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t。 If you mean to go on so doing； you will drive us to make friends with Corylas and the Paphlagonians； or any one else we can find。〃
To meet these charges Xenophon； on behalf of the soldiers； rose and said： 〃As to ourselves； men of Sinope； having got so far； we are well content to have saved our bodies and our arms。 Indeed it was impossible at one and the same moment to keep our enemies at bay and to despoil them of their goods and chattels。 And now； since we have reached Hellenic cities； how has it fared with us？ At Trapezus they gave us a market； and we paid for our provisions at a fair market price。 In return for the honour they did us； and the gifts of hospitality they gave the army； we requited them with honour。 Where the barbarian was friendly to them； we stayed our hands from injury； or under their escort； we did damage to their enemies to the utmost of our power。 Ask them； what sort of people they found us。 They are here； some of them； to answer for themselves。 Their fellow…citizens and the state of Trapezus； for friendship's sake； have sent them with us to act as our guides。
〃But wherever we come； be it foreign or Hellenic soil； and find no market for provisions； we are wont to help ourselves； not out of insolence but from necessity。 There have been tribes like the Carduchians； the Taochians； the Chaldaeans； which； albeit they were not subject to the great king； yet were no less formidable than independent。 These we had to bring over by our arms。 The necessity of getting provisions forced us； since they refused to offer us a market。 Whereas some other folk； like the Macrones； in spite of their being barbarians； we regarded as our friends； simply because they did provide us with the best market in their power； and we took no single 18 thing of theirs by force。 But； to come to these Cotyorites； whom you claim to be your people； if we have taken aught from them； they have themselves to blame； for they did not deal with us as friends； but shut their gates in our faces。 They would neither welcome us within nor furnish us with a market without。 The only justification they alleged was that your governor＇2＇ had authorised this conduct。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃harmost〃。 The term； denoting properly a governor of the islands and foreign cities sent out by the Lacedaemonians during their supremacy； came； it would seem； to be adopted by other Greek communities under somewhat similar circumstances。 Cotyora receives a harmost from her mother…city； Sinope。 For the Greek colonies here mentioned； see Kiepert's 〃Man。 Anct。 Geog。〃 （Engl。 tr。； Mr。 G。 A。 Macmillan）； p。 63。
〃As to your assertion；〃 he continued； turning to Hecatonymus； 〃that we have got in by force and have taken up quarters； this is what we did。 We requested them to receive our sick and wounded under cover； and when they refused to open their gates； we walked in where the place itself invited us。 All the violence we have committed amounts to this； that our sick folk are quartered under cover； paying for their expenses； and we keep a sentry at the gates； so that our sick and wounded may not lie at the mercy of your governor； but we may have it in our power to remove them whenever we like。 The rest of us； you observe； are camping under the canopy of heaven； in regular rank and file； and we are ready to requite kindness with kindness； but to repel evil vigorously。 And as for your threat；〃 he said； once again turning to the spokesman； 〃that you will； if it suits you； make alliance with Corylas and the Paphlagonians to attack us； for our part； we have no objection to fighting both sets of you； if so be we must； we have already fought others many times more numerous than you。 Besides； 'if it suits us；' as you put it； to make the Paphlagonian our friend （report says that he has a hankering after your city and some other places on the seaboard）； we can enhance the value of our friendship by helping to win for him what he covets。〃
Thereupon the ambassadors showed very plainly their annoyance with Hecatonymus； on account of the style of his remarks； and one of them stept forward to explain that their intention in coming was not at all to raise a war； but on the contrary to demonstrate their friendliness。 24 〃And if you come to Sinope itself；〃 the speaker continued； 〃we will welcome you there with gifts of hospitality。 Meanwhile we will enjoin upon the citizens of this place to give you what they can； for we can see that every word of what you say is true。〃 Thereupon the Cotyorites sent gifts of hospitality； and the generals of the Hellenes entertained the ambassadors of the Sinopeans。 Many and friendly were the topics of conversation； freely flowed the talk on things in general； and； in particular； both parties were able to make inquiries and satisfy their curiosity concerning the remaining portion of the march。
VI
Such was the conclusion of that day。 On the following day the generals 1 summoned an assembly of the soldiers； when it was resolved to invite the men of Sinope； and to take advice with them touching the remainder of the journey。 In the event of their having to continue it on foot； the Sinopeans through their acquaintance with Paphlagonia would be useful to them； while； if they had to go by sea； the services of the same people would be at a premium； for who but they could furnish ships sufficient for the army？ Accordingly； they summoned their ambassadors； and took counsel with them； begging them； on the strength of the sacred ties which bind Hellenes to Hellenes； to inaugurate the good reception they had spoken of； by present kindliness and their best advice。
Hecatonymus rose and wished at once to offer an apology with regard to what he had said about the possibility of making friends with the Paphlagonians。 〃The words were not intended；〃 he said； 〃to convey a threat； as though they were minded to go to war with the Hellenes； but as meaning rather： albeit we have it in our power to be friendly with the barbarians； we will choose the Hellenes。〃 Then； being urged to aid them by some advice； with a pious ejaculation； he commenced： 〃If I bestow upon you the best counsel I am able； God grant that blessings in abundance may descend on me； but if the contrary； may evil betide 4 me！ 'Sacred counsel＇1＇；' as the saying goeswell； sirs； if ever the saying held； it should hold I think to…day； when； if I be proved to have given you good counsel； I shall not lack panegyrists； or if evil； your imprecations will be many…tongued。
＇1＇ Cf。 Plato； 〃Theages；〃 122。
〃As to trouble； I am quite aware； we shall have much more trouble if you are conveyed by sea； for we must provide the vessels； whereas； if you go by land； all the fighting will evolve on you。 Still； let come what may； it behoves me to state my views。 I have an intimate acquaintance with the country of the Paphlagonians and their power。 The country possesses the two features of hill and vale； that is to say； the fairest plains and the highest mountains。 To begin with the mountains； I know the exact point at which you must make your entry。 It is precisely where the horns of a mountain tower over both sides of the road。 Let the merest handful of men occupy these and they can hold the pass wi