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Let the busy Athenians obtain if they will the empire of the sea. The sea is no province of ours. All intercourse with foreigners, Asiatics and Ionians, enervates our men and corrupts our generals. Recall Pausanias recall our Spartans. I have said." "Recall Pausanias first," said Periclides, "and we shall then hear the truth, and decide what is best to be done."
"But," said Periclides, "what say the other Spartan Captains to this vain fashion, which savours not of the Laws of Aegimius?" "The first law of Aegimius commands us to fight and to die for the king or the chief who has kingly sway. The Ephors may blame, but the soldier must not question." "Thou speakest boldly for so young a man," said Periclides harshly. "I was commanded to speak the truth."
Dorcis has dull wit, granted; no arts can corrupt it; he may not save the hegemony, but he will return as he went, a Spartan." "Thou art right again, and a wise man, Periclides. I submit. Thou hast my vote for Dorcis. What else hast thou designed? for I see now that whatever thou designest that wilt thou accomplish; and our meeting on the Archeion is but an idle form."
"And in default of the moon, thy years, if not yet mine, permit thee a lanthorn, Periclides." "I have not drunk enough to need it," answered the Chief of the Ephors, with unusual pleasantry; "but as thou art the younger man, I will lean on thine arm, so as to be closer to thine ear." "Thou hast something secret and grave to say, then?" Periclides nodded.
At that moment an officer entered on the conclave, and approaching the presiding Ephor, whispered in his ear. "This is well," exclaimed Periclides aloud. "A messenger from Pausanias himself. Your son Lysander has just arrived from Byzantium." "My son!" exclaimed Agesilaus eagerly, and then checking himself, added calmly, "That is a sign no danger to Sparta threatened Byzantium when he left."
Calm and stately, his father rose, clasped the extended hand, then releasing his own placed it an instant on his son's bended head, and reseated himself in silence. "Thou camest straight from Pausanias?" said Periclides. Lysander drew from his vest the despatch entrusted to him, and gave it to the presiding Ephor.
"Son of Agesilaus," said Periclides, "thou hast proved thy Lacedaemonian virtues too well, and too high and general is thy repute amongst our army, as it is borne to our ears, for us to doubt thy purity and patriotism; otherwise, we might fear that whilst thou speakest in some contempt of Ionian wolves, thou hadst learned the arts of Ionian Agoras. But enough: thou art dismissed.
"If he has medised, if he has conspired against Greece, let us accuse him to the death," said Agesilaus, Lysander's father. "We may accuse, but it rests not with us to sentence," said Periclides, disapprovingly. "And," said a fourth Ephor, with a visible shudder, "what Spartan dare counsel sentence of death to the descendant of the Gods?"
Periclides half rose as if to take with more respect what had come from the hand of the son of Hercules. "Withdraw, Lysander," he said, "and wait without while we deliberate on the contents herein." Lysander obeyed, and returned to the outer chamber. Here he was instantly surrounded by eager, though not noisy groups.
"But that was the first night of the Ionian's arrival." Percalus. "Since then, I believe that thy father and others of the Ephors overruled Periclides and Zeuxidamus, for I have heard all that passed between my father and mother on the subject.
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