1.1
I know how difficult it is to write an appreciation of Agesilaus that shall be worthy of his virtue and glory. Nevertheless the attempt must be made. For it would not be seemly that so good a man, just because of his perfection, should receive no tributes of praise, however inadequate.
1.2
Now concerning his high birth what greater and nobler could be said than this, that even to-day the line of his descent from HeraclesAgesilaus was twenty-fifth in line of descent from Heracles (Hdt. 8.131; Plut. Lyc. c. i; Plut. Ages. c. i). is traced through the roll of his ancestors, and those no simple citizens, but kings and sons of kings?
1.3
Nor are they open to the reproach that though they were kings, they ruled over a petty state. On the contrary, as their family is honoured above all in their fatherland, so is their state glorious above all in Greece; thus they are not first in the second rank, but leaders in a community of leaders.
1.4
On one account his fatherland and his family are worthy to be praised together, for never at any time has the state been moved by jealousy of their pre-eminence to attempt the overthrow of their government, and never at any time have the kings striven to obtain greater powers than were conferred on them originally at their succession to the throne. For this reason, while no other government — democracy, oligachy, despotism or kingdom — can can lay claim to an unbroken existence, this kingdom alone stands fast continually.
