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I 24 extricated you and brought you to Seuthes。 Do you not recollect how at Perinthus Aristarchus shut the gates in your faces each time you offered to approach the town； and how you were driven to camp outside under the canopy of heaven？ It was midwinter； you were thrown upon the resources of a market wherein few were the articles offered for sale； and scanty the wherewithal to purchase them。 Yet stay in Thrace you must； for there were ships of war riding at anchor in the bay； ready to hinder your passage across； and what did that stay imply？ It meant being in a hostile country； confronted by countless cavalry； legions of light infantry。 And what had we？ A heavy infantry force certainly； with which we could have dashed at villages in a body possibly； and seized a modicum of food at most； but as to pursuing the enemy with such a force as ours； or capturing men or cattle； the thing was out of the question； for when I rejoined you your original cavalry and light infantry divisions had disappeared。 In such 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