anabasis-第45章

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uch　sore　straits　you　lay！

〃Supposing　that；　without　making　any　demands　for　pay　whatever；　I　had　merely　won　for　you　the　alliance　of　Seutheswhose　cavalry　and　light　infantry　were　just　what　you　neededwould　you　not　have　thought　that　I　had　planned　very　well　for　you？　I　presume；　it　was　through　your　partnership　with　him　and　his　that　you　were　able　to　find　such　complete　stores　of　corn　in　the　villages；　when　the　Thracians　were　driven　to　take　to　their　heels　in　such　hot　haste；　and　you　had　so　large　a　share　of　captives　and　cattle。　Why！　from　the　day　on　which　his　cavalry　force　was　attached　to　us；　we　never　set　eyes　on　a　single　foeman　in　the　field；　though　up　to　that　date　the　enemy　with　his　cavalry　and　his　light　infantry　used　undauntedly　to　hang　on　our　heels；　and　effectually　prevented　us　from　scattering　in　small　bodies　and　reaping　a　rich　harvest　of　provisions。　But　if　he　who　partly　gave　you　this　security　has　failed　to　pay　in　full　the　wages　due　to　you　therefrom；　is　not　that　a　terrible　misfortune？　So　monstrous　indeed　that　you　think　I　ought　not　to　go　forth　alive＇1＇。

＇1＇　I。e。　the　fate　of　a　scape…goat　is　too　good　for　me。

〃But　let　me　ask　you；　in　what　condition　do　you　turn　your　backs　on　this　　　31　land　to…day？　Have　you　not　wintered　here　in　the　lap　of　plenty？　Whatever　you　have　got　from　Seuthes　has　been　surplus　gain。　Your　enemies　have　had　to　meet　the　bill　of　your　expenses；　whilst　you　led　a　merry　round　of　existence；　in　which　you　have　not　once　set　eyes　on　the　dead　body　of　a　comrade　or　lost　one　living　man。　Again；　if　you　have　achieved　any；　（or　rather　many）　noble　deeds　against　the　Asiatic　barbarian；　you　have　them　safe。　And　in　addition　to　these　to…day　you　have　won　for　yourselves　a　second　glory。　You　undertook　a　campaign　against　the　European　Thracians；　and　have　mastered　them。　What　I　say　then　is；　that　these　very　matters　which　you　make　a　ground　of　quarrel　against　myself；　are　rather　blessings　for　which　you　ought　to　show　gratitude　to　heaven。

〃Thus　far　I　have　confined　myself　to　your　side　of　the　matter。　Bear　with　me；　I　beg　you；　while　we　examine　mine。　When　I　first　essayed　to　part　with　you　and　journey　homewards；　I　was　doubly　blest。　From　your　lips　I　had　won　some　praise；　and；　thanks　to　you；　I　had　obtained　glory　from　the　rest　of　Hellas。　I　was　trusted　by　the　Lacedaemonians；　else　would　they　not　have　sent　me　back　to　you。　Whereas　to…day　I　turn　to　go；　calumniated　before　the　Lacedaemonians　by　yourselves；　detested　in　your　behalf　by　Seuthes；　whom　I　meant　so　to　benefit；　by　help　of　you；　that　I　should　find　in　him　a　refuge　for　myself　and　for　my　children；　if　children　I　might　have；　in　after　time。　And　you　the　while；　for　whose　sake　I　have　incurred　so　much　hate；　the　hate　of　people　far　superior　to　me　in　strength；　you；　for　whom　I　have　not　yet　ceased　to　devise　all　the　good　I　can；　entertain　such　sentiments　about　me。　Why？　I　am　no　renegade　or　runaway　slave；　you　have　got　hold　of。　If　you　carry　out　what　you　say；　be　sure　you　will　have　done　to　death　a　man　who　has　passed　many　a　vigil　in　watching　over　you；　who　has　shared　with　you　many　a　toil　and　run　many　a　risk　in　turn　and　out　of　turn；　who；　thanks　to　the　gracious　gods！　has　by　your　side　set　up　full　many　a　trophy　over　the　barbarian；　who；　lastly；　has　strained　every　nerve　in　his　body　to　protect　you　against　yourselves。　And　so　it　is；　that　to…day　you　can　move　freely；　where　you　choose；　by　sea　or　by　land；　and　no　one　can　say　you　nay；　and　you；　on　　　　　　37　whom　this　large　liberty　dawns；　who　are　sailing　to　a　long　desired　goal；　who　are　sought　after　by　the　greatest　of　military　powers；　who　have　pay　in　prospect；　and　for　leaders　these　Lacedaemonians；　our　acknowledged　chiefs：　now　is　the　appointed　time；　you　think；　to　put　me　to　a　speedy　death。　But　in　the　days　of　our　difficulties　it　was　very　different；　O　ye　men　of　marvellous　memory！　No！　in　those　days　you　called　me　'father！'　and　you　promised　you　would　bear　me　ever　in　mind；　'your　benefactor。'　Not　so；　however；　not　so　ungracious　are　those　who　have　come　to　you　to…day；　nor；　if　I　mistake　not；　have　you　bettered　yourselves　in　their　eyes　by　your　treatment　of　me。〃

