misfortunes of Cleombrotus； my mourning habit is long since familiar
to me。 It was put on to condole with you in your banishment； and now
you are restored to your country； and to your kingdom； must I still
remain in grief and misery？ Or would you have me attired in my royal
ornaments； that I may rejoice with you； when you have killed； within
my arms； the man to whom you gave me for a wife？ Either Cleombrotus
must appease you by mine and my children's tears； or he must suffer
a punishment greater than you propose for his faults； and shall see
me； whom he loves so well； die before him。 To what end should I
live； or how shall I appear among the Spartan women； when it shall
so manifestly be seen； that I have not been able to move to compassion
either a husband or a father？ I was born； it seems； to participate
in the ill…fortune and in the disgrace； both as a wife and a daughter；
of those nearest and dearest to me。 As for Cleombrotus I
sufficiently surrendered any honourable plea on his behalf； when I
forsook him to follow you； but you yourself offer the fairest excuse
for his proceedings； by showing to the world that for the sake of a
kingdom it is just to kill a son…in…law； and be regardless of a
daughter。〃 Chilonis； having ended this lamentation； rested her face on
her husband's head； and looked round with her weeping and woe…begone
eyes upon those who stood before her。
Leonidas； touched with compassion； withdrew a while to advise with
his friends； then returning； bade Cleombrotus leave the sanctuary
and go into banishment； Chilonis； he said； ought to stay with him it
not being just she should forsake a father whose affection had granted
to her intercession the life of her husband。 But all he could say
would not prevail。 She rose up immediately； and taking one of her
children in her arms； gave the other to her husband； and making her
reverence to the altar of the goddess； went out and followed him。 So
that； in a word； if Cleombrotus were not utterly blinded by
ambition； he must surely choose to be banished with so excellent a
woman rather than without her to possess a kingdom。
Cleombrotus thus removed； Leonidas proceeded also to displace the
ephors； and to choose others in their room； then he began to
consider how he might entrap Agis。 At first； he endeavoured by fair
means to persuade him to leave the sanctuary； and partake with him
in the kingdom。 The people； he said； would easily pardon the errors of
a young man； ambitious of glory； and deceived by the craft of
Agesilaus。 But finding Agis was suspicious； and not to be prevailed
with to quit his sanctuary； he gave up that design； yet what could not
then be effected by the dissimulation of an enemy； was soon after
brought to pass by the treachery of friends。
Amphares； Damochares； and Arcesilaus often visited Agis； and he
was so confident of their fidelity that after a while he was prevailed
on to accompany them to the baths； which were not far distant； they
constantly returning to see him safe again in the temple。 They were
all three his familiars； and Amphares had borrowed a great deal of
plate and rich household stuff from Agesistrata； and hoped if he could
destroy her and the whole family； he might peaceably enjoy those
goods。 And he； it is said； was the readiest of all to serve the
purposes of Leonidas； and being one of the ephors； did all he could to
incense the rest of his colleagues against Agis。 These men； therefore；
finding that Agis would not quit his sanctuary； but on occasion
would venture from it to go to the bath； resolved to seize him on
the opportunity thus given them。 And one day as he was returning； they
met and saluted him as formerly； conversing pleasantly by the way； and
jesting； as youthful friends might； till coming to the turning of a
street which led to the prison； Amphares； by virtue of his office；
laid his hand on Agis； and told him； 〃You must go with me； Agis；
before the other ephors； to answer for your misdemeanours。〃 At the
same time Damochares； who was a tall； strong man； drew his cloak tight
round his neck； and dragged him after by it； whilst the others went
behind to thrust him on。 So that none of Agis's friend being near to
assist him； nor any one by； they easily got him into the prison； where
Leonidas was already arrived； with a company of soldiers； who strongly
guarded all the avenues； the ephors also came in； with as many of
the Elders as they knew to be true to their party； being desirous to
proceed with some semblance of justice。 And thus they bade him give an
account of his actions。 To which Agis； smiling at their dissimulation；
answered not a word。 Amphares told him it was more seasonable to weep；
for now the time was come in which he should be punished for his
presumption。 Another of the ephors； as though he would be more
