Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/93

Rh under the name of divine authority, what men would have been most inclined to do without it. Hunting for the glory of Diana, cultivating his farm, writing his books, and living in social intercourse with all comers,—these elements made up the existence of Xenophon at Scillus, during the best years of his long life.

he lived in retirement from contemporary politics, and yet was always supplied with information as to their progress, of which he must have taken careful notes for his future history.

It is not quite certain whether he was permitted to end his days in this charming retreat. One account says, that after the defeat of his Lacedæmonian patrons at the battle of Leuctra, 371, he was forced to abandon it, and that he retired to Corinth. Another account declares that he was only subjected to a lawsuit, but that he retained his lands, and died at Scillus. However this may be, Athens became reconciled to Sparta, and the sentence of banishment against Xenophon was revoked. His two sons, Gryllus and Diodorus, fought amongst the Athenian knights in the cavalry action which formed the prelude to the battle of Mantinea, 362; in which battle Gryllus was slain, after manifesting distinguished bravery. Xenophon must have been about sixty-nine years old at this time. They say that he was performing a sacrifice, with a garland on his head, which he took off when the news