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remote from dirge and lamentation than a life of glory crowned by
seasonable death？ What more deserving of song and eulogy than
resplendent victories and deeds of highest note？ Surely if one man
rather than another may be accounted truly blest； it is he who； from
his boyhood upwards； thirsted for glory； and beyond all contemporary
names won what he desired； who； being gifted with a nature most
emulous of honour； remained from the moment he was king unconquered；
who attained the fullest term of mortal life and died without
offence＇4＇ committed； whether as concerning those at whose head he
marched； or as towards those others against whom he fought in war。
＇3＇ See Symonds' 〃Greek Poets；〃 ch。 v。
＇4＇ As to the word ｛anamartetos｝ so translated； see Breitenbach； Exc。
ad x。 4 of his edition。
XI
It only remains for me； under the form of headings；＇1＇ to review the
topic of this great man's virtue； in hopes that thus his eulogy may
cling to the memory more lastingly。
＇1＇ Or； as others think； 〃in a summary。〃
Agesilaus reverenced the shrines and sacred places even of the enemy。
We ought； he said； to make the gods our allies on hostile no less than
on friendly soil。
He would do no violence to a suppliant； no； not even if he were his
own foe； since how irrational must it be to stigmatise robbers of
temples as sacrilegious and yet to regard him who tears the suppliant
from the altar as a pious person。
One tenet he never wearied of repeating： the gods； he said； are not
less pleased with holy deeds than with pure victims。
In the day of his prosperity his thoughts were not raised higher than
befits a man； he gave thanks to the gods； and offered more victims
when he had nothing to fear than he registered vows in time of
apprehension。
He was accustomed in the midst of anxiety to wear an aspect of gaiety；
but； when the victory was won； of gentleness。
Amongst friends his warmest greeting was reserved； not for the most
powerful； but for the most ardent； and if he hated； it was not him
who； being evil entreated； retaliated； but one who； having had
kindness done to him； seemed incapable of gratitude。
He rejoiced when sordid greed was rewarded with poverty； and still
more if he might himself enrich a righteous man； since his wish was to
render uprightness more profitable than iniquity。
He made it a practice to associate with all kinds of people； but to be
intimate only with the best。
As he listened to the praise of this man； or the censure of another；
he felt that he learnt quite as much about the character of the
speakers themselves as of those whom they discussed。
To be cheated by a friend was scarcely censurable； but he could find
no comdemnation strong enough for him who was outwitted by a foe。 Or
again； to dupe the incredulous might argue wit； but to take in the
unsuspecting was veritably a crime。
The praise of a critic who had courage to point out his defects
pleased him； and plainness of speech excited in him no hostility。 It
was against the cunning rather of the secretive person that he guarded
himself； as against a hidden snare。
The calumniator he detested more than the robber or the thief； in
proportion as the loss of friends is greater than the loss of
money。＇2＇
＇2＇ Mr。 R。 W。 Taylor aptly quotes 〃Othello；〃 III。 iii。 157
〃Who steals my purse steals trash； 'tis something； nothing；
'Twas mine； 'tis his； and has been slave to thousands；
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed。〃
The errors of private persons he bore with gently； but those of rulers
he looked upon as grave； since the mischief wrought in the one case
was so small； and so large in the other。 The proper attribute of
royalty was； he maintained； not an avoidance of responsibility； but a
constant striving after nobleness。＇3＇
＇3＇ On the word ｛kalokagathia｝ so translated； see Demosth。 777； 5。
Whilst he would not suffer any image＇4＇ of his bodily form to be set
up （though many wished to present him with a statue）； he never ceased
elaborating what should prove the monument of his spirit； holding that
the former is the business of a statuary； the latter of one's self。
Wealth might procure the one； he said； but only a good man could
produce the other。
＇4＇ See Plut。 〃Ages。〃 ii。 （Clough； iv。 p。 2）； also Plut。 〃Ap。 Lac。〃 p。
115； ib。 p。 103； Cic。 〃ad Div。〃 V。 xii。 7。
As for riches； he employed them not with justice merely； but with
liberality； holding that for a just man it is sufficient if he let
alone the things of others； but of a liberal man it is required that
he should take of his own and give to supply another's needs。
He was ever subject to religious fear；＇5＇ believing that no man during
his lifetime； however well he lives； can be counted happy； it is only
he who has ended his days with glory of whom it can be said that he
has attained at last to blessedness。＇6＇
＇5＇ See 〃Cyr。〃 III。 iii。 58； and for the word ｛deisidaimon｝； see Jebb；
〃Theophr。 Char。〃 p。 263 foll。； Mr。 Ruskin； Preface to 〃Bibl。
Past。〃 vol。 i。 p。 xxv。
＇6＇ See Herod。 i。 34； Soph。 〃Oed。 Tyr。〃 1529； and Prof。 Jebb's note ad
loc。
In his judgment it was a greater misfortune to neglect things good and
virtuous； knowing them to be so； than in ignorance。 Nor was he
enamoured of any reputation； the essentials of which he had not
laboriously achieved。＇7＇
＇7＇ Or； 〃for which he did not qualify himself by the appropriate
labour。〃
He was one of the small band； as it seemed to me； who regard virtue；
not as a thing to be patiently endured；＇8＇ but as a supreme enjoyment。
At any rate； to win the praise of mankind gave him a deeper pleasure
than the acquisition of wealth； and he preferred to display courage
far rather in conjunction with prudence than with unnecessary risks；
and to cultivate wisdom in action more than by verbal discussion。
＇8＇ Or； 〃as a system of stoical endurance；〃 〃a kind of stoicism。〃 But
we must not let Xenophon； who is a Socratic； talk of the Stoa。 If
we knew certainly that the chapter was a much later production；
the language would be appropriate enough。
Very gentle to his friends； to his enemies he was most terrible。
Whilst he could hold out against toil and trouble with the best；
nothing pleased him bet