21. TOXARIS Did the men lose their lives, Mnesippus, or were they unaccountably saved, somehow? I am very concerned about them. MNESIPPUS Never fear, Toxaris; they were saved and are now at Athens, both of them, studying philosophy. Simylus, to be sure, could only tell this tale about what he had once seen in the night—the one falling overboard, the other leaping after him, and both swimming as long as he could distinguish them in the darkness. But the sequel was told by Euthydicus himself. In the beginning they came upon some corks on which they supported themselves and kept afloat uncomfortably, but afterwards, seeing the gang plank at last, towards daybreak, they swam to it and then, after climbing upon it, easily drifted to Zacynthos.
21. Τόξαρις: πότερον δὲ ἀπώλοντο, ὦ Μνήσιππε, οἱ ἄνδρες, ἤ τις αὐτοῖς ἐκ παραλόγου σωτηρία ἐγένετο; ὡς ἔγωγε οὐ μετρίως δέδοικα ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν. Μνήσιππος: θάρρει, ὦ Τόξαρι, ἐσώθησαν, καὶ ἔτι καὶ νῦν εἰσιν Ἀθήνησιν ἄμφω φιλοσοφοῦντες. ὁ μὲν γὰρ Σιμύλος ταῦτα μόνα εἶχε λέγειν ἅ ποτε εἶδε τῆς νυκτός, τὸν μὲν ἐκπίπτοντα, τὸν δὲ ἐπιπηδῶντα, καὶ νηχομένους ἐς ὅσον ἐν νυκτὶ καθορᾶν ἐδύνατο. τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ τούτου οἱ ἀμφὶ τὸν Εὐθύδικον αὐτοὶ διηγοῦνται. τὸ μὲν γὰρ πρῶτον φελλοῖς τισι περιπεσόντας ἀνέχειν ἐπὶ τούτων ἑαυτοὺς καὶ ἀπονήχεσθαι πονηρῶς, ὕστερον δὲ τὴν ἀποβάθραν ἰδόντας ἤδη πρὸς ἕω προσνήξασθαί τε αὐτῇ καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἐπιβάντας εὐμαρῶς προσενεχθῆναι τῇ Ζακύνθῳ.
22. After these friends, who were by no means despicable, I should say, let me tell you now of a third who was not a bit inferior to them. Eudamidas of Corinth had formed friendships with Aretaeus of Corinth and Charixenus of Sicyon, who were both rich, while he was extremely poor. When he died, he left a will which very likely appeared ridiculous to everyone else, but I hardly think it will seem so to you, since you are a good man, a worshipper of friendship, and a competitor for the first prize in it. It was set down in the will: “I leave to Aretaeus my mother to support and cherish in her old age, and to Charixenus my daughter to bestow in marriage with the largest dowry that he can give her out of his own means” (besides an aged mother he had also a daughter, already marriageable); “and if anything should befall either of these men in the meantime, his interest is to go to the other.” When this will was read, all who knew of the poverty of Eudamidas but were unaware of the friendship which he had with the men considered the thing a joke, and every one of them went away laughing. ‘What a fine fortune Aretaeus and Charixenus, the lucky fellows, are coming into,” said they, “if they must pay out money to Eudamidas and have the dead man inherit from them while they themselves are still alive!”
22. Μνήσιππος: μετὰ δὲ τούτους οὐ φαύλους ὄντας, ὡς ἔγωγʼ ἂν εἴποιμι, ἄκουσον ἤδη τρίτον ἄλλον οὐδέν τι χείρονα αὐτῶν. Εὐδαμίδας Κορίνθιος Ἀρεταίῳ τῷ Κορινθίῳ καὶ Χαριξένῳ τῷ Σικυωνίῳ φίλοις ἐκέχρητο εὐπόροις οὖσι πενέστατος αὐτὸς ὤν· ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀπέθνησκε, διαθήκας ἀπέλιπε τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις ἴσως γελοίους, σοὶ δὲ οὐκ οἶδα εἰ τοιαῦται δόξουσιν ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ καὶ φιλίαν τιμῶντι καὶ περὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ πρωτείων ἁμιλλωμένῳ· ἐγέγραπτο γὰρ ἐν αὐταῖς, ἀπολείπω Ἀρεταίῳ μὲν τὴν μητέρα μου τρέφειν καὶ γηροκομεῖν, Χαριξένῳ δὲ τὴν θυγατέρα μου ἐκδοῦναι μετὰ προικὸς ὁπόσην ἂν πλείστην ἐπιδοῦναι παρʼ αὑτοῦ δύνηται — ἦν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ μήτηρ πρεσβῦτις καὶ θυγάτριον ὡραῖον ἤδη γάμου — ἢν δέ τι ἅτερος αὐτῶν ἐν τοσούτῳ πάθῃ, τὴν ἐκείνου μερίδα, φησίν, ἐχέτω ὁ ἕτερος. τούτων ἀναγνωσθεισῶν τῶν διαθηκῶν οἱ τὴν πενίαν μὲν εἰδότες τοῦ Εὐδαμίδα, τὴν φιλίαν δὲ ἣ πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας ἦν αὐτῷ ἀγνοοῦντες ἐν παιδιᾷ τὸ πρᾶγμα ἐποιοῦντο καὶ οὐδεὶς ὅστις οὐ γελῶν ἀπηλλάττετο, οἷον Ἀρεταῖος καὶ Χαρίξενος οἱ εὐδαίμονες κλῆρον διαδέξονται, λέγοντες, εἴπερ ἀποτίσουσιν Εὐδαμίδᾳ καὶ ζῶντες αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσονται ὑπὸ τοῦ νεκροῦ.
23. The heirs to whom these legacies had been left, on hearing of it, came at once to administer the will. Charixenus, to be sure, outlived his friend only five days; but Aretaeus proved himself the best of legatees. Assuming both his own interest and the other’s, he supported Eudamidas’ mother and also not long ago portioned his daughter off, giving, out of five talents that he had, dowries of two talents to his own daughter and two to his friend’s; moreover, he thought fit that they should both be married on the same day. What is your opinion, Toxaris, of this man Aretaeus? Has he set a bad example of friendship in accepting such legacies and not playing false to his his friend’s last will? Or shall we put him down among those definitely elected as one of the five? TOXARIS Yes, he too is noble; but to me Eudamidas is far more wonderful for the confidence he had in his friends. He made it plain that he himself would have done likewise for them; indeed, he would not have hung back if it had not been set down in a will, but would have presented himself before all the rest as an heir to such bequests by intestate succession.
23. Μνήσιππος: οἱ κληρονόμοι δὲ οἷς ταῦτα κατελέλειπτο, ὡς ἤκουσαν, ἧκον εὐθὺς διαιτῶντες τὰ ἐκ τῶν διαθηκῶν. ὁ μὲν οὖν Χαρίξενος πέντε μόνας ἡμέρας ἐπιβιοὺς ἀπέθανεν, ὁ δὲ Ἀρεταῖος ἄριστος κληρονόμων γενόμενος τήν τε αὑτοῦ καὶ τὴν ἐκείνου μερίδα παραλαβὼν τρέφει τε τοῦ Εὐδαμίδα τὴν μητέρα καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα οὐ πρὸ πολλοῦ ἐκδέδωκεν, ἀπὸ ταλάντων πέντε ὧν εἶχεν δύο μὲν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ θυγατρί, δύο δὲ τῇ τοῦ φίλου ἐπιδούς, καὶ τὸν γάμον γε αὐταῖν ἐπὶ μιᾶς ἡμέρας ἠξίωσε γενέσθαι. τί σοι δοκεῖ, ὦ Τόξαρι, ὁ Ἀρεταῖος οὗτος; ἆρα φαῦλον παράδειγμα φιλίας παρεσχῆσθαι τοιαῦτα κληρονομήσας καὶ μὴ προδοὺς τὰς διαθήκας τοῦ φίλου; ἢ τίθεμεν καὶ τοῦτον ἐν ταῖς τελείαις ψήφοις μίαν τῶν πέντε εἶναι; Τόξαρις: καὶ οὗτος μὲν καλός· ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν Εὐδαμίδαν πολὺ μᾶλλον ἐθαύμασα τοῦ θάρσους ὃ εἶχεν ἐπὶ τοῖς φίλοις. ἐδήλου γὰρ ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς ἂν τὰ ὅμοια ἔπραξεν ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς, εἰ μὴ καὶ ἐν διαθήκαις ταῦτα ἐνεγέγραπτο, ἀλλὰ πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἧκεν ἂν ἄγραφος κληρονόμος τῶν τοιούτων.
