agesilaus-第4章
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Argos。 They had appropriated Corinth； and were reaping the fruits of
their fields at home。 The war to them was a merry jest。 Accordingly he
marched against them； and having ravaged their territory throughout；
he crossed over by the pass＇14＇ down upon Corinth and captured the
long walls leading to Lechaeum。 And so having thrown open the gates of
Peloponnese he returned home in time for the Hyacinthia；＇15＇ where； in
the post assigned to him by the master of the chorus； he shared in the
performance of the paean in honour of the god。
＇13＇ B。C。 393。
＇14＇ ｛kata ta stena｝。 See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 iv。 19。 ｛kata Tenean｝； according
to Koppen's emendation。
＇15＇ See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 v。 208； Herod。 ix。 7； 〃Hell。〃 IV。 v。 10。
Later on； it being brought to his notice that the Corinthians were
keeping all their cattle safely housed in the Peiraeum； sowing the
whole of that district； and gathering in their crops； and； which was a
matter of the greatest moment； that the Boeotians； with Creusis as
their base of operations； could pour their succours into Corinth by
this routehe marched against Peiraeum。 Finding it strongly guarded；
he made as if the city of Corinth were about to capitulate； and
immediately after the morning meal shifted his ground and encamped
against the capital。 Under cover of night there was a rush from
Peiraeum to protect the city； which he was well aware of； and with
break of day he turned right about and took Peiraeum； defenceless as
it lay； capturing all that it contained； with the various fortresses
within； and having so done retired homewards。
After these exploits＇16＇ the Achaeans were urgent for an alliance； and
begged him to join them in an expedition against Acarnania。 In the
course of this the Acarnanians attacked him in a defile。 Storming the
heights above his head with his light troops；＇17＇ he gave them battle；
and slew many of them； and set up a trophy； nor stayed his hand until
he had united the Acarnanians； the Aetolians； and the Argives；＇18＇ in
friendship with the Achaeans and alliance with himself。
＇16＇ B。C。 390…389？
＇17＇ See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 vi。 9…11； where it is expressly stated that the
action was won by the Spartan hoplites。 See Hartman； 〃An。 Xen。〃
（cap。 xi。 〃De Agesilao libello〃）； p。 263； for other discrepancies
between the historian and the encomiast。
＇18＇ See perhaps 〃Hell。〃 IV。 iv。 19； vii。 2 foll。
When the enemy； being desirous of peace； sent an embassy； it was
Agesilaus who spoke against the peace；＇19＇ until he had forced the
states of Corinth and of Thebes to welcome back those of them who； for
Lacedaemon's sake； had suffered banishment。
＇19＇ I。e。 〃of Antalcidas； B。C。 387。〃 See 〃Hell。〃 V。 i。 36； Grote； 〃H。
G。〃 ix。 537 note。
And still later；＇20＇ again； he restored the exiles of the Phliasians；
who had suffered in the same cause； and with that object marched in
person against Phlius； a proceeding which； however liable to censure
on other grounds； showed unmistakable attachment to his party。＇21＇
＇20＇ B。C。 383 and 380； see 〃Hell。〃 V。 ii。 10； iii。 10。
＇21＇ See 〃Hell。〃 V。 iii。 16。
Thus； when the adverse faction had put to death those of the
Lacedaemonians then in Thebes； he brought succour to his friends； and
marched upon Thebes。＇22＇ Finding the entire country fenced with ditch
and palisading； he crossed Cynoscephalae＇23＇ and ravaged the district
right up to the city itself； giving the Thebans an opportunity of
engaging him in the plain or upon the hills； as they preferred。 And
once more； in the ensuing year；＇24＇ he marched against Thebes； and now
surmounting these palisades and entrenchments at Scolus；＇25＇ he
ravaged the remainder of Boeotia。
＇22＇ B。C。 378。
＇23＇ See 〃Hell。〃 V。 iv。 34 foll。； for the site see Breitenbach； ad
loc。
＇24＇ B。C。 377。
＇25＇ See 〃Hell。〃 V。 iv。 47。
Hitherto fortune had smiled in common upon the king himself and upon
his city。 And as for the disasters which presently befell； no one can
maintain that they were brought about under the leadership of
Agesilaus。 But the day came when； after the disaster which had
occurred at Leuctra； the rival powers in conjunction with the
Mantineans fell to massacring his friends and adherents＇26＇ in Tegea
（the confederacy between all the states of Boeotia； the Arcadians； and
the Eleians being already an accomplished fact）。 Thereupon； with the
forces of Lacedaemon alone；＇27＇ he took the field； and thus belied the
current opinion that it would be a long while before the
Lacedaemonians ventured to leave their own territory again。 Having
ravaged the country of those who had done his friends to death； he was
content； and returned home。
＇26＇ Or intimates。
＇27＇ B。C。 370。 See 〃Hell。〃VI。 v。 21。
After this Lacedaemon was invaded by the united Arcadians； Argives；
Eleians； and Boeotians； who were assisted by the Phocians； both
sections of the Locrians； the Thessalians； Aenianians； Acarnanians；
and Euboeans； moreover； the slaves had revolted and several of the
