yet notwithstanding the severe penalty annexed to the heaping up much
wealth, and the example of those who had suffered for it, Lysander
was highly honored and rewarded for bringing in a great quantity of
gold and silver to Lacedaemon, after the victory he had gained over
the Athenians, and the taking of the city of Athens itself, wherein an
inestimable treasure was found. So that what had been a capital crime
in others was a meritorious act in him. It is true indeed that as long
as the Spartans did adhere closely to the observation of the laws and
rules of Lycurgus, and keep their oath religiously to be true to their
own government, they outstripped all the other cities of Greece for
prudence and valor, and for the space of five hundred years became
famous everywhere for the excellency of their laws and the wisdom of
their policy. But when the honor of these laws began to lessen and
their citizens grew luxurious and exorbitant, when covetousness and
too much liberty had softened their minds and almost destroyed the
wholesome constitution of their state, their former greatness and power
began by little and little to decay and dwindle in the estimation
of men. And as by reason of these vices and ill customs they proved
unserviceable to themselves, so likewise they became less formidable
to others; insomuch as their several allies and confederates, who had
with them jointly carried on their common good and interest, were
wholly alienated from them. But although their affairs were in such a
languishing posture, when Philip of Macedon, after his great victory at
Chaeronea, was by the Grecians declared their general both by land and
sea, as likewise his son Alexander after the conquest of the Thebans;
yet the Lacedaemonians, though their cities had no other walls for
their security, but only their own courage, though by reason of their
frequent wars they were reduced to low measures and small numbers of
men, and thereby become so weak as to be an easy prey to any powerful
enemy, yet retaining amongst them some reverence for those few remains
of Lycurgus’s institution and government, they could not be brought
to assist these two, or any other of their Macedonian kings in their
wars and expeditions; neither could they be prevailed with to assist
at their common assemblies and consults with them, nor pay any tribute
or contributions to them. But when all those laws and customs (which
are the main pillars that support a state) enacted by Lycurgus, and so
highly approved of by the government, were now universally despised
and unobserved, they immediately became a prey to the ambition and
usurpation, to the cruelty and tyranny of their fellow-citizens; and
having no regard at all to their ancient virtues and constitution, they
utterly lost their ancient glory and reputation, and by degrees, as
well as weaker nations, did in a very little time everywhere degenerate
into poverty, contempt, and servitude; being at present subject to the
Romans, like all the other cities of Greece.