Lacaenarum Apophthegmata

Gyrtias, when on a time Acrotatus, her grandson, in a fight with other boys received many blows, and was brought home for dead, and the family and friends were all wailing, said, Will you not stop your noise ? He has shown from what blood he was sprung. And she said that people who were good for anything should not scream, but should try to find some remedy.[*](The last sentence is borrowed from Plato, Republic, 604 c.)

When a messenger came from Crete bringing the news of the death of Acrotatus,[*](Son of Areus I., king of Sparta. He fell in battle at Megalopolis in 265 bc., but the fact that hsi father Areus had been fighting in Crete may account for the intrusion of Crete here. Pausanias (viii. 27. 11) makes a more serious error in confusing this Acrotatus with his grandfather of the same name.) she said, When he had come to the enemy, was he not bound either to be slain by them or to slay them ? It is more pleasing to hear that he died in a manner worthy of myself, his country, and his ancestors than if he had lived for all time a coward.[*](Cf. the similar saying of a Spartan woman, quoted by Teles in Stobaeus, Florilegium, cviii. 83.)

Damatria heard that her son had been a coward and unworthy of her, and when he arrived, she made away with him. This is the epigram[*](Cf. the Palatine Anthology, vii. no. 433, or W. R. Paton, The Greek Anthology (in L.C.L.), ii. p. 238.) referring to her:

Sinner against our laws, Damatrius, slain by his mother, Was of the Spartan youth; she was of Sparta too.

Another Spartan woman made away with her son, who had deserted his post, on the ground that he was unworthy of his country, saying, Not mine the scion. This is the epigram referring to her[*](Cf. the variant version in the Palatine Anthology, vii. no. 433 (or W. R. Paton, The Greek Anthology (in L.C.L.), ii. p. 238).):

1. Off to your fate through the darkness, vile scion, who makes such a hatred, So the Eurotas flow not e’en for the timorous deer.
2. Worthless whelp that you are, vile remnant, be oif now to Hades; Off! for never I bore Sparta’s unworthy son.[*](Cf.Moralia, 242 a, infra.)

Another, hearing that her son had fallen on the field of battle, said:[*](Cf.Moralia, 235 a, supra.)

1. Let the poor cowards be mourned, but, with never a tear do I bury
2. You, my son, who are mine, yea, and are Sparta’s as well.

Another, hearing that her son had been saved and had run away from the enemy, wrote to him, Ill report is spread about ye; aither clear yersel’ of this or stop yer living.