A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Kings T 1
7
the intention of the legislator, is Hkewise justified ; the They think
11 ^-^ . 1 1 r • ,
too much of
whole constitution has regard to one part of virtue only,— war.
the virtue of the soldier, which gives victory in war.
And
so long as they were at war, their power was preserved,
but when they had attained empire they fell; for of the
arts of peace they knew nothing, and had never engaged
in any employment higher than war. There is another
error, equally great, into which they have fallen.
Although
they truly think that the goods for which they contend
are to be acquired by virtue rather than by vice, they err
in
virtue
supposing that these goods are to be preferred to the
which gains them.
VII.
The Two Kings
These are the royal rights
which have been given by Privileges
the Spartans to their kings, namely, two priesthoods,
of Zeus Lacedasmon and Zeus Uranius; and the right of ^^^°5'^°*"^
making war against whatsoever land they please, and
that no man of the Spartans shall hinder this right, or if Greece, 6i;
he do, he shall be subject to the curse; and that when w^orU, ii6 f
they go on expeditions the kings shall go out first and return
last; that a hundred picked men shall be their guard
upon expeditions; and that they shall use in their goings
forth to war as many cattle as they desire, and take both
the hides and the backs of all that are sacrificed.
These are their privileges in war; and in peace moreover PnvUeges in
things have been assigned to them as follows:—if any p^**^®sacrifice
is performed at the public charge, it is the priv- Herodotus
ilege of the kings to sit down at the feast before all others,
and the attendants shall begin with them first, and serve
to each of them a portion of everything double that which
is given to the other guests, and they shall have the first