CLEOMENES

Thus fell Agis. His brother Archidamus was too quick for

Leonidas, and saved himself by a timely retreat. But his

wife, then mother of a young child, he forced from her own

house, and compelled Agiatis, for that was her name, to marry

his son Cleomenes, though at that time too young for a wife,

because he was unwilling that anyone else should have her,

being heiress to her father Glylippus's great estate; in

person the most youthful and beautiful woman in all Greece,

and well-conducted in her habits of life. And therefore,

they say, she did all she could that she might not be

compelled to this new marriage. But being thus united to

Cleomenes, she indeed hated Leonidas, but to the youth showed

herself a kind and obliging wife. He, as soon as they came

together, began to love her very much, and the constant

kindness that she still retained for the memory of Agis,

wrought somewhat of the like feeling in the young man for

him, so that he would often inquire of her concerning what

had passed, and attentively listen to the story of Agis's

purpose and design. Now Cleomenes had a generous and great

soul; he was as temperate and moderate in his pleasures as

Agis, but not so scrupulous, circumspect, and gentle. There

was something of heat and passion always goading him on, and

an impetuosity and violence in his eagerness to pursue

anything which he thought good and just. To have men obey

him of their own freewill, he conceived to be the best

discipline; but, likewise, to subdue resistance, and force

them to the better course, was, in his opinion, commendable

and brave.

This disposition made him dislike the management of the city.

The citizens lay dissolved in supine idleness and pleasures;

the king let everything take its own way, thankful if nobody

gave him any disturbance, nor called him away from the

enjoyment of his wealth and luxury. The public interest was

neglected, and each man intent upon his private gain. It was

dangerous, now Agis was killed, so much as to name such a

thing as the exercising and training of their youth; and to

speak of the ancient temperance, endurance, and equality, was

a sort of treason against the state. It is said also that

Cleomenes, whilst a boy, studied philosophy under Sphaerus,

the Borysthenite, who crossed over to Sparta, and spent some

time and trouble in instructing the youth. Sphaerus was one

of the first of Zeno the Citiean's scholars, and it is likely

enough that he admired the manly temper of Cleomenes and

inflamed his generous ambition. The ancient Leonidas, as

story tells, being asked what manner of poet he thought

Tyrtaeus, replied, "Good to whet young men's courage;" for

being filled with a divine fury by his poems, they rushed

into any danger. And so the stoic philosophy is a dangerous

incentive to strong and fiery dispositions, but where it

combines with a grave and gentle temper, is most successful

in leading it to its proper good.

Upon the death of his father Leonidas, he succeeded, and

observing the citizens of all sorts to be debauched, the rich

neglecting the public good, and intent on their private gain

and pleasure, and the poor distressed in their own homes, and

therefore without either spirit for war or ambition to be

trained up as Spartans, that he had only the name of king,

and the ephors all the power, he was resolved to change the

present posture of affairs. He had a friend whose name was

Xenares, his lover, (such an affection the Spartans express

by the term, being inspired, or imbreathed with); him he

sounded, and of him he would commonly inquire what manner of

king Agis was, by what means and by what assistance he began

and pursued his designs. Xenares, at first, willingly

compiled with his request, and told him the whole story, with

all the particular circumstances of the actions. But when he

observed Cleomenes to be extremely affected at the relation,

and more than ordinarily taken with Agis's new model of the

government, and begging a repetition of the story, he at

first severely chid him, told him he was frantic, and at last

left off all sort of familiarity and intercourse with him,

yet he never told any man the cause of their disagreement,

but would only say, Cleomenes knew very well. Cleomenes,

finding Xenares averse to his designs, and thinking all

others to be of the same disposition, consulted with none,

but contrived the whole business by himself. And considering

that it would be easier to bring about an alteration when the

city was at war, than when in peace, he engaged the

commonwealth in a quarrel with the Achaeans, who had given

them fair occasions to complain. For Aratus, a man of the

greatest power amongst all the Achaeans, designed from the

very beginning to bring all the Peloponnesians into one

common body. And to effect this was the one object of all

his many commanderships and his long political course; as he

thought this the only means to make them a match for their

foreign enemies. Pretty nearly all the rest agreed to his

proposals, only the Lacedaemonians, the Eleans, and as many

of the Arcadians as inclined to the Spartan interest,

remained unpersuaded. And so as soon as Leonidas was dead,

he began to attack the Arcadians, and wasted those especially

that bordered on Achaea, by this means designing to try the

inclinations of the Spartans, and despising Cleomenes as a

youth, and of no experience in affairs of state or war. Upon

this, the ephors sent Cleomenes to surprise the Athenaeum,

near Belbina, which is a pass commanding an entrance into

Laconia and was then the subject of litigation with the

Megalopolitans. Cleomenes possessed himself of the place,

and fortified it, at which action Aratus showed no public

resentment, but marched by night to surprise Tegea and

Orchormenus. The design failed, for those that were to

betray the cities into his hands, turned afraid; so Aratus

retreated, imagining that his design had been undiscovered.

But Cleomenes wrote a sarcastic letter to him, and desired to

know, as from a friend, whither he intended to march at

night; and Aratus answering, that having heard of his design

to fortify Belbina, he meant to march thither to oppose him,

Cleomenes rejoined, that he did not dispute it, but begged to

be informed, if he might be allowed to ask the question, why

he carried those torches and ladders with him.

Aratus laughing at the jest, and asking what manner of youth

this was, Damocrates, a Spartan exile, replied, "If you have

any designs upon the Lacedaemonians, begin before this young

eagle's talons are grown." Presently after this, Cleomenes,

encamping in Arcadia with a few horse and three hundred foot,

received orders from the ephors, who feared to engage in the

war, commanding him home; but when upon his retreat Aratus

took Caphyae, they commissioned him again. In this

expedition he took Methydrium, and overran the country of the

Argives; and the Achaeans, to oppose him, came out with an

army of twenty thousand foot and one thousand horse, under

the command of Aristomachus. Cleomenes faced them at

Pallantium, and offered battle, but Aratus, being cowed by

his bravery, would not suffer the general to engage, but

retreated, amidst the reproaches of the Achaeans, and the

derision and scorn of the Spartans, who were not above five

thousand. Cleomenes, encouraged by this success, began to

speak boldly among the citizens, and reminding them of a

sentence of one of their ancient kings, said, it was in vain

now that the Spartans asked, not how many their enemies were,

but where they were. After this, marching to the assistance

of the Eleans, whom the Achaeans were attacking, falling upon

the enemy in their retreat near the Lycaeum, he put their

whole army to flight, taking a great number of captives, and

leaving many dead upon the place; so that it was commonly

reported amongst the Greeks that Aratus was slain. But

Aratus, making the best advantage of the opportunity,

immediately after the defeat marched to Mantinea, and before

anybody suspected it, took the city, and put a garrison into

it. Upon this, the Lacedaemonians being quite discouraged,

and opposing Cleomenes's designs of carrying on the war, he

now exerted himself to have Archidamus, the brother of Agis,

sent for from Messene, as he, of the other family, had a

right to the kingdom ; and besides, Cleomenes thought that

the power of the ephors would be reduced, when the kingly

state was thus filled up, and raised to its proper position.

But those that were concerned in the murder of Agis,

perceiving the design, and fearing that upon Archidamus's

return they should be called to an account, received him on

his coming privately into town, and joined in bringing him

home, and presently after murdered him. Whether Cleomenes

was against it, as Phylarchus thinks, or whether he was

persuaded by his friends, or let him fall into their hands,

is uncertain; however, they were most blamed, as having

forced his consent.

