Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans
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,