diff options
Diffstat (limited to '1170-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 1170-0.txt | 8920 |
1 files changed, 8920 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/1170-0.txt b/1170-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a2ed12 --- /dev/null +++ b/1170-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8920 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1170 *** +ANABASIS + +By Xenophon + +Translation by H. G. Dakyns + + + + + Dedicated To + Rev. B. Jowett, M.A. + Master of Balliol College + Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Oxford + + + + Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was a + pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans, + and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land + and property in Scillus, where he lived for many + years before having to move once more, to settle + in Corinth. He died in 354 B.C. + + The Anabasis is his story of the march to Persia + to aid Cyrus, who enlisted Greek help to try and + take the throne from Artaxerxes, and the ensuing + return of the Greeks, in which Xenophon played a + leading role. This occurred between 401 B.C. and + March 399 B.C. + + + + +PREPARER'S NOTE + +This was typed from Dakyns' series, "The Works of Xenophon," a +four-volume set. The complete list of Xenophon's works (though +there is doubt about some of these) is: + + Work Number of books + + The Anabasis 7 + The Hellenica 7 + The Cyropaedia 8 + The Memorabilia 4 + The Symposium 1 + The Economist 1 + On Horsemanship 1 + The Sportsman 1 + The Cavalry General 1 + The Apology 1 + On Revenues 1 + The Hiero 1 + The Agesilaus 1 + The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians 2 + +Text in brackets "{}" is my transliteration of Greek text into +English using an Oxford English Dictionary alphabet table. The +diacritical marks have been lost. + + + + + + + + +ANABASIS + +BY + +XENOPHON + + + + + + +ANABASIS + + + +BOOK I + + + + +I. + + +Darius and Parysatis had two sons: the elder was named Artaxerxes, and 1 +the younger Cyrus. Now, as Darius lay sick and felt that the end of +life drew near, he wished both his sons to be with him. The elder, as +it chanced, was already there, but Cyrus he must needs send for from +the province over which he had made him satrap, having appointed him +general moreover of all the forces that muster in the plain of the +Castolus. Thus Cyrus went up, taking with him Tissaphernes as his +friend, and accompanied also by a body of Hellenes, three hundred +heavy armed men, under the command of Xenias the Parrhasian (1). + + (1) Parrhasia, a district and town in the south-west of Arcadia. + +Now when Darius was dead, and Artaxerxes was established in the +kingdom, Tissaphernes brought slanderous accusations against Cyrus +before his brother, the king, of harbouring designs against him. And +Artaxerxes, listening to the words of Tissaphernes, laid hands upon +Cyrus, desiring to put him to death; but his mother made intercession +for him, and sent him back again in safety to his province. He then, +having so escaped through peril and dishonour, fell to considering, +not only how he might avoid ever again being in his brother's power, +but how, if possible, he might become king in his stead. Parysatis, +his mother, was his first resource; for she had more love for Cyrus +than for Artaxerxes upon his throne. Moreover Cyrus's behaviour +towards all who came to him from the king's court was such that, when +he sent them away again, they were better friends to himself than to 5 +the king his brother. Nor did he neglect the barbarians in his own +service; but trained them, at once to be capable as warriors and +devoted adherents of himself. Lastly, he began collecting his Hellenic +armament, but with the utmost secrecy, so that he might take the king +as far as might be at unawares. + +The manner in which he contrived the levying of the troops was as +follows: First, he sent orders to the commandants of garrisons in the +cities (so held by him), bidding them to get together as large a body +of picked Peloponnesian troops as they severally were able, on the +plea that Tissaphernes was plotting against their cities; and truly +these cities of Ionia had originally belonged to Tissaphernes, being +given to him by the king; but at this time, with the exception of +Miletus, they had all revolted to Cyrus. In Miletus, Tissaphernes, +having become aware of similar designs, had forestalled the +conspirators by putting some to death and banishing the remainder. +Cyrus, on his side, welcomed these fugitives, and having collected an +army, laid siege to Miletus by sea and land, endeavouring to reinstate +the exiles; and this gave him another pretext for collecting an +armament. At the same time he sent to the king, and claimed, as being +the king's brother, that these cities should be given to himself +rather than that Tissaphernes should continue to govern them; and in +furtherance of this end, the queen, his mother, co-operated with him, +so that the king not only failed to see the design against himself, +but concluded that Cyrus was spending his money on armaments in order +to make war on Tissaphernes. Nor did it pain him greatly to see the +two at war together, and the less so because Cyrus was careful to +remit the tribute due to the king from the cities which belonged to +Tissaphernes. + +A third army was being collected for him in the Chersonese, over +against Abydos, the origin of which was as follows: There was a +Lacedaemonian exile, named Clearchus, with whom Cyrus had become +associated. Cyrus admired the man, and made him a present of ten +thousand darics (2). Clearchus took the gold, and with the money raised 9 +an army, and using the Chersonese as his base of operations, set to +work to fight the Thracians north of the Hellespont, in the interests +of the Hellenes, and with such happy result that the Hellespontine +cities, of their own accord, were eager to contribute funds for the +support of his troops. In this way, again, an armament was being +secretly maintained for Cyrus. + + (2) A Persian gold coin = 125.55 grains of gold. + +Then there was the Thessalian Aristippus, Cyrus's friend (3), who, +under pressure of the rival political party at home, had come to Cyrus +and asked him for pay for two thousand mercenaries, to be continued +for three months, which would enable him, he said, to gain the upper +hand of his antagonists. Cyrus replied by presenting him with six +months' pay for four thousand mercenaries--only stipulating that +Aristippus should not come to terms with his antagonists without final +consultation with himself. In this way he secured to himself the +secret maintenance of a fourth armament. + + (3) Lit. "guest-friend." Aristippus was, as we learn from the "Meno" + of Plato, a native of Larisa, of the family of the Aleuadae, and a + pupil of Gorgias. He was also a lover of Menon, whom he appears to + have sent on this expedition instead of himself. + +Further, he bade Proxenus, a Boeotian, who was another friend, get +together as many men as possible, and join him in an expedition which +he meditated against the Pisidians (4), who were causing annoyance to +his territory. Similarly two other friends, Sophaenetus the +Stymphalian (5), and Socrates the Achaean, had orders to get together +as many men as possible and come to him, since he was on the point of +opening a campaign, along with Milesian exiles, against Tissaphernes. +These orders were duly carried out by the officers in question. + + (4) Lit. "into the country of the Pisidians." + + (5) Of Stymphalus in Arcadia. + + + + +II + +But when the right moment seemed to him to have come, at which he 1 +should begin his march into the interior, the pretext which he put +forward was his desire to expel the Pisidians utterly out of the +country; and he began collecting both his Asiatic and his Hellenic +armaments, avowedly against that people. From Sardis in each direction +his orders sped: to Clearchus, to join him there with the whole of his +army; to Aristippus, to come to terms with those at home, and to +despatch to him the troops in his employ; to Xenias the Arcadian, who +was acting as general-in-chief of the foreign troops in the cities, to +present himself with all the men available, excepting only those who +were actually needed to garrison the citadels. He next summoned the +troops at present engaged in the siege of Miletus, and called upon the +exiles to follow him on his intended expedition, promising them that +if he were successful in his object, he would not pause until he had +reinstated them in their native city. To this invitation they +hearkened gladly; they believed in him; and with their arms they +presented themselves at Sardis. So, too, Xenias arrived at Sardis with +the contingent from the cities, four thousand hoplites; Proxenus, +also, with fifteen hundred hoplites and five hundred light-armed +troops; Sophaenetus the Stymphalian, with one thousand hoplites; +Socrates the Achaean, with five hundred hoplites; while the Megarion +Pasion came with three hundred hoplites and three hundred peltasts (1). +This latter officer, as well as Socrates, belonged to the force +engaged against Miletus. These all joined him at Sardis. + + (1) "Targeteers" armed with a light shield instead of the larger one + of the hoplite, or heavy infantry soldier. Iphicrates made great + use of this arm at a later date. + +But Tissaphernes did not fail to note these proceedings. An equipment +so large pointed to something more than an invasion of Pisidia: so he +argued; and with what speed he might, he set off to the king, attended +by about five hundred horse. The king, on his side, had no sooner +heard from Tissaphernes of Cyrus's great armament, than he began to +make counter-preparations. + +Thus Cyrus, with the troops which I have named, set out from Sardis, +and marched on and on through Lydia three stages, making +two-and-twenty parasangs (2), to the river Maeander. That river is two +hundred feet (3) broad, and was spanned by a bridge consisting of seven +boats. Crossing it, he marched through Phrygia a single stage, of +eight parasangs, to Colossae, an inhabited city (4), prosperous and 6 +large. Here he remained seven days, and was joined by Menon the +Thessalian, who arrived with one thousand hoplites and five hundred +peltasts, Dolopes, Aenianes, and Olynthians. From this place he +marched three stages, twenty parasangs in all, to Celaenae, a populous +city of Phrygia, large and prosperous. Here Cyrus owned a palace and a +large park (5) full of wild beasts, which he used to hunt on horseback, +whenever he wished to give himself or his horses exercise. Through the +midst of the park flows the river Maeander, the sources of which are +within the palace buildings, and it flows through the city of +Celaenae. The great king also has a palace in Celaenae, a strong +place, on the sources of another river, the Marsyas, at the foot of +the acropolis. This river also flows through the city, discharging +itself into the Maeander, and is five-and-twenty feet broad. Here is +the place where Apollo is said to have flayed Marsyas, when he had +conquered him in the contest of skill. He hung up the skin of the +conquered man, in the cavern where the spring wells forth, and hence +the name of the river, Marsyas. It was on this site that Xerxes, as +tradition tells, built this very palace, as well as the citadel of +Celaenae itself, on his retreat from Hellas, after he had lost the +famous battle. Here Cyrus remained for thirty days, during which +Clearchus the Lacedaemonian arrived with one thousand hoplites and +eight hundred Thracian peltasts and two hundred Cretan archers. At the +same time, also, came Sosis the Syracusian with three thousand +hoplites, and Sophaenetus the Arcadian (6) with one thousand hoplites; +and here Cyrus held a review, and numbered his Hellenes in the park, +and found that they amounted in all to eleven thousand hoplites and +about two thousand peltasts. + + (2) The Persian "farsang" = 30 stades, nearly 1 league, 3 1/2 statute + miles, though not of uniform value in all parts of Asia. + + (3) "Two plethra": the plethron = about 101 English feet. + + (4) Lit. "inhabited," many of the cities of Asia being then as now + deserted, but the suggestion is clearly at times "thickly + inhabited," "populous." + + (5) Lit. "paradise," an oriental word = park or pleasure ground. + + (6) Perhaps this should be Agias the Arcadian, as Mr. Macmichael + suggests. Sophaenetus has already been named above. + +From this place he continued his march two stages--ten parasangs--to 10 +the populous city of Peltae, where he remained three days; while +Xenias, the Arcadian, celebrated the Lycaea (7) with sacrifice, and +instituted games. The prizes were headbands of gold; and Cyrus himself +was a spectator of the contest. From this place the march was +continued two stages--twelve parasangs--to Ceramon-agora, a populous +city, the last on the confines of Mysia. Thence a march of three +stages--thirty parasangs--brought him to Caystru-pedion (8), a populous +city. Here Cyrus halted five days; and the soldiers, whose pay was now +more than three months in arrear, came several times to the palace +gates demanding their dues; while Cyrus put them off with fine words +and expectations, but could not conceal his vexation, for it was not +his fashion to stint payment, when he had the means. At this point +Epyaxa, the wife of Syennesis, the king of the Cilicians, arrived on a +visit to Cyrus; and it was said that Cyrus received a large gift of +money from the queen. At this date, at any rate, Cyrus gave the army +four months' pay. The queen was accompanied by a bodyguard of +Cilicians and Aspendians; and, if report speaks truly, Cyrus had +intimate relations with the queen. + + (7) The Lycaea, an Arcadian festival in honour of Zeus {Arcaios}, akin + to the Roman Lupercalia, which was originally a shepherd festival, + the introduction of which the Romans ascribe to the Arcadian + Evander. + + (8) Lit. "plain of the Cayster," like Ceramon-agora, "the market of + the Ceramians" above, the name of a town. + +From this place he marched two stages--ten parasangs--to Thymbrium, a +populous city. Here, by the side of the road, is the spring of Midas, +the king of Phrygia, as it is called, where Midas, as the story goes, +caught the satyr by drugging the spring with wine. From this place he +marched two stages--ten parasangs--to Tyriaeum, a populous city. Here +he halted three days; and the Cilician queen, according to the popular +account, begged Cyrus to exhibit his armament for her amusement. The +latter being only too glad to make such an exhibition, held a review +of the Hellenes and barbarians in the plain. He ordered the Hellenes +to draw up their lines and post themselves in their customary battle +order, each general marshalling his own battalion. Accordingly they +drew up four-deep. The right was held by Menon and those with him; the 15 +left by Clearchus and his men; the centre by the remaining generals +with theirs. Cyrus first inspected the barbarians, who marched past in +troops of horses and companies of infantry. He then inspected the +Hellenes; driving past them in his chariot, with the queen in her +carriage. And they all had brass helmets and purple tunics, and +greaves, and their shields uncovered (9). + + (9) I.e. ready for action, c.f. "bayonets fixed". + +After he had driven past the whole body, he drew up his chariot in +front of the centre of the battle-line, and sent his interpreter +Pigres to the generals of the Hellenes, with orders to present arms +and to advance along the whole line. This order was repeated by the +generals to their men; and at the sound of the bugle, with shields +forward and spears in rest, they advanced to meet the enemy. The pace +quickened, and with a shout the soldiers spontaneously fell into a +run, making in the direction of the camp. Great was the panic of the +barbarians. The Cilician queen in her carriage turned and fled; the +sutlers in the marketing place left their wares and took to their +heels; and the Hellenes meanwhile came into camp with a roar of +laughter. What astounded the queen was the brilliancy and order of the +armament; but Cyrus was pleased to see the terror inspired by the +Hellenes in the hearts of the Asiatics. + +From this place he marched on three stages--twenty parasangs--to +Iconium, the last city of Phrygia, where he remained three days. +Thence he marched through Lycaonia five stages--thirty parasangs. This +was hostile country, and he gave it over to the Hellenes to pillage. +At this point Cyrus sent back the Cilician queen to her own country by +the quickest route; and to escort her he sent the soldiers of Menon, +and Menon himself. With the rest of the troops he continued his march +through Cappadocia four stages--twenty-five parasangs--to Dana, a +populous city, large and flourishing. Here they halted three days, +within which interval Cyrus put to death, on a charge of conspiracy, a +Persian nobleman named Megaphernes, a wearer of the royal purple; and +along with him another high dignitary among his subordinate +commanders. + +From this place they endeavoured to force a passage into Cilicia. Now 21 +the entrance was by an exceedingly steep cart-road, impracticable for +an army in face of a resisting force; and report said that Syennesis +was on the summit of the pass guarding the approach. Accordingly they +halted a day in the plain; but next day came a messenger informing +them that Syenesis had left the pass; doubtless, after perceiving that +Menon's army was already in Cilicia on his own side of the mountains; +and he had further been informed that ships of war, belonging to the +Lacedaemonians and to Cyrus himself, with Tamos on board as admiral, +were sailing round from Ionia to Cilicia. Whatever the reason might +be, Cyrus made his way up into the hills without let or hindrance, and +came in sight of the tents where the Cilicians were on guard. From +that point he descended gradually into a large and beautiful plain +country, well watered, and thickly covered with trees of all sorts and +vines. This plain produces sesame plentifully, as also panic and +millet and barley and wheat; and it is shut in on all sides by a steep +and lofty wall of mountains from sea to sea. Descending through this +plain country, he advanced four stages--twenty-five parasangs--to +Tarsus, a large and prosperous city of Cilicia. Here stood the palace +of Syennesis, the king of the country; and through the middle of the +city flows a river called the Cydnus, two hundred feet broad. They +found that the city had been deserted by its inhabitants, who had +betaken themselves, with Syennesis, to a strong place on the hills. +All had gone, except the tavern-keepers. The sea-board inhabitants of +Soli and Issi also remained. Now Epyaxa, Syennesis's queen, had +reached Tarsus five days in advance of Cyrus. During their passage +over the mountains into the plain, two companies of Menon's army were +lost. Some said they had been cut down by the Cilicians, while engaged +on some pillaging affair; another account was that they had been left +behind, and being unable to overtake the main body, or discover the +route, had gone astray and perished. However it was, they numbered one +hundred hoplites; and when the rest arrived, being in a fury at the +destruction of their fellow soldiers, they vented their spleen by +pillaging the city of Tarsus and the palace to boot. Now when Cyrus +had marched into the city, he sent for Syennesis to come to him; but 26 +the latter replied that he had never yet put himself into the hands of +any one who was his superior, nor was he willing to accede to the +proposal of Cyrus now; until, in the end, his wife persuaded him, and +he accepted pledges of good faith. After this they met, and Syennesis +gave Cyrus large sums in aid of his army; while Cyrus presented him +with the customary royal gifts--to wit, a horse with a gold bit, a +necklace of gold, a gold bracelet, and a gold scimitar, a Persian +dress, and lastly, the exemption of his territory from further +pillage, with the privilege of taking back the slaves that had been +seized, wherever they might chance to come upon them. + + + + +III + +At Tarsus Cyrus and his army halted for twenty days; the soldiers 1 +refusing to advance further, since the suspicion ripened in their +minds, that the expedition was in reality directed against the king; +and as they insisted, they had not engaged their services for that +object. Clearchus set the example of trying to force his men to +continue their march; but he had no sooner started at the head of his +troops than they began to pelt him and his baggage train, and +Clearchus had a narrow escape of being stoned to death there and then. +Later on, when he perceived that force was useless, he summoned an +assembly of his own men; and for a long while he stood and wept, while +the men gazed in silent astonishment. At last he spoke as follows: +"Fellow soldiers, do not marvel that I am sorely distressed on account +of the present troubles. Cyrus has been no ordinary friend to me. When +I was in banishment he honoured me in various ways, and made me also a +present of ten thousand darics. These I accepted, but not to lay them +up for myself for private use; not to squander them in pleasure, but +to expend them on yourselves. And, first of all, I went to war with +the Thracians, and with you to aid, I wreaked vengeance on them in +behalf of Hellas; driving them out of the Chersonese, when they wanted +to deprive its Hellenic inhabitants of their lands. But as soon as +Cyrus summoned me, I took you with me and set out, so that, if my +benefactor had any need of me, I might requite him for the good +treatment I myself had received at his hands.... But since you are +not minded to continue the march with me, one of two things is left to 5 +me to do; either I must renounce you for the sake of my friendship +with Cyrus, or I must go with you at the cost of deceiving him. +Whether I am about to do right or not, I cannot say, but I choose +yourselves; and, whatever betide, I mean to share your fate. Never +shall it be said of me by any one that, having led Greek troops +against the barbarians (1), I betrayed the Hellenes, and chose the +friendship of the barbarian. No! since you do not choose to obey and +follow me, I will follow after you. Whatever betide, I will share your +fate. I look upon you as my country, my friends, my allies; with you I +think I shall be honoured, wherever I be; without you I do not see how +I can help a friend or hurt a foe. My decision is taken. Wherever you +go, I go also." + + (1) Lit. "into the country of the barbarian." + +Such were his words. But the soldiers, not only his own, but the rest +also, when they heard what he said, and how he had scouted the idea of +going up to the great king's palace (2), expressed their approval; and +more than two thousand men deserted Xenias and Pasion, and took their +arms and baggage-train, and came and encamped with Clearchus. But +Cyrus, in despair and vexation at this turn of affairs, sent for +Clearchus. He refused to come; but, without the knowledge of the +soldiers, sent a message to Cyrus, bidding him keep a good heart, for +that all would arrange itself in the right way; and bade him keep on +sending for him, whilst he himself refused to go. After that he got +together his own men, with those who had joined him, and of the rest +any who chose to come, and spoke as follows: "Fellow soldiers, it is +clear that the relations of Cyrus to us are identical with ours to +him. We are no longer his soldiers, since we have ceased to follow +him; and he, on his side, is no longer our paymaster. He, however, no +doubt considers himself wronged by us; and though he goes on sending +for me, I cannot bring myself to go to him: for two reasons, chiefly +from a sense of shame, for I am forced to admit to myself that I have +altogether deceived him; but partly, too, because I am afraid of his +seizing me and inflicting a penalty on the wrongs which he conceives 11 +that I have done him. In my opinion, then, this is no time for us to +go to sleep and forget all about ourselves, rather it is high time to +deliberate on our next move; and as long as we do remain here, we had +better bethink us how we are to abide in security; or, if we are +resolved to turn our backs at once, what will be the safest means of +retreat; and, further, how we are to procure supplies, for without +supplies there is no profit whatsoever in the general or the private +soldier. The man with whom we have to deal is an excellent friend to +his friends, but a very dangerous enemy to his foes. And he is backed +by a force of infantry and cavalry and ships such as we all alike very +well see and know, since we can hardly be said to have posted +ourselves at any great distance from him. If, then, any one has a +suggestion to make, now is the time to speak." With these words he +ceased. + + (2) Or "how he insisted that he was not going up." + +Then various speakers stood up; some of their own motion to propound +their views; others inspired by Clearchus to dilate on the hopeless +difficulty of either staying, or going back without the goodwill of +Cyrus. One of these, in particular, with a make-believe of anxiety to +commence the homeward march without further pause, called upon them +instantly to choose other generals, if Clearchus were not himself +prepared to lead them back: "Let them at once purchase supplies" (the +market being in the heart of the Asiatic camp), "let them pack up +their baggage: let them," he added, "go to Cyrus and ask for some +ships in order to return by sea: if he refused to give them ships, let +them demand of him a guide to lead them back through a friendly +district; and if he would not so much as give them a guide, they could +but put themselves, without more ado, in marching order, and send on a +detachment to occupy the pass--before Cyrus and the Cilicians, whose +property," the speaker added, "we have so plentifully pillaged, can +anticipate us." Such were the remarks of that speaker; he was followed +by Clearchus, who merely said: "As to my acting personally as general +at this season, pray do not propose it: I can see numerous obstacles +to my doing so. Obedience, in the fullest, I can render to the man of 15 +your choice, that is another matter: and you shall see and know that I +can play my part, under command, with the best of you." + +After Clearchus another spokesman stood up, and proceeded to point out +the simplicity of the speaker, who proposed to ask for vessels, just +as if Cyrus were minded to renounce the expedition and sail back +again. "And let me further point out," he said, "what a simple-minded +notion it is to beg a guide of the very man whose designs we are +marring. If we can trust any guide whom Cyrus may vouchsafe to us, why +not order Cyrus at once to occupy the pass on our behoof? For my part, +I should think twice before I set foot on any ships that he might give +us, for fear lest he should sink them with his men-of-war; and I +should equally hesitate to follow any guide of his: he might lead us +into some place out of which we should find it impossible to escape. I +should much prefer, if I am to return home against the will of Cyrus +at all, to give him the slip, and so begone: which indeed is +impossible. But these schemes are simply nonsensical. My proposal is +that a deputation of fit persons, with Clearchus, should go to Cyrus: +let them go to Cyrus and ask him: what use he proposes to make of us? +and if the business is at all similar to that on which he once before +employed a body of foreigners--let us by all means follow: let us show +that we are the equals of those who accompanied him on his march up +formerly. But if the design should turn out to be of larger import +than the former one--involving more toil and more danger--we should +ask him, either to give us good reasons for following his lead, or +else consent to send us away into a friendly country. In this way, +whether we follow him, we shall do so as friends, and with heart and +soul, or whether we go back, we shall do so in security. The answer to +this shall be reported to us here, and when we have heard it, we will +advise as to our best course." + +This resolution was carried, and they chose and sent a deputation with +Clearchus, who put to Cyrus the questions which had been agreed upon +by the army. Cyrus replied as follows: That he had received news that +Abrocomas, an enemy of his, was posted on the Euphrates, twelve stages 20 +off; his object was to march against this aforesaid Abrocomas: and if +he were still there, he wished to inflict punishment on him, "or if he +be fled" (so the reply concluded), "we will there deliberate on the +best course." The deputation received the answer and reported it to +the soldiers. The suspicion that he was leading them against the king +was not dispelled; but it seemed best to follow him. They only +demanded an increase of pay, and Cyrus promised to give them half as +much again as they had hitherto received--that is to say, a daric and +a half a month to each man, instead of a daric. Was he really leading +them to attack the king? Not even at this moment was any one apprised +of the fact, at any rate in any open and public manner. + + + + +IV + +From this point he marched two stages--ten parasangs--to the river 1 +Psarus, which is two hundred feet broad, and from the Psarus he +marched a single stage--five parasangs--to Issi, the last city in +Cilicia. It lies on the seaboard--a prosperous, large and flourishing +town. Here they halted three days, and here Cyrus was joined by his +fleet. There were thirty-five ships from Peloponnesus, with the +Lacedaemonian admiral Pythagoras on board. These had been piloted from +Ephesus by Tamos the Egyptian, who himself had another fleet of +twenty-five ships belonging to Cyrus. These had formed Tamos's +blockading squadron at Miletus, when that city sided with +Tissaphernes; he had also used them in other military services +rendered to Cyrus in his operations against that satrap. There was a +third officer on board the fleet, the Lacedaemonian Cheirisophus, who +had been sent for by Cyrus, and had brought with him seven hundred +hoplites, over whom he was to act as general in the service of Cyrus. +The fleet lay at anchor opposite Cyrus's tent. Here too another +reinforcement presented itself. This was a body of four hundred +hoplites, Hellenic mercenaries in the service of Abrocomas, who 3 +deserted him for Cyrus, and joined in the campaign against the king. + +From Issi, he marched a single stage--five parasangs--to the gates of +Cilicia and Syria. This was a double fortress: the inner and nearer +one, which protects Cilicia, was held by Syennesis and a garrison of +Cilicians; the outer and further one, protecting Syria, was reported +to be garrisoned by a body of the king's troops. Through the gap +between the two fortresses flows a river named the Carsus, which is a +hundred feet broad, and the whole space between was scarcely more than +six hundred yards. To force a passage here would be impossible, so +narrow was the pass itself, with the fortification walls stretching +down to the sea, and precipitous rocks above; while both fortresses +were furnished with gates. It was the existence of this pass which had +induced Cyrus to send for the fleet, so as to enable him to lead a +body of hoplites inside and outside the gates; and so to force a +passage through the enemy, if he were guarding the Syrian gate, as he +fully expected to find Abrocomas doing with a large army. This, +however, Abrocomas had not done; but as soon as he learnt that Cyrus +was in Cilicia, he had turned round and made his exit from Phoenicia, +to join the king with an army amounting, as report said, to three +hundred thousand men. + +From this point Cyrus pursued his march, through Syria a single +stage--five parasangs--to Myriandus, a city inhabited by Phoenicians, +on the sea-coast. This was a commercial port, and numerous merchant +vessels were riding at anchor in the harbour. Here they halted seven +days, and here Xenias the Arcadian general, and Pasion the Megarian +got on board a trader, and having stowed away their most valuable +effects, set sail for home; most people explained the act as the +outcome of a fit of jealousy, because Cyrus had allowed Clearchus to +retain their men, who had deserted to him, in hopes of returning to +Hellas instead of marching against the king; when the two had so +vanished, a rumour spread that Cyrus was after them with some ships of +war, and some hoped the cowards might be caught, others pitied them, +if that should be their fate. + +But Cyrus summoned the generals and addressed them: "Xenias and 8 +Pasion," he said, "have taken leave of us; but they need not flatter +themselves that in so doing they have stolen into hiding. I know where +they are gone; nor will they owe their escape to speed; I have +men-of-war to capture their craft, if I like. But heaven help me! if I +mean to pursue them: never shall it be said of me, that I turn people +to account as long as they stay with me, but as soon as they are +minded to be off, I seize and maltreat them, and strip them of their +wealth. Not so! let them go with the consciousness that our behaviour +to them is better than theirs to us. And yet I have their children and +wives safe under lock and key in Tralles; but they shall not be +deprived even of these. They shall receive them back in return for +their former goodness to me." So he spoke, and the Hellenes, even +those who had been out of heart at the thought of marching up the +country, when they heard of the nobleness of Cyrus, were happier and +more eager to follow him on his path. + +After this Cyrus marched onwards four stages--twenty parasangs--to the +river Chalus. That river is a hundred feet broad, and is stocked with +tame fish which the Syrians regard as gods, and will not suffer to be +injured--and so too the pigeons of the place. The villages in which +they encamped belonged to Parysatis, as part of her girdle money (1). +From this point he marched on five stages--thirty parasangs--to the +sources of the river Dardas, which is a hundred feet broad. Here stood +the palace of Belesys, the ruler of Syria, with its park--which was a +very large and beautiful one, and full of the products of all the +seasons in their course. But Cyrus cut down the park and burnt the +palace. Thence he marched on three stages--fifteen parasangs--to the +river Euphrates, which is nearly half a mile broad. A large and 11 +flourishing city, named Thapsacus, stands on its banks. Here they +halted five days, and here Cyrus sent for the generals of the +Hellenes, and told them that the advance was now to be upon Babylon, +against the great king; he bade them communicate this information to +the soldiers and persuade them to follow. The generals called an +assembly, and announced the news to the soldiers. The latter were +indignant and angry with the generals, accusing them of having kept +secret what they had long known; and refused to go, unless such a +bribe of money were given them as had been given to their +predecessors, when they went up with Cyrus to the court of his father, +not as now to fight a battle, but on a peaceful errand--the visit of a +son to his father by invitation. The demand was reported to Cyrus by +the generals, and he undertook to give each man five silver minae as +soon as Babylon was reached, and their pay in full, until he had +safely conveyed them back to Ionia again. In this manner the Hellenic +force were persuaded--that is to say, the majority of them. Menon, +indeed, before it was clear what the rest of the soldiers would +do--whether, in fact they would follow Cyrus or not--collected his own +troops apart and made them the following speech; "Men," he said, "if +you will listen to me, there is a method by which, without risk or +toil, you may win the special favour of Cyrus beyond the rest of the +soldiers. You ask what it is I would have you to do? I will tell you. +Cyrus at this instant is begging the Hellenes to follow him to attack +the king. I say then: Cross the Euphrates at once, before it is clear +what answer the rest will make; if they vote in favour of following, +you will get the credit of having set the example, and Cyrus will be +grateful to you. He will look upon you as being the heartiest in his +cause; he will repay, as of all others he best knows how; while, if +the rest vote against crossing, we shall go back again; but as the +sole adherents, whose fidelity he can altogether trust, it is you whom +Cyrus will turn to account, as commandants of garrisons or captains of +companies. You need only ask him for whatever you want, and you will +get it from him, as being the friends of Cyrus." + + (1) Cf. Plat. "Alcib." i. 123 B. "Why, I have been informed by a + credible person, who went up to the king (at Susa), that he passed + through a large tract of excellent land, extending for nearly a + day's journey, which the people of the country called the queen's + girdle, and another which they called her veil," etc. Olympiodorus + and the Scholiast both think that Plato here refers to Xenophon + and this passage of the "Anabasis." Grote thinks it very probable + that Plato had in his mind Xenophon (either his "Anabasis" or + personal communications with him). + +The men heard and obeyed, and before the rest had given their answer, +they were already across. But when Cyrus perceived that Menon's troops 16 +had crossed, he was well pleased, and he sent Glus to the division in +question, with this message: "Soldiers, accept my thanks at present; +eventually you shall thank me. I will see to that, or my name is not +Cyrus." The soldiers therefore could not but pray heartily for his +success; so high their hopes ran. But to Menon, it was said, he sent +gifts with lordly liberality. This done, Cyrus proceeded to cross; and +in his wake followed the rest of the armament to a man. As they +forded, never a man was wetted above the chest: nor ever until this +moment, said the men of Thapascus, had the river been so crossed on +foot, boats had always been required; but these, at the present time, +Abrocomas, in his desire to hinder Cyrus from crossing, had been at +pains to burn. Thus the passage was looked upon as a thing miraculous; +the river had manifestly retired before the face of Cyrus, like a +courtier bowing to his future king. From this place he continued his +march through Syria nine stages--fifty parasangs--and they reached the +river Araxes. Here were several villages full of corn and wine; in +which they halted three days, and provisioned the army. + + + + +V + +Thence he marched on through Arabia, keeping the Euphrates on the 1 +right, five desert stages--thirty-five parasangs. In this region the +ground was one long level plain, stretching far and wide like the sea, +full of absinth; whilst all the other vegetation, whether wood or +reed, was sweet scented like spice or sweet herb; there were no trees; +but there was wild game of all kinds--wild asses in greatest +abundance, with plenty of ostriches; besides these, there were +bustards and antelopes. These creatures were occasionally chased by +the cavalry. The asses, when pursued, would run forward a space, and +then stand still--their pace being much swifter than that of horses; +and as soon as the horses came close, they went through the same +performance. The only way to catch them was for the riders to post +themselves at intervals, and to hunt them in relays, as it were. The +flesh of those they captured was not unlike venison, only more tender. +No one was lucky enough to capture an ostrich. Some of the troopers +did give chase, but it had soon to be abandoned; for the bird, in its +effort to escape, speedily put a long interval between itself and its 3 +pursuers; plying its legs at full speed, and using its wings the while +like a sail. The bustards were not so hard to catch when started +suddenly; for they only take short flights, like partridges, and are +soon tired. Their flesh is delicious. + +As the army wended its way through this region, they reached the river +Mascas, which is one hundred feet in breadth. Here stood a big +deserted city called Corsote, almost literally environed by the +stream, which flows round it in a circle. Here they halted three days +and provisioned themselves. Thence they continued their march thirteen +desert stages--ninety parasangs--with the Euphrates still on their +right, until they reached the Gates. On these marches several of the +baggage animals perished of hunger, for there was neither grass nor +green herb, or tree of any sort; but the country throughout was +barren. The inhabitants make their living by quarrying millstones on +the river banks, which they work up and take to Babylon and sell, +purchasing corn in exchange for their goods. Corn failed the army, and +was not to be got for money, except in the Lydian market open in +Cyrus's Asiatic army; where a kapithe of wheat or barley cost four +shekels; the shekel being equal to seven and a half Attic obols, +whilst the kapithe is the equivalent of two Attic choeneces (1), dry +measure, so that the soldiers subsisted on meat alone for the whole +period. Some