Chapter 7

After this, Seuthes removed his camp to some considerable distance; and the Hellenes took up their quarters in some villages, selecting those in which they could best supply their commissariat, on the road to the sea. Now these particular villages had been given by Seuthes to Medosades. Accordingly, when the latter saw his property in the villages being expended by the Hellenes, he was not over well pleased; and taking with him an Odrysian, a powerful person amongst those who had come down from the interior, and about thirty mounted troopers, he came and challenged Xenophon to come forth from the Hellenic host. He, taking some of the officers and others of a character to be relied upon, came forward. Then Medosades, addressing Xenophon, said: "You are doing wrong to pillage our villages; we give you fair warning—I, in behalf of Seuthes, and this man by my side, who comes from Medocus, the king up country—to begone out of the land. If you refuse, understand, we have no notion of handing it over to you; but if you injure our country we will retaliate upon you as foes."

After this, Seuthes moved his camp a considerable distance away. The Hellenes settled in villages along the road to the sea, choosing those where they could best obtain supplies. Seuthes had given these villages to Medosades. When Medosades saw the Hellenes using up his property in the villages, he was not pleased. He went to the Hellenic army and summoned Xenophon to come out. With him were an Odrysian, a powerful man among those who had come down from the interior, and about thirty mounted soldiers. Xenophon came out with some officers and others he could rely on. Medosades said to Xenophon: "You are wrong to plunder our villages. We warn you to leave the land. I speak for Seuthes, and this man beside me speaks for Medocus, the king of the interior. If you refuse, understand that we have no intention of handing the land over to you. If you harm our country, we will strike back at you as enemies."

Xenophon, hearing what they had to say, replied: "Such language addressed to us by you, of all people, is hard to answer. Yet for the sake of the young man with you, I will attempt to do so, that at least he may learn how different your nature is from ours. We," he continued, "before we were your friends, had the free run of this country, moving this way or that, as it took our fancy, pillaging and burning just as we chose; and you yourself, Medosades, whenever you came to us on an embassy, camped with us, without apprehension of any foe. As a tribe collectively you scarcely approached the country at all, or if you found yourselves in it, you bivouacked with your horses bitted and bridled, as being in the territory of your superiors. Presently you made friends with us, and, thanks to us, by God's help you have won this country, out of which to-day you seek to drive us; a country which we held by our own strength and gave to you. No hostile force, as you well know, was capable of expelling us. It might have been expected of you personally to speed us on our way with some gift, in return for the good we did you. Not so; even though our backs are turned to go, we are too slow in our movements for you. You will not suffer us to take up quarters even, if you can help it, and these words arouse no shame in you, either before the gods, or this Odrysian, in whose eyes to-day you are man of means, though until you cultivated our friendship you lived a robber's life, as you have told us. However, why do you address yourself to me? I am no longer in command. Our generals are the Lacedaemonians, to whom you and yours delivered the army for withdrawal; and that, without even inviting me to attend, you most marvellous of men, so that if I lost their favour when I brought you the troops, I might now win their gratitude by restoring them."

Xenophon listened to what they had to say and replied: "It is hard to answer such words from you, of all people. But for the sake of the young man with you, I will try. At least he may learn how different your nature is from ours. Before we were your friends," he continued, "we could go wherever we pleased in this country. We moved about as we liked, looting and burning whatever we chose. And you yourself, Medosades, whenever you came to us as an ambassador, camped with us without fearing any enemy. "Your tribe as a whole hardly ever came near the country. If you did enter it, you camped with your horses ready to ride, as if you were in the territory of your superiors. Then you made friends with us, and thanks to us, with God's help, you won this country. Now you are trying to drive us out of it, though we held it by our own strength and gave it to you. As you well know, no enemy force could have driven us out. "One might have expected you personally to send us on our way with a gift, in return for the good we did you. Instead, even though we are leaving, we are not moving fast enough for you. You will not even let us find a place to stay if you can prevent it. And you feel no shame in saying these things, either before the gods or before this Odrysian. In his eyes, you are now a man of wealth, though you have told us you lived as a robber until you became our friend. "But why are you speaking to me? I am no longer in command. Our generals are the Lacedaemonians, to whom you and your people handed over the army so they could lead it away. You did not even invite me to be there, you most extraordinary man. If I lost their favor by bringing you the troops, I might now have won their gratitude by handing them back."

