Toxaris; Or, Friendship (51)

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

Alanians agree with this one exception, that the Alanians do not wear their hair very long, as the Scythians do. But in this respect, too, Makentes had likened himself to an Alanian by cutting his hair as much short of the Scythian length as an Alanian's would probably be. So by these means he got credence as a relative of Masteira and Mazaia.