of the stages were very long, whenever they had to push +on to find water or fodder; and once they found themselves involved in +a narrow way, where the deep clay presented an obstacle to the +progress of the wagons. Cyrus, with the nobles about him, halted to +superintend the operation, and ordered Glus and Pigres to take a body +of barbarians and to help in extricating the wagons. As they seemed to +be slow about the business, he turned round angrily to the Persian +nobles and bade them lend a hand to force the wagons out. Then, if +ever, what goes to constitute one branch of good discipline, was to be +witnessed. Each of those addressed, just where he chanced to be 8 +standing, threw off his purple cloak, and flung himself into the work +with as much eagerness as if it had been a charge for victory. Down a +steep hill side they flew, with their costly tunics and embroidered +trousers--some with the circlets round their necks, and bracelets on +their arms--in an instant, they had sprung into the miry clay, and in +less time than one could have conceived, they had landed the wagons +safe on terra firma. + + (1) The choenix = about 1 quart (or, according to others, 1 1/2 pint). + It was the minimum allowance of corn for a man, say a slave, per + diem. The Spartan was allowed at the public table 2 choenices a + day. + +Altogether it was plain that Cyrus was bent on pressing on the march, +and averse to stoppages, except where he halted for the sake of +provisioning or some other necessary object; being convinced that the +more rapidly he advanced, the less prepared for battle would he find +the king; while the slower his own progress, the larger would be the +hostile army which he would find collected. Indeed, the attentive +observer could see, at a glance, that if the king's empire was strong +in its extent of territory and the number of inhabitants, that +strength is compensated by an inherent weakness, dependent upon the +length of roads and the inevitable dispersion of defensive forces, +where an invader insists upon pressing home the war by forced marches. + +On the opposite side of the Euphrates to the point reached on one of +these desert stages, was a large and flourishing city named Charmande. +From this town the soldiers made purchases of provisions, crossing the +river on rafts, in the following fashion: They took the skins which +they used as tent coverings, and filled them with light grass; they +then compressed and stitched them tightly together by the ends, so +that the water might not touch the hay. On these they crossed and got +provisions: wine made from the date-nut, and millet or panic-corn, the +common staple of the country. Some dispute or other here occurred +between the soldiers of Menon and Clearchus, in which Clearchus +sentenced one of Menon's men, as the delinquent, and had him flogged. +The man went back to his own division and told them. Hearing what had +been done to their comrade, his fellows fretted and fumed, and were +highly incensed against Clearchus. The same day Clearchus visited the +passage of the river, and after inspecting the market there, was +returning with a few followers, on horseback, to his tent, and had to 12 +pass through Menon's quarters. Cyrus had not yet come up, but was +riding up in the same direction. One of Menon's men, who was splitting +wood, caught sight of Clearchus as he rode past, and aimed a blow at +him with his axe. The aim took no effect; when another hurled a stone +at him, and a third, and then several, with shouts and hisses. +Clearchus made a rapid retreat to his own troops, and at once ordered +them to get under arms. He bade his hoplites remain in position with +their shields resting against their knees, while he, at the head of +his Thracians and horsemen, of which he had more than forty in his +army--Thracians for the most part--advanced against Menon's soldiers, +so that the latter, with Menon himself, were panic-stricken, and ran +to seize their arms; some even stood riveted to the spot, in +perplexity at the occurrence. Just then Proxenus came up from behind, +as chance would have it, with his division of hoplites, and without a +moment's hesitation marched into the open space between the rival +parties, and grounded arms; then he fell to begging Clearchus to +desist. The latter was not too well pleased to hear his trouble mildly +spoken of, when he had barely escaped being stoned to death; and he +bade Proxenus retire and leave the intervening space open. At this +juncture Cyrus arrived and inquired what was happening. There was no +time for hesitation. With his javelins firmly grasped in his hands he +galloped up--escorted by some of his faithful bodyguard, who were +present--and was soon in the midst, exclaiming: "Clearchus, Proxenus, +and you other Hellenes yonder, you know not what you do. As surely as +you come to blows with one another, our fate is sealed--this very day +I shall be cut to pieces, and so will you: your turn will follow close +on mine. Let our fortunes once take an evil turn, and these barbarians +whom you see around will be worse foes to us than those who are at +present serving the king." At these words Clearchus came to his +senses. Both parties paused from battle, and retired to their +quarters: order reigned. + + + + +VI + +As they advanced from this point (opposite Charmande), they came upon 1 +the hoof-prints and dung of horses at frequent intervals. It looked +like the trail of some two thousand horses. Keeping ahead of the army, +these fellows burnt up the grass and everything else that was good for +use. Now there was a Persian, named Orontas; he was closely related to +the king by birth: and in matters pertaining to war reckoned among the +best of Persian warriors. Having formerly been at war with Cyrus, and +afterwards reconciled to him, he now made a conspiracy to destroy him. +he made a proposal to Cyrus: if Cyrus would furnish him with a +thousand horsemen, he would deal with these troopers, who were burning +down everything in front of them; he would lay an ambuscade and cut +them down, or he would capture a host of them alive; in any case, he +would put a stop to their aggressiveness and burnings; he would see to +it that they did not ever get a chance of setting eyes on Cyrus's army +and reporting its advent to the king. The proposal seemed plausible to +Cyrus, who accordingly authorised Orontas to take a detachment from +each of the generals, and be gone. He, thinking that he had got his +horsemen ready to his hand, wrote a letter to the king, announcing +that he would ere long join him with as many troopers as he could +bring; he bade him, at the same time, instruct the royal cavalry to +welcome him as a friend. The letter further contained certain +reminders of his former friendship and fidelity. This despatch he +delivered into the hands of one who was a trusty messenger, as he +thought; but the bearer took and gave it to Cyrus. Cyrus read it. +Orontas was arrested. Then Cyrus summoned to his tent seven of the +noblest Persians among his personal attendants, and sent orders to the +Hellenic generals to bring up a body of hoplites. These troops were to +take up a position round his tent. This the generals did; bringing up +about three thousand hoplites. Clearchus was also invited inside, to +assist at the court-martial; a compliment due to the position he held +among the other generals, in the opinion not only of Cyrus, but also +of the rest of the court. When he came out, he reported the +circumstances of the trial (as to which, indeed, there was no mystery) +to his friends. He said that Cyrus opened the inquiry with these +words: "I have invited you hither, my friends, that I may take advice +with you, and carry out whatever, in the sight of God and man, it is +right for me to do, as concerning the man before you, Orontas. The 6 +prisoner was, in the first instance, given to me by my father, to be +my faithful subject. In the next place, acting, to use his own words, +under the orders of my brother, and having hold of the acropolis of +Sardis, he went to war with me. I met war with war, and forced him to +think it more prudent to desist from war with me: whereupon we shook +hands, exchanging solemn pledges. After that," and at this point Cyrus +turned to Orontas, and addressed him personally--"after that, did I do +you any wrong?" Answer, "Never." Again another question: "Then later +on, having received, as you admit, no injury from me, did you revolt +to the Mysians and injure my territory, as far as in you lay?"--"I +did," was the reply. "Then, once more having discovered the limits of +your power, did you flee to the altar of Artemis, crying out that you +repented? and did you thus work upon my feelings, that we a second +time shook hands and made interchange of solemn pledges? Are these +things so?" Orontas again assented. "Then what injury have you +received from me," Cyrus asked, "that now for the third time, you have +been detected in a treasonous plot against me?"--"I must needs do so," +he answered. Then Cyrus put one more question: "But the day may come, +may it not, when you will once again be hostile to my brother, and a +faithful friend to myself?" The other answered: "Even if I were, you +could never be brought to believe it, Cyrus." + +At this point Cyrus turned to those who were present and said: "Such +has been the conduct of the prisoner in the past: such is his language +now. I now call upon you, and you first, Clearchus, to declare your +opinion--what think you?" And Clearchus answered: "My advice to you is +to put this man out of the way as soon as may be, so that we may be +saved the necessity of watching him, and have more leisure, as far as +he is concerned, to requite the services of those whose friendship is +sincere."--"To this opinion," he told us, "the rest of the court +adhered." After that, at the bidding of Cyrus, each of those present, 10 +in turn, including the kinsmen of Orontas, took him by the girdle; +which is as much as to say, "Let him die the death," and then those +appointed led him out; and they who in old days were wont to do +obeisance to him, could not refrain, even at that moment, from bowing +down before him, albeit they knew he was being led forth to death. + +After they had conducted him to the tent of Artapates, the trustiest +of Cyrus's wand-bearers, none set eyes upon him ever again, alive or +dead. No one, of his own knowledge, could declare the manner of his +death; though some conjectured one thing and some another. No tomb to +mark his resting-place, either then or since, was ever seen. + + + + +VII + +From this place Cyrus marched through Babylonia three stages--twelve 1 +parasangs. Now, on the third stage, about midnight, Cyrus held a +review of the Hellenes and Asiatics in the plain, expecting that the +king would arrive the following day with his army to offer battle. He +gave orders to Clearchus to take command of the right wing, and to +Menon the Thessalian of the left, while he himself undertook to the +disposition of his own forces in person. After the review, with the +first approach of day, deserters from the great king arrived, bringing +Cyrus information about the royal army. Then Cyrus summoned the +generals and captains of the Hellenes, and held a council of war to +arrange the plan of battle. He took this opportunity also to address +the following words of compliment and encouragement to the meeting: +"Men of Hellas," he said, "it is certainly not from dearth of +barbarians to fight my battles that I put myself at your head as my +allies; but because I hold you to be better and stronger than many +barbarians. That is why I took you. See then that you prove yourselves +to be men worthy of the liberty which you possess, and which I envy +you. Liberty--it is a thing which, be well assured, I would choose in +preference to all my other possessions, multiplied many times. But I +would like you to know into what sort of struggle you are going: learn +its nature from one who knows. Their numbers are great, and they come +on with much noise; but if you can hold out against these two things, +I confess I am ashamed to think, what a sorry set of folk you will 4 +find the inhabitants of this land to be. But you are men, and brave +you must be, being men: it is agreed; then if you wish to return home, +any of you, I undertake to send you back, in such sort that your +friends at home shall envy you; but I flatter myself I shall persuade +many of you to accept what I will offer you here, in lieu of what you +left at home." + +Here Gaulites, a Samian exile, and a trusty friend of Cyrus, being +present, exclaimed: "Ay, Cyrus, but some say you can afford to make +large promises now, because you are in the crisis of impending danger; +but let matters go well with you, will you recollect? They shake their +heads. Indeed, some add that, even if you did recollect, and were ever +so willing, you would not be able to make good all your promises, and +repay." When Cyrus heard that, he answered: "You forget, sirs, my +father's empire stretches southwards to a region where men cannot +dwell by reason of the heat, and northwards to a region uninhabitable +through cold; but all the intervening space is mapped out in satrapies +belonging to my brother's friends: so that if the victory be ours, it +will be ours also to put our friends in possession in their room. On +the whole my fear is, not that I may not have enough to give to each +of my friends, but lest I may not have friends enough on whom to +bestow what I have to give, and to each of you Hellenes I will give a +crown of gold." + +So they, when they heard these words, were once more elated than ever +themselves, and spread the good news among the rest outside. And there +came into his presence both the generals and some of the other +Hellenes also, claiming to know what they should have in the event of +victory; and Cyrus satisfied the expectations of each and all, and so +dismissed them. Now the advice and admonition of all who came into +conversation with him was, not to enter the battle himself, but to +post himself in rear of themselves; and at this season Clearchus put a +question to him: "But do you think that your brother will give battle 9 +to you, Cyrus?" and Cyrus answered: "Not without a battle, be assured, +shall the prize be won; if he be the son of Darius and Parysatis, and +a brother of mine." + +In the final arming for battle at this juncture, the numbers were as +follows: Of Hellenes there were ten thousand four hundred heavy +infantry with two thousand five hundred targeteers, while the +barbarians with Cyrus reached a total of one hundred thousand. He had +too about twenty scythe-chariots. The enemy's forces were reported to +number one million two hundred thousand, with two hundred +scythe-chariots, besides which he had six thousand cavalry under +Artagerses. These formed the immediate vanguard of the king himself. +The royal army was marshalled by four generals or field-marshals, each +in command of three hundred thousand men. Their names were Abrocomas, +Tissaphernes, Gobryas, and Arbaces. (But of this total not more than +nine hundred thousand were engaged in the battle, with one hundred and +fifty scythe-chariots; since Abrocomas, on his march from Phoenicia, +arrived five days too late for the battle.) Such was the information +brought to Cyrus by deserters who came in from the king's army before +the battle, and it was corroborated after the battle by those of the +enemy who were taken prisoners. + +From this place Cyrus advanced one stage--three parasangs--with the +whole body of his troops, Hellenic and barbarian alike in order of +battle. He expected the king to give battle the same day, for in the +middle of this day's march a deep sunk trench was reached, thirty feet +broad, and eighteen feet deep. The trench was carried inland through +the plain, twelve parasang's distance, to the wall of Media (1). (Here +are canals, flowing from the river Tigris; they are four in number, +each a hundred feet broad, and very deep, with corn ships plying upon 15 +them; they empty themselves into the Euphrates, and are at intervals +of one parasang apart, and are spanned by bridges.) + + (1) For "the wall of Media" see Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. ix. p. + 87 and foll. note 1 (1st ed.), and various authorities there + quoted or referred to. The next passage enclosed in () may + possibly be a commentator's or editor's note, but, on the whole, I + have thought it best to keep the words in the text instead of + relegating them, as heretofore, to a note. Perhaps some future + traveller may clear up all difficulties. + +Between the Euphrates and the trench was a narrow passage, twenty feet +only in breadth. The trench itself had been constructed by the great +king upon hearing of Cyrus's approach, to serve as a line of defence. +Through this narrow passage then Cyrus and his army passed, and found +themselves safe inside the trench. So there was no battle to be fought +with the king that day; only there were numerous unmistakable traces +of horse and infantry in retreat. Here Cyrus summoned Silanus, his +Ambraciot soothsayer, and presented him with three thousand darics; +because eleven days back, when sacrificing, he had told him that the +king would not fight within ten days, and Cyrus had answered: "Well, +then, if he does not fight within that time, he will not fight at all; +and if your prophecy comes true, I promise you ten talents." So now, +that the ten days were passed, he presented him with the above sum. + +But as the king had failed to hinder the passage of Cyrus's army at +the trench, Cyrus himself and the rest concluded that he must have +abandoned the idea of offering battle, so that next day Cyrus advanced +with less than his former caution. On the third day he was conducting +the march, seated in his carriage, with only a small body of troops +drawn up in front of him. The mass of the army was moving on in no +kind of order: the soldiers having consigned their heavy arms to be +carried in the wagons or on the backs of beasts. + + + + +VIII + +It was already about full market time (1) and the halting-place at 1 +which the army was to take up quarters was nearly reached, when +Pategyas, a Persian, a trusty member of Cyrus's personal staff, came +galloping up at full speed on his horse, which was bathed in sweat, +and to every one he met he shouted in Greek and Persian, as fast as he +could ejaculate the words: "The king is advancing with a large army +ready for battle." Then ensued a scene of wild confusion. The Hellenes +and all alike were expecting to be attacked on the instant, and before +they could form their lines. Cyrus sprang from his carriage and donned +his corselet; then leaping on to his charger's back, with the javelins +firmly clutched, he passed the order to the rest, to arm themselves +and fall into their several ranks. + + (1) I.e. between 9 and 10 A.M. + +The orders were carried out with alacrity; the ranks shaped +themselves. Clearchus held the right wing resting on the Euphrates, +Proxenus was next, and after him the rest, while Menon with his troops +held the Hellenic left. Of the Asiatics, a body of Paphlagonian +cavalry, one thousand strong, were posted beside Clearchus on the +right, and with them stood the Hellenic peltasts. On the left was +Ariaeus, Cyrus's second in command, and the rest of the barbarian +host. Cyrus was with his bodyguard of cavalry about six hundred +strong, all armed with corselets like Cyrus, and cuirasses and +helmets; but not so Cyrus: he went into battle with head +unhelmeted (2). So too all the horses with Cyrus wore forehead-pieces +and breast-pieces, and the troopers carried short Hellenic swords. + + (2) The MSS. add, "to expose oneself to the risks of war bareheaded + is, it is said, a practice common to the Persians," which I regard + as a commentator's note, if not an original marginal note of some + early editor, possibly of the author himself. The "Cyropaedeia" is + full of such comments, "pieces justificatives" inserted into the + text. + +It was now mid-day, and the enemy was not yet in sight; but with the +approach of afternoon was seen dust like a white cloud, and after a +considerable interval a black pall as it were spread far and high +above the plain. As they came nearer, very soon was seen here and +there a glint of bronze and spear-points; and the ranks could plainly +be distinguished. On the left were troopers wearing white cuirasses. +That is Tissaphernes in command, they said, and next to these a body +of men bearing wicker-shields, and next again heavy-armed infantry, +with long wooden shields reaching to the feet. These were the +Egyptians, they said, and then other cavalry, other bowmen; all were +in national divisions, each nation marching in densely-crowded 10 +squares. And all along their front was a line of chariots at +considerable intervals from one another--the famous scythe-chariots, +as they were named--having their scythes fitted to the axle-trees and +stretching out slantwise, while others protruded under the +chariot-seats, facing the ground, so as to cut through all they +encountered. The design was to let them dash full speed into the ranks +of the Hellenes and cut them through. + +Curiously enough the anticipation of Cyrus, when at the council of war +he admonished the Hellenes not to mind the shouting of the Asiatics, +was not justified. Instead of shouting, they came on in deep silence, +softly and slowly, with even tread. At this instant, Cyrus, riding +past in person, accompanied by Pigres, his interpreter, and three or +four others, called aloud to Clearchus to advance against the enemy's +centre, for there the king was to be found: "And if we strike home at +this point," he added, "our work is finished." Clearchus, though he +could see the compact body at the centre, and had been told by Cyrus +that the king lay outside the Hellenic left (for, owing to numerical +superiority, the king, while holding his own centre, could well +overlap Cyrus's extreme left), still hesitated to draw off his right +wing from the river, for fear of being turned on both flanks; and he +simply replied, assuring Cyrus that he would take care all went well. + +At this time the barbarian army was evenly advancing, and the Hellenic +division was still riveted to the spot, completing its formation as +the various contingents came up. Cyrus, riding past at some distance +from the lines, glanced his eye first in one direction and then in the +other, so as to take a complete survey of friends and foes; when +Xenophon the Athenian, seeing him, rode up from the Hellenic quarter +to meet him, asking him whether he had any orders to give. Cyrus, +pulling up his horse, begged him to make the announcement generally +known that the omens from the victims, internal and external alike, +were good (3). While he was still speaking, he heard a confused murmur 16 +passing through the ranks, and asked what it meant. The other replied +that it was the watchword being passed down for the second time. Cyrus +wondered who had given the order, and asked what the watchword was. On +being told it was "Zeus our Saviour and Victory," he replied, "I +accept it; so let it be," and with that remark rode away to his own +position. And now the two battle lines were no more than three or four +furlongs apart, when the Hellenes began chanting the paean, and at the +same time advanced against the enemy. + + (3) I.e. the omens from inspecting the innards of the victims, and the + omens from the acts and movements of the victims. + +But with the forward movement a certain portion of the line curved +onwards in advance, with wave-like sinuosity, and the portion left +behind quickened to a run; and simultaneously a thrilling cry burst +from all lips, like that in honour of the war-god--eleleu! eleleu! and +the running became general. Some say they clashed their shields and +spears, thereby causing terror to the horses (4); and before they had +got within arrowshot the barbarians swerved and took to flight. And +now the Hellenes gave chase with might and main, checked only by +shouts to one another not to race, but to keep their ranks. The +enemy's chariots, reft of their charioteers, swept onwards, some +through the enemy themselves, others past the Hellenes. They, as they +saw them coming, opened a gap and let them pass. One fellow, like some +dumbfoundered mortal on a racecourse, was caught by the heels, but +even he, they said, received no hurt, nor indeed, with the single +exception of some one on the left wing who was said to have been +wounded by an arrow, did any Hellene in this battle suffer a single +hurt. + + (4) Some critics regard this sentence as an editor's or commentator's + note. + +Cyrus, seeing the Hellene's conquering, as far as they at any rate +were concerned, and in hot pursuit, was well content; but in spite of +his joy and the salutations offered him at that moment by those about 21 +him, as though he were already king, he was not led away to join in +the pursuit, but keeping his squadron of six hundred horsemen in close +order, waited and watched to see what the king himself would do. The +king, he knew, held the centre of the Persian army. Indeed it is the +fashion for the Asiatic monarch to occupy that position during action, +for this twofold reason: he holds the safest place, with his troops on +either side of him, while, if he has occasion to despatch any +necessary rider along the lines, his troops will receive the message +in half the time. The king accordingly on this occasion held the +centre of his army, but for all that, he was outside Cyrus's left +wing; and seeing that no one offered him battle in front, nor yet the +troops in front of him, he wheeled as if to encircle the enemy. It was +then that Cyrus, in apprehension lest the king might get round to the +rear and cut to pieces the Hellenic body, charged to meet him. +Attacking with his six hundred, he mastered the line of troops in +front of the king, and put to flight the six thousand, cutting down, +as is said, with his own hand their general, Artagerses. + +But as soon as the rout commenced, Cyrus's own six hundred themselves, +in the ardour of pursuit, were scattered, with the exception of a +handful who were left with Cyrus himself--chiefly his table +companions, so-called. Left alone with these, he caught sight of the +king, and the close throng about him. Unable longer to contain +himself, with a cry, "I see the man," he rushed at him and dealt a +blow at his chest, wounding him through the corselet. This, according +to the statement of Ctesias the surgeon (5), who further states that he +himself healed the wound. As Cyrus delivered the blow, some one struck +him with a javelin under the eye severely; and in the struggle which +then ensued between the king and Cyrus and those about them to protect +one or other, we have the statement of Ctesias as to the number slain 27 +on the king's side, for he was by his side. On the other, Cyrus +himself fell, and eight of his bravest companions lay on the top of +him. The story says that Artapes, the trustiest among his +wand-wearers, when he saw that Cyrus had fallen to the ground, leapt +from his horse and threw his arms about him. Then, as one account +says, the king bade one slay him as a worthy victim to his brother: +others say that Artapates drew his scimitar and slew himself by his +own hand. A golden scimitar it is true, he had; he wore also a collar +and bracelets and the other ornaments such as the noblest Persians +wear; for his kindliness and fidelity had won him honours at the hands +of Cyrus. + + (5) "Ctesias, the son of Ctesiochus, was a physician of Cnidos. + Seventeen years of his life were passed at the court of Persia, + fourteen in the service of Darios, three in that of Artaxerxes; he + returned to Greece in 398 B.C.," and "was employed by Artaxerxes + in diplomatic services." See Mure; also Ch. Muller, for his life + and works. He wrote (1) a history on Persian affairs in three + parts--Assyrian, Median, Persian--with a chapter "On Tributes;" + (2) a history of Indian affairs (written in the vein of Sir John + Maundeville, Kt.); (3) a Periplus; (4) a treatise on Mountains; + (5) a treatise on Rivers. + + + + +IX + +So died Cyrus; a man the kingliest (1) and most worthy to rule of all 1 +the Persians who have lived since the elder Cyrus: according to the +concurrent testimony of all who are reputed to have known him +intimately. To begin from the beginning, when still a boy, and whilst +being brought up with his brother and the other lads, his unrivalled +excellence was recognised. For the sons of the noblest Persians, it +must be known, are brought up, one and all, at the king's portals. +Here lessons of sobriety and self-control may largely be laid to +heart, while there is nothing base or ugly for eye or ear to feed +upon. There is the daily spectacle ever before the boys of some +receiving honour from the king, and again of others receiving +dishonour; and the tale of all this is in their ears, so that from +earliest boyhood they learn how to rule and to be ruled. + + (1) The character now to be drawn is afterwards elaborated into the + Cyrus of the Cyropaedeia. + +In this courtly training Cyrus earned a double reputation; first he +was held to be a paragon of modesty among his fellows, rendering an +obedience to his elders which exceeded that of many of his own +inferiors; and next he bore away the palm for skill in horsemanship +and for love of the animal itself. Nor less in matters of war, in the +use of the bow and the javelin, was he held by men in general to be at 5 +once the aptest of learners and the most eager practiser. As soon as +his age permitted, the same pre-eminence showed itself in his fondness +for the chase, not without a certain appetite for perilous adventure +in facing the wild beasts themselves. Once a bear made a furious rush +at him (2), and without wincing he grappled with her, and was pulled +from his horse, receiving wounds the scars of which were visible +through life; but in the end he slew the creature, nor did he forget +him who first came to his aid, but made him enviable in the eyes of +many. + + (2) The elder Cyrus, when a boy, kills not a bear but a boar. + +After he had been sent down by his father to be satrap of Lydia and +Great Phrygia and Cappadocia, and had been appointed general of the +forces, whose business it is to muster in the plain of the Castolus, +nothing was more noticeable in his conduct than the importance which +he attached to the faithful fulfilment of every treaty or compact or +undertaking entered into with others. He would tell no lies to any +one. Thus doubtless it was that he won the confidence alike of +individuals and of the communities entrusted to his care; or in case +of hostility, a treaty made with Cyrus was a guarantee sufficient to +the combatant that he would suffer nothing contrary to its terms. +Therefore, in the war with Tissaphernes, all the states of their own +accord chose Cyrus in lieu of Tissaphernes, except only the men of +Miletus, and these were only alienated through fear of him, because he +refused to abandon their exiled citizens; and his deeds and words bore +emphatic witness to his principle: even if they were weakened in +number or in fortune, he would never abandon those who had once become +his friends. + +He made no secret of his endeavour to outdo his friends and his foes +alike in reciprocity of conduct. The prayer has been attributed to +him, "God grant I may live along enough to recompense my friends and +requite my foes with a strong arm." However this may be, no one, at +least in our days, ever drew together so ardent a following of +friends, eager to lay at his feet their money, their cities, their own +lives and persons; nor is it to be inferred from this that he suffered +the malefactor and the wrongdoer to laugh him to scorn; on the 13 +contrary, these he punished most unflinchingly. It was no rare sight +to see on the well-trodden highways, men who had forfeited hand or +foot or eye; the result being that throughout the satrapy of Cyrus any +one, Hellene or barbarian, provided he were innocent, might fearlessly +travel wherever he pleased, and take with him whatever he felt +disposed. However, as all allowed, it was for the brave in war that he +reserved especial honour. To take the first instance to hand, he had a +war with the Pisidians and Mysians. Being himself at the head of an +expedition into those territories, he could observe those who +voluntarily encountered risks; these he made rulers of the territory +which he subjected, and afterwards honoured them with other gifts. So +that, if the good and brave were set on a pinnacle of fortune, cowards +were recognised as their natural slaves; and so it befell that Cyrus +never had lack of volunteers in any service of danger, whenever it was +expected that his eye would be upon them. + +So again, wherever he might discover any one ready to distinguish +himself in the service of uprightness, his delight was to make this +man richer than those who seek for gain by unfair means. On the same +principle, his own administration was in all respects uprightly +conducted, and, in particular, he secured the services of an army +worthy of the name. Generals, and subalterns alike, came to him from +across the seas, not merely to make money, but because they saw that +loyalty to Cyrus was a more profitable investment than so many pounds +a month. Let any man whatsoever render him willing service, such +enthusiasm was sure to win its reward. And so Cyrus could always +command the service of the best assistants, it was said, whatever the +work might be. + +Or if he saw any skilful and just steward who furnished well the +country over which he ruled, and created revenues, so far from robbing +him at any time, to him who had, he delighted to give more. So that +toil was a pleasure, and gains were amassed with confidence, and least +of all from Cyrus would a man conceal the amount of his possessions, +seeing that he showed no jealousy of wealth openly avowed, but his 19 +endeavour was rather to turn to account the riches of those who kept +them secret. Towards the friends he had made, whose kindliness he +knew, or whose fitness as fellow-workers with himself, in aught which +he might wish to carry out, he had tested, he showed himself in turn +an adept in the arts of courtesy. Just in proportion as he felt the +need of this friend or that to help him, so he tried to help each of +them in return in whatever seemed to be their heart's desire. + +Many were the gifts bestowed on him, for many and diverse reasons; no +one man, perhaps, ever received more; no one, certainly, was ever more +ready to bestow them upon others, with an eye ever to the taste of +each, so as to gratify what he saw to be the individual requirement. +Many of these presents were sent to him to serve as personal +adornments of the body or for battle; and as touching these he would +say, "How am I to deck myself out in all these? to my mind a man's +chief ornament is the adornment of nobly-adorned friends." Indeed, +that he should triumph over his friends in the great matters of +welldoing is not surprising, seeing that he was much more powerful +than they, but that he should go beyond them in minute attentions, and +in an eager desire to give pleasure, seems to me, I must confess, more +admirable. Frequently when he had tasted some specially excellent +wine, he would send the half remaining flagon to some friend with a +message to say: "Cyrus says, this is the best wine he has tasted for a +long time, that is his excuse for sending it to you. He hopes you will +drink it up to-day with a choice party of friends." Or, perhaps, he +would send the remainder of a dish of geese, half loaves of bread, and +so forth, the bearer being instructed to say: "This is Cyrus's +favourite dish, he hopes you will taste it yourself." Or, perhaps, +there was a great dearth of provender, when, through the number of his +servants and his own careful forethought, he was enabled to get +supplies for himself; at such times he would send to his friends in +different parts, bidding them feed their horses on his hay, since it +would not do for the horses that carried his friends to go starving. +Then, on any long march or expedition, where the crowd of lookers-on 28 +would be large, he would call his friends to him and entertain them +with serious talk, as much as to say, "These I delight to honour." + +So that, for myself, and from all that I can hear, I should be +disposed to say that no one, Greek or barbarian, was ever so beloved. +In proof of this, I may cite the fact that, though Cyrus was the +king's vassal and slave, no one ever forsook him to join his master, +if I may except the attempt of Orontas, which was abortive. That man, +indeed, had to learn that Cyrus was closer to the heart of him on +whose fidelity he relied than he himself was. On the other hand, many +a man revolted from the king to Cyrus, after they went to war with one +another; nor were these nobodies, but rather persons high in the +king's affection; yet for all that, they believed that their virtues +would obtain a reward more adequate from Cyrus than from the king. +Another great proof at once of his own worth and of his capacity +rightly to discern all loyal, loving and firm friendship is afforded +by an incident which belongs to the last moment of his life. He was +slain, but fighting for his life beside him fell also every one of his +faithful bodyguard of friends and table-companions, with the sole +exception of Ariaeus, who was in command of the cavalry on the left, +and he no sooner perceived the fall of Cyrus than he betook himself to +flight, with the whole body of troops under his lead. + + + + +X + +Then the head of Cyrus and his right hand were severed from the body. 1 +But the king and those about him pursued and fell upon the Cyreian +camp, and the troops of Ariaeus no longer stood their ground, but fled +through their own camp back to the halting-place of the night +before--a distance of four parasangs, it was said. So the king and +those with him fell to ravaging right and left, and amongst other +spoil he captured the Phocaean woman, who was a concubine of Cyrus, +witty and beautiful, if fame speaks correctly. The Milesian, who was +the younger, was also seized by some of the king's men; but, letting +go her outer garment, she made good her escape to the Hellenes, who +had been left among the camp followers on guard. These fell at once 3 +into line and put to the sword many of the pillagers, though they lost +some men themselves; they stuck to the place and succeeded in saving +not only that lady, but all else, whether chattels or human beings, +which lay within their reach. + +At this point the king and the Hellenes were something like three +miles apart; the one set were pursuing their opponents just as if +their conquest had been general; the others were pillaging as merrily +as if their victory were already universal. But when the Hellenes +learnt that the king and his troops were in the baggage camp; and the +king, on his side, was informed by Tissaphernes that the Hellenes were +victorious in their quarter of the field, and had gone forward in +pursuit, the effect was instantaneous. The king massed his troops and +formed into line. Clearchus summoned Proxenus, who was next him, and +debated whether to send a detachment or to go in a body to the camp to +save it. + +Meanwhile the king was seen again advancing, as it seemed, from the +rear; and the Hellenes, turning right about, prepared to receive his +attack then and there. But instead of advancing upon them at that +point, he drew off, following the line by which he had passed earlier +in the day, outside the left wing of his opponent, and so picked up in +his passage those who had deserted to the Hellenes during the battle, +as also Tissaphernes and his division. The latter had not fled in the +first shock of the encounter; he had charged parallel to the line of +the Euphrates into the Greek peltasts, and through them. But charge as +he might, he did not lay low a single man. On the contrary, the +Hellenes made a gap to let them through, hacking them with their +swords and hurling their javelins as they passed. Episthenes of +Amphipolis was in command of the peltasts, and he showed himself a +sensible man, it was said. Thus it was that Tissaphernes, having got +through haphazard, with rather the worst of it, failed to wheel round +and return the way he came, but reaching the camp of the Hellenes, 8 +there fell in with the king; and falling into order again, the two +divisions advanced side by side. + +When they were parallel with the (original) left wing of the Hellenes, +fear seized the latter lest they might take them in flank and enfold +them on both sides and cut them down. In this apprehension they +determined to extend their line and place the river on their rear. But +while they deliberated, the king passed by and ranged his troops in +line to meet them, in exactly the same position in which he had +advanced to offer battle at the commencement of the engagement. The +Hellenes, now seeing them in close proximity and in battle order, once +again raised the paean and began the attack with still greater +enthusiasm than before: and once again the barbarians