He, still resolving to new model the state, bribed the ephors

to send him out to war; and won the affections of many others

by means of his mother Cratesiclea, who spared no cost and

was very zealous to promote her son's ambition; and though of

herself she had no inclination to marry, yet for his sake,

she accepted, as her husband, one of the chiefest citizens

for wealth and power. Cleomenes, marching forth with the

army now under his commend, took Leuctra, a place belonging

to Megalopolis; and the Achaeans quickly coming up to resist

him with a good body of men commanded by Aratus, in a battle

under the very walls of the city some part of his army was

routed. But whereas Aratus had commanded the Achaeans not to

pass a deep watercourse, and thus put a stop to the pursuit,

Lydiadas, the Megalopolitan, fretting at the orders, and

encouraging the horse which he led, and following the routed

enemy, got into a place full of vines, hedges, and ditches;

and being forced to break his ranks, began to retire in

disorder. Cleomenes, observing the advantage, commanded the

Tarentines and Cretans to engage him, by whom, after a brave

defense, he was routed and slain. The Lacedaemonians, thus

encouraged, fell with a great shout upon the Achaeans, and

routed their whole army. Of the slain, who were very many,

the rest Cleomenes delivered up, when the enemy petitioned

for them; but the body of Lydiadas he commanded to be brought

to him; and then putting on it a purple robe, and a crown

upon its head, sent a convoy with it to the gates of

Megalopolis. This is that Lydiadas who resigned his power as

tyrant, restored liberty to the citizens, and joined the city

to the Achaean interest.

Cleomenes, being very much elated by this success, and

persuaded that if matters were wholly at his disposal, he

should soon be too hard for the Achaeans, persuaded

Megistonus, his mother's husband, that it was expedient for

the state to shake off the power of the ephors, and to put

all their wealth into one common stock for the whole body;

thus Sparta, being restored to its old equality, might aspire

again to the command of all Greece. Megistonus liked the

design, and engaged two or three more of his friends. About

that time, one of the ephors, sleeping in Pasiphae's temple,

dreamed a very surprising dream; for he thought he saw the

four chairs removed out of the place where the ephors used to

sit and do the business of their office, and one only set

there; and whilst he wondered, he heard a voice out of the

temple, saying, "This is best for Sparta." The person

telling Cleomenes this dream, he was a little troubled at

first, fearing that he used this as a trick to sift him, upon

some suspicion of his design, but when he was satisfied that

the relater spoke truth, he took heart again. And carrying

with him those whom he thought would be most against his

project, he took Heraea and Alsaea, two towns in league with

the Achaeans, furnished Orchomenus with provisions, encamped

before Mantinea, and with long marches up and down so

harassed the Lacedaemonians, that many of them at their own

request were left behind in Arcadia, while he with the

mercenaries went on toward Sparta, and by the way

communicated his design to those whom he thought fittest for

his purpose, and marched slowly, that he might catch the

ephors at supper.

When he was come near the city, he sent Euryclidas to the

public table, where the ephors supped, under pretense of

carrying some message from him from the army; Therycion,

Phoebis, and two of those who had been bred up with

Cleomenes, whom they call mothaces, followed with a few

soldiers; and whilst Euryclidas was delivering his message to

the ephors, they ran upon them with their drawn swords, and

slew them. The first of them, Agylaeus, on receiving the

blow, fell and lay as dead; but in a little time quietly

raising himself, and drawing himself out of the room, he

crept, without being discovered, into a little building which

was dedicated to Fear, and which always used to be shut, but

then by chance was open; and being got in, he shut the door,

and lay close. The other four were killed, and above ten

more that came to their assistance; to those that were quiet

they did no harm, stopped none that fled from the city, and

spared Agylaeus, when he came out of the temple the next day.

The Lacedaemonians have not only sacred places dedicated to

Fear, but also to Death, Laughter, and the like Passions.

Now they worship Fear, not as they do supernatural powers

which they dread, esteeming it hurtful, but thinking their

polity is chiefly kept up by fear. And therefore, the

ephors, Aristotle is my author, when they entered upon their

government, made proclamation to the people, that they should

shave their mustaches, and be obedient to the laws, that the

laws might not be hard upon them, making, I suppose, this

trivial injunction, to accustom their youth to obedience even

in the smallest matters. And the ancients, I think, did not

imagine bravery to be plain fearlessness, but a cautious fear

of blame and disgrace. For those that show most timidity

towards the laws, are most bold against their enemies; and

those are least afraid of any danger who are most afraid of a

just reproach. Therefore it was well said that

A reverence still attends on fear;

and by Homer,

Feared you shall be, dear father, and revered;

and again,

In silence fearing those that bore the sway;

for the generality of men are most ready to reverence those

whom they fear. And, therefore, the Lacedaemonians placed

the temple of Fear by the Syssitium of the ephors, having

raised that magistracy to almost royal authority.

The next day, Cleomenes proscribed eighty of the citizens,

whom he thought necessary to banish, and removed all the

seats of the ephors, except one, in which he himself designed

to sit and give audience; and calling the citizens together,

he made an apology for his proceedings, saying, that by

Lycurgus the council of Elders was joined to the kings, and

that that model of government had continued a long time, and

no other sort of magistrates had been wanted. But

afterwards, in the long war with the Messenians, when the

kings, having to command the army, found no time to

administer justice, they chose some of their friends, and

left them to determine the suits of the citizens in their

stead. These were called ephors, and at first behaved

themselves as servants to the kings; but afterwards, by

degrees, they appropriated the power to themselves and

erected a distinct magistracy. An evidence of the truth of

this was the custom still observed by the kings, who, when

the ephors send for them, refuse, upon the first and the

second summons, to go, but upon the third, rise up and attend

them. And Asteropus, the first that raised the ephors to

that height of power, lived a great many years after their

institution. So long, therefore, he continued, as they

contained themselves within their own proper sphere, it had

been better to bear with them than to make a disturbance.

But that an upstart, introduced power should so far subvert

the ancient form of government as to banish some kings,

murder others, without hearing their defense, and threaten

those who desired to see the best and most divine

constitution restored in Sparta, was not to be borne.

Therefore, if it had been possible for him, without

bloodshed, to free Lacedaemon from those foreign plagues,

luxury, sumptuosity, debts, and usury, and from those yet

more ancient evils, poverty and riches, he should have

thought himself the happiest king in the world, to have

succeeded, like an expert physician, in curing the diseases

of his country without pain. But now, in this necessity,

Lycurgus's example favored his proceedings, who being neither

king nor magistrate, but a private man, and aiming at the

kingdom, came armed into the market-place, so that king

Charillus fled in alarm to the altar. He, being a good man,

and a lover of his country, readily concurred in Lycurgus's

designs, and admitted the revolution in the state. But, by

his own actions, Lycurgus had nevertheless borne witness that

it was difficult to change the government without force and

fear, in the use of which he himself, he said, had been so

moderate as to do no more than put out of the way those who

opposed themselves to Sparta's happiness and safety. For the

rest of the nation, he told them, the whole land was now

their common property; debtors should be cleared of their

debts, and examination made of those who were not citizens,

that the bravest men might thus be made free Spartans, and

give aid in arms to save the city, and "We" he said, "may no

longer see Laconia, for want of men to defend it, wasted by

the Aetolians and Illyrians."

