Chapter 6

At this date, when nearly two months had already passed, an embassy arrived. These were two agents from Thibron—Charminus, a Lacedaemonian, and Polynicus. They were sent to say that the Lacedaemonians had resolved to open a campaign against Tissaphernes, and that Thibron, who had set sail to conduct the war, was anxious to avail himself of the troops. He could guarantee that each soldier should receive a daric a month as pay, the officers double pay, and the generals quadruple. The Lacedaemonian emissaries had no sooner arrived than Heracleides, having learnt that they had come in search of the Hellenic troops, goes off himself to Seuthes and says: "The best thing that could have happened; the Lacedaemonians want these troops and you have done with them, so that if you hand over the troops to 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."

By this time, nearly two months had passed. Then an embassy arrived, consisting of two agents from Thibron: Charminus, a Lacedaemonian, and Polynicus. They had been sent to say that the Lacedaemonians had decided to launch a campaign against Tissaphernes. Thibron had sailed to lead the war and was eager to use the troops. He could guarantee each soldier a daric a month in pay, officers twice that amount, and generals four times that amount. As soon as the Lacedaemonian emissaries arrived, Heracleides learned that they had come looking for the Hellenic troops. He went to Seuthes and said: "This is the best thing that could have happened. The Lacedaemonians want these troops, and you no longer need them. If you hand the troops over to them, you will do the Lacedaemonians a favor. You will also stop being bothered about their pay. The country will be rid of them once and for all."

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 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.

On hearing this, Seuthes told him to bring in the emissaries. They said they had come to negotiate over the Hellenic troops. Seuthes replied that he would gladly give up the troops. His only desire was to be a friend and ally of Lacedaemon. So he invited the emissaries to stay with him and entertained them magnificently. But he did not invite Xenophon or any of the other generals. After a while, the Lacedaemonians asked, "What sort of man is Xenophon?" Seuthes answered, "He is not a bad fellow in most respects. But he is too much the soldiers' friend, and that is why things go badly for him." They asked, "Does he act like a champion of the people?" Heracleides answered, "Exactly." "Well then," they said, "he will oppose our taking away the troops, won't he?" "Of course he will," said Heracleides. "But you only need to call a meeting of all the troops and promise them pay. Then they will pay little attention to him and run off with you." "How are we to gather them?" they asked. "Early tomorrow," said Heracleides, "we will take you to them." He added again, "I know that as soon as they see you, they will flock to you eagerly." So 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 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:—

The next day, Seuthes and Heracleides brought the two Laconian agents to the army. The troops gathered, and the agents addressed them: "The Lacedaemonians have decided to go to war with Tissaphernes, who treated you so badly. If you come with us, you will punish your enemy. Each of you will receive one daric a month. Officers will receive twice that amount, and generals four times as much." The soldiers listened eagerly, and one of the Arcadians immediately jumped up to criticize Xenophon. Seuthes was nearby, wanting to know what would happen. He stood close enough to hear, with his interpreter beside him. But he could understand most of what was said in Greek himself. The Arcadian spoke: "Lacedaemonians, we would have joined you long ago if Xenophon had not persuaded us to come here. We have campaigned without stopping, night and day, through the miserable winter. But he enjoys the rewards of our labor. Seuthes has made him rich in private, while denying us the pay we earned. So, as the first to speak to you, all I can say is this. If I could see the fellow stoned to death for all the trouble he has led us through, I would feel fully paid. I would no longer begrudge the hardships we have endured." Another speaker followed, and then another, both saying much the same. 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.

"The old saying is true. There is nothing a mortal cannot expect to see. Today you accuse me, though my conscience tells me I have shown the greatest devotion to your cause. Wasn't I already on my way home when I turned back? God knows I didn't turn back because I heard you were doing well. I heard you were in serious trouble, and I wanted to help you if I could. I returned, and Seuthes over there sent me messenger after messenger. He made me promise after promise if only I would persuade you to come to him. Yet, as you yourselves can confirm, I would not be swayed. Instead, I simply led you to a place from which I thought you could cross into Asia most quickly. I believed that was best for you, and I knew you wanted to go."