did not wait to +receive them, but took to flight, even at a greater distance than +before. The Hellenes pressed the pursuit until they reached a certain +village, where they halted, for above the village rose a mound, on +which the king and his party rallied and reformed; they had no +infantry any longer, but the crest was crowded with cavalry, so that +it was impossible to discover what was happening. They did see, they +said, the royal standard, a kind of golden eagle, with wings extended, +perched on a bar of wood and raised upon a lance. + +But as soon as the Hellenes again moved onwards, the hostile cavalry +at once left the hillock--not in a body any longer, but in +fragments--some streaming from one side, some from another; and the +crest was gradually stripped of its occupants, till at last the +company was gone. Accordingly, Clearchus did not ascend the crest, but +posting his army at its base, he sent Lycius of Syracuse and another +to the summit, with orders to inspect the condition of things on the +other side, and to report results. Lycius galloped up and +investigated, bringing back news that they were fleeing might and +main. Almost at that instant the sun sank beneath the horizon. There +the Hellenes halted; they grounded arms and rested, marvelling the +while that Cyrus was not anywhere to be seen, and that no messenger +had come from him. For they were in complete ignorance of his death, +and conjectured that either he had gone off in pursuit, or had pushed +forward to occupy some point. Left to themselves, they now +deliberated, whether they should stay where they were and have the +baggage train brought up, or should return to camp. They resolved to +return, and about supper time reached the tents. Such was the +conclusion of this day. + +They found the larger portion of their property pillaged, eatables and +drinkables alike, not excepting the wagons laden with corn and wine, +which Cyrus had prepared in case of some extreme need overtaking the +expedition, to divide among the Hellenes. There were four hundred of +these wagons, it was said, and these had now been ransacked by the +king and his men; so that the greater number of the Hellenes went +supperless, having already gone without their breakfasts, since the +king had appeared before the usual halt for breakfast. Accordingly, in +no better plight than this they passed the night. + + + + +BOOK II + + (In the previous book will be found a full account of the + method by which Cyrus collected a body of Greeks when + meditating an expedition against his brother Artaxerxes; as + also of various occurrences on the march up; of the battle + itself, and of the death of Cyrus; and lastly, a description + of the arrival of the Hellenes in camp after the battle, and + as to how they betook themselves to rest, none suspecting + but what they were altogether victorious and that Cyrus + lived.) + + + + +I + +With the break of day the generals met, and were surprised that Cyrus 1 +should not have appeared himself, or at any rate have sent some one to +tell them what to do. Accordingly, they resolved to put what they had +together, to get under arms, and to push forward until they effected +junction with Cyrus. Just as they were on the point of starting, with +the rising sun came Procles the ruler of Teuthrania. He was a +descendant of Damaratus (1) the Laconian, and with him also came Glus +the son of Tamos. These two told them, first, that Cyrus was dead; +next, that Ariaeus had retreated with the rest of the barbarians to +the halting-place whence they had started at dawn on the previous day; +and wished to inform them that, if they were minded to come, he would +wait for this one day, but on the morrow he should return home again +to Ionia, whence he came. + + (1) The Spartan king who was deposed in B.C. 491, whereupon he fled to + King Darius, and settled in south-western Mysia. See Herod. vi. + 50, 61-70. We shall hear more of his descendant, Procles, the + ruler of Teuthrania, in the last chapter of this work. + +When they heard these tidings, the generals were sorely distressed; so 4 +too were the rest of the Hellenes when they were informed of it. Then +Clearchus spoke as follows: "Would that Cyrus were yet alive! But +since he is dead, take back this answer to Ariaeus, that we, at any +rate, have conquered the king; and, as you yourselves may see, there +is not a man left in the field to meet us. Indeed, had you not +arrived, we should ere this have begun our march upon the king. Now, +we can promise to Ariaeus that, if he will join us here, we will place +him on the king's throne. Surely to those who conquer empire +pertains." With these words he sent back the messengers and with them +he sent Cheirisophus the Laconian, and Menon the Thessalian. That was +what Menon himself wished, being, as he was, a friend and intimate of +Ariaeus, and bound by mutual ties of hospitality. So these set off, +and Clearchus waited for them. + +The soldiers furnished themselves with food (and drink) as best they +might--falling back on the baggage animals, and cutting up oxen and +asses. There was no lack of firewood; they need only step forward a +few paces from the line where the battle was fought, and they would +find arrows to hand in abundance, which the Hellenes had forced the +deserters from the king to throw away. There were arrows and wicker +shields also, and the huge wooden shields of the Egyptians. There were +many targets also, and empty wagons left to be carried off. Here was a +store which they were not slow to make use of to cook their meat and +serve their meals that day. + +It was now about full market hour (2) when heralds from the king and +Tissaphernes arrived. These were barbarians with one exception. This +was a certain Phalinus, a Hellene who lived at the court of +Tissaphernes, and was held in high esteem. He gave himself out to be a +connoisseur of tactics and the art of fighting with heavy arms. These +were the men who now came up, and having summoned the generals of the +Hellenes, they delivered themselves of the following message: "The +great king having won the victory and slain Cyrus, bids the Hellenes +to surrender their arms; to betake themselves to the gates of the +king's palace, and there obtain for themselves what terms they can." +That was what the heralds said, and the Hellenes listened with heavy 9 +hearts; but Clearchus spoke, and his words were few; "Conquerors do +not, as a rule, give up their arms"; then turning to the others he +added, "I leave it to you, my fellow-generals, to make the best and +noblest answer, that ye may, to these gentlemen. I will rejoin you +presently." At the moment an official had summoned him to come and +look at the entrails which had been taken out, for, as it chanced, he +was engaged in sacrificing. As soon as he was gone, Cleanor the +Arcadian, by right of seniority, answered: "They would sooner die than +give up their arms." Then Proxenus the Theban said: "For my part, I +marvel if the king demands our arms as our master, or for the sake of +friendship merely, as presents. If as our master, why need he ask for +them rather than come and take them? But if he would fain wheedle us +out of them by fine speeches, he should tell us what the soldiers will +receive in turn for such kindness." In answer to him Phalinus said: +"The king claims to have conquered, because he has put Cyrus to death; +and who is there now to claim the kingdom as against himself? He +further flatters himself that you also are in his power, since he +holds you in the heart of his country, hemmed in by impassable rivers; +and he can at any moment bring against you a multitude so vast that +even if leave were given to rise and slay you could not kill them." +After him Theopompus (3) the Athenian spoke. "Phalinus," he said, "at +this instant, as you yourself can see, we have nothing left but our +arms and our valour. If we keep the former we imagine we can make use +of the latter; but if we deliver up our arms we shall presently be +robbed of our lives. Do not suppose then that we are going to give up +to you the only good things which we possess. We prefer to keep them; +and by their help we will do battle with you for the good things which +are yours." Phalinus laughed when he heard those words, and said: 13 +"Spoken like a philosopher, my fine young man, and very pretty +reasoning too; yet, let me tell you, your wits are somewhat scattered +if you imagine that your valour will get the better of the king's +power." There were one or two others, it was said, who with a touch of +weakness in their tone or argument, made answer: "They had proved good +and trusty friends to Cyrus, and the king might find them no less +valuable. If he liked to be friends with them, he might turn them to +any use that pleased his fancy, say for a campaign against Egypt. +Their arms were at his service; they would help to lay that country at +his feet." + + (2) 10 A.M. + + (3) So the best MSS. Others read "Xenophon," which Kruger maintains to + be the true reading. He suggests that "Theopompus" may have crept + into the text from a marginal note of a scholiast, "Theopompus" + (the historian) "gives the remark to Proxenus." + +Just then Clearchus returned, and wished to know what answer they had +given. The words were barely out of his mouth before Phalinus +interrupting, answered: "As for your friends here, one says one thing +and one another; will you please give us your opinion"; and he +replied: "The sight of you, Phalinus, caused me much pleasure; and not +only me, but all of us, I feel sure; for you are a Hellene even as we +are--every one of us whom you see before you. In our present plight we +would like to take you into our counsel as to what we had better do +touching your proposals. I beg you then solemnly, in the sight of +heaven--do you tender us such advice as you shall deem best and +worthiest, and such as shall bring you honour of after time, when it +will be said of you how once on a time Phalinus was sent by the great +king to bid certain Hellenes yield up their arms, and when they had +taken him into their counsel, he gave them such and such advice. You +know that whatever advice you do give us cannot fail to be reported in +Hellas." + +Clearchus threw out these leading remarks in hopes that this man, who +was the ambassador from the king, might himself be led to advise them +not to give up their arms, in which case the Hellenes would be still +more sanguine and hopeful. But, contrary to his expectation, Phalinus +turned round and said: "I say that if you have one chance, one hope in +ten thousand to wage a war with the king successfully, do not give up +your arms. That is my advice. If, however, you have no chance of +escape without the king's consent, then I say save yourselves in the +only way you can." And Clearchus answered: "So, then, that is your 20 +deliberate view? Well, this is our answer, take it back. We conceive +that in either case, whether we are expected to be friends with the +king, we shall be worth more as friends if we keep our arms than if we +yield them to another; or whether we are to go to war, we shall fight +better with them than without." And Phalinus said: "That answer we +will repeat; but the king bade me tell you this besides, 'Whilst you +remain here there is truce; but one step forward or one step back, the +truce ends; there is war.' Will you then please inform us as to that +point also? Are you minded to stop and keep truce, or is there to be +war? What answer shall I take from you?" And Clearchus replied: "Pray +answer that we hold precisely the same views on this point as the +king."--"How say you the same views?" asked Phalinus. Clearchus made +answer: "As long as we stay here there is truce, but a step forward or +a step backward, the truce ends; there is war." The other again asked: +"Peace or war, what answer shall I make?" Clearchus returned answer +once again in the same words: "Truce if we stop, but if we move +forwards or backwards war." But what he was minded really to do, that +he refused to make further manifest. + + + + +II + +Phalinus and those that were with him turned and went. But the 1 +messengers from Ariaeus, Procles and Cheirisophus came back. As to +Menon, he stayed behind with Ariaeus, They brought back this answer +from Ariaeus: "'There are many Persians,' he says, 'better than +himself who will not suffer him to sit upon the king's throne; but if +you are minded to go back with him, you must join him this very night, +otherwise he will set off himself to-morrow on the homeward route.'" +And Clearchus said: "It had best stand thus between us then. If we +come, well and good, be it as you propose; but if we do not come, do +whatsoever you think most conducive to your interests." And so he kept +these also in the dark as to his real intention. + +After this, when the sun was already sinking, he summoned the generals +and officers, and made the following statement: "Sirs, I sacrificed +and found the victims unfavourable to an advance against the king. +After all, it is not so surprising perhaps, for, as I now learn, +between us and the king flows the river Tigris, navigable for big 3 +vessels, and we could not possibly cross it without boats, and boats +we have none. On the other hand, to stop here is out of the question, +for there is no possibility of getting provisions. However, the +victims were quite agreeable to us joining the friends of Cyrus. This +is what we must do then. Let each go away and sup on whatever he has. +At the first sound of the bugle to turn in, get kit and baggage +together; at the second signal, place them on the baggage animals; and +at the third, fall in and follow the lead, with the baggage animals on +the inside protected by the river, and the troops outside." After +hearing the orders, the generals and officers retired, and did as they +were bid; and for the future Clearchus led, and the rest followed in +obedience to his orders, not that they had expressly chosen him, but +they saw that he alone had the sense and wisdom requisite in a +general, while the rest were inexperienced (1). + + (1) The MSS. add the words, "The total distance of the route, taking + Ephesus in Ionia as the starting point up to the field of battle, + consisted of 93 stages, 535 parasangs, or 16,050 furlongs; from + the battle-field to Babylon (reckoned a three days' journey) would + have been another 360 stades," which may well be an editor's or + commentator's marginal note. + +Here, under cover of the darkness which descended, the Thracian +Miltocythes, with forty horsemen and three hundred Thracian infantry, +deserted to the king; but the rest of the troops--Clearchus leading +and the rest following in accordance with the orders promulgated--took +their departure, and about midnight reached their first stage, having +come up with Ariaeus and his army. They grounded arms just as they +stood in rank, and the generals and officers of the Hellenes met in +the tent of Ariaeus. There they exchanged oaths--the Hellenes on the +one side and Ariaeus with his principal officers on the other--not to +betray one another, but to be true to each other as allies. The +Asiatics further solemnly pledged themselves by oath to lead the way +without treachery. The oaths were ratified by the sacrifice of a bull, +a wolf (2), a boar, and a ram over a shield. The Hellenes dipped a +sword, the barbarians a lance, into the blood of the victims. + + (2) It is a question whether the words "a wolf" ought not to be + omitted. + +As soon as the pledge was taken, Clearchus spoke: "And now, Ariaeus," +he said, "since you and we have one expedition in prospect, will you 10 +tell us what you think about the route; shall we return the way we +came, or have you devised a better?" He answered: "To return the same +way is to perish to a man by hunger; for at this moment we have no +provisions whatsoever. During the seventeen last stages, even on our +way hither, we could extract nothing from the country; or, if there +was now and again anything, we passed over and utterly consumed it. At +this time our project is to take another and a longer journey +certainly, but we shall not be in straits for provisions. The earliest +stages must be very long, as long as we can make them; the object is +to put as large a space as possible between us and the royal army; +once we are two or three days' journey off, the danger is over. The +king will never overtake us. With a small army he will not dare to dog +our heels, and with a vast equipment he will lack the power to march +quickly. Perhaps he, too, may even find a scarcity of provisions. +There," said he, "you asked for my opinion, see, I have given it." + +Here was a plan of the campaign, which was equivalent to a stampede: +helter-skelter they were to run away, or get into hiding somehow; but +fortune proved a better general. For as soon as it was day they +recommenced the journey, keeping the sun on their right, and +calculating that with the westering rays they would have reached +villages in the territory of Babylonia, and in this hope they were not +deceived. While it was yet afternoon, they thought they caught sight +of some of the enemy's cavalry; and those of the Hellenes who were not +in rank ran to their ranks; and Ariaeus, who was riding in a wagon to +nurse a wound, got down and donned his cuirass, the rest of his party +following his example. Whilst they were arming themselves, the scouts, +who had been sent forward, came back with the information that they +were not cavalry but baggage animals grazing. It was at once clear to +all that they must be somewhere in the neighbourhood of the king's +encampment. Smoke could actually be seen rising, evidently from +villages not far ahead. Clearchus hesitated to advance upon the enemy, +knowing that the troops were tired and hungry; and indeed it was +already late. On the other hand he had no mind either to swerve from +his route--guarding against any appearance of flight. Accordingly he 16 +marched straight as an arrow, and with sunset entered the nearest +villages with his vanguard and took up quarters. + +These villages had been thoroughly sacked and dismantled by the royal +army--down to the very woodwork and furniture of the houses. Still, +the vanguard contrived to take up their quarters in some sort of +fashion; but the rear division, coming up in the dark, had to bivouac +as best they could, one detachment after another; and a great noise +they made, with hue and cry to one another, so that the enemy could +hear them; and those in their immediate proximity actually took to +their heels, left their quarters, and decamped, as was plain enough +next morning, when not a beast was to be seen, nor sign of camp or +wreath of smoke anywhere in the neighbourhood. The king, as it would +appear, was himself quite taken aback by the advent of the army; as he +fully showed by his proceedings next day. + +During the progress of this night the Hellenes had their turn of +scare--a panic seized them, and there was a noise and clatter, hardly +to be explained except by the visitation of some sudden terror. But +Clearchus had with him the Eleian Tolmides, the best herald of his +time; him he ordered to proclaim silence, and then to give out this +proclamation of the generals: "Whoever will give any information as to +who let an ass into the camp shall receive a talent of silver in +reward." On hearing this proclamation the soldiers made up their minds +that their fear was baseless, and their generals safe and sound. At +break of day Clearchus gave the order to the Hellenes to get under +arms in line of battle, and take up exactly the same position as they +held on the day of the battle. + + + + +III + +And now comes the proof of what I stated above--that the king was 1 +utterly taken aback by the sudden apparition of the army; only the day +before, he had sent and demanded the surrender of their arms--and now, +with the rising sun, came heralds sent by him to arrange a truce. +These, having reached the advanced guard, asked for the generals. The +guard reported their arrival; and Clearchus, who was busy inspecting +the ranks, sent back word to the heralds that they must await his +leisure. Having carefully arranged the troops so that from every side +they might present the appearance of a compact battle line without a 3 +single unarmed man in sight, he summoned the ambassadors, and himself +went forward to meet them with the soldiers, who for choice +accoutrement and noble aspect were the flower of his force; a course +which he had invited the other generals also to adopt. + +And now, being face to face with the ambassadors, he questioned them +as to what their wishes were. They replied that they had come to +arrange a truce, and were persons competent to carry proposals from +the king to the Hellenes and from the Hellenes to the king. He +returned answer to them: "Take back word then to your master, that we +need a battle first, for we have had no breakfast; and he will be a +brave man who will dare mention the word 'truce' to Hellenes without +providing them with breakfast." With this message the heralds rode +off, but were back again in no time, which was a proof that the king, +or some one appointed by him to transact the business, was hard by. +They reported that "the message seemed reasonable to the king; they +had now come bringing guides who, if a truce were arranged, would +conduct them where they would get provisions." Clearchus inquired +"whether the truce was offered to the individual men merely as they +went and came, or to all alike." "To all," they replied, "until the +king receives your final answer." When they had so spoken, Clearchus, +having removed the ambassadors, held a council; and it was resolved to +make a truce at once, and then quietly to go and secure provisions; +and Clearchus said: "I agree to the resolution; still I do not propose +to announce it at once, but to wile away time till the ambassadors +begin to fear that we have decided against the truce; though I +suspect," he added, "the same fear will be operative on the minds of +our soldiers also." As soon as the right moment seemed to have +arrived, he delivered his answer in favour of the truce, and bade the +ambassadors at once conduct them to the provisions. + +So these led the way; and Clearchus, without relaxing precaution, in +spite of having secured a truce, marched after them with his army in +line and himself in command of the rearguard. Over and over again they +encountered trenches and conduits so full of water that they could not 10 +be crossed without bridges; but they contrived well enough for these +by means of trunks of palm trees which had fallen, or which they cut +down for the occasion. And here Clearchus's system of superintendence +was a study in itself; as he stood with a spear in his left hand and a +stick in the other; and when it seemed to him there was any dawdling +among the parties told off to the work, he would pick out the right +man and down would come the stick; nor, at the same time, was he above +plunging into the mud and lending a hand himself, so that every one +else was forced for very shame to display equal alacrity. The men told +off for the business were the men of thirty years of age; but even the +elder men, when they saw the energy of Clearchus, could not resist +lending their aid also. What stimulated the haste of Clearchus was the +suspicion in his mind that these trenches were not, as a rule, so full +of water, since it was not the season to irrigate the plain; and he +fancied that the king had let the water on for the express purpose of +vividly presenting to the Hellenes the many dangers with which their +march was threatened at the very start. + +Proceeding on their way they reached some villages, where their guides +indicated to them that they would find provisions. They were found to +contain plenty of corn, and wine made from palm dates, and an +acidulated beverage extracted by boiling from the same fruit. As to +the palm nuts or dates themselves, it was noticeable that the sort +which we are accustomed to see in Hellas were set aside for the +domestic servants; those put aside for the masters are picked +specimens, and are simply marvellous for their beauty and size, +looking like great golden lumps of amber; some specimens they dried +and preserved as sweetmeats. Sweet enough they were as an +accompaniment of wine, but apt to give headache. Here, too, for the +first time in their lives, the men tasted the brain (1) of the palm. No +one could help being struck by the beauty of this object, and the +peculiarity of its delicious flavour; but this, like the dried fruits, +was exceedingly apt to give headache. When this cabbage or brain has +been removed from the palm the whole tree withers from top to bottom. + + (1) I.e. the cabbage-like crown. + +In these villages they remained three days, and a deputation from the 17 +great king arrived--Tissaphernes and the king's brother-in-law and +three other Persians--with a retinue of many slaves. As soon as the +generals of the Hellenes had presented themselves, Tissaphernes opened +the proceedings with the following speech, through the lips of an +interpreter: "Men of Hellas, I am your next-door neighbour in Hellas. +Therefore was it that I, when I saw into what a sea of troubles you +were fallen, regarded it as a godsend, if by any means I might obtain, +as a boon from the king, the privilege of bringing you back in safety +to your own country: and that, I take it, will earn me gratitude from +you and all Hellas. In this determination I preferred my request to +the king; I claimed it as a favour which was fairly my due; for was it +not I who first announced to him the hostile approach of Cyrus? who +supported that announcement by the aid I brought; who alone among the +officers confronted with the Hellenes in battle did not flee, but +charged right through and united my troops with the king inside your +camp, where he was arrived, having slain Cyrus; it was I, lastly, who +gave chase to the barbarians under Cyrus, with the help of those here +present with me at this moment, which are also among the trustiest +followers of our lord the king. Now, I counsel you to give a moderate +answer, so that it may be easier for me to carry out my design, if +haply I may obtain from him some good thing on your behalf." + +Thereupon the Hellenes retired and took counsel. Then they answered, +and Clearchus was their spokesman: "We neither mustered as a body to +make war against the king, nor was our march conducted with that +object. But it was Cyrus, as you know, who invented many and divers +pretexts, that he might take you off your guard, and transport us +hither. Yet, after a while, when we saw that he was in sore straits, +we were ashamed in the sight of God and man to betray him, whom we had +permitted for so long a season to benefit us. But now that Cyrus is +dead, we set up no claim to his kingdom against the king himself; +there is neither person nor thing for the sake of which we would care 23 +to injure the king's country; we would not choose to kill him if we +could, rather we would march straight home, if we were not molested; +but, God helping us, we will retaliate on all who injure us. On the +other hand, if any be found to benefit us, we do not mean to be +outdone in kindly deeds, as far as in us lies." + +So he spoke, and Tissaphernes listened and replied: "That answer will +I take back to the king and bring you word from him again. Until I +come again, let the truce continue, and we will furnish you with a +market." All next day he did not come back, and the Hellenes were +troubled with anxieties, but on the third day he arrived with the news +that he had obtained from the king the boon he asked; he was permitted +to save the Hellenes, though there were many gainsayers who argued +that it was not seemly for the king to let those who had marched +against him depart in peace. And at last he said: "You may now, if you +like, take pledges from us, that we will make the countries through +which you pass friendly to you, and will lead you back without +treachery into Hellas, and will furnish you with a market; and +wherever you cannot purchase, we will permit you to take provisions +from the district. You, on your side, must swear that you will march +as through a friendly country, without damage--merely taking food and +drink wherever we fail to supply a market--or, if we afford a market, +you shall only obtain provisions by paying for them." This was agreed +to, and oaths and pledges exchanged between them--Tissaphernes and the +king's brother-in-law upon the one side, and the generals and officers +of the Hellenes on the other. After this Tissaphernes said: "And now I +go back to the king; as soon as I have transacted what I have a mind +to, I will come back, ready equipped, to lead you away to Hellas, and +to return myself to my own dominion." + + + + +IV + +After these things the Hellenes and Ariaeus waited for Tissaphernes, 1 +being encamped close to one another: for more than twenty days they +waited, during which time there came visitors to Ariaeus, his brother +and other kinsfolk. To those under him came certain other Persians, +encouraging them and bearing pledges to some of them from the king +himself--that he would bear no grudge against them on account of the +part they bore in the expedition against him with Cyrus, or for aught +else of the things which were past. Whilst these overtures were being +made, Ariaeus and his friends gave manifest signs of paying less +attention to the Hellenes, so much so that, if for no other reason, +the majority of the latter were not well pleased, and they came to +Clearchus and the other generals, asking what they were waiting for. +"Do we not know full well," they said, "that the king would give a +great deal to destroy us, so that other Hellenes may take warning and +think twice before they march against the king. To-day it suits his +purpose to induce us to stop here, because his army is scattered; but +as soon as he has got together another armament, attack us most +certainly he will. How do we know he is not at this moment digging +away at trenches, or running up walls, to make our path impassable. It +is not to be supposed that he will desire us to return to Hellas with +a tale how a handful of men like ourselves beat the king at his own +gates, laughed him to scorn, and then came home again." Clearchus +replied: "I too am keenly aware of all this; but I reason thus: if we +turn our backs now, they will say, we mean war and are acting contrary +to the truce, and then what follows? First of all, no one will furnish +us with a market or means of providing ourselves with food. Next, we +shall have no one to guide us; moreover, such action on our part will +be a signal to Ariaeus to hold aloof from us, so that not a friend +will be left to us; even those who were formerly our friends will now +be numbered with our enemies. What other river, or rivers, we may find +we have to cross, I do not know; but this we know, to cross the +Euphrates in face of resistance is impossible. You see, in the event +of being driven to an engagement, we have no cavalry to help us, but +with the enemy it is the reverse--not only the most, but the best of +his troops are cavalry, so that if we are victorious, we shall kill no +one, but if we are defeated, not a man of us can escape. For my part, +I cannot see why the king, who has so many advantages on his side, if 7 +he desires to destroy us, should swear oaths and tender solemn pledges +merely in order to perjure himself in the sight of heaven, to render +his word worthless and his credit discreditable the wide world over." +These arguments he propounded at length. + +Meanwhile Tissaphernes came back, apparently ready to return home; he +had his own force with him, and so had Orontas, who was also present, +his. The latter brought, moreover, his bride with him, the king's +daughter, whom he had just wedded. The journey was now at length +fairly commenced. Tissaphernes led the way, and provided a market. +They advanced, and Ariaeus advanced too, at the head of Cyrus's +Asiatic troops, side by side with Tissaphernes and Orontas, and with +these two he also pitched his camp. The Hellenes, holding them in +suspicion, marched separately with the guides, and they encamped on +each occasion a parasang apart, or rather less; and both parties kept +watch upon each other as if they were enemies, which hardly tended to +lull suspicion; and sometimes, whilst foraging for wood and grass and +so forth on the same ground, blows were exchanged, which occasioned +further embitterments. Three stages they had accomplished ere they +reached the wall of Media, as it is called, and passed within it. It +was built of baked bricks laid upon bitumen. It was twenty feet broad +and a hundred feet high, and the length of it was said to be twenty +parasangs. It lies at no great distance from Babylon. + +From this point they marched two stages--eight parasangs--and crossed +two canals, the first by a regular bridge, the other spanned by a +bridge of seven boats. These canals issued from the Tigris, and from +them a whole system of minor trenches was cut, leading over the +country, large ones to begin with, and then smaller and smaller, till +at last they become the merest runnels, like those in Hellas used for +watering millet fields. They reached the river Tigris. At this point +there was a large and thickly populated city named Sittace, at a 13 +distance of fifteen furlongs from the river. The Hellenes accordingly +encamped by the side of that city, near a large and beautiful park, +which was thick with all sorts of trees. + +The Asiatics had crossed the Tigris, but somehow were entirely hidden +from view. After supper, Proxenus and Xenophon were walking in front +of the place d'armes, when a man came up and demanded of the advanced +guard where he could find Proxenus or Clearchus. He did not ask for +Menon, and that too though he came from Ariaeus, who was Menon's +friend. As soon as Proxenus had said: "I am he, whom you seek," the +man replied: "I have been sent by Ariaeus and Artaozus, who have been +trusty friends to Cyrus in past days, and are your well-wishers. They +warn you to be on your guard, in case the barbarians attack you in the +night. There is a large body of troops in the neighbouring park. They +also warn you to send and occupy the bridge over the Tigris, since +Tissaphernes is minded to break it down in the night, if he can, so +that you may not cross, but be caught between the river and the +canal." On hearing this they took the man to Clearchus and acquainted +him with his statement. Clearchus, on his side, was much disturbed, +and indeed alarmed at the news. But a young fellow who was present (1), +struck with an idea, suggested that the two statements were +inconsistent; as to the contemplated attack and the proposed +destruction of the bridge. Clearly, the attacking party must either +conquer or be worsted: if they conquer, what need of their breaking +down the bridge? "Why! if there were half a dozen bridges," said he, +"we should not be any the more able to save ourselves by flight--there +would be no place to flee to; but, in the opposite case, suppose we +win, with the bridge broken down, it is they who will not be able to +save themselves by flight; and, what is worse for them, not a single +soul will be able to bring them succour from the other side, for all +their numbers, since the bridge will be broken down." + + (1) Possibly Xenophon himself. + +Clearchus listened to the reasoning, and then he asked the messenger, +"How large the country between the Tigris and the canal might be?" "A 21 +large district," he replied, "and in it are villages and cities +numerous and large." Then it dawned upon them: the barbarians had sent +the man with subtlety, in fear lest the Hellenes should cut the bridge +and occupy the island territory, with the strong defences of the +Tigris on the one side and of the canal on the other; supplying +themselves with provisions from the country so included, large and +rich as it was, with no lack of hands to till it; in addition to +which, a harbour of refuge and asylum would be found for any one, who +was minded to do the king a mischief. + +After this they retired to rest in peace, not, however, neglecting to +send a guard to occupy the bridge in spite of all, and there was no +attack from any quarter whatsoever; nor did any of the enemy's people +approach the bridges: so the guards were able to report next morning. +But as soon as it was morning, they proceeded to cross the bridge, +which consisted of thirty-seven vessels, and in so doing they used the +utmost precaution possible; for reports were brought by some of the +Hellenes with Tissaphernes that an attempt was to be made to attack +them while crossing. All this turned out to be false, though it is +true that while crossing they did catch sight of Glus watching, with +some others, to see if they crossed the river; but as soon as he had +satisfied himself on that point, he rode off and was gone. + +From the river Tigris they advanced four stages--twenty parasangs--to +the river Physcus, which is a hundred feet broad and spanned by a +bridge. Here lay a large and populous city named Opis, close to which +the Hellenes were encountered by the natural brother of Cyrus and +Artaxerxes, who was leading a large army from Susa and Ecbatana to +assist the king. He halted his troops and watched the Helleens march +past. Clearchus led them in column two abreast: and from time to time +the vanguard came to a standstill, just so often and just so long the +effect repeated itself down to the hindmost man: halt! halt! halt! +along the whole line: so that even to the Hellenes themselves their +army seemed enormous; and the Persian was fairly astonished at the +spectacle. + +From this place they marched through Media six desert stages--thirty 27 +parasangs--to the villages of Parysatis, Cyrus's and the king's +mother. These Tissaphernes, in mockery of Cyrus, delivered over to the +Hellenes to plunder, except that the folk in them were not to be made +slaves. They contained much corn, cattle, and other property. From +this place they advanced four desert stages--twenty parasangs--keeping +the Tigris on the left. On the first of these stages, on the other +side of the river, lay a large city; it was a well-to-do place named +Caenae, from which the natives used to carry across loaves and cheeses +and wine on rafts made of skins. + + + + +V + +After this they reached the river Zapatas (1), which is four hundred 1 +feet broad, and here they halted three days. During the interval +suspicions were rife, though no act of treachery displayed itself. +Clearchus accordingly resolved to bring to an end these feelings of +mistrust, before they led to war. Consequently, he sent a messenger to +the Persian to say that he desired an interview with him; to which the +other readily consented. As soon as they were met, Clearchus spoke as +follows: "Tissaphernes," he said, "I do not forget that oaths have +been exchanged between us, and right hands shaken, in token that we +will abstain from mutual injury; but I can see that you watch us +narrowly, as if we were foes; and we, seeing this, watch you narrowly +in return. But as I fail to discover, after investigation, that you +are endeavouring to do us a mischief--and I am quite sure that nothing +of the sort has ever entered our heads with regard to you--the best +plan seemed to me to come and talk the matter over with you, so that, +if possible, we might dispel the mutual distrust on either side. For I +have known people ere now, the victims in some cases of calumny, or +possibly of mere suspicion, who in apprehension of one another and +eager to deal the first blow, have committed irreparable wrong against +those who neither intended nor so much as harboured a thought of +mischief against them. I have come to you under a conviction that such 6 +misunderstandings may best be put a stop to by personal intercourse, +and I wish to instruct you plainly that you are wrong in mistrusting +us. The first and weightiest reason is that the oaths, which we took +in the sight of heaven, are a barrier to mutual hostility. I envy not +the man whose conscience tells him that he has disregarded these! For +in a war with heaven, by what swiftness of foot can a man escape?--in +what quarter find refuge?--in what darkness slink away and be hid?