[1] See "Hell." V. iii. 20; "Cyrop." I. iv. 27; "Econ." ii. 7; Plut.
"Ages." ii.; xx.; Lyc. xx.

[2] Or, "he would discuss graver matters, according to the humour of
his friends."

[3] Or, "of courageous conduct," "noble manhood."

But that he was capable of lofty sentiment and at the right season
must not be overlooked. Thus when a letter reached him from the king
(I speak of that which was brought by the Persian agent in company
with Calleas[4] of Lacedaemon, proposing terms of hospitality and
friendship with the Persian monarch), he disdained to accept it,
telling the bearer to take back to the king this answer: "He need not
be at pains to send him letters in private, but if he could prove
himself a friend to Lacedaemon and the well-wisher of Hellas he should
have no cause to blame the ardour of his friendship," but added, "if
your king be detected plotting, let him not think to find a friend in
me. No, not if he sends me a thousand letters." For my part, then, I
hold it praiseworthy that, by comparison with pleasing his fellow-
Hellenes, Agesilaus scorned such friendship. And this, too, among his
tenets I find admirable: the truer title to self-congratulation
belonged not to the millionaire, the master of many legions, but to
him rather, who, being himself a better man, commanded the allegience
of better followers.

[4] See "Hell." IV. i. 15; Plut. "Apophth. Lac." p. 777; Grote, "H.
G." x. 402.