Agesilaus

For while approving himself a most excellent king and general, he showed himself a still better and more agreeable friend and companion to those who enjoyed his intimacy. Persian coins were stamped with the figure of an archer, and Agesilaüs said, as he was breaking camp, that the King was driving him out of Asia with ten thousand archers; for so much money had been sent to Athens and Thebes and distributed among the popular leaders there, and as a consequence those peoples made war upon the Spartans.[*](According to Xenophon (Hell. iii. 5, 1 ff.), Persian money was distributed in Thebes, Corinth, and Argos. The Athenians, though they took no share of the gold, were none the less eager for war.)

And when he had crossed the Hellespont and was marching through Thrace,[*](Agesilaüs followed the very route taken by the Great King when he invaded Hellas (Xenophon, Hell. iv. 2, 8).) he made no requests of any of the Barbarians, but sent envoys to each people asking whether he should traverse their country as a friend or as a foe. All the rest, accordingly, received him as a friend and assisted him on his way, as they were severally able; but the people called Trallians, to whom even Xerxes gave gifts, as we are told, demanded of Agesilaüs as a price for his passage a hundred talents of silver and as many women.

But he answered them with scorn, asking why, then, they did not come at once to get their price; and marched forward, and finding them drawn up for battle, engaged them, routed them, and slew many of them. He sent his usual enquiry forward to the king of the Macedonians also, who answered that he would deliberate upon it. Let him deliberate, then, said Agesilaüs, but we will march on. In amazement therefore at his boldness, and in fear, the Macedonian king gave orders to let him pass as a friend.