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When this reply reached the Scythians, they resolved, as the
neighbouring nations refused their alliance, that they would not openly
venture on any pitched battle with the enemy, but would retire before
them, driving off their herds, choking up all the wells and springs as
they retreated, and leaving the whole country bare of forage. They
divided themselves into three bands, one of which, namely, that
commanded by Scopasis, it was agreed should be joined by the
Sauromatae, and if the Persians advanced in the direction of the
Tanais, should retreat along the shores of the Palus Maeotis and
make for that river; while if the Persians retired, they should at
once pursue and harass them. The two other divisions, the principal
one under the command of Idanthyrsus, and the third, of which
Taxacis was king, were to unite in one, and, joined by the
detachments of the Geloni and Budini, were, like the others, to
keep at the distance of a day's march from the Persians, falling back
as they advanced, and doing the same as the others. And first, they
were to take the direction of the nations which had refused to join the
alliance, and were to draw the war upon them: that so, if they would
not of their own free will engage in the contest, they might by these
means be forced into it. Afterwards, it was agreed that they should
retire into their own land, and, should it on deliberation appear to
them expedient, join battle with the enemy.
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