XXXIX.  When the enemy advanced and began to build a wall round the city, Nektanebis, fearing the consequences of a siege, was eager to fight, as were also the Greeks, for they were very short of provisions.  Agesilaus, however, opposed this design, for which he was heartily abused by the Egyptians, who called him a traitor and the betrayer of their king.  He paid but little attention to their slanders, but watched for an opportunity to effect the project which he had conceived.  This was as follows:—­The enemy were digging a trench round the city, with the intention of completely isolating the garrison and starving it out.  When then the two ends of this trench, which was to surround the city, had nearly met, Agesilaus towards evening ordered the Greeks to get under arms, and, proceeding to Nektanebis, said, “Young man, this is our opportunity.  I would not say anything about it before, lest the secret should be divulged.  But now the enemy themselves have secured our position by digging this enormous trench; for the part of it which is completed will keep off their superior numbers from us, while upon the ground which still remains unbroken we can fight them on equal terms.  Come now, prove yourself a man of courage, charge bravely with us, and save both yourself and your army.  Those of the enemy whom we first attack will not be able to resist our onset, and the rest will not be able to reach us because of the trench.”

Nektanebis was surprised at the ingenuity of Agesilaus, placed himself in the midst of the Greeks, and charging with them gained an easy victory.  Having once established an ascendancy over the mind of Nektanebis, Agesilaus now proceeded to use the same trick again with the enemy.  By alternately retreating and advancing he led them on until he had enticed them into a place between two deep canals.  Here he at once formed his troops on a front equal to the space between the canals, and charged the enemy, who were unable to use their numbers to outflank and surround him.  After a short resistance they fled.  Many were slain, and the rest completely dispersed.

XL.  This victory secured the throne of Egypt for Nektanebis.  He now showed great esteem for Agesilaus, and begged him to remain in Egypt during the winter.  Agesilaus, however, was anxious to return home and assist in the war which was going on there, as he knew that Sparta was in great want of money, and was paying a force of mercenary troops.  Nektanebis escorted him out of the country with great honour, giving him many presents, and the sum of two hundred and thirty talents of silver to be used in meeting the expenses of the war.  As it was winter, and stormy weather, Agesilaus did not venture to cross the open sea, but coasted along the shores of Libya, as far as a desert spot known as the Harbour of Menelaus, where he died, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and having been king of Sparta for forty-one years, during thirty of which he was the greatest and most powerful man in Greece, having been looked upon as all but the king of the whole country, up to the time of the battle of Leuktra.