PHILOP@MEN AND THE FALL OF SPARTA. 337%

band, who was absent. The good lady, all in a
tremor, set herself hurriedly to prepare a supper
worthy of her guest. While she was thus engaged
aman entered dressed in a shabby cloak, and with
no mark of distinction. Taking him for one of the
general's train who had been sent on in advance, the
housewife called on him to help her prepare for his
master’s visit. Nothing loath, the visitor threw off
his cloak, seized the axe she offered him, and fell
lustily to work in cutting up fire-wood.

While he was thus engaged, the husband returned,
and at once recognized in his wife’s lackey the
expected visitor.

- “What does this mean, Philopcemen ?” he cried, in
surprise.

“ Nothing,” replied the general, “except that Iam
paying the penalty of my ugly looks.”

Philopceemen had abundant practice in the art of
war. Between Arcadia and Laconia hostility was
the normal condition, and he took part in many
plundering incursions into the neighboring state.
In these he always went in first and came out last.
When there was no fighting to be done he would go
every evening to an estate he owned several miles
from town, would throw himself on the first mattress
in his way and sleep like a common laborer, and
rising at break of day would go to work in the vine-
yard or at the plough. Then returning to the town,
he would employ himself in public business or in
friendly intercourse during the remainder of the
day.

When Philopemen was thirty years old, Cleom-

I—P ow 29