Then he himself first, with his step-father, Megistonus, and

his friends, gave up all their wealth into one public stock,

and all the other citizens followed the example. The land

was divided, and everyone that he had banished, had a share

assigned him; for he promised to restore all, as soon as

things were settled and in quiet. And completing the number

of citizens out of the best and most promising of the

country people, he raised a body of four thousand men; and

instead of a spear, taught them to use a surissu, with both

hands, and to carry their shields by a band, and not by a

handle, as before. After this, he began to consult about

the education of the youth, and the Discipline, as they call

it; most of the particulars of which, Sphaerus, being then at

Sparta, assisted in arranging; and, in a short time, the

schools of exercise and the common tables recovered their

ancient decency and order, a few out of necessity, but the

most voluntarily, returning to that generous and Laconic way

of living. And, that the name of monarch might give them no

jealousy, he made Euclidas, his brother, partner in the

throne; and that was the only time that Sparta had two kings

of the same family.

Then, understanding that the Achaeans and Aratus imagined

that this change had disturbed and shaken his affairs, and

that he would not venture out of Sparta and leave the city

now unsettled in the midst of so great an alteration, he

thought it great and serviceable to his designs, to show his

enemies the zeal and forwardness of his troops. And,

therefore, making an incursion into the territories of

Megalopolis, he wasted the country far and wide, and

collected a considerable booty. And, at last, taking a

company of actors, as they were traveling from Messene, and

building a theater in the enemy's country, and offering a

prize of forty minae in value, he sat spectator a whole day;

not that he either desired or needed such amusement, but

wishing to show his disregard for his enemies, and by a

display of his contempt, to prove the extent of his

superiority to them. For his alone, of all the Greek or

royal armies, had no stage-players, no jugglers, no dancing

or singing women attending it, but was free from all sorts of

looseness, wantonness, and festivity; the young men being for

the most part at their exercises, and the old men giving them

lessons, or, at leisure times, diverting themselves with

their native jests, and quick Laconian answers; the good

results of which we have noticed in the life of Lycurgus.

He himself instructed all by his example; he was a living

pattern of temperance before every man's eyes; and his course

of living was neither more stately, nor more expensive, nor

in any way more pretentious, than that of any of his people.

And this was a considerable advantage to him in his designs

on Greece. For men when they waited upon other kings, did

not so much admire their wealth, costly furniture, and

numerous attendance, as they hated their pride and state,

their difficulty of access, and imperious answers to their

addresses. But when they came to Cleomenes, who was both

really a king, and bore that title, and saw no purple, no

robes of state upon him, no couches and litters about him for

his ease, and that he did not receive requests and return

answers after a long delay and difficulty, through a number

of messengers and doorkeepers, or by memorials, but that he

rose and came forward in any dress he might happen to be

wearing, to meet those that came to wait upon him, stayed,

talked freely and affably with all that had business, they

were extremely taken, and won to his service, and professed

that he alone was the true son of Hercules. His common every

day's meal was in an ordinary room, very sparing, and after

the Laconic manner; and when he entertained ambassadors or

strangers, two more couches were added, and a little better

dinner provided by his servants, but no savoring sauces or

sweetmeats; only the dishes were larger, and the wine more

plentiful. For he reproved one of his friends for

entertaining some strangers with nothing but barley bread and

black broth, such diet as they usually had in their phiditia;

saying, that upon such occasions, and when they entertained

strangers, it was not well to be too exact Laconians. After

the table was removed, a stand was brought in, with a brass

vessel full of wine, two silver bowls which held about a pint

apiece, a few silver cups, of which he that pleased might

drink, but wine was not urged on any of the guests. There

was no music, nor was any required; for he entertained the

company himself, sometimes asking questions, sometimes

telling stories; and his conversation was neither too grave

or disagreeably serious, nor yet in any way rude or

ungraceful in its pleasantry. For he thought those ways of

entrapping men by gifts and presents, which other kings use,

dishonest and inartificial; and it seemed to him to be the

most noble method, and most suitable to a king, to win the

affections of those that came near him, by personal

intercourse and agreeable conversation, since between a

friend and a mercenary the only distinction is, that we gain

the one by one's character and conversation, the other by

one's money.

The Mantineans were the first that requested his aid; and

when he entered their city by night, they aided him to expel

the Achaean garrison, and put themselves under his

protection. He restored them their polity and laws, and the

same day marched to Tegea; and a little while after, fetching

a compass through Arcadia, he made a descent upon Pherae, in

Achaea, intending to force Aratus to a battle, or bring him

into disrepute, for refusing to engage, and suffering him to

waste the country. Hyperbatas at that time was general, but

Aratus had all the power amongst the Achaeans. The Achaeans,

marching forth with their whole strength, and encamping in

Dymae, near the Hecatombaeum, Cleomenes came up, and thinking

it not advisable to pitch between Dymae, a city of the

enemies, and the camp of the Achaeans, he boldly dared the

Achaeans, and forced them to a battle, and routing their

phalanx, slew a great many in the fight, and took many

prisoners, and thence marching to Langon, and driving out the

Achaean garrison, he restored the city to the Eleans.

The affairs of the Achaeans being in this unfortunate

condition, Aratus, who was wont to take office every other

year, refused the command, though they entreated and urged

him to accept it. And this was ill done, when the storm was

high, to put the power out of his own hands, and set another

to the helm. Cleomenes at first proposed fair and easy

conditions by his ambassadors to the Achaeans, but afterward

he sent others, and required the chief command to be settled

upon him; in other matters offering to agree to reasonable

terms, and to restore their captives and their country. The

Achaeans were willing to come to an agreement upon those

terms, and invited Cleomenes to Lerna, where an assembly was

to be held; but it happened that Cleomenes, hastily marching

on, and drinking water at a wrong time, brought up a quantity

of blood, and lost his voice; therefore being unable to

continue his journey, he sent the chiefest of the captives to

the Achaeans, and, putting off the meeting for some time,

retired to Lacedaemon.

This ruined the affairs of Greece, which was just beginning

in some sort to recover from its disasters, and to show some

capability of delivering itself from the insolence and

rapacity of the Macedonians. For Aratus, (whether fearing or

distrusting Cleomenes, or envying his unlooked-for success,

or thinking it a disgrace for him who had commanded

thirty-three years, to have a young man succeed to all his

glory and his power, and be head of that government which he

had been raising and settling so many years,) first

endeavored to keep the Achaeans from closing with Cleomenes;

but when they would not hearken to him, fearing Cleomenes's

daring spirit, and thinking the Lacedaemonians' proposals to

be very reasonable, who designed only to reduce Peloponnesus

to its old model, upon this he took his last refuge in an

action which was unbecoming any of the Greeks, most

dishonorable to him, and most unworthy his former bravery and

exploits. For he called Antigonus into Greece, and filled

Peloponnesus with Macedonians, whom he himself, when a youth,

having beaten their garrison out of the castle of Corinth,

had driven from the same country. And there had been

constant suspicion and variance between him and all the

kings, and of Antigonus, in particular, he has said a

thousand dishonorable things in the commentaries he has left

behind him. And though he declares himself how he suffered

considerable losses, and underwent great dangers, that he

might free Athens from the garrison of the Macedonians, yet,

afterwards, he brought the very same men armed into his own

country, and his own house, even to the women's apartment.

