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[1351b]
[1]
Memnon of
Rhodes, on making himself master of
Lampsacus, found he was in need of
funds. He therefore assessed upon the wealthiest inhabitants a quantity of
silver, telling them that they should recover it from the other citizens. But
when the other citizens made their contributions, Memnon said they must lend him
this money also, fixing a certain date for its repayment.Again being in need of funds, he asked for a contribution, to
be recovered, as he said, from the city revenues. The citizens complied,
thinking that they would speedily reimburse themselves. But when the revenue
payments came in, he declared that he must have these also, and would repay the
lenders subsequently with interest.His mercenary
troops he requested to forgo six days' pay and rations each year, on the plea
that on those days they were neither on garrison duty nor on the march nor did
they incur any expense. (He referred to the days omitted from alternate
months.1) Moreover, being accustomed previously to issue his men's rations of corn on
the second day of the month, in the first month he postponed the distribution
for three days, and in the second month for five; proceeding in this fashion
until at length it took place on the last day of the month. Charidemus of
Oreus, being in occupation of certain fortress-towns in Aeolis,
[20]
and threatened with an attack by Artabazus,2 was in need of
money to pay his troops. After their first contributions, the inhabitants
declared they had no more to give. Charidemus then issued a proclamation to the
town he deemed wealthiest, bidding the inhabitants send away to another fortress
all the coin and valuables they possessed, under convoy which he would provide.
He himself openly set the example with his own goods, and prevailed on them to
comply. But when he had conducted them a little way out of the town, he made an
inventory of their goods, took all he wanted, and led them home again.He had also issued a proclamation in the cities he
governed forbidding anyone to keep arms in his house, under pain of a stated
fine. At first, however, he took no care to enforce it, nor did he make any
inquisition; so that the people treated his proclamation as nugatory, and made
no attempt to get rid of what arms each possessed. Then Charidemus unexpectedly
ordered a search to be made from house to house, and exacted the penalty from
those who were found in possession of arms. A Macedonian named
Philoxenus, who was governor of Caria,
being in need of funds proclaimed that he intended to celebrate the festival of
Dionysus.
1 As the moon's cycle is completed in 29 1/2 days, it was customary to alternate "hollow" months of 29 days with the "full" months of 30 days. Memnon paid his men by the month, but deducted a day's pay every "hollow" month.
2 For the circumstances, and a (hostile) account of this commander's adventures, see Demosthenes,Against AristocratesDem. 23.
Aristotle. Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 18, translated by G.C. Armstrong. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1935.
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