Toxaris; Or, Friendship (49)

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

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.