278 HISTORY OF GREECE. We )ffer you our alliance, to acquire fresh territory, not for the king, but for yourself; by reducing those who are now your fellow- slaves to become your subjects. Now tell me, if you thus con- tinue a freeman and become rich, what can you want farther to make you a thoroughly prosperous man ?" " I will speak frankly to you in reply (said Pharnabazus). If the king shall send any other general, and put me under him, I shall willingly become your friend and ally. But if he imposes the duty of command on me, so strong is the point of honor, that I shall continue to make war upon you to the best of my power. Expect nothing else." 1 Agesilaus, struck with this answer, took his hand and said, " Would that with such high-minded sentiments you could become our friend ! At any rate, let me assure you of this, that I will immediately quit your territory ; and for the future, even should the war continue, I will respect both you and all your property, as long as I can turn my arms against any other Persians." Here the conversation closed ; Pharnabazus mounted his horse, and rode away. His son by Parapita, however, at that time still a handsome youth, lingered behind, ran up to Agesilaus, and exclaimed, " Agesilaus, I make you my guest." "I accept it with all my heart," was the answer. " Remember me by this," rejoined the young Persian, putting into the hands of Age- silaus the fine javelin which he carried. The latter immediately took off the ornamental trappings from the horse of his secretary Idaeus, and gave them as a return present ; upon which the young man rode away with them, and rejoined his father. 2 There is a touching interest and emphasis in this interview as described by Xenophon, who here breathes into his tame Helle- nic chronicle something of the romantic spirit of the Cyropaedia. The pledges exchanged between Agesilaus and the son of Pharna- bazus were not forgotten by either. The latter, being in after days impoverished and driven into exile by his brother, during the 1 Xen. Ilellen. iv, 1, 38. 'Eav [IEVTOI fioi Trjv apxr/v TrpoorarrT?, TOIOVTOV n, <if EOiKe, <j>i?MTipia iari, ev xp?i eidevai, OTI uohEfifjau ifiiv wf av dvvuftai upiara. Compare about dx/lor^ta, Herodot. iii, 53.
- Xen. Hcllen. iv, 1, 29-41 ; Plutarch, Agesil c. 13, 14; Xen. Agesil
Bi5.
