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； you will do the Lacedaemonians a good turn and will cease to be bothered for pay any more。 The country will be quit of them once and for ever。〃
On hearing this Seuthes bade him introduce the emissaries。 As soon as they had stated that the object of their coming was to treat for the Hellenic troops； he replied that he would willingly give them up； that his one desire was to be the friend and ally of Lacedaemon。 So he invited them to partake of hospitality； and entertained them 3 magnificently； but he did not invite Xenophon； nor indeed any of the other generals。 Presently the Lacedaemonians asked： 〃What sort of man is Xenophon？〃 and Seuthes answered： 〃Not a bad fellow in most respects； but he is too much the soldiers' friend； and that is why it goes ill with him。〃 They asked： 〃Does he play the popular leader？〃 and Heracleides answered： 〃Exactly so。〃 〃Well then；〃 said they； 〃he will oppose our taking away the troops； will he not？〃 〃To be sure he will；〃 said Heracleides； 〃but you have only to call a meeting of the whole body； and promise them pay； and little further heed will they pay to him； they will run off with you。〃 〃How then are we to get them collected？〃 they asked。 〃Early to…morrow；〃 said Heracleides； 〃we will bring you to them； and I know；〃 he added once more； 〃as soon as they set eyes on you； they will flock to you with alacrity。〃 Thus the day ended。
The next day Seuthes and Heracleides brought the two Laconian agents to the army； and the troops were collected； and the agents made a statement as follows： 〃The Lacedaemonians have resolved on war with Tissaphernes； who did you so much wrong。 By going with us therefore you will punish your enemy； and each of you will get a daric a month； the officers twice that sum； and the generals quadruple。〃 The soldiers lent willing ears； and up jumped one of the Arcadians at once； to find fault with Xenophon。 Seuthes also was hard by； wishing to know what was going to happen。 He stood within ear shot； and his interpreter by his side； not but what he could understand most of what was said in Greek himself。 At this point the Arcadian spoke： 〃For the matter of that； Lacedaemonians； we should have been by your sides long ago； if Xenophon had not persuaded us and brought us hither。 We have never ceased campaigning； night and day； the dismal winter through； but he reaps the fruit of our toils。 Seuthes has enriched him privately； but deprives us of our honest earnings； so that； standing here as I do to address you first； all I can say is； that if I might see the fellow stoned to death as a penalty for all the long dance he has led us； I 10 should feel I had got my pay in full； and no longer grudge the pains we have undergone。〃 The speaker was followed by another and then another in the same strain； and after that Xenophon made the following speech：
〃True is the old adage； there is nothing which mortal man may not expect to see。 Here am I being accused by you to…day； just where my conscience tells me that I have displayed the greatest zeal on your behalf。 Was I not actually on my road home when I turned back？ Not； God knows； because I learned that you were in luck's way； but because I heard that you were in sore straits； and I wished to help you； if in any way I could。 I returned； and Seuthes yonder sent me messenger after messenger； and made me promise upon promise； if only I could persuade you to come to him。 Yet； as you yourselves will bear me witness； I was not to be diverted。 Instead of setting my hand to do that； I simply led you to a point from which； with least loss of time； I thought you could cross into Asia。 This I believed was the best thing for you； and you I knew desired it。
〃But when Aristarchus came with his ships of war and hindered our passage across； you will hardly quarrel with me for the step I then took in calling you together that we might advisedly consider our best course。 Having heard both sidesfirst Aristarchus； who ordered you to march to the Chersonese； then Seuthes； who pleaded with you to undertake a campaign with himselfyou all proposed to go with Seuthes； and you all gave your votes to that effect。 What wrong did I commit in bringing you； whither you were eager to go？ If； indeed； since the time when Seuthes began to tell lies and cheat us about the pay； I have supported him in this； you may justly find fault with me and hate me。 But if I； who at first was most of all his friend； to…day am more than any one else at variance with him； how can I； who have chosen you and rejected Seuthes； in fairness be blamed by you for the very thing which has been the ground of quarrel between him and me？ But you will tell me； perhaps； that I get from Seuthes what is by right yours； and that I deal subtly by you？ But is it not clear that； if Seuthes has paid me anything； he has at any rate not done so with 16 the intention of losing by what he gives me； whilst he is still your debtor？ If he gave to me； he gave in order that； by a small gift to me； he might escape a larger payment to yourselves。 But if that is what you really think has happened； you can render this whole scheme of ours null and void in an instant by exacting from him the money which is your due。 It is clear； Seuthes will demand back from me whatever I have got from him； and he will have all the more right to do so； if I have failed to secure for him what he bargained for when I took his gifts。 But indeed； I am far removed from enjoying what is yours； and I swear to you by all the gods and goddesses that I have not taken even what Seuthes promised me in private。 He is present himself and listening； and he is aware in his own heart whether I swear falsely。 And what will surprise you the more； I can swear besides； that I have not received even what the other generals have received； no； nor yet what some of the officers have received。 But how so？ why have I managed my affairs no better？ I thought； sirs； the more I helped him to bear his poverty at the time； the more I should make him my friend in the day of his power。 Whereas； it is just when I see the star of his good fortune rising； that I have come to divine the secret of his character。
〃Some one may say； are you not ashamed to be so taken in like a fool？ Yes； I should be ashamed； if it had been an open enemy who had so decieved me。 But； to my mind； when friend cheats friend； a deeper stain attaches to the perpetrator than to the victim of deceit。 Whatever precaution a man may take against his friend； that we took in full。 We certainly gave him no pretext for refusing to pay us what he promised。 We were perfectly upright in our dealings with him。 We did not dawdle over his affairs； nor did we shrink from any work to which he challenged us。
〃But you will say； I ought to have taken security of him at the time； so that had he fostered the wish； he might have lacked the ability to decieve。 To meet that retort； I must beg you to listen to certain things； which I should never have said in his presence； except for your utter want of feeling towards me； or your extraordinary ingratitude。 Try and recall the posture of your affairs； when I 24 extricated you and brought you to Seuthes。 Do you not recollect how at Perinthus Arist