Kleomenes did not think it necessary to guard the isthmus, but
determined to fortify the mountains called Onea, and by holding that
strong position, to protract the war and wear out the Macedonian force,
rather than fight a pitched battle with their phalanx. By this line of
policy he reduced Antigonus to great straits; for he had made no
preparations for feeding his troops for more than a short time, and yet
to force his way in over the isthmus was a difficult operation while
Kleomenes barred the way. An attempt which he made to steal through by
Lechæum[13] at night was repulsed with considerable loss; so that
Kleomenes and his friends, elated by their victory, supped merrily
together, while Antigonus was at his wit's end to know what to do. He
even began to meditate marching to the promontory of Heræum, and
conveying his forces over the Corinthian gulf to Sikyon, an operation
which would have required much time and many ships. However, late in the
evening there arrived certain friends of Aratus by sea from Argos,
inviting him to come thither, as the Argives intended to revolt from
Kleomenes. The prime mover in this revolt was one Aristoteles, who
easily prevailed upon the people to rise, because they were disappointed
with Kleomenes, who had not cancelled all their debts as they hoped he
would. Aratus now took fifteen hundred of Antigonus's soldiers and
proceeded by sea to Epidaurus. Aristoteles however did not wait for his
arrival, but led the citizens to attack the garrison in the citadel,
assisted by Timoxenus with a body of Achæans from Sikyon.
XXI. Intelligence of this movement reached Kleomenes about the second
watch of the night. He at once sent for Megistonous, and angrily ordered
him at once to go to the assistance of the garrison of Argos; for it was
he who had so confidently assured Kleomenes of the loyalty of the
Argives, and had dissuaded him from banishing those whom he suspected
from the city. Having detached Megistonous with two thousand men on this
service, he himself turned his attention to Antigonus, and pacified the
people of Corinth by assuring them that nothing had happened at Argos
except a slight disturbance which would be easily suppressed. However,
as Megistonous was killed while forcing his way into the city, and the
garrison were hard pressed, and kept sending messengers to Kleomenes
begging for assistance, he, fearing that if the enemy gained Argos they
might cut him off from Laconia, and sack the defenceless city of Sparta,
withdrew his army from Corinth. He lost this city at once, for Antigonus
instantly entered it and placed a garrison in it. He now proceeded to
assault the city wall of Argos, and concentrated his troops for this
purpose. He broke through the vaults supporting the part of the city
called the 'Shield,' forced his way in, and joined his garrison, who
were still holding out against the Achæans. He now, by the use of
scaling ladders, captured some of the strong places in the city, and
cleared the streets of the enemy by means of his Cretan archers. When
however he saw Antigonus marching down from the mountains to the plain
with his phalanx in battle array, and saw the Macedonian cavalry pouring
along towards the city, he despaired of success, and collecting all his
troops into one mass, led them safely out of the city. He had in a
wonderfully short time effected great things, and had all but made
himself master of the whole of Peloponnesus: but now he lost it all as
quickly as he had won it, for some of his allies at once deserted him,
and many shortly afterwards surrendered their cities to Antigonus.
XXII. As Kleomenes was marching into the city of Tegea at nightfall, on
his return from this disastrous campaign, he was met by messengers
bearing the news of a still greater calamity, the death of his wife
Agiatis, of whom he was so fond that even when in the full tide of
success he never would remain continuously with his army, but used
constantly to return to Sparta to see her. He was terribly grieved and
cast down, as one would expect a young man to be on losing so beautiful
and excellent a wife, yet he did not allow his noble spirit to be
crushed by his sorrow, but without showing any outward signs of grief in
his voice or countenance, continued to give his orders to his officers,
and to take measures for placing Tegea in a posture of defence. At
daybreak next morning he returned to Lacedæmon, and after lamenting his
misfortune with his mother and his children, began to consider by what
policy he might save his country.
Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, now offered him assistance on the condition
of receiving his mother and children as hostages. For a long time he
shrank from mentioning this proposal to his mother, and often conversed
with her without having the courage to allude to it, until she suspected
that he had something on his mind, and inquired of his friends whether
there was not some subject about which he hesitated to speak to her. At
last Kleomenes brought himself to mention Ptolemy's proposal to her. On
hearing it, she laughed loudly, and said, "This, then, is that which you
have so long been fearing to tell me. Pray place me and the children on
board ship as soon as possible, and send us to any place where this body
of mine may be useful to Sparta, before it be uselessly consumed by old
age at home."