As soon as the Odrysian had heard this statement, he exclaimed: "For my part, Medosades, I sink under the earth for very shame at what I hear. If I had known the truth before, I would never have accompanied you. As it is, I return at once. Never would King Medocus applaud me, if I drove forth his benefactors." With these words, he mounted his horse and rode away, and with him the rest of his horsemen, except four or five. But Medosades, still vexed by the pillaging of the country, urged Xenophon to summon the two Lacedaemonians; and he, taking the pick of his men, came to Charminus and Polynicus and informed them that they were summoned by Medosades; probably they, like himself, would be warned to leave the country; "if so," he added, "you will be able to recover the pay which is owing to the army. You can say to them, that the army has requested you to assist in exacting their pay from Seuthes, whether he like it or not; that they have promised, as soon as they get this, cheerfully to follow you; that the demand seems to you to be only just, and that you have accordingly promised not to leave, until the soldiers have got their dues." The Lacedaemonians accepted the suggestion: they would apply these arguments and others the most forcible they could hit upon; and with the proper representatives of the army, they immediately set off.

As soon as the Odrysian heard this, he exclaimed: "Medosades, I am ashamed to hear this. If I had known the truth before, I would never have come with you. As it is, I am going back at once. King Medocus would never approve if I drove away his benefactors." With these words, he mounted his horse and rode away. All but four or five of his horsemen went with him. But Medosades was still angry about the pillaging of the country. He urged Xenophon to summon the two Lacedaemonians. Xenophon took his best men and went to Charminus and Polynicus. He told them that Medosades had summoned them. He said they would probably be told to leave the country, just as he had been. "If so," he added, "you will be able to recover the pay owed to the army. You can tell them that the army has asked you to help get its pay from Seuthes, whether he likes it or not. The soldiers have promised to follow you willingly as soon as they receive their pay. You can say that you think their demand is just. You have therefore promised not to leave until they have received what they are owed." The Lacedaemonians accepted the suggestion. They would use these arguments and any others they could think of that might be most persuasive. They immediately set off with the army's proper representatives.

On their arrival Charminus spoke: "If you have anything to say to us, Medosades, say it; but if not, we have something to say to you." And Medosades submissively made answer: "I say," said he, "and Seuthes says the same: we think we have a right to ask that those who have become our friends should not be ill-treated by you; whatever ill you do to them you really do to us, for they are a part of us." "Good!" replied the Lacedaemonians, "and we intend to go away as soon as those who won for you the people and the territory in question have got their pay. Failing that, we are coming without further delay to assist them and to punish certain others who have broken their oaths and done them wrong. If it should turn out that you come under this head, when we come to exact justice, we shall begin with you." Xenophon added: "Would you prefer, Medosades, to leave it to these people themselves, in whose country we are (your friends, since this is the designation you prefer), to decide by ballot, which of the two should leave the country, you or we?" To that proposal he shook his head, but he trusted the two Laconians might be induced to go to Seuthes about the pay, adding, "Seuthes, I am sure, will lend a willing ear;" or if they could not go, then he prayed them to send Xenophon with himself, promising to lend the latter all the aid in his power, and finally he begged them not to burn the villages. Accordingly they sent Xenophon, and with him a serviceable staff. Being arrived, he addressed Seuthes thus:—

When they arrived, Charminus spoke: "If you have anything to say to us, Medosades, say it. If not, we have something to say to you." Medosades answered submissively: "I say this, and Seuthes agrees. We think we have the right to ask you not to mistreat those who have become our friends. Whatever harm you do to them, you really do to us, for they are part of us." "Good!" replied the Lacedaemonians. "We intend to leave as soon as those who won these people and this territory for you have been paid. If they are not paid, we will come at once to help them. We will also punish certain others who have broken their oaths and wronged them. If you turn out to be among those people, we will start with you when we come to seek justice." Xenophon added: "Would you prefer, Medosades, to let the people whose country we are in decide by ballot? They are your friends, since that is what you prefer to call them. Let them decide which of us should leave the country, you or us." Medosades shook his head at the proposal. But he hoped the two Laconians might be persuaded to go to Seuthes about the pay. "Seuthes, I am sure, will listen willingly," he added. If they could not go, he begged them to send Xenophon with him instead. He promised to give Xenophon all the help he could. Finally, he begged them not to burn the villages. So they sent Xenophon with a useful group of attendants. When he arrived, he addressed Seuthes:

