Agesilaus II, King of Sparta; Classical literature; Greece -- History -- Spartan and Theban Supremacies, 404-362 B.C.
And to speak next of his wisdom, (3) I suppose there is not one of all
his doings but must illustrate it;--this man whose bearing towards his
fatherland was such that by dint of implicit obedience (he grew to so
greate a height of power), (4) whose zeal in the service of his
comrades won for him the unhesitating attachment of his friends, who
infused into the hearts of his soldiers a spirit, not of discipline
only, but of self-devotion to their chief. And yet surely that is the
strongest of all battle-lines (5) in which obedience creates tactical
efficiency, and alacrity in the field springs out of loyal affection
for the general.
(3) Or, "his sagacity."
(4) The words {pleiston iskhue} are supplied from Plutarch ("Ages."
iv.), who quotes the passage, "What Xenophon tells us of him, that
by complying with, and, as it were, ruled by his country, he grew
into such great power with them, that he could do what he pleased,
is meant," etc. (Clough, iv. p. 4). The lacuna in the MS. was
first noted, I believe, by Weiske. See Breitenbach's note ad loc.
(5) See "Cyrop." VII. i. 30; "Econ." xxi. 7.
Enemies he had to cope with, who had little excuse to disparage,
however much they might be compelled to hate their opponent, seeing
that he was for ever contriving to give his allies some advantage over
them--by sheer deception, if occasion offered; now anticipating them
if speed were requisite; now skulking in corners if concealment
served; in all points observing one rule of behaviour to his friends
and another towards his foes. By turning night into day and day into
night (6) he drew so close a veil of mystery over his movements that
frequently there was no saying where he was, or whither he would go,
or what he might do next. The fastnesses of the enemy he transformed
into so many weaknesses, (7) passing this one by, and scaling that, and
stealing like a thief into a third.
(6) See "Hell." VI. i. 15; "Pol. Lac." v. 7; "Cyrop." I. v. 12.
(7) Or, "the strongholds of the enemy might to all intents and
purposes have been open places."
When he was on the march, and was well aware that an enemy might, if
he chose, deliver battle, his habit was to lead his troops in compact
battle order ready to confront emergencies, with soft, slow step,
advancing, as it were, with maidenly demureness, (8) for in such
procedure, as he believed, lay the secret of true calm, engendering a
dauntless self-assurance, imperturbable, unerring, impervious to
treacherous assault. Therefore by such behaviour he was a terror to
the enemy, whilst he infused courage and strength in the hearts of his
friends, so that throughout his life he continued to be a man whom his
foes dared not despise, whom his fellow-citizens cared not to arraign,
within the circle of his friends held blameless, the idol and
admiration of the outer world. (9)
(8) See above, ii. 3; "Pol. Lac." iii. 5.
(9) Cf. Tacitus's phrase concerning Titus, "deliciae humani generis."
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