The undertaking was bold, and required long preparations. He thought it impossible to succeed without first making use of the fear of the divinity, and the terrors of superstition, to amaze and subdue the citizens into a more easy disposition to receive what he wanted to have them understand; for he knew that in Sparta, as well as throughout all Greece, nothing of the least importance was determined without the oracle's being previously consulted. He tempted with great presents the priests and priestesses of Delphos, Dodona, and Ammon, though ineffectually at that time; and the latter even sent ambassadors to Sparta, to accuse him of impiety and sacrilege; but he extricated himself from that bad affair by his credit and address. It was necessary to set other engines at work. A woman in the kingdom of Pontus, affirming that she was with child by Apollo, had been delivered some years before of a son, to whom the name of Silenus was given, and the greatest persons of that nation had disputed the honour of nursing and educating him. Lysander, taking this wondrous birth for the commencement, and in a manner the foundation of the piece he meditated, supplied the rest himself, by employing a good number of persons, and those not inconsiderable, to disperse, by way of prologue to the performance, the miraculous birth of this infant; whereby, no affectation appearing in them, people were disposed to believe it. This being done, they brought certain discourses from Delphos to Sparta, which were industriously spread abroad every where, that the priests of the temple had in their custody some books of very ancient oracles, which they kept concealed from all the world, and of which it was not permitted, either for them or any other persons whatsoever, to have any knowledge and that only a son of Apollo, who was to come in process of time, and having given undoubted proofs of his birth to those who had the books in their keeping, was to take and carry them away. : All this being well premised, Silenus was to present himself to the priests, and demand those oracles as the son of Apollo; and the priests, who were in the secret, as actors well prepared and fully instructed in their parts, were on their side to make the most exact and circumstantial inquiry into every thing not without affecting great difficulty, and asking endless questions for the full proof of his birth. At length, as absolutely convinced that this Silenus was the real son of Apollo, they were to produce the books, and deliver them to him; after which, this son of Apollo was to read the prophecies contained in them, in the presence of all the world; and particularly that for which the whole contrivance had been cooked up. The sense of this was, "that it was more expedient and advantageous for the Spartans "to elect no king for the future, but the most worthy of their citizens." Lysander in consequence was to mount the tribunal, to harangue the citizens, and induce them to make this alteration. Cleon of Halicarnassus, a celebrated rhetorician, had composed a very eloquent discourse for him upon this subject, which he had got by heart. Silenus grew up, and repaired to Greece in order to play his part, when Lysander had the mortification to see his piece miscarry, by the timidity and desertion of one of his principal actors, who broke his word, and disappeared at the very instant it was to have been performed. Though this intrigue had been carried on a great while, it was transacted with so much secrecy to the time it was to have made its appearance, that nothing of it was known during the life of Lysander. How it came to light after his death we shall soon relate, but must at present return to Tissaphernes. SECTION III. EXPEDITION OF AGESILAUS INTO ASIA. WHEN Tissaphernes had received the troops assigned him by the king,* and drawn together all his forces, he sent to command Agesilaus to retire out of Asia, and declared war against him in case of refusal. His officers were all alarmed, not believing him in a condition to oppose the great army of the Persian king. For himself he heard Tissaphernes' heralds with a gay and easy countenance, and bade them tell their master, that he was under a very great obligation to him, " for having made the gods, by his "perjury, the enemies of Persia, and the friends of Greece." He promised himself great things from this expedition, and would have thought it an exceeding disgrace for him, that 10,000 Greeks, under the command of Xenophon, should have passed through the heart of Asia to the Grecian sea, and beat the king of Persia as often as he appeared against them; and that he, who commanded the Lacedæmonians, whose empire extended all over Greece by sea and land, should not execute some exploit worthy of glory and remembrance. At first, therefore, to revenge the perfidy of Tissaphernes by a just and allowable deceit, he made a feint of marching his army into Caria, the residence of that satrap; and as soon as the barbarian had caused his troops to march that way he turned short, and fell upon Phrygia, where he took many towns, and amassed immense treasures, which he distributed amongst the officers and soldiers: letting his friends see, says Plutarch, that to break a treaty, and violate an oath, is to despise the gods themselves; and that, on the contrary, to deceive an enemy by the stratagems of war, is not only just and glorious, but a sensible delight attended with the greatest advantages. The spring being come, he assembled all his forces at Ephesus; and to exercise his soldiers, he proposed prizes both for the horse and foot. This small inducement set every thing in motion. The place for exercises was perpetually full of all kinds of troops, and the city of Ephesus seemed only a palæstra, and a school of war. The whole market-place was filled with horses and arms, and the shops with different kinds of military equipage. Agesilaus was seen returning from the exercises, followed by a crowd of officers and soldiers, all of them crowned with wreaths, which they