"Seuthes, I am here to advance no claims, but to show you, if I can, how unjust it was on your part to be angered with me because I zealously demanded of you on behalf of the soldiers what you promised them. According to my belief, it was no less to your interest to deliver it up, than it was to theirs to receive it. I cannot forget that, next to the gods, it was they who raised you up to a conspicuous eminence, when they made you king of large territory and many men, a position in which you cannot escape notice, whether you do good or do evil. For a man so circumstanced, I regarded it as a great thing that he should avoid the suspicion even of ungrateful parting with his benefactors. It was a great thing, I thought, that you should be well spoken of by six thousand human beings; but the greatest thing of all, that you should in no wise discredit the sincerity of your own word. For what of the man who cannot be trusted? I see that the words of his mouth are but vain words, powerless, and unhonoured; but with him who is seen to regard truth, the case is otherwise. He can achieve by his words what another achieves by force. If he seeks to bring the foolish to their senses—his very frown, I perceive, has a more sobering effect than the chastisement inflicted by another. Or in negotiations the very promises of such an one are of equal weight with the gifts of another.

"Seuthes, I am not here to make demands. I am here to show you, if I can, how wrong you were to be angry with me. I pressed you to give the soldiers what you had promised them. I believe it was as much in your interest to give it to them as it was in theirs to receive it. I cannot forget that, after the gods, it was the soldiers who raised you to a prominent position. They made you king over a large territory and many people. In that position, you cannot escape notice, whether you do good or evil. I thought it was important for a man in your position to avoid even the suspicion of parting ungratefully from his benefactors. I thought it was important for six thousand people to speak well of you. But I thought it most important of all that you should never cast doubt on your own word. For what of a man who cannot be trusted? I see that his words are empty, powerless, and without respect. But a man known to tell the truth is different. He can achieve with words what another man achieves by force. If he seeks to bring foolish people to their senses, his frown alone has more effect than another man's punishment. In negotiations, his promises carry as much weight as another man's gifts.

"Try and recall to mind in your own case, what advance of money you made to us to purchase our alliance. You know you did not advance one penny. It was simply confidence in the sincerity of your word which incited all these men to assist you in your campaign, and so to acquire for you an empire, worth many times more than thirty talents, which is all they now claim to receive. Here then, first of all, goes the credit which won for you your kingdom, sold for so mean a sum. Let me remind you of the great importance which you then attached to the acquisition of your present conquests. I am certain that to achieve what stands achieved to-day, you would willingly have foregone the gain of fifty times that paltry sum. To me it seems that to lose your present fortune were a more serious loss than never to have won it; since surely it is harder to be poor after being rich than never to have tasted wealth at all, and more painful to sink to the level of a subject, being a king, then never to have worn a crown.

“Try to remember how much money you paid us in advance to secure our alliance. You know you did not pay a penny. All these men joined your campaign simply because they trusted your word. They won you an empire worth many times more than the thirty talents they now claim. So the trust that won you your kingdom is being sold for that small sum. Remember how much you valued the conquests you now possess. I am sure you would gladly have given up fifty times that paltry sum to achieve what you have today. It seems to me that losing your present fortune would be worse than never having won it. Surely it is harder to be poor after being rich than never to have known wealth. And it is more painful for a king to become a subject than never to have worn a crown.

