Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/462

 454 AGIS. transformed into a laurel, and honored by that god with the gift of prophecy. But be it as it will, it is certain tbe people were made to apprehend, that this oracle had com- manded them to return to their former state of equality settled by Lycurgus. As soon as these had done speak- ing, Agis stood up, and after a few words, told them he would make the best contribution in his power to the new legislation, which was proposed for their advantage. In the first place, he would divide among them all his pat- rimony, which was of large extent in tillage and pasture; he would also give six hundred talents in ready money, and his mother, grandmother, and his other friends and relations, who were the richest of the Lacedaemonians, were ready to follow his example. The people were transported with admiration of the young man's generosity, and with joy, that after three hundred years' interval, at last there had appeared a king worthy of Sparta. But, on the other side, Leonidas was now more than ever averse, being sensible that he and his friends would be obliged to contribute with their riches, and yet all the honor and obligation would redound to Agis. He asked him then before them all, whether Lycurgus were not in his opinion a wise man, and a lover of his country. Agis answering he was, "And when did Lycurgus," replied Leonidas, " cancel debts, or admit strangers to citizenship, — he who thought the common- wealth not secure unless from time to time the city was cleared of all strangers?"* To this Agis replied, "It is no wonder that Leonidas, who was brought up and mar- ried abroad, and has children by a wife taken out of a Persian court, should know little of Lycurgus or his laws. Lycurgus took away both debts and loans, by taking away money ; and objected indeed to the presence of eigners to quit Sparta.
 * By what were called the xenelasiai, or occasional orders for all for-