--to +what strong fortress scale and be out of reach? Are not all things in +all ways subject to the gods? is not their lordship over all alike +outspread? As touching the gods, therefore, and our oaths, that is how +I view this matter. To their safe keeping we consigned the friendship +which we solemnly contracted. But turning to matters human, you I look +upon as our greatest blessing in this present time. With you every +path is plain to us, every river passable, and of provisions we shall +know no stint. But without you, all our way is through darkness; for +we known nothing concerning it, every river will be an obstacle, each +multitude a terror; but, worst terror of all, the vast wilderness, so +full of endless perplexity. Nay, if in a fit of madness we murdered +you, what then? in slaying our benefactor should we not have +challenged to enter the lists against us a more formidable antagonist +in the king himself? Let me tell you, how many high hopes I should rob +myself of, were I to take in hand to do you mischief. + + (1) The Greater Zab, which flows into the Tigris near a town now + called Senn, with which most travellers identify Caenae. + +"I coveted the friendship of Cyrus; I believed him to be abler than +any man of his day to benefit those whom he chose; but to-day I look +and, behold, it is you who are in his place; the power which belonged 11 +to Cyrus and his territory are yours now. You have them, and your own +satrapy besides, safe and sound; while the king's power, which was a +thorn in the side of Cyrus, is your support. This being so, it would +be madness not to wish to be your friend. But I will go further and +state to you the reasons of my confidence, that you on your side will +desire our friendship. I know that the Mysians are a cause of trouble +to you, and I flatter myself that with my present force I could render +them humbly obedient to you. This applies to the Pisidians also; and I +am told there are many other such tribes besides. I think I can deal +with them all; they shall cease from being a constant disturbance to +your peace and prosperity. Then there are the Egyptians (2). I know +your anger against them to-day is very great. Nor can I see what +better force you will find to help you in chastising them than this +which marches at my back to-day. Again, if you seek the friendship of +any of your neighbours round, there shall be no friend so great as +you; if any one annoys you, with us as your faithful servitors you +shall belord it over him; and such service we will render you, not as +hirelings merely for pay's sake, but for the gratitude which we shall +rightly feel to you, to whom we owe our lives. As I dwell on these +matters, I confess, the idea of your feeling mistrust of us is so +astonishing, that I would give much to discover the name of the man, +who is so clever of speech that he can persuade you that we harbour +designs against you." Clearchus ended, and Tissaphernes responded +thus-- + + (2) We learn from Diodorus Siculus, xiv. 35, that the Egyptians had + revolted from the Persians towards the end of the reign of Darius. + +"I am glad, Clearchus, to listen to your sensible remarks; for with +the sentiments you hold, if you were to devise any mischief against +me, it could only be out of malevolence to yourself. But if you +imagine that you, on your side, have any better reason to mistrust the +king and me, than we you, listen to me in turn, and I will undeceive +you. I ask you, does it seem to you that we lack the means, if we had +the will, to destroy you? have we not horsemen enough, or infantry, or +whatever other arm you like, whereby we may be able to injure you, +without risk of suffering in return? or, possibly, do we seem to you 17 +to lack the physical surroundings suitable for attacking you? Do you +not see all these great plains, which you find it hard enough to +traverse even when they are friendly? and all yonder great mountain +chains left for you to cross, which we can at any time occupy in +advance and render impassable? and all those rivers, on whose banks we +can deal craftily by you, checking and controlling and choosing the +right number of you whom we care to fight! Nay, there are some which +you will not be able to cross at all, unless we transport you to the +other side. + +"And if at all these points we were worsted, yet 'fire,' as they say, +'is stronger than the fruit of the field': we can burn it down and +call up famine in arms against you; against which you, for all your +bravery, will never be able to contend. Why then, with all these +avenues of attack, this machinery of war, open to us, not one of which +can be turned against ourselves, why should we select from among them +all that method, which alone in the sight of God is impious and of man +abominable? Surely it belongs to people altogether without resources, +who are helplessly struggling in the toils of fate, and are villains +to boot, to seek accomplishment of their desires by perjury to heaven +and faithlessness to their fellows. We are not so unreasoning, +Clearchus, nor so foolish. + +"Why, when we had it in our power to destroy you, did we not proceed +to do it? Know well that the cause of this was nothing less than my +passion to prove myself faithful to the Hellenes, and that, as Cyrus +went up, relying on a foreign force attracted by payment, I in turn +might go down strong in the same through service rendered. Various +ways in which you Hellenes may be useful to me you yourself have +mentioned, but there is one still greater. It is the great king's +privilege alone to wear the tiara upright upon his head, yet in your +presence it may be given to another mortal to wear it upright, here, +upon his heart." + +Throughout this speech he seemed to Clearchus to be speaking the +truth, and he rejoined: "Then are not those worthy of the worst 24 +penalties who, in spite of all that exists to cement our friendship, +endeavour by slander to make us enemies?" "Even so," replied +Tissaphernes, "and if your generals and captains care to come in some +open and public way, I will name to you those who tell me that you are +plotting against me and the army under me." "Good," replied Clearchus. +"I will bring all, and I will show you, on my side, the source from +which I derive my information concerning you." + +After this conversation Tissaphernes, with kindliest expression, +invited Clearchus to remain with him at the time, and entertained him +at dinner. Next day Clearchus returned to the camp, and made no secret +of his persuasion that he at any rate stood high in the affections of +Tissaphernes, and he reported what he had said, insisting that those +invited ought to go to Tissaphernes, and that any Hellene convicted of +calumnious language ought to be punished, not only as traitors +themselves, but as disaffected to their fellow-countrymen. The +slanderer and traducer was Menon; so, at any rate, he suspected, +because he knew that he had had meetings with Tissaphernes whilst he +was with Ariaeus, and was factiously opposed to himself, plotting how +to win over the whole army to him, as a means of winning the good +graces of Tissaphernes. But Clearchus wanted the entire army to give +its mind to no one else, and that refractory people should be put out +of the way. Some of the soldiers protested: the captains and generals +had better not all go; it was better not to put too much confidence in +Tissaphernes. But Clearchus insisted so strongly that finally it was +arranged for five generals to go and twenty captains. These were +accompanied by about two hundred of the other soldiers, who took the +opportunity of marketing. + +On arrival at the doors of Tissaphernes's quarters the generals were +summoned inside. They were Proxenus the Boeotian, Menon the +Thessalian, Agias the Arcadian, Clearchus the Laconian, and Socrates +the Achaean; while the captains remained at the doors. Not long after +that, at one and the same signal, those within were seized and those +without cut down; after which some of the barbarian horsemen galloped +over the plain, killing every Hellene they encountered, bond or free. 32 +The Hellenes, as they looked from the camp, viewed that strange +horsemanship with surprise, and could not explain to themselves what +it all meant, until Nicarchus the Arcadian came tearing along for bare +life with a wound in the belly, and clutching his protruding entrails +in his hands. He told them all that had happened. Instantly the +Hellenes ran to their arms, one and all, in utter consternation, and +fully expecting that the enemy would instantly be down upon the camp. +However, they did not all come; only Ariaeus came, and Artaozus and +Mithridates, who were Cyrus's most faithful friends; but the +interpreter of the Hellenes said he saw and recognised the brother of +Tissaphernes also with them. They had at their back other Persians +also, armed with cuirasses, as many as three hundred. As soon as they +were within a short distance, they bade any general or captain of the +Hellenes who might be there to approach and hear a message from the +king. After this, two Hellene generals went out with all precaution. +These were Cleanor the Orchomenian (3), and Sophaenetus the +Stymphalion, attended by Xenophon the Athenian, who went to learn news +of Proxenus. Cheirisophus was at the time away in a village with a +party gathering provisions. As soon as they had halted within earshot, +Ariaeus said: "Hellenes, Clearchus being shown to have committed +perjury and to have broken the truce, has suffered the penalty, and he +is dead; but Proxenus and Menon, in return for having given +information of his treachery, are in high esteem and honour. As to +yourselves, the king demands your arms. He claims them as his, since +they belonged to Cyrus, who was his slave." To this the Hellenes made +answer by the mouth of Cleanor of Orchomenus, their spokesman, who +said, addressing Ariaeus: "Thou villain, Ariaeus, and you the rest of +you, who were Cyrus's friends, have you no shame before God or man, +first to swear to us that you have the same friends and the same +enemies as we ourselves, and then to turn and betray us, making common +cause with Tissaphernes, that most impious and villainous of men? With +him you have murdered the very men to whom you gave your solemn word +and oath, and to the rest of us turned traitors; and, having so done, 39 +you join hand with our enemies to come against us." Ariaeus answered: +"There is no doubt but that Clearchus has been known for some time to +harbour designs against Tissaphernes and Orontas, and all of us who +side with them." Taking up this assertion, Xenophon said: "Well, then, +granting that Clearchus broke the truce contrary to our oaths, he has +his deserts, for perjurers deserve to perish; but where are Proxenus +and Menon, our generals and your good friends and benefactors, as you +admit? Send them back to us. Surely, just because they are friends of +both parites, they will try to give us the best advice for you and for +us." + +At this, the Asiatics stood discussing with one another for a long +while, and then they went away without vouchsafing a word. + + + + +VI + +The generals who were thus seized were taken up to the king and there 1 +decapitated. The first of these, Clearchus, was a thorough soldier, +and a true lover of fighting. This is the testimony of all who knew +him intimately. As long as the war between the Lacedaemonians and +Athenians lasted, he could find occupation at home; but after the +peace, he persuaded his own city that the Thracians were injuring the +Hellenes, and having secured his object, set sail, empowered by the +ephorate to make war upon the Thracians north of the Chersonese and +Perinthus. But he had no sooner fairly started than, for some reason +or other, the ephors changed their minds, and endeavoured to bring him +back again from the isthmus. Thereupon he refused further obedience, +and went off with sails set for the Hellespont. In consequence he was +condemned to death by the Spartan authorities for disobedience to +orders; and now, finding himself an exile, he came to Cyrus. Working +on the feelings of that prince, in language described elsewhere, he +received from his entertainer a present of ten thousand darics. Having +got this money, he did not sink into a life of ease and indolence, but +collected an army with it, carried on war against the Thracians, and 5 +conquered them in battle, and from that date onwards harried and +plundered them with war incessantly, until Cyrus wanted his army; +whereupon he at once went off, in hopes of finding another sphere of +warfare in his company. + +These, I take it, were the characteristic acts of a man whose +affections are set on warfare. When it is open to him to enjoy peace +with honour, no shame, no injury attached, still he prefers war; when +he may live at home at ease, he insists on toil, if only it may end in +fighting; when it is given to him to keep his riches without risk, he +would rather lessen his fortune by the pastime of battle. To put it +briefly, war was his mistress; just as another man will spend his +fortune on a favourite, or to gratify some pleasure, so he chose to +squander his substance on soldiering. + +But if the life of a soldier was a passion with him, he was none the +less a soldier born, as herein appears; danger was a delight to him; +he courted it, attacking the enemy by night or by day; and in +difficulties he did not lose his head, as all who ever served in a +campaign with him would with one consent allow. A good solder! the +question arises, Was he equally good as a commander? It must be +admitted that, as far as was compatible with his quality of temper, he +was; none more so. Capable to a singular degree of devising how his +army was to get supplies, and of actually getting them, he was also +capable of impressing upon those about him that Clearchus must be +obeyed; and that he brought about by the very hardness of his nature. +With a scowling expression and a harshly-grating voice, he chastised +with severity, and at times with such fury, that he was sorry +afterwards himself for what he had done. Yet it was not without +purpose that he applied the whip; he had a theory that there was no +good to be got out of an unchastened army. A saying of his is recorded +to the effect that the soldier who is to mount guard and keep his +hands off his friends, and be ready to dash without a moment's +hesitation against the foe--must fear his commander more than the +enemy. Accordingly, in any strait, this was the man whom the soldiers +were eager to obey, and they would have no other in his place. The 11 +cloud which lay upon his brow, at those times lit up with brightness; +his face became radiant, and the old sternness was so charged with +vigour and knitted strength to meet the foe, that it savoured of +salvation, not of cruelty. But when the pinch of danger was past, and +it was open to them to go and taste subordination under some other +officer, many forsook him. So lacking in grace of manner was he; but +was ever harsh and savage, so that the feeling of the soldiers towards +him was that of schoolboys to a master. In other words, though it was +not his good fortune ever to have followers inspired solely by +friendship or goodwill, yet those who found themselves under him, +either by State appointment or through want, or other arch necessity, +yielded him implicit obedience. From the moment that he led them to +victory, the elements which went to make his soldiers efficient were +numerous enough. There was the feeling of confidence in facing the +foe, which never left them, and there was the dread of punishment at +his hands to keep them orderly. In this way and to this extent he knew +how to rule; but to play a subordinate part himself he had no great +taste; so, at any rate, it was said. At the time of his death he must +have been about fifty years of age. + +Proxenus, the Boeotian, was of a different temperament. It had been +the dream of his boyhood to become a man capable of great +achievements. In obedience to this passionate desire it was, that he +paid his fee to Gorgias of Leontini (1). After enojoying that teacher's +society, he flattered himself that he must be at once qualified to +rule; and while he was on friendly terms with the leaders of the age, +he was not to be outdone in reciprocity of service (2). In this mood he 17 +threw himself into the projects of Cyrus, and in return expected to +derive from this essay the reward of a great name, large power, and +wide wealth. But for all that he pitched his hopes so high, it was +none the less evident that he would refuse to gain any of the ends he +set before him wrongfully. Righteously and honourably he would obtain +them, if he might, or else forego them. As a commander he had the art +of leading gentlemen, but he failed to inspire adequately either +respect for himself or fear in the soldiers under him. Indeed, he +showed a more delicate regard for his soldiers than his subordinates +for him, and he was indisputably more apprehensive of incurring their +hatred than they were of losing their fidelity. The one thing needful +to real and recognised generalship was, he thought, to praise the +virtuous and to withhold praise from the evildoer. It can be easily +understood, then, that of those who were brought in contact with him, +the good and noble indeed were his well-wishers; but he laid himself +open to the machinations of the base, who looked upon him as a person +to be dealt with as they liked. At the time of his death he was only +thirty years of age. + + (1) The famous rhetorician of Leontini, 485-380 B.C. His fee was 100 + minae. + + (2) Proxenus, like Cyrus, is to some extent a prototype of the Cyrus + of the "Cyropaedia." In other words, the author, in delineating + the portrait of his ideal prince, drew from the recollection of + many princely qualities observed by him in the characters of many + friends. Apart from the intrinsic charm of the story, the + "Anabasis" is interesting as containing the raw material of + experience and reflection which "this young scholar or + philosopher," our friend, the author, will one day turn to + literary account. + +As to Menon the Thessalian (3), the mainspring of his action was +obvious; what he sought after insatiably was wealth. Rule he sought +after only as a stepping-stone to larger spoils. Honours and high +estate he craved for simply that he might extend the area of his +gains; and if he studied to be on friendly terms with the powerful, it +was in order that he might commit wrong with impunity. The shortest +road to the achievement of his desires lay, he thought, through false +swearing, lying, and cheating; for in his vocabulary simplicity and +truth were synonyms of folly. Natural affection he clearly entertained +for nobody. If he called a man his friend it might be looked upon as 23 +certain that he was bent on ensnaring him. Laughter at an enemy he +considered out of place, but his whole conversation turned upon the +ridicule of his associates. In like manner, the possessions of his +foes were secure from his designs, since it was no easy task, he +thought, to steal from people on their guard; but it was his +particular good fortune to have discovered how easy it is to rob a +friend in the midst of his security. If it were a perjured person or a +wrongdoer, he dreaded him as well armed and intrenched; but the +honourable and the truth-loving he tried to practise on, regarding +them as weaklings devoid of manhood. And as other men pride themselves +on piety and truth and righteousness, so Menon prided himself on a +capacity for fraud, on the fabrication of lies, on the mockery and +scorn of friends. The man who was not a rogue he ever looked upon as +only half educated. Did he aspire to the first place in another man's +friendship, he set about his object by slandering those who stood +nearest to him in affection. He contrived to secure the obedience of +his solders by making himself an accomplice in their misdeeds, and the +fluency with which he vaunted his own capacity and readiness for +enormous guilt was a sufficient title to be honoured and courted by +them. Or if any one stood aloof from him, he set it down as a +meritorious act of kindness on his part that during their intercourse +he had not robbed him of existence. + + (3) For a less repulsive conception of Menon's character, however + unhistorical, see Plato's "Meno," and Prof. Jowlett's + Introduction, "Plato," vol. i. p. 265: "He is a Thessalian + Alcibiades, rich and luxurious--a spoilt child of fortune." + +As to certain obscure charges brought against his character, these may +certainly be fabrications. I confine myself to the following facts, +which are known to all. He was in the bloom of youth when he procured +from Aristippus the command of his mercenaries; he had not yet lost +that bloom when he became exceedingly intimate with Ariaeus, a +barbarian, whose liking for fair young men was the explanation; and +before he had grown a beard himself, he had contracted a similar +relationship with a bearded favourite named Tharypas. When his +fellow-generals were put to death on the plea that they had marched +with Cyrus against the king, he alone, although he had shared their +conduct, was exempted from their fate. But after their deaths the +vengeance of the king fell upon him, and he was put to death, not like 29 +Clearchus and the others by what would appear to be the speediest of +deaths--decapitation--but, as report says, he lived for a year in pain +and disgrace and died the death of a felon. + +Agias the Arcadian and Socrates the Achaean were both among the +sufferers who were put to death. To the credit, be it said, of both, +no one ever derided either as cowardly in war: no one ever had a fault +to find with either on the score of friendship. They were both about +thirty-five years of age. + + + + + +BOOK III + + (In the preceding pages of the narrative will be found a full +account, not only of the doings of the Hellenes during the +advance of Cyrus till the date of the battle, but of the +incidents which befell them after Cyrus' death at the +commencement of the retreat, while in company with +Tissaphernes during the truce.) + + + + +I + +After the generals had been seized, and the captains and soldiers who 1 +formed their escort had been killed, the Hellenes lay in deep +perplexity--a prey to painful reflections. Here were they at the +king's gates, and on every side environing them were many hostile +cities and tribes of men. Who was there now to furnish them with a +market? Separated from Hellas by more than a thousand miles, they had +not even a guide to point the way. Impassable rivers lay athwart their +homeward route, and hemmed them in. Betrayed even by the Asiatics, at +whose side they had marched with Cyrus to the attack, they were left +in isolation. Without a single mounted trooper to aid them in pursuit: +was it not perfectly plain that if they won a battle, their enemies +would escape to a man, but if they were beaten themselves, not one +soul of them would survive? + +Haunted by such thoughts, and with hearts full of despair, but few of +them tasted food that evening; but few of them kindled even a fire, +and many never came into camp at all that night, but took their rest +where each chanced to be. They could not close their eyes for very +pain and yearning after their fatherlands or their parents, the wife +or child whom they never expected to look upon again. Such was the +plight in which each and all tried to seek repose. + +Now there was in that host a certain man, an Athenian (1), Xenophon, +who had accompanied Cyrus, neither as a general, nor as an officer, +nor yet as a private soldier, but simply on the invitation of an old +friend, Proxenus. This old friend had sent to fetch him from home, +promising, if he would come, to introduce him to Cyrus, "whom," said +Proxenus, "I consider to be worth my fatherland and more to me." + + (1) The reader should turn to Grote's comments on the first appearance + of Xenophon. He has been mentioned before, of course, more than + once before; but he now steps, as the protagonist, upon the scene, + and as Grote says: "It is in true Homeric vein, and in something + like Homeric language, that Xenophon (to whom we owe the whole + narrative of the expedition) describes his dream, or the + intervention of Oneiros, sent by Zeus, from which this renovating + impulse took its rise." + +Xenophon having read the letter, consulted Socrates the Athenian, +whether he should accept or refuse the invitation. Socrates, who had a +suspicion that the State of Athens might in some way look askance at +my friendship with Cyrus, whose zealous co-operation with the +Lacedaemonians against Athens in the war was not forgotten, advised +Xenophon to go to Delphi and there to consult the god as to the +desirability of such a journey. Xenophon went and put the question to +Apollo, to which of the gods he must pray and do sacrifice, so that he +might best accomplish his intended journey and return in safety, with +good fortune. Then Apollo answered him: "To such and such gods must +thou do sacrifice," and when he had returned home he reported to +Socrates the oracle. But he, when he heard, blamed Xenophon that he +had not, in the first instance, inquired of the god, whether it were +better for him to go or to stay, but had taken on himself to settle +that point affirmatively, by inquiring straightway, how he might best 7 +perform the journey. "Since, however," continued Socrates, "you did so +put the question, you should do what the god enjoined." Thus, and +without further ado, Xenophon offered sacrifice to those whom the god +had named, and set sail on his voyage. He overtook Proxenus and Cyrus +at Sardis, when they were just ready to start on the march up country, +and was at once introduced to Cyrus. Proxenus eagerly pressed him to +stop--a request which Cyrus with like ardour supported, adding that as +soon as the campaign was over he would send him home. The campaign +referred to was understood to be against the Pisidians. That is how +Xenophon came to join the expedition, deceived indeed, though not by +Proxenus, who was equally in the dark with the rest of the Hellenes, +not counting Clearchus, as to the intended attack upon the king. Then, +though the majority were in apprehension of the journey, which was not +at all to their minds, yet, for very shame of one another and Cyrus, +they continued to follow him, and with the rest went Xenophon. + +And now in this season of perplexity, he too, with the rest, was in +sore distress, and could not sleep; but anon, getting a snatch of +sleep, he had a dream. It seemed to him in a vision that there was a +storm of thunder and lightning, and a bolt fell on his father's house, +and thereupon the house was all in a blaze. He sprung up in terror, +and pondering the matter, decided that in part the dream was good: in +that he had seen a great light from Zeus, whilst in the midst of toil +and danger. But partly too he feared it, for evidently it had come +from Zeus the king. And the fire kindled all around--what could that +mean but that he was hemmed in by various perplexities, and so could +not escape from the country of the king? The full meaning, however, is +to be discovered from what happened after the dream. + +This is what took place. As soon as he was fully awake, the first +clear thought which came into his head was, Why am I lying here? The +night advances; with the day, it is like enough, the enemy will be +upon us. If we are to fall into the hands of the king, what is left us +but to face the most horrible of sights, and to suffer the most 13 +fearful pains, and then to die, insulted, an ignominious death? To +defend ourselves--to ward off that fate--not a hand stirs: no one is +preparing, none cares; but here we lie, as though it were time to rest +and take our ease. I too! what am I waiting for? a general to +undertake the work? and from what city? am I waiting till I am older +mysef and of riper age? older I shall never be, if to-day I betray +myself to my enemies. + +Thereupon he got up, and called together first Proxenus's officers; +and when they were met, he said: "Sleep, sirs, I cannot, nor can you, +I fancy, nor lie here longer, when I see in what straits we are. Our +enemy, we may be sure, did not open war upon us till he felt he had +everything amply ready; yet none of us shows a corresponding anxiety +to enter the lists of battle in the bravest style. + +"And yet, if we yield ourselves and fall into the king's power, need +we ask what our fate will be? This man, who, when his own brother, the +son of the same parents, was dead, was not content with that, but +severed head and hand from the body, and nailed them to a cross. We, +then, who have not even the tie of blood in our favour, but who +marched against him, meaning to make a slave of him instead of a +king--and to slay him if we could: what is likely to be our fate at +his hands? Will he not go all lengths so that, by inflicting on us the +extreme of ignominy and torture, he may rouse in the rest of mankind a +terror of ever marching against him any more? There is no question but +that our business is to avoid by all means getting into his clutches. + +"For my part, all the while the truce lasted, I never ceased pitying +ourselves and congratulating the king and those with him, as, like a +helpless spectator, I surveyed the extent and quality of their +territory, the plenteousness of their provisions, the multitude of +their dependants, their cattle, their gold, and their apparel. And +then to turn and ponder the condition of our soldiers, without part or +lot in these good things, except we bought it; few, I knew, had any +longer the wherewithal to buy, and yet our oath held us down, so that +we could not provide ourselves otherwise than by purchase. I say, as I 21 +reasoned thus, there were times when I dreaded the truce more than I +now dread war. + +"Now, however, that they have abruptly ended the truce, there is an +end also to their own insolence and to our suspicion. All these good +things of theirs are now set as prizes for the combatants. To +whichsoever of us shall prove the better men, will they fall as +guerdons; and the gods themselves are the judges of the strife. The +gods, who full surely will be on our side, seeing it is our enemies +who have taken their names falsely; whilst we, with much to lure us, +yet for our oath's sake, and the gods who were our witnesses, sternly +held aloof. So that, it seems to me, we have a right to enter upon +this contest with much more heart than our foes; and further, we are +possessed of bodies more capable than theirs of bearing cold and heat +and labour; souls too we have, by the help of heaven, better and +braver; nay, the men themselves are more vulnerable, more mortal, than +ourselves, if so be the gods vouchsafe to give us victory once again. + +"Howbeit, for I doubt not elsewhere similar reflections are being +made, whatsoever betide, let us not, in heaven's name, wait for others +to come and challenge us to noble deeds; let us rather take the lead +in stimulating the rest to valour. Show yourselves to be the bravest +of officers, and among generals, the worthiest to command. For myself, +if you choose to start forwards on this quest, I will follow; or, if +you bid me lead you, my age shall be no excuse to stand between me and +your orders. At least I am of full age, I take it, to avert misfortune +from my own head." + +Such were the speaker's words; and the officers, when they heard, all, +with one exception, called upon him to put himself at their head. This +was a certain Apollonides there present, who spoke in the Boeotian +dialect. This man's opinion was that it was mere nonsense for any one +to pretend they could obtain safety otherwise than by an appeal to the +king, if he had skill to enforce it; and at the same time he began to +dilate on the difficulties. But Xenophon cut him short. "O most +marvellous of men! though you have eyes to see, you do not perceive; +though you have ears to hear, you do not recollect. You were present 27 +with the rest of us now here when, after the death of Cyrus, the king, +vaunting himself on that occurrence, sent dictatorially to bid us lay +down our arms. But when we, instead of giving up our arms, put them on +and went and pitched our camp near him, his manner changed. It is hard +to say what he did not do, he was so at his wit's end, sending us +embassies and begging for a truce, and furnishing provisions the +while, until he had got it. Or to take the contrary instance, when +just now, acting precisely on your principles, our generals and +captains went, trusting to the truce, unarmed to a conference with +them, what came of it? what is happening at this instant? Beaten, +goaded with pricks, insulted, poor souls, they cannot even die: though +death, I ween, would be very sweet. And you, who know all this, how +can you say that it is mere nonsense to talk of self-defence? how can +you bid us go again and try the arts of persuasion? In my opinion, +sirs, we ought not to admit this fellow to the same rank with +ourselves; rather ought we to deprive him of his captaincy, and load +him with packs and treat him as such. The man is a disgrace to his own +fatherland and the whole of Hellas, that, being a Hellene, he is what +he is." + +Here Agasias the Stymphalian broke in, exclaiming: "Nay, this fellow +has no connection either with Boeotia or with Hellas, none whatever. I +have noted both his ears bored like a Lydian's." And so it was. Him +then they banished. But the rest visited the ranks, and wherever a +general was left, they summoned the general; where he was gone, the +lieutenant-general; and where again the captain alone was left, the +captain. As soon as they were all met, they seated themselves in front +of the place d'armes: the assembled generals and officers, numbering +about a hundred. It was nearly midnight when this took place. + +Thereupon Hieronymous the Eleian, the eldest of Proxenus's captains, +commenced speaking as follows: "Generals and captains, it seemed right +to us, in view of the present crisis, ourselves to assemble and to +summon you, that we might advise upon some practicable course. Would +you, Xenophon, repeat what you said to us?" + +Thereupon Xenophon spoke as follows: "We all know only too well, that 34 +the king and Tissaphernes have seized as many of us as they could, and +it is clear they are plotting to destroy the rest of us if they can. +Our business is plain: it is to do all we can to avoid getting into +the power of the barbarians; rather, if we can, we will get them into +our power. Rely upon this then, all you who are here assembled, now is +your great opportunity. The soldiers outside have their eyes fixed +upon you; if they think that you are faint-hearted, they will turn +cowards; but if you show them that you are making your own +preparations to attack the enemy, and setting an example to the +rest--follow you, be assured, they will: imitate you they will. May +be, it is but right and fair that you should somewhat excel them, for +you are generals, you are commanders of brigades or regiments; and if, +while it was peace, you had the advantage in wealth and position, so +now, when it is war, you are expected to rise superior to the common +herd--to think for them, to toil for them, whenever there be need. + +"At this very moment you would confer a great boon on the army, if you +made it your business to appoint generals and officers to fill the +places of those that are lost. For without leaders nothing good or +noble, to put it concisely, was ever wrought anywhere; and in military +matters this is absolutely true; for if discipline is held to be of +saving virtue, the want of it has been the ruin of many ere now. Well, +then! when you have appointed all the commanders necessary, it would +only be opportune, I take it, if you were to summon the rest of the +soldiers and speak some words of encouragement. Even now, I daresay +you noticed yourselves the crestfallen air with which they came into +camp, the despondency with which they fell to picket duty, so that, +unless there is a change for the better, I do not know for what +service they will be fit; whether by night, if need were, or even by +day. The thing is to get them to turn their thoughts to what they mean +to do, instead of to what they are likely to suffer. Do that, and +their spirits will soon revive wonderfully. You know, I need hardly +remind you, it is not numbers or strength that gives victory in war; +but, heaven helping them, to one or other of two combatants it is 42 +given to dash with stouter hearts to meet the foe, and such onset, in +nine cases out of ten, those others refuse to meet. This observation, +also, I have laid to heart, that they, who in matters of war seek in +all ways to save their lives, are just they who, as a rule, die +dishonourably; whereas they who, recognising that death is the common +lot and destiny of all men, strive hard to die nobly: these more +frequently, as I observe, do after all attain to old age, or, at any +rate, while life lasts, they spend their days more happily. This +lesson let all lay to heart this day, for we are just at such a crisis +of our fate. Now is the season to be brave ourselves, and to stimulate +the rest by our example." + +With these words he ceased; and after him, Cheirisophus said: +"Xenophon, hitherto I knew only so much of you as that you were, I +heard, an Athenian, but now I must commend you for your words and for +your conduct. I hope that there may be many more like you, for it +would prove a public blessing." Then turning to the officers: "And +now," said he, "let us waste no time; retire at once, I beg you, and +choose leaders where you need them. After you have made your +elections, come back to the middle of the camp, and bring the newly +appointed officers. After that, we will there summon a general meeting +of the soldiers. Let Tolmides, the herald," he added, "be in +attendance." With these words on his lips he got up, in order that +what was needful might be done at once without delay. After this the +generals were chosen. These were Timasion the Dardanian, in place of +Clearchus; Xanthicles, an Achaean, in place of Socrates; Cleanor, an +Arcadian, in place of Agias; Philesius, an Achaean, in place of Menon; +and in place of Proxenus, Xenophon the Athenian. + + + + +II + +By the time the new generals had been chosen, the first faint glimmer 1 +of dawn had hardly commenced, as they met in the centre of the camp, +and resolved to post an advance guard and to call a general meeting of +the soldiers. Now, when these had come together, Cheirisophus the +Lacedaemonian first rose and spoke as follows: "Fellow-soldiers, the +present posture of affairs is not pleasant, seeing that we are robbed +of so many generals and captains and soldiers; and more than that, our 2 +former allies, Ariaeus and his men, have betrayed us; still, we must +rise above our circumstances to prove ourselves brave men, and not +give in, but try to save ourselves by glorious victory if we can; or, +if not, at least to die gloriously, and never, while we have breath in +our bodies, fall into the hands of our enemies. In which latter case, +I fear, we shall suffer things, which I pray the gods may visit rather +upon those we hate." + +At this point Cleanor the Ochomenian stood up and spoke as follows: +"You see, men, the perjury and the impiety of the king. You see the +faithlessness of Tissaphernes, professing that he was next-door +neighbour to Hellas, and would give a good deal to save us, in +confirmation of which he took an oath to us himself, he gave us the +pledge of his right hand, and then, with a lie upon his lips, this +same man turned round and arrested our generals. He had no reverence +even for Zeus, the god of strangers; but, after entertaining Clearchus +at his own board as a friend, he used his hospitality to delude and +decoy his victims. And Ariaeus, whom we offered to make king, with +whom we exchanged pledges not to betray each other, even this man, +without a particle of fear of the gods, or respect for Cyrus in his +grave, though he was most honoured by Cyrus in lifetime, even he has +turned aside to the worst foes of Cyrus, and is doing his best to +injure the dead man's friends. Them may the gods requite as they +deserve! But we, with these things before our eyes, will not any more +be cheated and cajoled by them; we will make the best fight we can, +and having made it, whatever the gods think fit to send, we will +accept." + +After him Xenophon arose; he was arrayed for war in his bravest +apparel (1): "For," said he to himself, "if the gods grant victory, the +finest attire will match with victory best; or if I must needs die, +then for one who has aspired to the noblest, it is well there should +be some outward correspondence between his expectation and his end." +He began his speech as follows: "Cleanor has spoken of the perjury and 8 +faithlessness of the barbarians, and you yourselves know them only too +well, I fancy. If then we are minded to enter a second time into terms +of friendship with them, with the experience of what our generals, who +in all confidence entrusted themselves to their power, have suffered, +reason would we should feel deep despondency. If, on the other hand, +we purpose to take our good swords in our hands and to inflict +punishment on them for what they have done, and from this time forward +will be on terms of downright war with them, then, God helping, we +have many a bright hope of safety." The words were scarcely spoken +when someone sneezed (2), and with one impulse the soldiers bowed in +worship; and Xenophon proceeded: "I propose, sirs, since, even as we +spoke of safety, an omen from Zeus the Saviour has appeared, we vow a +vow to sacrifice to the Saviour thank-offerings for safe deliverance, +wheresoever first we reach a friendly country; and let us couple with +that vow another of individual assent, that we will offer to the rest +of the gods 'according to our ability.' Let all those who are in +favour of this proposal hold up their hands." They all held up their +hands, and there and then they vowed a vow and chanted the battle +hymn. But as soon as these sacred matters were duly ended, he began +once more thus: "I was saying that many and bright are the hopes we +have of safety. First of all, we it is who confirm and ratify the +oaths we take by heaven, but our enemies have taken false oaths and +broken the truce, contrary to their solemn word. This being so, it is +but natural that the gods should be opposed to our enemies, but with +ourselves allied; the gods, who are able to make the great ones +quickly small, and out of sore perplexity can save the little ones +with ease, what time it pleases them. In the next place, let me recall +to your minds the dangers of our own forefathers, that you may see and 11 +know that bravery is your heirloom, and that by the aid of the gods +brave men are rescued even out of the midst of sorest straits." So was +it when the Persians came, and their attendant hosts (3), with a very +great armament, to wipe out Athens from the face of the earth--the men +of Athens had the heart to withstand them and conquered them. Then +they vowed to Artemis that for every man they slew of the enemy, they +would sacrifice to the goddess goats so many; and when they could not +find sufficient for the slain, they resolved to offer yearly five +hundred; and to this day they perform that sacrifice. And at a +somewhat later date, when Xerxes assembled his countless hosts and +marched upon Hellas, then (4) too our fathers conquered the forefathers +of our foes by land and by sea. + + (1) So it is said of the Russian General Skobelef, that he had a + strange custom of going into battle in his cleanest uniform, + perfumed, and wearing a diamond-hilted sword, "in order that," as + he said, "he might die in his best attire." + + (2) For this ancient omen see "Odyssey," xvii. 541: "Even as she + spake, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and around the roof rung + wondrously. And Penelope laughed."