When all was prepared for her voyage, Kratesiklea proceeded to Tænarus
escorted by Kleomenes with all his troops under arms. Before embarking
she retired alone with him into the temple of Poseidon, where, after
embracing him as he sorrowed at her departure, she said, "Now, king of
the Lacedæmonians, take care when we come out that no one sees us
weeping or doing anything unworthy of Sparta. This lies in our own
power; but good or evil fortune befalls us according to the will of
Heaven."
Saying thus, she fixed her eyes upon the ship, walked swiftly to it
carrying the child, and bade the pilot start at once. When she reached
Egypt, as she heard that Ptolemy had received an embassy from Antigonus,
and was told that although the Achæans wished to come to terms with him,
he had feared on her account to make peace with them without consulting
Ptolemy, she wrote to him bidding him act worthily of Sparta, and
consult her interests, and not fear to displease Ptolemy because of what
he might do to an old woman and an infant. So great a spirit is she said
to have shown in her misfortunes.
XXIII. Antigonus now advanced, took Tegea, and allowed his troops to
plunder Orchomenus and Mantinea. Kleomenes, who was confined to the
territory of Lacedæmon, proceeded to emancipate all helots who could
pay a sum of five Attic minæ for their freedom, by which means he raised
a sum of five hundred talents. He also organised a special corps of two
thousand men, armed after the Macedonian fashion, with which he hoped to
be able to meet the Leukaspids,[14] or white-shielded troops of
Antigonus, and proceeded to attempt a wonderful and surprising feat of
arms.
The city of Megalopolis at that time was itself quite as large and as
powerful as Sparta, and had close at hand the army of the Achæans, and
that of Antigonus himself, whom the people of Megalopolis had been
especially eager to invite into Peloponnesus. This city Kleomenes
determined to pounce upon: (no other word expresses the speed with which
he surprised it). He ordered his troops to provision themselves for five
days, and led them to Sellasia, as though he intended to invade Argolis.
From Sellasia he marched into the territory of Megalopolis, halted at
Rhoeteum for supper, and thence proceeded along the road by Helikus
straight towards Megalopolis. When he was close to it he detached
Panteus with two regiments to attack a part of the wall lying between
two towers, which he had heard was often left unguarded, while he moved
slowly forward with the main body. Panteus not only found that spot, but
a great extent of the city wall unguarded. While he was engaged in
throwing down the wall and killing those who attempted to defend it,
Kleomenes came up, and was within the city with his army before the
people of Megalopolis knew of his arrival.
XXIV. When at last the inhabitants discovered the extent of their
misfortune, some snatched up what they could and fled at once, while
others got under arms and endeavoured to drive out the enemy. In this
they could not succeed, but they enabled the fugitives to escape
unmolested, so that no more than a thousand souls remained in the city,
as all the rest got safe with their wives and children to Messene. Of
those who offered resistance but a few were slain, and a very small
number were taken prisoners, amongst whom were Lysandridas and
Thearidas, the two most important persons in Megalopolis. On this
account the soldiers who took them brought them at once to Kleomenes.
Lysandridas, as soon as he saw Kleomenes at a distance, called out
loudly to him, "King of the Lacedæmonians, now you have an opportunity
to add to your glory by a deed even more noble and more worthy of a king
than that which you have achieved!" Kleomenes, suspecting what he meant,
asked, "What do you mean, Lysandridas? do you bid me give you back your
city?" "That is what I bid you to do," answered Lysandridas; "and I
advise you not to ruin so great a city, but to fill it with friends and
trusty allies, by restoring it to the people of Megalopolis, and
becoming their saviour." To this Kleomenes, after a short silence,
replied, "It is hard to believe this; but let us ever prefer honour to
profit." Saying this he sent his prisoners to Messene, and a herald with
them, who offered to restore the city to the people of Megalopolis, on
the condition that they should desert the Achæans and become the friends
and allies of the Spartans. However, Philopoemen would not allow his
countrymen to break their faith with the Achæans and accept this wise
and generous offer. He declared that Kleomenes did not intend to give
them back their city, but wanted to get possession of them as well as of
their city, and with violent abuse drove Thearidas and Lysandridas out
of the Messenian country. This was that Philopoemen who afterwards became
the general of the Achæans and won great distinction, as will be found
in the life of him which I have written.
