Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/190

168 HISTORY OF GEEECE. so formidable in the early years of the Peloponnesian war. But intestine commotions had robbed him of his principality over three Thracian tribes ; -which it was now the ambition of Seuthes to recover, by the aid of the Cyreian army. He offered to each sol- dier one stater of K.yzikus (about twenty Attic drachmae, or nearly the same as that which they originally received from Cyras) as pay per month ; twice as much to each lochage or captain, four times as much to each of the generals. In case they should incur the enmity of the Lacedaemonians by joining him, he guaranteed to them all the right of settlement and fraternal protection in his territory. To each of the generals, over and above pay, he engaged to assign a fort on the sea-coast, with a lot of land around it, and oxen for cultivation. And to Xenophon in particular, he offered the possession of Bisanthe, his best point on the coast. " I will also (he added, addressing Xenophon) give you my daughter in mar- riage ; and if you have any daughter, I will buy her from you in marriage according to the custom of Thrace." 1 Seuthes farther engaged never on any occasion to lead them more than seven days' journey from the sea, at farthest. These offers were as liberal as the army could possibly expect ; and Xenophon himself, mistrusting the Lacedaemonians, as well as mistrusted by them, seems to have looked forward to the acquisi- tion of a Thracian coast-fortress and territory (such as Miltiades, Alkibiades, and other Athenian leaders had obtained before him) as a valuable refuge in case of need. 2 But even if the promise had been less favorable, the Cyreians had no alternative ; for they had not even present supplies, still less any means of subsistence throughout the winter ; while departure by sea was rendered im- possible by the Lacedaemonians. On the next day, Seuthes was introduced by Xenophon and the other generals to the army, who accepted his offers and concluded the bargain. They remained for two months in his service, engaged in war- fare against various Thracian tribes, whom they enabled him to conquer and despoil ; so that at the end of that period, he was in possession of an extensive dominion, a large native force, and a considerable tribute. Though the sufferings of the army from cold were extreme, during these two months of full winter and amidst 1 Xen Anab vii, 2, V -SB. * X*a. Anab. vii, 6, 34.