"You cannot forget that your present vassals were not persuaded to become your subjects out of love for you, but by sheer force; and but for some restraining dread they would endeavour to be free again to-morrow. And how do you propose to stimulate their sense of awe, and keep them in good behaviour towards you? Shall they see our soldiers so disposed towards you that a word on your part would suffice to keep them now, or if necessary would bring them back again to-morrow? while others hearing from us a hundred stories in your praise, hasten to present themselves at your desire? Or will you drive them to conclude adversely, that through mistrust of what has happened now, no second set of soldiers will come to help you, for even these troops of ours are more their friends than yours? And indeed it was not because they fell short of us in numbers that they became your subjects, but from lack of proper leaders. There is a danger, therefore, now lest they should choose as their protectors some of us who regard ourselves as wronged by you, or even better men than us—the Lacedaemonians themselves; supposing our soldiers undertake to serve with more enthusiasm, if the debt you owe to them be first exacted; and the Lacedaemonians, who need their services, consent to this request. It is plain, at any rate, that the Thracians, now prostrate at your feet, would display far more enthusiasm in attacking, than in assisting you; for your mastery means their slavery, and your defeat their liberty.

“You cannot forget that your present subjects did not submit to you out of love. They submitted by sheer force. If nothing held them back through fear, they would try to regain their freedom tomorrow. So how do you plan to keep them in awe of you and obedient? Will they see that our soldiers are so loyal to you that a word from you would keep them here? Or that, if necessary, a word would bring them back tomorrow? Will other soldiers hear a hundred stories from us praising you, and hurry to come whenever you want them? Or will your subjects reach the opposite conclusion? Will they think that, after what has happened now, no other soldiers will trust you enough to come to your aid? Will they see that even our troops are more friendly to them than to you? They did not become your subjects because they were fewer than we were. They lacked capable leaders. So there is a danger that they may now choose some of us as their protectors, since we believe you have wronged us. They might even choose better men than us, the Lacedaemonians themselves. That could happen if our soldiers agreed to serve more willingly once the debt you owe them had been collected, and if the Lacedaemonians, who need their services, agreed to this request. In any case, it is clear that the Thracians, now lying at your feet, would attack you far more eagerly than they would help you. For your rule means their slavery, and your defeat means their freedom.”

"Again, the country is now yours, and from this time forward you have to make provision for what is yours; and how will you best secure it an immunity from ill? Either these soldiers receive their dues and go, leaving a legacy of peace behind, or they stay and occupy an enemy's country, whilst you endeavour, by aid of a still larger army, to open a new campaign and turn them out; and your new troops will also need provisions. Or again, which will be the greater drain on your purse? to pay off your present debt, or, with that still owing, to bid for more troops, and of a better quality?

“Besides, the country is now yours, and from now on you must provide for what is yours. How can you best protect it from harm? Either these soldiers receive what they are owed and leave, leaving peace behind them, or they stay and occupy enemy territory. In that case, you will have to try to drive them out with a new campaign and an even larger army. Your new troops will also need provisions. And which will cost you more? Paying your present debt, or, while still owing that debt, offering money for more and better troops?

"Heracleides, as he used to prove to me, finds the sum excessive. But surely it is a far less serious thing for you to take and pay it back to-day than it would have been to pay the tithe of it, before we came to you; since the limit between less and more is no fixed number, but depends on the relative capacity of payer and recipient, and your yearly income now is larger than the whole property which you possessed in earlier days.

"Heracleides has often shown me that he thinks the sum is too large. But surely taking the money and paying it back today is far less burdensome for you than paying a tenth would have been before we came to you. The difference between less and more is not a fixed amount. It depends on the relative means of the payer and the recipient. And your yearly income is now greater than everything you owned in earlier days.