were going to deposit in the temple of Diana, to the great admiration and delight of all the world: for, says Xenophon, where piety and discipline are seen to flourish, the best hopes must be conceived. To give his soldiers new valour from the contempt of their enemies, he made use of this contrivance. He ordered the commissaries, who had charge of the booty, to strip the prisoners, and expose them to sale. There were abundance of buyers for their habits: but for themselves, their bodies were so soft, white, and delicate, having been nurtured and brought up in the shade, that they laughed at them, as neither of service nor value. Agesilaus took this occasion to approach and say to his soldiers, pointing to the men, "See there against whom ye fight;" and showing them their rich spoils," and there for what you fight." When the season for taking the field returned, Agesilaus gave out that he would march into Lydia. Tissaphernies, who had not forgot the first *Xenoph. Hist. Græc. 1. iii. p. 497–502. Idem. de Agesil. p. 652~656. Plut. in Agesil. p. 600. stratagem he had used in regard to him, and was not willing to be deceived a second time, made his troops march directly for Caria, not doubting but at this time Agesilaus would turn his arms that way; the rather, because it was natural for him as he wanted cavalry, to endeavour to make a rough and difficult country the seat of action, which might render the horse of an enemy useless and unserviceable. But he deceived himself; Agesilaus entered Lydia, and approached Sardis. Tissaphernes hastened thither with his horse, with intent to relieve the place. Agesilaus, knowing that his infantry had not had time to arrive, thought proper to take the advantage of so favourable an opportunity to give him battle, before he had reassembled all his troops. He drew up his army in two lines: the first he formed of his squadrons, whose intervals he filled up with platoons of the light armed foot, and ordered them to begin the charge, whilst he followed with the second line, composed of his heavy armed infantry. The barbarians did not sustain the first shock, but took to their heels immediately. The Greeks pursued them, and forced their camp, where they made a great slaughter, and a still greater booty. * After this battle the troops of Agesilaus were at entire liberty to plunder and ravage the whole country of the Persians, and at the same time had the satisfaction to see that prince inflict an exemplary punishment upon Tissaphernes, who was a very wicked man and a most dangerous enemy of the Greeks. †The king had already received abundance of complaints against his conduct. Upon this occasion he was accused of treason, as not having done his duty in the battle. Queen Parysatis, always actuated by her hatred and revenge against those who had any share in the death of her son Cyrus, did not a little contribute to the death of Tissaphernes, by aggravating with all her power the charges against him; for she had been entirely restored to favour by the king her son. As Tissaphernes had a great authority in Asia, the king was afraid to attack him openly, but thought it necessary to take suitable precautions in seizing so powerful an officer, who might have proved a dangerous eneny. He charged Tithraustes with that important commission, and gave him two letters at the same time. The first was for Tissaphernes, and contained the king's orders in regard to the war with the Greeks, with full power to act as was requisite. The second was addressed to Ariæus, governour of Larissa: by which the king commanded him to assist Tithraustes with his counsel, and all his forces, in seizing Tissaphernes. He lost no time, and sent to desire Tissaphernes would come to him, that they might confer together upon the operations of the ensuing campaign. Tissapherнes, who suspected nothing, went to him with only a guard of 300 men. Whilst he was in a bath, without sabre or other arms, he was seized and put into the hands of Tithraustes, who caused his head to be immediately struck off, and sent it immediately to Persia. The king gave it to Parysatis; an agreeable present to a princess of her violent and vindictive temper. Though this conduct of Artaxerxes seems little worthy of a king, nobody lamented the death of that satrap, who had no veneration for the gods, nor any regard for men; who looked upon probity and honour as empty names; who made a jest of the most sacred oaths, and believed the whole ability and policy of a statesman consisted in knowing how to deceive oth ers by hypocrisy, fraud, perfidy, and perjury. Xenoph. p. 501. et. 657. Plut. in Artax. p. 1022. et in Agesil. p. 601. Tithraustes had a third writing from the king, whereby he was appointed to command the armies in the room of Tissaphernes. *After having executed his commission, he sent great presents to Agesilaus, to induce him to enter more readily into his views and interest; and ordered him to be told that the cause of the war being removed, and the author of all differences put to death, nothing opposed an accommodation; that the king of Persia consented that the cities of Asia should enjoy their liberty, paying him the customary tribute, provided he would withdraw his troops and return into Greece. Agesilaus replied that he could conclude nothing without the orders of Sparta, upon whom alone depended the peace; that as for him, he was better pleased with enriching his soldiers than himself; that the Greeks, besides, thought it more glorious and honourable to take spoils from their enemies, than to accept their presents. However, as he was not unwilling to give Tithraustes the satisfaction of removing out of his province, and of expressing his gratitude to him for having punished the common enemy of the Greeks, he marched into Phrygia, which was the province of Pharnabasus. Tithraustes had himself proposed that expedition to him, and paid him 30 talents for the charges of his journey. Upon his march, he received a letter from the magistrates of Sparta, with orders to take