Toxaris; Or, Friendship (37-39)

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

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