... "Dost thou not mark how + my son has sneezed a blessing on all my words?" + + (3) See Herod. vi. 114; the allusion is to the invasion of Greeze by + Datis and Artaphernes, and to their defeat at Marathon, B.C. 490. + "Heredotus estimates the number of those who fell on the Persian + side at 6400 men: the number of Athenian dead is accurately known, + since all were collected for the last solemn obsequies--they were + 192."--Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. v. p. 475. + + (4) Then = at Salamis, B.C. 480, and at Plataea and Mycale, B.C. 479, + on the same day. + +"And proofs of these things are yet to be seen in trophies; but the +greatest witness of all is the freedom of our cities--the liberty of +that land in which you were born and bred. For you call no man master +or lord; you bow your heads to none save to the gods alone. Such were +your forefathers, and their sons are ye. Think not I am going to say +that you put to shame in any way your ancestry--far from it. Not many +days since, you too were drawn up in battle face to face with these +true descendants of their ancestors, and by the help of heaven you +conquered them, though they many times outnumbered you. At that time, +it was to win a throne for Cyrus that you showed your bravery; to-day, +when the struggle is for your own salvation, what is more natural than +that you should show yourselves braver and more zealous still. Nay, it +is very meet and right that you should be more undaunted still to-day +to face the foe. The other day, though you had not tested them, and +before your eyes lay their immeasurable host, you had the heart to go +against them with the spirit of your fathers. To-day you have made 16 +trial of them, and knowing that, however many times your number, they +do not care to await your onset, what concern have you now to be +afraid of them? + +"Nor let any one suppose that herein is a point of weakness, in that +Cyrus's troops, who before were drawn up by your side, have now +deserted us, for they are even worse cowards still than those we +worsted. At any rate they have deserted us, and sought refuge with +them. Leaders of the forlorn hope of flight--far better is it to have +them brigaded with the enemy than shoulder to shoulder in our ranks. +But if any of you is out of heart to think that we have no cavalry, +while the enemy have many squadrons to command, lay to heart this +doctrine, that ten thousand horse only equal ten thousand men upon +their backs, neither less nor more. Did any one ever die in battle +from the bite or kick of a horse? It is the men, the real swordsmen, +who do whatever is done in battles. In fact we, on our stout shanks, +are better mounted than those cavalry fellows; there they hang on to +their horses' necks in mortal dread, not only of us, but of falling +off; while we, well planted upon earth, can deal far heavier blows to +our assailants, and aim more steadily at who we will. There is one +point, I admit, in which their cavalry have the whip-hand of us; it is +safer for them than it is for us to run away. + +"May be, however, you are in good heart about the fighting, but +annoyed to think that Tissaphernes will not guide us any more, and +that the king will not furnish us with a market any longer. Now, +consider, is it better for us to have a guide like Tissaphernes, whom +we know to be plotting against us, or to take our chance of the stray +people whom we catch and compel to guide us, who will know that any +mistake made in leading us will be a sad mistake for their own lives? +Again, is it better to be buying provisions in a market of their +providing, in scant measure and at high prices, without even the money +to pay for them any longer; or, by right of conquest, to help +ourselves, applying such measure as suits our fancy best? + +"Or again, perhaps you admit that our present position is not without +its advantages, but you feel sure that the rivers are a difficulty, +and think that you were never more taken in than when you crossed 22 +them; if so, consider whether, after all, this is not perhaps the most +foolish thing which the barbarians have done. No river is impassable +throughout; whatever difficulties it may present at some distance from +its source, you need only make your way up to the springhead, and +there you may cross it without wetting more than your ankles. But, +granted that the rivers do bar our passage, and that guides are not +forthcoming, what care we? We need feel no alarm for all that. We have +heard of the Mysians, a people whom we certainly cannot admit to be +better than ourselves; and yet they inhabit numbers of large and +prosperous cities in the king's own country without asking leave. The +Pisidians are an equally good instance, or the Lycaonians. We have +seen with our own eyes how they fare: seizing fortresses down in the +plains, and reaping the fruits of these men's territory. As to us, I +go so far as to assert, we ought never to have let it be seen that we +were bent on getting home: at any rate, not so soon; we should have +begun stocking and furnishing ourselves, as if we fully meant to +settle down for life somewhere or other hereabouts. I am sure that the +king would be thrice glad to give the Mysians as many guides as they +like, or as many hostages as they care to demand, in return for a safe +conduct out of his country; he would make carriage roads for them, and +if they preferred to take their departure in coaches and four, he +would not say them nay. So too, I am sure, he would be only too glad +to accommodate us in the same way, if he saw us preparing to settle +down here. But, perhaps, it is just as well that we did not stop; for +I fear, if once we learn to live in idleness and to batten in luxury +and dalliance with these tall and handsome Median and Persian women +and maidens, we shall be like the Lotus-eaters (5), and forget the road +home altogether. + + (5) See "Odyssey," ix. 94, "ever feeding on the Lotus and forgetful of + returning." + +"It seems to me that it is only right, in the first instance, to make +an effort to return to Hellas and to revisit our hearths and homes, if +only to prove to other Hellenes that it is their own faults if they +are poor and needy (6), seeing it is in their power to give to those 26 +now living a pauper life at home a free passage hither, and convert +them into well-to-do burghers at once. Now, sirs, is it not clear that +all these good things belong to whoever has strength to hold them? + + (6) Here seems to be the germ--unless, indeed, the thought had been + conceived above--here at any rate the first conscious expression + of the colonisation scheme, of which we shall hear more below, in + reference to Cotyora; the Phasis; Calpe. It appears again fifty + years later in the author's pamphlet "On Revenues," chapters i. + and vi. For the special evils of the fourth century B.C., and the + growth of pauperism between B.C. 401 and 338, see Jebb, "Attic + Orators," vol i. p. 17. + +"Let us look another matter in the face. How are we to march most +safely? or where blows are needed, how are we to fight to the best +advantage? That is the question. + +"The first thing which I recommend is to burn the wagons we have got, +so that we may be free to march wherever the army needs, and not, +practically, make our baggage train our general. And, next, we should +throw our tents into the bonfire also: for these again are only a +trouble to carry, and do not contribute one grain of good either for +fighting or getting provisions. Further, let us get rid of all +superfluous baggage, save only what we require for the sake of war, or +meat and drink, so that as many of us as possible may be under arms, +and as few as possible doing porterage. I need not remind you that, in +case of defeat, the owners' goods are not their own; but if we master +our foes, we will make them our baggage bearers. + +"It only rests for me to name the one thing which I look upon as the +greatest of all. You see, the enemy did not dare to bring war to bear +upon us until they had first seized our generals; they felt that +whilst our rulers were there, and we obeyed them, they were no match +for us in war; but having got hold of them, they fully expected that +the consequent confusion and anarchy would prove fatal to us. What +follows? This: Officers and leaders ought to be more vigilant ever +than their predecessors; subordinates still more orderly and obedient +to those in command now than even they were to those who are gone. And +you should pass a resolution that, in case of insubordination, any one 31 +who stands by is to aid the officer in chastising the offender. So the +enemy will be mightily deceived; for on this day they will behold ten +thousand Clearchuses instead of one, who will not suffer one man to +play the coward. And now it is high time I brought my remarks to an +end, for may be the enemy will be here anon. Let those who are in +favour of these proposals confirm them with all speed, that they may +be realised in fact; or if any other course seem better, let not any +one, even though he be a private soldier, shrink from proposing it. +Our common safety is our common need." + +After this Cheirisophus spoke. He said: "If there is anything else to +be done, beyond what Xenophon has mentioned, we shall be able to carry +it out presently; but with regard to what he has already proposed, it +seems to me the best course to vote upon the matters at once. Those +who are in favour of Xenophon's proposals, hold up their hands." They +all held them up. Xenophon rose again and said: "Listen, sirs, while I +tell you what I think we have need of besides. It is clear that we +must march where we can get provisions. Now, I am told there are some +splendid villages not more than two miles and a half distant. I should +not be surprised, then, if the enemy were to hang on our heels and dog +us as we retire, like cowardly curs which rush out at the passer-by +and bite him if they can, but when you turn upon them they run away. +Such will be their tactics, I take it. It may be safer, then, to march +in a hollow square, so as to place the baggage animals and our mob of +sutlers in greater security. It will save time to make the +appointments at once, and to settle who leads the square and directs +the vanguard; who will take command of the two flanks, and who of the +rearguard; so that, when the enemy appears, we shall not need to +deliberate, but can at once set in motion the machinery in existence. + +"If any one has any better plan, we need not adopt mine; but if not, +suppose Cheirisophus takes the lead, as he is a Lacedaemonian, and the +two eldest generals take in charge the two wings respectively, whilst +Timasion and I, the two youngest, will for the present guard the rear. 37 +For the rest, we can but make experiment of this arrangement, and +alter it with deliberation, as from time to time any improvement +suggests itself. If any one has a better plan to propose, let him do +so."... No dissentient voice was heard. Accordingly he said: "Those +in favour of this resolution, hold up their hands." The resolution was +carried. "And now," said he, "it would be well to separate and carry +out what we have decreed. If any of you has set his heart on seeing +his friends again, let him remember to prove himself a man; there is +no other way to achieve his heart's wish. Or is mere living an object +with any of you, strive to conquer; if to slay is the privilege of +victory, to die is the doom of the defeated. Or perhaps to gain money +and wealth is your ambition, strive again for mastery; have not +conquerors the double gain of keeping what is their own, whilst they +seize the possessions of the vanquished?" + + + + +III + +The speaking was ended; they got up and retired; then they burnt the 1 +wagons and the tents, and after sharing with one another what each +needed out of their various superfluities, they threw the remnant into +the fire. Having done that, they proceeded to make their breakfasts. +While they were breakfasting, Mithridates came with about thirty +horsemen, and summoning the generals within earshot, he thus addressed +them: "Men of Hellas, I have been faithful to Cyrus, as you know well, +and to-day I am your well-wisher; indeed, I am here spending my days +in great fear: if then I could see any salutory course in prospect, I +should be disposed to join you with all my retainers. Please inform +me, then, as to what you propose, regarding me as your friend and +well-wisher, anxious only to pursue his march in your company." The +generals held council, and resolved to give the following answer, +Cheirisophus acting as spokesman: "We have resolved to make our way +through the country, inflicting the least possible damage, provided we +are allowed a free passage homewards; but if any one tries to hinder 3 +us, he will have to fight it out with us, and we shall bring all the +force in our power to bear." Thereat Mithridates set himself to prove +to them that their deliverance, except with the king's good pleasure, +was hopeless. Then the meaning of his mission was plain. He was an +agent in disguise; in fact, a relation of Tissaphernes was in +attendance to keep a check on his loyalty. After that, the generals +resolved that it would be better to proclaim open war, without truce +or herald, as long as they were in the enemy's country; for they used +to come and corrupt the soldiers, and they were even successful with +one officer--Nicarchus (1), an Arcadian, who went off in the night with +about twenty men. + + (1) Can this be the same man whose escape is so graphically described + above? + +After this, they breakfasted and crossed the river Zapatas, marching +in regular order, with the beasts and mob of the army in the middle. +They had not advanced far on their route when Mithridates made his +appearance again, with about a couple of hundred horsemen at his back, +and bowmen and slingers twice as many, as nimble fellows as a man +might hope to see. He approached the Hellenes as if he were friendly; +but when they had got fairly to close quarters, all of a sudden some +of them, whether mounted or on foot, began shooting with their bows +and arrows, and another set with slings, wounding the men. The +rearguard of the Hellenes suffered for a while severely without being +able to retaliate, for the Cretans had a shorter range than the +Persians, and at the same time, being light-armed troops, they lay +cooped up within the ranks of the heavy infantry, while the javelin +men again did not shoot far enough to reach the enemy's slingers. This +being so, Xenophon thought there was nothing for it but to charge, and +charge they did; some of the heavy and light infantry, who were +guarding the rear, with him; but for all their charging they did not +catch a single man. + +The dearth of cavalry told against the Hellenes; nor were their +infantry able to overhaul the enemy's infantry, with the long start +they had, and considering the shortness of the race, for it was out of +the question to pursue them far from the main body of the army. On the 10 +other hand, the Asiatic cavalry, even while fleeing, poured volleys of +arrows behind their backs, and wounded the pursuers; while the +Hellenes must fall back fighting every step of the way they had +measured in the pursuit; so that by the end of that day they had not +gone much more than three miles; but in the late afternoon they +reached the villages. + +Here there was a return of the old despondency. Cheirisophus and the +eldest of the generals blamed Xenophon for leaving the main body to +give chase and endangering himself thereby, while he could not damage +the enemy one whit the more. Xenophon admitted that they were right in +blaming him: no better proof of that was wanted than the result. "The +fact is," he added, "I was driven to pursue; it was too trying to look +on and see our men suffer so badly, and be unable to retaliate. +However, when we did charge, there is no denying the truth of what you +say; we were not a whit more able to injure the enemy, while we had +considerable difficulty in beating a retreat ourselves. Thank heaven +they did not come upon us in any great force, but were only a handful +of men; so that the injury they did us was not large, as it might have +been; and at least it has served to show us what we need. At present +the enemy shoot and sling beyond our range, so that our Cretan archers +are no match for them; our hand-throwers cannot reach as far; and when +we pursue, it is not possible to push the pursuit to any great +distance from the main body, and within the short distance no +foot-soldier, however fleet of foot, could overtake another +foot-soldier who has a bow-shot the start of him. If, then, we are to +exclude them from all possibility of injuring us as we march, we must +get slingers as soon as possible and cavalry. I am told there are in +the army some Rhodians, most of whom, they say, know how to sling, and +their missile will reach even twice as far as the Persian slings +(which, on account of their being loaded with stones as big as one's +fist, have a comparatively short range; but the Rhodians are skilled +in the use of leaden bullets (2)). Suppose, then, we investigate and 18 +find out first of all who among them possess slings, and for these +slings offer the owner the money value; and to another, who will plait +some more, hand over the money price; and for a third, who will +volunteer to be enrolled as a slinger, invent some other sort of +privilege, I think we shall soon find people to come forward capable +of helping us. There are horses in the army I know; some few with +myself, others belonging to Clearchus's stud, and a good many others +captured from the enemy, used for carrying baggage. Let us take the +pick of these, supplying their places by ordinary baggage animals, and +equipping the horses for cavalry. I should not wonder if our troopers +gave some annoyance to these fugitives." + + (2) These words sound to me like an author's note, parenthetically, + and perhaps inadvertently, inserted into the text. It is an + "aside" to the reader, which in a modern book would appear as a + footnote. + +These proposals were carried, and that night two hundred slingers were +enrolled, and next day as many as fifty horse and horsemen passed +muster as duly qualified; buff jackets and cuirasses were provided for +them, and a commandant of cavalry appointed to command--Lycius, the +son of Polystratus, by name, an Athenian. + + + + +IV + +That day they remained inactive, but the next they rose earlier than 1 +usual, and set out betimes, for they had a ravine to cross, where they +feared the enemy might attack them in the act of crossing. When they +were across, Mithridates appeared again with one thousand horse, and +archers and slingers to the number of four thousand. This whole body +he had got by request from Tissaphernes, and in return he undertook to +deliver up the Hellenes to Tissaphernes. He had grown contemptuous +since his late attack, when, with so small a detachment, he had done, +as he thought, a good deal of mischief, without the slightest loss to +himself. + +When the Hellenes were not only right across, but had got about a mile +from the ravine, Mithridates also crossed with his forces. An order +had been passed down the lines, what light infantry and what heavy +infantry were to take part in the pursuit; and the cavalry were +instructed to follow up the pursuit with confidence, as a considerable 3 +support was in their rear. So, when Mithridates had come up with them, +and they were well within arrow and sling shot, the bugle sounded the +signal to the Hellenes; and immediately the detachment under orders +rushed to close quarters, and the cavalry charged. There the enemy +preferred not to wait, but fled towards the ravine. In this pursuit +the Asiatics lost several of their infantry killed, and of their +cavalry as many as eighteen were taken prisoners in the ravine. As to +those who were slain the Hellenes, acting upon impulse, mutilated +their bodies, by way of impressing their enemy with as frightful an +image as possible. + +So fared the foe and so fell back; but the Hellenes, continuing their +march in safety for the rest of that day, reached the river Tigris. +Here they came upon a large deserted city, the name of which was +Larissa (1): a place inhabited by the Medes in days of old; the breadth +of its walls was twenty-five feet, and the height of them a hundred, +and the circuit of the whole two parasangs. It was built of +clay-bricks, supported on a stone basis twenty feet high. This city +the king of the Persians (2) besieged, what time the Persians strove to +snatch their empire from the Medes, but he could in no wise take it; +then a cloud hid the face of the sun and blotted out the light +thereof, until the inhabitants were gone out of the city, and so it +was taken. By the side of this city there was a stone pyramid in +breadth a hundred feet, and in height two hundred feet; in it were +many of the barbarians who had fled for refuge from the neighbouring +villages. + + (1) Larissa, on the side of the modern Nimrud (the south-west corner, + as is commonly supposed, of Nineveh). The name is said to mean + "citadel," and is given to various Greek cities (of which several + occur in Xenophon). + + (2) I.e. Cyrus the Great. + +From this place they marched one stage of six parasangs to a great +deserted fortress (which lay over against the city), and the name of +that city was Mespila (3). The Medes once dwelt in it. The basement was 10 +made of polished stone full of shells; fifty feet was the breadth of +it, and fifty feet the height; and on this basement was reared a wall +of brick, the breadth whereof was fifty feet and the height thereof +four hundred; and the circuit of the wall was six parasangs. Hither, +as the story goes, Medea (4), the king's wife, betook herself in flight +what time the Medes lost their empire at the hands of the Persians. To +this city also the king of the Pesians laid siege, but could not take +it either by length of days or strength of hand. But Zeus sent +amazement on the inhabitants thereof, and so it was taken. + + (3) Opposite Mosul, the north-west portion of the ancient Nineveh, + about eighteen miles above Larissa. The circuit of Nineveh is said + to have been about fifty-six miles. It was overthrown by Cyrus in + B.C. 558. + + (4) The wife of Astyages, the last king of Media. Some think "the wall + of Media" should be "Medea's wall," constructed in the period of + Queen Nitocris, B.C. 560. + +From this place they marched one stage--four parasangs. But, while +still on this stage, Tissaphernes made his appearance. He had with him +his own cavalry and a force belonging to Orontas, who had the king's +daughter to wife; and there were, moreover, with them the Asiatics +whom Cyrus had taken with him on his march up; together with those +whom the king's brother had brought as a reinforcement to the king; +besides those whom Tissaphernes himself had received as a gift from +the king, so that the armament appeared to be very great. When they +were close, he halted some of his regiments at the rear and wheeled +others into position on either flank, but hesitated to attack, having +no mind apparently to run any risks, and contenting himself with an +order to his slingers to sling and his archers to shoot. But when the +Rhodian slingers and the bowmen (5), posted at intervals, retaliated, +and every shot told (for with the utmost pains to miss it would have +been hard to do so under the circumstanecs), then Tissaphernes with +all speed retired out of range, the other regiments following suit; +and for the rest of the day the one party advanced and the other +followed. But now the Asiatics had ceased to be dangerous with their +sharpshooting. For the Rhodians could reach further than the Persian 16 +slingers, or, indeed, than most of the bowmen. The Persian bows are of +great size, so that the Cretans found the arrows which were picked up +serviceable, and persevered in using their enemies' arrows, and +practised shooting with them, letting them fly upwards to a great +height (6). There were also plenty of bowstrings found in the +villages--and lead, which they turned to account for their slings. As +a result of this day, then, the Hellenes chancing upon some villages +had no sooner encamped than the barbarians fell back, having had +distinctly the worst of it in the skirmishing. + + (5) The best MSS read {Skuthai}, Scythians; if this is correct, it is + only the technical name for "archers." Cf. Arrian, "Tact." ii. 13. + The police at Athens were technically so called, as being composed + of Scythian slaves. Cf. Aristoph. "Thesm." 1017. + + (6) I.e., in practising, in order to get the maximum range they let + fly the arrows, not horizontally, but up into the air. Sir W. + Raleigh (Hist. of the World, III. x. 8) says that Xenophon + "trained his archers to short compass, who had been accustomed to + the point blank," but this is surely not Xenophon's meaning. + +The next day was a day of inaction: they halted and took in supplies, +as there was much corn in the villages; but on the day following, the +march was continued through the plain (of the Tigris), and +Tissaphernes still hung on their skirts with his skirmishers. And now +it was that the Hellenes discovered the defect of marching in a square +with an enemy following. As a matter of necessity, whenever the wings +of an army so disposed draw together, either where a road narrows, or +hills close in, or a bridge has to be crossed, the heavy infantry +cannot help being squeezed out of their ranks, and march with +difficulty, partly from actual pressure, and partly from the general +confusion that ensues. Or, supposing the wings are again extended, the +troops have hardly recovered from their former distress before they +are pulled asunder, and there is a wide space between the wings, and +the men concerned lose confidence in themselves, especially with an +enemy close behind. What happened, when a bridge had to be crossed or +other passage effected, was, that each unit of the force pressed on in +anxiety to get over first, and at these moments it was easy for the +enemy to make an attack. The generals accordingly, having recognised +the defect, set about curing it. To do so, they made six lochi, or +divisions of a hundred men apiece, each of which had its own set of +captains and under-officers in command of half and quarter companies. 21 +It was the duty of these new companies, during a march, whenever the +flanks needed to close in, to fall back to the rear, so as to +disencumber the wings. This they did by wheeling clear of them. When +the sides of the oblong again extended, they filled up the +interstices, if the gap were narrow, by columns of companies, if +broader, by columns of half-companies, or, if broader still, by +columns of quarter-companies, so that the space between was always +filled up. If again it were necessary to effect a passage by bridge or +otherwise, there was no confusion, the several companies crossing in +turns; or, if the occasion arose to form in line of battle, these +companies came up to the front and fell in (7). + + (7) In the passage above I have translated {lokhoi} companies, and, as + usual, {lokhagoi} captains. The half company is technically called + a pentecostys, and a quarter company an enomoty, and the officers + in charge of them respectively penteconter and enomotarch. These + would be equivalent nearly to our subalterns and sergeants, and in + the evolutions described would act as guides and markers in charge + of their sections. Grote thinks there were six companies formed on + each flank--twelve in all. See "Hist. of Greece," vol. ix. p. 123, + note (1st ed.) + +In this way they advanced four stages, but ere the fifth was +completed, they came in sight of a palace of some sort, with villages +clustered round it; they could further see that the road leading to +this place pursued its course over high undulating hillocks, the spur +of the mountain range, under which lay the village. These knolls were +a welcome sight to the Hellenes, naturally enough, as the enemy were +cavalry. However, when they had issued from the plain and ascended the +first crest, and were in the act of descending it so as to mount the +next, at this juncture the barbarians came upon them. From the high +ground down the sheer steep they poured a volley of darts, +slingstones, and arrows, which they discharged "under the lash (8)," +wounding many, until they got the better of the Hellenic light troops, +and drove them for shelter behind the heavy infantry, so that this day +that arm was altogether useless, huddling in the mob of sutlers, both 26 +slingers and archers alike. + + (8) I.e. the Persian leaders were seen flogging their men to the + attack. Cf. Herod. vii. 22. 3. + +But when the Hellenes, being so pressed, made an attempt to pursue, +they could barely scale to the summit, being heavy-armed troops, while +the enemy as lightly sprung away; and they suffered similarly in +retiring to join the rest of the army. And then, on the second hill, +the whole had to be gone through again; so that when it came to the +third hillock, they determined not to move the main body of troops +from their position until they had brought up a squadron of light +infantry from the right flank of the square to a point on the mountain +range. When this detachment were once posted above their pursuers, the +latter desisted from attacking the main body in its descent, for fear +of being cut off and finding themselves between two assailants. Thus +the rest of the day they moved on in two divisions: one set keeping to +the road by the hillocks, the other marching parallel on the higher +level along the mountains; and thus they reached the villages and +appointed eight surgeons to attend to the many wounded. + +Here they halted three days for the sake of the wounded chiefly, while +a further inducement was the plentiful supply of provisions which they +found, wheat and wine, and large stores of barley laid up for horses. +These supplies had been collected by the ruling satrap of the country. +On the fourth day they began their descent into the plain; but when +Tissaphernes overtook them, necessity taught them to camp in the first +village they caught sight of, and give over the attempt of marching +and fighting simultaneously, as so many were hors de combat, being +either on the list of wounded themselves, or else engaged in carrying +the wounded, or laden with the heavy arms of those so occupied. But +when they were once encamped, and the barbarians, advancing upon the +village, made an attempt to harass them with their sharp-shooters, the +superiority of the Hellenes was pronounced. To sustain a running fight +with an enemy constantly attacking was one thing; to keep him at arm's +length from a fixed base of action another: and the difference was +much in their favour. + +But when it was late afternoon, the time had come for the enemy to 34 +withdraw, since the habit of the barbarian was never to encamp within +seven or eight miles of the Hellenic camp. This he did in apprehension +of a night attack, for a Persian army is good for nothing at night. +Their horses are haltered, and, as a rule, hobbled as well, to prevent +their escaping, as they might if loose; so that, if any alarm occurs, +the trooper has to saddle and bridle his horse, and then he must put +on his own cuirass, and then mount--all which performances are +difficult at night and in the midst of confusion. For this reason they +always encamped at a distance from the Hellenes. + +When the Hellenes perceived that they were preparing to retire, and +that the order was being given, the herald's cry, "Pack up for +starting," might be heard before the enemy was fairly out of earshot. +For a while the Asiatics paused, as if unwilling to be gone; but as +night closed in, off they went, for it did not suit their notions of +expediency to set off on a march and arrive by night. And now, when +the Hellenes saw that they were really and clearly gone, they too +broke up their camp and pursued their march till they had traversed +seven and a half miles. Thus the distance between the two armies grew +to be so great, that the next day the enemy did not appear at all, nor +yet on the third day; but on the fourth the barbarians had pushed on +by a forced night march and occupied a commanding position on the +right, where the Hellenes had to pass. It was a narrow mountain +spur (9) overhanging the descent into the plain. + + (9) Lit. "a mere nail tip." + +But when Cheirisophus saw that this ridge was occupied, he summoned +Xenophon from the rear, bidding him at the same time to bring up +peltasts to the front. That Xenophon hesitated to do, for Tissaphernes +and his whole army were coming up and were well within sight. +Galloping up to the front himself, he asked: "Why do you summon me?" +The other answered him: "The reason is plain; look yonder; this crest +which overhangs our descent has been occupied. There is no passing, 39 +until we have dislodged these fellows; why have you not brought up the +light infantry?" Xenophon explained: he had not thought it desirable +to leave the rear unprotected, with an enemy appearing in the field of +view. "However, it is time," he added, "to decide how we are to +dislodge these fellows from the crest." At this moment his eye fell on +the peak of the mountain, rising immediately above their army, and he +could see an approach leading from it to the crest in question where +the enemy lay. He exclaimed: "The best thing we can do, Cheirisophus, +is to make a dash at the height itself, and with what speed we may. If +we take it, the party in command of the road will never be able to +stop. If you like, stay in command of the army, and I will go; or, if +you prefer, do you go to the mountain, and I will stay here."--"I +leave it to you," Cheirisophus answered, "to choose which you like +best." Xenophon remarking, "I am the younger," elected to go; but he +stipulated for a detachment from the front to accompany him, since it +was a long way to fetch up troops from the rear. Accordingly +Cheirisophus furnished him with the light infantry from the front, +reoccupying their place by those from the centre. He also gave him, to +form part of the detachment, the three hundred of the picked corps (10) +under his own command at the head of the square. + + (10) Some think that these three hundred are three of the detached + companies described above; others, that they were a picked corps + in attendance on the commander-in-chief. + +They set out from the low ground with all the haste imaginable. But +the enemy in position on the crest no sooner perceived their advance +upon the summit of the pass than they themselves set off full tilt in +a rival race for the summit too. Hoarse were the shouts of the +Hellenic troops as the men cheered their companions forwards, and +hoarse the answering shouts from the troops of Tissaphernes, urging on +theirs. Xenophon, mounted on his charger, rode beside his men, and +roused their ardour the while. "Now for it, brave sirs; bethink you +that this race is for Hellas!--now or never!