24. MNESIPPUS You are quite right.—As the fourth I shall tell you of Zenothemis, son of Charmolaus, of Massilia. He was pointed out to me in Italy when I was there as an ambassador of my country, a handsome, tall man, and a wealthy one, it seemed. His wife sat beside him as he passed through the street on a chariot; not only was she repulsive in general, but her right side was shrivelled and the eye wanting— a hideously disfigured, unapproachable nightmare. Then, when I expressed my surprise that he, a handsome and attractive man, could endure to have such a woman riding at his side, the person who had pointed him out told me what had made the marriage obligatory. He was accurately informed about it all, for he too was a Massaliote. “Menecrates,” he said, “the father of the misshapen woman yonder, had a friend, Zenothemis, who, like himself, was wealthy and distinguished. In course of time Menecrates had his property confiscated by judicial sentence, when he was disfranchised by the Six Hundred for presenting an unconstitutional measure. That,’ said he, “is the punishment we Massaliotes inflict whenever anyone proposes an unconstitutional enactment. Menecrates was distressed, of course, by the condemnation itself, since in a moment he had become poor instead of rich and dishonoured instead of honoured; but most of all he was worried about this daughter, who was then marriageable, and eighteen; but even with all the wealth which her father had possessed before his condemnation, no well-born man, though poor, would readily have agreed to accept her, so unfortunate was she in her appearance. It was said, too, that she had attacks of the falling sickness when the moon was waxing.
24. Μνήσιππος: εὖ λέγεις. τέταρτον δέ σοι διηγήσομαι Ζηνόθεμιν τὸν Χαρμόλεω Μασσαλίηθεν. ἐδείχθη δέ μοι ἐν Ἰταλίᾳ πρεσβεύοντι ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος, καλὸς ἀνὴρ καὶ μέγας καὶ πλούσιος, ὡς ἐδόκει· παρεκάθητο δὲ αὐτῷ γυνὴ ἐπὶ ζεύγους ὁδοιποροῦντι τά τε ἄλλα εἰδεχθὴς καὶ ξηρὰ τὸ ἥμισυ τὸ δεξιὸν καὶ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἐκκεκομμένη, παλλώβητόν τι καὶ ἀπρόσιτον μορμολυκεῖον. εἶτα ἐπεὶ ἐθαύμασα εἰ καλὸς οὗτος καὶ ὡραῖος ὢν ἀνέχεται παροχουμένην τοιαύτην αὐτῷ γυναῖκα, ὁ δείξας αὐτὸν διηγεῖτό μοι τὴν ἀνάγκην τοῦ γάμου ἀκριβῶς εἰδὼς ἕκαστα· Μασσαλιώτης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν. Μενεκράτει γάρ, ἔφη, τῷ πατρὶ τῆς δυσμόρφου ταύτης φίλος ἦν ὁ Ζηνόθεμις, πλουτοῦντι καὶ τιμωμένῳ ὁμότιμος ὤν. χρόνῳ δὲ ὁ Μενεκράτης ἀφῃρέθη τὴν οὐσίαν ἐκ καταδίκης, ὅτεπερ καὶ ἄτιμος ἐγένετο ὑπὸ τῶν ἑξακοσίων ὡς ἀποφηνάμενος γνώμην παράνομον. οὕτω δὲ οἱ Μασσαλιῶται κολάζομεν, ἔφη, εἴ τις παράνομα γράψειεν. ἐλυπεῖτο οὖν ὁ Μενεκράτης καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ καταδίκῃ, ἐπεὶ ἐκ πλουσίου πένης καὶ ἐξ ἐνδόξου ἄδοξος ἐν ὀλίγῳ ἐγένετο· μάλιστα δὲ αὐτὸν ἠνία θυγάτηρ αὕτη, ἐπίγαμος ἤδη καὶ ὀκτωκαιδεκαέτις οὖσα, ἣν οὐδὲ μετὰ πάσης τῆς οὐσίας τοῦ πατρὸς ἣν πρὸ τῆς καταδίκης ἐκέκτητο ἠξίωσεν ἄν τις τῶν γε εὐγενῶν καὶ πενήτων ῥᾳδίως παραλαβεῖν, οὕτως κακοδαίμονα οὖσαν τὴν ὄψιν. ἐλέγετο δὲ καὶ καταπίπτειν πρὸς τὴν σελήνην αὐξανομένην.
25. “When he was lamenting these misfortunes to Zenothemis, the latter said: ‘Never fear, Menecrates; you shall not lack what you need, and your daughter will find a husband worthy of her lineage.’ As he spoke, he grasped him by the hand, took him home, and shared his great wealth with him. Also, he ordered a dinner prepared and invited his friends, including Menecrates, to a wedding-feast, pretending to have persuaded one of his comrades to promise to marry the girl. When their dinner was over and they had poured the libation to the gods, at that moment Zenothemis held out to him his cup, full of wine, and said: ‘Accept, Menecrates, the lovingcup from your son-in-law, for I shall this day wed your daughter Cydimache; her dowry I received long ago, amounting to twenty-five talents.’ The other said: ‘No, no, Zenothemis, do not! May I never be so mad as to suffer you, who are young and handsome, to make a match with an ugly, disfigured girl!’ But while he was saying this, Zenothemis picked up the girl bodily and went into his chamber, from which he returned presently, after having made her his wife. “From that time on he has lived with her, cherishing her beyond measure and taking her about with him everywhere, as you see.
25. Μνήσιππος: ὡς δὲ ταῦτα πρὸς τὸν Ζηνόθεμιν ἀπωδύρετο, θάρρει, ἔφη, ὦ Μενέκρατες, οὔτε γὰρ ἀπορήσεις τῶν ἀναγκαίων καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ σου ἄξιον τοῦ γένους τινὰ εὑρήσει νυμφίον. καὶ ταῦτα ἅμα διεξιὼν λαβόμενος αὐτὸν τῆς δεξιᾶς ἦγεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ τήν τε οὐσίαν πολλὴν οὖσαν ἐνείματο πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δεῖπνον παρασκευασθῆναι κελεύσας εἱστία τοὺς φίλους καὶ τὸν Μενεκράτη, ὡς δή τινα τῶν ἑταίρων πεπεικὼς ὑποστῆναι τῆς κόρης τὸν γάμον. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐδεδείπνητο αὐτοῖς καὶ ἔσπεισαν τοῖς θεοῖς, ἐνταῦθα δὴ μεστὴν αὐτῷ τὴν φιάλην προτείνας, δέδεξο, εἶπεν, ὦ Μενέκρατες, παρὰ τοῦ γαμβροῦ φιλοτησίαν· ἄξομαι γὰρ ἐγὼ τήμερον τὴν σὴν θυγατέρα Κυδιμάχην· τὴν προῖκα δὲ πάλαι εἴληφα, τάλαντα πέντε καὶ εἴκοσι. τοῦ δέ, ἄπαγε, λέγοντος, μὴ σύ γε, ὦ Ζηνόθεμι· μὴ οὕτω μανείην ὡς περιιδεῖν σε νέον καὶ καλὸν ὄντα κόρῃ αἰσχρᾷ καὶ λελωβημένῃ συγκαταζευγνύμενον, ὁ δέ, ταῦτα διεξιόντος, ἀράμενος τὴν νύμφην ἀπῄει εἰς τὸν θάλαμον καὶ μετʼ ὀλίγον προῆλθεν διακορήσας αὐτήν. καὶ τὸ ἀπʼ ἐκείνου σύνεστιν ὑπεραγαπῶν καὶ πάντῃ ὡς ὁρᾷς περιαγόμενος αὐτήν.
