Apophthegmata Laconica

Brasidas caught a mouse among some figs, and, when he got bitten, let it go. Then, turning to those who were present, he said, There is nothing so small that it does not save its life if it has the courage to defend itself against those who would lay hand on it. [*](Ibid. (1).)

In a battle he was wounded by a spear which pierced his shield, and, pulling the weapon out of the wound, with this very spear he slew his foe. Asked how he got his wound, he said, ’Twas when my shield turned traitor. [*](Ibid. (2).)

As he was going forth to war he wrote to the Ephors, What I wull to dae I’ll dae as regairds the war or be a deid mon.

When it came to pass that he fell in trying to win independence for the Greeks who were living in the region of Thrace, the committee which was sent to Sparta waited upon his mother Argileonis. Her first question was whether Brasidas had come to his end honourably; and when the Thracians spoke of him in the highest terms, and said that there was no other like him, she said, You have no knowledge of that, sirs, being from abroad; for Brasidas was