He would not endure that one of the family of Hercules, and

king of Sparta, and one that had reformed the polity of his

country, as it were, from a disordered harmony, and retuned

it to the plain Doric measure and rule of life of Lycurgus,

should be styled head of the Tritaeans and Sicyonians; and

whilst he fled the barley-cake and coarse coat, and which

were his chief accusations against Cleomenes, the extirpation

of wealth and reformation of poverty, he basely subjected

himself, together with Achaea, to the diadem and purple, to

the imperious commands of the Macedonians and their satraps.

That he might not seem to be under Cleomenes, he offered

sacrificers, called Antigonea, in honor of Antigonus, and

sang paeans himself, with a garland on his head, to the

praise of a wasted, consumptive Macedonian. I write this not

out of any design to disgrace Aratus, for in many things he

showed himself a true lover of Greece, and a great man, but

out of pity to the weakness of human nature, which in

characters like this, so worthy and in so many ways disposed

to virtue, cannot maintain its honors unblemished by some

envious fault.

The Achaeans meeting again in assembly at Argos, and

Cleomenes having come from Tegea, there were great hopes that

all differences would be composed. But Aratus, Antigonus and

he having already agreed upon the chief articles of their

league, fearing that Cleomenes would carry all before him,

and either win or force the multitude to comply with his

demands, proposed, that having three hundred hostages put

into his hands, he should come alone into the town, or bring

his army to the place of exercise, called the Cyllarabium,

outside the city, and treat there.

Cleomenes, hearing this, said, that he was unjustly dealt

with; for they ought to have told him so plainly at first,

and not now he was come even to their doors, show their

jealousy, and deny him admission. And writing a letter to

the Achaeans about the same subject, the greatest part of

which was an accusation of Aratus, while Aratus, on the other

side, spoke violently against him to the assembly, he hastily

dislodged, and sent a trumpeter to denounce war against the

Achaeans, not to Argos, but to Aegium, as Aratus writes, that

he might not give them notice enough to make provision for

their defense. There had also been a movement among the

Achaeans themselves, and the cities were eager for revolt;

the common people expecting a division of the land, and a

release from their debts, and the chief men being in many

places ill-disposed to Aratus, and some of them angry and

indignant with him, for having brought the Macedonians into

Peloponnesus. Encouraged by these misunderstandings,

Cleomenes invaded Achaea, and first took Pellene by surprise,

and beat out the Achaean garrison, and afterwards brought

over Pheneus and Penteleum to his side. Now the Achaeans,

suspecting some treacherous designs at Corinth and Sicyon,

sent their horse and mercenaries out of Argos, to have an eye

upon those cities, and they themselves went to Argos, to

celebrate the Nemean games. Cleomenes, advertised of this

march, and hoping, as it afterward fell out, that upon an

unexpected advance to the city, now busied in the solemnity

of the games, and thronged with numerous spectators, he

should raise a considerable terror and confusion amongst

them, by night marched with his army to the walls, and taking

the quarter of the town called Aspis, which lies above the

theater, well fortified, and hard to be approached, he so

terrified them that none offered to resist, but they agreed

to accept a garrison, to give twenty citizens for hostages,

and to assist the Lacedaemonians, and that he should have the

chief command.

This action considerably increased his reputation and his

power; for the ancient Spartan kings, though they many ways

endeavored to effect it, could never bring Argos to be

permanently theirs. And Pyrrhus, the most experienced

captain, though he entered the city by force, could not keep

possession, but was slain himself, with a considerable part

of his army. Therefore they admired the dispatch and

contrivance of Cleomenes; and those that before derided him,

for imitating, as they said, Solon and Lycurgus, in releasing

the people from their debts, and in equalizing the property

of the citizens, were now fain to admit that this was the

cause of the change in the Spartans. For before they were

very low in the world, and so unable to secure their own,

that the Aetolians, invading Laconia, brought away fifty

thousand slaves; so that one of the elder Spartans is

reported to have said, that they had done Laconia a kindness

by unburdening it; and yet a little while after, by merely

recurring once again to their native customs, and reentering

the track of the ancient discipline, they were able to give,

as though it had been under the eyes and conduct of Lycurgus

himself, the most signal instances of courage and obedience,

raising Sparta to her ancient place as the commanding state

of Greece, and recovering all Peloponnesus.

When Argos was captured, and Cleonae and Phlius came over, as

they did at once, to Cleomenes, Aratus was at Corinth,

searching after some who were reported to favor the Spartan

interest. The news, being brought to him, disturbed him very

much; for he perceived the city inclining to Cleomenes, and

willing to be rid of the Achaeans. Therefore he summoned the

citizens to meet in the Council Hall, and slipping away

without being observed to the gate, he mounted his horse that

had been brought for him thither, and fled to Sicyon. And

the Corinthians made such haste to Cleomenes at Argos, that,

as Aratus says, striving who should be first there, they

spoiled all their horses; he adds that Cleomenes was very

angry with the Corinthians for letting him escape; and that

Megistonus came from Cleomenes to him, desiring him to

deliver up the castle at Corinth, which was then garrisoned

by the Achaeans, and offered him a considerable sum of money,

and that he answered, that matters were not now in his power,

but he in theirs. Thus Aratus himself writes. But

Cleomenes, marching from Argos, and taking in the

Troezenians, Epidaurians, and Hermioneans, came to Corinth,

and blocked up the castle, which the Achaeans would not

surrender; and sending for Aratus's friends and stewards,

committed his house and estate to their care and management;

and sent Tritymallus, the Messenian, to him a second time,

desiring that the castle might be equally garrisoned by the

Spartans and Achaeans, and promising to Aratus himself double

the pension that he received from king Ptolemy. But Aratus,

refusing the conditions, and sending his own son with the

other hostages to Antigonus, and persuading the Achaeans to

make a decree for delivering the castle into Antigonus's

hands, upon this Cleomenes invaded the territory of the

Sicyonians, and by a decree of the Corinthians, accepted

Aratus's estate as a gift.

In the meantime, Antigonus, with a great army, was passing

Geranea; and Cleomenes, thinking it more advisable to fortify

and garrison, not the isthmus, but the mountains called Onea,

and by a war of posts and positions to weary the Macedonians,

rather than to venture a set battle with the highly

disciplined phalanx, put his design in execution, and very

much distressed Antigonus. For he had not brought victuals

sufficient for his army; nor was it easy to force a way

through, whilst Cleomenes guarded the pass. He attempted by

night to pass through Lechaeum, but failed, and lost some

men; so that Cleomenes and his army were mightily encouraged,

and so flushed with the victory, that they went merrily to

supper; and Antigonus was very much dejected, being driven,

by the necessity he was in, to most unpromising attempts. He

was proposing to march to the promontory of Heraeum, and

thence transport his army in boats to Sicyon, which would

take up a great deal of time, and require much preparation

and means. But when it was now evening, some of Aratus's

friends came from Argos by sea, and invited him to return,

for the Argives would revolt from Cleomenes. Aristoteles was

the man that wrought the revolt, and he had no hard task to

persuade the common people; for they were all angry with

Cleomenes for not releasing them from their debts as they

expected. Accordingly, obtaining fifteen hundred of

Antigonus's soldiers, Aratus sailed to Epidaurus; but

Aristoteles, not staying for his coming, drew out the

citizens, and fought against the garrison of the castle; and

Timoxenus, with the Achaeans from Sicyon, came to his

assistance.

