Τόξαρις ἢ Φιλία

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İngilizce İngilizce İngilizce Yunanca

38 I will commence with the recent story of Dandamis. In our conflict with the Sauromatae, Dandamis’s friend Amizoces had been taken captive,—oh, but first I must take the Scythian oath, as we agreed at the start. I swear by Wind and Scimetar that I will speak nothing but truth of the Scythian friendships.

38 Mnesippus You need not have troubled to swear, as far as I am concerned. However, you showed judgement in not swearing by a God.

38 Toxaris What can you mean? Wind and Scimetar not Gods? Are you now to learn that life and death are the highest considerations among mankind? When we swear by Wind and Scimetar, we do so because Wind is the cause of life and Scimetar of death.

38 Mnesippus On that principle, you get a good many other Gods besides Scimetar, and as good as he: there is Arrow, and Spear, and Hemlock, and Halter, and so on. Death is a God who assumes many shapes; numberless are the roads that lead into his presence.

39 Toxaris Now you are just trying to spoil my story with these quibbling objections. I gave you a fair hearing.

39 Mnesippus You are quite right, Toxaris; it shall not occur aguio, be easy on that score. T’ll be so quiet, you would never know I was here at all.