"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 sides—first Aristarchus, who ordered you to march to the Chersonese, then Seuthes, who pleaded with you to undertake a campaign with himself—you 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 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.

"But when Aristarchus came with his warships and blocked our crossing, I called you together to consider our best course. You can hardly blame me for that. You heard both sides. First Aristarchus ordered you to march to the Chersonese. Then Seuthes urged you to join him in a campaign. You all proposed going with Seuthes, and you all voted for it. What wrong did I do by taking you where you were eager to go? If I have supported Seuthes since he began lying and cheating us over the pay, you may rightly blame and hate me. But at first I was his closest friend, and now I am more at odds with him than anyone else. I have chosen you and rejected Seuthes. So how can you fairly blame me for the very thing that caused our quarrel? But perhaps you will say that I am receiving from Seuthes what rightfully belongs to you, and that I am deceiving you. If Seuthes has paid me anything, surely he has not meant to lose by it while he still owes you money. If he gave me anything, it was so that a small gift to me would save him a larger payment to you. But if you really think that happened, you can put an end to this whole scheme at once. You can demand the money he owes you. Clearly, Seuthes will demand back whatever I have received from him. He will have all the more right to do so if I have failed to secure what he bargained for when I took his gifts. But I am far from enjoying what belongs to you. I swear by all the gods and goddesses that I have not even taken what Seuthes promised me in private. He is here, listening, and knows in his own heart whether I am swearing falsely. And what will surprise you even more, I can also swear that I have not received what the other generals have received. I have not even received what some of the officers have received. But why is that? Why did I manage my affairs so poorly? Gentlemen, I thought that the more I helped him bear his poverty then, the better a friend he would be when he gained power. Instead, just as I see his fortunes rising, I have come to understand his true 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 deceived 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.

"Someone may ask, aren't you ashamed to have been fooled like that? Yes, I would be ashamed if an open enemy had deceived me. But when one friend cheats another, I think the cheater bears a deeper stain than the victim. We took every precaution a person can take against a friend. We certainly gave him no excuse to refuse to pay us what he promised. We were completely honest in our dealings with him. We did not delay in handling his affairs, and we did not shy away from any task he set 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 deceive. 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 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!

"But you will say that I should have demanded a guarantee from him at the time. Then, even if he had wanted to deceive you, he would not have been able to. To answer that objection, I must ask you to hear me out. I would never have said these things in his presence, but for your complete lack of feeling toward me, or your extraordinary ingratitude. Try to remember the state of your affairs when I got you out of trouble and brought you to Seuthes. At Perinthus, Aristarchus shut the gates in your faces every time you tried to approach the town. You were forced to camp outside in the open air. It was the middle of winter, and you had to rely on a market with little for sale. You had little money to buy even that. Yet you had to stay in Thrace, because warships were anchored in the bay, ready to prevent you from crossing. And what did staying mean? You were in hostile country, facing countless cavalry and legions of light infantry. What did we have? We had a force of heavy infantry. We might have attacked villages together and seized a little food at most. But with a force like ours, we could not pursue the enemy or capture men or cattle. By the time I rejoined you, your original cavalry and light infantry units were gone. That was how desperate your situation was!

"Supposing that, without making any demands for pay whatever, I had merely won for you the alliance of Seuthes—whose cavalry and light infantry were just what you needed—would 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 alive¹.

“Suppose I had asked for no pay at all and had merely secured Seuthes as your ally. His cavalry and light infantry were just what you needed. Would you not have thought I had planned very well for you? I presume it was thanks to your alliance with him and his people that you found such abundant stores of grain in the villages. The Thracians had fled in such haste, and you received such a large share of captives and cattle. Why, from the day his cavalry joined us, we never saw a single enemy in the field. Before then, the enemy’s cavalry and light infantry had boldly pursued us. They had effectively prevented us from spreading out in small groups and gathering abundant provisions. But Seuthes, who helped give you this security, has failed to pay you all the wages due to you from it. Is that not a terrible misfortune? So terrible, indeed, that you think I should not leave here alive¹.”

"But let me ask you, in what condition do you turn your backs on this 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.

