XXVI. I say of those times, to avoid censuring the Romans singly; for
in Greece also, the not performing a promise given, or even sworn to,
when the observance of it clashed with the interest of the state, was
so common, that a sovereign for having done it, was hardly looked upon
to have impeached his character as a just prince, or an honest man.
XXVII. Agesilaus, king of Sparta, was one of the most celebrated
princes of antiquity; and although he was an eminent warrior, placed
his principal glory in being thought a lover of virtue and justice. To
one who called the sovereign of Persia the great monarch, he answered
sharply, _he who is not better than me, is not a greater king than
myself_. He was exceedingly sober, patient of labour, and such a
respecter of the Gods, that he would not permit even his enemies, who
had taken refuge in the temples, to be forced from their sanctuary;
and was besides, so averse to dress and finery, that there was scarce
a soldier in his army, more humbly or simply cloathed than himself.
But this saint of Paganism, made not the least scruple of violating
the public faith, when by the violation he expected to derive some
advantage to the state. By means of one of his emissaries he, in
profound peace, surprized and seized on the city of Thebes; and
although in Sparta, the justice of the action was somewhat disputed, as
soon as it was shewn, that the keeping the place was of importance to
the kingdom, they immediately consented to send a garrison to maintain
the citadel. In his expedition to Egypt, he abandoned king Taco, in
whose pay and service he and his Lacedæmonian troops were engaged, and
joined the rebel Nectanebus, without making any other excuse for this
treachery, than that he found it for the interest of his country.
XXVIII. Aristides, the Cato of the Athenians, who by way of eminence
they called the Just, having caused his country to swear to a certain
thing, and having in the name of it sworn to it himself likewise,
persuaded them afterwards to violate the oath, because the observance
of it would be productive of some inconvenience to them. Plutarch, who
cites Theophrastus as his author, adds, that to serve his country he
did many iniquitous things. Such were the just men of Greece, and such
was their policy.