Cleomenes heard the news about the second watch of the night,

and sending for Megistonus, angrily commanded him to go and

set things right at Argos. Megistonus had passed his word

for the Argives' loyalty, and had persuaded him not to banish

the suspected. Therefore, dispatching him with two thousand

soldiers, he himself kept watch upon Antigonus, and

encouraged the Corinthians, pretending that there was no

great matter in the commotions at Argos, but only a little

disturbance raised by a few inconsiderable persons. But when

Megistonus, entering Argos, was slain, and the garrison could

scarce hold out, and frequent messengers came to Cleomenes

for succors, he, fearing least the enemy, having taken Argos,

should shut up the passes, and securely waste Laconia, and

besiege Sparta itself, which he had left without forces,

dislodged from Corinth, and immediately lost that city; for

Antigonus entered it, and garrisoned the town. He turned

aside from his direct march, and assaulting the walls of

Argos, endeavored to carry it by a sudden attack and then,

having collected his forces from their march, breaking into

the Aspis, he joined the garrison, which still held out

against the Achaeans; some parts of the city he scaled and

took, and his Cretan archers cleared the streets. But when

he saw Antigonus with his phalanx descending from the

mountains into the plain, and the horse on all sides entering

the city, he thought it impossible to maintain his post, and,

gathering together all his men, came safely down, and made

his retreat under the walls, having in so short a time

possessed himself of great power, and in one journey, so to

say, having made himself master of almost all Peloponnesus,

and now lost all again in as short a time. For some of his

allies at once withdrew and forsook him, and others not long

after put their cities under Antigonus's protection. His

hopes thus defeated, as he was leading back the relics of his

forces, messengers from Lacedaemon met him in the evening at

Tegea, and brought him, news of as great a misfortune as

that which he had lately suffered, and this was the death of

his wife, to whom he was so attached, and thought so much of

her, that even in his most successful expeditions, when he

was most prosperous, he could not refrain, but would ever now

and then come home to Sparta, to visit Agiatis.

This news afflicted him extremely, and he grieved, as a young

man would do, for the loss of a very beautiful and excellent

wife; yet he did not let his passion disgrace him, or impair

the greatness of his mind, but keeping his usual voice, his

countenance, and his habit, he gave necessary orders to his

captains, and took the precautions required for the safety of

Tegea. Next morning he came to Sparta, and having at home

with his mother and children bewailed the loss, and finished

his mourning, he at once devoted himself to the public

affairs of the state.

Now Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, promised him assistance, but

demanded his mother and children for hostages. This, for

some considerable time, he was ashamed to discover to his

mother; and though he often went to her on purpose, and was

just upon the discourse, yet he still refrained, and kept it

to himself; so that she began to suspect, and asked his

friends, whether Cleomenes had something to say to her, which

he was afraid to speak. At last, Cleomenes venturing to tell

her, she laughed aloud, and said, "Was this the thing that

you had so often a mind to tell me, and were afraid? Make

haste and put me on shipboard, and send this carcass where it

may be most serviceable to Sparta, before age destroys it

unprofitably here." Therefore, all things being provided for

the voyage, they went by land to Taenarus, and the army

waited on them. Cratesiclea, when she was ready to go on

board, took Cleomenes aside into Neptune's temple, and

embracing him, who was much dejected, and extremely

discomposed, she said, "Go to, king of Sparta; when we come

forth at the door, let none see us weep, or show any passion

that is unworthy of Sparta, for that alone is in our own

power; as for success or disappointment, those wait on us as

the deity decrees." Having thus said, and composed her

countenance, she went to the ship with her little grandson,

and bade the pilot put at once out to sea. When she came to

Egypt, and understood that Ptolemy entertained proposals and

overtures of peace from Antigonus, and that Cleomenes, though

the Achaeans invited and urged him to an agreement, was

afraid, for her sake, to come to any, without Ptolemy's

consent, she wrote to him, advising him to do that which was

most becoming and most profitable for Sparta, and not, for

the sake of an old woman and a little child, stand always in

fear of Ptolemy. This character she maintained in her

misfortunes.

Antigonus, having taken Tegea, and plundered Orchomenus and

Mantinea, Cleomenes was shut up within the narrow bounds of

Laconia; and making such of the helots as could pay five

Attic pounds, free of Sparta, and, by that means, getting

together five hundred talents, and arming two thousand after

the Macedonian fashion, that he might make a body fit to

oppose Antigonus's Leucaspides he undertook a great and

unexpected enterprise. Megalopolis was at that time a city

of itself as great and as powerful as Sparta, and had the

forces of the Achaeans and of Antigonus encamping beside it;

and it was chiefly the Megalopolitans' doing, that Antigonus

had been called in to assist the Achaeans. Cleomenes,

resolving to snatch the city (no other word so well suits so

rapid and so surprising an action), ordered his men to take

five days' provision, and marched to Sellasia, as if he

intended to ravage the country of the Argives; but from

thence making a descent into the territories of Megalopolis,

and refreshing his army about Rhoeteum, he suddenly took the

road by Helicus, and advanced directly upon the city. When

he was not far off the town, he sent Panteus, with two

regiments, to surprise a portion of the wall between two

towers, which he learnt to be the most unguarded quarter of

the Megalopolitans' fortifications, and with the rest of his

forces he followed leisurely. Panteus not only succeeded at

that point, but finding a great part of the wall without

guards, he at once proceeded to pull it down in some places,

and make openings through it in others, and killed all the

defenders that he found. Whilst he was thus busied,

Cleomenes came up to him, and was got with his army within

the city, before the Megalopolitans knew of the surprise.

When, after some time, they learned their misfortune, some

left the town immediately, taking with them what property

they could; others armed, and engaged the enemy; and through

they were not able to beat them out, yet they gave their

citizens time and opportunity safely to retire, so that there

were not above one thousand persons taken in the town, all

the rest flying, with their wives and children, and escaping

to Messene. The greater number, also, of those that armed

and fought the enemy, were saved, and very few taken, amongst

whom were Lysandridas and Thearidas, two men of great power

and reputation amongst the Megalopolitans; and therefore the

soldiers, as soon as they were taken, brought them to

Cleomenes. And Lysandridas, as soon as he saw Cleomenes afar

off, cried out, "Now, king of Sparta, it is in your power, by

doing a most kingly and a nobler action than you have

already performed, to purchase the greatest glory." And

Cleomenes, guessing at his meaning, replied, "What,

Lysandridas, you will not surely advise me to restore your

city to you again?" "It is that which I mean," Lysandridas

replied, "and I advise you not to ruin so brave a city, but

to fill it with faithful and steadfast friends and allies, by

restoring their country to the Megalopolitans, and being the

savior of so considerable a people." Cleomenes paused a

while, and then said, "It is very hard to trust so far in

these matters; but with us let profit always yield to glory."

Having said this, he sent the two men to Messene with a

herald from himself, offering the Megalopolitans their city

again, if they would forsake the Achaean interest, and be on

his side. But though Cleomenes made these generous and

humane proposals, Philopoemen would not suffer them to break

their league with the Achaeans; and accusing Cleomenes to the

people, as if his design was not to restore the city, but to

take the citizens too, he forced Thearidas and Lysandridas to

leave Messene.

This was that Philopoemen who was afterward chief of the

Achaeans and a man of the greatest reputation amongst the

Greeks, as I have refuted in his own life. This news coming

to Cleomenes, though he had before taken strict care that the

city should not be plundered, yet then, being in anger, and

out of all patience, he despoiled the place of all the

valuables, and sent the statues and pictures to Sparta; and

demolishing a great part of the city, he marched away for

fear of Antigonus and the Achaeans; but they never stirred,

for they were at Aegium, at a council of war. There Aratus

mounted the speaker's place, and wept a long while, holding

his mantle before his face; and at last, the company being

amazed, and commanding him to speak, he said, "Megalopolis is

destroyed by Cleomenes." The assembly instantly dissolved,

the Achaeans being astounded at the suddenness and greatness

of the loss; and Antigonus, intending to send speedy succors,

when he found his forces gather very slowly out of their

winter-quarters, sent them orders to continue there still;

and he himself marched to Argos with a small body of men.

