n of the Bithynians, they reached the main Hellenic camp in
safety. The Bithynians, satisfied with their achievement, part of which
consisted in cutting down the tent guards of the Odrysian Thracians and
recovering all their prisoners, made off without delay; so that by the
time the Hellenes got wind of the affair and rallied to the rescue, they
found nothing left in the camp save only the stripped corpses of the
slain. When the Odrysians themselves returned, they fell to burying
their own dead, quaffing copious draughts of wine in their honour and
holding horse-races; but for the future they deemed it advisable to
camp along with the Hellenes. Thus they harried and burned Bithynia the
winter through.

(1) {Pheson kai agon}, i.e. "there was plenty of live stock to lift
and chattels to make away with."

(2) For Seuthes see "Anab." VII. i. 5; and below, IV. viii. 26.

(3) Lit. "twenty stades."

(4) Or, "slipping through the enemy's fingers, who took no heed of
them, they," etc.

B.C. 398. With the commencement of spring Dercylidas turned his back
upon the Bithynians and came to Lampsacus. Whilst at this place envoys
reached him from the home authorities. These were Aracus, Naubates, and
Antisthenes. They were sent to inquire generally into the condition of
affairs in Asia, and to inform Dercylidas of the extension of his office
for another year. They had been further commissioned by the ephors to
summon a meeting of the soldiers and inform them that the ephors
held them to blame for their former doings, though for their present
avoidance of evil conduct they must needs praise them; and for the
future they must understand that while no repetition of misdoing would
be tolerated, all just and upright dealing by the allies would receive
its meed of praise. The soldiers were therefore summoned, and the envoys
delivered their message, to which the leader of the Cyreians answered:
"Nay, men of Lacedaemon, listen; we are the same to-day as we were last
year; only our general of to-day is different from our general in the
past. If to-day we have avoided our offence of yesterday, the cause is
not far to seek; you may discover it for yourselves."

Aracus and the other envoys shared the hospitality of Dercylidas's tent,
and one of the party chanced to mention how they had left an embassy
from the men of Chersonese in Lacedaemon. According to their statement,
he added, it was impossible for them to till their land no