Chapter 5

Crossing over in the direction of the Thracians above Byzantium, they 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 worthy¹). 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."

They crossed toward the Thracians above Byzantium and reached the place called the Delta. They were no longer in the territory of the Maesades, but in the country of Teres the Odrysian. He was a great man of earlier times¹. There Heracleides met them with the money from selling the spoils. Seuthes picked out three pairs of mules. There were only three, since the other teams were oxen. He then called Xenophon and told him to take the mules and divide the rest among the generals and officers. Xenophon replied that he was content to receive his own share another time. But he added: "Give these to my friends here, the generals who have served with me, and to the officers." Timasion the Dardanian received one pair of mules, Cleanor the Orchomenian another, and Phryniscus the Achaean the third. The teams of oxen were divided among the officers. Seuthes then began to pay the wages due for the month that had passed, but he could pay only twenty days' worth. Heracleides insisted that this was all he had made from selling the spoils. Xenophon replied angrily: "Upon my word, Heracleides, I don't think you care about Seuthes' interests as you should. If you did, you would have made sure to bring back enough for the full pay. You should have done so even if you had to borrow the money, or sell the coat off your back if there was no other way."

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 Neontichos². 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 towns to a man with a force at his back.

What he said annoyed Heracleides, who feared losing Seuthes’ friendship. From that day on, Heracleides did his best to slander Xenophon to Seuthes. The soldiers, for their part, naturally blamed Xenophon: "Where was their pay?" And Seuthes was annoyed with Xenophon for constantly demanding it on their behalf. Until then, Seuthes had often spoken of what he would do when he reached the coast again. He intended to hand over Bisanthe, Ganos, and Neontichos² to Xenophon. But from then on, he never mentioned any of them again. Heracleides had whispered to Seuthes that it was not safe to hand over fortified towns to a man with an army behind him.

Consequently Xenophon fell to considering what he ought to do as regards marching any further up the country; and Heracleides introduced the other generals to Seuthes, urging them to say that they were quite as well able to lead the army as Xenophon, and promising them that within a day or two they should have full pay for two months, and he again implored them to continue the campaign with Seuthes. To which Timasion replied that for his part he would continue no campaign without Xenophon; not even if they were to give him pay for five months; and what Timasion said, Phryniscus and Cleanor repeated; the views of all three coincided.

As a result, Xenophon began considering what to do about marching farther inland. Meanwhile, Heracleides introduced the other generals to Seuthes. He urged them to say they could lead the army just as well as Xenophon. He promised that within a day or two they would receive full pay for two months. He again begged them to continue the campaign with Seuthes. Timasion replied that he would not continue any campaign without Xenophon, even for five months’ pay. Phryniscus and Cleanor agreed with Timasion. All three shared the same view.

Seuthes fell to upbraiding Heracleides in round terms. "Why had he not invited Xenophon with the others?" and presently they invited him, but by himself alone. He, perceiving the knavery of Heracleides, and that his object was to calumniate him with the other generals, presented himself; but at the same time he took care to bring all the generals and the officers. After their joint consent had been secured, they continued the campaign. Keeping the Pontus on their right, they passed through the millet-eating³ Thracians, as they are called, and reached Salmydessus. This is a point at which many trading vessels bound for the Black Sea run aground and are wrecked, owing to a sort of marshy ledge or sandbank which runs out for a considerable distance into the sea⁴. The Thracians, who dwell in these parts, have set up pillars as boundary marks, and each set of them has the pillage of its own flotsom and jetsom; for in old days, before they set up these landmarks, the wreckers, it is said, used freely to fall foul of and slay one another. Here was a rich treasure trove, of beds and boxes numberless, with a mass of written books, and all the various things which mariners carry in their wooden chests. Having reduced this district, they turned round and went back again. By this time the army of Seuthes had grown to be considerably larger than the Hellenic army; for on the one hand, the Odrysians flocked down in still larger numbers, and on the other, the tribes which gave in their adhesion from time to time were amalgamated with his armament. They got into quarters on the flat country above Selybria at about three miles⁵ distance from the sea. As to pay, not a penny was as yet forthcoming, and the soldiers were cruelly disaffected to Xenophon, whilst Seuthes, on his side, was no longer so friendlily disposed. If Xenophon ever wished to come face to face with him, want of leisure or some other difficulty always seemed to present itself.

Seuthes sharply scolded Heracleides. "Why hadn't he invited Xenophon along with the others?" Soon they invited Xenophon, but on his own. Xenophon saw through Heracleides' trick. Heracleides wanted to turn the other generals against him with false accusations. So Xenophon went, but took care to bring all the generals and officers with him. After everyone had agreed, they continued the campaign. Keeping the Pontus on their right, they passed through the so-called millet-eating³ Thracians and reached Salmydessus. Many trading ships bound for the Black Sea run aground and are wrecked there. A marshy ledge or sandbank stretches far out into the sea⁴. The Thracians who live in the area have set up pillars to mark their boundaries. Each group gets to plunder the wreckage within its own boundary. Before they set up these markers, the wreckers were said to fight and kill one another freely. There was a rich haul of plunder here: countless beds and boxes, a mass of written books, and all the other things sailors carry in their wooden chests. After bringing this district under their control, they turned and went back. By then, Seuthes' army had grown considerably larger than the Hellenic army. More and more Odrysians were coming down to join him, and tribes that submitted along the way joined his forces. They took up quarters on the flat land above Selybria, about three miles⁵ from the sea. The soldiers still had not received a penny of their pay, and they were bitterly angry with Xenophon. Seuthes, for his part, was no longer as friendly toward him. Whenever Xenophon wanted to meet him, Seuthes always seemed to be too busy or have some other difficulty.

"{trakheia pontou Salmudesia gnathos ekhthroxenos nautaisi, metruia neon.}"

"{The rugged jaws of the sea at Salmydessia, hostile to sailors and a stepmother to ships.}"

"The rugged Salmudesian jaw of the Black Sea, Inhospitable to sailors, stepmother of ships."

"The rugged Salmudesian jaw of the Black Sea, unfriendly to sailors, a stepmother to ships."

But the poet is at fault in his geography, since he connects "the Salmydesian jaw" with the Thermodon.

But the poet gets the geography wrong because he connects "the Salmydesian jaw" with the Thermodon.