Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/472

 464 AGIS. offering as it were an excuse, asked him whether he was not forced to what he did by Agesilaus and Lysander. But Agis answered, he had not been constrained by any man, nor had any other intent in what he did, but only to fol- low the example of Lycurgus, and to govern conformably to his laws. The same ephor asked him, whether now at least he did not repent his rashness. To which the young map answered, that though he were to suffer the extremest penalty for it, yet he could never repent of so just ami so glorious a design. Upon this they passed sentence of death on him, and bade the officers carry him to the Dechas, as it is called, a place in the prison where they strangle malefactors. And when the officers would not venture to lay hands on him, and the very mercenary soldiers declined it, believing it an illegal and a wicked act to lay violent hands on a king, Damochares, threatening and reviling them for it, himself thrust him into the room. For by this time the news of his being seized had reached many parts of the city, and there was a con- course of people with lights and torches about the prison gates, and in the midst of them the mother and the grand- mother of Agis, crying out with a loud voice, that their king ought to appear, and to be heard and judged by the people. But this clamor, instead of preventing, hastened his death ; his enemies fearing, if the tumult should in- crease, he might be rescued during the night out of their hands. Agis, being now at the point to die, perceived one of the officers bitterly bewailing his misfortune ; " Weep not, friend," said he, " for me, who die innocent, by the law- less act of wicked men. My condition is much better than theirs." As soon as he had spoken these words, not showing the least sign of fear, he offered his neck to the noose. Immediately after he was dead, Amphares went out of