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Whilst he could hold out against toil and trouble with the best；
nothing pleased him better than yielding to his comrades。 But passion
was kindled in him by beauty of deed rather than of person。＇9＇
＇9＇ Or； 〃beauteous deeds rather than bodily splendour。〃
Skilled in the exercise of self…command in the midst of external
welfare； he could be stout of heart enough in stress of danger。
Urbanity he practised； not with jest and witticisim； but by the
courtesy of his demeanour。
In spite of a certain haughtiness； he was never overbearing； but rich
in saving common sense。 At any rate； while pouring contempt upon
arrogance； he bore himself more humbly than the most ordinary man。 In
fact； what he truly took a pride in was the simplicity of his own
attire； in contrast with the splendid adornment of his troops； or；
again； in the paucity of his own wants； combined with a bountiful
liberality towards his friends。
Besides all this； as an antagonist he could hit hard enough； but no
one ever bore a lighter hand when the victory was won。＇10＇
＇10＇ Lit。 〃he was the heaviest of antagonists and the lightest of
conquerors。〃
The same man； whom an enemy would have found it hard to deceive； was
pliability itself in the concerns of his friends。 Whilst for ever
occupied in laying these on a secure foundation； he made it a
ceaseless task to baffle the projects of the national foe。
The epithets applied to him are significant。 His relatives found in
him a kinsman who was more than kind。 To his intimates he appeared as
a friend in need who is a friend indeed。 To the man who had done him
some service； of tenacious memory。 To the victim of injustice； a
knight…errant。 And to those who had incurred danger by his side； a
saviour second only to the gods。
It was given to this man； as it appears to me； to prove exceptionally
that though strength of body may wax old the vigour of a man's soul is
exempt from eld。 Of him； at any rate； it is true that he never shrank
from the pursuit of great and noble objects； so long as＇11＇ his body
was able to support the vigour of his soul。 Therefore his old age
appeared mightier than the youth of other people。 It would be hard to
discover； I imagine； any one who in the prime of manhood was as
formidable to his foes as Agesilaus when he had reached the limit of
mortal life。 Never； I suppose； was there a foeman whose removal came
with a greater sense of relief to the enemy than that of Agesilaus；
though a veteran when he died。 Never was there a leader who inspired
stouter courage in the hearts of fellow…combatants than this man with
one foot planted in the grave。 Never was a young man snatched from a
circle of loving friends with tenderer regret than this old graybeard。
＇11＇ Reading； ｛megalon kai kalon ephiemenos； eos kai to soma； k。t。l。｝
See Breitenbach。
The benefactor of his fatherland； absolutely to the very end； with
bounteous hand； even in the arms of death； dealing out largesse＇12＇ to
the city which he loved。 And so they bore him home to his eternal
resting…place；＇13＇ this hero； who； having raised to himself many a
monument of his valour over the broad earth； came back to find in the
land of his fathers a sepulture worthy of a king。＇14＇
＇12＇ See above； ii。 31。
＇13＇ See for this remarkable phrase； Diod。 i。 51。
＇14＇ See 〃Pol。 Lac。〃 xv。 9。
End