26. Not only is he unashamed of his marriage, but indeed seems to be proud of it, offering it as proof that he thinks little of physical beauty or ugliness and of wealth and glory, but has. high regard for his friend, for Menecrates, and does not believe that the latter’s worth, as regards friendship, was lessened by the vote of the Six Hundred. Already, however, Fortune has requited him for this conduct. He has had a beautiful boy by this ugly woman; and besides, only recently, when the father took the child in his arms and brought him into the Senate-house wreathed with leaves of olive and dressed in black, in order that he might excite greater pity on behalf of his grandfather, the baby burst into laughter before the senators and clapped his two hands, whereupon the senate, softened by him, set the condemnation aside in favour of Menecrates, so that he is now in full possession of his rights and privileges through employing so tiny an. advocate to present his case to the members in session.” Such are the deeds which, according to the Massaliote, Zenothemis performed for his friend; as you see, they are not trivial, or likely to have been done by many Scythians, who even in the matter of concubines are said to be careful to select the most beautiful.
26. Μνήσιππος: καὶ οὐχ ὅπως αἰσχύνεται τῷ γάμῳ, ἀλλὰ καὶ σεμνυνομένῳ ἔοικεν, ἐπιδεικνύμενος ὡς καταφρονεῖ μὲν τῶν ἐν τῷ σώματι καλῶν ἢ αἰσχρῶν καὶ πλούτου καὶ δόξης, ἀφορᾷ δὲ ἐς τὸν φίλον καὶ τὸν Μενεκράτη, οὐδὲ οἴεται χείρω πρὸς φιλίαν ὑπὸ τῆς ψήφου τῶν ἑξακοσίων γεγονέναι. πλὴν ἤδη γε τούτων οὕτως αὐτὸν ἠμείψατο ἡ τύχη. παιδίον γὰρ πάγκαλον ἐκ τῆς αἰσχίστης αὐτῷ ταύτης ἐγένετο, καὶ πρῴην γε, ἐπεὶ ἀράμενος αὐτὸ εἰσεκόμισεν ὁ πατὴρ εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον θαλλῷ ἐστεμμένον καὶ μέλανα ἀμπεχόμενον, ὡς ἐλεεινότερον φανείη ὑπὲρ τοῦ πάππου, τὸ μὲν βρέφος ἀνεγέλασε πρὸς τοὺς βουλευτὰς καὶ συνεκρότει τὼ χεῖρε, ἡ βουλὴ δὲ ἐπικλασθεῖσα πρὸς αὐτὸ ἀφίησι τῷ Μενεκράτει τὴν καταδίκην καὶ ἤδη ἐπίτιμός ἐστι, τηλικούτῳ συνηγόρῳ χρησάμενος πρὸς τὸ συνέδριον. Τοιαῦτα ὁ Μασσαλιώτης ἔλεγεν τὸν Ζηνόθεμιν εἰργάσθαι ὑπὲρ τοῦ φίλου, ὡς ὁρᾷς, οὐ μικρὰ οὐδὲ ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἂν Σκυθῶν γενόμενα, οἵ γε κἂν τὰς παλλακὰς ἀκριβῶς τὰς καλλίστας ἐκλέγεσθαι λέγονται.
27. We have the fifth remaining, and I do not purpose to forget Demetrius of Sunium and tell of anyone else. Demetrius sailed to Egypt with Antiphilus of Alopece, his friend from boyhood and comrade in their military training. There they lived and studied together; he himself followed the Cynic school of philosophy under that sophist from Rhodes, while Antiphilus for his part studied medicine. Well, one time Demetrius happened to have gone into Egypt to see the pyramids and the statue of Memnon, for he had heard that the pyramids, though high, cast no shadow, and that Memnon utters a cry to the rising sun. Eager, therefore, to see the pyramids and tohear Memnon, Demetrius had cruised off up the Nile six months before, leaving behind him Antiphilus, who feared the journey and the heat.
27. Μνήσιππος: λοιπὸς ἡμῖν ὁ πέμπτος, καί μοι δοκῶ οὐκ ἄλλον ἐρεῖν Δημητρίου τοῦ Σουνιέως ἐπιλαθόμενος. συνεκπλεύσας γὰρ ἐς τὴν Αἴγυπτον ὁ Δημήτριος Ἀντιφίλῳ τῷ Ἀλωπεκῆθεν, ἑταίρῳ ἐκ παίδων ὄντι καὶ συνεφήβῳ, συνῆν καὶ συνεπαιδεύετο, αὐτὸς μὲν τὴν ἄσκησιν τὴν Κυνικὴν ἀσκούμενος ὑπὸ τῷ Ῥοδίῳ ἐκείνῳ σοφιστῇ, ὁ δὲ Ἀντίφιλος ἰατρικὴν ἄρα ἐμελέτα. καὶ δή ποτε ὁ μὲν Δημήτριος ἔτυχεν ἐς τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἀποδημῶν κατὰ θέαν τῶν πυραμίδων καὶ τοῦ Μέμνονος· ἤκουε γὰρ ταύτας ὑψηλὰς οὔσας μὴ παρέχεσθαι σκιάν, τὸν δὲ Μέμνονα βοᾶν πρὸς ἀνατέλλοντα τὸν ἥλιον. τούτων ἐπιθυμήσας Δημήτριος, θέας μὲν τῶν πυραμίδων, ἀκροάσεως δὲ τοῦ Μέμνονος, ἀναπεπλεύκει κατὰ τὸν Νεῖλον ἕκτον ἤδη μῆνα, ὀκνήσαντα πρὸς τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τὸ θάλπος ἀπολιπὼν τὸν Ἀντίφιλον.
28. In the meantime the latter met with a calamity which required a very staunch friend. His slave, Syrus by name and Syrian by nationality, joined certain temple-robbers, and entered the temple of Anubis with them. They robbed the god of two golden libation-bowls, a caduceus, also of gold, some dog-headed figures of silver, and other such matters, all of which they left in trust with Syrus. Then, after their imprisonment (for they were taken when they tried to sell something), they at once told everything when they were broken on the wheel, came under escort to the house of Antiphilus, and fetched out the stolen goods, which were lying under a bed in a dark corner. Consequently Syrus was confined at once, and with him his master, Antiphilus, who was actually seized while he listened to a lecture by his teacher. Nobody came to his assistance; on the contrary, even his erstwhile friends turned their backs upon him on the ground that he had robbed the Anubideum and considered it an act of impiety on their own part if they had ever drunk or eaten with him. Moreover, the two remaining servants bundled up everything in the house and made off.
28. Μνήσιππος: ὁ δὲ ἐν τοσούτῳ συμφορᾷ ἐχρήσατο μάλα γενναίου τινὸς φίλου δεομένῃ. οἰκέτης γὰρ αὐτοῦ, Σύρος καὶ τοὔνομα καὶ τὴν πατρίδα, ἱεροσύλοις τισὶ κοινωνήσας συνεισῆλθέν τε αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ Ἀνουβίδειον καὶ ἀποσυλήσαντες τὸν θεὸν χρυσᾶς τε φιάλας δύο καὶ κηρύκιον, χρυσοῦν καὶ τοῦτο, καὶ κυνοκεφάλους ἀργυροῦς καὶ ἄλλα τοιαῦτα, κατέθεντο πάντα παρὰ τῷ Σύρῳ· εἶτʼ ἐμπεσόντες — ἑάλωσαν γάρ τι ἀπεμπολῶντες — ἅπαντα εὐθὺς ἔλεγον στρεβλούμενοι ἐπὶ τοῦ τροχοῦ, καὶ ἀγόμενοι ἧκον ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ Ἀντιφίλου, καὶ τὰ φώρια ἐξέφερον ὑπὸ κλίνῃ τινὶ ἐν σκοτεινῷ κείμενα. ὅ τε οὖν Σύρος ἐδέδετο εὐθὺς καὶ ὁ δεσπότης αὐτοῦ Ἀντίφιλος, οὗτος μὲν καὶ μεταξὺ ἀκροώμενος τοῦ διδασκάλου ἀνασπασθείς. ἐβοήθει δὲ οὐδείς, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ τέως ἑταῖροι ἀπεστρέφοντο ὡς τὸ Ἀνουβίδειον σεσυληκότα καὶ ἀσέβημα αὐτῶν ἡγοῦντο εἶναι εἰ συνέπιόν ποτε ἢ συνειστιάθησαν αὐτῷ. καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ δὲ τῶν οἰκετῶν, δύο ὄντες, ἅπαντα ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας συσκευασάμενοι ᾤχοντο φεύγοντες.
