for, as it chanced, he was engaged in sacrificing.  As soon as he was gone, Cleanor the Arcadian, by right of seniority, answered:  “They would sooner die than give up their arms.”  Then Proxenus the Theban said:  “For my part, I marvel if the king demands our arms as our master, or for the sake of friendship merely, as presents.  If as our master, why need he ask for them rather than come and take them?  But if he would fain wheedle us out of them by fine speeches, he should tell us what the soldiers will receive in turn for such kindness.”  In answer to him Phalinus said:  “The king claims to have conquered, because he has put Cyrus to death; and who is there now to claim the kingdom as against himself?  He further flatters himself that you also are in his power, since he holds you in the heart of his country, hemmed in by impassable rivers; and he can at any moment bring against you a multitude so vast that even if leave were given to rise and slay you could not kill them.”  After him Theopompus[3] the Athenian spoke.  “Phalinus,” he said, “at this instant, as you yourself can see, we have nothing left but our arms and our valour.  If we keep the former we imagine we can make use of the latter; but if we deliver up our arms we shall presently be robbed of our lives.  Do not suppose then that we are going to give up to you the only good things which we possess.  We prefer to keep them; and by their help we will do battle with you for the good things which are yours.”  Phalinus laughed when he heard those words, and said:  13 “Spoken like a philosopher, my fine young man, and very pretty reasoning too; yet, let me tell you, your wits are somewhat scattered if you imagine that your valour will get the better of the king’s power.”  There were one or two others, it was said, who with a touch of weakness in their tone or argument, made answer:  “They had proved good and trusty friends to Cyrus, and the king might find them no less valuable.  If he liked to be friends with them, he might turn them to any use that pleased his fancy, say for a campaign against Egypt.  Their arms were at his service; they would help to lay that country at his feet.”

[2] 10 A.M.

[3] So the best MSS.  Others read “Xenophon,” which Kruger maintains to
    be the true reading.  He suggests that “Theopompus” may have crept
    into the text from a marginal note of a scholiast, “Theopompus”
    (the historian) “gives the remark to Proxenus.”

Just then Clearchus returned, and wished to know what answer they had given.  The words were barely out of his mouth before Phalinus interrupting, answered:  “As for your friends here, one says one thing and one another; will you please give us your opinion”; and he replied:  “The sight of you, Phalinus, caused me much pleasure; and not only me, but all of us, I feel sure; for you are a Hellene even as we are—­every one of us whom you see before you.  In our present plight we would like to take