第 4 节
作者:垃圾王      更新:2021-04-30 16:08      字数:9321
  enemy pass than put all to the hazard of a battle。 And; therefore;
  giving thanks to the confederates for their readiness; he dismissed
  them。 And Agis; not without having gained a great deal of honour;
  returned to Sparta; where he found the people in disorder; and a new
  revolution imminent; owing to the ill…government of Agesilaus。
  For he; being now one of the ephors; and freed from the fear which
  formerly kept him in some restraint; forbore no kind of oppression
  which might bring in gain。 Among other things; he exacted a thirteenth
  month's tax; whereas the usual cycle required at this time no such
  addition to the year。 For these and other reasons fearing those whom
  he injured; and knowing how he was hated by the people; he thought
  it necessary to maintain a guard; which always accompanied him to
  the magistrate's office。 And presuming now on his power; he was
  grown so insolent; that of the two kings; the one he openly contemned;
  and if he showed any respect towards Agis; would have it thought
  rather an effect of his near relationship; than any duty or submission
  to the royal authority。 He gave it out also that he was to continue
  ephor the ensuing year。
  His enemies; therefore; alarmed by this report; lost no time in
  risking an attempt against him; and openly bringing back Leonidas from
  Tegea; re…established him in the kingdom; to which even the people;
  highly incensed for having been defrauded in the promised division
  of lands; willingly consented。 Agesilaus himself would hardly have
  escaped their fury; if his son; Hippomedon; whose manly virtues made
  him dear to all; had not saved him out of their hands; and then
  privately conveyed him from the city。
  During the commotion; the two kings fled; Agis to the temple of
  the Brazen House; and Cleombrotus to that of Neptune。 For Leonidas was
  more incensed against his son…in…law; and leaving Agis alone; went
  with his soldiers to Cleombrotus's sanctuary; and there with great
  passion reproached him for having; though he was son…in…law; conspired
  with his enemies; usurped his throne; and forced him from his country。
  Cleombrotus; having little to say for himself; sat silent。 His wife;
  Chilonis; the daughter of Leonidas; had chosen to follow her father in
  his sufferings; for when Cleombrotus usurped the kingdom; she
  forsook him; and wholly devoted herself to comfort her father in his
  affliction; whilst he still remained in Sparta; she remained also;
  as a suppliant; with him; and when he fled; she fled with him;
  bewailing his misfortune; and extremely displeased with Cleombrotus。
  But now; upon this turn of fortune; she changed in like manner; and
  was seen sitting now; as a suppliant; with her husband; embracing
  him with her arms; and having her two little children beside her。
  All men were full of wonder at the piety and tender affection of the
  young woman; who pointing to her robes and her hair; both alike
  neglected and unattended to; said to Leonidas; 〃I am not brought; my
  father; to this condition you see me in; on account of the present
  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