And now the second enterprise of Cleomenes, though it had the

look of a desperate and frantic adventure, yet in Polybius's

opinion, was done with mature deliberation and great

foresight. For knowing very well that the Macedonians were

dispersed into their winter-quarters, and that Antigonus with

his friends and a few mercenaries about him wintered in

Argos, upon these considerations he invaded the country of

the Argives, hoping to shame Antigonus to a battle upon

unequal terms, or else, if he did not dare to fight, to bring

him into disrepute with the Achaeans. And this accordingly

happened. For Cleomenes wasting, plundering, and spoiling

the whole country, the Argives, in grief and anger at the

loss, gathered in crowds at the king's gates, crying out that

he should either fight, or surrender his command to better

and braver men. But Antigonus, as became an experienced

captain, accounting it rather dishonorable foolishly to

hazard his army and quit his security, than merely to be

railed at by other people, would not march out against

Cleomenes, but stood firm to his convictions. Cleomenes, in

the meantime, brought his army up to the very walls, and

having without opposition spoiled the country, and insulted

over his enemies, drew off again.

A little while after, being informed that Antigonus designed

a new advance to Tegea, and thence to invade Laconia, he

rapidly took his soldiers, and marching by a side road,

appeared early in the morning before Argos, and wasted the

fields about it. The corn he did not cut down, as is usual,

with reaping hooks and knives, but beat it down with great

wooden staves made like broadswords, as if, in mere contempt

and wanton scorn, while traveling on his way, without any

effort or trouble, he spoiled and destroyed their harvest.

Yet when his soldiers would have set Cyllabaris, the exercise

ground, on fire, he stopped the attempt, as if he felt, that

the mischief he had done at Megalopolis had been the effects

of his passion rather than his wisdom. And when Antigonus,

first of all, came hastily back to Argos, and then occupied

the mountains and passes with his posts, he professed to

disregard and despise it all; and sent heralds to ask for the

keys of the temple of Juno, as though he proposed to offer

sacrifice there and then return. And with this scornful

pleasantry upon Antigonus, having sacrificed to the goddess

under the walls of the temple, which was shut, he went to

Phlius; and from thence driving out those that garrisoned

Oligyrtus, he marched down to Orchomenus. And these

enterprises not only encouraged the citizens, but made him

appear to the very enemies to be a man worthy of high

command, and capable of great things. For with the strength

of one city, not only to fight the power of the Macedonians

and all the Peloponnesians, supported by all the royal

treasures, not only to preserve Laconia from being spoiled,

but to waste the enemy's country, and to take so many and

such considerable cities, was an argument of no common skill

and genius for command.

But he that first said that money was the sinews of affairs,

seems especially in that saying to refer to war. Demades,

when the Athenians had voted that their galleys should be

launched and equipped for action, but could produce no money,

told them, "The baker was wanted first, and the pilot after."

And the old Archidamus, in the beginning of the Peloponnesian

war, when the allies desired that the amount of their

contributions should be determined, is reported to have

answered, that war cannot be fed upon so much a day. For as

wrestlers, who have thoroughly trained and disciplined their

bodies, in time tire down and exhaust the most agile and most

skillful combatant, so Antigonus, coming to the war with

great resources to spend from, wore out Cleomenes, whose

poverty made it difficult for him to provide the merest

sufficiency of pay for the mercenaries, or of provisions for

the citizens. For, in all other respects, time favored

Cleomenes; for Antigonus's affairs at home began to be

disturbed. For the barbarians wasted and overran Macedonia

whilst he was absent, and at that particular time a vast army

of Illyrians had entered the country; to be freed from whose

devastations, the Macedonians sent for Antigonus, and the

letters had almost been brought to him before the battle was

fought; upon the receipt of which he would at once have

marched away home, and left the Achaeans to look to

themselves. But Fortune, that loves to determine the

greatest affairs by a minute, in this conjuncture showed such

an exact niceness of time, that immediately after the battle

in Sellasia was over, and Cleomenes had lost his army and his

city, the messengers came up and called for Antigonus. And

this above everything made Cleomenes's misfortune to be

pitied; for if he had gone on retreating and had forborne

fighting two days longer, there had been no need of hazarding

a battle; since upon the departure of the Macedonians, he

might have had what conditions he pleased from the Achaeans.

But now, as was said before, for want of money, being

necessitated to trust everything to arms, he was forced with

twenty thousand (such is Polybius's account) to engage thirty

thousand. And approving himself an admirable commander in

this difficulty, his citizens showing an extraordinary

courage, and his mercenaries bravery enough, he was overborne

by the different way of fighting, and the weight of the

heavy-armed phalanx. Phylarchus also affirms, that the

treachery of some about him was the chief cause of

Cleomenes's ruin.

For Antigonus gave orders, that the Illyrians and Acarnanians

should march round by a secret way, and encompass the other

wing, which Euclidas, Cleomenes's brother, commanded; and

then drew out the rest of his forces to the battle. And

Cleomenes, from a convenient rising, viewing his order, and

not seeing any of the Illyrians and Acarnanians, began to

suspect that Antigonus had sent them upon some such design,

and calling for Damoteles, who was at the head of those

specially appointed to such ambush duty, he bade him

carefully to look after and discover the enemy's designs upon

his rear. But Damoteles, for some say Antigonus had bribed

him, telling him that he should not be solicitous about that

matter, for all was well enough, but mind and fight those

that met him in the front, he was satisfied, and advanced

against Antigonus; and by the vigorous charge of his

Spartans, made the Macedonian phalanx give ground, and

pressed upon them with great advantage about half a mile; but

then making a stand, and seeing the danger which the

surrounded wing, commanded by his brother Euclidas, was in,

he cried out, "Thou art lost, dear brother, thou art lost,

thou brave example to our Spartan youth, and theme of our

matrons' songs." And Euclidas's wing being cut in pieces,

and the conquerors from that part falling upon him, he

perceived his soldiers to be disordered, and unable to

maintain the fight, and therefore provided for his own

safety. There fell, we are told, in the battle, besides many

of the mercenary soldiers, all the Spartans, six thousand in

number, except two hundred.

When Cleomenes came into the city, he advised those citizens

that he met to receive Antigonus; and as for himself, he

said, which should appear most advantageous to Sparta,

whether his life or death, that he would choose. Seeing the

women running out to those that had fled with him, taking

their arms, and bringing drink to them, he entered into his

own house, and his servant, who was a freeborn woman, taken

from Megalopolis after his wife's death, offering, as usual,

to do the service he needed on returning from war, though he

was very thirsty, he refused to drink, and though very weary,

to sit down; but in his corselet as he was, he laid his arm

sideways against a pillar, and leaning his forehead upon his

elbow, he rested his body a little while, and ran over in his

thoughts all the courses he could take; and then with his

friends set on at once for Gythium; where finding ships which

had been got ready for this very purpose, they embarked.

