Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/508

 500 • CLEOMENES. for him, to range at liberty, and bound about the fields, and can scarce endure to be under the priests' keeping, so he could not brook their courtship and soft entertain- ment, but sat like Achilles, and languished far, Desiring battle and the shout of war. His affairs standing in this condition, Nicagoras, the Messenian, came to Alexandria, a man that deeply hated Cleomenes, yet pretended to be his friend ; for he had formerly sold Cleomenes a fair estate, but never received the money, because Cleomenes was either unable, as it may be, or else, by reason of his engagement in the wars and other distractions, had no opportunity to pay him. Cleomenes, seeing him landing, for he was then walking upon the quay, kindly saluted him, and asked what busi- ness brought him to Egypt. Nicagoras returned his compliment, and told him, that he came to bring some excellent war-horses to the king. And Cleomenes, with a smile, subjoined, " I could wish you had rather brought young boys and music-girls ; for those now are the king's chief occupation." Nicagoras at the moment smiled at the conceit ; but a few days after, he put Cleomenes in mind of the estate that he had bought of him, and de- sired his money, protesting, that he would not have troubled him, if his merchandise had turned out as profit- able as he had thought it would. Cleomenes replied, that he had nothing left of all that had been given him. At which answer, Nicagoras, being nettled, told Sosibius Cle- omenes's scoff upon the king. He was delighted to receive the information ; but desiring to have some greater reason to excite the king against Cleomenes, persuaded Nicago- ras to leave a letter written against Cleomenes, importing that he had a design, if he could have gotten ships and soldiers, to surprise Cyrene. Nicagoras wrote such a letter,