"Well, Seuthes, for myself these remarks are the expression of friendly forethought for a friend. They are expressed in the double hope that you may show yourself worthy of the good things which the gods have given you, and that my reputation may not be ruined with the army. For I must assure you that to-day, if I wished to injure a foe, I could not do so with this army. Nor again, if I wished to come and help you, should I be competent to the task; such is the disposition of the troops towards me. And yet I call you to witness, along with the gods who know, that never have I received anything from you on account of the soldiers. Never to this day have I, to my private gain, asked for what was theirs, nor even claimed the promises which were made to myself; and I swear to you, not even had you proposed to pay me my dues, would I have accepted them, unless the soldiers also had been going to receive theirs too; how could I? How shameful it would have been in me, so to have secured my own interests, whilst I disregarded the disastrous state of theirs, I being so honoured by them. Of course to the mind of Heracleides this is all silly talk; since the one great object is to keep money by whatever means. That is not my tenet, Seuthes. I believe that no fairer or brighter jewel can be given to a man, and most of all a prince, than the threefold grace of valour, justice, and generosity. He that possesses these is rich in the multitude of friends which surround him; rich also in the desire of others to be included in their number. While he prospers, he is surrounded by those who will rejoice with him in his joy; or if misfortune overtake him, he has no lack of sympathisers to give him help. However, if you have failed to learn from my deeds that I was, heart and soul, your friend; if my words are powerless to reveal the fact to-day, I would at least direct your attention to what the soldiers said; you were standing by and heard what those who sought to blame me said. They accused me to the Lacedaemonians, and the point of their indictment was that I set greater store by yourself than by the Lacedaemonians; but, as regards themselves, the charge was that I took more pains to secure the success of your interests than their own. They suggested that I had actually taken gifts from you. Was it, do you suppose, because they detected some ill-will in me towards you that they made the allegation? Was it not rather, that they had noticed my abundant zeal on your behalf?

“Well, Seuthes, I say these things out of concern for a friend. I hope you will prove worthy of the good things the gods have given you. I also hope my reputation with the army will not be ruined. I must assure you that, today, I could not use this army to harm an enemy, even if I wanted to. Nor could I come to your aid if I wanted to. That is how the troops feel about me. “Yet I call on you and the gods who know the truth as witnesses. I have never received anything from you on the soldiers’ account. To this day, I have never asked for what belonged to them for my own gain. I have not even claimed what was promised to me. And I swear that, even if you had offered to pay me what I was owed, I would not have accepted it unless the soldiers were also going to be paid. How could I? They had shown me such honor. How shameful it would have been to secure my own interests while ignoring the disastrous state of theirs. “Of course, Heracleides thinks all this is foolish talk. To him, the one great aim is to hold on to money by any means. That is not what I believe, Seuthes. I believe no finer or brighter jewel can be given to a man, especially a prince, than courage, justice, and generosity together. A man who has these is rich in the many friends around him. He is also rich in the desire of others to join their number. When he prospers, he is surrounded by people who share his joy. If misfortune strikes him, he has no shortage of people who sympathize with him and offer help. “But perhaps my actions have not shown you that I was your friend, heart and soul. Perhaps my words cannot show you that today. If so, at least consider what the soldiers said. You stood by and heard those who tried to blame me. They accused me before the Lacedaemonians of valuing you more than the Lacedaemonians. And they accused me of taking more care to secure your interests than their own. They suggested that I had actually taken gifts from you. Do you suppose they made that accusation because they saw some ill will toward you in me? Was it not rather because they had seen how eagerly I worked on your behalf?”

"All men believe, I think, that a fund of kindly feeling is due to him from whom we accept gifts. But what is your behaviour? Before I had ministered to you in any way, or done you a single service, you welcomed me kindly with your eyes, your voice, your hospitality, and you could not sate yourself with promises of all the fine things that were to follow. But having once achieved your object, and become the great man you now are, as great indeed as I could make you, you can stand by and see me degraded among my own soldiers! Well, time will teach you—that I fully believe—to pay whatever seems to you right, and even without the lessons of that teacher you will hardly care to see whose who have spent themselves in benefiting you, become your accusers. Only, when you do pay your debt, I beg of you to use your best endeavour to right me with the soldiers. Leave me at least where you found me; that is all I ask."

"I think all men believe they owe some goodwill to someone who gives them gifts. But how have you behaved? Before I had helped you in any way or done you a single service, you welcomed me warmly. Your looks, your voice, and your hospitality showed it. You could not make enough promises about all the fine things that would follow. But once you had achieved your goal, you became the great man you are now. Indeed, you became as great as I could make you. Yet you can stand by and watch me be disgraced among my own soldiers! "Well, I fully believe time will teach you to pay what you think is right. Even without that lesson, you will hardly want those who have spent themselves helping you to accuse you. Only, when you do pay your debt, I beg you to do your best to restore my standing with the soldiers. Leave me at least where you found me. That is all I ask."