favourable； and offering as it were an excuse； asked him whether he
was not forced to what he did by Agesilaus and Lysander。 But Agis
answered； he had not been constrained by any man； nor had any other
intent in what he did but only to follow the example of Lycurgus；
and to govern conformably to his laws。 The same ephor asked him
whether now at least he did not repent his rashness。 To which the
young man answered that though he were to suffer the extremest penalty
for it； yet he could never repent of so just and so glorious a design。
Upon this they passed sentence of death on him； and bade the
officers carry him to the Dechas； as it is called； a place in the
prison where they strangle malefactors。 And when the officers would
not venture to lay hands on him； and the very mercenary soldiers
declined it； believing it an illegal and a wicked act to lay violent
hands on a king； Demochares； threatening and reviling them for it；
himself thrust him into the room。
For by this time the news of his being seized had reached many parts
of the city； and there was a concourse of people with lights and
torches about the prison gates； and in the midst of them the mother
and the grandmother of Agis； crying out with a loud voice that their
king ought to appear； and to be heard and judged by the people。 But
this clamour； instead of preventing； hastened his death； his enemies
fearing； if the tumult should increase； he might be rescued during the
night out of their hands。
Agis； being now at the point to die； perceived one of the officers
bitterly bewailing his misfortune； 〃Weep not； friend；〃 said he； 〃for
me； who die innocent； by the lawless act of wicked men。 My condition
is much better than theirs。〃 As soon as he had spoken these words； not
showing the least sign of fear； he offered his neck to the noose。
Immediately after he was dead； Amphares went out of the prison gate；
where he found Agesistrata； who； believing him still the same friend
as before； threw herself at his feet。 He gently raised her up； and
assured her； she need not fear any further violence or danger of death
for her son； and that if pleased she might go in and see him。 She
begged her mother might also have the favour to be admitted； and he
replied； nobody should hinder it。 When they were entered； he commanded
the gate should again be locked； and Archidamia； the grandmother； to
be first introduced。 She was now grown very old； and had lived all her
days in the highest repute among her fellows。 As soon as Amphares
thought she was despatched； he told Agesistrata she might now go in if
she pleased。 She entered； and beholding her son's body stretched on
the ground； and her mother hanging by the neck； the first thing she
did was； with her own hands； to assist the officers in taking down the
body； then covering it decently； she laid it out by her son's； whom
then embracing and kissing his cheeks； 〃O my son；〃 said she； 〃it was
thy too great mercy and goodness which brought thee and us to ruin。〃
Amphares； who stood watching behind the door； on hearing this； broke
in； and said angrily to her； 〃Since you approve so well of your
son's actions； it is fit you should partake in his reward。〃 She；
rising up to offer herself to the noose； said only； 〃I pray that it
may redound to the good of Sparta。〃
The three bodies being now exposed to view； and the fact divulged；
no fear was strong enough to hinder the people from expressing their
abhorrence of what was done； and their detestation of Leonidas and
Amphares； the contrivers of it。 So wicked and barbarous an act had
never been committed in Sparta since first the Dorians inhabited
Peloponnesus； the very enemies in war； they said； were always cautious
in spilling the blood of a Lacedaemonian king； insomuch that in any
combat they would decline； and endeavour to avoid them； from
feelings of respect and reverence for their station。 And certainly
we see that in the many battles fought betwixt the Lacedaemonians
and the other Greeks； up to the time of Philip of Macedon； not one
of their kings was ever killed； except Cleombrotus by a
javelin…wound at the battle of Leuctra。 I am not ignorant that the
Messenians affirm； Theopompus was also slain by their Aristomenes； but
the Lacedaemonians deny it； and say he was only wounded。
Be it as it will； it is certain at least that Agis was the first
king put to death in Lacedaemon by the ephors； for having undertaken a
design noble in itself and worthy of his country； at a time of life
when men's errors usually meet with an easy pardon。 And if errors he
did commit； his enemies certainly had less reason to blame him than
had his friends for that gentle and compassionate temper which made
him save the life of Leonidas and believe in other men's professions。
THE END