provincial cities；＇28＇ while of the Spartans themselves as many had
fallen on the field of Leuctra as survived。 But in spite of all； he
safely guarded the city； and that too a city without walls and
bulwarks。 Forbearing to engage in the open field； where the gain would
lie wholly with the enemy； he lay stoutly embattled on ground where
the citizens must reap advantage； since； as he doggedly persisted； to
march out meant to be surrounded on every side； whereas to stand at
bay where every defile gave a coign of vantage； would give him mastery
complete。＇29＇
＇28＇ Lit。 〃perioecid〃； see Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xxxii。 （Clough； iv。 39）；
〃Hell。〃 VI。 v。 32。
＇29＇ Is this parallel to 〃Hell。〃 VII。 v。 10； or 〃Hell。〃 VI。 v。 28？
According to the historian； Agesilaus adopted similar tactics on
both occasions （in B。C。 369 and B。C。 362 alike）。 The encomiast
after his manner appears to treat them as one。 Once and again his
hero 〃cunctando restituit rem；〃 but it was by the same strategy。
After the invading army had retired； no one will gainsay the sound
sense of his behaviour。 Old age debarred him from active service on
foot or horse； and what the city chiefly needed now； he saw； was
money； if she looked to gain allies。 To the task therefore of
providing that he set himself。 Everything that could be done by
stopping at home he deftly turned his hand to； or when the call arose
and he could better help his country by departure he had no false
pride； he set off on foreign service； not as general； but as
ambassador。 Yet on such embassy he achieved acts worthy of the
greatest general。 Autophradates＇30＇ was besieging Ariobarzanes；＇31＇
who was an ally of Sparta； in Assos； but before the face of Agesilaus
he fled in terror and was gone。 Cotys；＇32＇ besieging Sestos； which
still adhered to Ariobarzanes； broke up the siege and departed
crestfallen。 Well might the ambassador have set up a trophy in
commemoration of the two bloodless victories。 Once more； Mausolus＇33＇
was besieging both the above…named places with a squadron of one
hundred sail。 He too； like； and yet unlike； the former two； yielded
not to terror but to persuasion； and withdrew his fleet。 These； then；
were surely admirable achievements； since those who looked upon him as
a benefactor and those who fled from before him both alike made him
the richer by their gifts。
＇30＇ Satrap of Lydia。
＇31＇ Satrap of Propontis or Hellespontine Phrygia。
＇32＇ Satrap of Paphlagonia； king of Thrace。 Iphicrates married his
daughter。 See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 x。 410。
＇33＇ Satrap of Caria。
Tachos；＇34＇ indeed； and Mausolus gave him a magnificent escort； and；
for the sake of his former friendship with Agesilaus； the latter
contributed also money for the state of Lacedaemon； and so they sped
him home。
＇34＇ King of Egypt。
And now the weight of； may be； fourscore years was laid upon him；＇35＇
when it came under his observation that the king of Egypt；＇36＇ with
his hosts of foot and horse and stores of wealth； had set his heart on
a war with Persia。 Joyfully he learned that he himself was summoned by
King Tachos； and that the command…in…chief of all the forces was
promised to him。 By this one venture he would achieve three objects；
which were to requite the Egyptian for the benefits conferred on
Lacedaemon； to liberate the Hellenes in Asia once again； and to
inflict on the Persian a just recompense； not only for the old
offences； but for this which was of to…day； seeing that； while
boasting alliance with Sparta； he had dictatorially enjoined the
emancipation of Messene。＇37＇ But when the man who had summoned him
refused to confer the proffered generalship； Agesilaus； like one on
whom a flagrant deception has been practised； began to consider the
part he had to play。 Meanwhile a separate division＇38＇ of the Egyptian
armies held aloof from their king。 Then； the disaffection spreading；
all the rest of his troops deserted him； whereat the monarch took
flight and retired in exile to Sidon in Phoenicia； leaving the
Egyptians； split in faction； to choose to themselves a pair of
kings。＇39＇ Thereupon Agesilaus took his decision。 If he helped
neither； it meant that neither would pay the service…money due to his
Hellenes； that neither would provide a market； and that； whichever of
the two conquered in the end； Sparta would be equally detested。 But if
he threw in his lot with one of them； that one would in all likelihood
in return for the kindness prove a friend。 Accordingly he chose
between the two that one who seemed to be the truer partisan of
Hellas； and with him marched against the enemy of Hellas and conquered
him in a battle； crushing him。 His rival he helped to establish on the
throne； and having made him a friend to Lacedaemon； and having
acquired vast sums besides； he turned and set sail homewards； even in
mid…winter； hastening so that Sparta might not lie inactive； but
against the coming summer be alert to confront the foe。
＇35＇ Or； 〃But to pass on； he was already； may be； eighty years of age；
when it came under his observation
