Agesilaus II, born 444 B.C., was king of Sparta from 397 to his death in 360 B.C. He fought against the Persians but formed strong friendships with Persian officers' sons when truces permitted. Spithridates of Pharnabazus and Megabates are the names of some of the Persians. Agesilaus, the Spartan king, felt superstitious scruples about bedding with the young Megabates. The Spartans were a superstitious lot, but this misgiving may have existed only in the reporters' minds: it was then as it is now the fashion to depict the Spartans as begrudging themselves pleasures and as afflicting themselves for conscience's sake. Not only did they have sex; they advised and helped one another in conducting courtships with third parties, males, both Greek and Persian.

Agesipolis, Agesilaus' fellow-king, was young, modest and ready in forming attachments for young men, and accordingly the two kings talked continually of love. The elder aided the younger and acted as his confidant. Such attachments in Sparta were entirely honorable, Plutarch tells us, and attended always with lively feelings of modesty, love of virtue and a noble emulation.

Indiscretion makes trouble, as is illustrated in a story dating from 72 B.C., when a Roman general, Quintus Sertorius, commanded an army in Spain. One of his subordinates, Perpenna, with another whose name was Manlius, plotted Sertorius' murder. Manlius was in love with a youth named Titus, and to strengthen the boy's affections Manlius disclosed the confederacy to Titus, bidding the youth neglect other bunkmates and be constant to him, Manlius, who was thus soon to gain great power.

But Titus loved another captain, Aufidius, better than he loved Manlius, and to Aufidius Titus told the news. Aufidius was one of the confederates, but he had not known that Manlius was one, and when Titus named Perpenna and others as parties to the conspiracy Aufidius was terrified. Aufidius went to Perpenna, notified him of their danger and of the shortness of their time and counselled Perpenna to act upon their design immediately. So they killed the general, Quintus Sertorius. Because of the premature killing, the plotters failed to consolidate their winnings; and when Pompey, another general, came to Spain he suppressed the revolt.

10

How dull they seem whose lives in ancient his'try's dust recline: But once, as we, they throbb'd with life, enjoyed their food and wine, So, e'er death shut fore'er our mouths.

One lesson do we learn from Arab, Roman, Jew and Greek:

...

(obscure passage) . . . must once a week

Or oft'ner if occasion serve . .

Lest fatherhood redundant render life and culture bleak

And fratricide bring hurt and death to bodies young and sleek.