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he would trample the Hellenes under the hoofs of his horses long
before they reached the district where no cavalry could operate。
But Agesilaus； instead of advancing upon Caria； turned right about and
marched in the direction of Phrygia。 Picking up the various forces
that met him on his progress； he passed onwards； laying city after
city at his feet； and by the suddenness of his incursion capturing
enormous wealth。
Here was an achievement which showed the genius of a general； as all
agreed。 When once war as declared； and the arts of circumvention and
deceit were thereby justified； he had proved Tissaphernes to be a very
bade in subtlety；＇9＇ and with what sagacity again did he turn the
circumstances to account for the enrichment of his friends。 Owing to
the quantity of wealth captured； precious things were selling for a
mere song。 Thereupon he gave his friends warning to make their
purchases； adding that he should at once march down to the sea…coast
at the head of his troops。 The quartermasters meanwhile received
orders to make a note of the purchasers with the prices of the
articles； and to consign the goods。 The result was that； without prior
disbursement on their part； or detriment to the public treasury； his
friends reaped an enormous harvest。 Moreover； when deserters came with
offers to disclose hidden treasures； and naturally enough laid their
proposal before the king himself； he took care to have the capture of
these treasures effected by his friends； which would enable them to do
a stroke of business； and at the same time redound to their prestige。
For this reason he was not long in discovering many an eager aspirant
to his friendship。
＇9＇ See below； xi。 4； 〃Mem。〃 III。 i。 6； IV。 ii。 15； 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。
31； Plut。 〃Ages。〃 xi。 （Clough； iv。 10）。
But a country pillaged and denuded of inhabitants would not long
support an army。 That he felt。 A more perennial source of supply was
surely to be found in waving cornfields and thickly clustering
homesteads。 So with infinite pains he set himself not merely to crush
his foes by force； but also to win them to his side by gentleness。 In
this spirit he often enjoined upon his soldiers to guard their
captives as fellow…men rather than take vengeance upon them as
evildoers；＇10＇ or； on a change of quarters； if aware of little
children left behind by the dealers （since the men often sold them in
the belief that it would be impossible to carry them away and rear
them）； he would show concern in behalf of these poor waifs and have
them conveyed to some place of safety； or he would entrust them to the
care of fellow…prisoners also left behind on account of old age； in no
case must they be left to ravening dogs and wolves。 In this way he won
the goodwill not only of those who heard tell of these doings but of
the prisoners themselves。 And whenever he brought over a city to his
side； he set the citizens free from the harsher service of a bondsman
to his lord； imposing the gentler obedience of a freeman to his ruler。
Indeed； there were fortresses impregnable to assault which he brought
under his power by the subtler force of human kindness。
＇10＇ See Grote； vol。 ix。 p。 365 foll。
But when； in Phrygia even； the freedom of his march along the flats
was hampered by the cavalry of Pharnabazus； he saw that if he wished
to avoid a skulking warfare under cover； a force of cavalry was
indispensable。 Accordingly he enlisted the wealthiest members of every
city in those parts to breed and furnish horses； with this saving
clause； however： that the individual who furnished a horse and arms
with a good rider should be exempt from service himself。 By this means
he engendered an eagerness to discharge the obligation； not unlike
that of the condemned man； casting about to discover some one to die
in his place。＇11＇ He further ordered some of the states themselves to
furnish contingents of mounted troopers； and this in the conviction
that from such training…centres he would presently get a pick of
cavaliers proud of their horsemanship。 And thus once more he won
golden opinions by the skill with which he provided himself with a
body of cavalry in the plenitude of strength and ripe for active
service。
＇11＇ Instead of the plain ｛zetoie｝ of the parallel passage （〃Hell。〃
III。 iv。 15） the encomiast prefers the poetical ｛masteuoi｝。
On the approach of early spring＇12＇ he collected his whole armament at
Ephesus； and set himself to the work of training it。 With that object
he proposed a series of prizes： one set for the cavalry squadron which
rode best； another for the heavy infantry divisions which presented
the best physique； another again for various light troops； peltasts；
and bowmen； which showed themselves most efficient in their respective
duties。
＇12＇ B。C。 395； see 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 16； Plut。 〃Marcel。〃 （Clough； ii。
262）； Polyb。 xii。 20； 7。
Thereupon it was a sight to see the gymnasiums thronged with warriors
going through their exercises； the racecourses crowded with troopers
on prancing steeds； the archers and the javelin men shooting at the
butts。 Nay； the whole city in which he lay was transformed into a
spectacle itself； so filled to overflowing was the market…place with
arms and armour of every sort； and horses； all for sale。 Here were
coppersmiths and carpenters； ironfounders and cobblers； painters and
decoratorsone and all busily engaged in fabricating the implements
of war； so that an onlooker might have thought the city of Ephesus
itself a gigantic arsenal。 It would have kindled courage in the breast
of a coward to see the long lines of soldiers； with Agesilaus at their
head； all garlanded as they marched in proud procession from the
gymnasiums and dedicated their wreaths to our Lady Artemis。 Since；
where these three elements existreverence towards heaven； practice
in military affairs； and obedience to commandall else must needs be
full of happy promise。
But seeing that contempt for the foe is calculated to infuse a certain
strength in face of battle； he ordered his criers to strip naked the
barbarians captured by his foraging parties； and so to sell them。 The
soldiers who saw the white skins of these folk； unused to strip for
toil； soft and sleek and lazy…looking； as of people who could only
stir abroad in carriages； concluded that a war with women would
scarcely be more formidable。 Then he published a further order to the
soldiers： 〃I shall lead you at once by the shortest route to the
stronghold＇13＇ of the enemy's territory。 Your general asks you to keep
yourselves on the alert in mind and body； as men about to enter the
lists of battle on the instant。〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃the richest parts of the country；〃 viz。 Lydia； Plut。 〃Ages。〃
x。
But Tissaphernes was persuaded that this was all talk on his part for
the purpose of outwitting him a second time： now certainly Agesilaus
would make an incursion into Caria。 So once again the satrap
transported his infantry over into that country just has he had done
before； and as before he posted his cavalry in the plain of the
Maeander。
This time； however； Agesilaus was true to his word。 In accordance with
his published order he advanced straight upon the region of Sardis；
and； during a three days' march through a country where not an enemy
was to be seen； provided his army with abundant supplies。 On the
fourth day the enemy's cavalry came up。 The Persian general ordered
the commandant of his baggage train to cross the Pactolus and encamp；
whilst his troopers； who had caught sight of the camp followers of the
Hellenes scattered in search of booty； put many of them to the sword。
Agesilaus； aware how matters were going； ordered his cavalry to the
rescue； and the Persians on their side； seeing the enemy's supports
approaching； collected and formed up in line to receive them with the
serried squadrons of their cavalry。 And now Agesilaus； conscious that
his enemy's infantry had not as yet arrived； whilst on his side no
element in his preparation was lacking； felt that the moment was come
to join battle if he could。 Accordingly he sacrificed and advanced
against the opposing lines of cavalry。 A detachment of heavy infantry；
the ten…years…service men； had orders to close with them at the run；
while the light infantry division were told to show them the way at a
swinging pace。 At the