e ephori, he bore a cheerful and
pleasant countenance; and, when he was asked by one of his enemies whether
he despised the laws of Lycurgus? "On the contrary," answered he, "I am
greatly obliged to him, for he has amerced me in a fine which I can pay
without borrowing, or taking up money at interest." This was a man worthy
of Sparta! and I am almost persuaded of his innocence because of the
greatness of his soul. Our own city has produced many such. But why should
I name generals, and other men of high rank, when Cato could write, that
legions have marched with alacrity to that place from whence they never
expected to return? With no less greatness of soul fell the Lacedaemonians
at Thermopylae, on whom Simonides wrote the following epitaph:--

Go, stranger, tell the Spartans, here we lie,
Who to support their laws durst boldly die.(73)

What was it that Leonidas, their general, said to them? "March on with
courage, my Lacedaemonians; to-night, perhaps, we shall sup in the regions
below." This was a brave nation whilst the laws of Lycurgus were in force.
One of them, when a Persian had said to him in conversation, "We shall
hide the sun from your sight by the number of our arrows and darts;"
replied, "We shall fight then in the shade." Do I talk of their men? how
great was that Lacedaemonian woman, who had sent her son to battle, and
when she heard that he was slain, said, "I bore him for that purpose, that
you might have a man who durst die for his country." However, it is a
matter of notoriety that the Spartans were bold and hardy, for the
discipline of a republic has great influence.

XLIII. What, then, have we not reason to admire Theodorus the Cyrenean, a
philosopher of no small distinction? who, when Lysimachus threatened to
crucify him, bade him keep those menaces for his courtiers: "to Theodorus
it makes no difference whether he rot in the air or under ground." By
which saying of the philosopher I am reminded to say something of the
custom of funerals and sepulture, and of funeral ceremonies, which is,
indeed, not a difficult subject, especially if we recollect what has been
before said about insensibility. The opinion of Socrates respecting this
matter is clearly stated in the book which treats of his death; or which
we have already said so much; for when he had discussed the immortality of
the soul, and when the time of his dying was approaching rapidly, being
asked by Criton how he would be buri