XXV. When this answer was brought back to Kleomenes, who had hitherto
carefully kept the city unharmed, and had not allowed any one to
appropriate the most trifling article, he became furious with
disappointment. He plundered the city, sent all the statues and pictures
to Sparta, utterly destroyed all the best part of the city, and
returned home, for he feared Antigonus and the Achæans. They, however,
did not offer to attack him: for they were engaged in holding a
conference at Ægium. Here Aratus ascended the tribune, and for a long
time wept with his face hidden in his gown. At last, as the others in
wonder bade him tell them the cause of his grief, he said that
Megalopolis had been ruined by Kleomenes. On hearing this the assembly
at once broke up. The Achæans were terror-stricken at the suddenness and
importance of the blow, and Antigonus determined to proceed to the
assistance of the people of Megalopolis, but as it took a long time to
assemble his troops from their winter-quarters, he ordered them to stay
where they were, and himself with a small force marched to Argos.
Kleomenes now engaged in a second enterprise, which appeared completely
insane, but which is said by the historian Polybius to show consummate
generalship. As he knew that all the Macedonian troops were scattered
over the country in winter-quarters, and that Antigonus with a few
mercenary troops was spending the winter at Argos with his friends, he
invaded the Argive territory, thinking that either he should shame
Antigonus into a battle, and beat him, or else that if he did not dare
to fight, the Argives would be disgusted with him. And so it fell out.
The Argives, seeing their country spoiled by Kleomenes, were greatly
enraged, and gathering together before the house in which Antigonus was
lodging, excitedly called upon him either to fight or to resign his post
as commander-in-chief in favour of a better man. But Antigonus, like a
prudent general as he was, thought it more disgraceful to run foolish
risks and incur unnecessary danger than to hear himself called hard
names by the mob, and refused to leave the city, but stood constant in
his original policy. Kleomenes, after marching up to the gates of Argos,
ostentatiously ravaged the country, and returned home unmolested.
XXVI. Shortly afterwards, hearing that Antigonus had again advanced to
Tegea, intending to invade Laconia by that route, Kleomenes quickly
assembled his army, marched by a different road, avoiding Antigonus, and
at daybreak appeared near the city of Argos, where he ravaged the
plain country, not reaping the corn, as invaders usually do, with
sickles and swords, but beating down with great clubs, so that his
soldiers in sheer sport as they marched along were able to destroy the
whole crop without trouble. When they reached the gymnasium of
Kyllarabis some of the officers proposed to set it on fire; but
Kleomenes forbade it, saying that even in destroying Megalopolis he had
been guided by anger rather than by honour. Antigonus at first retired
directly towards Argos, but afterwards occupied all the passes by which
the Lacedæmonians could retreat. Kleomenes affected to set him at
defiance, and sent a herald to Argos to demand the keys of the temple of
Hera (between Argos and Mycenæ), in order that he might offer sacrifice
there before retiring. After insulting the Argives by this ironical
request, he offered sacrifice outside the temple, for the doors remained
locked, and led away his army to Phlius. From thence he marched to Mount
Oligyrtus, where he defeated the Macedonian troops who guarded the pass,
and returned home by way of Orchomenus, having inspired his countrymen
with hope and confidence, and having proved to his enemies that he was a
consummate general, capable of conducting the most important operations.
It was indeed no small feat for him, with only the resources of one
small state at his disposal, to make war against the power of Macedonia
and all the cities of the Peloponnesus, with Antigonus for their
paymaster, and not only to prevent the enemy's setting foot in Laconia,
but to lay waste their country, and take such large and important cities
from them.
