etail were a tedious
story, since, as I suppose, there is not one of his several
achievements but must finally resolve itself into that. For, to put it
briefly, we all know well that where Agesilaus expected in any way to
benefit his country there was no toil he shrank from, no danger he
avoided, no money he stinted, no excuse whether of age or body he
admitted, but deemed it ever the true function of a good king (2) to
shower blessings to the utmost on the subjects of his rule.

(1) Lit. "love for his own city."

(2) Or, "regarded it as the cardinal virtue of a real prince." See
"Mem." III. ii. 3.

And for my part I hold it as chief among the magnificent benefits so
conferred by him upon his country that, being the most powerful member
of the state, he made no secret of his absolute submission to the
laws, (3) since what lesser man, seeing the king's obedience, would
take (4) on himself to disobey? Who, in discontentment at his own poor
lot, would venture on revolution, knowing that the king himself could
condescend to constitutional control? And that, too, a king who bore
himself towards political opponents with a paternal mildness. (5) If he
rebuked them sharply for their misdemeanours, he none the less
honoured their high endeavours, and proved himself a present help to
them in time of trouble. (6) No citizen could be his personal foe; of
that he was assured. His desire was to commend them one and all alike,
counting the common salvation of all a gain, and reckoning it as a
loss if even a mean man perished. For thus he reasoned, nor made a
secret of the conclusion he had come to: so long as her citizens
continued tranquilly adherent to the laws the happiness of Sparta was
secure. (7) And for the rest Sparta would once again be strong on that
day when the states of Hellas should learn wisdom.

(3) Or, "he was at the same time the most obvious in his allegiance to
the laws."

(4) Lit. "would have taken on himself... would have ventured on
revolution."

(5) Lit. "as a father to his children."

(6) Or, "and was ready to stand by their side in time of trouble."

(7) Or, "For this was the clear tenor of his thought, that by tranquil
continuance within the laws the citizens of Sparta might secure
her happiness. And as to power, Sparta, etc." See "Mem." II. vi.
27.

And if, by admission, it is noble for every Hellene to be a lover of
his fellow-Hellenes, yet we must fare far afield