Book 7 · Chapter 7

After that, Seuthes moved his camp quite a ways off, and the Greeks settled into some villages, picking spots where they could easily get supplies, on the road to the sea. Now, these villages had been given to Medosades by Seuthes.

So, when Medosades saw the Greeks using up his property in the villages, he wasn’t happy about it. He took an Odrysian - a powerful guy among those who’s come down from the interior - and about thirty mounted soldiers, and challenged Xenophon to come out from the Greek army.

"Xenophon, taking some officers and other reliable people, stepped forward. Then Medosades, addressing Xenophon, said: "You’re doing wrong to raid our villages.

"We’re giving you a heads-up - me, on behalf of Seuthes, and this man next to me, who comes from Medocus, the king inland - to get out of the land. If you refuse, understand, we’re not handing it over to you. But if you hurt our country, we’ll get even with you as enemies."

Xenophon, hearing what they had to say, replied: "That kind of talk from you, of all people, is hard to answer. But for the sake of the young man with you, I’ll try to respond, so he can at least see how different your nature is from ours."

We," he continued, "before we were your friends, had free rein of this country, moving around as we pleased, looting and burning whatever we wanted. And you yourself, Medosades, whenever you came to us on an embassy, camped with us, without fear of an enemy.

As a group, you barely came near the country at all. Or if you did, you’s just set up camp with your horses saddled and ready, like you were in the territory of your superiors.

Later, you became friends with us, and, thanks to us and with God’s help, you’s won this country - the same country you’s trying to drive us out of now. A country we held with our own strength and gave to you. No enemy force, as you know, could have pushed us out.

It would’ve been nice of you to send us on our way with a gift, in return for the good we did you. But no; even with our backs turned to leave, you’s too slow to let us move.

You won’t even let us find a place to stay, if you can help it, and these words don't make you ashamed, either before the gods, or this Odrysian, in whose eyes today you’re a big shot, even though until you cultivated our friendship, you lived a robber's life, as you’s told us.

But why are you talking to me? I’m not in charge anymore. Our generals are the Spartans, to whom you and yours delivered the army for withdrawal.

"And you did that without even inviting me, you most amazing of men, so that if I lost their favor when I brought you the troops, I could now win their gratitude by returning them."

As soon as the Odrysian heard this, he exclaimed, "Seriously, Medosades, I'm mortified by what I’m hearing! If I'd known the truth before, I would’ve never come with you. Now, I'm heading out. King Medocus would never respect me if I drove away people who helped him."

With that, he jumped on his horse and rode off, and his horsemen went with him - except for four or five. But Medosades, still upset about the country being looted, told Xenophon to call the two Spartans over.

Xenophon, choosing his best soldiers, went to Charminus and Polynicus and told them that Medosades wanted to see them; they probably would be told to leave, just like himself. If that happens, he added, you can get the army their pay.

"Tell them that the army wants them to force Seuthes to pay up, whether he likes it or not. They’d cheerfully follow you as soon as they got paid. It seems totally fair to you, so you’re not leaving until the soldiers get what they’re owed."

The Spartans agreed; they’d use these arguments and any others they could think of. With some of the army’s representatives, they immediately set off. When they arrived, Charminus spoke: "If you have something to say, Medosades, say it. Otherwise, we have something to say to you."

And Medosades answered respectfully: "We think," he said, "and Seuthes agrees, that we have a right to ask that people who’d become our friends shouldn’t be treated badly by you. Any harm you do to them, you’re really doing to us, because they’re part of us. "Good!" replied the Spartans.

"We intend to leave as soon as the people who won you the people and the land get their pay. If not, we’re coming without any more delays to help them and punish others who broke their promises and wronged them. If you’re one of those people, when we come to get justice, we’ll start with you."

Xenophon added: "Would you rather, Medosades, let the people in whose country we are (your friends, since that's what you call us) decide by vote who should leave the country, you or us?"

He shook his head, but he hoped the Spartans would talk to Seuthes about the pay, adding, "Seuthes will definitely listen. Or, if they couldn’t go, he asked them to send Xenophon with him, promising to help Xenophon as much as he could, and finally, he begged them not to burn the villages.

So, they sent Xenophon, and a solid group of people with him. When they arrived, he addressed Seuthes: -

"Seuthes, I’m not here to make demands, but to show you, if I can, how unfair it was to be mad at me for pushing you to keep your promise to the soldiers. Honestly, it was just as much in your interest to give it to them as it was for them to get it."

I mean, don’t forget that, next to the gods, they were the ones who put you in power - made you king of a big territory and a lot of people. You’re in the spotlight now, whether you do good or bad.

For someone in your position, it’s a huge deal to avoid even looking like you’re ungrateful to the people who helped you. It’s a big deal to be well-regarded by six thousand people, but the biggest thing of all is to keep your word. Because what’s the point of a person you can’t trust?

Their words are just empty promises, powerless and meaningless. But someone who’s known for keeping their word - they can achieve anything they say they will. If they try to get the clueless to listen - even a single look from them can be more effective than punishment from someone else.

And in negotiations, their promises are worth as much as someone else’s gifts. "Think back to when you needed money from us to form an alliance. You didn’t give us a single penny."

It was just your word that inspired all these men to help you and build you an empire worth way more than thirty talents - that’s all they’re asking for now. So, first of all, you’re losing the credit you earned for your kingdom, sold for such a small price.

Remember how important you thought it was to get those conquests? I’m sure you’re willing to give up a fortune fifty times that amount just to have achieved what you have today. To me, losing your current wealth would be a bigger loss than never having been rich in the first place.

It’s definitely harder to go from rich to poor than to never have tasted wealth at all, and more painful to become a subject after being a king than to never have worn a crown.

