But I will tell you of many a murder
and war and death for the sake of a friend, to
show that it is childish to compare your case with
ours in Scythia. Still, your feeling is reasonable
enough, and it is natural that you should eulogize
these small matters, for you have no great occasions for displaying friendship, sunk in peace as
you are, just as calm weather furnishes no opportunity to learn a pilot's quality. You need a
storm for that. But with us one war follows on
the heels of another, and we are either riding
against some one else, or retiring before invaders,
or falling to and fighting about pasturage or booty.
In these emergencies, above all others, a man
needs stanch friends. Accordingly, we cement
friendships in the most enduring way, deeming
them our only invincible weapons.


 

 

In the first place, I should like to describe to
you our manner of acquiring friends. We do not
do it over our cups as you do, or because a certain man happens to be a playfellow or a neighbor; but when we see a good man of great ability, we all strive for him, and we think it proper
to win a friend as you do a wife, courting him a
long time and taking all similar measures not to
meet with a disappointment in friendship or figure
as rejected aspirants. And when at length one
has been chosen as his friend, the next step is a
contract and a mighty oath that they will live
together and, if need be, die for one another.
This is the manner of the oath: we cut our fingers and let the blood trickle into a cup and then
we dip our sword-points in it and, desisting from
this at the same moment, we drink. When once
we have done this, nothing can thereafter put us
asunder. Three at most are permitted to enter
into such a contract, since a man with many
friends seems as bad to us as a woman with many
lovers or husbands, and we think his friendship
will no longer be so sure when it is parcelled
among many tendernesses. 
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.
 
Now Amizokes was taken prisoner, and as they
were leading him off he called upon his friend by
name, cruelly bound as he was, and reminded him
of the cup
of blood. When Dandamis heard him
he did not hesitate an instant, but swam across to
the enemy with all of us looking on. The Sauromatians, lifting their darts, set on him as if to kill
him, but he shouted the word "Ziris!" When a
man says this word the enemy do not kill him,
but receive him as a messenger about exchange
of prisoners. So he was led to the commander,
and of him he demanded his friend. The commander

 

asked for a ransom, saying the prisoner
should not go forth unless he got a great price
for him. 
"All that I possessed," said Dandamis, "has
been pillaged by you. But if, stripped as I am,
I can in any way pay the price, I am at your service. Command what you will. If you like, take
me in his stead, and use me as you see fit."
"There is no need," said the Sauromatian, "to
keep the whole of you, particularly as you came
saying 'Ziris!' but lay down a part of what you
have, and you may take your friend."
Dandamis asked what he wanted, and the other demanded his eyes. He instantly presented
them to be cut out, and when this had been done,
and the Sauromatians were in possession of the
ransom, he received Amizokes and went away
leaning on him, and together they swam across
and returned to us saved.