When the drinking had advanced somewhat, in came a Thracian with a white horse, who snatched the brimming bowl and said:  “Here’s a health to thee, O Seuthes!  Let me present thee with this horse.  Mounted on him, thou shalt capture whom thou choosest to pursue, or retiring from battle, thou shalt not dread the foe.”  He was followed by one who brought in a boy, and presented him in proper style with “Here’s a health to thee, O Seuthes!” A third had “clothes for his wife.”  Timasion, the Dardanian, pledged Seuthes, and presented a silver bowl[3] and a carpet worth ten minae.  Gnesippus, an Athenian, got up 28 and said:  “It was a good old custom, and a fine one too, that those who had, should give to the king for honour’s sake, but to those who had not, the king should give; whereby, my lord,” he added, “I too may one day have the wherewithal to give thee gifts and honour.”  Xenophon the while was racking his brains what he was to do; he was not the happier because he was seated in the seat next Seuthes as a mark of honour; and Heracleides bade the cupbearer hand him the bowl.  The wine had perhaps a little mounted to his head; he rose, and manfully seized the cup, and spoke:  “I also, Seuthes, have to present you with myself and these my dear comrades to be your trusty friends, and not one of them against his will.  They are more ready, one and all, still more than I, to be your friends.  Here they are; they ask nothing from you in return, rather they are forward to labour in your behalf; it will be their pleasure to bear the brunt of battle in voluntary service.  With them, God willing, you will gain vast territory; you will recover what was once your forefathers’; you will win for yourself new lands; and not lands only, but horses many, and of men a multitude, and many a fair dame besides.  You will not need to seize upon them in robber fashion; it is your friends here who, of their own accord, shall take and bring them to you, they shall lay them at your feet as gifts.”  Up got Seuthes and drained with him the cup, and with him sprinkled the last drops fraternally[4].

[3] Or rather “saucer” ({phiale}).

[4] For the Thracian custom, vide Suidas, s.v. {kataskedazein}.

At this stage entered musicians blowing upon horns such as they use for signal calls, and trumpeting on trumpets, made of raw oxhide, tunes and airs, like the music of the double-octave harp[5].  Seuthes himself got up and shouted, trolling forth a war song; then he sprang from his place and leapt about as though he would guard himself against a missile, in right nimble style.  Then came in a set of clowns and jesters.

[5] Or, “magadis.”  This is said to have been one of the most perfect
    instruments.  It comprised two full octaves, the left hand playing
    the same notes as the right an octave lower.  Guhl and Koner, p.
    203, Engl. transl.  See also “Dict.  Antiq.”  “Musica”; and Arist. 
    “Polit.” xix.