29. Poor Antiphilus therefore remained in confinement for a long time, regarded as the most villainous of all the malefactors that there were in the prison, and the Egyptian keeper, a superstitious fellow, thought to gratify and avenge his god by exercising his authority over Antiphilus with a heavy hand. Whenever he defended himself, saying that he had not done anything of the sort, he was thought brazen-faced, and was detested much more for it. Consequently, he sickened at length and was ill, as might be expected in view of the fact that he slept on the ground and at night could not even stretch out his legs, which were confined in the stocks. By day, to be sure, the collar was sufficient, together with manacles upon one hand; but for the night he had to be fully secured by his bonds. Moreover, the stench of the room and its stifling air (since many were confined in the same place, cramped for room, and scarcely able to draw breath), the clash of iron, the scanty sleep—all these conditions were difficult and intolerable for such a man, unwonted to them and unschooled to a life so rigorous.
29. Μνήσιππος: ἐδέδετο οὖν ὁ ἄθλιος Ἀντίφιλος πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον, ἁπάντων ὅσοι ἦσαν κακοῦργοι ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ μιαρώτατος εἶναι δοκῶν, καὶ ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν δεσμῶν Αἰγύπτιος, δεισιδαίμων ἄνθρωπος, ᾤετο χαριεῖσθαι καὶ τιμωρήσειν τῷ θεῷ βαρὺς τῷ Ἀντιφίλῳ ἐφεστώς. εἰ δʼ ἀπολογοῖτό ποτε, λέγων ὡς οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον εἴργασται, ἀναίσχυντος ἐδόκει καὶ πολὺ πλέον ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἐμισεῖτο. ὑπενόσει τοιγαροῦν ἤδη καὶ πονηρῶς εἶχεν οἷον εἰκὸς χαμαὶ καθεύδοντα καὶ τῆς νυκτὸς οὐδὲ ἀποτείνειν τὰ σκέλη δυνάμενον ἐν τῷ ξύλῳ κατακεκλειμένα· τῆς μὲν γὰρ ἡμέρας ὁ κλοιὸς ἤρκει καὶ ἡ ἑτέρα χεὶρ πεπεδημένη, εἰς δὲ τὴν νύκτα ἔδει ὅλον καταδεδέσθαι. καὶ μὴν καὶ τοῦ οἰκήματος ἡ δυσοσμία καὶ τὸ πνῖγος, ἐν ταὐτῷ πολλῶν δεδεμένων καὶ ἐστενοχωρημένων καὶ μόλις ἀναπνεόντων, καὶ τοῦ σιδήρου ὁ ψόφος καὶ ὕπνος ὀλίγος — ταῦτα πάντα χαλεπὰ ἦν καὶ ἀφόρητα οἵῳ ἀνδρὶ ἐκείνων ἀήθει καὶ ἀμελετήτῳ πρὸς οὕτω σκληρὰν τὴν δίαιταν.
30. He was giving up the struggle and refusing even to take food when Demetrius came back, knowing nothing of what had happened until then. As soon as he found out, he set off, just as he was, straight for the prison at arun. At that time, however, he was not admitted, for it was evening and the keeper had long ago locked the door and gone to sleep, after directing his servants to keep watch; but in the morning he obtained admission by vehement entreaty. After entering he made a long search for Antiphilus, who had become unrecognisable through his miseries. He went about examining each of the prisoners just as people do who seek out their own dead amon the altered bodies on battle-fields. Indeed, had he not called his name aloud, ‘Antiphilus, son of Deinomenes,” he would not for a long time have known which was he, so greatly had he been changed by his dire straits. But Antiphilus, hearing his voice, cried out; and, as Demetrius approached, he parted his long hair, all unkempt and matted, drew it away from his face, and so disclosed his identity. At once both fell in a faint at the unexpected sight. After a time Demetrius brought both himself and Antiphilus to their senses, and ascertained from him definitely how everything stood. Then he bade him have no fear, and tearing his short cloak in two, put on one of the halves himself and gave the remainder to Antiphilus, after stripping from him the filthy, worn-out rags that he was wearing.
30. Μνήσιππος: ἀπαγορεύοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ καὶ μηδὲ σῖτον αἱρεῖσθαι θέλοντος, ἀφικνεῖταί ποτε καὶ ὁ Δημήτριος, οὐδὲν εἰδὼς τῶν ἤδη γεγενημένων. καὶ ἐπειδὴ ἔμαθεν, ὡς εἶχεν εὐθὺς ἐπὶ τὸ δεσμωτήριον δρομαῖος ἐλθών, τότε μὲν οὐκ εἰσεδέχθη, ἑσπέρα γὰρ ἦν, καὶ ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ πάλαι κεκλεικὼς τὴν θύραν ἐκάθευδε, φρουρεῖν τοῖς οἰκέταις παρακελευσάμενος· ἕωθεν δὲ εἰσέρχεται πολλὰ ἱκετεύσας. καὶ παρελθὼν ἐπὶ πολὺ μὲν ἐζήτει τὸν Ἀντίφιλον ἄδηλον ὑπὸ τῶν κακῶν γεγενημένον, καὶ περιιὼν ἀνεσκοπεῖτο καθʼ ἕκαστον τῶν δεδεμένων, ὥσπερ εἰώθασιν οἱ τοὺς οἰκείους νεκρούς, ἤδη ἑώλων ὄντων, ἀναζητοῦντες ἐν ταῖς παρατάξεσιν. καὶ εἴ γε μὴ τοὔνομα ἐβόησεν, Ἀντίφιλον Δεινομένους, κἂν ἐπὶ πολὺ ἠγνόησεν ἂν ὅστις ἦν, τοσοῦτον ἤλλακτο ὑπὸ τῶν δεινῶν. ὡς δὲ τὴν φωνὴν αἰσθόμενος ἀνεβόησεν καὶ προσιόντος διαστείλας τὴν κόμην καὶ ἀπάγων τοῦ προσώπου αὐχμηρὰν καὶ συμπεπιλημένην ἔδειξεν αὑτὸν ὅστις ἦν, ἄμφω μὲν αὐτίκα πίπτουσιν ἰλιγγιάσαντες ἐπὶ τῇ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ θέᾳ. χρόνῳ δὲ ἀναλαβὼν αὑτόν τε καὶ τὸν Ἀντίφιλον ὁ Δημήτριος καὶ σαφῶς ἕκαστα ὡς εἶχεν ἐκπυθόμενος παρʼ αὐτοῦ θαρρεῖν τε παρακελεύεται καὶ διελὼν τὸ τριβώνιον τὸ μὲν ἥμισυ αὐτὸς ἀναβάλλεται, τὸ λοιπὸν δὲ ἐκείνῳ δίδωσιν, ἃ εἶχε πιναρὰ καὶ ἐκτετρυχωμένα ῥάκη περισπάσας.
31. From that time forth, too, he shared his life in every way, attending and cherishing him; for by hiring himself out to the shipmen in the harbour from early morning until noon, he earned a good deal of money as a stevedore. Then, on returning from his work, he would give part of his pay to the keeper, thus rendering him tractable and peaceful, and the rest sufficed well enough for the maintenance of his friend. Each afternoon he remained with Antiphilus, keeping him in heart; and when night overtook him, he ‘sept just in front of the prison door, where he had made a place to lie and had put down some leaves. For some time they carried on in this way, Demetrius coming in without hindrance and Antiphilus bearing his misfortune more lightly.
31. Μνήσιππος: καὶ τὸ ἀπὸ τούτου πάντα τρόπον συνῆν ἐπιμελούμενος αὐτοῦ καὶ θεραπεύων· παραδοὺς γὰρ ἑαυτὸν τοῖς ἐν τῷ λιμένι ἐμπόροις ἕωθεν εἰς μέσην ἡμέραν οὐκ ὀλίγον ἀπέφερεν ἀχθοφορῶν. εἶτʼ ἐπανελθὼν ἂν ἐκ τοῦ ἔργου, μέρος μὲν τοῦ μισθοῦ τῷ δεσμοφύλακι καταβαλὼν τιθασὸν αὑτῷ καὶ εἰρηνικὸν ἀπειργάζετο αὐτόν, τὸ λοιπὸν δὲ εἰς τὴν τοῦ φίλου θεραπείαν ἱκανῶς αὐτῷ διήρκει. καὶ τὰς μὲν ἡμέρας συνῆν τῷ Ἀντιφίλῳ παραμυθούμενος, ἐπεὶ δὲ νὺξ καταλάβοι, ὀλίγον πρὸ τῆς θύρας τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου στιβάδιόν τι ποιησάμενος καὶ φύλλα ὑποβαλόμενος ἀνεπαύετο. χρόνον μὲν οὖν τινα οὕτω διῆγον, εἰσιὼν μὲν ὁ Δημήτριος ἀκωλύτως, ῥᾷον δὲ φέρων τὴν συμφορὰν ὁ Ἀντίφιλος.
