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As for myself, at any rate, if I may speak my own mind, I had rather die this moment for not complying with the dictates of the foe than live many times my allotted span of life at the price of voting what the Thebans demand. For I should feel disgraced, I who am descended from Heracles,The Spartan kings claimed descent from Heracles Isoc. 4.62. who am the son of the ruling king and likely myself to attain to this honor,Archidamus became king after the death of Agesilaus in 361 B.C. if I did not strive with all the strength that is in me to prevent this territory, which our fathers left to us, from becoming the possession of our slaves.
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And I expect you also to share my feelings when you reflect that, while until the present day we seem to have been unfortunate in our contest with the Thebans,Since the battle of Leuctra. and to have been overcome in body because of the mistakes of our leader,Cleombrotus the king was partly blamed for the Spartan defeat at Leuctra. yet up to this moment we possess our spirits unconquered;
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but that if through fear of the dangers which now threaten us we relinquish anything that is ours, we shall justify the boasts of the Thebans, and erect against ourselves a trophy far more imposing and conspicuous than that which was raised at Leuctra; for the one will stand as a memorial of our ill-fortune; the other, of our abject spirit. Let no man, therefore, persuade you to fasten such a disgrace upon the state.
