This event put heart
into all the Scythians, and they no longer considered themselves worsted by the Sauromatians,
seeing that the enemy had not carried off our
greatest good, but that our noble disposition was
left to us and our constancy in friendship. And
the same thing frightened the Sauromatians extremely, for they calculated what sort of men we
would be to fight with when we were prepared if
we showed such endurance when we were surprised. So when night came they left most of the


 



flocks, and burned the wagons and retreated. But
Amizokes could no longer bear to see at the price
of Dandamis's blindness, so he, too, put out his
own eyes, and they were both permitted a quiet
life by the Scythian commonwealth, and supported
at the public expense with every honor.

 
What could you tell to match this, Mnesippos,
if I should let you count up ten more in addition
to your five, and not on oath, either, so that you
might add plenty of inventions? And yet I gave
you the bare facts. If you had told a story like
this I know very well how much cleverness you
would have mixed in your tale, what prayers Dandamis offered, and the manner of blinding him,
and what he said and how he went off again, and
how the Scythians received him with blessings,
and the other devices you are wont to employ on
your audience. 
But now hear of another man, equally admirable: Belittas, a cousin of this Amizokes. When
he saw his friend Basthes dragged from his horse
by a lion-they happened to be hunting together
—and that the lion had already clutched him and
clung to his throat tearing him with his claws, he
leaped down from his own horse, fell upon the
beast from behind, and dragged him over, diverting his rage to himself. He passed his fingers
between the animal's teeth, and tried his best to
drag Basthes out of his jaws until the lion let


 


him go, half dead already, and, turning upon Belittas, grappled with him and slew him too. But
even as he was dying he found time to strike the
lion in the breast with his sword, so that they all
died together, and we buried them, digging two
graves near together, one for the friends and one
opposite for the lion.
 
My third case, Mnesippos, shall be the friendship of Makentes, Lonchates, and Arsakomas.
This Arsakomas fell in love with Mazaia, daughter of Leukanor, king of the Bosporians, when he
went as an envoy in the matter of the tribute
which the Bosporians pay us periodically, and
which was then three months overdue. Mazaia
was a tall, beautiful girl, and Arsakomas, seeing
her at dinner, became enamored and fell into a
bad way about her. He had finished the business
of the tribute, and the king had given him his
answer, and was feasting him by way of dismissal. Now it is the custom on the Bosporos for
suitors to propose for girls at dinner, stating the
qualifications which render them desirable parties. On this occasion there happened to be a
great many aspirants at the dinner, kings and
kings' sons, and Tigrapates was there, the monarch of the Lazians, and Adyrmachos, the ruler
of Machlyëne, with many others. Each suitor
is obliged to announce himself and tell why he
has come a-wooing, and then to eat his dinner


 



quietly, sitting among the others. But when dinner is over he must ask for a wine-glass and pour
out a libation on the table, and propose for the
girl, setting forth his advantages of birth, or
wealth, or influence, in the most favorable light.
 
In accordance with this custom many had poured
out the libation and made their proposals, counting up their kingdoms and riches; and last of all
Arsakomas called for a glass, and instead of pouring out a libation-for it is not our practice to
pour out our wine, indeed it is held an impiety
towards the god - he emptied the glass at a
draught, and said:
"Your majesty, give me your daughter Mazaia
to hold as my wife. I am a better match than
these others as far as wealth and possessions go."
Leukanor was amazed, for he knew that Arsakomas was poor, and a commoner of the Scythians, and he inquired:
"How much cattle have you, Arsakomas, or
how many wagons? For these are the things you
Scythians are rich in.”
"Nay," said Arsakomas, “I have neither wagons nor herds, but I have two friends so noble
and brave that no other Scythian can match
them."
A shout of laughter rose at these words, and
no account was taken of his offer, for they thought
he was drunk. In the early morning Adyrmachos,


 


who had been chosen from the other suitors, made
ready to conduct his bride to the Maiotis among
the Machlyëans.