--to find your boys, your +wives; one small effort, and the rest of the march we shall pursue in +peace, without ever a blow to strike; now for it." But Soteridas the +Sicyonian said: "We are not on equal terms, Xenophon; you are mounted 47 +on a horse; I can hardly get along with my shield to carry;" and he, +on hearing the reproach, leapt from his horse. In another instant he +had pushed Soteridas from the ranks, snatched from him his shield, and +begun marching as quickly as he might under the circumstances, having +his horseman's cuirass to carry as well, so that he was sore pressed; +but he continued to cheer on the troops: exhorting those in front to +lead on and the men toiling behind to follow up (11). Soteridas was not +spared by the rest of the men. They gave him blows, they pelted him, +they showered him with abuse, till they compelled him to take back his +shield and march on; and the other, remounting, led them on horseback +as long as the footing held; but when the ground became too steep, he +left his horse and pressed forward on foot, and so they found +themselves on the summit before the enemy. + + (11) Some MSS. "and the men behind to pass him by, as he could but ill + keep up the pace." + + + + +V + +There and then the barbarians turned and fled as best they might, and 1 +the Hellenes held the summit, while the troops with Tissaphernes and +Ariaeus turned aside and disappeared by another road. The main body +with Cheirisophus made its way down into the plain and encamped in a +village filled with good things of divers sorts. Nor did this village +stand alone; there were others not a few in this plain of the Tigris +equally overflowing with plenty. It was now afternoon; and all of a +sudden the enemy came in sight on the plain, and succeeded in cutting +down some of the Hellenes belonging to parties who were scattered over +the flat land in quest of spoil. Indeed, many herds of cattle had been +caught whilst being conveyed across to the other side of the river. +And now Tissaphernes and his troops made an attempt to burn the +villages, and some of the Hellenes were disposed to take the matter +deeply to heart, being apprehensive that they might not know where to +get provisions if the enemy burnt the villages. + +Cheirisophus and his men were returning from their sally of defence +when Xenophon and his party descended, and the latter rode along the 4 +ranks as the rescuing party came up, and greeted them thus: "Do you +not see, men of Hellas, they admit that the country is now ours; what +they stipulated against our doing when they made the treaty, viz. that +we were not to fire the king's country, they are now themselves +doing--setting fire to it as if it were not their own. But we will be +even with them; if they leave provisions for themselves anywhere, +there also shall they see us marching;" and, turning to Cheirisophus, +he added: "But it strikes me, we should sally forth against these +incendiaries and protect our country." Cheirisophus retorted: "That is +not quite my view; I say, let us do a little burning ourselves, and +they will cease all the quicker." + +When they had got back to the villages, while the rest were busy about +provisions, the generals and officers met: and here there was deep +despondency. For on the one side were exceedingly high mountains; on +the other a river of such depth that they failed to reach the bottom +with their spears. In the midst of their perplexities, a Rhodian came +up with a proposal, as follows: "I am ready, sirs to carry you across, +four thousand heavy infantry at a time; if you will furnish me with +what I need and give me a talent into the bargain for my pains." When +asked, "What shall you need?" he replied: "Two thousand wine-skins. I +see there are plenty of sheep and goats and asses. They have only to +be flayed, and their skins inflated, and they will readily give us a +passage. I shall want also the straps which you use for the baggage +animals. With these I shall couple the skins to one another; then I +shall moor each skin by attaching stones and letting them down like +anchors into the water. Then I shall carry them across, and when I +have fastened the links at both ends, I shall place layers of wood on +them and a coating of earth on the top of that. You will see in a +minute that there's no danger of your drowning, for every skin will be +able to support a couple of men without sinking, and the wood and +earth will prevent your slipping off." + +The generals thought it a pretty invention enough, but its realisation +impracticable, for on the other side were masses of cavalry posted and +ready to bar the passage; who, to begin with, would not suffer the 12 +first detachment of crossers to carry out any item of the programme. + +Under these circumstances, the next day they turned right about face, +and began retracing their steps in the direction of Babylon to the +unburnt villages, having previously set fire to those they left, so +that the enemy did not ride up to them, but stood and stared, all +agape to see in what direction the Hellenes would betake themselves +and what they were minded to do. Here, again, while the rest of the +soldiers were busy about provisions, the generals and officers met in +council, and after collecting the prisoners together, submitted them +to a cross-examination touching the whole country round, the names, +and so forth, of each district. + +The prisoners informed them that the regions south, through which they +had come, belonged to the district towards Babylon and Media; the road +east led to Susa and Ecbatana, where the king is said to spend summer +and spring; crossing the river, the road west led to Lydia and Ionia; +and the part through the mountains facing towards the Great Bear, led, +they said, to the Carduchians (1). They were a people, so said the +prisoners, dwelling up on the hills, addicted to war, and not subject +to the king; so much so that once, when a royal army one hundred and +twenty thousand strong had invaded them, not a man came back, owing to +the intricacies of the country. Occasionally, however, they made truce +or treaty with the satrap in the plain, and, for the nonce, there +would be intercourse: "they will come in and out amongst us," "and we +will go in and out amongst them," said the captives. + + (1) See Dr. Kiepert, "Man. Anc. Geog." (Mr. G. A. Macmillan) iv. 47. + The Karduchians or Kurds belong by speech to the Iranian stock, + forming in fact their farthest outpost to the west, little given + to agriculture, but chiefly to the breeding of cattle. Their name, + pronounced Kardu by the ancient Syrians and Assyrians, Kordu by + the Armenians (plural Kordukh), first appears in its narrower + sense in western literature in the pages of the eye-witness + Xenophon as {Kardoukhoi}. Later writers knew of a small kingdom + here at the time of the Roman occupation, ruled by native princes, + who after Tigranes II (about 80 B.C.) recognised the overlordship + of the Armenian king. Later it became a province of the Sassanid + kingdom, and as such was in 297 A.D. handed over among the + regiones transtigritanae to the Roman empire, but in 364 was again + ceded to Persia. + +After hearing these statements, the generals seated apart those who 17 +claimed to have any special knowledge of the country in any direction; +they put them to sit apart without making it clear which particular +route they intended to take. Finally the resolution to which they came +was that they must force a passage through the hills into the +territory of the Kurds; since, according to what their informants told +them, when they had once passed these, they would find themselves in +Armenia--the rich and large territory governed by Orontas; and from +Armenia, it would be easy to proceed in any direction whatever. +Thereupon they offered sacrifice, so as to be ready to start on the +march as soon as the right moment appeared to have arrived. Their +chief fear was that the high pass over the mountains must be occupied +in advance: and a general order was issued, that after supper every +one should get his kit together for starting, and repose, in readiness +to follow as soon as the word of command was given. + + + + + +BOOK IV + + (In the preceding portion of the narrative a full account is +given of the incidents of the march up to the battle, and of +the occurrences after the battle during the truce which was +established between the king and the Hellenes, who marched up +with Cyrus, and thirdly, of the fighting to which the Hellenes +were exposed, after the king and Tissaphernes had broken the +treaty, while a Persian army hung on their rear. Having +finally reached a point at which the Tigris was absolutely +impassable owing to its depth and breadth, while there was no +passage along the bank itself, and the Carduchian hills hung +sheer over the river, the generals took the resolution above +mentioned of forcing a passage through the mountains. The +information derived from the prisoners taken along the way led +them to believe that once across the Carduchian mountains they +would have the choice either of crossing the Tigris--if they +liked to do so--at its sources in Armenia, or of going round +them, if so they preferred. Report further said that the +sources of the Euphrates also were not far from those of the +Tigris, and this is actually the case. The advance into the +country of the Carduchians was conducted with a view partly to +secrecy, and partly to speed, so as to effect their entry +before the enemy could occupy the passes.) + + + + +I + +It was now about the last watch, and enough of the night remained to 1 +allow them to cross the valley under cover of darkness; when, at the +word of command, they rose and set off on their march, reaching the +mountains at daybreak. At this stage of the march Cheirisophus, at the +head of his own division, with the whole of the light troops, led the +van, while Xenophon followed behind with the heavy infantry of the +rearguard, but without any light troops, since there seemed to be no +danger of pursuit or attack from the rear, while they were making +their way up hill. Cheirisophus reached the summit without any of the 6 +enemy perceiving him. Then he led on slowly, and the rest of the army +followed, wave upon wave, cresting the summit and descending into the +villages which nestled in the hollows and recesses of the hills. + +Thereupon the Carduchians abandoned their dwelling places, and with +their wives and children fled to the mountains; so there was plenty of +provisions to be got for the mere trouble of taking, and the +homesteads too were well supplied with a copious store of bronze +vessels and utensils which the Hellenes kept their hands off, +abstaining at the same time from all pursuit of the folk themselves, +gently handling them, in hopes that the Carduchians might be willing +to give them friendly passage through their country, since they too +were enemies of the king: only they helped themselves to such +provisions as fell in their way, which indeed was a sheer necessity. +But the Carduchians neither gave ear, when they called to them, nor +showed any other friendly sign; and now, as the last of the Hellenes +descended into the villages from the pass, they were already in the +dark, since, owing to the narrowness of the road, the whole day had +been spent in the ascent and descent. At that instant a party of the +Carduchians, who had collected, made an attack on the hindmost men, +killing some and wounding others with stones and arrows--though it was +quite a small body who attacked. The fact was, the approach of the +Hellenic army had taken them by surprise; if, however, they had +mustered in larger force at this time, the chances are that a large +portion of the army would have been annihilated. As it was, they got +into quarters, and bivouacked in the villages that night, while the +Carduchians kept many watch-fires blazing in a circle on the +mountains, and kept each other in sight all round. + +But with the dawn the generals and officers of the Hellenes met and +resolved to proceed, taking only the necessary number of stout baggage +animals, and leaving the weaklings behind. They resolved further to +let go free all the lately-captured slaves in the host; for the pace +of the march was necessarily rendered slow by the quantity of animals +and prisoners, and the number of non-combatants in attendance on these 13 +was excessive, while, with such a crowd of human beings to satisfy, +twice the amount of provisions had to be procured and carried. These +resolutions passed, they caused a proclamation by herald to be made +for their enforcement. + +When they had breakfasted and the march recommenced, the generals +planted themselves a little to one side in a narrow place, and when +they found any of the aforesaid slaves or other property still +retained, they confiscated them. The soldiers yielded obedience, +except where some smuggler, prompted by desire of a good-looking boy +or woman, managed to make off with his prize. During this day they +contrived to get along after a fashion, now fighting and now resting. +But on the next day they were visited by a great storm, in spite of +which they were obliged to continue the march, owing to insufficiency +of provisions. Cheirisophus was as usual leading in front, while +Xenophon headed the rearguard, when the enemy began a violent and +sustained attack. At one narrow place after another they came up quite +close, pouring in volleys of arrows and slingstones, so that the +Hellenes had no choice but to make sallies in pursuit and then again +recoil, making but very little progress. Over and over again Xenophon +would send an order to the front to slacken pace, when the enemy were +pressing their attack severely. As a rule, when the word was so passed +up, Cheirisophus slackened; but sometimes instead of slackening, +Cheirisophus quickened, sending down a counter-order to the rear to +follow on quickly. It was clear that there was something or other +happening, but there was no time to go to the front and discover the +cause of the hurry. Under the circumstances the march, at any rate in +the rear, became very like a rout, and here a brave man lost his life, +Cleonymus the Laconian, shot with an arrow in the ribs right through +shield and corselet, as also Basias, an Arcadian, shot clean through +the head. + +As soon as they reached a halting-place, Xenophon, without more ado, +came up to Cheirisophus, and took him to task for not having waited, +"whereby," he said, "we were forced to fight and flee at the same 19 +moment; and now it has cost us the lives of two fine fellows; they are +dead, and we were not able to pick up their bodies or bury them." +Cheirisophus answered: "Look up there," pointing as he spoke to the +mountain, "do you see how inaccessible it all is? only this one road, +which you see, going straight up, and on it all that crowd of men who +have seized and are guarding the single exit. That is why I hastened +on, and why I could not wait for you, hoping to be beforehand with +them yonder in seizing the pass: the guides we have got say there is +no other way." And Xenophon replied: "But I have got two prisoners +also; the enemy annoyed us so much that we laid an ambuscade for them, +which also gave us time to recover our breaths; we killed some of +them, and did our best to catch one or two alive--for this very +reason--that we might have guides who knew the country, to depend +upon." + +The two were brought up at once and questioned separately: "Did they +know of any other road than the one visible?" The first said no; and +in spite of all sorts of terrors applied to extract a better +answer--"no," he persisted. When nothing could be got out of him, he +was killed before the eyes of his fellow. This latter then explained: +"Yonder man said, he did not know, because he has got a daughter +married to a husband in those parts. I can take you," he added, "by a +good road, practicable even for beasts." And when asked whether there +was any point on it difficult to pass, he replied that there was a col +which it would be impossible to pass unless it were occupied in +advance. + +Then it was resolved to summon the officers of the light infantry and +some of those of the heavy infantry, and to acquaint them with the +state of affairs, and ask them whether any of them were minded to +distinguish themselves, and would step forward as volunteers on an +expedition. Two or three heavy infantry soldiers stepped forward at +once--two Arcadians, Aristonymus of Methydrium, and Agasias of +Stymphalus--and in emulation of these, a third, also an Arcadian, +Callimachus from Parrhasia, who said he was ready to go, and would get +volunteers from the whole army to join him. "I know," he added, "there 27 +will be no lack of youngsters to follow where I lead." After that they +asked, "Were there any captains of light infantry willing to accompany +the expedition?" Aristeas, a Chian, who on several occasions proved +his usefulness to the army on such service, volunteered. + + + + +II + +It was already late afternoon, when they ordered the storming party to 1 +take a snatch of food and set off; then they bound the guide and +handed him over to them. The agreement was, that if they succeeded in +taking the summit they were to guard the position that night, and at +daybreak to give a signal by bugle. At this signal the party on the +summit were to attack the enemy in occupation of the visible pass, +while the generals with the main body would bring up their succours; +making their way up with what speed they might. With this +understanding, off they set, two thousand strong; and there was a +heavy downpour of rain, but Xenophon, with his rearguard, began +advancing to the visible pass, so that the enemy might fix his +attention on this road, and the party creeping round might, as much as +possible, elude observation. Now when the rearguard, so advancing, had +reached a ravine which they must cross in order to strike up the +steep, at that instant the barbarians began rolling down great +boulders, each a wagon load (1), some larger, some smaller; against the +rocks they crashed and splintered flying like slingstones in every +direction--so that it was absolutely out of the question even to +approach the entrance of the pass. Some of the officers finding +themselves baulked at this point, kept trying other ways, nor did they +desist till darkness set in; and then, when they thought they would +not be seen retiring, they returned to supper. Some of them who had +been on duty in the rearguard had had no breakfast (it so happened). +However, the enemy never ceased rolling down their stones all through +the night, as was easy to infer from the booming sound. + + (1) I.e. several ton weight. + +The party with the guide made a circuit and surprised the enemy's +guards seated round their fire, and after killing some, and driving +out the rest, took their places, thinking that they were in possession +of the height. As a matter of fact they were not, for above them lay a 6 +breast-like hill (2) skirted by the narrow road on which they had found +the guards seated. Still, from the spot in question there was an +approach to the enemy, who were seated on the pass before mentioned. + + (2) Or, "mamelon." + +Here then they passed the night, but at the first glimpse of dawn they +marched stealthily and in battle order against the enemy. There was a +mist, so that they could get quite close without being observed. But +as soon as they caught sight of one another, the trumpet sounded, and +with a loud cheer they rushed upon the fellows, who did not wait their +coming, but left the road and made off; with the loss of only a few +lives however, so nimble were they. Cheirisophus and his men, catching +the sound of the bugle, charged up by the well-marked road, while +others of the generals pushed their way up by pathless routes, where +each division chanced to be; the men mounting as they were best able, +and hoisting one another up by means of their spears; and these were +the first to unite with the party who had already taken the position +by storm. Xenophon, with the rearguard, followed the path which the +party with the guide had taken, since it was easiest for the beasts of +burthen; one half of his men he had posted in rear of the baggage +animals; the other half he had with himself. In their course they +encountered a crest above the road, occupied by the enemy, whom they +must either dislodge or be themselves cut off from the rest of the +Hellenes. The men by themselves could have taken the same route as the +rest, but the baggage animals could not mount by any other way than +this. + +Here then, with shouts of encouragement to each other, they dashed at +the hill with their storming columns, not from all sides, but leaving +an avenue of escape for the enemy, if he chose to avail himself of it. +For a while, as the men scrambled up where each best could, the +natives kept up a fire of arrows and darts, yet did not receive them +at close quarters, but presently left the position in flight. No +sooner, however, were the Hellenes safely past this crest, than they +came in sight of another in front of them, also occupied, and deemed +it advisable to storm it also. But now it struck Xenophon that if they 13 +left the ridge just taken unprotected in their rear, the enemy might +re-occupy it and attack the baggage animals as they filed past, +presenting a long extended line owing to the narrowness of the road by +which they made their way. To obviate this, he left some officers in +charge of the ridge--Cephisodorus, son of Cephisophon, an Athenian; +Amphicrates, the son of Amphidemus, an Athenian; and Archagoras, an +Argive exile--while he in person with the rest of the men attacked the +second ridge; this they took in the same fashion, only to find that +they had still a third knoll left, far the steepest of the three. This +was none other than the mamelon mentioned as above the outpost, which +had been captured over their fire by the volunteer storming party in +the night. But when the Hellenes were close, the natives, to the +astonishment of all, without a struggle deserted the knoll. It was +conjectured that they had left their position from fear of being +encircled and besieged, but the fact was that they, from their higher +ground, had been able to see what was going on in the rear, and had +all made off in this fashion to attack the rearguard. + +So then Xenophon, with the youngest men, scaled up to the top, leaving +orders to the rest to march on slowly, so as to allow the hindmost +companies to unite with them; they were to advance by the road, and +when they reached the level to ground arms (3). Meanwhile the Argive +Archagoras arrived, in full flight, with the announcement that they +had been dislodged from the first ridge, and that Cephisodorus and +Amphicrates were slain, with a number of others besides, all in fact +who had not jumped down the crags and so reached the rearguard. After +this achievement the barbarians came to a crest facing the mamelon, +and Xenophon held a colloquy with them by means of an interpreter, to +negotiate a truce, and demanded back the dead bodies. These they +agreed to restore if he would not burn their houses, and to these +terms Xenophon agreed. Meanwhile, as the rest of the army filed past, +and the colloquy was proceeding, all the people of the place had time +to gather gradually, and the enemy formed; and as soon as the Hellenes +began to descend from the mamelon to join the others where the troops +were halted, on rushed the foe, in full force, with hue and cry. They 20 +reached the summit of the mamelon from which Xenophon was descending, +and began rolling down crags. One man's leg was crushed to pieces. +Xenophon was left by his shield-bearer, who carried off his shield, +but Eurylochus of Lusia (4), an Arcadian hoplite, ran up to him, and +threw his shield in front to protect both of them; so the two together +beat a retreat, and so too the rest, and joined the serried ranks of +the main body. + + (3) To take up position. + + (4) I.e. of Lusi (or Lusia), a town (or district) in Northern Arcadia. + +After this the whole Hellenic force united, and took up their quarters +there in numerous beautiful dwellings, with an ample store of +provisions, for there was wine so plentiful that they had it in +cemented cisterns. Xenophon and Cheirisophus arranged to recover the +dead, and in return restored the guide; afterwards they did everything +for the dead, according to the means at their disposal, with the +customary honours paid to good men. + +Next day they set off without a guide; and the enemy, by keeping up a +continuous battle and occupying in advance every narrow place, +obstructed passage after passage. Accordingly, whenever the van was +obstructed, Xenophon, from behind, made a dash up the hills and broke +the barricade, and freed the vanguard by endeavouring to get above the +obstructing enemy. Whenever the rear was the point attacked, +Cheirisophus, in the same way, made a detour, and by endeavouring to +mount higher than the barricaders, freed the passage for the rear +rank; and in this way, turn and turn about, they rescued each other, +and paid unflinching attention to their mutual needs. At times it +happened that, the relief party having mounted, encountered +considerable annoyance in their descent from the barbarians, who were +so agile that they allowed them to come up quite close, before they +turned back, and still escaped, partly no doubt because the only +weapons they had to carry were bows and slings. + +They were, moreover, excellent archers, using bows nearly three cubits +long and arrows more than two cubits. When discharging the arrow, they +draw the string by getting a purchase with the left foot planted 28 +forward on the lower end of the bow. The arrows pierced through shield +and cuirass, and the Hellenes, when they got hold of them, used them +as javelins, fitting them to their thongs. In these districts the +Cretans were highly serviceable. They were under the command of +Stratocles, a Cretan. + + + + +III + +During this day they bivouacked in the villages which lie above the 1 +plain of the river Centrites (1), which is about two hundred feet +broad. It is the frontier river between Armenia and the country of the +Carduchians. Here the Hellenes recruited themselves, and the sight of +the plain filled them with joy, for the river was but six or seven +furlongs distant from the mountains of the Carduchians. For the moment +then they bivouacked right happily; they had their provisions, they +had also many memories of the labours that were now passed; seeing +that the last seven days spent in traversing the country of the +Carduchians had been one long continuous battle, which had cost them +more suffering than the whole of their troubles at the hands of the +king and Tissaphernes put together. As though they were truly quit of +them for ever, they laid their heads to rest in sweet content. + + (1) I.e. the Eastern Tigris. + +But with the morrow's dawn they espied horsemen at a certain point +across the river, armed cap-a-pie, as if they meant to dispute the +passage. Infantry, too, drawn up in line upon the banks above the +cavalry, threatened to prevent them debouching into Armenia. These +troops were Armenian and Mardian and Chaldaean mercenaries belonging +to Orontas and Artuchas. The last of the three, the Chaldaeans, were +said to be a free and brave set of people. They were armed with long +wicker shields and lances. The banks before named on which they were +drawn up were a hundred yards or more distant from the river, and the +single road which was visible was one leading upwards and looking like +a regular artificially constructed highway. At this point the Hellenes +endeavoured to cross, but on their making the attempt the water proved 6 +to be more than breast-deep, and the river bed was rough with great +slippery stones, and as to holding their arms in the water, it was out +of the question--the stream swept them away--or if they tried to carry +them over the head, the body was left exposed to the arrows and other +missiles; accordingly they turned back and encamped there by the bank +of the river. + +At the point where they had themselves been last night, up on the +mountains, they could see the Carduchians collected in large numbers +and under arms. A shadow of deep despair again descended on their +souls, whichever way they turned their eyes--in front lay the river so +difficult to ford; over, on the other side, a new enemy threatening to +bar the passage; on the hills behind, the Carduchians ready to fall +upon their rear should they once again attempt to cross. Thus for this +day and night they halted, sunk in perplexity. But Xenophon had a +dream. In his sleep he thought that he was bound in fetters, but +these, of their own accord, fell from off him, so that he was loosed, +and could stretch his legs as freely as he wished (2). So at the first +glimpse of daylight he came to Cheirisophus and told him that he had +hopes that all things would go well, and related to him his dream. + + (2) It is impossible to give the true sense and humour of the passage + in English, depending, as it does, on the double meaning of + {diabainein} (1) to cross (a river), (2) to stride or straddle (of + the legs). The army is unable to cross the Centrites; Xenophon + dreams that he is fettered, but the chains drop off his legs and + he is able to stride as freely as ever; next morning the two young + men come to him with the story how they have found themselves able + to walk cross the river instead of having to swim it. It is + obvious to Xenophon that the dream is sent from Heaven. + +The other was well pleased, and with the first faint gleam of dawn the +generals all were present and did sacrifice; and the victims were +favourable in the first essay. Retiring from the sacrifice, the +generals and officers issued an order to the troops to take their +breakfasts; and while Xenophon was taking his, two young men came +running up to him, for every one knew that, breakfasting or supping, +he was always accessible, or that even if asleep any one was welcome +to awaken him who had anything to say bearing on the business of war. 10 +What the two young men had at this time to say was that they had been +collecting brushwood for fire, and had presently espied on the +opposite side, in among some rocks which came down to the river's +brink, an old man and some women and little girls depositing, as it +would appear, bags of clothes in a cavernous rock. When they saw them, +it struck them that it was safe to cross; in any case the enemy's +cavalry could not approach at this point. So they stripped naked, +expecting to have to swim for it, and with their long knives in their +hands began crossing, but going forward crossed without being wet up +to the fork. Once across they captured the clothes, and came back +again. + +Accordingly Xenophon at once poured out a libation himself, and bade +the two young fellows fill the cup and pray to the gods, who showed to +him this vision and to them a passage, to bring all other blessings +for them to accomplishment. When he had poured out the libation, he at +once led the two young men to Cheirisophus, and they repeated to him +their story. Cheirisophus, on hearing it, offered libations also, and +when they had performed them, they sent a general order to the troops +to pack up ready for starting, while they themselves called a meeting +of the generals and took counsel how they might best effect a passage, +so as to overpower the enemy in front without suffering any loss from +the men behind. And they resolved that Cheirisophus should lead the +van and cross with half the army, the other half still remaining +behind under Xenophon, while the baggage animals and the mob of +sutlers were to cross between the two divisions. + +When all was duly ordered the move began, the young men pioneering +them, and keeping the river on their left. It was about four furlongs' +march to the crossing, and as they moved along the bank, the squadrons +of cavalry kept pace with them on the opposite side. + +But when they had reached a point in a line with the ford, and the +cliff-like banks of the river, they grounded arms, and first +Cheirisophus himself placed a wreath upon his brows, and throwing off 17 +his cloak (3), resumed his arms, passing the order to all the rest to +do the same, and bade the captains form their companies in open order +in deep columns, some to left and some to right of himself. Meanwhile +the soothsayers were slaying a victim over the river, and the enemy +were letting fly their arrows and slingstones; but as yet they were +out of range. As soon as the victims were favourable, all the soldiers +began singing the battle hymn, and with the notes of the paean mingled +the shouting of the men accompanied by the shriller chant of the +women, for there were many women (4) in the camp. + + (3) Or, "having doffed it," i.e. the wreath, an action which the + soldiers would perform symbolically, if Grote is right in his + interpretation of the passage, "Hist. of Greece," vol. ix. p. 137. + + (4) Lit. "comrade-women." + +So Cheirisophus with his detachment stepped in. But Xenophon, taking +the most active-bodied of the rearguard, began running back at full +speed to the passage facing the egress into the hills of Armenia, +making a feint of crossing at that point to intercept their cavalry on +the river bank. The enemy, seeing Cheirisophus's detachment easily +crossing the stream, and Xenophon's men racing back, were seized with +the fear of being intercepted, and fled at full speed in the direction +of the road which emerges from the stream. But when they were come +opposite to it they raced up hill towards their mountains. Then +Lycius, who commanded the cavalry, and Aeschines, who was in command +of the division of light infantry attached to Cheirisophus, no sooner +saw them fleeing so lustily than they were after them, and the +soldiers shouted not to fall behind (5), but to follow them right up to +the mountains. Cheirisophus, on getting across, forbore to pursue the +cavalry, but advanced by the bluffs which reached to the river to +attack the enemy overhead. And these, seeing their own cavalry +fleeing, seeing also the heavy infantry advancing upon them, abandoned +the heights above the river. + + (5) Or, "to stick tight to them and not to be outdone"; or, as others + understand, "the (infantry) soldiers clamoured not to be left + behind, but to follow them up into the mountains." + +Xenophon, as soon as he saw that things were going well on the other 24 +side, fell back with all speed to join the troops engaged in crossing, +for by this time the Carduchians were well in sight, descending into +the plain to attack their rear. + +Cheirisophus was in possession of the higher ground, and Lycius, with +his little squadron, in an attempt to follow up the pursuit, had +captured some stragglers of their baggage-bearers, and with them some +handsome apparel and drinking-cups. The baggage animals of the +Hellenes and the mob of non-combatants were just about to cross, when +Xenonphon turned his troops right about to face the Carduchians. +Vis-a-vis he formed his line, passing the order to the captains each +to form his company into sections, and to deploy them into line by the +left, the captains of companies and lieutenants in command of sections +to advance to meet the Carduchians, while the rear leaders would keep +their position facing the river. But when the Carduchians saw the +rearguard so stript of the mass, and looking now like a mere handful +of men, they advanced all the more quickly, singing certain songs the +while. Then, as matters were safe with him, Cheirisophus sent back the +peltasts and slingers and archers to join Xenophon, with orders to +carry out his instructions. They were in the act of recrossing, when +Xenophon, who saw their intention, sent a messenger across, bidding +them wait there at the river's brink without crossing; but as soon as +he and his detachment began to cross they were to step in facing him +in two flanking divisions right and left of them, as if in the act of +crossing; the javelin men with their javelins on the thong, and the +bowmen with their arrows on the string; but they were not to advance +far into the stream. The order passed to his own men was: "Wait till +you are within sling-shot, and the shield rattles, then sound the +paean and charge the enemy. As soon as he turns, and the bugle from +the river sounds for 'the attack,' you will face about to the right, +the rear rank leading, and the whole detachment falling back and +crossing the river as quickly as possible, every one preserving his +original rank, so as to avoid tramelling one another: the bravest man +is he who gets to the other side first." + +The Carduchians, seeing that the remnant left was the merest handful 30 +(for many even of those whose duty it was to remain had gone off in +their anxiety to protect their beasts of burden, or their personal +kit, or their mistresses), bore down upon them valorously, and opened +fire with slingstones and arrows. But the Hellenes, raising the battle +hymn, dashed at them at a run, and they did not await them; armed well +enough for mountain warfare, and with a view to sudden attack followed +by speedy flight, they were not by any means sufficiently equipped for +an engagement at close quarters. At this instant the signal of the +bugle was heard. Its notes added wings to the flight of the +barbarians, but the Hellenes turned right about in the opposite +direction, and betook themselves to the river with what speed they +might. Some of the enemy, here a man and there another, perceived, and +running back to the river, let fly their arrows and wounded a few; but +the majority, even when the Hellenes were well across, were still to +be seen pursuing their flight. The detachment which came to meet +Xenophon's men, carried away by their valour, advanced further than +they had need to, and had to cross back again in the rear of +Xenophon's men, and of these too a few were wounded. + + + + +IV + +The passage effected, they fell into line about mid-day, and marched 1 +through Armenian territory, one long plain with smooth rolling +hillocks, not less than five parasangs in distance; for owing to the +wars of this people with the Carduchians there were no villages near +the river. The village eventually reached was large, and possessed a +palace belonging to the satrap, and most of the houses were crowned +with turrets; provisions were plentiful. + +From this village they marched two stages--ten parasangs--until they +had surmounted the sources of the river Tigris; and from this point +they marched three stages--fifteen parasangs--to the river Teleboas. +This was a fine stream, though not large, and there were many +villages about it. The district was named Western Armenia. The +lieutenant-governor of it was Tiribazus, the king's friend, and +whenever the latter paid a visit, he alone had the privilege of +mounting the king upon his horse. This officer rode up to the Hellenes +with a body of cavalry, and sending forward an interpreter, stated +that he desired a colloquy with the leaders. The generals resolved to 5 +hear what he had to say; and advancing on their side to within +speaking distance, they demanded what he wanted. He replied that he +wished to make a treaty with them, in accordance with which he on his +side would abstain from injuring the Hellenes, if they would not burn +his houses, but merely take such provisions as they needed. This +proposal satisfied the generals, and a treaty was made on the terms +suggested. + +From this place they marched three stages--fifteen parasangs--through +plain country, Tiribazus the while keeping close behind with his own +forces more than a mile off. Presently they reached a palace with +villages clustered round about it, which were full of supplies in +great variety. But while they were encamping in the night, there was a +heavy fall of snow, and in the morning it was resolved to billet out +the different regiments, with their generals, throughout the villages. +There was no enemy in sight, and the proceeding seemed prudent, owing +to the quantity of snow. In these quarters they had for provisions all +the good things there are--sacrificial beasts, corn, old wines with an +exquisite bouquet, dried grapes, and vegetables of all sorts. But some +of the stragglers from the camp reported having seen an army, and the +blaze of many watchfires in the night. Accordingly the generals +concluded that it was not prudent to separate their quarters in this +way, and a resolution was passed to bring the troops together again. +After that they reunited, the more so that the weather promised to be +fine with a clear sky; but while they lay there in open quarters, +during the night down came so thick a fall of snow that it completely +covered up the stacks of arms and the men themselves lying down. It +cramped and crippled the baggage animals; and there was great +unreadiness to get up, so gently fell the snow as they lay there warm +and comfortable, and formed a blanket, except where it slipped off the +sleepers' shoulders; and it was not until Xenophon roused himself to +get up, and, without his cloak on (1), began to split wood, that +quickly first one and then another got up, and taking the log away 12 +from him, fell to splitting. Thereat the rest followed suit, got up, +and began kindling fire and oiling their bodies, for there was a +scented unguent to be found there in abundance, which they used +instead of oil. It was made from pig's fat, sesame, bitter almonds, +and turpentine. There was a sweet oil also to be found, made of the +same ingredients. + + (1) Or, as we should say, "in his shirt sleeves." Doubtless he lay + with his {imation} or cloak loosely wrapped round him; as he + sprang to his feet he would throw it off, or it would fall off, + and with the simple inner covering of the {khiton} to protect him, + and arms free, he fell to chopping the wood, only half clad. + +After this it was resolved that they must again separate their +quarters and get under cover in the villages. At this news the +soldiers, with much joy and shouting, rushed upon the covered houses +and the provisions; but all who in their blind folly had set fire to +the houses when they left them before, now paid the penalty in the +poor quarters they got. From this place one night they sent off a +party under Democrates, a Temenite (2), up into the mountains, where +the stragglers reported having seen watchfires. The leader selected +was a man whose judgement might be depended upon to verify the truth +of the matter. With a happy gift to distinguish between fact and +fiction, he had often been successfully appealed to. He went and +reported that he had seen no watchfires, but he had got a man, whom he +brought back with him, carrying a Persian bow and quiver, and a +sagaris or battleaxe like those worn by the Amazons. When asked "from +what country he came," the prisoner answered that he was "a Persian, +and was going from the army of Tiribazus to get provisions." They next +asked him "how large the army was, and for what object it had been +collected." His answer was that "it consisted of Tiribazus at the head +of his own forces, and aided by some Chalybian and Taochian +mercenaries. Tiribazus had got it together," he added, "meaning to +attack the Hellenes on the high mountain pass, in a defile which was +the sole passage." + + (2) Reading {Temeniten}, i.e. a native of Temenus, a district of + Syracuse; al. {Temniten}, i.e. from Temnus in the Aeolid; al. + {Temeniten}, i.e. from Temenum in the Argolid. + +When the generals heard this news, they resolved to collect the +troops, and they set off at once, taking the prisoner to act as guide, +and leaving a garrison behind with Sophaenetus the Stymphalian in 19 +command of those who remained in the camp. As soon as they had begun +to cross the hills, the light infantry, advancing in front and +catching sight of the camp, did not wait for the heavy infantry, but +with a loud shout rushed upon the enemy's entrenchment. The natives, +hearing the din and clatter, did not care to stop, but took rapidly to +their heels. But, for all their expedition, some of them were killed, +and as many as twenty horses were captured, with the tent of +Tiribazus, and its contents, silver-footed couches and goblets, +besides certain persons styling themselves the butlers and bakers. As +soon as the generals of the heavy infantry division had learnt the +news, they resolved to return to the camp with all speed, for fear of +an attack being made on the remnant left behind. The recall was +sounded and the retreat commenced; the camp was reached the same day. + + + + +V + +The next day it was resolved that they should set off with all 1 +possible speed, before the enemy had time to collect and occupy the +defile. Having got their kit and baggage together, they at once began +their march through deep snow with several guides, and, crossing the +high pass the same day on which Tiribazus was to have attacked them, +got safely into cantonments. From this point they marched three desert +stages--fifteen parassangs--to the river Euphrates, and crossed it in +water up to the waist. The sources of the river were reported to be at +no great distance. From this place they marched through deep snow over +a flat country three