The history of the world

§. I. [unspec 10] How the Lacedaemonians tooke courage by example of XENOPHONS Armie, to make Warre vpon ARTAXERXES.

IT seemes that the Lacedaemonians did well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in how ill part Artaxerxes tooke their fauour shewed vnto his brother, and yet were timorous in begin∣ning an open warre against him, thinking it sufficient [unspec 20] to take all care that no aduantage might slip, which could serue to strengthen their estate, by finding the Persian worke beyond the Sea. But when Xenophons Armie had reuealed the basenesse of those effeminate Asiatiques, and rehearsed the many victories which they themselues had gotten, vpon termes of extreme disaduantage; then was all Greece filled with desire of vndertaking vpon this huge vnweldie Empire, thinking it no hard matter for the joynt-forces of that whole Nation, to hew out the way to Susa, whereof one hand∣full had opened the passage to Babylon, and further, finding no power that was able [unspec 30] to giue them resistance, in all that long journey of foure and thirty thousand two hundred and fifty fiue furlongs, spent in going and returning, which make of Eng∣lish miles about foure thousand two hundred foure score and one, a very painefull march of one yeere and three moneths. Neuerthelesse the ciuill distraction where∣with Greece was miserably torne, and especially that hot fire of the Theban Warre, which, kindled with Persian gold, brake forth sodainly into a great flame, drew backe out of Asia the power of the Lacedaemonians, to the defence of their owne estate; lea∣uing it questionable whether Agesilaus, hauing both the same, and farre greater forces, could haue wrought proportionable effects. Sure it is, that in the whole space of two yeeres, which he spent in Asia, his deedes procured more commenda∣tion [unspec 40] of magnanimitie and faire behauiour, than of stout courage, and great, or profi∣table atchieuements. For how highly so euer it pleased Xenophon, who was his friend, and follower in this, and in other warres, to extoll his vertue; his exploits be∣ing only a few incursions into the Countries lying neere the Sea, carry no propor∣tion to Xenophons owne journey, which I know not whether any Age hath paralle∣led: the famous retrait of Conon the Briton with six thousand men from Aquileia, to his owne Countrie, through all the breadth of Italie, and length of France, in despite of the Emperor Theodosius, being rather like it than equall. But of Agesilaus and his warres in Asia and Greece, we shall speake more in due place. [unspec 50]