32. But later, after a certain brigand had died in the prison (by poison, it was thought) a close guard was instituted, and not one of those who sought admission could enter the gaol any longer. Perplexed and distressed over this situation, as he had no other way to be with his comrade, he went to the governor and incriminated himself, alleging that he had been an accomplice in the attempt upon Anubis. When he had made that statement, he was haled straight to prison, and on being brought in with Antiphilus, he managed with difficulty, by dint of urgent entreaties addressed to the warden, to obtain from him one concession, at least—that of being confined near Antiphilus and in the same set of irons. Then indeed, more than any other time, he displayed the affection which he had for him, neglecting his own adversities (though he himself had fallen ill) but taking care that Antiphilus should sleep as well as possible and should suffer less distress. So they bore their discomforts more easily by sharing them with each other.
32. Μνήσιππος: ὕστερον δὲ ἀποθανόντος ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ λῃστοῦ τινος ὑπὸ φαρμάκων, ὡς ἐδόκει, φυλακή τε ἀκριβὴς ἐγένετο καὶ οὐκέτι παρῄει εἰς τὸ οἴκημα οὐδὲ εἷς τῶν δεομένων. ἐφʼ οἷς ἀπορῶν καὶ ἀνιώμενος, οὐκ ἔχων ἄλλως παρεῖναι τῷ ἑταίρῳ, προσαγγέλλει ἑαυτὸν ἐλθὼν πρὸς τὸν ἁρμοστήν, ὡς εἴη κεκοινωνηκὼς τῆς ἐπὶ τὸν Ἄνουβιν ἐπιβουλῆς. ὡς δὲ τοῦτο εἶπεν, ἀπήγετο εὐθὺς ἐς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, καὶ ἀχθεὶς παρὰ τὸν Ἀντίφιλον τοῦτο γοῦν μόλις, πολλὰ ἱκετεύσας τὸν δεσμοφύλακα, ἐξειργάσατο παρʼ αὐτοῦ, πλησίον τῷ Ἀντιφίλῳ καὶ ὑπὸ τῷ αὐτῷ κλοιῷ δεδέσθαι. ἔνθα δὴ καὶ μάλιστα ἔδειξε τὴν εὔνοιαν ἣν εἶχε πρὸς αὐτόν, ἀμελῶν μὲν τῶν καθʼ ἑαυτὸν δεινῶν (καίτοι ἐνόσησε καὶ αὐτός), ἐπιμελούμενος δὲ ὅπως ἐκεῖνος μάλιστα καθευδήσει καὶ ἧττον ἀνιάσεται· ὥστε ῥᾷον ἔφερον μετʼ ἀλλήλων κακοπαθοῦντες.
33. In time an accident occurred which relieved them from further misfortune. One of the men in irons, having somehow obtained possession of a file and enlisted many of the prisoners in a plot, cut the chain to which they were all attached in a row, with their fetters strung upon it, and so set them allfree; whereupon they easily killed the guards, who were few, and escaped together. Well, those others scattered at once, going wherever each one of them could, and afterwards were arrested, most of them. Demetrius and Antiphilus, however, remained where they were, and seized Syrus just as he was about to go. When daylight came, as soon as the prefect of Egypt learned what had happened, hesent men tohunt down the others, but summoned Demetrius and his friend and freed them from imprisonment, praising them because they alone did not run away. They were not the men, however, to be content with being released in that way. Demetrius cried out and made a great stir, saying that grave injustice was being done them, since it would be thought that they were criminals, and were being released by way of mercy or commendation because they had not run away; and at length they forced the magistrate to undertake an accurate investigation of the affair. When he discovered that they were not guilty, he commended them, expressing very great admiration for Demetrius, and in dismissing them condoled with them over the punishment which they had undergone through their unjust imprisonment and presented each of them with a gift out of his own pocket, Antiphilus with ten thousand drachmas and Demetrius with twice as much.
33. Μνήσιππος: χρόνῳ δὲ καὶ τοιόνδε τι προσπεσὸν ἔπαυσεν ἐπὶ πλέον αὐτοὺς δυστυχοῦντας. εἷς γὰρ τῶν δεδεμένων, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅθεν ῥίνης εὐπορήσας καὶ συνωμότας πολλοὺς τῶν δεσμωτῶν προσλαβών, ἀποπρίει τε τὴν ἅλυσιν ᾗ ἐδέδεντο ἑξῆς, τῶν κλοιῶν εἰς αὐτὴν διειρομένων, καὶ ἀπολύει ἅπαντας· οἱ δὲ ἀποκτείναντες εὐμαρῶς ὀλίγους ὄντας τοὺς φύλακας ἐκπηδῶσιν ἀθρόοι. ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν τὸ παραυτίκα ἔνθα ἐδύναντο ἕκαστος διασπαρέντες ὕστερον συνελήφθησαν οἱ πολλοί· ὁ Δημήτριος δὲ καὶ ὁ Ἀντίφιλος κατὰ χώραν ἔμειναν, καὶ τοῦ Σύρου λαβόμενοι ἤδη ἀπιόντος. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἡμέρα ἐγένετο, μαθὼν ὁ τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἐπιτετραμμένος τὸ συμβεβηκὸς ἐπʼ ἐκείνους μὲν ἔπεμψεν τοὺς διωξομένους, μεταστειλάμενος δὲ τοὺς ἀμφὶ τὸν Δημήτριον ἀπέλυσε τῶν δεσμῶν, ἐπαινέσας ὅτι μόνοι οὐκ ἀπέδρασαν. ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐκεῖνοί γε ἠγάπησαν οὕτως ἀφιέμενοι, ἐβόα δὲ ὁ Δημήτριος καὶ δεινὰ ἐποίει, ἀδικεῖσθαι σφᾶς οὐ μικρὰ εἰ δόξουσι κακοῦργοι ὄντες ἐλέῳ ἢ ἐπαίνῳ τοῦ μὴ ἀποδρᾶναι ἀφεῖσθαι· καὶ τέλος ἠνάγκασαν τὸν δικαστὴν ἀκριβῶς τὸ πρᾶγμα ἐξετάσαι. ὁ δὲ ἐπεὶ ἔμαθεν οὐδὲν ἀδικοῦντας, ἐπαινέσας αὐτούς, τὸν Δημήτριον δὲ καὶ πάνυ θαυμάσας, ἀφίησι παραμυθησάμενος ἐπὶ τῇ κολάσει ἣν ἠνέσχοντο ἀδίκως δεθέντες, καὶ ἑκάτερον δωρησάμενος παρʼ αὑτοῦ, δραχμαῖς μὲν μυρίαις τὸν Ἀντίφιλον, δὶς τοσαύταις δὲ τὸν Δημήτριον.
34. Antiphilus is still in Egypt, but Demetrius left his own twenty thousand to his friend and went away to India, to join the Brahmans, merely saying to Antiphilus that he might fairly be held excusable for leaving him now; for he himself would not want the money as long as he remained what he was, able to content himself with little, and Antiphilus would not need a friend any longer, since his circumstances had become easy. That, Toxaris, is what Greek friends are like. If you had not previously calumniated us as priding ourselves greatly upon words, I should have repeated for you the very speech, a long one and a good one, that Demetrius made in the court-room, not defending himself at all but only Antiphilus; weeping, moreover, and imploring, and taking the whole thing upon himself until Syrus under the lash exonerated both of them.
