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                                      75 AD
                                   CLEOMENES
                                  263-219 B.C.
                                  by Plutarch
                           translated by John Dryden
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 any one else
should have her, being heiress to her father Gylippus'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
brought 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 free-will, 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
Borystenite, 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 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 complied 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, 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 Orchomenus. 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 to return 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
that 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 command, 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
defence, 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 Magistonus, 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. Megistonas liked the design, and
engaged two or three more of his friends. About that time, one of
the ephors, sleeping in Pasiphaes 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 relator
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 fitted 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 pretence 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.
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 counsel of Elders was
joined to the kings, and that that 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 defence, 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
favoured 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, Megistonas, 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 every
one 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 sarissa, 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
considerable booty. And at last, taking a company of actors as they
were travelling from Messene, and building a theatre in the enemy's
country, and offering a prize of forty mince 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 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 door-keepers, 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
savouring 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 artificial; 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 suffer him to
waste the country. Hyperbatas at that time was general, but Aratus had
all the power amongst 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 affair of the Achaeans being in this unfortunate condition,
Aratus, who was wont to take the 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 afterwards 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 endeavoured to
keep the Achaeans from closing with Cleomenes; but when they would not
hearken to him, for Cleomenes' daring spirit, and thinking the
Lacedaemonians' proposals to be very reasonable, who designed only
to reduce Peloponnesus to its own model, upon this he took his last
refuge in an action which was unbecoming any of the Greeks, most
dishonourable 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 dishonourable 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 reformed
the polity of his country, as it were, from a disordered harmony,
and returned 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 sacrifices, called Antigonea, in honour 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 honours
unblemished by some envious fault.
  The Achaeans meeting again in assembly at Argas, 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 commands, 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 defence. 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 Pentelleum 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
afterwards 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
theatre, 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 in many ways endeavoured 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 despatch 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 re-entering 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 favour 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 Megistonas 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 into
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 Megistonas, angrily commanded him to go and set things
right at Argos. Megistonas had passed his word for the Argives'
loyalty, and had persuaded him not to banish the suspected. Therefore,
despatching 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
Megistonas, entering Argos, was slain, and the garrison could scarce
hold out, and frequent messengers came to Cleomenes for succours, he
fearing lest 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,
endeavoured 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 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 every 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 ship-board, 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 though 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 saviour 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 afterwards chief of the Achaeans
and a man of the greatest reputation amongst the Greeks, as I have
related 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 succours, 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 dishonourable 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 books and knives, but beat it down
with great wooden staves made like broadswords, as if, in mere
contempt and wanton scorn, while travelling 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 effort 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
skilful 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 favoured Cleomenes; for Antigonus's affair 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 surrounding 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 matron's 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 sideway 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 out 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 off any insult or offence 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
most 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 honour 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 dishonourable 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 honour and defence 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 labour 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 seashore, and ran
himself through.
  But Cleomenes sailed from Aegialia, landed in Libya, and, being
honourably 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 counsellor than those who made it their
business to please and flatter, he was ashamed, and repented that be
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 among 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 favourite, 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 counsellor 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 favourite 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 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 dishonourable 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
his 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 a 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 Fanteus,
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. Fanteus walked over them as
they lay, and pricked every one 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 afterwards 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, suffering none to come near or be an eye-witness 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, putrifying horses breed wasps, and beetles
rise from the carcasses of dead asses, so the humours and juices of
the marrow of a man's body, coagulating, produce serpents. And this
the ancients observing, appropriate a serpent, rather than any other
creature, to heroes.


                             THE END