“But let me ask you, in what condition are you leaving this land today? Haven’t you spent the winter here with plenty of everything? Whatever you received from Seuthes was an extra gain. Your enemies paid your expenses while you enjoyed yourselves. You never once saw a comrade’s dead body or lost a single living man. And if you have performed any noble deeds against the Asiatic barbarian, or rather many, those achievements are still yours. In addition, you have won a second glory today. You undertook a campaign against the European Thracians and defeated them. So I say that the very things you quarrel with me about are blessings instead. You ought to thank heaven for them.”

"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 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."

“So far, I have spoken only about your side of the matter. Please bear with me while we examine mine. When I first tried to leave you and go home, I was doubly blessed. You had praised me, and thanks to you, I had won glory throughout the rest of Hellas. The Lacedaemonians trusted me. Otherwise, they would not have sent me back to you. But now, as I leave, you have slandered me before the Lacedaemonians. Seuthes also hates me because of you. I had meant, with your help, to do him such good that he would give me refuge. He would also shelter my children, if I should ever have any. “And you, for whose sake I have incurred so much hatred, now feel this way about me. Those who hate me are far stronger than I am. Yet I have not stopped thinking of every way I can to help you. Why do you feel this way? I am not a deserter or a runaway slave you have caught. If you do as you say, you will have killed a man who has spent many nights watching over you. He has shared many hardships with you and faced many dangers, both when it was his turn and when it was not. Thanks to the gracious gods, he has stood beside you as you raised many trophies over the barbarian. Finally, he has strained every nerve to protect you from yourselves. “And so today you can go wherever you choose, by sea or land, and no one can stop you. You enjoy this great freedom and are sailing toward a goal you have long desired. The greatest of military powers seeks your service, and you can expect pay. You have these Lacedaemonians, our acknowledged chiefs, as your leaders. Yet now you think it is time to put me to death at once. “But when we were in trouble, things were very different. What marvelous memories you have! In those days you called me ‘father!’ and promised always to remember me as ‘your benefactor.’ But those who have come to you today are not so ungrateful. And, unless I am mistaken, your treatment of me has not improved their opinion of you.”

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."

With these words he stopped, and Charminus the Lacedaemonian stood up and said: “No, by the Twins, you are surely wrong to be angry with this man. I can testify in his favor. Polynicus and I asked Seuthes what kind of man he was. Seuthes said he had only one fault to find with him: he was too much the soldiers’ friend. Seuthes said this was why things went badly for him, both with us Lacedaemonians and with Seuthes himself.”

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."

Then Eurylochus of Lusia, an Arcadian, stood up and addressed the two Lacedaemonians. "Yes, sirs. I think the best way to begin leading us is to demand our pay from Seuthes. Whether he likes it or not, he must pay us in full. Do not lead us away before he does."

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."

Polycrates the Athenian, put forward by Xenophon, said: "If my eyes do not deceive me, gentlemen, Heracleides is standing over there. He received the property we won through our hard work and sold it. But he gave none of the money to Seuthes or to us. He kept it for himself, like the thief he is. If we are wise, we will seize him. He is no Thracian, but a Hellene, and the people he has wronged are Hellenes."

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 Seuthes sent Abrozelmes, his private interpreter, to Xenophon, begging him to stay behind with one thousand heavy troops; 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 with Seuthes on the terms proposed, or depart with the army?" The answer he received was, "Depart."

When Heracleides heard these words, he was greatly alarmed. He went to Seuthes and said: "If we are wise, we will get away from here, out of these fellows' reach." They mounted their horses and immediately rode at a gallop to their camp. Later, Seuthes sent Abrozelmes, his private interpreter, to Xenophon. He begged Xenophon to stay behind with one thousand heavily armed troops. He promised to hand over the places on the coast and the other things he had promised. Then, as a great secret, he told Xenophon what he had heard from Polynicus. If Xenophon fell into the hands of the Lacedaemonians, Thibron would certainly put him to death. Xenophon kept receiving similar messages from several sources, by letter and otherwise. They warned him that he was being falsely accused and had better be on his guard. On hearing this, he took two animals and sacrificed them to Zeus the King. He asked: "Would it be better and bring greater happiness to stay with Seuthes on the terms proposed, or to leave with the army?" The answer he received was, "Depart."