34. Μνήσιππος: ὁ μὲν οὖν Ἀντίφιλος ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἐστίν, ὁ δὲ Δημήτριος καὶ τὰς αὑτοῦ δισμυρίας ἐκείνῳ καταλιπὼν ᾤχετο ἀπιὼν εἰς τὴν Ἰνδικὴν παρὰ τοὺς Βραχμᾶνας, τοσοῦτον εἰπὼν πρὸς τὸν Ἀντίφιλον, ὡς συγγνωστὸς ἂν εἰκότως νομίζοιτο ἤδη ἀπολιπὼν αὐτόν· οὔτε γὰρ αὐτὸς δεῖσθαι τῶν χρημάτων, ἔστʼ ἂν αὐτὸς ᾖ ὅπερ ἐστίν, ἀρκεῖσθαι ὀλίγοις δυνάμενος, οὔτε ἐκείνῳ ἔτι δεῖν φίλου, εὐμαρῶν αὐτῷ τῶν πραγμάτων γεγενημένων. τοιοῦτοι, ὦ Τόξαρι, οἱ Ἕλληνες φίλοι. εἰ δὲ μὴ προδιεβεβλήκεις ἡμᾶς ὡς ἐπὶ ῥήμασι μέγα φρονοῦντας, καὶ αὐτοὺς ἄν σοι τοὺς λόγους διεξῆλθον, πολλοὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς ὄντας, οὓς ὁ Δημήτριος εἶπεν ἐν τῷ δικαστηρίῳ, ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ μὲν οὐδὲν ἀπολογούμενος, ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἀντιφίλου δέ, καὶ δακρύων προσέτι καὶ ἱκετεύων καὶ τὸ πᾶν ἐφʼ ἑαυτὸν ἀναδεχόμενος, ἄχρι μαστιγούμενος ὁ Σύρος ἀμφοτέρους ἀφίησιν αὐτούς.
35. I have told you these few instances out of a greater number (the first that my memory supplied), of friends that were good and true; and now, dismounting from my steed, I yield the word henceforth to you. How you are to make out that your Scythians are not worse, but much better than these men, will be your own look-out, if you are at all concerned about your right hand, for fear of having it cut off. But you must show yourself a man of prowess, for you would put yourself in a laughable position if, after your very expert laudation of Orestes and Pylades, you should reveal yourself a poor spokesman on behalf of Scythia. TOXARIS Well done, Mnesippus! You are giving me - encouragement for my speech, as if it did not matter at all to you whether you get the worst of it in our dispute and have your tongue docked. However, I shall begin at once, without any display of fine words such as you have made; for that is not a Scythian habit, especially when the deeds speak louder than the words. And do not expect from us anything like what you told of when you commended a man if he married an ugly wife without a dowry, or if he gave money to the amount of two talents to the daughter of 'a friend on her marriage, or even, by Zeus, if he allowed himself to be imprisoned when it was obvious that he would soon be released; for those are very paltry matters, and there is nothing of greatness or bravery in them.
35. Μνήσιππος: ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τούτους ὀλίγους ἀπὸ πλειόνων, οὓς πρώτους ἡ μνήμη ὑπέβαλε, διηγησάμην σοι ἀγαθοὺς καὶ βεβαίους φίλους. καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου σοὶ τὴν ῥήτραν παραδίδωμι· σὺ δὲ ὅπως μὴ χείρους ἐρεῖς τοὺς Σκύθας, ἀλλὰ πολλῷ τούτων ἀμείνους, αὐτῷ σοὶ μελήσει, εἴ τι καὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς πεφρόντικας, ὡς μὴ ἀποτμηθείης αὐτήν. ἀλλὰ χρὴ ἄνδρα ἀγαθὸν εἶναι· ἐπεὶ καὶ γελοῖα ἂν πάθοις Ὀρέστην μὲν καὶ Πυλάδην πάνυ σοφιστικῶς ἐπαινέσας, ὑπὲρ δὲ τῆς Σκυθίας φαῦλος ῥήτωρ φαινόμενος. Τόξαρις: εὖ γε, ὦ Μνήσιππε, ὅτι καὶ παροτρύνεις με πρὸς τὸν λόγον, ὥσπερ οὐ πάνυ σοι μέλον εἰ ἀποτμηθείης τὴν γλῶτταν κρατηθεὶς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις. πλὴν ἄρξομαί γε ἤδη, μηδὲν ὥσπερ σὺ καλλιλογησάμενος· οὐ γὰρ Σκυθικὸν τοῦτο, καὶ μάλιστα ἐπειδὰν τὰ ἔργα ὑπερφθέγγηται τοὺς λόγους. προσδοκήσῃς δὲ μηδὲν τοιοῦτο παρʼ ἡμῶν οἷα σὺ διεξελήλυθας, ἐπαινῶν εἴ τις ἄπροικον ἔγημεν αἰσχρὰν γυναῖκα ἢ εἴ τις ἀργύριον ἐπέδωκε γαμουμένῃ φίλου ἀνδρὸς θυγατρὶ δύο τάλαντα, ἢ καὶ νὴ Δίʼ εἴ τις παρέσχεν ἑαυτὸν δεδησόμενον ἐπὶ προδήλῳ τῷ μικρὸν ὕστερον λυθήσεσθαι· πάνυ γὰρ εὐτελῆ ταῦτα καὶ μεγαλουργὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἢ ἀνδρεῖον ἔνι οὐδέν.
36. I shall tell you of many deeds of blood and battles and deaths for the sake of friends, that you may know the achievements of your people to be child’s play in comparison with those of the Scythians. Yet it is not unaccountable that this is so with you Greeks, but natural for you to praise these trivial matters; for you lack, you entirely lack momentous occasions for the display, of friendship, living as you do in profound peace. Just so in calm weather a man cannot tell whether his sailing-master is good; hé will need a storm to determine that. With us, however, wars are continuous, and we are always either invading the territory of others, or withdrawing before invaders, or meeting in battle over pasturage or stolen cattle, where need for good friends is greatest; and for that reason we cement our friendships as strongly as we can, thinking this to be the only irresistible and unconquerable weapon of war.
36. Τόξαρις: ἐγὼ δέ σοι διηγήσομαι φόνους πολλοὺς καὶ πολέμους καὶ θανάτους ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων, ἵνʼ εἰδῇς ὡς παιδιὰ τὰ ὑμέτερά ἐστιν παρὰ τὰ Σκυθικὰ ἐξετάζεσθαι. καίτοι οὐδὲ ἀλόγως αὐτὸ πεπόνθατε, ἀλλὰ εἰκότως τὰ μικρὰ ταῦτα ἐπαινεῖτε· οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ εἰσιν ὑμῖν ἀφορμαὶ ὑπερμεγέθεις πρὸς ἐπίδειξιν φιλίας ἐν εἰρήνῃ βαθείᾳ βιοῦσιν, ὥσπερ οὐδʼ ἂν ἐν γαλήνῃ μάθοις εἰ ἀγαθὸς ὁ κυβερνήτης ἐστί· χειμῶνος γὰρ δεήσει σοὶ πρὸς τὴν διάγνωσιν. παρʼ ἡμῖν δὲ συνεχεῖς οἱ πόλεμοι, καὶ ἢ ἐπελαύνομεν ἄλλοις ἢ ὑποχωροῦμεν ἐπιόντας ἢ συμπεσόντες ὑπὲρ νομῆς ἢ λείας μαχόμεθα, ἔνθα μάλιστα δεῖ φίλων ἀγαθῶν· καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὡς βεβαιότατα συντιθέμεθα τὰς φιλίας, μόνον τοῦτο ὅπλον ἄμαχον καὶ δυσπολέμητον εἶναι νομίζοντες.
37. First of all, I wish to tell you how we make our friends. Not through boon-companionship, as you do, nor because a man has been a comrade of ours in military training or a neighbour. No, when we see a brave man, capable of great achievements, we all make after him, and we think fit to behave in forming friendships as you do in seeking brides, paying them protracted court and doing everything in their company to the end that we may not fall short of attaining their friendship or be thought to deserve rejection. And whena man has been singled out and is at last a friend, there ensue formal compacts and the most solemn of oaths that we will not only live with one another but die, if need be, for each other; and we do just that. For, once we have cut our fingers, let the blood drip into a cup, dipped our sword-points into it, and then, both at once, have set it to our lips and drunk, there is nothing thereafter that can dissolve the bond between us. _ We are permitted at most to enter into three such compacts, since a man of many friends resembles, we think, promiscuous women with their lovers, and we consider that his friendship is no longer of the same strength when it has been split up into a multitude of loyalties.
