cause of virtue； and to fling aside； for freedom's sake； their old
manner of life； as readily as the wrestler does his garment。 But the
old men； habituated and more confirmed in their vices； were most of
them as alarmed at the very name of Lycurgus； as a fugitive slave to
be brought back before his offended master。 These men could not endure
to hear Agis continually deploring the present state of Sparta； and
wishing she might be restored to her ancient glory。 But on the other
side； Lysander； the son of Libys； Mandroclidas； the son of Ecphanes；
together with Agesilaus； not only approved his design； but assisted
and confirmed him in it。 Lysander had a great authority and credit
with the people； Mandroclidas was esteemed the ablest Greek of his
time to manage an affair and put it in train； and； joined with skill
and cunning； had a great degree of boldness。 Agesilaus was the
king's uncle； by the mother's side； an eloquent man； but covetous
and voluptuous； who was not moved by considerations of public good；
but rather seemed to be persuaded in it by his son Hippomedon； whose
courage and signal actions in war had gained him a high esteem and
great influence among the young men of Sparta； though indeed the
true motive was； that he had many debts； and hoped by this means to be
freed from them。
As soon as Agis had prevailed with his uncle； he endeavoured by
his mediation to gain his mother also； who had many friends and
followers； and a number of persons in her debt in the city； and took a
considerable part in public affairs。 At the first proposal she was
very averse； and strongly advised her son not to engage in so
difficult and so unprofitable an enterprise。 But Agesilaus endeavoured
to possess her； that the thing was not so difficult as she imagined；
and that it might； in all likelihood； redound to the advantage of
her family； while the king； her son； besought her not for money's sake
to decline assisting his hopes of glory。 He told her he could not
pretend to equal other kings in riches； the very followers and menials
of the satraps and stewards of Seleucus or Ptolemy abounding more in
wealth than all the Spartan kings put together； but if by contempt
of wealth and pleasure； by simplicity and magnanimity； he could
surpass their luxury and abundance； if he could restore their former
equality to the Spartans； then he should be a great king indeed。 In
conclusion； the mother and the grandmother also were so taken； so
carried away with the inspiration； as it were； of the young man's
noble and generous ambition； that they not only consented； but were
ready on all occasions to spur him on to a perseverance； and not
only sent to speak on his behalf with the men with whom they had an
interest； but addressed the other women also； knowing well that the
Lacedaemonian wives had always a great power with their husbands；
who used to impart to them their state affairs with greater freedom
than the women would communicate with the men in the private
business of their families。 Which was indeed one of the greatest
obstacles to this design； for the money of Sparta being most of it
in the women's hands； it was their interest to oppose it； not only
as depriving them of those superfluous trifles； in which； through want
of better knowledge and experience； they placed their chief
felicity； but also because they knew their riches were the main
support of their power and credit。
Those； therefore； who were of this faction had recourse to
Leonidas representing to him how it was his part； as the elder and
more experienced； to put a stop to the ill…advised projects of a
rash young man。 Leonidas； though of himself sufficiently inclined to
oppose Agis； durst not openly； for fear of the people； who were
manifestly desirous of this change； but underhand he did all he
could to discredit and thwart the project； and to prejudice the
chief magistrates against him； and on all occasions craftily
insinuated that it was at the price of letting him usurp arbitrary
power that Agis thus proposed to divide the property of the rich among
the poor； and that the object of these measures for cancelling debts
and dividing the lands； was not to furnish Sparta with citizens； but
purchase him a tyrant's body guard。
Agis； nevertheless； little regarding these rumours； procured
Lysander's election as ephor； and then took the first occasion of
proposing through him his Rhetra to the council； the chief articles of
which were these： That every one should be free from their debts：
all the lands to be divided into equal portions； those that lay
betwixt the watercourse near Pellene and Mount Taygetus； and as far as
the cities of Malea and Sellasia； into four thousand five hundred
lots； the remainder into fifteen thousand； these last to be shared out
among those of the country people who were fit for service as
heavy…armed soldiers； the first among the natural…born Spartans； and
their number also should be supplied from any among the country people
or strangers who had received the proper breeding of freemen； and were
of vigorous body and of age for military service。 All these were to be
