anabasis-第59章
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enrolled a company； the only qualification required being that of personal beauty； and with these handsome young men at his side there were none so brave as he。 Seuthes put the question； 〃Would you like to die on his behalf； Episthenes？〃 whereat the other stretched out his neck； and said； 〃Strike； if the boy bids you； and will thank his preserver。〃 Seuthes； turning to the boy； asked； 〃Shall I smite him instead of you？〃 The boy shook his head； imploring him to slay neither the one nor the other； whereupon Episthenes caught the lad in his arms； exclaiming； 〃It is time you did battle with me； Seuthes； for my boy； never will I yield him up；〃 and Seuthes laughed： 〃what must be must；〃 and so consented。
In these villages he decided that they must bivouac； so that the men on the mountains might be still further deprived of subsistence。 Stealthily descending he himself found quarters in the plain； while Xenophon with his picked troops encamped in the highest village on the skirts of the hills；； and the rest of the Hellenes hard by； among the highland Thracians＇1＇； as they are called。
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Highlanders。〃
After this； not many days had idly slipt away before the Thracians from the mountains came down and wished to arrange with Seuthes for 12 terms of truce and hostages。 Simultaneously came Xenophon and informed Seuthes that they were camped in bad quarters； with the enemy next door； 〃it would be pleasanter too；〃 he added； 〃to bivouac in a strong position in the open； than under cover on the edge of destruction。〃 The other bade him take heart and pointed to some of their hostages； as much as to say 〃Look there！〃 Parties also from the mountaineers came down and pleaded with Xenophon himself； to help arrange a truce for them。 This he agreed to do； bidding them to pluck up heart； and assuring them that they would meet with no mischief； if they yielded obedience to Seuthes。 All their parleying； however； was； as it turned out； merely to get a closer inspection of things。 This happened in the day； and in the following night the Thynians descended from the hill country and made an attack。 In each case； the guide was the master of the house attacked； otherwise it would have taxed their powers to discover the houses in the dark； which； for the sake of their flocks and herds； were palisaded all round with great stockades。 As soon as they had reached the doors of any particular house； the attack began； some hurling in their spears； others belabouring with their clubs； which they carried； it was said； for the purpose of knocking off the lance points from the shaft。 Others were busy setting the place on fire； and they kept calling Xenophon by name： 〃Come out； Xenophon； and die like a man； or we will roast you alive inside。〃
By this time too the flames were making their appearance through the roof； and Xenophon and his followers were within； with their coats of mail on； and big shields； swords； and helmets。 Then Silanus； a Macistian＇2＇； a youth of some eighteen years； signalled on the trumpet； and in an instant； out they all leapt with their drawn swords； and the inmates of other quarters as well。 The Thracians took to their heels； according to their custom； swinging their light shields round their backs。 As they leapt over the stockade some were captured； hanging on the top with their shields caught in the palings； others missed the way out； and so were slain； and the Hellenes chased them hotly； till they were outside the village。
＇2＇ 〃Of Macistus；〃 a town in the Triphylia near Scillus。
A party of Thynians turned back； and as the men ran past in bold 18 relief against a blazing house； they let fly a volley of javelins； out of the darkness into the glare； and wounded two captains； Hieronymus； an Euodean＇3＇； and Theogenes； a Locrian。 No one was killed； only the clothes and baggage of some of the men were consumed in the flames。 Presently up came Seuthes to the rescue with seven troopers； the first to hand； and his Thracian trumpeteer by his side。 Seeing that something had happened； he hastened to the rescue； and ever the while his bugler wound his horn； which music added terror to the foe。 Arrived at length； he greeted them with outstretched hand； exclaiming； 〃I thought to find you all dead men。〃
＇3＇ If this is the same man as Hieronymus of Elis； who has been mentioned two or three times already； possibly the word ｛Euodea｝ points to some town or district of Elis； or perhaps the text is corrupt。
After that； Xenophon begged him to hand over the hostages to himself； and if so disposed； to join him on an expedition to the hills； or if not； to let him go alone。 Accordingly the next day Seuthes delivered up the hostages。 They were men already advanced in years； but the pick of the mountaineers； as they themselves gave out。 Not merely did Seuthes do this； but he came himself； with his force at his back （and by this time he had treble his former force； for many of the Odrysians； hearing of his proceedings； came down to join in the campaign）； and the Thynians； espying from the mountains the vast array of heavy infantry and light infantry and cavalry； rank upon rank； came down and supplicated him to make terms。 〃They were ready；〃 they professed； 〃to do all that he demanded； let him take pledges of their good faith。〃 So Seuthes summoned Xenophon and explained their proposals； adding that he should make no terms with them； if Xenophon wished to punish them for their night attack。 The latter replied： 〃For my part； I should think their punishment is great enough already； if they are to be slaves instead of free men； still；〃 he added； 〃I advise you for the future to take as hostages those who are most capable of doing mischief； and to let the old men abide in peace at home。〃 So to a man they gave in their adhesion in that quarter of the country。
V
Crossing over in the direction of the Thracians above Byzantium； they 1 reached the Delta； as it is called。 Here they were no longer in the territory of the Maesades； but in the country of Teres the Odrysian ＇an ancient worthy＇1＇＇。 Here Heracleides met them with the proceeds of the spoil； and Seuthes picked out three pairs of mules （there were only three； the other teams being oxen）； then he summoned Xenophon and bade him take them； and divide the rest between the generals and officers； to which Xenophon replied that for himself； he was content to receive his share another time； but added： 〃Make a present of these to my friends here； the generals who have served with me； and to the officers。〃 So of the pairs of mules Timasion the Dardanian received one； Cleanor the Orchomenian one； and Phryniscus the Achaean one。 The teams of oxen were divided among the officers。 Then Seuthes proceeded to remit pay due for the month already passed； but all he could give was the equivalent of twenty days。 Heracleides insisted that this was all he had got by his trafficking。 Whereupon Xenophon with some warmth exclaimed： 〃Upon my word； Heracleides； I do not think you care for Seuthes' interest as you should。 If you did； you have been at pains to bring back the full amount of the pay； even if you had had to raise a loan to do so； and； if by no other means； by selling the coat off your own back。〃
＇1＇ See above re previous Teres。 The words 〃an ancient worthy〃 may possibly be an editor's or commentator's note。
What he said annoyed Heracleides； who was afraid of being ousted from the friendship of Seuthes； and from that day forward he did his best to calumniate Xenophon before Seuthes。 The soldiers； on their side； laid the blame of course on Xenophon： 〃Where was their pay？〃 and Seuthes was vexed with him for persistently demanding it for them。 Up to this date he had frequently referred to what he would do when he got to the seaboard again； how he intended to hand over to him Bisanthe； Ganos； and Neontichos＇2＇。 But from this time forward he never mentioned one of them again。 The slanderous tongue of Heracleides had whispered him：it was not safe to hand over fortified 8 towns to a man with a force at his back。
＇2＇ For Bisanthe see above。 Ganos； a little lower down the coast； with Neontichos once belonged to Alcibiades； if we may believe Cornelius Nepos； 〃Alc。〃 vii。 4； and Plu