upon him the command of the naval army, and power to depute whom he thought fit in his stead. By these new powers he saw himself absolute commander of all the troops of that state in Asia both by sea and land. This resolution was taken, in order that all operations being directed by one and the same head, and the two armies acting in concert, the plans for the service might be executed with more uniformity, and every thing conspire to the same end. Sparta till then had never done the honour to any of their generals to confide to him at the same time the command of the armies by sea and land: so that all the world agreed that he was the greatest personage of his time, and best sustained the high reputation he enjoyed. But he was a man, and had his failings. The first thing he did was to establish Pisander his lieutenant in the fleet; in which he seemed to have committed a considerable fault; because having about him many older and more experienced captains, without regard to the service of the public, to do honour to an ally, and to please his wife, who was Pisander's sister, he intrusted him with the command of the fleet; that employment being much above his abilities, though he was not without his merit. This is the common temptation of persons in power, who believe they possess it only for themselves and their families; as if the advantage of relation to them was a sufficient title and qualification for posts which require great abilities. They do not reflect that they not only expose the affairs of a state to ruin by their private views, but sacrifice, besides, the interests of their own glory, which cannot be maintained but by successes it were inconsistent to expect from instruments so ill chosen. † Agesilaus continued with his army in Phrygia, upon the lands of Pharnabasus' government, where he lived in the abundance of all things, and amassed great sums of money. From thence advancing as far as Paphlagonia, he made an alliance with king Cotis, who passionately desired his amity, from the sense of his faith in the observance of treaties, and his other virtues. The same motive had already induced Spithridates, one of the king's principal officers, to quit the service of Pharnabasus, and go over Xenoph. Hist. Græc, l. iii. p. 501. Plut. in. Agesil. p. 601. †A. M. 3610. Ant. J. C. 394. Xenoph. Hist. Græc. Î, iv. p. 507 --510. to Agesilaus, to whom from his revolt he had rendered great services; for he had a great body of troops, and was very brave. This officer, having entered Phrygia, had laid waste the whole country under Pharnabasus, who never dared to appear in the field against him, nor even to rely upon his fortresses; but carrying away whatever was most valuable and dear to him, he kept flying continually before him, and retired from one place to another, changing his camp every day. Spithridates at length, taking with him some Spartan troops, with Herippidas, the chief of the council of thirty sent by the republic to Agesilaus the second year, watched him one day so closely, and attacked him so successfully, that he made himself master of his camp, and of all the rich spoils with which it abounded. But Herippidas, injudiciously setting himself up as an inexorable comptroller, was for bringing the booty that had been sunk to an account; forced even the soldiers of Spithridates to restore what they had taken, and by visiting their tents, and searching them with an unseasonable exactitude and severity, affronted Spithridates to such a degree that he withdrew directly to Sardis with his Paphlagonians. It is said, that in this whole expedition nothing so sensibly affected Agesilaus as the retreat of Spithridates: for, besides his being very sorry for the loss of so good an officer, and so good troops, he apprehended being reproached with mean and sordid avarice; a vice equally dishonourable to himself and his country, and of which he had taken pains to avoid the slightest suspicion during his whole life. He did not think it consistent with the duty of his office, to shut his eyes, through slothful ease and indolence, against all the malversations that were committed under him; but he knew at the same time, that there is an exactitude and severity, that, by being carried too far, degenerate into minuteness and petulancy, and which, through an extreme affectation of virtue, become a real and dangerous vice. * Some time after, Pharnabasus, who saw his country ravaged, demanded an interview with Agesilaus, which was negociated by a common friend of them both. Agesilaus arrived first with his friends at the place agreed on, and sat down, in expectation of Pharnabasus, upon the turf under the shade of a tree. When Pharnabasus arrived, his people spread skins upon the ground of exceeding softness, from the length of their hair, with rich carpets of various colours, and magnificent cushions. But when he saw Agesilaus sitting simply upon the ground, without any preparation, he was ashamed of his effeminacy, and sat down also upon the grass. On this occasion the Persian pride was seen to pay homage to the Spartan modesty and simplicity. After reciprocal salutations, Pharnabasus spoke to this effect: That he had served the Lacedæmonians in the Peloponnesian war to the utmost of his power, fought several battles for them, and supported their naval army, without giving any room to reproach him with fraud or treachery, as Tissaphernes had done that he was surprised at their coming to attack him in his government: burning the towns, cutting down the trees, and laying waste the whole country: that if it was the custom with the Greeks, who made a profession of honour and virtue, to treat their friends and benefacfors in such a manner, he did not know what they might mean by just and equitable. These complaints were not entirely without foundation, and were uttered with a modest, but pathetic air and tone of voice. The Spartans, who attended Agesilaus, not seeing how they could be answered cast Xenoph. Hist. Græc. I. iv. p. 510-512. Plut. in Agesil. p. 602. |