divided into fifteen companies； some of four hundred； and some of two；
with a diet and discipline agreeable to the laws of Lycurgus。
This decree being proposed in the council of Elders； met there
with opposition； so that Lysander immediately convoked the great
assembly of the people； to whom he； Mandroclidas； and Agesilaus made
orations exhorting them that they would not suffer the majesty of
Sparta to remain abandoned to contempt； to gratify a few rich men； who
lorded it over them； but that they should call to mind the oracles
in old times which had forewarned them to beware of the love of money；
as the great danger and probable ruin of Sparta； and； moreover；
those recently brought from the temple of Pasiphae。 This was a
famous temple and oracle at Thalamae； and this Pasiphae； some say； was
one of the daughters of Atlas； who had by Jupiter a son called
Ammon； others are of opinion it was Cassandra； the daughter of King
Priam； who dying in this place； was called Pasiphae； as the revealer
of oracles to all men。 Phylarchus says； that this was Daphne； the
daughter of Amyclas； who； flying from Apollo； was transformed into a
laurel； and honoured by that god with the gift of prophecy。 But be
it as will； it is certain the people were made to apprehend that
this oracle had commanded them to return to their former state of
equality settled by Lycurgus。 As soon as these had done speaking； Agis
stood up； and after a few words； told them he would make the best
contribution in his power to the new legislation； which was proposed
for their advantage。 In the first place； he would divide among them
all his patrimony； which was of large extent in tillage and pasture；
he would also give six hundred talents in ready money； and his mother；
grandmother； and his other friends and relations； who were the richest
of the Lacedaemonians； were ready to follow his example。
The people were transported with admiration of the young man's
generosity； and with joy that； after three hundred years' interval； at
last there had appeared a king worthy of Sparta。 But； on the other
side； Leonidas was now more than ever averse； being sensible that he
and his friends would be obliged to contribute with their riches；
and yet all the honour and obligation would redound to Agis。 He
asked him then before them all； whether Lycurgus were not in his
opinion a wise man； and a lover of his country。 Agis answering he was；
〃And when did Lycurgus；〃 replied Leonidas； 〃cancel debts； or admit
strangers to citizenship；… he who thought the commonwealth not
secure unless from time to time the city was cleared of all
strangers？〃 To this Agis replied； 〃It is no wonder that Leonidas；
who was brought up and married abroad； and has children by a wife
taken out of a Persian court； should know little of Lycurgus or his
laws。 Lycurgus took away both debts and loans； by taking away money；
and objected indeed to the presence of men who were foreign to the
manners and customs of the country； not in any case from an ill…will
to their persons； but lest the example of their lives and conduct
should infect the city with the love of riches； and of delicate and
luxurious habits。 For it is well known that he himself gladly kept
Terpander； Thales； and Pherecydes though they were strangers；
because he perceived they were in their poems and in their
philosophy of the same mind with him。 And you that are wont to
praise Ecprepes； who； being ephor； cut with his hatchet two of the
nine strings from the instrument of Phrynis the musician； and to
commend those who afterwards imitated him； in cutting the strings of
Timotheus's harp； with what face can you blame us for designing to cut
off superfluity and luxury and display from the commonwealth？ Do you
think those men were so concerned only about a lute…string； or
intended anything else than to check in music that same excess and
extravagance which rule in our present lives and manners； and have
disturbed and destroyed all the harmony and order of our city？〃
From this time forward； as the common people followed Agis； so the
rich men adhered to Leonidas。 They besought him not to forsake their
cause； and with persuasions and entreaties so far prevailed with the
council of Elders； whose power consisted in preparing all laws
before they were proposed to the people； that the designed Rhetra
was rejected； though but by only one vote。 Whereupon Lysander； who was
still ephor； resolving to be revenged on Leonidas； drew up an
information against him； grounded on two old laws： the one forbids any
of the blood of Hercules to raise up children by a foreign woman；
and the other makes it capital for a Lacedaemonian to leave his
country to settle among foreigners。 Whilst he set others on to
manage this accusation； he with his colleagues went to observe the
sign； which was a custom they had； and performed in this manner。 Every
ninth year； the ephors； choosing a starlight night； when there is
neither cloud nor moon； sit down together in quiet and silence； and
watch the sky。 And if they chance to see the shooting of a s