a parting gift to Agesilaus one thousand cavalry and a
couple of thousand peltasts. Agesilaus was anxious in some way to
show his gratitude to Spithridates for such help, and spoke as
follows:--"Tell me," he said to Spithridates, "would you not like to
give your daughter to King Otys?" "Much more would I like to give her,"
he answered, "than he to take her--I an outcast wanderer, and he lord
of a vast territory and forces." Nothing more was said at the time about
the marriage; but when Otys was on the point of departure and came to
bid farewell, Agesilaus, having taken care that Spithridates should be
out of the way, in the presence of the Thirty broached the subject: (3)
"Can you tell me, Otys, to what sort of family Spithridates belongs?"
"To one of the noblest in Persia," replied the king. Agesilaus: "Have
you observed how beautiful his son is?" Otys: "To be sure; last evening
I was supping with him." Agesilaus: "And they tell me his daughter
is yet more beautiful." Otys: "That may well be; beautiful she is."
Agesilaus: "For my part, as you have proved so good a friend to us, I
should like to advise you to take this girl to wife. Not only is she
very beautiful--and what more should a husband ask for?--but her
father is of noble family, and has a force at his back large enough to
retaliate on Pharnabazus for an injury. He has made the satrap, as you
see, a fugitive and a vagabond in his own vast territory. I need not
tell you," he added, "that a man who can so chastise an enemy is well
able to benefit a friend; and of this be assured: by such an alliance
you will gain not the connection of Spithridates alone, but of myself
and the Lacedaemonians, and, as we are the leaders of Hellas, of
the rest of Hellas also. And what a wedding yours will be! Were ever
nuptials celebrated on so grand a scale before? Was ever bride led home
by such an escort of cavalry and light-armed troops and heavy infantry,
as shall escort your wife home to your palace?" Otys asked: "Is
Spithridates of one mind with you in this proposal?" and Agesilaus
answered: "In good sooth he did not bid me make it for him. And for
my own part in the matter, though it is, I admit, a rare pleasure to
requite an enemy, yet I had far rather at any time discover some good
fortune for my friends." Otys: "Why not ask if your project pleases
Spithridates too?" Then Agesilaus, turning to Herippidas and the rest
of the Thirty, bade them go to Spithridates; "and give him