he tests the mettle of those
with him day by day. He is always at their head, whether on a field-day
under arms, or in the gymnasium, or on some military expedition. The
weak members of the corps he weeds out, but those whom he sees bear
themselves stout-heartedly in the face of war, like true lovers of
danger and of toil, he honours with double, treble, and quadruple
pay, or with other gifts. On the bed of sickness they will not lack
attendance, nor honour in their graves. Thus every foreigner in his
service knows that his valour in war may obtain for him a livelihood--a
life replete at once with honour and abundance. (2)

(2) Or, "a life satisfying at once to soul and body."

"Then with some parade he pointed out to me what I knew before, that
the Maracians, and the Dolopians, and Alcetas the hyparch (3) in
Epirus, were already subject to his sway; 'so that I may fairly ask you,
Polydamas,' he proceeded, 'what I have to apprehend that I should not
look on your future subjugation as mere child's play. Perhaps some one
who did not know me, and what manner of man I am, might put it to me:
"Well! Jason, if all you say be true, why do you hesitate? why do you
not march at once against Pharsalia?" For the good reason, I reply, that
it suits me better to win you voluntarily than to annex you against your
wills. Since, if you are forced, you will always be planning all the
mischief you can against me, and I on my side shall be striving
to diminish your power; whereas if you throw in your lot with mine
trustfully and willingly, it is certain we shall do what we can to help
each other. I see and know, Polydamas, that your country fixes her eyes
on one man only, and that is yourself: what I guarantee you, therefore,
is that, if you will dispose her lovingly to myself, I on my side will
raise you up to be the greatest man in Hellas next to me. Listen, while
I tell you what it is in which I offer you the second prize. Listen,
and accept nothing which does not approve itself as true to your own
reasoning. First, is it not plain to us both, that with the adhesion
of Pharsalus and the swarm of pettier states dependent on yourselves,
I shall with infinite ease become Tagos (4) of all the Thessalians; and
then the corollary--Thessaly so united--sixteen thousand cavalry and
more than ten thousand heavy infantry leap into life. Indeed, when I
contemplate the physique and proud carriage of these men, I cannot but
persuade myself that, w