ons he still harps upon one string:
that Sphodrias has done a wrong there is no denying, yet Sphodrias is
a man who, from boyhood to ripe manhood, (13) was ever constant to the
call of honour. To put such a man as that to death is hard; nay, Sparta
needs such soldiers." The other accordingly went off and reported what
he had just heard to Cleonymus; and he in the joy of his heart went
straightway to Archidamus and said: "Now we know that you care for us;
rest assured, Archidamus, that we in turn will take great pains that you
shall never have cause to blush for our friendship." Nor did his acts
belie his words; but so long as he lived he was ever faithful to the
code of Spartan chivalry; and at Leuctra, fighting in front of the king
side by side with Deinon the polemarch, thrice fell or ever he yielded
up his breath--foremost of the citizens amidst the foe. And so, albeit
he caused his friend the bitterest sorrow, yet to that which he had
promised he was faithful, seeing he wrought Archidamus no shame, but
contrariwise shed lustre on him. (14) In this way Sphodrias obtained his
acquittal.

(11) See "Cyrop." I. iv. 12.

(12) Lit. "the Philition." See "Pol. Lac." iii. 6.

(13) Lit. "who, whether as child, boy, or young man"; and for the
three stages of growth, see "Pol. Lac." ii. iii. iv.

(14) I.e. both in life and in death.

At Athens the friends of Boeotia were not slow to instruct the people
that his countrymen, so far from punishing Sphodrias, had even applauded
him for his designs on Athens; and in consequence of this the Athenians
not only furnished Piraeus with gates, but set to work to build a fleet,
and displayed great zeal in sending aid to the Boeotians. (15) The
Lacedaemonians, on their side, called out the ban against the Thebans;
and being persuaded that in Agesilaus they would find a more prudent
general than Cleombrotus had proved, they begged the former to undertake
the expedition. (16) He, replying that the wish of the state was for him
law, began making preparations to take the field.

(15) For the new Athenian confederacy of Delos of this year, B.C. 378,
see "Pol. Lac." xiv. 6; "Rev." v. 6; Diod. xv. 28-30; Plut.
"Pelop." xv.; Hicks, 78, 81; and for an alliance between Athens
and Chalcis in Euboea, see Hicks, 79; and for a treaty with Chios,
Hicks, 80.

(16) See "Ages." ii. 22.

Now he had come to the conclusion that without the occupation of Mount
Cithaeron any att