Lucian Toxaris vel amicitia 39

[39]

TOXARIS

The friendship of Dandamis and Amizoces was three days old, counting from the time when they drank each other’s blood, when the Sauromatae descended upon our country with ten thousand horse; and the foot came over the border, it was said, in thrice that number. As our people had not foreseen their attack, they not only routed us completely when they fell upon us, but slew many of the fighting men and took the rest prisoners, except one or another who succeeded in swimming over to the other side of the river, where we had half our encampment and part of the wagons; for that was the way in which we had pitched our tents at the time, since for some reason unknown to me it had seemed good to the leaders of our horde—on both banks of the Tanais. ¹

At once they began to round up the cattle, secure the prisoners, plunder the tents, and seize the wagons, taking most of them with all their occupants and offering violence to our concubines and wives before our very eyes; and we were distressed over the situation.

[39]

Toxaris

Now you are just trying to spoil my story with these quibbling objections. I gave you a fair hearing.

Mnesippus

You are quite right, Toxaris; it shall not occur aguio, be easy on that score. T’ll be so quiet, you would never know I was here at all.

Toxaris

Four days after Dandamis and Amizoces had shared the cup of blood, the Sauromatae invaded our territory with 10,000 horse, their infantry being estimated at three times that number. The invasion was unexpected, and we were completely routed; many of our warriors were slain, and the rest taken captive, with the exception of a few who managed to swim across to the opposite bank of the river, on which half our host was encamped, with a part of the waggons. The reason of this arrangement I do not know; but our leaders had seen good to divide our camp between the two banks of the Tanais. The enemy at once set to work to secure their booty and collect the captives; they plundered the camp, and took possession of the waggons, most of them with their occupants; and we had the mortification of seeing our wives and concubines mishandled before our very eyes.

[39]

Toxaris

It was the fourth day of friendship between Dandamis and Amizokes, that is, since they had drunk each other's blood, when the Sauromatians invaded our country with ten thousand horsemen and an army of foot reported to be three times as many. Since they fell upon us when we were not expecting an invasion, they put all our troops to flight, killing many of the warriors and capturing the survivors, except a few who were quick enough to swim across the river to where the other half of our camp was with part of the wagons. For our leaders had seen fit for some reason or other to encamp us in that way on both banks of the Tanais. They next proceeded to drive off our flocks, secure the prisoners, pillage the tents and seize the wagons, most of which they captured, men and all, and they insulted our wives and concubines under our very eyes, which nearly maddened us.