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the river Eurotas； which they were to break off with their hands
without a knife； if it were winter； they mingled some thistle…down
with their rushes； which it was thought had the property of giving
warmth。 By the time they were come to this age there was not any of
the more hopeful boys who had not a lover to bear him company。 The old
men； too； had an eye upon them； coming often to the grounds to hear
and see them contend either in wit or strength with one another； and
this as seriously and with as much concern as if they were their
fathers； their tutors； or their magistrates； so that there scarcely
was any time or place without some one present to put them in mind
of their duty； and punish them if they had neglected it。
Besides all this； there was always one of the best and honestest men
in the city appointed to undertake the charge and governance of
them； he again arranged them into their several bands； and set over
each of them for their captain the most temperate and boldest of those
they called Irens； who were usually twenty years old； two years out of
the boys； and the oldest of the boys； again； were Mell…Irens； as
much as to say； who would shortly be men。 This young man； therefore；
was their captain when they fought and their master at home； using
them for the offices of his house； sending the eldest of them to fetch
wood； and the weaker and less able to gather salads and herbs； and
these they must either go without or steal； which they did by creeping
into the gardens； or conveying themselves cunningly and closely into
the eating…houses； if they were taken in the fact； they were whipped
without mercy； for thieving so ill and awkwardly。 They stole； too； all
other meat they could lay their hands on； looking out and watching all
opportunities； when people were asleep or more careless than usual。 If
they were caught； they were not only punished with whipping； but
hunger； too； being reduced to their ordinary allowance； which was
but very slender； and so contrived on purpose； that they might set
about to help themselves； and be forced to exercise their energy and
address。 This was the principal design of their hard fare； there was
another not inconsiderable； that they might grow taller； for the vital
spirits； not being overburdened and oppressed by too great a
quantity of nourishment； which necessarily discharges itself into
thickness and breadth； do； by their natural lightness； rise； and the
body； giving and yielding because it is pliant； grows in height。 The
same thing seems； also； to conduce to beauty of shape； a dry and
lean habit is a better subject for nature's configuration； which the
gross and over…fed are too heavy to submit to properly。 Just as we
find that women who take physic whilst they are with child； bear
leaner and smaller but better…shaped and prettier children； the
material they come of having been more pliable and easily moulded。 The
reason； however； I leave others to determine。
To return from whence we have digressed。 So seriously did the
Lacedaemonian children go about their stealing； that a youth； having
stolen a young fox and hid it under his coat； suffered it to tear
out his very bowels with its teeth and claws and died upon the
place； rather than let it be seen。 What is practised to this very
day in Lacedaemon is enough to gain credit to this story； for I myself
have seen several of the youths endure whipping to death at the foot
of the altar of Diana surnamed Orthia。
The Iren； or under…master； used to stay a little with them after
supper； and one of them he bade to sing a song； to another he put a
question which required an advised and deliberate answer； for example；
Who was the best man in the city？ What he thought of such an action of
such a man？ They used them thus early to pass a right judgment upon
persons and things； and to inform themselves of the abilities or
defects of their countrymen。 If they had not an answer ready to the
question； Who was a good or who an ill…reputed citizen； they were
looked upon as of a dull and careless disposition； and to have
little or no sense of virtue and honour； besides this； they were to
give a good reason for what they said； and in as few words and as
comprehensive as might be； he that failed of this； or answered not
to the purpose； had his thumb bit by the master。 Sometimes the Iren
did this in the presence of the old men and magistrates； that they
might see whether he punished them justly and in due measure or not；
and when he did amiss； they would not reprove him before the boys；
but； when they were gone； he was called to an account and underwent
correction； if he had run far into either of the extremes of
indulgence or severity。
Their lovers and favourers； too； had a share in the young boy's
honour or disgrace； and there goes a story that one of them was
fined by the magistrate； because the lad whom he loved cried out
effeminately as he was fighting。 And though this sort of love was so
approved among them； that the most virtuous matrons would make
professions of it to young girls； yet rivalry did not exist； and if
several men's fancies met in one person； it was rather the beginning
of an intimate friendship； whilst they all jointly conspired to render
the object of their effection as accomplished as possible。
They taught them； also； to speak with a natural and graceful
raillery； and to comprehend much matter of thought in few words。 For
Lycurgus； who ordered； as we saw； that a great piece of money should
be but of an inconsiderable value； on the contrary would allow no
discourse to be current which did not contain in few words a great
deal of useful and curious sense； children in Sparta； by a habit of
long silence； came to give just and sententious answers； for；
indeed； as loose and incontinent livers are seldom fathers of many
children； so loose and incontinent talkers seldom originate many
sensible words。 King Agis； when some Athenian laughed at their short
swords； and said that the jugglers on the stage swallowed them with
ease； answered him； 〃We find them long enough to reach our enemies
with；〃 and as their swords were short and sharp； so； it seems to me；
were their sayings。 They reach the point and arrest the attention of
the hearers better than any。 Lycurgus himself seems to have been short
and sententious； if we may trust the anecdotes of him； as appears by
his answer to one who by all means would set up a democracy in
Lacedaemon。 〃Begin； friend；〃 said he； 〃and set it up in your
family。〃 Another asked him why he allowed of such mean and trivial
sacrifices to the gods。 He replied； 〃That we may always have something
to offer to them。〃 Being asked what sort of martial exercises or
combats he approved of； he answered； 〃All sorts； except that in
which you stretch out your hands。〃 Similar answers； addressed to his
countrymen by letter； are ascribed to him； as； being consulted how
they might best oppose an invasion of their enemies； he returned
this answer； 〃By continuing poor； and not coveting each man to be
greater than his fellow。〃 Being consulted again whether it were
requisite to enclose the city with a wall； he sent them word； 〃The
city is well fortified which hath a wall of men instead of brick。〃 But
whether these letters are counterfeit or not is not easy to determine。
Of their dislike to talkativeness； the following apophthegms are
evidence。 King Leonidas said to one who held him in discourse upon
some useful matter； but not in due time and place； 〃Much to the
purpose； Sir； elsewhere。〃 King Charilaus； the nephew of Lycurgus；
being asked why his uncle had made so few laws； answered； 〃Men of
few words require but few laws。〃 When one； named Hecataeus the
sophist； because that； being invited to the public table； he had not
spoken one word all supper…time； Archidamidas answered in his
vindication； 〃He who knows how to speak； knows also when。〃
The sharp and yet not ungraceful retorts which I mentioned may be
instanced as follows。 Demaratus； being asked in a troublesome manner
by an importunate fellow； Who was the best man in Lacedaemon？ answered
at last； 〃He； Sir； that is the least like you。〃 Some； in company where
Agis was； much extolled the Eleans for their just and honourable
management of the Olympic games； 〃Indeed；〃 said Agis； 〃they are highly
to be commended if they can do justice one day in five years。〃
Theopompus answered a stranger who talked much of his affection to the
Lacedaemonians； and said that his countrymen called him Philolacon
（a lover of the Lacedaemonians）； that it had been more for his
honour if they had called him Philopolites （a lover of his own
countrymen）。 And Plistoanax； the son of Pausanias； when an orator of
Athens said the Lacedaemonians had no learning； told him； 〃You say
true； Sir； we alone of all the Greeks have learned none of your bad
qualities。〃 One asked Archidamidas what number there might be of the
Spartans； he answered： 〃Enough； Sir； to keep out wicked men。〃
We may see their character； too； in their very jests。 For they did
not throw them out at random； but the very wit of them was grounded
upon something or other worth thinking about。 For instance； one； being
asked to go