Toxaris; Or, Friendship (51-55)

These, then, were the exploits of Lonchates, done in fulfilling his promise to Arsakomas by bringing the head of Leukanor. Makentes, on his part, arrived among the Machlyëans, having heard on the road what had happened at the Bosporus. Thus he was the first to announce to them the murder of the king, and he added: "The state, Adyrmachos, summons you to the throne because you are his son-in-law. So do you ride first and seize the empire, appearing on the scene while matters are in disorder. Let the young lady follow after you with chariots, for you will the more easily conciliate the Bosporian mob if they see the daughter of Leukanor. I am an Alanian and related to the girl on the mother's side, for it was from our family that Leukanor chose his wife, Masteira. And now I am come to you from Masteira's brothers in Alania, who bid you ride to the Bosporos as quickly as you may, and not permit the empire to pass into the hands of Eubiotos, a bastard brother of Leukanor, who has always been a friend of the Scythians and detested by the Alanians." This speech Makentes delivered, wearing the dress of the Alanians and speaking their language, for on these points the Scythians and

"And now, Adyrmachos," said he, "I am ready to ride with you to the Bosporos if you like, or, if need be, to stay behind and escort the young lady." "That is what I should prefer," said Adyrmachos, "to have you escort Mazaia. For if you go with us to the Bosporos we should only be one horseman the more, but if you should escort my wife for me you would be worth a multitude." This was done, and Adyrmachos rode off, having handed over his maid-wife Mazaia to Makentes. He, on his part, escorted her in her chariot during the day, but when night fell he set her upon a horse-for he had provided that one horseman beside himself should accompany them-and, leaping on his own, he no longer rode by the Maiotis, but turned off inland, keeping the Mitraian mountains on his right. He let the the girl rest now and then, and on the third day crossed the Machlyëan border into Scythia. His

Makentes handed over Mazaia to Arsakomas, saying, "Receive the fulfilment of my promise also." He was stunned by the unexpected vision, and strove to express his thanks, but Makentes said, "Stop trying to make me out a different person from yourself. To thank me for what I have done is much as if my left-hand should acknowledge its obligation to my right because it had been tended when it was wounded, and tenderly cared for when it was tired. So it would be an absurdity in us, too, if we who have joined our fortunes this long time, and as nearly as possible made ourselves into one man, should still think it a great thing if a part of us does something for the good of the whole body. For it is for his own good that he does it, seeing he is part of the benefitted whole." Thus did Makentes meet Arsakomas's thanks.

Adyrmachos, when he heard of the fraud, did not continue his journey to the Bosporos, for Eubiotos was already installed in office, having been summoned from Sauromatia, where he was sojourning. He returned home, collected a great army, and marched through the hill-country upon Scythia. Soon after, Eubiotos, too, made an attack, leading a rabble of Greeks and picked troops from Alania and Sauromatia, forty thousand

As it happened, both Lonchates and Makentes were in this division, and they had both been wounded already through their hardihood-Lonchates in the thigh with the butt-end of a lance, and Makentes in the head with an axe, and in the shoulder with the shaft of a pike.