t he addressed
them; not probably "to ground arms," as if likely to be mutinous.

When they were seated Dercylidas put certain questions: "Tell me,
Meidias, did your father leave you heir to his estates?" "Certainly he
did," answered the other. "And how many dwelling-houses have you? what
landed estates? how much pasturage?" The other began running off
an inventory, whilst some of the Scepsians who were present kept
interposing, "He is lying to you, Dercylidas." "Nay, you take too minute
a view of matters," replied the Spartan. When the inventory of the
paternal property was completed, he proceeded: "Tell me, Meidias, to
whom did Mania belong?" A chorus of voices rejoined, "To Pharnabazus."
"Then must her property have belonged to Pharnabazus too." "Certainly,"
they answered. "Then it must now be ours," he remarked, "by right of
conquest, since Pharnabazus is at war with us. Will some one of you
escort me to the place where the property of Mania and Pharnabazus
lies?" So the rest led the way to the dwelling-place of Mania which
Meidias had taken from her, and Meidias followed too. When he was
entered, Dercylidas summoned the stewards, and bidding his attendants
seize them, gave them to understand that, if detected stealing anything
which belonged to Mania, they would lose their heads on the spot. The
stewards proceeded to point out the treasures, and he, when he had
looked through the whole store, bolted and barred the doors, affixing
his seal, and setting a watch. As he went out he found at the doors
certain of the generals (20) and captains, and said to them: "Here,
sirs, we have pay ready made for the army--a year's pay nearly for eight
thousand men--and if we can win anything besides, there will be so much
the more." This he said, knowing that those who heard it would be all
the more amenable to discipline, and would yield him a more flattering
obedience. Then Meidias asked, "And where am I to live, Dercylidas?"
"Where you have the very best right to live," replied the other, "in
your native town of Scepsis, and in your father's house."

(20) Lit. "of the taxiarchs and lochagoi."

II

Such were the exploits of Dercylidas: nine cities taken in eight days.
Two considerations now began to occupy his mind: how was he to avoid
falling into the fatal error of Thibron and becoming a burthen to his
allies, whilst wintering in a friendly country? how, again, was he to
prevent Pharnabazus from overriding the Hell