With　these　words　he　paused；　and　Charminus　the　Lacedaemonian　got　up　and　said：　〃Nay；　by　the　Twins；　you　are　wrong；　surely；　in　your　anger　against　this　man；　I　myself　can　bear　testimony　in　his　favour。　When　Polynicus　and　I　asked　Seuthes；　what　sort　of　a　man　he　was？　Seuthes　answered：he　had　but　one　fault　to　find　with　him；　that　he　was　too　much　the　soldiers'　friend；　which　also　was　the　cause　why　things　went　wrong　with　him；　whether　as　regards　us　Lacedaemonians　or　himself；　Seuthes。〃

Upon　that　Eurylochus　of　Lusia；　an　Arcadian；　got　up　and　said　（addressing　the　two　Lacedaemonians）；　〃Yes；　sirs；　and　what　strikes　me　is　that　you　cannot　begin　your　generalship　of　us　better　than　by　exacting　from　Seuthes　our　pay。　Whether　he　like　it　or　no；　let　him　pay　in　full；　and　do　not　take　us　away　before。〃

Polycrates　the　Athenian；　who　was　put　forward　by　Xenophon；　said：　〃If　my　eyes　do　not　deceive　me；　sirs；　there　stands　Heracleides；　yonder；　the　man　who　received　the　property　won　by　our　toil；　who　took　and　sold　it；　and　never　gave　back　either　to　Seuthes　or　to　us　the　proceeds　of　the　sale；　but　kept　the　money　to　himself；　like　the　thief　he　is。　If　we　are　wise；　we　will　lay　hold　of　him；　for　he　is　no　Thracian；　but　a　Hellene；　and　against　Hellenes　is　the　wrong　he　has　committed。〃

When　Heracleides　heard　these　words；　he　was　in　great　consternation；　so　he　came　to　Seuthes　and　said：　〃If　we　are　wise　we　will　get　away　from　here　out　of　reach　of　these　fellows。〃　So　they　mounted　their　horses　and　were　gone　in　a　trice；　galloping　to　their　own　camp。　Subsequently　　　　　　　　　42　Seuthes　sent　Abrozelmes；　his　private　interpreter；　to　Xenophon；　begging　him　to　stay　behind　with　one　thousand　heavy　tropps；　and　engaging　duly　to　deliver　to　him　the　places　on　the　seaboard；　and　the　other　things　which　he　had　promised；　and　then；　as　a　great　secret；　he　told　him；　that　he　had　heard　from　Polynicus　that　if　he　once　got　into　the　clutches　of　the　Lacedaemonians；　Thibron　was　certain　to　put　him　to　death。　Similar　messages　kept　coming　to　Xenophon　by　letter　or　otherwise　from　several　quarters；　warning　him　that　he　was　calumniated；　and　had　best　be　on　his　guard。　Hearing　which；　he　took　two　victims　and　sacrificed　to　Zeus　the　King：　〃Whether　it　were　better　and　happier　to　stay　with　Seuthes　on　the　terms　proposed；　or　depart　with　the　army？〃　The　answer　he　received　was；　〃Depart。〃



VII

After　this；　Seuthes　removed　his　camp　to　some　considerable　distance；　　　　　1　and　the　Hellenes　took　up　their　quarters　in　some　villages；　selecting　those　in　which　they　could　best　supply　their　commissariat；　on　the　road　to　the　sea。　Now　these　particular　villages　had　been　given　by　Seuthes　to　Medosades。　Accordingly；　when　the　latter　saw　his　property　in　the　villages　being　expended　by　the　Hellenes；　he　was　not　over　well　pleased；　and　taking　with　him　an　Odrysian；　a　powerful　person　amongst　those　who　had　come　down　from　the　interior；　and　about　thirty　mounted　troopers；　he　came　and　challenged　Xenophon　to　come　forth　from　the　Hellenic　host。　He；　taking　some　of　the　officers　and　others　of　a　character　to　be　relied　upon；　came　forward。　Then　Medosades；　addressing　Xenophon；　said：　〃You　are　doing　wrong　to　pillage　our　villages；　we　give　you　fair　warningI；　in　behalf　of　Seuthes；　and　this　man　by　my　side；　who　comes　from　Medocus；　the　king　up　countryto　begone　out　of　the　land。　If　you　refuse；　understand；　we　have　no　notion　of　handing　it　over　to　you；　but　if　you　injure　our　country　we　will　retaliate　upon　you　as　foes。〃

