anabasis-第50节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
them also； and do you； Polycrates； go and say from me； that I bid them leave their arms outside； and you can leave your own sword outside before you enter with them on your return。〃
When Seuthes had heard so far； he interposed： 〃I should never mistrust an Athenian； for we are relatives already＇3＇； I know； and the best of friends； I believe； we shall be。〃 After that； as soon as the right men entered； Xenophon first questioned Seuthes as to what use he intended to make of the army； and he replied as follows： 〃Maesades was my father； his sway extended over the Melanditae； the Thynians； and the Tranipsae。 Then the affairs of the Odrysians took a bad turn； and my father was driven out of this country； and later on died himself of sickness； leaving me to be brought up as an orphan at the court of Medocus； the present king。 But I； when I had grown to man's estate； could not endure to live with my eyes fixed on another's board。 So I seated myself on the seat by him as a suppliant； and begged him to give me as many men as he could spare； that I might wreak what mischief I could on those who had driven us forth from our land； that thus I might cease to live in dependence upon another's board； like a dog watching his master's hand。 In answer to my petition； he gave me 34 the men and the horses which you will see at break of day； and nowadays I live with these； pillaging my own ancestral land。 But if you would join me； I think； with the help of heaven； we might easily recover my empire。 That is what I want of you。〃 〃Well then；〃 said Xenophon； 〃supposing we came； what should you be able to give us？ the soldiers； the officers； and the generals？ Tell us that these witnesses may report your answer。〃 And he promised to give 〃to the common soldiers a cyzicene＇4＇； to a captain twice as much； and to a general four times as much； with as much land as ever they liked； some yoke of oxen； and a fortified place upon the seaboard。〃 〃But now supposing；〃 said Xenophon； 〃we fail of success； in spite of our endeavours； suppose any intimidation on the part of the Lacedaemonians should arise； will you receive into your country any of us who may seek to find a refuge with you？〃 He answered： 〃Nay； not only so； but I shall look upon you as my brothers； entitled to share my seat； and the joint possessors of all the wealth which we may be able to acquire。 And to you yourself； O Xenophon！ I will give my daughter； and if you have a daughter； I will buy her in Thracian fashion； and I will give you Bisanthe as a dwelling…place； which is the fairest of all my possessions on the seaboard＇5＇。〃
＇3＇ Tradition said that the Thracians and Athenians were connected； through the marriage of a former prince Tereus （or Teres） with Procne； the daughter of Pandion。 This old story； discredited by Thucydides； ii。 29； is referred to in Arist。 〃Birds；〃 368 foll。 The Birds are about to charge the two Athenian intruders； when Epops； king of the Birds； formerly Tereus； king of Thrace； but long ago transformed into a hoopoe； intercedes in behalf of two men； ｛tes emes gunaikos onte suggene kai phuleta｝； 〃who are of my lady's tribe and kin。〃 As a matter of history； the Athenians had in the year B。C。 431 made alliance with Sitalces； king of the Odrysians （the son of Teres； the first founder of their empire）； and made his son； Sadocus； an Athenian citizen。 Cf。 Thuc。 ib。； Arist。 Acharnians； 141 foll。
＇4＇ A cyzicene monthly is to be understood。
＇5＇ Bisanthe； one of the Ionic colonies founded by Samos； with the Thracian name Rhaedestus （now Rodosto）； strongly placed so as to command the entrance into the Sacred mountain。
III
After listening to these proposals； they gave and accepted pledges of 1 good faith； and so the deputation rode off。 Before day they were back again in camp； and severally rendered a report to those who sent them。 At dawn Aristarchus again summoned the generals and officers； but the latter resolved to have done with the visit to Aristarchus； and to summon a meeting of the army。 In full conclave the soldiers met； with the exception of Neon's men； who remained about ten furlongs off。 When they were met together Xenophon rose； and made the following announcement： 〃Men； Aristarchus with his ships of war hinders us from sailing where we fain would go； it is not even safe to set foot on 3 board a vessel。 But if he hinders us here； he hastens us there。 'Be off to the Chersonese；' says he； 'force a passage through the Sacred mountain。' If we master it and succeed in getting to that place； he has something in store for us。 