37. Τόξαρις: πρότερον δέ σοι εἰπεῖν βούλομαι ὃν τρόπον ποιούμεθα τοὺς φίλους, οὐκ ἐκ τῶν πότων, ὥσπερ ὑμεῖς, οὐδὲ εἰ συνέφηβός τις ἢ γείτων ἦν, ἀλλʼ ἐπειδάν τινα ἴδωμεν ἀγαθὸν ἄνδρα καὶ μεγάλα ἐργάσασθαι δυνάμενον, ἐπὶ τοῦτον ἅπαντες σπεύδομεν, καὶ ὅπερ ὑμεῖς ἐν τοῖς γάμοις, τοῦτο ἡμεῖς ἐπὶ τῶν φίλων ποιεῖν ἀξιοῦμεν, ἐπὶ πολὺ μνηστευόμενοι καὶ πάντα ὁμοῦ πράττοντες ὡς μὴ διαμαρτάνοιμεν τῆς φιλίας μηδὲ ἀπόβλητοι δόξωμεν εἶναι. κἀπειδὰν προκριθείς τις ἤδη φίλος ᾖ, συνθῆκαι τὸ ἀπὸ τούτου καὶ ὅρκος ὁ μέγιστος, ἦ μὴν καὶ βιώσεσθαι μετʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ ἀποθανεῖσθαι, ἢν δέῃ, ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑτέρου τὸν ἕτερον· καὶ οὕτω ποιοῦμεν. ἀφʼ οὗ γὰρ ἂν ἐντεμόντες ἅπαξ τοὺς δακτύλους ἐνσταλάξωμεν τὸ αἷμα εἰς κύλικα καὶ τὰ ξίφη ἄκρα βάψαντες ἅμα ἀμφότεροι ἐπισχόμενοι πίωμεν, οὐκ ἔστιν ὅ τι τὸ μετὰ τοῦτο ἡμᾶς διαλύσειεν ἄν. ἐφεῖται δὲ τὸ μέγιστον ἄχρι τριῶν ἐς τὰς συνθήκας εἰσιέναι· ὡς ὅστις ἂν πολύφιλος ᾖ, ὅμοιος ἡμῖν δοκεῖ ταῖς κοιναῖς ταύταις καὶ μοιχευομέναις γυναιξί, καὶ οἰόμεθα οὐκέθʼ ὁμοίως ἰσχυρὰν αὐτοῦ τὴν φιλίαν εἶναι, πρὸς πολλὰς εὐνοίας διαιρεθεῖσαν.
38. I shall begin with the affair of Dandamis, which happened recently. In our engagement with the Sauromatae, when Amizoces had been taken prisoner, his friend Dandamis—but stay! first let me take my oath for you in our way, since that also was part of the agreement that I made with you in the beginning. I swear by Wind and Glaive that I shall tell you no falsehood, Mnesippus, about Scythian friends. MNESIPPUS I scarcely felt the need of your swearing, but you did well to avoid taking oath by any god! TOXARIS What is that you say? Do you not think Wind and Glaive are gods? Were you really so unaware that there is nothing more important to mankind than life and death? Well then, when we swear by Wind and Glaive, we do so because the wind is the source of life, and the glaive the cause of death.MNESIPPUS Well, really, if that is the reason, you could have many other such gods as Glaive is—Arrow, Spear, Poison, Halter, and the like; for this god Death takes many shapes and puts at our disposal an infinite number of roads that lead to him. TOXARIS Don’t you see how it smacks of sophists bickering and lawyers in court for you to act this way, interrupting and spoiling my story? I kept still while you were talking.MNESIPPUS I won’t do it again, anyhow, Toxaris, for you were quite right in your reproof. Therefore, you may proceed confidently, as if I were not even here while you are talking, so silent shall I be for you.
38. Τόξαρις: ἄρξομαι δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν Δανδάμιδος πρῴην γενομένων. ὁ γὰρ Δάνδαμις ἐν τῇ πρὸς Σαυρομάτας συμπλοκῇ, ἀπαχθέντος αἰχμαλώτου Ἀμιζώκου τοῦ φίλου αὐτοῦ — μᾶλλον δὲ πρότερον ὀμοῦμαί σοι τὸν ἡμέτερον ὅρκον, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἐν ἀρχῇ διωμολογησάμην· οὐ μὰ γὰρ τὸν Ἄνεμον καὶ τὸν Ἀκινάκην, οὐδὲν πρὸς σέ, ὦ Μνήσιππε, ψεῦδος ἐρῶ περὶ τῶν φίλων τῶν Σκυθῶν. Μνήσιππος: ἐγὼ μὲν οὐ πάνυ σου ὀμνύντος ἐδεόμην· σὺ δὲ ὅμως εὖ ποιῶν οὐδένα θεῶν ἐπωμόσω. Τόξαρις: τί σὺ λέγεις; οὔ σοι δοκοῦσιν ὁ Ἄνεμος καὶ ὁ Ἀκινάκης θεοὶ εἶναι; οὕτως ἄρα ἠγνόησας ὅτι ἀνθρώποις μεῖζον οὐδέν ἐστιν ζωῆς τε καὶ θανάτου; ὁπόταν τοίνυν τὸν Ἄνεμον καὶ τὸν Ἀκινάκην ὀμνύωμεν, ταῦτα ὀμνύομεν ὡς τὸν μὲν ἄνεμον ζωῆς αἴτιον ὄντα, τὸν ἀκινάκην δὲ ὅτι ἀποθνήσκειν ποιεῖ. Μνήσιππος: καὶ μὴν εἰ διά γε τοῦτο, καὶ ἄλλους ἂν ἔχοιτε πολλοὺς θεοὺς οἷος ὁ Ἀκινάκης ἐστί, τὸν Ὀιστὸν καὶ τὴν Λόγχην καὶ Κώνειον δὲ καὶ Βρόχον καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα· ποικίλος γὰρ οὗτος ὁ θεὸς ὁ θάνατος καὶ ἀπείρους τὰς ἐφʼ ἑαυτὸν παρέχεται ἀγούσας ὁδούς. Τόξαρις: ὁρᾷς τοῦτο ὡς ἐριστικὸν ποιεῖς καὶ δικανικόν, ὑποκρούων μεταξὺ καὶ διαφθείρων μου τὸν λόγον; ἐγὼ δὲ ἡσυχίαν ἦγον σοῦ λέγοντος. Μνήσιππος: ἀλλʼ οὐκ αὖθίς γε, ὦ Τόξαρι, ποιήσω τοῦτο, πάνυ γὰρ ὀρθῶς ἐπετίμησας· ὥστε θαρρῶν τό γε ἐπὶ τούτῳ λέγε, ὡς μηδὲ παρόντος ἐμοῦ τοῖς λόγοις, οὕτω σιωπήσομαί σοι.
39. TOXARIS The friendship of Dandamis and Amizoces was three days old, counting from the time when they drank each other’s blood, when the Sauromatae descended upon our country with ten thousand horse; and the foot came over the border, it was said, in thrice that number. As our people had not foreseen their attack, they not only routed us completely when they fell upon us, but slew many of the fighting men and took the rest prisoners, except one or another who succeeded in swimming over to the other side of the river, where we had half our encampment and part of the wagons; for that was the way in which we had pitched our tents at the time, since for some reason unknown to me it had seemed good to the leaders of our horde—on both banks of the Tanais. At once they began to round up the cattle, secure the prisoners, plunder the tents, and seize the wagons, taking most of them with all their occupants and offering violence to our concubines and wives before our very eyes; and we were distressed over the situation.
39. Τόξαρις: τετάρτη μὲν ἦν ἡμέρα τῆς φιλίας Δανδάμιδι καὶ Ἀμιζώκῃ, ἀφʼ οὗ τὸ ἀλλήλων αἷμα συνεπεπώκεσαν· ἧκον δὲ ἡμῖν ἐπὶ τὴν χώραν Σαυρομάται μυρίοις μὲν ἱππεῦσιν, οἱ πεζοὶ δὲ τρὶς τοσοῦτοι ἐπεληλυθέναι ἐλέγοντο. οἷα δὲ οὐ προϊδομένοις τὴν ἔφοδον αὐτῶν ἐπιπεσόντες ἅπαντας μὲν τρέπουσι, πολλοὺς δὲ τῶν μαχίμων κτείνουσι, τοὺς δὲ καὶ ζῶντας ἀπάγουσι, πλὴν εἴ τις ἔφθη διανηξάμενος εἰς τὸ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, ἔνθα ἡμῖν τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ στρατοπέδου καὶ μέρος τῶν ἁμαξῶν ἦν· οὕτω γὰρ ἐσκηνώσαμεν τότε, οὐκ οἶδα ὅ τι δόξαν τοῖς ἀρχιπλάνοις ἡμῶν, ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέρας τὰς ὄχθας τοῦ Τανάϊδος. εὐθὺς οὖν ἥ τε λεία περιηλαύνετο καὶ τὰ αἰχμάλωτα συνείχετο καὶ τὰς σκηνὰς διήρπαζον καὶ τὰς ἁμάξας κατελαμβάνοντο, αὐτάνδρους τὰς πλείστας ἁλισκομένας, καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν ὑβρίζοντες τὰς παλλακίδας καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας· ἡμεῖς δὲ ἠνιώμεθα τῷ πράγματι.
