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.