Iphicrates

But he had always hated that city, and thinking this an advantageous time also for insulting it, pretended neither to see nor hear its ambassadors when they presented themselves.

But his pride soon had a fall, for the Thebans had not yet departed when messengers came to him with tidings that the Spartan division had been cut to pieces by Iphicrates.

This was the greatest disaster that had happened to the Spartans in a long time, for they lost many brave men, and those men were overwhelmed by targeteers and mercenaries, though they were men-at-arms and Lacedaemonians.

At once, then, Agesilaus sprang up to go to their assistance, but when he learned that it was all over with them, he came back again to the Herium, and ordering the Boeotians then to come before him, gave them an audience.

For if any one performs a deed, beyond his power, and beyond his age, and those that resemble him; or, if in this way, or in this place, or at that time, it will have the magnitude of things beautiful, good, and just, and of the contraries of these; whence also the epigram on him who conquered in the Olympic games Some time ago so vulgar was my trade, With a rough sack on both my shoulders laid, From Argos to Tegea still I trudged To sell my fish, till victor here adjudged.

And Iphicrates passes an encomium on himself by saying, From whence came these? That, likewise, which is spontaneous, or springs from itself, is greater than that which is adventitious; for it is more difficult: whence also the poet says, Self-taught am I And also the greatest part of a great thing.

Thus, for instance, Pericles in a funeral oration says, That youth being taken away from a city is just as if spring were taken away from the year.

Those things, likewise, are greater which are useful in a greater necessity; such as things in old age and disease.

For to make an addition to the honor already acquired contributes to felicity, and is beautiful.

This likewise will be the case, if, besides what is becoming, a man conducts himself with a view to what is better and more beautiful; as if, being prosperous, he is indeed moderate, but in adversity he is magnanimous, or is better and more affable, the more dignified his situation in life becomes.

And a saying of this kind is that saying of Iphicrates, Some time ago so vulgar was my trade, With a rough sack on both my shoulders laid.

And also that inscription of Simonides, A woman whose father and husband were the brothers of tyrants.

There is, however, one true and proper confirmation of their faith, though no celestial divinity but that great divinity of princes, necessity, or the danger of the state and the securing of advantage.

This necessity is elegantly represented by Styx, the fatal river that can never be crossed back, and this deity it was which Iphicrates the Athenian invoked in making a league.

And because he roundly and openly avows what most others studiously conceal, it may be proper to give his own words.

Observing that the Lacedaemonians were inventing and proposing a variety of securities, sanctions, and bonds of alliance, he interrupted them thus, quote, "There may indeed, my friends, be one bond and means of security between us, and that is for you to demonstrate you have delivered into our hands such things as that if you had the greatest desire to hurt us, you could not be able." End quote.

When this expectation was realized, the legion, which had been posted for the purpose attacked the enemy from ambush and destroyed them.

When Iphicrates was leading his army in Thrace, in a long file on account of the nature of the terrain, and the report was brought to him that the enemy planned to attack his rear guard, he ordered some cohorts to withdraw to both flanks and halt, while the rest were to quicken their pace and flee.

But from the complete lines as it passed by, he kept back all the choicest soldiers.

Thus when the enemy were busy with promiscuous pillaging, and in fact were already exhausted while his own men were refreshed and drawn up in order, he attacked and routed the foe and stripped them of their booty.