Toxaris vel amicitia

I will begin with the recent adventures of Dandamis. When his friend Amizokes was carried off as a prisoner of war by the Sauromatians— but first I will take our national oath for you, since that was our original agreement. I swear

by the Wind and by the Sword, Mnesippos, that I will tell you nothing false about Scythian friends.

Mnesippos I did not insist on an oath from you, Toxaris; but you did well not to swear by any god.

Toxaris What do you mean? Don't you think that the Wind and the Sword are gods? Are you, perhaps, unaware that nothing is greater to men than life and death? So whenever we swear by the Wind and the Sword we swear by the Wind as the source of life and the Sword because it brings death.

Mnesippos If that is your reason you might have plenty of other gods like the Sword: the arrow and the spear and the hemlock and the noose, and the like. For this god Death has many forms, and offers innumerable roads lead ing his way.

Toxaris See now how captious you are! What a lawyer's trick it is to break in in the midst and spoil my speech! I held my tongue while you were talking.

Mnesippos I'll not do it again, Toxaris, your reproof was very just. So go on with confidence just as if I were not present to hear you. I will be as silent as that.

Toxaris It was the fourth day of friendship between Dandamis and Amizokes, that is, since

they had drunk each other's blood, when the Sauromatians invaded our country with ten thousand horsemen and an army of foot reported to be three times as many. Since they fell upon us when we were not expecting an invasion, they put all our troops to flight, killing many of the warriors and capturing the survivors, except a few who were quick enough to swim across the river to where the other half of our camp was with part of the wagons. For our leaders had seen fit for some reason or other to encamp us in that way on both banks of the Tanais. They next proceeded to drive off our flocks, secure the prisoners, pillage the tents and seize the wagons, most of which they captured, men and all, and they insulted our wives and concubines under our very eyes, which nearly maddened us.