Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/487

 CLEOMENES. 479 that he alone was the true son of Hercules. His common every day's meal was in an ordinary room, very sparing, and after the Laconic manner ; and when he entertained ambassadors or strangers, two more couches were added, and a little better dinner provided by his servants, but no savoring sauces or sweetmeats ; only the dishes were larger, and the wine more plentiful. For he reproved one of his friends for entertaining some strangers with nothing but barley bread and black broth, such diet as they usually had in their phiditia ; saying, that upon such occasions, and when they entertained strangers, it was not well to be too exact Laconians. After the table was re- moved, a stand was brought in, with a brass vessel full of wine, two silver bowls, which held about a pint apiece, a few silver cups, of which he that pleased might drink, but wine was not urged on any of the guests. There was no music, nor was any required ; for he entertained the company himself, sometimes asking questions, some- times telling stories ; and his conversation was neither too grave or disagreeably serious, nor yet in any way rude or ungraceful in its pleasantry. For he thought those ways of entrapping men by gifts and presents, which other kings use, dishonest and inartificial ; and it seemed to him to be the most noble method, and most suitable to a king, to win the affections of those that came near him, by personal intercourse and agreeable conversation, since between a friend and a mercenary the only distinction is, that we gain the one by one's character and conversa- tion, the other by one's money. The Mantineans were the first that requested his aid ; and when he entered their city by night, they aided him to expel the Achasan garrison, and put themselves under his protection. He restored them their polity and laws, and the same day marched to Tegea ; and a little while after, fetching a compass through Arcadia, he made a