DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0426
404
OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS OV GREECE.
effects of it in the loss of numerous armies, and at length of the greatest
empire in the world. And (to enumerate no more instances in a thing
so well known) the Carthaginians, though men of great courage, and ex-
cellently skilled in the art of war, being worsted by Timoleon the Co-
rinthian, in several encounters, and by unequal numbers of men, were
driven into an admiration of the Grecian valour, and forced to confess,
that they were the most pugnacious and insupportable of mankind, and
forthwith made it their business to entertain as many of them as they could
procure, in their service (1).
But though almost all the Grecians had their share in military glory, yet
were the rest far inferior to the Lacedaemonians, who, by the laws of their
country, were under an obligation to make war their profession ; they
never applied themselves to any art or employment, or the exercise of
trades, which they accounted unworthy of generous and free-born souls ;
but committing all such cares to the Helots, who were a genteeler sort of
slaves, spent their time in manly exercises, to render their bodies strong
and active. They were also accustomed by hard diet, by stripes, and
other severities, patiently to undergo hardships, to endure wounds, to en-
counter dangers, and. if the honour of their country so required, to throw
themselves into the arms of death without fear or regret. Yet were they
not so imprudent or fool-hardy, as to court dangers or death ; but were
taught from their childhood to be always"prepared either to live or die,
and equally willing to do either : as appears from those verses cited by
Plutarch (2) to this purpose :
O,' tfs 3-a'vov, £i7v 3-=u5ve/ *5t?.cv, to $v»Dcelv,
AhKa. To taut*. k%K(ii au.<poni>' e»T6A.la"**'
They died, but not as lavish of their blood,
Or thinking death itself was simply good,
Or life : both these the strictest virtue try'd,
And, as that call'd, they gladly liv'd or died.
Nor was this indifferency to life or death only discoursed of amongst them
as a point of mere speculation, but carefully and seriously instilled in their
tender years, and always embraced as one of the first principles of their
actions ; which begot in them such an undaunted courage, and so firm and
immoveable a resolution, that scarce any other nation was able to stand be-
fore them. This extraordinary and unparalleled bravery, being adorned
and strengthened by the wisest conduct, and the most perfect skill in all the
stratagems of war those times were capable of, has rendered them famous
in story, and examples of military virtue to all succeeding ages : ' For
(these are Plutarch's w ords, (3) the Lacedaemonians were most expert
and cunning in the art of war, being trained up and accustomed to no-
thing more than to keep themselves from confusion, when their order
should be broken ; to follow any leader, or right-hand man, so rallying
themselves into order, and to fight on what part soever dangers press.'
it is therefore by no means to be wondered at, that foreign and vastly
remote nations should be desirous to entertain the Lacedaemonians in their
service ; that Cyrus the Younger should think it the readiest and most
effectual method to advance himself to the empire of Persia ; that Croesus,
the wealthy king of Lydia, and several of the Egyptian monarchs, though
surrounded with numerous forces of their own, should never esteem them.
(1) Plutarch as Timbleorffe.
(2) Pelopida.
3 Peiopida-
OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS OV GREECE.
effects of it in the loss of numerous armies, and at length of the greatest
empire in the world. And (to enumerate no more instances in a thing
so well known) the Carthaginians, though men of great courage, and ex-
cellently skilled in the art of war, being worsted by Timoleon the Co-
rinthian, in several encounters, and by unequal numbers of men, were
driven into an admiration of the Grecian valour, and forced to confess,
that they were the most pugnacious and insupportable of mankind, and
forthwith made it their business to entertain as many of them as they could
procure, in their service (1).
But though almost all the Grecians had their share in military glory, yet
were the rest far inferior to the Lacedaemonians, who, by the laws of their
country, were under an obligation to make war their profession ; they
never applied themselves to any art or employment, or the exercise of
trades, which they accounted unworthy of generous and free-born souls ;
but committing all such cares to the Helots, who were a genteeler sort of
slaves, spent their time in manly exercises, to render their bodies strong
and active. They were also accustomed by hard diet, by stripes, and
other severities, patiently to undergo hardships, to endure wounds, to en-
counter dangers, and. if the honour of their country so required, to throw
themselves into the arms of death without fear or regret. Yet were they
not so imprudent or fool-hardy, as to court dangers or death ; but were
taught from their childhood to be always"prepared either to live or die,
and equally willing to do either : as appears from those verses cited by
Plutarch (2) to this purpose :
O,' tfs 3-a'vov, £i7v 3-=u5ve/ *5t?.cv, to $v»Dcelv,
AhKa. To taut*. k%K(ii au.<poni>' e»T6A.la"**'
They died, but not as lavish of their blood,
Or thinking death itself was simply good,
Or life : both these the strictest virtue try'd,
And, as that call'd, they gladly liv'd or died.
Nor was this indifferency to life or death only discoursed of amongst them
as a point of mere speculation, but carefully and seriously instilled in their
tender years, and always embraced as one of the first principles of their
actions ; which begot in them such an undaunted courage, and so firm and
immoveable a resolution, that scarce any other nation was able to stand be-
fore them. This extraordinary and unparalleled bravery, being adorned
and strengthened by the wisest conduct, and the most perfect skill in all the
stratagems of war those times were capable of, has rendered them famous
in story, and examples of military virtue to all succeeding ages : ' For
(these are Plutarch's w ords, (3) the Lacedaemonians were most expert
and cunning in the art of war, being trained up and accustomed to no-
thing more than to keep themselves from confusion, when their order
should be broken ; to follow any leader, or right-hand man, so rallying
themselves into order, and to fight on what part soever dangers press.'
it is therefore by no means to be wondered at, that foreign and vastly
remote nations should be desirous to entertain the Lacedaemonians in their
service ; that Cyrus the Younger should think it the readiest and most
effectual method to advance himself to the empire of Persia ; that Croesus,
the wealthy king of Lydia, and several of the Egyptian monarchs, though
surrounded with numerous forces of their own, should never esteem them.
(1) Plutarch as Timbleorffe.
(2) Pelopida.
3 Peiopida-