Lucian of Samosata, Toxaris vel amicitia, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 52

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[52] “Now then, Adyrmachus,” said he, “I am ready to ride with you to Bosporus, if you wish, or to remain, if necessary, and conduct the girl.” “That,” said Adyrmachus, “is what I should like better—that as you are of her blood, you should conduct Mazaea. For if you go with us to Bosporus, we should gain but a single horseman; but if you should conduct my wife, you would be as good as many.”

That was put into effect, and he rode off, leaving it to Macentes to conduct Mazaea, who was still a maid. And he did indeed escort her upon her wagon during the day; but when night overtook them, he set her upon his horse—he had seen to it that only one other horseman should attend them¹— himself leaped to his seat, and instead of continuing to ride along the shore of Lake Maecotis, turned off into the interior, taking on his right the mountains of the Mitraeans. Stopping only at intervals to allow the girl to rest, on the third day he succeeded in reaching Scythia from Machlyene; his horse, on ceasing to run, stood still for a moment and fell dead,

Toxaris vel amicitia. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Toxaris, or Friendship (English) (Lucian, Vol. 5. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Τόξαρις ἢ Φιλία Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 5. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).) — 52 focus

Τόξαρις

καὶ νῦν, ἔφη, ὦ Ἀδύρμαχε, ἐλαύνειν τε¹ ἕτοιμος ἅμα σοι ἐπὶ τὸν Βόσπορον, ἢν ἐθέλῃς, μένειν τε, εἰ δέοι, καὶ τὴν παῖδα ἄγειν. τοῦτο, ἔφη, καὶ μᾶλλον, ὁ Ἀδύρμαχος, ἐθελήσαιμʼ ἄν, ἀφʼ αἵματος ὄντα σε Μαζαίαν ἄγειν. ἢν μὲν γὰρ ἅμα ἡμῖν ἴῃς ἐπὶ Βόσπορον, ἱππεῖ ἑνὶ πλείους ἂν γενοίμεθα· εἰ δέ μοι τὴν γυναῖκα ἄγοις, ἀντὶ πολλῶν ἂν γένοιο. Ταῦτα ἐγίνετο καὶ ὁ μὲν ἀπήλαυνε παραδοὺς τῷ Μακέντῃ ἄγειν τὴν Μαζαίαν παρθένον ἔτι οὖσαν. ὁ δὲ ἡμέρας μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς ἁμάξης ἦγεν αὐτήν, ἐπεὶ δὲ νὺξ κατέλαβεν, ἀναθέμενος ἐπὶ τὸν ἵππον — ἐτεθεραπεύκει δὲ ἕνα σφίσιν ἄλλον ἱππέα ἕπεσθαι — ἀναπηδήσας καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκέτι παρὰ τὴν Μαιῶτιν ἤλαυνεν, ἀλλʼ ἀποτραπόμενος εἰς τὴν μεσόγειαν ἐν δεξιᾷ λαβὼν τὰ Μιτραίων ὄρη, διαναπαύων μεταξὺ τὴν παῖδα, τριταῖος ἐτέλεσεν ἐκ Μαχλύων ἐς Σκύθας. καὶ ὁ μὲν ἵππος αὐτῷ, ἐπειδὴ ἐπαύσατο τοῦ δρόμου, μικρὸν ἐπιστὰς ἀποθνήσκει,

Translations (2)

Toxaris: a Dialogue of Friendship Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 3. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 52 focus

[52] ‘And now, Adyrmachus,’

we nee ee ee ek he concluded, ‘I am ready to go with you to Bosphorus; or, if you prefer it, I will escort your bride.’ ‘If you will do the latter,’ replied Adyrmachus, ‘I shall be particularly obliged, since you are Mazaea’s kinsman. If you go with us, it is but one horseman more; whereas no one could be such a suitable escort for my wife.? And so it was settled: Adyrmachus rode off, and left Mazaea, who was still a maid, in the care of Macentes. ‘During the day, Macentes accompanied Mazaea in the waggon: but at nightfall he placed her on horseback (he had taken care that there should be a horseman in attendance), and, mounting behind her, abandoned his former course along the Maeotian Lake, and struck off into the interior, keeping the Mitraean Mountains on his right. He allowed Mazaea some time for rest, and completed the whole journey from Machlyene to Scythia on the third day; his horse stood still for a few moments after arrival, and then dropped down dead.

Toxaris; Or, Friendship Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York: Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 52 focus

[52] "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 horse, when he stopped galloping, stood still for a moment, and then fell dead.

Notes on the current edition

Toxaris, or Friendship

Macentes comes alone; this single horseman is therefore presumably a Machlyan, and hostile. What, then, becomes of him? Only implications enlighten us. For some reason Macentes does not do the obvious thing—kill him at night and take his horse. Either he eludes them, or they elude him; and instead of following them, he posts ahead to overtake Adyrmachus with the news (§ 54).

Lucian of Samosata Toxaris vel amicitia 52

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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