He promises that he will not sell you any more； as he did at Byzantium； you shall not be cheated again； you shall have pay； he will no longer； as now； suffer you to remain in want of provisions。 That is his proposal。 But Seuthes says that if you will go to him he will treat you well。 What you have now to consider is； whether you will stay to debate this question； or leave its settlement till we have gone up into a land of provisions。 If you ask me my opinion； it is this： Since here we have neither money to buy； nor leave to take without money what we need； why should we not go up into these villages where the right to help ourselves is conferred by might？ There； unhampered by the want of bare necessaries； you can listen to what this man and the other wants of you and choose whichever sounds best。 Let those；〃 he added； 〃who agree to this； hold up their hands。〃 They all held them up。 〃Retire then；〃 said he； 〃and get your kit together； and at the word of command； follow your leader。〃
After this； Xenophon put himself at the head and the rest followed。 Neon； indeed； and other agents from Aristarchus tried to turn them from their purpose； but to their persuasions they turned a deaf ear。 They had not advanced much more than three miles； when Seuthes met them； and Xenophon； seeing him； bade him ride up。 He wished to tell him what they felt to be conducive to their interests； and in the presence of as many witnesses as possible。 As soon as he had approached； Xenophon said： 〃We are going where the troops will have enough to live upon； when we are there； we will listen to you and to the emissaries of the Laconian； and choose between you both whatever seems best。 If then you will lead us where provisions are to be got in plenty； we shall feel indebted to you for your hospitality。〃 And Seuthes answered： 〃For the matter of that； I know many villages； close…packed and stocked with all kinds of provisions； just far enough 9 off to give you a good appetite for your breakfasts。〃 〃Lead on then！〃 said Xenophon。 When they had reached the villages in the afternoon； the soldiers met； and Seuthes made the following speech： 〃My request to you； sirs； is that you will take the field with me； and my promise to you is that I will give every man of you a cyzicene； and to the officers and generals at the customary rate； besides this I will honour those who show special merit。 Food and drink you shall get as now for yourselves from the country； but whatever is captured； I shall claim to have myself； so that by distribution of it I may provide you with pay。 Let them flee； let them creep into hiding…places； we shall be able to pursue after them； we will track them out； or if they resist； along with you we will endeavour to subdue them to our hands。〃 Xenophon inquired： 〃And how far from the sea shall you expect the army to follow you？〃 〃Nowhere more than seven days' journey；〃 he answered； 〃and in many places less。〃
After this； permission was given for all who wished to speak； and many spoke； but ever to one and the same tune： 〃What Seuthes said； was very right。 It was winter； and for a man to sail home； even if he had the will to do so； was impossible。 On the other hand； to continue long in a friendly country； where they must depend upon what they could purchase； was equally beyond their power。 If they were to wear away time and support life in a hostile country； it was safer to do so with Seuthes than by themselves； not to speak of all these good things； but if they were going to get pay into the bargain； that indeed was a godsend。〃 To complete the proceedings； Xenophon said： 〃If any one opposes the measure； let him state his views； if not； let the officer put the proposition to the vote。〃 No one opposed； they put it to the vote； and the resolution was carried； and without loss of time； he informed Seuthes that they would take the field with him。
After this the troops messed in their separate divisions； but the generals and officers were invited by Seuthes to dinner at a neighbouring village which was in his possession。 When they were at the doors； and on the point of stepping in to dinner； they were met by 16 a certain Heracleides； of Maronea＇1＇。 He came up to each guest； addressing himself particularly to those who； as he conjectured； ought to be able to make a present to Seuthes。 He addressed himself first to some Parians who were there to arrange a friendship with Medocus； the king of the Odrysians； and were bearers of presents to the king and to his wife。 Heracleides reminded them： 〃Medocus is up country twelve days' journey from the sea； but Seuthes； now that he has got this army； will be lord on the sea…co
