they had reached the villages in the afternoon, the soldiers met, and Seuthes made the following speech:  “My request to you, sirs, is that you will take the field with me, and my promise to you is that I will give every man of you a cyzicene, and to the officers and generals at the customary rate; besides this I will honour those who show special merit.  Food and drink you shall get as now for yourselves from the country; but whatever is captured, I shall claim to have myself, so that by distribution of it I may provide you with pay.  Let them flee, let them creep into hiding-places, we shall be able to pursue after them, we will track them out; or if they resist, along with you we will endeavour to subdue them to our hands.”  Xenophon inquired:  “And how far from the sea shall you expect the army to follow you?” “Nowhere more than seven days’ journey,” he answered, “and in many places less.”

After this, permission was given for all who wished to speak, and many spoke, but ever to one and the same tune:  “What Seuthes said, was very right.  It was winter, and for a man to sail home, even if he had the will to do so, was impossible.  On the other hand, to continue long in a friendly country, where they must depend upon what they could purchase, was equally beyond their power.  If they were to wear away time and support life in a hostile country, it was safer to do so with Seuthes than by themselves, not to speak of all these good things; but if they were going to get pay into the bargain, that indeed was a godsend.”  To complete the proceedings, Xenophon said:  “If any one opposes the measure, let him state his views; if not, let the officer put the proposition to the vote.”  No one opposed; they put it to the vote, and the resolution was carried; and without loss of time, he informed Seuthes that they would take the field with him.

After this the troops messed in their separate divisions, but the generals and officers were invited by Seuthes to dinner at a neighbouring village which was in his possession.  When they were at the doors, and on the point of stepping in to dinner, they were met by 16 a certain Heracleides, of Maronea[1].  He came up to each guest, addressing himself particularly to those who, as he conjectured, ought to be able to make a present to Seuthes.  He addressed himself first to some Parians who were there to arrange a friendship with Medocus, the king of the Odrysians, and were bearers of presents to the king and to his wife.  Heracleides reminded them:  “Medocus is up country twelve days’ journey from the sea; but Seuthes, now that he has got this army, will be lord on the sea-coast; as your neighbour, then, he is the man to do you good or do you ill.  If you are wise, you will give him whatever he askes of you.  On the whole, it will be laid out at better interest than if you have it to Medocus, who lives so far off.”  That was his mode of persuasion in their case.  Next he came to Timasion the Dardanian, who, some one had told him, was the