40. But as Amizoces was being dragged away—for he had been taken—he called upon his friend by name because of his disgraceful captivity and reminded him of the cup and the blood. When Dandamis heard that, without an instant’s hesitation, under the eyes of everyone he swam over to the enemy. The Sauromatae rushed at him with brandished javelins, intending to spear him to death, but he called out “Zirin.”” If anyone says that, he is not killed by them, but is received as coming to offer ransom. On being brought up to the leader, he demanded his friend back, but the man asked for ransom; he would not let him go, he said, unless he got a great deal for him. Dandamis replied: “All that I had has been carried off by your people; but if in any way I can make payment as I stand, I am ready to proffer it to you. Lay on me whatever command you will; if you like, take me in his place and use me as you please.” The Sauromatian answered: “There is no need for you to put yourself completely in our power, especially when you come as Zirin; pay part of what you possess, and take away your friend.” Dandamis asked what he would have; whereupon the other demanded his eyes, and at once he allowed them to be put out. When that had been done and the Sauromatae had their ransom, taking Amizoces, he set off for home leaning upon him, and by. swimming across together they got back to us in safety.
40. Τόξαρις: ὁ δὲ Ἀμιζώκης ἀγόμενος — ἑαλώκει γάρ — ἐβόα τὸν φίλον ὀνομαστί, κακῶς δεδεμένος, καὶ ὑπεμίμνησκεν τῆς κύλικος καὶ τοῦ αἵματος. ὧν ἀκούσας ὁ Δάνδαμις οὐδὲν ἔτι μελλήσας ἁπάντων ὁρώντων διανήχεται εἰς τοὺς πολεμίους· καὶ οἱ μὲν Σαυρομάται διηρμένοι τοὺς ἄκοντας ὥρμησαν ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ὡς κατακεντήσοντες, ὁ δὲ ἐβόα τὸ Ζίριν. τοῦτο δὲ ἤν τις εἴπῃ, οὐκέτι φονεύεται ὑπʼ αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ δέχονται αὐτὸν ὡς ἐπὶ λύτροις ἥκοντα. καὶ δὴ ἀναχθεὶς πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα αὐτῶν ἀπῄτει τὸν φίλον, ὁ δὲ λύτρα ᾔτει· μὴ γὰρ προήσεσθαι, εἰ μὴ μεγάλα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ λάβοι. ὁ Δάνδαμις δέ, ἃ μὲν εἶχον, φησίν, ἅπαντα διήρπασται ὑφʼ ὑμῶν, εἰ δέ τι δύναμαι γυμνὸς ὑποτελέσαι, ἕτοιμος ὑποστῆναι ὑμῖν, καὶ πρόσταττε ὅ τι ἂν θέλῃς. εἰ βούλει δέ, ἐμὲ ἀντὶ τούτου λαβὼν κατάχρησαι πρὸς ὅ τι σοι φίλον. ὁ δὲ Σαυρομάτης, οὐδέν, ἔφη, δεῖ ὅλον κατέχεσθαί σε, καὶ ταῦτα Ζίριν ἥκοντα, σὺ δὲ ὧν ἔχεις μέρος καταβαλὼν ἄγου τὸν φίλον. ἤρετο ὁ Δάνδαμις ὅ τι καὶ βούλεται λαβεῖν· ὁ δὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ᾔτησεν. ὁ δὲ αὐτίκα παρέσχεν ἐκκόπτειν αὐτούς· κἀπειδὴ ἐξεκέκοπτο καὶ ἤδη τὰ λύτρα εἶχον οἱ Σαυρομάται, παραλαβὼν τὸν Ἀμιζώκην ἐπανῄει ἐπερειδόμενος αὐτῷ, καὶ ἅμα διανηξάμενοι ἀπεσώθησαν πρὸς ἡμᾶς.
41. This occurrence heartened all the Scythians, and they no longer thought themselves beaten, seeing that the greatest of all our treasures had not been carried off by the enemy, but we still had among us staunch resolution and loyalty to friends. Furthermore, the Sauromatae were daunted more than a little by that same thing, when they considered what manner of men they were about to face in pitched battle, even though in the surprise attack for the moment they had obtained the upper hand. So when night had fallen, abandoning most of the flocks and herds and firing the wagons, they vanished in flight. Amizoces, however, could not bear to have ‘his own sight when Dandamis was blind, but put out his eyes with his own hands; and now both of them sit idle, maintained with every show of honour at public expense by the Scythian folk.
41. Τόξαρις: τοῦτο γενόμενον παρεμυθήσατο ἅπαντας Σκύθας καὶ οὐκέτι ἡττᾶσθαι ἐνόμιζον, ὁρῶντες ὅτι τὸ μέγιστον ἡμῖν τῶν ἀγαθῶν οὐκ ἀπήγαγον οἱ πολέμιοι, ἀλλʼ ἔτι ἦν παρʼ ἡμῖν ἡ ἀγαθὴ γνώμη καὶ ἡ πρὸς τοὺς φίλους πίστις. καὶ τοὺς Σαυρομάτας δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐ μετρίως ἐφόβησε, λογιζομένους πρὸς οἵους ἄνδρας ἐκ παρασκευῆς μαχοῦνται, εἰ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ τότε ὑπερέσχον· ὥστε νυκτὸς ἐπιγενομένης ἀπολιπόντες τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν βοσκημάτων καὶ τὰς ἁμάξας ἐμπρήσαντες ᾤχοντο φεύγοντες. ὁ μέντοι Ἀμιζώκης οὐκέτι ἠνέσχετο βλέπειν αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τυφλῷ τῷ Δανδάμιδι, ἀλλὰ τυφλώσας καὶ αὐτὸς ἑαυτὸν ἀμφότεροι κάθηνται ὑπὸ τοῦ κοινοῦ τῶν Σκυθῶν δημοσίᾳ μετὰ πάσης τιμῆς τρεφόμενοι.
42. What similar deed, Mnesippus, could you mention, even if you were allowed to enumerate ten more instances over and above your five, unsupported by oath, if you liked, so that you might adorn them with plenty of fiction? Then too, I have told you the naked facts; but if you were describing anyone like that, I know very well how many embellishments you would intersperse in the story, telling how Dandamis pleaded, how he was blinded, what he said, how he returned, how he was received with laudation by the Scythians, and other matters such as you Greeks are in the habit of manufacturing to gratify your hearers.
42. Τόξαρις: τί τοιοῦτον, ὦ Μνήσιππε, ὑμεῖς ἔχοιτε ἂν εἰπεῖν, εἰ καὶ ἄλλους σοι δέκα δοίη τις ἐπὶ τοῖς πέντε καταριθμήσασθαι, ἀνωμότους, εἰ βούλει, ὡς καὶ πολλὰ ἐπιψεύδοιο αὐτοῖς; καίτοι ἐγὼ μέν σοι γυμνὸν τὸ ἔργον διηγησάμην· εἰ δὲ σύ τινα τοιοῦτον ἔλεγες, εὖ οἶδα, ὁπόσα ἂν κομψὰ ἐγκατέμιξας τῷ λόγῳ, οἷα ἱκέτευεν ὁ Δάνδαμις καὶ ὡς ἐτυφλοῦτο καὶ ἃ εἶπεν καὶ ὡς ἐπανῆκεν καὶ ὡς ὑπεδέξαντο αὐτὸν ἐπευφημοῦντες οἱ Σκύθαι καὶ ἄλλα ὁποῖα ὑμεῖς μηχανᾶσθαι εἰώθατε πρὸς τὴν ἀκρόασιν.