him contrary
to the terms of truce. Of so intrinsic a value to all, and not least
to a general in the field, is the proud possession of an honest and
God-fearing character, known and recognised. Thus far, as touching the
quality of piety.

(1) See "Hell." III. iv. 10; Plut. "Ages." xi. (Clough, iv. 9).

(2) See "Hell." IV. i. 3; Plut. "Ages." xi. (Clough, iv. 13).

(3) Diod. xvi. 34.

(4) See "Hell." IV. i. 37.

IV

To speak next of his justice (1) in affairs of money. As to this, what
testimony can be more conclusive than the following? During the whole
of his career no charge of fraudulent dealing was ever lodged against
Agesilaus; against which set the many-voiced acknowledgment of
countless benefits received from him. A man who found pleasure in
giving away his own for the benefit of others was not the man to rob
another of his goods at the price of infamy. Had he suffered from this
thirst for riches it would have been easier to cling to what belonged
to him than to take that to which he had no just title. This man, who
was so careful to repay debts of gratitude, where (2) the law knows no
remedy against defaulters, was not likely to commit acts of robbery
which the law regards as criminal. And as a matter of act Agesilaus
judged it not only wrong to forgo repayment of a deed of kindness,
but, where the means were ample, wrong also not to repay such debts
with ample interest.

(1) See Muller and Donaldson, "Hist. Gk. Lit." ii. 196, note 2.

(2) Or, "a state of indebtedness beyond the reach of a tribunal." See
"Cyrop." I. ii. 7.

The charge of embezzlement, could it be alleged, would no less outrage
all reason in the case of one who made over to his country the benefit
in full of grateful offerings owed solely to himself. Indeed the very
fact that, when he wished to help the city or his friends with money,
he might have done so by the aid of others, goes a long way to prove
his indifference to the lure of riches; since, had he been in the
habit of selling his favour, or of playing the part of benefactor for
pay, there had been no room for a sense of indebtedness. (3) It is only
the recipient of gratuitous kindness who is ever ready to minister to
his benefactor, both in return for the kindness itself and for the
confidence implied in his selection as the fitting guardian of a good
deed on deposit. (4)

(3) Or, "no one would have felt to owe him anything."

(4) See "Cyrop." VI. i. 35