Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/299

AGESILAUS AND PHARNABAZUS. 277 lors, being the first to arrive at the place c f appointment, all of them sat down upon the grass to wait. Presently came Pharna bazus, with splendid clothing and retinue. His attendants were beginning to spread fine carpets for him, when the satrap, observ- ing how the Spartans were seated, felt ashamed of such a luxury for himself, and sat down on the grass by the side of Agesilaus. Having exchanged salutes, they next shook hands ; after which Pharnabazus, who as the older of the two had been the first to tender his right hand, was also the first to open the conversation. Whether he spoke Greek well enough to dispense with the neces sity of an interpreter, we are not informed. " Agesilaus (said he), I was the friend and ally of you Lacedaemonians while you were at war with Athens ; I furnished you with money to strengthen your fleet, and fought with you myself ashore on horseback, chas ing your enemies into the sea. You cannot charge me with having ever played you false, like Tissaphernes, either by word or deed. Yet, after this behavior, I am now reduced by you to such a con- dition, that I have not a dinner in my own territory, except by picking up your leavings, like the beasts of the field. I see the fine residences, parks, and hunting-grounds, bequeathed to me by my father, which formed the charm of my life, cut up or burnt down by you. Is this the conduct of men mindful of favors received, and eager to requite them ? Pray answer me this question ; for, perhaps, I have yet to learn what is holy and just." The thirty Spartan counsellors were covered with shame by this emphatic appeal. They all held their peace ; while Agesilaus, after a long pause, at length replied, " You are aware, Pharna- bazus, that in Grecian cities, individuals become private friends and guests of each other. Such guests, if the cities to which they belong go to war, fight with each other, and sometimes by accident even kill each other, each in behalf of his respective city. So then it is that we, being at war with your king, are compelled to hold all his dominions as enemy's land. But in regard to you, we would pay any price to become your friends. I do not invite you to accept us as masters, in place of your present master ; I ask you to become our ally, and to enjoy your own property as a freeman bowing before no man and acknowledging no master. Now freedom is in itself a possession of the highest value. But this is not all. We do not call upon you to be a freeman, and yet poor