After listening to this appeal, Seuthes called down curses on him, whose fault it was, that the debt had not long ago been paid, and, if the general suspicion was correct, this was Heracleides. "For myself," said Seuthes, "I never had any idea of robbing you of your just dues. I will repay." Then Xenophon rejoined: "Since you are minded to pay, I only ask that you will do so through me, and will not suffer me on your account to hold a different position in the army from what I held when we joined you." He replied: "As far as that goes, so far from holding a less honoured position among your own men on my account, if you will stay with me, keeping only a thousand heavy infantry, I will deliver to you the fortified places and everything I promised." The other answered: "On these terms I may not accept them, only let us go free." "Nay, but I know," said Seuthes, "that it is safer for you to bide with me than to go away." Then Xenophon again: "For your forethought I thank you, but I may not stay. Somewhere I may rise to honour, and that, be sure, shall redound to your gain also." Thereupon Seuthes spoke: "Of silver I have but little; that little, however, I give to you, one talent; but of beeves I can give you six hundred head, and of sheep four thousand, and of slaves six score. These take, and the hostages besides, who wronged you, and begone." Xenophon laughed and said: "But supposing these all together do not amount to the pay; for whom is the talent, shall I say? It is a little dangerous for myself, is it not? I think I had better be on the look-out for stones when I return. You heard the threats?"

After hearing this appeal, Seuthes cursed the man responsible for the debt not having been paid long ago. If the general suspicion was right, that man was Heracleides. "As for me," Seuthes said, "I never intended to rob you of what you are owed. I will pay you back." Xenophon replied: "Since you intend to pay, I ask only that you pay through me. Do not let me lose the standing I had in the army when we joined you, because of what you did." Seuthes replied: "You will not lose any honor among your own men because of me. In fact, if you stay with me and keep just a thousand heavy infantry, I will give you the fortified places and everything else I promised." Xenophon answered: "I cannot accept them on those terms. Just let us go free." "But I know," Seuthes said, "that you are safer staying with me than going away." Xenophon replied: "Thank you for your concern, but I cannot stay. I may win honor somewhere, and you can be sure that will benefit you too." Then Seuthes said: "I have little silver, but I give you what I have, one talent. I can also give you six hundred cattle, four thousand sheep, and a hundred and twenty slaves. Take them, along with the hostages who wronged you, and go." Xenophon laughed and said: "But suppose all these together do not cover the pay. Who shall I say the talent is for? That would be a little dangerous for me, wouldn't it? I think I'd better watch out for stones when I return. You heard the threats?"

So for the moment he stayed there, but the next day Seuthes gave up to them what he had promised, and sent an escort to drive the cattle. The soldiers at first maintained that Xenophon had gone to take up his abode with Seuthes, and to receive what he had been promised; so when they saw him they were pleased, and ran to meet him. And Xenophon, seeing Charminus and Polynicus, said: "Thanks to your intervention, this much has been saved for the army. My duty is to deliver this fraction over to your keeping; do you divide and distribute it to the soldiers." Accordingly they took the property and appointed official vendors of the booty, and in the end incurred considerable blame. Xenophon held aloof. In fact it was no secret that he was making his preparations to return home, for as yet the vote of banishment had not been passed at Athens¹. But the authorities in the camp came to him and begged him not to go away until he had conducted the army to its destination, and handed it over to Thibron.

So he stayed there for the moment. The next day, Seuthes gave them what he had promised and sent an escort to drive the cattle. The soldiers had initially claimed that Xenophon had gone to live with Seuthes and receive what he had been promised. So they were pleased when they saw him and ran to meet him. When Xenophon saw Charminus and Polynicus, he said: "Thanks to your intervention, this much has been saved for the army. My duty is to hand this share over to you. You must divide it and distribute it to the soldiers." So they took the property and appointed officials to sell the booty. In the end, they received considerable blame. Xenophon stayed out of it. In fact, he made no secret of his preparations to return home. The vote to banish him from Athens had not yet been passed¹. But the camp authorities came to him and begged him not to leave yet. They wanted him to lead the army to its destination and hand it over to Thibron.