VII

To describe his patriotism[1] point by point in detail were a tedious
story, since, as I suppose, there is not one of his several
achievements but must finally resolve itself into that. For, to put it
briefly, we all know well that where Agesilaus expected in any way to
benefit his country there was no toil he shrank from, no danger he
avoided, no money he stinted, no excuse whether of age or body he
admitted, but deemed it ever the true function of a good king[2] to
shower blessings to the utmost on the subjects of his rule.

[1] Lit. "love for his own city."

[2] Or, "regarded it as the cardinal virtue of a real prince." See
"Mem." III. ii. 3.

And for my part I hold it as chief among the magnificent benefits so
conferred by him upon his country that, being the most powerful member
of the state, he made no secret of his absolute submission to the
laws,[3] since what lesser man, seeing the king's obedience, would
take[4] on himself to disobey? Who, in discontentment at his own poor
lot, would venture on revolution, knowing that the king himself could
condescend to constitutional control? And that, too, a king who bore
himself towards political opponents with a paternal mildness.[5] If he
rebuked them sharply for their misdemeanours, he none the less