XXVII. However, he who first called money the sinews of war must have
had this war in his mind. So also Demades, when the Athenians wished to
man a fleet at a time when they had no money, observed that they must
make bread before they could make a voyage. Archidamus, too, who was
king of Sparta at the opening of the Peloponnesian war, when his allies
asked him to fix the limit of their several contributions, answered that
the consumption of war is unlimited. For just as trained athletes in
time overpower their antagonist in spite of his strength and skill, so
Antigonus, having vast resources to draw upon, wearied out and
overpowered Kleomenes, who had the greatest difficulty in paying his
mercenary troops and feeding his countrymen. In other respects the long
duration of the contest was in Kleomenes's favour, as Antigonus had
troubles at home which made the contest a more equal one. The
barbarians, in his absence, always overran and plundered the outskirts
of the kingdom of Macedonia, and at this period an army of Illyrians had
invaded the country from the north, against whose depredations the
Macedonians besought Antigonus to return and protect them. The letter
calling upon him to return was very nearly delivered to him before the
decisive battle of the war; and had he received it, he would no doubt
have returned home at once and taken a long farewell of the Achæans.
However, fortune, who delights to show that the most important events
are decided by the merest trifles, caused the embassy with the letters
for the recall of Antigonus to reach him just after the battle of
Sellasia, in which Kleomenes lost his army and his country. This makes
the misfortune of Kleomenes yet more pitiable; for if he had avoided a
battle for two days longer, he never need have fought at all, as the
Macedonians would have retreated, and left him to make what terms he
pleased with the Achæans: whereas, as has been explained, his want of
money forced him to fight, and that too when, according to Polybius, he
had only twenty thousand men to oppose to thirty thousand.
XXVIII. In the battle he acted like a great general, and the Spartans
fought with desperate courage, while the mercenary troops also behaved
well; but he was overpowered by the Macedonian armament and by the
irresistible weight of their phalanx. The historian Phylarchus says that
Kleomenes was ruined by treachery, for Antigonus sent his Illyrians and
Akarnanians to make a flank march and attack one of the enemy's wings,
which was commanded by Eukleidas, the brother of Kleomenes, and there
placed the rest of his army in battle array. Kleomenes, who was watching
the enemy from an eminence, could not see the Illyrian and Akarnanian
troops, and suspected some manoeuvre of the kind. He sent for Damoteles,
the chief of the Spartan secret-service,[15] and ordered him to explore
the ground on both flanks, and see that no attack was meditated in that
direction. As Damoteles, who is said to have been bribed by Antigonus,
answered that all was well on the flanks, and that he had better give
his entire attention to the enemy in front, Kleomenes believed him, and
at once charged the army of Antigonus. The furious attack of the
Spartans drove back the Macedonian phalanx, and Kleomenes forced it to
retreat before him for a distance of about five stadia. Then, as he
found that his brother Eukleidas on the other wing was surrounded by the
enemy, he halted, and looking towards him, said, "You are gone, my
dearest brother; you have fought bravely, and are a noble model to the
Spartan youth, a noble theme for Spartan maidens' songs." Then, as the
entire division under Eukleidas was cut to pieces, and the victors
attacked his own men, who were thrown into confusion and could no longer
stand their ground, he escaped from the field as best he could. It is
said that many of the mercenaries were slain, and that of the
Lacedæmonians, who were six thousand in all, only two hundred remained
alive.
XXIX. Kleomenes, when he reached Sparta, advised the citizens whom he
met to submit to Antigonus, and declared that he himself, whether he
lived or died, would do what was best for Sparta. As he saw the women
running up to those who had accompanied him in his flight, taking their
arms from them and offering them drink, he retired into his own house,
where his mistress, a girl of a good family of Megalopolis, whom he had
taken to live with him after his wife's death, came up to him as usual,
and wished to attend upon him on his return from the wars. But he would
neither drink, although excessively thirsty, nor sit down, weary though
he was, but in his armour as he was took hold of one of the columns with
his hand, leaned his face upon his elbow, and after resting a short
time in this posture while he revolved in his mind every kind of plan,
proceeded with his friends to Grythium. Here they embarked on a ship
which had been prepared in case of such a disaster, and sailed away.