Antigonus, taking the city, treated the Lacedaemonians

courteously, and in no way offering any insult or offense to

the dignity of Sparta, but permitting them to enjoy their own

laws and polity, and sacrificing to the gods, dislodged the

third day. For he heard that there was a great war in

Macedonia, and that the country was devastated by the

barbarians. Besides, his malady had now thoroughly settled

into a consumption and continual catarrh. Yet he still kept

up, and managed to return and deliver his country, and meet

there a more glorious death in a great defeat and vast

slaughter of the barbarians. As Phylarchus says, and as is

probable in itself, he broke a blood vessel by shouting in

the battle itself. In the schools we used to be told, that

after the victory was won, he cried out for joy, "O glorious

day!" and presently bringing up a quantity of blood, fell

into a fever, which never left him till his death. And thus

much concerning Antigonus.

Cleomenes, sailing from Cythera, touched at another island

called Aegialia, whence as he was about to depart for Cyrene,

one of his friends, Therycion by name, a man of a noble

spirit in all enterprises, and bold and lofty in his talk,

came privately to him, and said thus: "Sir, death in battle,

which is the most glorious, we have let go; though all heard

us say that Antigonus should never tread over the king of

Sparta, unless dead. And now that course which is next in

honor and virtue, is presented to us. Whither do we madly

sail, flying the evil which is near, to seek that which is at

a distance? For if it is not dishonorable for the race of

Hercules to serve the successors of Philip and Alexander, we

shall save a long voyage by delivering ourselves up to

Antigonus, who, probably, is as much better than Ptolemy, as

the Macedonians are better than the Egyptians; but if we

think it mean to submit to those whose arms have conquered

us, why should we choose him for our master, by whom we have

not yet been beaten? Is it to acknowledge two superiors

instead of one, whilst we run away from Antigonus, and

flatter Ptolemy? Or, is it for your mother's sake that you

retreat to Egypt? It will indeed be a very fine and very

desirable sight for her, to show her son to Ptolemy's women,

now changed from a prince into an exile and a slave. Are we

not still masters of our own swords? And whilst we have

Laconia in view, shall we not here free ourselves from this

disgraceful misery, and clear ourselves to those who at

Sellasia died for the honor and defense of Sparta? Or, shall

we sit lazily in Egypt, inquiring what news from Sparta, and

whom Antigonus hath been pleased to make governor of

Lacedaemon?" Thus spoke Therycion; and this was Cleomenes's

reply: "By seeking death, you coward, the most easy and most

ready refuge, you fancy that you shall appear courageous and

brave, though this flight is baser than the former. Better

men than we have given way to their enemies, having been

betrayed by fortune, or oppressed by multitude; but he that

gives way under labor or distresses, under the ill opinions

or reports of men, yields the victory to his own effeminacy.

For a voluntary death ought not to be chosen as a relief from

action, but as an exemplary action itself; and it is base

either to live or to die only to ourselves. That death to

which you now invite us, is proposed only as a release from

our present miseries, but carries nothing of nobleness or

profit in it. And I think it becomes both me and you not to

despair of our country; but when there are no hopes of that

left, those that have an inclination may quickly die." To

this Therycion returned no answer but as soon as he had an

opportunity of leaving Cleomenes's company, went aside on the

sea-shore, and ran himself through.

But Cleomenes sailed from Aegialia, landed in Libya, and

being honorably conducted through the king's country, came to

Alexandria. When he was first brought to Ptolemy, no more

than common civilities and usual attentions were paid him;

but when, upon trial, he found him a man of deep sense and

great reason, and that his plain Laconic way of conversation

carried with it a noble and becoming grace, that he did

nothing unbecoming his birth, nor bent under fortune, and was

evidently a more faithful counselor than those who made it

their business to please and flatter, he was ashamed, and

repented that he had neglected so great a man, and suffered

Antigonus to get so much power and reputation by ruining him.

He now offered him many marks of respect and kindness, and

gave him hopes that he would furnish him with ships and money

to return to Greece, and would reinstate him in his kingdom.

He granted him a yearly pension of four and twenty talents; a

little part of which sum supplied his and his friends'

thrifty temperance; and the rest was employed in doing good

offices to, and in relieving the necessities of the refugees

that had fled from Greece, and retired into Egypt.

But the elder Ptolemy dying before Cleomenes's affairs had

received a full dispatch, and the successor being a loose,

voluptuous, and effeminate prince, under the power of his

pleasures and his women, his business was neglected. For the

king was so besotted with his women and his wine, that the

employments of his most busy and serious hours consisted at

the utmost in celebrating religious feasts in his palace,

carrying a timbrel, and taking part in the show; while the

greatest affairs of state were managed by Agathoclea, the

king's mistress, her mother, and the pimp Oenanthes. At the

first, indeed, they seemed to stand in need of Cleomenes; for

Ptolemy, being afraid of his brother Magas, who by his

mother's means had a great interest amongst the soldiers,

gave Cleomenes a place in his secret councils, and acquainted

him with the design of taking off his brother. He, though

all were for it, declared his opinion to the contrary,

saying, "The king, if it were possible, should have more

brothers for the better security and stability of his

affairs." And Sosibius, the greatest favorite, replying,

that they were not secure of the mercenaries whilst Magas was

alive, Cleomenes returned, that he need not trouble himself

about that matter; for amongst the mercenaries there were

above three thousand Peloponnesians, who were his fast

friends, and whom he could command at any time with a nod.

This discourse made Cleomenes for the present to be looked

upon as a man of great influence and assured fidelity; but

afterwards, Ptolemy's weakness increasing his fear, and he,

as it usually happens, where there is no judgment and wisdom,

placing his security in general distrust and suspicion, it

rendered Cleomenes suspected to the courtiers, as having too

much interest with the mercenaries; and many had this saying

in their mouths, that he was a lion amidst a flock of sheep.

For, in fact, such he seemed to be in the court, quietly

watching, and keeping his eye upon all that went on.

He, therefore, gave up all thought of asking for ships and

soldiers from the king. But receiving news that Antigonus

was dead, that the Achaeans were engaged in a war with the

Aetolians, and that the affairs of Peloponnesus, being now in

very great distraction and disorder, required and invited his

assistance, he desired leave to depart only with his friends,

but could not obtain that, the king not so much as hearing

his petition, being shut up amongst his women, and wasting

his hours in bacchanalian rites and drinking parties. But

Sosibius, the chief minister and counselor of state, thought

that Cleomenes, being detained against his will, would grow

ungovernable and dangerous, and yet that it was not safe to

let him go, being an aspiring, daring man, and well

acquainted with the diseases and weakness of the kingdom.

For neither could presents and gifts conciliate or content

him; but even as Apis, while living in all possible plenty

and apparent delight, yet desires to live as nature would

provide for him, to range at liberty, and bound about the

fields, and can scarce endure to be under the priests'

keeping, so he could not brook their courtship and soft

entertainment, but sat like Achilles,

and languished far,

Desiring battle and the shout of war.

His affairs standing in this condition, Nicagoras, the

Messenian, came to Alexandria, a man that deeply hated

Cleomenes, yet pretended to be his friend; for he had

formerly sold Cleomenes a fair estate, but never received the

money, because Cleomenes was either unable, as it may be, or

else, by reason of his engagement in the wars and other

distractions, had no opportunity to pay him. Cleomenes,

seeing him landing, for he was then walking upon the quay,

kindly saluted him, and asked what business brought him to

Egypt. Nicagoras returned his compliment, and told him, that

he came to bring some excellent war-horses to the king. And

Cleomenes, with a smile, subjoined, "I could wish you had

rather brought young boys and music-girls; for those now are

the king's chief occupation." Nicagoras at the moment smiled

at the conceit; but a few days after, he put Cleomenes in

mind of the estate that he had bought of him, and desired his

money, protesting, that he would not have troubled him, if

his merchandise had turned out as profitable as he had

thought it would. Cleomenes replied, that he had nothing

left of all that had been given him. At which answer,

Nicagoras, being nettled, told Sosibius Cleomenes's scoff

upon the king. He was delighted to receive the information;

but desiring to have some greater reason to excite the king

against Cleomenes, persuaded Nicagoras to leave a letter

written against Cleomenes, importing that he had a design, if

he could have gotten ships and soldiers, to surprise Cyrene.