Xenophon；　hearing　what　they　had　to　say；　replied：　〃Such　language　addressed　to　us　by　you；　of　all　people；　is　hard　to　answer。　Yet　for　the　sake　of　the　young　man　with　you；　I　will　attempt　to　do　so；　that　at　least　he　may　learn　how　different　your　nature　is　from　ours。　We；〃　he　continued；　〃before　we　were　your　friends；　had　the　free　run　of　this　country；　moving　this　way　or　that；　as　it　took　our　fancy；　pillaging　and　　　5　burning　just　as　we　chose；　and　you　yourself；　Medosades；　whenever　you　came　to　us　on　an　embassy；　camped　with　us；　without　apprehension　of　any　foe。　As　a　tribe　collectively　you　scarcely　approached　the　country　at　all；　or　if　you　found　yourselves　in　it；　you　bivouacked　with　your　horses　bitted　and　bridled；　as　being　in　the　territory　of　your　superiors。　Presently　you　made　friends　with　us；　and；　thanks　to　us；　by　God's　help　you　have　won　this　country；　out　of　which　to…day　you　seek　to　drive　us；　a　country　which　we　held　by　our　own　strength　and　gave　to　you。　No　hostile　force；　as　you　well　know；　was　capable　of　expelling　us。　It　might　have　been　expected　of　you　personally　to　speed　us　on　our　way　with　some　gift；　in　return　for　the　good　we　did　you。　Not　so；　even　though　our　backs　are　turned　to　go；　we　are　too　slow　in　our　movements　for　you。　You　will　not　suffer　us　to　take　up　quarters　even；　if　you　can　help　it；　and　these　words　arouse　no　shame　in　you；　either　before　the　gods；　or　this　Odrysian；　in　whose　eyes　to…day　you　are　man　of　means；　though　until　you　cultivated　our　friendship　you　lived　a　robber's　life；　as　you　have　told　us。　However；　why　do　you　address　yourself　to　me？　I　am　no　longer　in　command。　Our　generals　are　the　Lacedaemonians；　to　whom　you　and　yours　delivered　the　army　for　withdrawal；　and　that；　without　even　inviting　me　to　attend；　you　most　marvellous　of　men；　so　that　if　I　lost　their　favour　when　I　brought　you　the　troops；　I　might　now　win　their　gratitude　by　restoring　them。〃

As　soon　as　the　Odrysian　had　heard　this　statement；　he　exclaimed：　〃For　my　part；　Medosades；　I　sink　under　the　earth　for　very　shame　at　what　I　hear。　If　I　had　known　the　truth　before；　I　would　never　have　accompanied　you。　As　it　is；　I　return　at　once。　Never　would　King　Medocus　applaud　me；　if　I　drove　forth　his　benefactors。〃　With　these　words；　he　mounted　his　horse　and　rode　away；　and　with　him　the　rest　of　his　horsemen；　except　four　or　five。　But　Medosades；　still　vexed　by　the　pillaging　of　the　country；　urged　Xenophon　to　summon　the　two　Lacedaemonians；　and　he；　taking　the　pick　of　his　men；　came　to　Charminus　and　Polynicus　and　informed　them　that　they　were　summoned　by　Medosades；　probably　they；　like　himself；　would　be　warned　to　leave　the　country；　〃if　so；〃　he　added；　　14　〃you　will　be　able　to　recover　the　pay　which　is　owing　to　the　army。　You　can　say　to　them；　that　the　army　has　requested　you　to　assist　in　exacting　their　pay　from　Seuthes；　whether　he　like　it　or　not；　that　they　have　promised；　as　soon　as　they　get　this；　cheerfully　to　follow　you；　that　the　demand　seems　to　you　to　be　only　just；　and　that　you　have　accordingly　promised　not　to　leave；　until　the　soldiers　have　got　their　dues。〃　The　Lacedaemonians　accepted　the　suggestion：　they　would　apply　these　arguments　and　others　the　most　forcible　they　could　hit　upon；　and　with　the　proper　representatives　of　the　army；　they　immediately　set　off。

On　their　arrival　Charminus　spoke：　〃If　you　have　anything　to　say　to　us；　Medosades；　say　it；　but　if　not；　we　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃　And　Medosades　submissively　made　answer：　〃I　say；〃　said　he；　〃and　Seuthes　says　the　same：　we　think　we　have　a　right　to　ask　that　those　who　have　become　our　friends　should　not　be　ill…treated　by　you；　whatever　ill　you　do　to　them　you　really　do　to　us；　for　they　are　a　part　of　us。〃　〃Good！〃　replied　the　Lacedaemonians；　〃and　we　intend　to　go　away　as　soon　as　those　who　won　for　you　the　people　and　the　territory　in　question　have　got　their　pay。　Failing　that；　we　are　coming　without　further　delay　to　assist　them　and　to　punish　certain　others　who　have　broken　their　oaths　and　done