XXX. After the battle Antigonus advanced upon Sparta, and made himself
master of the city. He treated the Lacedæmonians with kindness, and
offered no kind of insult to their glorious city, but permitted them to
retain their laws and constitution, sacrificed to the gods, and on the
third day withdrew, as he had learned that a terrible war was raging in
Macedonia, and that his kingdom was being ravaged by the barbarians. His
health was already affected by a disease, which ended in consumption.
However, he bore up against it, and was able to die gloriously after
having recovered his kingdom, won a great victory over the barbarians,
and killed a great number of them. Phylarchus tells us that he ruptured
his lungs by shouting in the battle itself, and this seems the most
probable account, but the common report at the time was that while
shouting aloud after the victory, "O happy day!" he brought up a vast
quantity of blood and fell sick of a fever, of which he died. Such was
the fate of Antigonus.
XXXI. Kleomenes sailed from Kythera to another island, named Ægialea. As
he was about to cross over from this place to Cyrene, one of his friends
named Therykion, a brilliant warrior and a man of lofty, unbending
spirit, said to him in private, "My king, we have lost the opportunity
of falling by the noblest of deaths in the battle, although we publicly
declared that Antigonus should never enter Sparta unless he first passed
over the dead body of the king. However, the course which is next to
this in honour is still open to us. Why should we recklessly embark on
this voyage merely in order to exchange our misfortunes at home for
others in a distant country? If it be not disgraceful for the sons of
Herakles to submit to the successors of Philip and Alexander, we shall
save ourselves a long voyage by delivering ourselves up to Antigonus,
who is probably as much better than Ptolemy as the Macedonians are
better than the Egyptians. If, on the other hand, we scorn to become the
subjects of our conqueror, why should we become subject to one who has
not conquered us, and so prove ourselves inferior to two men instead of
one, by becoming the courtiers of Ptolemy as well as fleeing before
Antigonus? Is it on account of your mother that we are going to Egypt?
If so, you will indeed make a glorious appearance before her, and you
will be much to be envied when she shows her son to the ladies of
Ptolemy's court, an exile instead of a king. While we are still masters
of our own swords, and are still in sight of Laconia, let us put
ourselves beyond the reach of further misfortunes, and make amends to
those who died for Sparta at Sellasia, rather than settle ourselves in
Egypt, and inquire whom Antigonus has been pleased to appoint satrap of
Lacedæmon?"[16]
To these remarks of Therykion Kleomenes answered, "Wretch, do you think
that by suicide, the easiest way out of all difficulties, and one which
is within every man's reach, you will gain a reputation for bravery, and
will not rather be flying before the enemy more disgracefully than at
Sellasia? More powerful men than ourselves have ere now been defeated,
either by their own evil fortune or by the excessive numbers of their
enemy: but the man who refuses to bear fatigue and misery, and the scorn
of men, is conquered by his own cowardice. A self-inflicted death ought
to be an honourable action, not a dishonourable means of escape from the
necessity for action. It is disgraceful either to live or to die for
oneself alone: yet this is the course which you recommend, namely, that
I should fly from my present misery without ever again performing any
useful or honourable action. I think that it is both your duty and mine,
not to despair of our country: for when all hope fails us, we can easily
find means to die." To this Therykion made no answer, but as soon as he
had an opportunity left Kleomenes, sought a retired spot upon the beach,
and killed himself.
XXXII. Kleomenes sailed from Ægialea to Libya, where he was received
with royal honours and conducted to Alexandria. At his first interview
Ptolemy[17] treated him with mere ordinary politeness, but when by
conversation with him he discovered his great abilities, and in the
familiar intercourse of daily life observed the noble Spartan simplicity
of his habits, and saw with how proud and unbroken a spirit he bore his
misfortunes, he thought him a much more trustworthy friend than any of
the venal throng of courtiers by whom he was surrounded. Ptolemy felt
real regret at having neglected so great a man, and allowed Antigonus to
gain so much glory and power at his expense. He showed Kleomenes great
kindness and honour, and encouraged him by promising that he would place
a fleet and a sum of money at his disposal, which would enable him to
return to Greece and recover his throne. He settled upon him a yearly
allowance of twenty-four talents, the most part of which he and his
friends, who still retained their simple Spartan habits, distributed in
charity among the Greek refugees who had found an asylum in Egypt.