Nicagoras wrote such a letter and left Egypt. Four days

after, Sosibius brought the letter to Ptolemy, pretending it

was just then delivered him, and excited the young man's fear

and anger; upon which it was agreed, that Cleomenes should be

invited into a large house, and treated as formerly, but not

suffered to go out again.

This usage was grievous to Cleomenes, and another incident

that occurred, made him feel his hopes to be yet more

entirely overcast. Ptolemy, the son of Chrysermas, a

favorite of the king's, had always shown civility to

Cleomenes; there was a considerable intimacy between them,

and they had been used to talk freely together about the

state. He, upon Cleomenes's desire, came to him, and spoke

to him in fair terms, softening down his suspicions and

excusing the king's conduct. But as he went out again, not

knowing that Cleomenes followed him to the door, he severely

reprimanded the keepers for their carelessness in looking

after "so great and so furious a wild beast." This Cleomenes

himself heard, and retiring before Ptolemy perceived it, told

his friends what had been said. Upon this they cast off all

their former hopes, and determined for violent proceedings,

resolving to be revenged on Ptolemy for his base and unjust

dealing, to have satisfaction for the affronts, to die as it

became Spartans, and not stay till, like fatted sacrifices,

they were butchered. For it was both grievous and

dishonorable for Cleomenes, who had scorned to come to terms

with Antigonus, a brave warrior, and a man of action, to wait

an effeminate king's leisure, till he should lay aside his

timbrel and end his dance, and then kill him.

These courses being resolved on, and Ptolemy happening at the

same time to make a progress to Canopus, they first spread

abroad a report, that his freedom was ordered by the king,

and, it being the custom for the king to send presents and an

entertainment to those whom he would free, Cleomenes's

friends made that provision, and sent it into the prison,

thus imposing upon the keepers, who thought it had been sent

by the king. For he sacrificed, and gave them large

portions, and with a garland upon his head, feasted and made

merry with his friends. It is said that he began the action

sooner than he designed, having understood that a servant who

was privy to the plot, had gone out to visit a mistress that

he loved. This made him afraid of a discovery; and

therefore, as soon as it was full noon, and all the keepers

sleeping off their wine, he put on his coat, and opening the

seam to bare his right shoulder, with his drawn sword in his

hand, he issued forth, together with his friends, provided in

the same manner, making thirteen in all. One of them, by

name Hippitas, was lame, and followed the first onset very

well, but when he presently perceived that they were more

slow in their advances for his sake, he desired them to run

him through, and not ruin their enterprise by staying for an

useless, unprofitable man. By chance an Alexandrian was then

riding by the door; him they threw off, and setting Hippitas

on horseback, ran through the streets, and proclaimed liberty

to the people. But they, it seems, had courage enough to

praise and admire Cleomenes's daring, but not one had the

heart to follow and assist him. Three of them fell on

Ptolemy, the son of Chrysermas, as he was coming out of the

palace, and killed him. Another Ptolemy, the officer in

charge of the city, advancing against them in a chariot, they

set upon, dispersed his guards and attendants, and pulling

him out of the chariot, killed him upon the place. Then they

made toward the castle, designing to break open the prison,

release those who were confined, and avail themselves of

their numbers; but the keepers were too quick for them, and

secured the passages. Being baffled in this attempt,

Cleomenes with his company roamed about the city, none

joining with him, but all retreating from and flying his

approach. Therefore, despairing of success, and saying to

his friends, that it was no wonder that women ruled over men

that were afraid of liberty, he bade them all die as bravely

as became his followers and their own past actions. This

said, Hippitas was first, as he desired, run through by one

of the younger men, and then each of them readily and

resolutely fell upon his own sword, except Panteus, the same

who first surprised Megalopolis. This man, being; of a very

handsome person, and a great lover of the Spartan discipline,

the king had made his dearest friend; and he now bade him,

when he had seen him and the rest fallen, die by their

example. Panteus walked over them as they lay, and pricked

everyone with his dagger, to try whether any was alive, when

he pricked Cleomenes in the ankle, and saw him turn upon his

back, he kissed him, sat down by him, and when he was quite

dead, covered up the body, and then killed himself over it.

Thus fell Cleomenes, after the life which we have narrated,

having been king of Sparta sixteen years. The news of their

fall being noised through the city, Cratesiclea, though a

woman of a great spirit, could not bear up against the weight

of this affliction; but embracing Cleomenes's children, broke

out into lamentations. But the eldest boy, none suspecting

such a spirit in a child, threw himself headlong from the top

of the house. He was bruised very much, but not killed by

the fall, and was taken up crying, and expressing his

resentment for not being permitted to destroy himself.

Ptolemy, as soon as an account of the action was brought him,

gave order that Cleomenes's body should be flayed and hung

up, and that his children, mother, and the women that were

with her, should be killed. Amongst these was Panteus's

wife, a beautiful and noble-looking woman, who had been but

lately married, and suffered these disasters in the height of

her love. Her parents would not have her embark with

Panteus, so shortly after they were married, though she

eagerly desired it, but shut her up, and kept her forcibly at

home. But a few days after, she procured a horse and a

little money, and escaping by night, made speed to Taenarus,

where she embarked for Egypt, came to her husband, and with

him cheerfully endured to live in a foreign country. She

gave her hand to Cratesiclea, as she was going with the

soldiers to execution, held up her robe, and begged her to be

courageous; who of herself was not in the least afraid of

death, and desired nothing else but only to be killed before

the children. When they were come to the place of execution,

the children were first killed before Cratesiclea's eyes, and

afterward she herself, with only these words in her mouth, "O

children, whither are you gone?" But Panteus's wife,

fastening her dress close about her, and being a strong

woman, in silence and perfect composure, looked after every

one that was slain, and laid them decently out as far as

circumstances would permit; and after all were killed,

rearraying her dress, and drawing her clothes close about

her, and suffering none to come near or be an eyewitness of

her fall, besides the executioner, she courageously submitted

to the stroke, and wanted nobody to look after her or wind

her up after she was dead. Thus in her death the modesty of

her mind appeared, and set that guard upon her body which she

always kept when alive. And she, in the declining age of the

Spartans, showed that women were no unequal rivals of the

men, and was an instance of a courage superior to the

affronts of fortune.

A few days after, those that watched the hanging body of

Cleomenes, saw a large snake winding about his head, and

covering his face, so that no bird of prey would fly at it.

This made the king superstitiously afraid, and set the women

upon several expiations, as if he had been some extraordinary

being, and one beloved by the gods, that had been slain. And

the Alexandrians made processions to the place, and gave

Cleomenes the title of hero, and son of the gods, till the

philosophers satisfied them by saying, that as oxen breed

bees, putrefying horses breed wasps, and beetles rise from

the carcasses of dead asses, so the humors and juices of the

marrow of a man's body, coagulating, produce serpents. And

this the ancients observing, appropriated a serpent, rather

than any other creature to heroes.