpose of outwitting him a second time： now certainly Agesilaus
would make an incursion into Caria。 So once again the satrap
transported his infantry over into that country just has he had done
before； and as before he posted his cavalry in the plain of the
Maeander。
This time； however； Agesilaus was true to his word。 In accordance with
his published order he advanced straight upon the region of Sardis；
and； during a three days' march through a country where not an enemy
was to be seen； provided his army with abundant supplies。 On the
fourth day the enemy's cavalry came up。 The Persian general ordered
the commandant of his baggage train to cross the Pactolus and encamp；
whilst his troopers； who had caught sight of the camp followers of the
Hellenes scattered in search of booty； put many of them to the sword。
Agesilaus； aware how matters were going； ordered his cavalry to the
rescue； and the Persians on their side； seeing the enemy's supports
approaching； collected and formed up in line to receive them with the
serried squadrons of their cavalry。 And now Agesilaus； conscious that
his enemy's infantry had not as yet arrived； whilst on his side no
element in his preparation was lacking； felt that the moment was come
to join battle if he could。 Accordingly he sacrificed and advanced
against the opposing lines of cavalry。 A detachment of heavy infantry；
the ten…years…service men； had orders to close with them at the run；
while the light infantry division were told to show them the way at a
swinging pace。 At the same time he passed the order along the line of
his cavalry to charge in reliance of the support of himself and the
main body in their rear。 Charge they did； these troopers； and the pick
of Persian cavalry received them bravely； but in face of the conjoint
horror of the attack they swerved； and some were cut down at once in
the river…bed； while others sought safety in flight。 The Hellenes
followed close on the heels of the flying foe； and captured his camp。
Here the peltasts； not unnaturally； fell to pillaging； whereupon
Agesilaus formed a cordon of troops； round the property of friends and
foes alike； and so encamped。
Presently hearing that the enemy were in a state of disorder； the
result of every one holding his fellow responsible for what had
happened； he advanced without further stay on Sardis。 Having arrived；
he fell to burning and ravaging the suburbs； while at the same time he
did not fail to make it known by proclamation that those who asked for
freedom should join his standard； or if there were any who claimed a
right of property in Asia he challenged them to come out and meet her
liberators in fair fight and let the sword decide between them。
Finding that no one ventured to come out to meet him； his march became
for the future a peaceful progress。 All around him he beheld Hellenes
who formerly were forced to bow the knee to brutal governors now
honoured by their former tyrants； while those who had claimed to enjoy
divine honours were so humbled by him that they scarce dared to look a
Hellene in the face。 Everywhere he saved the territory of his friends
from devastation； and reaped the fruits of the enemy's soil to such
good effect that within two years he was able to dedicate as a tithe
to the god at Delphi more than one hundred talents。＇14＇
＇14＇ = 25；000 pounds nearly。
It was then that the Persian king； believing that Tissaphernes was to
blame for the ill success of his affairs； sent down Tithraustes and
cut off the satrap's head。 After this the fortunes of the barbarians
grew still more desperate； whilst those of Agesilaus assumed a bolder
front。 On all side embassies from the surrounding nations came to make
terms of friendship； and numbers even came over to him； stretching out
eager arms to grasp at freedom。 So that Agesilaus was now no longer
the chosen captain of the Hellenes only； but of many Asiatics。
And here we may pause and consider what a weight of admiration is due
to one who； being now ruler over countless cities of the continent；
and islands also （since the state had further entrusted the navy to
his hands）； just when he had reached this pinnacle of renown and
power； and might look to turn to account his thronging fortunes； when；
too； which overtops all else； he was cherishing fond hopes to dissolve
that empire which in former days had dared to march on Hellas；at
such a moment suffered himself not to be overmastered by these
promptings； but on receipt of a summons of the home authorities to
come to the assistance of the fatherland； obeyed the mandate of his
state as readily＇15＇ as though he stood confronted face to face with
the Five in the hall of ephors； and thus gave clear proof that he
would not accept the whole earth in exchange for the land of his
fathers； nor newly…acquired in place of ancient friends； nor base
gains ingloriously purchased rather than the perilous pursuit of
honour and uprightness。＇16＇
＇15＇ Cf。 Hor。 〃Od。〃 III。 v。 50。
＇16＇ See Pindar； 〃Olymp。〃 vi。 14。
And； indeed； glancing back at the whole period during which he
remained in the exercise of his authority； no act of deeper
significance in proof of his kingly qualities need be named than this。
He found the cities