"Don’t forget that your current subjects didn’t become your followers because they loved you - it was sheer force that made them submit. And if they weren’t afraid of you, they’d be trying to be free again tomorrow. So, how are you planning to keep them in line?"

Will they see our soldiers so loyal to you that a word from you would keep them now, or bring them back tomorrow? Or will others, hearing tons of stories about you, rush to help you?

Or will they conclude that you don’t trust what’s happening now, so no more soldiers will come to your aid - even these troops of ours are more their friends than you are? And, honestly, they didn’t become your subjects because they were outnumbered - it was because of a lack of strong leaders.

So, there’s a danger now that they might choose some of us to protect them - people who feel wronged by you, or even better, the Lacedaemonians themselves. If our soldiers volunteer to help, and the Lacedaemonians need their services, they might agree to this request.

"At any rate, the Thracians, now bowing at your feet, would fight way harder against you than for you. Your power means their slavery, and your defeat means their freedom."

"Okay, so the country is yours now, and from this point on, you’re responsible for taking care of it. How are you going to protect what’s yours?"

Either these soldiers get paid and leave, hopefully bringing some peace, or they stick around and occupy enemy territory while you try to raise an even bigger army to kick them out. And guess what? That new army will need supplies too. Or, let’s think about it - which is going to cost you more?

"Paying off your current debts or taking on even more troops - better quality ones - while still owing money? "Heracleides, he’s always telling me, thinks the amount is way too much.

But honestly, it’s a lot less stressful to pay it back today than it would have been to pay a portion of it before we even got here. The difference between ‘a lot’ and ‘not a lot’ isn’t a fixed number, it depends on what you can actually afford and what the other person needs.

And right now, you’re making way more than you used to own. "Look, Seuthes, these are just my thoughts, a friend looking out for a friend. I’m hoping you’ll prove you deserve the good things the gods have given you, and that my reputation won’t get dragged down with the army."

I’m telling you straight - today, if I wanted to hurt an enemy, I couldn’t do it with this army. And if I wanted to come help you, I wouldn't be able to either; that's how the troops feel about me. But I swear, by the gods, I've never taken anything from you for the soldiers.

Not even today have I ever asked for anything for myself, or even claimed the promises made to me. And I swear to you, even if you’d offered to pay me, I wouldn’t have accepted it unless the soldiers were getting paid too. How could I?

How embarrassing would it have been to secure my own interests while ignoring how messed up theirs were? Of course, Heracleides thinks I’m talking nonsense; he just believes in keeping money by any means necessary. That’s not how I roll, Seuthes.

I think the best gifts a person - especially a leader - can have are courage, fairness, and generosity. If you have those, you’re rich with friends who want to be around you. When things are good, they celebrate with you, and if you hit rough patches, you’re surrounded by people ready to lend a hand.

But if you haven’t noticed from my actions that I've been your friend, all the way, and if my words don’t show you that today, then listen to what the soldiers said. You were standing right there and heard what those who were trying to throw me under the bus said.

They accused me to the Lacedaemonians, claiming I valued you more than them. But about themselves, they said I was working harder to get your interests secured than theirs. They even suggested I’d taken gifts from you.

Do you think they made those claims because they saw some kind of bad intentions from me towards you? Or do you think they noticed my enthusiasm for helping you?

"I think everyone expects a little kindness from someone who’s done them a favor. But look at you! Before I helped you out in any way, you were all smiles, showering me with compliments, promises, and everything you could think of."

But now that I’ve made you the big shot you are - as big as I could make you, really - you just stand by and watch me get dragged down by my own soldiers?

Trust me, you’ll learn your lesson - I’m sure of it - and even without that lesson, you won’t want to see the people who helped you end up accusing you. Just please, when you make things right, do everything you can to clear my name with the troops.

"Just leave me where you found me; that’s all I ask. After hearing this, Seuthes cursed the person responsible for the debt not being paid sooner. If the rumors were true, it was Heracleides’ fault. "I never intended to cheat you out of what you deserved," Seuthes said. "I’ll pay up."

Then Xenophon replied: If you’re going to pay, please do it through me. I don’t want to end up in a different spot in the army because of you. He responded: Actually, I’d love for you to stay with me.

"Keep just a thousand heavy infantry, and I’ll hand over all the fortified places and everything I promised." The other answered: "On those terms, I’m out." "But I know," Seuthes insisted, "it’s safer for you to stay here than to leave."

Then Xenophon said again: I appreciate your concern, but I can’t stay. Somewhere, I’ll find a chance to rise to honor, and that will benefit you too. Seuthes spoke: I don’t have much silver, but I’ll give you one talent.

I can give you six hundred head of cattle, four thousand sheep, and six hundred slaves. Take them, and the hostages who wronged you, and get out of here. Xenophon laughed and said: "But what if it all doesn’t add up to the full payment? Who gets the talent? It’s kind of risky for me, isn’t it?

I think I’m going to be looking over my shoulder when I head back. Did you hear the threats?" So for now, he stayed put, but the next day Seuthes handed over what he’s promised and sent an escort to drive the cattle."

"The soldiers initially thought Xenophon had moved in with Seuthes to collect his reward. When they saw him, they were stoked and rushed to greet him. And Xenophon, seeing Charminus and Polynicus, said: "Thanks to your help, we’ve saved this much for the army.

It’s my job to hand this over to you; divide it up and give it to the soldiers." They grabbed the property and appointed people to sell the loot, but ended up getting a lot of heat for it. Xenophon kept his distance."

It wasn't a secret that he was already planning to head home, since Athens hadn’t officially exiled him yet. But the leaders in the camp came to him and begged him not to leave until he’s led the army to its destination and handed it over to Thibron.