Toxaris vel amicitia

Lucian of Samosata

Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translators. New York; Harper Brothers, 1892.

But Arsakomas made his way home and told his friends how he had been insulted by the king, and laughed to scorn at the dinner because they thought him poor. "And yet," said he, "I explained to the king how rich I am in having you, Lonchates and Makentes, and how much better and more secure your devotion is than the power of the Bosporians. But while I was going through this he flouted me and passed me by, and bestowed the right to lead away the bride on Adyrmachos the Machlyean, because he said he owned ten golden goblets and eighty four-seated wagons, and any amount of sheep and cattle. You see how high above true men he rates store of beeves and superfluous drinking-cups and heavy wagons. For my part, my friends, I was doubly wounded, both because I love Mazaia, and because this public affront cut me deeply, and I think you were as much wronged as I. For a third of the insult belongs to each of you, at least if we were living as though we were one man since the day we came together, and feel pain and pleasure from the same causes." "Not only so," rejoined Lonchates, "but each of us feels the whole of the insult when you are treated in that way."

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“The next question,” said Makentes, “is, what Ishall we do in this case?" "Let us parcel out the job," said Lonchates. "I, for my part, promise to bring to Arsakomas the head of Leukanor, and you must fetch him the bride." "Very good," said he. "And you, Arsakomas, seeing that this is a great business, must stay here to collect and make ready arms and horses and other equipment as much as you can get. For it is not unlikely that an army and a war will be what we shall need next. You will have no trouble in gathering a goodly following since you are a true man yourself, and our kinsmen are not few; but the best way will be to take your seat on the ox-hide." These plans were agreed to, and Lonchates went off, just as he was, direct to the Bosporos, and Makentes to the Machlyëans, both on horseback. Arsakomas stayed at home and addressed himself to the young men, armed a force of his kinsmen, and finally seated himself on the oxhide.

The custom of the hide is this: When a man has received an injury and wishes to revenge himself on some one, but sees that his unaided strength will not suffice him, he sacrifices an ox, cuts the flesh in pieces and boils it, stretches the hide on the ground and seats himself on it, drawing

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his hands behind his back as if his arms were tied at the elbow. This is our most urgent form of supplication. The flesh of the ox lies alongside, and kinsmen, and any one else who will, take a morsel, and, setting the right foot on the hide, promise aid according to the ability of each, one agreeing to furnish five horsemen, found and paid, another ten, another yet more, another hoplites or foot-soldiers as many as he is able, and the poorest offering himself alone. Sometimes a great throng gathers about the hide, and a force of this sort is most sure to hang together and most irresistible in battle because they are upon oath, for stepping upon the hide constitutes an oath. In this way Arsakomas occupied himself, and about five thousand horsemen joined him, and hoplites and foot-soldiers to the number of twen. ty thousand.

Lonchates made his way to the Bosporos incognito, and presented himself before the king, who was engaged in affairs of state, saying that he came as a public emissary from Scythia, but brought also private news of great moment to the king. When he was bidden speak, he said: "The Scythians make this public and open demand: that your herdsmen will not cross over into our plains, but pasture their flocks only to the end of the rocky ground. And they deny that the plunderers of whose incursions into your

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country you complain were sent out with the general consent, but declare that each of them carries on his robbery for his own private advantage; and that if one of them should be caught you are authorized to punish him. This is their communication.