Agesilaus   

agreement of all things, so the Spartan legislator seems to have admitted
ambition and emulation among the ingredients of his commonwealth,
as the incentives of virtue, distinctly wishing that there should
be some dispute and competition among his men of worth, and pronouncing
the mere idle, uncontested, mutual compliance to unproved deserts
to be but a false sort of concord. And some think Homer had an eye
to this when he introduces Agamemnon well pleased with the quarrel
arising between Ulysses and Achilles, and with the "terrible words"
that passed between them, which he would never have done, unless he
had thought emulation and dissensions between the noblest men to be
of great public benefit. Yet this maxim is not simply to be granted,
without restriction, for if animosities go too far they are very dangerous
to cities and of most pernicious consequence.
When Agesilaus was newly entered upon the government, there came news
from Asia that the Persian king was making great naval preparations,
resolving with a high hand to dispossess the Spartans of their maritime
supremacy. Lysander was eager for the opportunity of going over and
succouring his friends in Asia, whom he had there left governors and
masters of the cities, whose maladministration and tyrannical behaviour
was causing them to be driven out, and in some cases put to death.
He therefore persuaded Agesilaus to claim the command of the expedition,
and by carrying the war from Greece into Persia, to anticipate the
designs of the barbarian. He also wrote to his friends in Asia, that
by embassy they should demand Agesilaus for their captain. Agesilaus,
therefore, coming into the public assembly, offered his service, upon
condition that he might have thirty Spartans for captains and counsellors;
two thousand chosen men of the newly enfranchised helots, and allies
to the number of six thousand. Lysander's authority and assistance
soon obtained his request, so that he was sent away with the thirty
Spartans, of whom Lysander was at once the chief, not only because
of his power and reputation, but also on account of his friendship
with Agesilaus, who esteemed his procuring him this charge a greater
obligation than that of preferring him to the kingdom.
Whilst the army was collecting to the rendezvous at Geraestus, Agesilaus
went with some of his friends to Aulis, where in a dream he saw a
man approach him, and speak to him after this manner: "O king of the
Lacedaemonians, you cannot but know that, before yourself, there hath
been but one general captain of the whole of the Greeks, namely, Agamemnon;
now, since you succeed him in the same office and command the same
men, since you war against the same enemies, and begin your expedition
from the same place, you ought also to offer such a sacrifice as he
offered before he weighed anchor." Agesilaus at the same moment remembered
that the sacrifice which Agamemnon offered was his own daughter, he
being so directed by the oracle. Yet was he not at all disturbed by
it, but as soon as he arose, he told his dream to his friends, adding
that he would propitiate the goddess with the sacrifices a goddess
must delight in, and would not follow the ignorant example of his
predecessor. He therefore ordered an hind to be crowned with chaplets,
and bade his own soothsayer perform the rite, not the usual person
whom the Boeotians, in ordinary course, appointed to that office.
When the Boeotian magistrates understood it, they were much offended,
and sent officers to Agesilaus to forbid his sacrificing contrary
to the laws of the country. These, having delivered their message
to him, immediately went to the altar and threw down the quarters
of the hind that lay upon it. Agesilaus took this very ill, and without
further sacrifice immediately sailed away, highly displeased with
the Boeotians, and much discouraged in his mind at the omen, boding
to himself an unsuccessful voyage and an imperfect issue of the whole
expedition.
When he came to Ephesus, he found the power and interest of Lysander,
and the honours paid to him, insufferably great; all applications
were made to him, crowds of suitors attended at his door, and followed
upon his steps, as if nothing but the mere name of commander belonged,
to satisfy the usage, to Agesilaus, the whole power of it being devolved