Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/113

 poured gold into our often-emptied treasury partly because of his family's hereditary grudge against the Athenians, but also because of his ulterior motives. Not without agreements on our part of furtherance for his schemes has he parted with so much treasure. In our last and bitterest need he probably exacted explicit contracts before he aided us. Now that we have succeeded fully, he perhaps demands requital. He aims to oust his brother from the throne and to be Shah in his stead. He knows the excellence of our men, drill and tactics. He considers that a compact body of our infantry, well led, would give him the best prospect of victory in his con- templated dash for the tiara. He has perhaps insisted that you fulfil specific treaties to which you are bound by oath."

"Go on," said the first ephor.

"If you help him and he fails, Artaxerxes will be bitterly hostile to Sparta and Persia can still do us much harm. If you refuse aid and Cyrus succeeds, his wrath will be a far more serious danger, for he is a prompt and resourceful man and might even yet revive the power of Athens against us with a league greater than ever. You are in a quandary."

"And we ask your advice," said the first ephor.

"My business is fighting, not diplomacy," said Clearchos. "I am no originator of schemes.