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and leads the way to the boundaries of the land。 Here for the second time the king does sacrifice＇6＇ to Zeus and Athena； and as soon as the offerings are accepted by those two divinities he steps across the boundaries of the land。 And all the while the fire from those sacrifices leads the way； and is never suffered to go out。 Behind follow beasts for sacrifice of every sort。
＇4＇ Lit。 reading ｛kai oi sun auto｝； after L。 Dindorf； 〃he and those with him。〃
＇5＇ Lit。 〃the Purphuros。〃 See Nic。 Damasc。 ap。 Stob。 〃Fl。〃 44； 41； Hesych。 ap。 Schneider； n。 ad loc。
＇6＇ These are the ｛diabateria｝； so often mentioned in the 〃Hellenica。〃
Invariably when he offers sacrifice the king begins the work in the gloaming ere the day has broken； being minded to anticipate the goodwill of the god。 And round about the place of sacrifice are present the polemarchs and captains； the lieutenants and sub… lieutenants； with the commandants of the baggage train； and any general of the states＇7＇ who may care to assist。 There； too； are to be seen two of the ephors； who neither meddle nor make； save only at the summons of the king； yet have they their eyes fixed on the proceedings of each one there and keep all in order；＇8＇ as may well be guessed。 When the sacrifices are accomplished the king summons all and issues his orders＇9＇ as to what has to be done。 And all with such method that； to witness the proceedings； you might fairly suppose the rest of the world to be but bungling experimenters；＇10＇ and the Lacedaemonians alone true handicraftsmen in the art of soldiering。
＇7＇ I。e。 〃allied〃？ or 〃perioecid〃？
＇8＇ ｛sophronizousin｝； 〃keep every one in his sober senses。〃
＇9＇ See Thuc。 v。 66。
＇10＇ ｛autoskhediastai； tekhnitai｝。 See Jebb； 〃Theophr。〃 x。 3。
Anon the king puts himself at the head of the troops； and if no enemy appears he heads the line of march； no one preceding him except the Sciritae； and the mounted troopers exploring in front。＇11＇ If； however； there is any reason to anticipate a battle； the king takes the leading column of the first army corps＇12＇ and wheels to the right until he has got into position with two army corps and two generals of division on either flank。 The disposition of the supports is assigned to the eldest of the royal council＇13＇ （or staff corps） acting as brigadierthe staff consisting of all peers who share the royal mess and quarters； with the soothsayers； surgeons；＇14＇ and pipers； whose place is in the front of the troops；＇15＇ with； finally； any volunteers who happen to be present。 So that there is no check or hesitation in anything to be done； every contingency is provided for。
＇11＇ Or； 〃who are on scouting duty。 If； however； they expect a battle；〃 etc。
＇12＇ Technically； 〃mora。〃
＇13＇ ｛ton peri damosian｝。 See 〃Hell。〃 IV。 v。 8； vii。 4。
＇14＇ See 〃Anab。〃 III。 iv。 30； 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 15； L。 Dindorf； n。 ad loc。
＇15＇ Schneider refers to Polyaenus； i。 10。
The following details also seem to me of high utility among the inventions of Lycurgus with a view to the final arbitrament of battle。 Whensoever； the enemy being now close enough to watch the proceedings；＇16＇ the goat is sacrificed； then； says the law； let all the pipers； in their places； play upon the pipes； and let every Lacedaemonian don a wreath。 Then； too； so runs the order； let the shields be brightly polished。 The privilege is accorded to the young man to enter battle with his long locks combed。＇17＇ To be of cheery countenancethat； too； is of good repute。 Onwards they pass the word of command to the subaltern＇18＇ in command of his section； since it is impossible to hear along the whole of each section from the particular subaltern posted on the outside。 It devolves； finally； on the polemarch to see that all goes well。
＇16＇ See Plut。 〃Lycurg。〃 22 （Clough； i。 114）； and for the goat sacrificed to Artemis Agrotera； see 〃Hell。〃 IV。 ii。 20； Pause。 IX。 xiii。 4； Plut。 〃Marcell。〃 22 （Clough； ii。 264）。
＇17＇ See Plut。 〃Lycurg。〃 22 （Clough； i。 114）。 The passage is corrupt； and possibly out of its place。 I cite the words as they run in the MSS。 with various proposed emendations。 See Schneider； n。 ad loc。 ｛exesti de to neo kai kekrimeno eis makhen sunienai kai phaidron einai kai eudokimon。 kai parakeleuontai de k。t。l。｝ Zeune； ｛kekrimeno komen｝； after Plut。 〃Lycurg。〃 22。 Weiske； ｛kai komen diakekrimeno｝。 Cobet； ｛exesti de to neo liparo kai tas komas diakekrimeno eis makhen ienai｝。
＇18＇ Lit。 〃to the enomotarch。〃
When the right moment for encamping has come； the king is responsible for that； and has to point out the proper place。 The despatch of emissaries； however； whether to friends or to foes； is ＇not＇＇19＇ the king's affair。 Petitioners in general wishing to transact anything treat； in the first instance； with the king。 If the case concerns some point of justice； the king despatches the petitioner to the Hellanodikai （who form the court…martial）； if of money； to the paymasters。＇20＇ If the petitioner brings booty； he is sent off to the Laphuropolai （or sellers of spoil）。 This being the mode of procedure； no other duty is left to the king； whilst he is on active service； except to play the part of priest in matters concerning the gods and of commander…in…chief in his relationship to men。＇21＇
＇19＇ The MSS。 give ｛au｝； 〃is again；〃 but the word ｛mentoi｝； 〃however；〃 and certain passages in 〃Hell。〃 II。 ii。 12； 13； II。 iv。 38 suggest the negative ｛ou｝ in place of ｛au｝。 If ｛au｝ be right； then we should read ｛ephoren｝ in place of ｛basileos｝； 〃belongs to the ephors。〃
＇20＇ Technically the ｛tamiai｝。
＇21＇ See Aristot。 〃Pol。〃 iii。 14。
XIV＇1＇
Now； if the question be put to me； Do you maintain that the laws of Lycurgus remain still to this day unchanged？ that indeed is an assertion which I should no longer venture to maintain； knowing； as I do； that in former times the Lacedaemonians preferred to live at home on moderate means； content to associate exclusively with themselves rather than to play the part of governor…general＇2＇ in foreign states and to be corrupted by flattery； knowing further； as I do； that formerly they dreaded to be detected in the possession of gold； whereas nowadays there are not a few who make it their glory and their boast to be possessed of it。 I am very well aware that in former days alien acts＇3＇ were put in force for this very object。 To live abroad was not allowed。 And why？ Simply in order that the citizens of Sparta might not take the infection of dishonesty and light…living from foreigners； whereas now I am very well aware that those who are reputed to be leading citizens have but one ambition； and that is to live to the end of their days as governors…general on a foreign soil。＇4＇ The days were when their sole anxiety was to fit themselves to lead the rest of Hellas。 But nowadays they concern themselves much more to wield command than to be fit themselves to rule。 And so it has come to pass that whereas in old days the states of Hellas flocked to Lacedaemon seeking her leadership＇5＇ against the supposed wrongdoer； now numbers are inviting one another to prevent the Lacedaemonians again recovering their empire。＇6＇ Yet； if they have incurred all the