stages--fifteen parasangs (1). The last of these +marches was trying, with the north wind blowing in their teeth, drying +up everything and benumbing the men. Here one of the seers suggested +to them to do sacrifice to Boreas, and sacrifice was done. The effect +was obvious to all in the diminished fierceness of the blast. But +there was six feet of snow, so that many of the baggage animals and +slaves were lost, and about thirty of the men themselves. + + (1) Al. "ten," al. "five." + +They spent the whole night in kindling fire; for there was fortunately +no dearth of wood at the halting-place; only those who came late into +camp had no wood. Accordingly those who had arrived a good while and 5 +had kindled fires were not for allowing these late-comers near the +fires, unless they would in return give a share of their corn or of +any other victuals they might have. Here then a general exchange of +goods was set up. Where the fire was kindled the snow melted, and +great trenches formed themselves down to the bare earth, and here it +was possible to measure the depth of the snow. + +Leaving these quarters, they marched the whole of the next day over +snow, and many of the men were afflicted with "boulimia" (or +hunger-faintness). Xenophon, who was guarding the rear, came upon some +men who had dropt down, and he did not know what ailed them; but some +one who was experienced in such matters suggested to him that they had +evidently got boulimia; and if they got something to eat, they would +revive. Then he went the round of the baggage train, and laying an +embargo on any eatables he could see, doled out with his own hands, or +sent off other able-bodied agents to distribute to the sufferers, who +as soon as they had taken a mouthful got on their legs again and +continued the march. + +On and on they marched, and about dusk Cheirisophus reached a village, +and surprised some women and girls who had come from the village to +fetch water at the fountain outside the stockade. These asked them who +they were. The interpreters answered for them in Persian: "They were +on their way from the king to the satrap;" in reply to which the women +gave them to understand that the satrap was not at home, but was away +a parasang farther on. As it was late they entered with the +water-carriers within the stockade to visit the headman of the +village. Accordingly Cheirisophus and as many of the troops as were +able got into cantonments there, while the rest of the soldiers--those +namely who were unable to complete the march--had to spend the night +out, without food and without fire; under the circumstances some of +the men perished. + +On the heels of the army hung perpetually bands of the enemy, +snatching away disabled baggage animals and fighting with each other +over the carcases. And in its track not seldom were left to their fate +disabled soldiers, struck down with snow-blindness or with toes 12 +mortified by frostbite. As to the eyes, it was some alleviation +against the snow to march with something black before them; for the +feet, the only remedy was to keep in motion without stopping for an +instant, and to loose the sandal at night. If they went to sleep with +the sandals on, the thong worked into the feet, and the sandals were +frozen fast to them. This was partly due to the fact that, since their +old sandals had failed, they wore untanned brogues made of +newly-flayed ox-hides. It was owing to some such dire necessity that a +party of men fell out and were left behind, and seeing a black-looking +patch of ground where the snow had evidently disappeared, they +conjectured it must have been melted; and this was actually so, owing +to a spring of some sort which was to be seen steaming up in a dell +close by. To this they had turned aside and sat down, and were loth to +go a step further. But Xenophon, with his rearguard, perceived them, +and begged and implored them by all manner of means not to be left +behind, telling them that the enemy were after them in large packs +pursuing; and he ended by growing angry. They merely bade him put a +knife to their throats; not one step farther would they stir. Then it +seemed best to frighten the pursuing enemy if possible, and prevent +their falling upon the invalids. It was already dusk, and the pursuers +were advancing with much noise and hubbub, wrangling and disputing +over their spoils. Then all of a sudden the rearguard, in the +plenitude of health and strength (2), sprang up out of their lair and +run upon the enemy, whilst those weary wights (3) bawled out as loud as +their sick throats could sound, and clashed their spears against their +shields; and the enemy in terror hurled themselves through the snow +into the dell, and not one of them ever uttered a sound again. + + (2) Hug, after Rehdantz, would omit the words "in the plenitude of + health and strength." + + (3) Or, "the invalids." + +Xenophon and his party, telling the sick folk that next day people +would come for them, set off, and before they had gone half a mile +they fell in with some soldiers who had laid down to rest on the snow +with their cloaks wrapped round them, but never a guard was +established, and they made them get up. Their explanation was that 19 +those in front would not move on. Passing by this group he sent +forward the strongest of his light infantry in advance, with orders to +find out what the stoppage was. They reported that the whole army lay +reposing in such fashion. That being so, Xenophon's men had nothing +for it but to bivouac in the open air also, without fire and +supperless, merely posting what pickets they could under the +circumstances. But as soon as it drew towards day, Xenophon despatched +the youngest of his men to the sick folk behind, with orders to make +them get up and force them to proceed. Meanwhile Cheirisophus had sent +some of his men quartered in the village to enquire how they fared in +the rear; they were overjoyed to see them, and handed over the sick +folk to them to carry into camp, while they themselves continued their +march forward, and ere twenty furlongs were past reached the village +in which Cheirisophus was quartered. As soon as the two divisions were +met, the resolution was come to that it would be safe to billet the +regiments throughout the villages; Cheirisophus remained where he was, +while the rest drew lots for the villages in sight, and then, with +their several detachments, marched off to their respective +destinations. + +It was here that Polycrates, an Athenian and captain of a company, +asked for leave of absence--he wished to be off on a quest of his own; +and putting himself at the head of the active men of the division, he +ran to the village which had been allotted to Xenophon. He surprised +within it the villagers with their headman, and seventeen young horses +which were being reared as a tribute for the king, and, last of all, +the headman's own daughter, a young bride only eight days wed. Her +husband had gone off to chase hares, and so he escaped being taken +with the other villagers. The houses were underground structures with +an aperture like the mouth of a well by which to enter, but they were +broad and spacious below. The entrance for the beasts of burden was +dug out, but the human occupants descended by a ladder. In these +dwellings were to be found goats and sheep and cattle, and cocks and +hens, with their various progeny. The flocks and herds were all reared +under cover upon green food. There were stores within of wheat and +barley and vegetables, and wine made from barley in great big bowls; 26 +the grains of barley malt lay floating in the beverage up to the lip +of the vessel, and reeds lay in them, some longer, some shorter, +without joints; when you were thirsty you must take one of these into +your mouth, and suck. The beverage without admixture of water was very +strong, and of a delicious flavour to certain palates, but the taste +must be acquired. + +Xenophon made the headman of the village his guest at supper, and bade +him keep a good heart; so far from robbing him of his children, they +would fill his house full of good things in return for what they took +before they went away; only he must set them an example, and discover +some blessing or other for the army, until they found themselves with +another tribe. To this he readily assented, and with the utmost +cordiality showed them the cellar where the wine was buried. For this +night then, having taken up their several quarters as described, they +slumbered in the midst of plenty, one and all, with the headman under +watch and ward, and his children with him safe in sight. + +But on the following day Xenophon took the headman and set off to +Cheirisophus, making a round of the villages, and at each place +turning in to visit the different parties. Everywhere alike he found +them faring sumptuously and merry-making. There was not a single +village where they did not insist on setting a breakfast before them, +and on the same table were spread half a dozen dishes at least, lamb, +kid, pork, veal, fowls, with various sorts of bread, some of wheat and +some of barley. When, as an act of courtesy, any one wished to drink +his neighbour's health, he would drag him to the big bowl, and when +there, he must duck his head and take a long pull, drinking like an +ox. The headman, they insisted everywhere, must accept as a present +whatever he liked to have. But he would accept nothing, except where +he espied any of his relations, when he made a point of taking them +off, him or her, with himself. + +When they reached Cheirisophus they found a similar scene. There too 33 +the men were feasting in their quarters, garlanded with whisps of hay +and dry grass, and Armenian boys were playing the part of waiters in +barbaric costumes, only they had to point out by gesture to the boys +what they were to do, like deaf and dumb. After the first formalities, +when Cheirisophus and Xenophon had greeted one another like bosom +friends, they interrogated the headman in common by means of the +Persian-speaking interpreter. "What was the country?" they asked: he +replied, "Armenia." And again, "For whom are the horses being bred?" +"They are tribute for the king," he replied. "And the neighbouring +country?" "Is the land of the Chalybes," he said; and he described the +road which led to it. So for the present Xenophon went off, taking the +headman back with him to his household and friends. He also made him a +present of an oldish horse which he had got; he had heard that the +headman was a priest of the sun, and so he could fatten up the beast +and sacrifice him; otherwise he was afraid it might die outright, for +it had been injured by the long marching. For himself he took his pick +of the colts, and gave a colt apiece to each of his fellow-generals +and officers. The horses here were smaller than the Persian horses, +but much more spirited. It was here too that their friend the headman +explained to them, how they should wrap small bags or sacks around the +feet of the horses and other cattle when marching through the snow, +for without such precautions the creatures sank up to their bellies. + + + + +VI + +When a week had passed, on the eighth day Xenophon delivered over the 1 +guide (that is to say, the village headman) to Cheirisophus. He left +the headman's household safe behind in the village, with the exception +of his son, a lad in the bloom of youth. This boy was entrusted to +Episthenes of Amphipolis to guard; if the headman proved himself a +good guide, he was to take away his son also at his departure. They +finally made his house the repository of all the good things they +could contrive to get together; then they broke up their camp and +commenced to march, the headman guiding them through the snow +unfettered. When they had reached the third stage Cheirisophus flew 2 +into a rage with him, because he had not brought them to any villages. +The headman pleaded that there were none in this part. Cheirisophus +struck him, but forgot to bind him, and the end of it was that the +headman ran away in the night and was gone, leaving his son behind +him. This was the sole ground of difference between Cheirisophus and +Xenophon during the march, this combination of ill-treatment and +neglect in the case of the guide. As to the boy, Episthenes conceived +a passion for him, and took him home with him, and found in him the +most faithful of friends. + +After this they marched seven stages at the rate of five parasangs a +day, to the banks of the river Phasis (1), which is a hundred feet +broad: and thence they marched another couple of stages, ten +parasangs; but at the pass leading down into the plain there appeared +in front of them a mixed body of Chalybes and Taochians and +Phasianians. When Cheirisophus caught sight of the enemy on the pass +at a distance of about three or four miles, he ceased marching, not +caring to approach the enemy with his troops in column, and he passed +down the order to the others: to deploy their companies to the front, +that the troops might form into line. As soon as the rearguard had +come up, he assembled the generals and officers, and addressed them: +"The enemy, as you see, are in occupation of the mountain pass, it is +time we should consider how we are to make the best fight to win it. +My opinion is, that we should give orders to the troops to take their +morning meal, whilst we deliberate whether we should cross the +mountains to-day or to-morrow." "My opinion," said Cleanor, "is, that +as soon as we have breakfasted, we should arm for the fight and attack +the enemy, without loss of time, for if we fritter away to-day, the +enemy who are now content to look at us, will grow bolder, and with +their growing courage, depend upon it, others more numerous will join +them." + + (1) Probably a tributary of the Araxes = modern Pasin-Su. + +After him Xenophon spoke: "This," he said, "is how I see the matter; +if fight we must, let us make preparation to sell our lives dearly, +but if we desire to cross with the greatest ease, the point to +consider is, how we may get the fewest wounds and throw away the +smallest number of good men. Well then, that part of the mountain 11 +which is visible stretches nearly seven miles. Where are the men +posted to intercept us? except at the road itself, they are nowhere to +be seen. It is much better to try if possible to steal a point of this +desert mountain unobserved, and before they know where we are, secure +the prize, than to fly at a strong position and an enemy thoroughly +prepared. Since it is much easier to march up a mountain without +fighting than to tramp along a level when assailants are at either +hand; and provided he has not to fight, a man will see what lies at +his feet much more plainly even at night than in broad daylight in the +midst of battle; and a rough road to feet that roam in peace may be +pleasanter than a smooth surface with the bullets whistling about your +ears (2). Nor is it so impossible, I take it, to steal a march, since +it is open to us to go by night, when we cannot be seen, and to fall +back so far that they will never notice us. In my opinion, however, if +we make a feint of attacking here, we shall find the mountain chain +all the more deserted elsewhere, since the enemy will be waiting for +us here in thicker swarm. + + (2) Or, more lit., "with the head a mark for missiles." + +"But what right have I to be drawing conclusions about stealing in +your presence, Cheirisophus? for you Lacedaemonians, as I have often +been told, you who belong to the 'peers,' practise stealing from your +boyhood up; and it is no disgrace but honourable rather to steal, +except such things as the law forbids; and in order, I presume, to +stimulate your sense of secretiveness, and to make you master thieves, +it is lawful for you further to get a whipping if you are caught. Now +then you have a fine opportunity of displaying your training. But take +care we are not caught stealing over the mountain, or we shall catch +it ourselves." "For all that," retorted Cheirisophus, "I have heard +that you Athenians are clever hands at stealing the public moneys; and +that too though there is a fearful risk for the person so employed; +but, I am told, it is your best men who are addicted to it; if it is +your best men who are thought worthy to rule. So it is a fine +opportunity for yourself also, Xenophon, to exhibit your education." 17 +"And I," replied Xenophon, "am ready to take the rear division, as +soon as we have supped, and seize the mountain chain. I have already +got guides, for the light troops laid an ambuscade, and seized some of +the cut-purse vagabonds who hung on our rear. I am further informed by +them that the mountain is not inaccessible, but is grazed by goats and +cattle, so that if we can once get hold of any portion of it, there +will be no difficulty as regards our animals--they can cross. As to +the enemy, I expect they will not even wait for us any longer, when +they once see us on a level with themselves on the heights, for they +do not even at present care to come down and meet us on fair ground." +Cheirisophus answered: "But why should you go and leave your command +in the rear? Send others rather, unless a band of volunteers will +present themselves." Thereupon Aristonymus the Methydrian came forward +with some heavy infantry, and Nicomachus the Oetean with another body +of light troops, and they made an agreement to kindle several +watch-fires as soon as they held the heights. The arrangements made, +they breakfasted; and after breakfast Cheirisophus advanced the whole +army ten furlongs closer towards the enemy, so as to strengthen the +impression that he intended to attack them at that point. + +But as soon as they had supped and night had fallen, the party under +orders set off and occupied the mountain, while the main body rested +where they were. Now as soon as the enemy perceived that the mountain +was taken, they banished all thought of sleep, and kept many +watch-fires blazing throughout the night. But at break of day +Cheirisophus offered sacrifice, and began advancing along the road, +while the detachment which held the mountain advanced pari passu by +the high ground. The larger mass of the enemy, on his side, remained +still on the mountain-pass, but a section of them turned to confront +the detachment on the heights. Before the main bodies had time to draw +together, the detachment on the height came to close quarters, and the +Hellenes were victorious and gave chase. Meanwhile the light division +of the Hellenes, issuing from the plain, were rapidly advancing +against the serried lines of the enemy, whilst Cheirisophus followed +up with his heavy infantry at quick march. But the enemy on the road 25 +no sooner saw their higher division being worsted than they fled, and +some few of them were slain, and a vast number of wicker shields were +taken, which the Hellenes hacked to pieces with their short swords and +rendered useless. So when they had reached the summit of the pass, +they sacrificed and set up a trophy, and descending into the plain, +reached villages abounding in good things of every kind. + + + + +VII + +After this they marched into the country of the Taochians five 1 +stages--thirty parasangs--and provisions failed; for the Taochians +lived in strong places, into which they had carried up all their +stores. Now when the army arrived before one of these strong places--a +mere fortress, without city or houses, into which a motley +crowd of men and women and numerous flocks and herds were +gathered--Cheirisophus attacked at once. When the first regiment fell +back tired, a second advanced, and again a third, for it was +impossible to surround the place in full force, as it was encircled by +a river. Presently Xenophon came up with the rearguard, consisting of +both light and heavy infantry, whereupon Cheirisophus halted him with +the words: "In the nick of time you have come; we must take this +place, for the troops have no provisions, unless we take it." +Thereupon they consulted together, and to Xenophon's inquiry, "What it +was which hindered their simply walking in?" Cheirisophus replied, +"There is just this one narrow approach which you see, but when we +attempt to pass it by they roll down volleys of stones from yonder +overhanging crag," pointing up, "and this is the state in which you +find yourself, if you chance to be caught;" and he pointed to some +poor fellows with their legs or ribs crushed to bits. "But when they +have expended their ammunition," said Xenophon, "there is nothing +else, is there, to hinder our passing? Certainly, except yonder +handful of fellows, there is no one in front of us that we can see; +and of them, only two or three apparently are armed, and the distance +to be traversed under fire is, as your eyes will tell you, about one +hundred and fifty feet as near as can be, and of this space the first +hundred is thickly covered with great pines at intervals; under cover +of these, what harm can come to our men from a pelt of stones, flying 6 +or rolling? So then, there is only fifty feet left to cross, during a +lull of stones." "Ay," said Cheirisophus, "but with our first attempt +to approach the bush a galling fire of stones commences." "The very +thing we want," said the other, "for they will use up their ammunition +all the quicker; but let us select a point from which we shall have +only a brief space to run across, if we can, and from which it will be +easier to get back, if we wish." + +Thereupon Cheirisophus and Xenophon set out with Callimachus the +Parrhasian, the captain in command of the officers of the rearguard +that day; the rest of the captains remained out of danger. That done, +the next step was for a party of about seventy men to get away under +the trees, not in a body, but one by one, every one using his best +precaution; and Agasis the Stymphalian, and Aristonymous the +Methydrian, who were also officers of the rearguard, were posted as +supports outside the trees; for it was not possible for more than a +single company to stand safely within the trees. Here Callimachus hit +upon a pretty contrivance--he ran forward from the tree under which he +was posted two or three paces, and as soon as the stones came +whizzing, he retired easily, but at each excursion more than ten +wagon-loads of rocks were expended. Agasias, seeing how Callimachus +was amusing himself, and the whole army looking on as spectators, was +seized with the fear that he might miss his chance of being first to +run the gauntlet of the enemy's fire and get into the place. So, +without a word of summons to his neighbour, Aristonymous, or to +Eurylochus of Lusia, both comrades of his, or to any one else, off he +set on his own account, and passed the whole detachment. But +Callimachus, seeing him tearing past, caught hold of his shield by the +rim, and in the meantime Aristonymous the Methydrian ran past both, +and after him Eurylochus of Lusia; for they were one and all aspirants +to valour, and in that high pursuit, each was the eager rival of the +rest. So in this strife of honour, the three of them took the +fortress, and when they had once rushed in, not a stone more was +hurled from overhead. + +And here a terrible spectacle displayed itself: the women first cast +their infants down the cliff, and then they cast themselves after 13 +their fallen little ones, and the men likewise. In such a scene, +Aeneas the Stymphalian, an officer, caught sight of a man with a fine +dress about to throw himself over, and seized hold of him to stop him; +but the other caught him to his arms, and both were gone in an instant +headlong down the crags, and were killed. Out of this place the merest +handful of human beings were taken prisoners, but cattle and asses in +abundance and flocks of sheep. + +From this place they marched through the Chalybes (1) seven stages, +fifty parasangs. These were the bravest men whom they encountered on +the whole march, coming cheerily to close quarters with them. They +wore linen cuirasses reaching to the groin, and instead of the +ordinary "wings" or basques, a thickly-plaited fringe of cords. They +were also provided with greaves and helmets, and at the girdle a short +sabre, about as long as the Laconian dagger, with which they cut the +throats of those they mastered, and after severing the head from the +trunk they would march along carrying it, singing and dancing, when +they drew within their enemy's field of view. They carried also a +spear fifteen cubits long, lanced at one end (2). This folk stayed in +regular townships, and whenever the Hellenes passed by they invariably +hung close on their heels fighting. They had dwelling-places in their +fortresses, and into them they had carried up their supplies, so that +the Hellenes could get nothing from this district, but supported +themselves on the flocks and herds they had taken from the Taochians. +After this the Hellenes reached the river Harpasus, which was four +hundred feet broad. Hence they marched through the Scythenians four +stages--twenty parasangs--through a long level country to more +villages, among which they halted three days, and got in supplies. + + (1) These are the Armeno-Chalybes, so called by Pliny in + contradistinction to another mountain tribe in Pontus so named, + who were famous for their forging, and from whom steel received + its Greek name {khalups}. With these latter we shall make + acquaintance later on. + + (2) I.e. with a single point or spike only, the Hellenic spear having + a spike at the butt end also. + +Passing on from thence in four stages of twenty parasangs, they 19 +reached a large and prosperous well-populated city, which went by the +name of Gymnias (3), from which the governor of the country sent them a +guide to lead them through a district hostile to his own. This guide +told them that within five days he would lead them to a place from +which they would see the sea, "and," he added, "if I fail of my word, +you are free to take my life." Accordingly he put himself at their +head; but he no sooner set foot in the country hostile to himself than +he fell to encouraging them to burn and harry the land; indeed his +exhortations were so earnest, it was plain that it was for this he had +come, and not out of the good-will he bore the Hellenes. + + (3) Gymnias is supposed (by Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. ix. p. 161) + to be the same as that which is now called Gumisch-Kana--perhaps + "at no great distance from Baibut," Tozer, "Turkish Armenia," p. + 432. Others have identified it with Erzeroum, others with Ispir. + +On the fifth day they reached the mountain, the name of which was +Theches (4). No sooner had the men in front ascended it and caught +sight of the sea than a great cry arose, and Xenophon, in the +rearguard, catching the sound of it, conjectured that another set of +enemies must surely be attacking in front; for they were followed by +the inhabitants of the country, which was all aflame; indeed the +rearguard had killed some and captured others alive by laying an +ambuscade; they had taken also about twenty wicker shields, covered +with the raw hides of shaggy oxen. + + (4) Some MSS. give "the sacred mountain." The height in question has + been identified with "the ridge called Tekieh-Dagh to the east of + Gumisch-Kana, nearer to the sea than that place" (Grote, ib. p. + 162), but the exact place from which they caught sight of the sea + has not been identified as yet, and other mountain ranges have + been suggested. + +But as the shout became louder and nearer, and those who from time to +time came up, began racing at the top of their speed towards the +shouters, and the shouting continually recommenced with yet greater +volume as the numbers increased, Xenophon settled in his mind that +something extraordinary must have happened, so he mounted his horse, +and taking with him Lycius and the cavalry, he galloped to the rescue. +Presently they could hear the soldiers shouting and passing on the +joyful word, "The sea! the sea!" + +Thereupon they began running, rearguard and all, and the baggage 24 +animals and horses came galloping up. But when they had reached the +summit, then indeed they fell to embracing one another--generals and +officers and all--and the tears trickled down their cheeks. And on a +sudden, some one, whoever it was, having passed down the order, the +soldiers began bringing stones and erecting a great cairn, whereon +they dedicated a host of untanned skins, and staves, and captured +wicker shields, and with his own hand the guide hacked the shields to +pieces, inviting the rest to follow his example. After this the +Hellenes dismissed the guide with a present raised from the common +store, to wit, a horse, a silver bowl, a Persian dress, and ten +darics; but what he most begged to have were their rings, and of these +he got several from the soldiers. So, after pointing out to them a +village where they would find quarters, and the road by which they +would proceed towards the land of the Macrones, as evening fell, he +turned his back upon them in the night and was gone. + + + + +VIII + +From this point the Hellenes marched through the country of the 1 +Macrones three stages--ten parasangs, and on the first day they +reached the river, which formed the boundary between the land of the +Macrones and the land of the Scythenians. Above them, on their right, +they had a country of the sternest and ruggedest character, and on +their left another river, into which the frontier river discharges +itself, and which they must cross. This was thickly fringed with trees +which, though not of any great bulk, were closely packed. As soon as +they came up to them, the Hellenes proceeded to cut them down in their +haste to get out of the place as soon as possible. But the Macrones, +armed with wicker shields and lances and hair tunics, were already +drawn up to receive them opposite the crossing. They were cheering one +another on, and kept up a steady pelt of stones into the river, though +they failed to reach the other side or do any harm. + +At this juncture one of the light infantry came up to Xenophon; he had +been, he said, a slave at Athens, and he wished to tell him that he +recognised the speech of these people. "I think," said he, "that this +must be my native country, and if there is no objection I will have a +talk with them." "No objection at all," replied Xenophon, "pray talk 5 +to them, and ask them first, who they are." In answer to this question +they said, "they were Macrones." "Well, then," said he, "ask them why +they are drawn up in battle and want to fight with us." They answered, +"Because you are invading our country." The generals bade him say: "If +so, it is with not intention certainly of doing it or you any harm: +but we have been at war with the king, and are now returning to +Hellas, and all we want is to reach the sea." The others asked, "Were +they willing to give them pledges to that effect?" They replied: "Yes, +they were ready to give and receive pledges to that effect." Then the +Macrones gave a barbaric lance to the Hellenes, and the Hellenes a +Hellenic lance to them: "for these," they said, "would serve as +pledges," and both sides called upon the gods to witness. + +After the pledges were exchanged, the Macrones fell to vigorously +hewing down trees and constructing a road to help them across, +mingling freely with the Hellenes and fraternising in their midst, and +they afforded them as good as market as they could, and for three days +conducted them on their march, until they had brought them safely to +the confines of the Colchians. At this point they were confronted by a +great mountain chain, which however was accessible, and on it the +Colchians were drawn up for battle. In the first instance, the +Hellenes drew up opposite in line of battle, as though they were +minded to assault the hill in that order; but afterwards the generals +determined to hold a council of war, and consider how to make the +fairest fight. + +Accordingly Xenophon said: "I am not for advancing in line, but advise +to form companies by columns. To begin with, the line," he urged, +"would be scattered and thrown into disorder at once; for we shall +find the mountain full of inequalities, it will be pathless here and +easy to traverse there. The mere fact of first having formed in line, +and then seeing the line thrown into disorder, must exercise a +disheartening effect. Again, if we advance several deep, the enemy +will none the less overlap us, and turn their superfluous numbers to +account as best they like; while, if we march in shallow order, we may +fully expect our line to be cut through and through by the thick rain 11 +of missiles and rush of men, and if this happen anywhere along the +line, the whole line will equally suffer. No; my notion is to form +columns by companies, covering ground sufficient with spaces between +the companies to allow the last companies of each flank to be outside +the enemy's flanks. Thus we shall with our extreme companies be +outside the enemy's line, and the best men at the head of their +columns will lead the attack, and every company will pick its way +where the ground is easy; also it will be difficult for the enemy to +force his way into the intervening spaces, when there are companies on +both sides; nor will it be easy for him to cut in twain any individual +company marching in column. If, too, any particular company should be +pressed, the neighbouring company will come to the rescue, or if at +any point any single company succeed in reaching the height, from that +moment not one man of the enemy will stand his ground." + +This proposal was carried, and they formed into columns by +companies (1). Then Xenophon, returning from the right wing to the +left, addressed the soldiers. "Men," he said, "these men whom you see +in front of you are the sole obstacles still interposed between us and +the haven of our hopes so long deferred. We will swallow them up +whole, without cooking (2), if we can." + + (1) For this formation, see "The Retreat of the Ten Thousand; a + military study for all time," by Lieut.-General J. L. Vaughan, + C.B. + + (2) Or, "we will gobble them up raw." He is thinking of the Homeric + line ("Iliad", iv. 35) "Perchance wert thou to enter within the + gates and long walls and devour Priam raw, and Priam's sons and + all the Trojans, then mightest thou assuage thine anger."--Leaf. + +The several divisions fell into position, the companies were formed +into columns, and the result was a total of something like eighty +companies of heavy infantry, each company consisting on an average of +a hundred men. The light infantry and bowmen were arranged in three +divisions--two outside to support the left and the right respectively, +and the third in the centre--each division consisting of about six +hundred men (3). + + (3) This suggests 1800 as the total of the peltasts, 8000 as the total + of the hoplites, but the companies were probably not limited to + 100, and under "peltasts" were probably included other light + troops. + +Before starting, the generals passed the order to offer prayer; and 16 +with the prayer and battle hymn rising from their lips they commenced +their advance. Cheirisophus and Xenophon, and the light infantry with +them, advanced outside the enemy's line to right and left, and the +enemy, seeing their advance, made an effort to keep parallel and +confront them, but in order to do so, as he extended partly to right +and partly to left, he was pulled to pieces, and there was a large +space or hollow left in the centre of his line. Seeing them separate +thus, the light infantry attached to the Arcadian battalion, under +command of Aeschines, an Arcarnanian, mistook the movement for flight, +and with a loud shout rushed on, and these were the first to scale the +mountain summit; but they were closely followed up by the Arcadian +heavy infantry, under command of Cleanor of Orchomenus. + +When they began running in that way, the enemy stood their ground no +longer, but betook themselves to flight, one in one direction, one in +another, and the Hellenes scaled the hill and found quarters in +numerous villages which contained supplies in abundance. Here, +generally speaking, there was nothing to excite their wonderment, but +the numbers of bee-hives were indeed astonishing, and so were certain +properties of the honey (4). The effect upon the soldiers who tasted +the combs was, that they all went for the nonce quite off their heads, +and suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea, with a total inability to +stand steady on their legs. A small dose produced a condition not +unlike violent drunkenness, a large one an attack very like a fit of +madness, and some dropped down, apparently at death's door. So they +lay, hundreds of them, as if there had been a great defeat, a prey to +the cruellest despondency. But the next day, none had died; and almost +at the same hour of the day at which they had eaten they recovered +their senses, and on the third or fourth day got on their legs again +like convalescents after a severe course of medical treatment. + + (4) "Modern travellers attest the existence, in these regions, of + honey intoxicating and poisonous.... They point out the Azalea + Pontica as the flower from which the bees imbibe this peculiar + quality."--Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. ix. p. 155. + +From this place they marched on two stages--seven parasangs--and 22 +reached the sea at Trapezus (5), a populous Hellenic city on the Euxine +Sea, a colony of the Sinopeans, in the territory of the Colchians. +Here they halted about thirty days in the villages of the Colchians, +which they used as a base of operations to ravage the whole territory +of Colchis. The men of Trapezus supplied the army with a market, +entertained them, and gave them, as gifts of hospitality, oxen and +wheat and wine. Further, they negotiated with them in behalf of their +neighbours the Colchians, who dwelt in the plain for the most part, +and from this folk also came gifts of hospitality in the shape of +cattle. And now the Hellenes made preparation for the sacrifice which +they had vowed, and a sufficient number of cattle came in for them to +offer thank-offerings for safe guidance to Zeus the Saviour, and to +Heracles (6), and to the other gods, according to their vows. They +instituted also a gymnastic contest on the mountain side, just where +they were quartered, and chose Dracontius, a Spartan (who had been +banished from home when a lad, having unintentionally slain another +boy with a blow of his dagger), to superintend the course, and be +president of the games. + + (5) Trebizond. + + (6) Or, "to sacrifice to Zeus the Preserver, and to Heracles + thank-offerings for safe guidance," Heracles "the conductor" + having special sympathy with wanderers. + +As soon as the sacrifices were over, they handed over the hides of the +beasts to Dracontius, and bade him lead the way to his racecourse. He +merely waved his hand and pointed to where they were standing, and +said, "There, this ridge is just the place for running, anywhere, +everywhere." "But how," it was asked, "will they manage to wrestle on +the hard scrubby ground?" "Oh! worse knocks for those who are thrown," +the president replied. There was a mile race for boys, the majority +being captive lads; and for the long race more than sixty Cretans +competed; there was wrestling, boxing, and the pankration (7). +Altogether it was a beautiful spectacle. There was a large number of +entries, and the emulation, with their companions, male and female, 27 +standing as spectators, was immense. There was horse-racing also; the +riders had to gallop down a steep incline to the sea, and then turn +and come up again to the altar, and on the descent more than half +rolled head over heels, and then back they came toiling up the +tremendous steep, scarcely out of a walking pace. Loud were the +shouts, the laughter, and the cheers. + + (7) The pankration combined both wrestling and boxing. + + + + + +BOOK V + + (In the preceding portion of the narrative a detailed account +is given of all that the Hellenes did, and how they fared on +the march up with Cyrus; and also of all that befell them on +their march subsequently, until they reached the seaboard of +the Euxine Sea, or Pontus, and the Hellenic city of Trapezus, +where they duly offered the sacrifice for safe deliverance +which they had vowed to offer as soon as they set foot on a +friendly soil.) + + + + +I + +After this they met and took counsel concerning the remainder of the 1 +march. The first speaker was Antileon of Thurii. He rose and said: +"For my part, sirs, I am weary by this time of getting kit together +and packing up for a start, of walking and running and carrying heavy +arms, and of tramping along in line, or mounting guard, and doing +battle. The sole desire I now have is to cease from all these pains, +and for the future, since here we have the sea before us, to sail on +and on, 'stretched out in sleep,' like Odysseus, and so to find myself +in Hellas." When they heard these remarks, the soldiers showed their +approval with loud cries of "well said," and then another spoke to the +same effect, and then another, and indeed all present. Then +Cheirisophus got up and said: "I have a friend, sirs, who, as good hap +will have it, is now high admiral, Anaxibius. If you like to send me +to him, I think I can safely promise to return with some men-of-war +and other vessels which will carry us. All you have to do, if you are +really minded to go home by sea, is to wait here till I come. I will +be back ere long." The soldiers were delighted at these words, and 4 +voted that Cheirisophus should set sail on his mission without delay. + +After him, Xenophon got up, and spoke as follows: "Cheirisophus, it is +agreed, sets out in search of vessels, and we are going to await him. +Let me tell you what, in my opinion, it is reasonable to do while we +are waiting. First of all, we must provide ourselves with necessaries +from hostile territory, for there is not a sufficient market, nor, if +there were, have we, with a few solitary exceptions, the means of +purchase. Now, the district is hostile, so that if you set off in +search of provisions without care and precaution, the chances are that +many of us will be lost. To meet this risk, I propose that we should +organise foraging parties to capture provisions, and, for the rest, +not roam about the country at random. The organisation of the matter +should be left to us." (The resolution was passed.) "Please listen to +another proposal;" he continued: "Some of you, no doubt, will be going +out to pillage. It will be best, I think, that whoever does so should +in each case before starting inform us of his intent, and in what +direction he means to go, so that we may know the exact number of +those who are out and of those who stop behind. Thus we shall be able +to help in preparing and starting the expedition where necessary; and +in case of aid or reinforcements being called for, we shall know in +what direction to proceed; or, again, if the attempt is to be +undertaken by raw or less expert hands, we may throw in the weight of +our experience and advice by endeavouring to discover the strength of +those whom they design to attack." This proposal was also carried. +"Here is another point," he continued, "to which I would draw your +attention. Our enemies will not lack leisure to make raids upon us: +nor is it unnatural, that they should lay plots for us; for we have +appropriated what is theirs; they are seated over us ever on the +watch. I propose then that we should have regular outposts round the +camp. If we take it in succession to do picket and outlook duty, the +enemy will be less able to harry us. And here is another point for +your observation; supposing we knew for certain that Cheirisophus must +return with a sufficient number of vessels, there would be no need of 10 +the remark, but as that is still problematical, I propose that we +should try to get together vessels on the spot also. If he comes and +finds us already provided for here, we shall have more ships than we +need, that is all; while, if he fails to bring them, we shall have the +local supply to fall back upon. I see ships sailing past perpetually, +so we have only to ask the loan of some war-ships from the men of +Trapezus, and we can bring them into port, and safeguard them with +their rudders unshipped, until we have enough to carry us. By this +course I think we shall not fail of finding the means of transport +requisite." That resolution was also passed. He proceeded: "Consider +whether you think it equitable to support by means of a general fund +the ships' companies which we so impress, while they wait here for our +benefit, and to agree upon a fare, on the principle of repaying +kindnesses in kind." That too was passed. "Well then," said he, "in +case, after all, our endeavours should not be crowned with success, +and we find that we have not vessels enough, I propose that we should +enjoin on the cities along the seaboard the duty of constructing and +putting in order the roads, which we hear are impassable. They will be +only too glad to obey, no doubt, out of mere terror and their desire +to be rid of us." + +This last proposal was met by loud cries and protestations against the +idea of going by land at all. So, perceiving their infatuation, he did +not put the question to the vote, but eventually persuaded the cities +voluntarily to construct roads by the suggestion, "If you get your +roads in good order, we shall all the sooner be gone." They further +got a fifty-oared galley from the Trapezuntines, and gave the command +of it to Dexippus, a Laconian, one of the perioeci (1). This man +altogether neglected to collect vessels on the offing, but slunk off +himself, and vanished, ship and all, out of Pontus. Later on, however, +he paid the penalty of his misdeeds. He became involved in some +meddling and making in Thrace at the court of Seuthes, and was put to +death by the Laconian Nicander. They also got a thirty-oared galley, +the command of which was entrusted to Polycrates, an Athenian, and 16 +that officer brought into harbour to the camp all the vessels he could +lay his hands on. If these were laden, they took out the freights and +appointed guards to keep an eye on their preservation, whilst they +used the ships themselves for transport service on the coast. While +matters stood at this point, the Hellenes used to make forays with +varying success; sometimes they captured prey and sometimes they +failed. On one occasion Cleanetus led his own and another company +against a strong position, and was killed himself, with many others of +his party. + + (1) A native of the country parts of Laconia. + + + + +II + +The time came when it was no longer possible to capture provisions, 1 +going and returning to the camp in one day. In consequence of this, +Xenophon took some guides from the Trapezuntines and led half the army +out against the Drilae, leaving the other half to guard the camp. That +was necessary, since the Colchians, who had been ousted from their +houses, were assembled thickly, and sat eyeing them from the heights +above; on the other hand the Trapezuntines, being friendly to the +native inhabitants, were not for leading the Hellenes to places where +it was easy to capture provisions. But against the Drilae, from whom +they personally suffered, they would lead them with enthusiasm, up +into mountainous and scarcely accessible fortresses, and against the +most warlike people of any in the Pontus. + +But when the Hellenes had reached the uplands, the Drilae set fire to +all their fastnesses which they thought could be taken easily, and +beat a retreat; and except here and there a stray pig or bullock or +other animal which had escaped the fire there was nothing to capture; +but there was one fastness which served as their metropolis: into this +the different streams of people collected; round it ran a tremendously +deep ravine, and the approaches to the place were difficult. So the +light infantry ran forward five or six furlongs in advance of the +heavy infantry, and crossed the ravine; and seeing quantities of sheep +and other things, proceeded to attack the place. Close at their heels +followed a number of those who had set out on the foray armed with +spears, so that the storming party across the ravine amounted to more +than two thousand. But, finding that they could not take the place by 5 +a coup-de-main, as there was a trench running round it, mounded up +some breadth, with a stockade on the top of the earthwork and a +close-packed row of wooden bastions, they made an attempt to run back, +but the enemy fell upon them from the rear. To get away by a sudden +rush was out of the question, since the descent from the fortress into +the ravine only admitted of moving in single file. Under the +circumstances they sent to Xenophon, who was in command of the heavy +infantry. The messenger came and delivered his message: "There is a +fastness choke full of all sorts of stores, but we cannot take it, it +is too strong; nor can we easily get away; the enemy rush out and +deliver battle, and the return is difficult." + +On hearing this, Xenophon pushed forward his heavy infantry to the +edge of the ravine, and there ordered them to take up a position, +while he himself with the officers crossed over to determine whether +it were better to withdraw the party already across, or to bring over +the heavy infantry also, on the supposition that the fortress might be +taken. In favour of the latter opinion it was agreed that the retreat +must cost many lives, and the officers were further disposed to think, +they could take the place. Xenophon consented, relying on the victims, +for the seers had announced, that there would be a battle, but that +the result of the expedition would be good. So he sent the officers to +bring the heavy troops across, while he himself remained, having drawn +off all the light infantry and forbidden all sharp-shooting at long +range. As soon as the heavy infantry had arrived, he ordered each +captain to form his company, in whatever way he hoped to make it most +effective in the coming struggle. Side by side together they stood, +these captains, not for the first time to-day competitors for the +award of manly virtue. While they were thus employed, he--the +general--was engaged in passing down his order along the ranks of the +light infantry and archers respectively to march with the javelin on +its thong and the arrow to the string, ready at the word "shoot" to +discharge their missiles, while the light troops were to have their +wallets well stocked with slingstones; lastly, he despatched his 12 +adjutants to see to the proper carrying out of these orders. + +And now the preparations were complete: the officers and lieutenants +and all others claiming to be peers of these, were drawn up in their +several places. With a glance each was able to command the rest in the +crescent-like disposition which the ground invited. Presently the +notes of the battle hymn arose, the clarion spoke, and with a +thrilling cry in honour of the warrior-god, commenced a rush of the +heavy infantry at full speed under cover of a storm of missiles, +lances, arrows, bullets, but most of all stones hurled from the hand +with ceaseless pelt, while there were some who brought firebrands to +bear. Overwhelmed by this crowd of missiles, the enemy left their +stockades and their bastion towers, which gave Agasias the Stymphalian +and Philoxenus of Pellene a chance not to be missed; laying aside +their heavy arms, up they went in bare tunics only, and one hauled +another up, and meantime another had mounted, and the place was taken, +as they thought. Then the peltasts and light troops rushed in and +began snatching what each man could. Xenophon the while, posted at the +gates, kept back as many of the hoplites as he could, for there were +other enemies now visible on certain strong citadel heights; and after +a lapse of no long time a shout arose within, and the men came running +back, some still clutching what they had seized; and presently here +and there a wounded man; and mighty was the jostling about the +portals. To the questions which were put to them the outpouring +fugitives repeated the same story: there was a citadel within and +enemies in crowds were making savage sallies and beating the fellows +inside. + +At that Xenophon ordered Tolmides the herald to proclaim: "Enter all +who are minded to capture aught." In poured the surging multitude, and +the counter-current of persons elbowing their passage in prevailed +over the stream of those who issued forth, until they beat back and +cooped up the enemy within the citadel again. So outside the citadel +everything was sacked and pillaged by the Hellenes, and the heavy +infantry took up their position, some about the stockades, others 19 +along the road leading up to the citadel. Xenophon and the officers +meantime considered the possibility of taking the citadel, for if so, +their safety was assured; but if otherwise, it would be very difficult +to get away. As the result of their deliberations they agreed that the +place was impregnable. Then they began making preparations for the +retreat. Each set of men proceeded to pull down the palisading which +faced themselves; further, they sent away all who were useless or who +had enough to do to carry their burdens, with the mass of the heavy +infantry accompanying them; the officers in each case leaving behind +men whom they could severally depend on. + +But as soon as they began to retreat, out rushed upon them from within +a host of fellows, armed with wicker shields and lances, greaves and +Paphlagonian helmets. Others might be seen scaling the houses on this +side and that of the road leading into the citadel. Even pursuit in +the direction of the citadel was dangerous, since the enemy kept +hurling down on them great beams from above, so that to stop and to +make off were alike dangerous, and night approaching was full of +terrors. But in the midst of their fighting and their despair some god +gave them a means of safety. All of a sudden, by whatsoever hand +ignited, a flame shot up; it came from a house on the right hand, and +as this gradually fell in, the people from the other houses on the +right took to their heels and fled. + +Xenophon, laying this lesson of fortune to heart, gave orders to set +fire to the left-hand houses also, which being of wood burned quickly, +with the result that the occupants of these also took to flight. The +men immediately at their front were the sole annoyance now, and these +were safe to fall upon them as they made their exit and in their +descent. Here then the word was passed for all who were out of range +to bring up logs of wood and pile them between themselves and the +enemy, and when there was enough of these they set them on fire; they +also fired the houses along the trench-work itself, so as to occupy +the attention of the enemy. Thus they got off, though with difficulty, +and escaped from the place by putting a fire between them and the 27 +enemy; and the whole city was burnt down, houses, turrets, stockading, +and everything belonging to it except the citadel. + +Next day the Hellenes were bent on getting back with the provisions; +but as they dreaded the descent to Trapezus, which was precipitous and +narrow, they laid a false ambuscade, and a Mysian, called after the +name of his nation (Mysus) (1), took ten of the Cretans and halted in +some thick brushy ground, where he made a feint of endeavouring to +escape the notice of the enemy. The glint of their light shields, +which were of brass, now and again gleamed through the brushwood. The +enemy, seeing it all through the thicket, were confirmed in their +fears of an ambuscade. But the army meanwhile was quietly making its +descent; and when it appeared that they had crept down far enough, the +signal was given to the Mysian to flee as fast as he could, and he, +springing up, fled with his men. The rest of the party, that is the +Cretans, saying, "We are caught if we race," left the road and plunged +into a wood, and tumbling and rolling down the gullies were saved. The +Mysian, fleeing along the road, kept crying for assistance, which they +sent him, and picked him up wounded. The party of rescue now beat a +retreat themselves with their face to the foe, exposed to a shower of +missiles, to which some of the Cretan bowmen responded with their +arrows. In this way they all reached the camp in safety. + + (1) Lit. "{Musos} (Mysus), a Mysian by birth, and {Musos} (Mysus) by + name." + + + + +III + +Now when Cheirisophus did not arrive, and the supply of ships was 1 +insufficient, and to get provisions longer was impossible, they +resolved to depart. On board the vessels they embarked the sick, and +those above forty years of age, with the boys and women, and all the +baggage which the solders were not absolutely forced to take for their +own use. The two eldest generals, Philesius and Sophaenetus, were put +in charge, and so the party embarked, while the rest resumed their +march, for the road was now completely constructed. Continuing their +march that day and the next, on the third they reached Cerasus, a +Hellenic city on the sea, and a colony of Sinope, in the country of +the Colchians. Here they halted ten days, and there was a review and +numbering of the troops under arms, when there were found to be eight 3 +thousand six hundred men. So many had escaped; the rest had perished +at the hands of the enemy, or by reason of the snow, or else disease. + +At this time and place they divided the money accruing from the +captives sold, and a tithe selected for Apollo and Artemis of the +Ephesians was divided between the generals, each of whom took a +portion to guard for the gods, Neon the Asinaean (1) taking on behalf +of Cheirisophus. + + (1) I.e. of Asine, perhaps the place named in Thuc. iv. 13, 54; vi. 93 + situated on the western side of the Messenian bay. Strabo, + however, speaks of another Asine near Gytheum, but possibly means + Las. See Arnold's note to Thuc. iv. 13, and Smith's "Dict. Geog. + (s.v.)" + +Out of the portion which fell to Xenophon he caused a dedicatory +offering to Apollo to be made and dedicated among the treasures of the +Athenians at Delphi (2). It was inscribed with his own name and that of +Proxenus, his friend, who was killed with Clearchus. The gift for +Artemis of the Ephesians was, in the first instance, left behind by +him in Asia at the time when he left that part of the world himself +with Agesilaus on the march into Boeotia (3). He left it behind in +charge of Megabyzus, the sacristan of the goddess, thinking that the +voyage on which he was starting was fraught with danger. In the event +of his coming out of it alive, he charged Megabyzus to restore to him +the deposit; but should any evil happen to him, then he was to cause +to be made and to dedicate on his behalf to Artemis, whatsoever thing +he thought would be pleasing to the goddess. + + (2) Cf. Herod. i. 14; Strabo. ix. 420 for such private treasuries at + Delphi. + + (3) I.e. in the year B.C. 394. The circumstances under which Agesilaus + was recalled from Asia, with the details of his march and the + battle of Coronea, are described by Xenophon in the fourth book of + the "Hellenica." + +In the days of his banishment, when Xenophon was now established by +the Lacedaemonians as a colonist in Scillus (4), a place which lies on 7 +the main road to Olympia, Megabyzus arrived on his way to Olympia as a +spectator to attend the games, and restored to him the deposit. +Xenophon took the money and bought for the goddess a plot of ground at +a point indicated to him by the oracle. The plot, it so happened, had +its own Selinus river flowing through it, just as at Ephesus the river +Selinus flows past the temple of Artemis, and in both streams fish and +mussels are to be found. On the estate at Scillus there is hunting and +shooting of all the beasts of the chase that are. + + (4) Scillus, a town of Triphylia, a district of Elis. In B.C. 572 the + Eleians had razed Pisa and Scillus to the ground. But between B.C. + 392 and 387 the Lacedaemonians, having previously (B.C. 400, + "Hell." III. ii. 30) compelled the Eleians to renounce their + supremacy over their dependent cities, colonised Scillus and + eventually gave it to Xenophon, then an exile from Athens. + Xenophon resided here from fifteen to twenty years, but was, it is + said, expelled from it by the Eleians soon after the battle of + Leuctra, in B.C. 371.--"Dict. Geog. (s.v.)" The site of the place, + and of Xenophon's temple, is supposed to be in the neighbourhood + of the modern village of Chrestena, or possibly nearer Mazi. To + reach Olympia, about 2 1/2 miles distant, one must cross the + Alpheus. + +Here with the sacred money he built an altar and a temple, and ever +after, year by year, tithed the fruits of the land in their season and +did sacrifice to the goddess, while all the citizens and neighbours, +men and women, shared in the festival. The goddess herself provided +for the banqueters meat and loaves and wine and sweetmeats, with +portions of the victims sacrificed from the sacred pasture, as also of +those which were slain in the chase; for Xenophon's own lads, with the +lads of the other citizens, always made a hunting excursion against +the festival day, in which any grown men who liked might join. The +game was captured partly from the sacred district itself, partly from +Pholoe (5), pigs and gazelles and stags. The place lies on the direct +road from Lacedaemon to Olympia, about twenty furlongs from the temple +of Zeus in Olympia, and within the sacred enclosure there is +meadow-land and wood-covered hills, suited to the breeding of pigs and +goats and cattle and horses, so that even the sumpter animals of the +pilgrims passing to the feast fare sumptuously. The shrine is girdled +by a grove of cultivated trees, yielding dessert fruits in their +season. The temple itself is a facsimile on a small scale of the great +temple at Ephesus, and the image of the goddess is like the golden +statue at Ephesus, save only that it is made, not of gold, but of +cypress wood. Beside the temple stands a column bearing this +inscription:--THE PLACE IS SACRED TO ARTEMIS. HE WHO HOLDS IT AND +ENJOYS THE FRUITS OF IT IS BOUND TO SACRIFICE YEARLY A TITHE OF THE 13 +PRODUCE. AND FROM THE RESIDUE THEREOF TO KEEP IN REPAIR THE SHRINE. IF +ANY MAN FAIL IN AUGHT OF THIS THE GODDESS HERSELF WILL LOOK TO IT THAT +THE MATTER SHALL NOT SLEEP. + + (5) Pholoe. This mountain (north of the Alpheus) is an offshoot of + Erymanthus, crossing the Pisatis from east to west, and separating + the waters of the Peneus and the Ladon from those of the Alpheus + --"Dict. Geog." (Elis). + + + + +IV + + +From Cerasus they continued the march, the same portion of the troops 1 +being conveyed by sea as before, and the rest marching by land. When +they had reached the frontiers of the Mossynoecians (1) they sent to +him Timesitheus the Trapezuntine, who was the proxenos (2) of the +Mossynoecians, to inquire whether they were to pass through their +territory as friends or foes. They, trusting in their strongholds, +replied that they would not give them passage. It was then that +Timesitheus informed them that the Mossynoecians on the farther side +of the country were hostile to these members of the tribe; and it was +resolved to invite the former to make an alliance, if they wished it. +So Timesitheus was sent, and came back with their chiefs. On their +arrival there was a conference of the Mossynoecian chiefs and the +generals of the Hellenes, and Xenophon made a speech which Timesitheus +interpreted. He said: "Men of the Mossynoecians, our desire is to +reach Hellas in safety; and since we have no vessels we must needs go +by foot, but these people who, as we hear, are your enemies, prevent +us. Will you take us for your allies? Now is your chance to exact +vengeance for any wrong, which they at any time may have put upon you, +and for the future they will be your subjects; but if you send us +about our business, consider and ask yourselves from what quarter will +you ever again obtain so strong a force to help you?" To this the +chief of the Mossynoecians made answer:--that the proposal was in +accordance with their wishes and they welcomed the alliance. "Good," +said Xenophon, "but to what use do you propose to put us, if we become +your allies? And what will you in turn be able to do to assist our +passage?" They replied: "We can make an incursion into this country +hostile to yourselves and us, from the opposite side, and also send 10 +you ships and men to this place, who will aid you in fighting and +conduct you on the road." + + (1) I.e. dwellers in mossyns, or wooden towers. See Herod. iii. 94; + vii. 78. Cf. also Strabo, xi. 41. + + (2) Or, "consul." + +On this understanding, they exchanged pledges and were gone. The next +day they returned, bringing three hundred canoes, each hollowed out of +a single trunk. There were three men in each, two of whom disembarked +and fell into rank, whilst the third remained. Then the one set took +the boats and sailed back again, whilst the other two-thirds who +remained marshalled themselves in the following way. They stood in +rows of about a hundred each, like the rows of dancers in a chorus, +standing vis-a-vis to one another, and all bearing wicker shields, +made of white oxhide, shaggy, and shaped like an ivy leaf; in the +right hand they brandished a javelin about six cubits long, with a +lance in front, and rounded like a ball at the butt end of the shaft. + +Their bodies were clad in short frocks, scarcely reaching to the knees +and in texture closely resembling that of a linen bedclothes' bag; on +their heads they wore leathern helmets just like the Paphlagonian +helmet, with a tuft of hair in the middle, as like a tiara in shape as +possible. They carried moreover iron battle-axes. Then one of them +gave, as it were, the key-note and started, while the rest, taking up +the strain and the step, followed singing and marking time. Passing +through the various corps and heavy armed battalions of the Hellenes, +they marched straight against the enemy, to what appeared the most +assailable of his fortresses. It was situated in front of the city, or +mother city, as it is called, which latter contains the high citadel +of the Mossynoecians. This citadel was the real bone of contention, +the occupants at any time being acknowledged as the masters of all the +other Mossynoecians. The present holders (so it was explained) had no +right to its possession; for the sake of self-aggrandisement they had +seized what was really common property. + +Some of the Hellenes followed the attacking party, not under the +orders of the generals, but for the sake of plunder. As they advanced, +the enemy for a while kept quiet; but as they got near the place, they 16 +made a sortie and routed them, killing several of the barbarians as +well as some of the Hellenes who had gone up with them; and so pursued +them until they saw the Hellenes advancing to the rescue. Then they +turned round and made off, first cutting off the heads of the dead men +and flaunting them in the face of the Hellenes and of their own +private foes, dancing the while and singing in a measured strain. But +the Hellenes were much vexed to think that their foes had only been +rendered bolder, while the Hellenes who had formed part of the +expedition had turned tail and fled, in spite of their numbers; a +thing which had not happened previously during the whole expedition. +So Xenophon called a meeting of the Hellenes and spoke as follows: +"Soldiers, do not in any wise be cast down by what has happened, be +sure that good no less than evil will be the result; for to begin +with, you now know certainly that those who are going to guide us are +in very deed hostile to those with whom necessity drives us to +quarrel; and, in the next place, some of our own body, these Hellenes +who have made so light of orderly array and conjoint action with +ourselves, as though they must needs achieve in the company of +barbarians all they could with ourselves, have paid the penalty and +been taught a lesson, so that another time they will be less prone to +leave our ranks. But you must be prepared to show these friendly +barbarians that you are of a better sort, and prove to the enemy that +battle with the undisciplined is one thing, but with men like +yourselves another." + +Accordingly they halted, as they were, that day. Next day they +sacrificed and finding the victims favourable, they breakfasted, +formed the companies into columns, and with their barbarians arranged +in similar order on their left, began their march. Between the +companies were the archers only slightly retired behind the front of +the heavy infantry, on account of the enemy's active light troops, who +ran down and kept up volleys of stones. These were held in check by +the archers and peltasts; and steadily step by step the mass marched +on, first to the position from which the barbarians and those with +them had been driven two days back, and where the enemy were now drawn 23 +up to meet them. Thus it came to pass that the barbarians first +grappled with the peltasts and maintained the battle until the heavy +infantry were close, when they turned and fled. The peltasts followed +without delay, and pursued them right up to their city, while the +heavy troops in unbroken order followed. As soon as they were up at +the houses of the capital, there and then the enemy, collecting all +together in one strong body, fought valiantly, and hurled their +javelins, or else clenched their long stout spears, almost too heavy +for a man to wield, and did their best to ward off the attack at close +quarters. + +But when the Hellenes, instead of giving way, kept massing together +more thickly, the barbarians fled from this place also, and in a body +deserted the fortress. Their king, who sat in his wooden tower or +mossyn, built on the citadel (there he sits and there they maintain +him, all at the common cost, and guard him narrowly), refused to come +forth, as did also those in the fortress first taken, and so were +burnt to a cinder where they were, their mossyns, themselves, and all. +The Hellenes, pillaging and ransacking these places, discovered in the +different houses treasures and magazines of loaves, pile upon pile, +"the ancestral stores," as the Mossynoecians told them; but the new +corn was laid up apart with the straw-stalk and ear together, and this +was for the most part spelt. Slices of dolphin were another discovery, +in narrow-necked jars, all properly salted and pickled; and there was +blubber of dolphin in vessels, which the Mossynoecians used precisely +as the Hellenes use oil. Then there were large stores of nuts on the +upper floor, the broad kind without a division (3). This was also a +chief article of food with them--boiled nuts and baked loaves. Wine +was also discovered. This, from its rough, dry quality, tasted sharp +when drunk pure, but mixed with water was sweet and fragrant. + + (3) I.e. "chestnuts." + +The Hellenes breakfasted and then started forward on their march, +having first delivered the stronghold to their allies among the +Mossynoecians. As for the other strongholds belonging to tribes allied +with their foes, which they passed en route, the most accessible were +either deserted by their inhabitants or gave in their adhesion 30 +voluntarily. The following description will apply to the majority of +them: the cities were on an average ten miles apart, some more, some +less; but so elevated is the country and intersected by such deep +clefts that if they chose to shout across to one another, their cries +would be heard from one city to another. When, in the course of their +march, they came upon a friendly population, these would entertain +them with exhibitions of fatted children belonging to the wealthy +classes, fed up on boiled chestnuts until they were as white as white +can be, of skin plump and delicate, and very nearly as broad as they +were long, with their backs variegated and their breasts tattooed with +patterns of all sorts of flowers. They sought after the women in the +Hellenic army, and would fain have laid with them openly in broad +daylight, for that was their custom. The whole community, male and +female alike, were fair-complexioned and white-skinned. + +It was agreed that this was the most barbaric and outlandish people +that they had passed through on the whole expedition, and the furthest +removed from the Hellenic customs, doing in a crowd precisely what +other people would prefer to do in solitude, and when alone behaving +exactly as others would behave in company, talking to themselves and +laughing at their own expense, standing still and then again capering +about, wherever they might chance to be, without rhyme or reason, as +if their sole business were to show off to the rest of the world. + + + + +V + +Through this country, friendly or hostile as the chance might be, the 1 +Hellenes marched, eight stages in all, and reached the Chalybes. These +were a people few in number, and subject to the Mossynoecians. Their +livelihood was for the most part derived from mining and forging iron. + +Thence they came to the Tibarenians. The country of the Tibarenians +was far more level, and their fortresses lay on the seaboard and were +less strong, whether by art or nature. The generals wanted to attack +these places, so that the army might get some pickings, and they would +not accept the gifts of hospitality which came in from the 2 +Tibarenians, but bidding them wait till they had taken counsel, they +proceeded to offer sacrifice. After several abortive attempts, the +seers at last pronounced an opinion that the gods in no wise +countenanced war. Then they accepted the gifts of hospitality, and +marching through what was now recognised as a friendly country, in two +days reached Cotyora, a Hellenic city, and a colony of Sinope, albeit +situated in the territory of the Tibarenians (1). + + (1) The MSS. here read, "Up to this point the expedition was conducted + on land, and the distance traversed on foot from the battle-field + near Babylon down to Cotyora amounted to one hundred and + twenty-two stages--that is to say, six hundred and twenty + parasangs, or eighteen thousand stades, or if measured in time, an + eight months' march." The words are probably the note of some + editor or commentator, though it is quite likely that the author + himself may have gone through such calculations and even have + inserted them as a note to his text. + +Here they halted forty-five days, during which they first of all +sacrificed to the gods, and instituted processions, each set of the +Hellenes according to their several tribes, with gymnastic contests. +Provisions they got in meanwhile, partly from Paphlagonia, partly from +the estates of the Cotyorites, for the latter would neither provide +them a market nor receive their sick within their walls. + +Meanwhile ambassadors arrived from Sinope, full of fears, not only for +the Cotyorites and their city, which belonged to Sinope, and brought +in tribute, but also for the territory which, as they had heard, was +being pillaged. Accordingly they came to the camp and made a speech. +Hecatonymus, who was reported to be a clever orator, acted as their +spokesman: "Soldiers," he said, "the city of the Sinopeans has sent us +to offer you, as Hellenes, our compliments and congratulations on your +victories over the barbarians; and next, to express our joyful +satisfaction that you have surmounted all those terrible sufferings of +which we have heard, and have reached this place in safety. As +Hellenes we claim to receive at your hands, as fellow-Hellenes, +kindness and not harm. We have certainly not ourselves set you an +example heretofore of evil treatment. Now the Cotyorites are our +colonists. It was we who gave them this country to dwell in, having 10 +taken it from the barbarians; for which reason also they, with the men +of Cerasus and Trapezus, pay us an appointed tribute. So that, +whatever mischief you inflict on the men of Cotyora, the city of +Sinope takes as personal to herself. At the present time we hear that +you have made forcible entry into their city, some of you, and are +quartered in the houses, besides taking forcibly from the Cotyorite +estates whatever you need, by hook and by crook. Now against these +things we enter protest. If you mean to go on so doing, you will drive +us to make friends with Corylas and the Paphlagonians, or any one else +we can find." + +To meet these charges Xenophon, on behalf of the soldiers, rose and +said: "As to ourselves, men of Sinope, having got so far, we are well +content to have saved our bodies and our arms. Indeed it was +impossible at one and the same moment to keep our enemies at bay and +to despoil them of their goods and chattels. And now, since we have +reached Hellenic cities, how has it fared with us? At Trapezus they +gave us a market, and we paid for our provisions at a fair market +price. In return for the honour they did us, and the gifts of +hospitality they gave the army, we requited them with honour. Where +the barbarian was friendly to them, we stayed our hands from injury; +or under their escort, we did damage to their enemies to the utmost of +our power. Ask them, what sort of people they found us. They are here, +some of them, to answer for themselves. Their fellow-citizens and the +state of Trapezus, for friendship's sake, have sent them with us to +act as our guides. + +"But wherever we come, be it foreign or Hellenic soil, and find no +market for provisions, we are wont to help ourselves, not out of +insolence but from necessity. There have been tribes like the +Carduchians, the Taochians, the Chaldaeans, which, albeit they were +not subject to the great king, yet were no less formidable than +independent. These we had to bring over by our arms. The necessity of +getting provisions forced us; since they refused to offer us a market. +Whereas some other folk, like the Macrones, in spite of their being +barbarians, we regarded as our friends, simply because they did +provide us with the best market in their power, and we took no single 18 +thing of theirs by force. But, to come to these Cotyorites, whom you +claim to be your people, if we have taken aught from them, they have +themselves to blame, for they did not deal with us as friends, but +shut their gates in our faces. They would neither welcome us within +nor furnish us with a market without. The only justification they +alleged was that your governor (2) had authorised this conduct. + + (2) Lit. "harmost". The term, denoting properly a governor of the + islands and foreign cities sent out by the Lacedaemonians during + their supremacy, came, it would seem, to be adopted by other Greek + communities under somewhat similar circumstances. Cotyora receives + a harmost from her mother-city, Sinope. For the Greek colonies + here mentioned, see Kiepert's "Man. Anct. Geog." (Engl. tr., Mr. + G. A. Macmillan), p. 63. + +"As to your assertion," he continued, turning to Hecatonymus, "that we +have got in by force and have taken up quarters, this is what we did. +We requested them to receive our sick and wounded under cover; and +when they refused to open their gates, we walked in where the place +itself invited us. All the violence we have committed amounts to this, +that our sick folk are quartered under cover, paying for their +expenses, and we keep a sentry at the gates, so that our sick and +wounded may not lie at the mercy of your governor, but we may have it +in our power to remove them whenever we like. The rest of us, you +observe, are camping under the canopy of heaven, in regular rank and +file, and we are ready to requite kindness with kindness, but to repel +evil vigorously. And as for your threat," he said, once again turning +to the spokesman, "that you will, if it suits you, make alliance with +Corylas and the Paphlagonians to attack us, for our part, we have no +objection to fighting both sets of you, if so be we must; we have +already fought others many times more numerous than you. Besides, 'if +it suits us,' as you put it, to make the Paphlagonian our friend +(report says that he has a hankering after your city and some other +places on the seaboard), we can enhance the value of our friendship by +helping to win for him what he covets." + +Thereupon the ambassadors showed very plainly their annoyance with +Hecatonymus, on account of the style of his remarks, and one of them +stept forward to explain that their intention in coming was not at all +to raise a war, but on the contrary to demonstrate their friendliness. 24 +"And if you come to Sinope itself," the speaker continued, "we will +welcome you there with gifts of hospitality. Meanwhile we will enjoin +upon the citizens of this place to give you what they can; for we can +see that every word of what you say is true." Thereupon the Cotyorites +sent gifts of hospitality, and the generals of the Hellenes +entertained the ambassadors of the Sinopeans. Many and friendly were +the topics of conversation; freely flowed the talk on things in +general; and, in particular, both parties were able to make inquiries +and satisfy their curiosity concerning the remaining portion of the +march. + + + + +VI + +Such was the conclusion of that day. On the following day the generals 1 +summoned an assembly of the soldiers, when it was resolved to invite +the men of Sinope, and to take advice with them touching the remainder +of the journey. In the event of their having to continue it on foot, +the Sinopeans through their acquaintance with Paphlagonia would be +useful to them; while, if they had to go by sea, the services of the +same people would be at a premium; for who but they could furnish +ships sufficient for the army? Accordingly, they summoned their +ambassadors, and took counsel with them, begging them, on the strength +of the sacred ties which bind Hellenes to Hellenes, to inaugurate the +good reception they had spoken of, by present kindliness and their +best advice. + +Hecatonymus rose and wished at once to offer an apology with regard to +what he had said about the possibility of making friends with the +Paphlagonians. "The words were not intended," he said, "to convey a +threat, as though they were minded to go to war with the Hellenes, but +as meaning rather: albeit we have it in our power to be friendly with +the barbarians, we will choose the Hellenes." Then, being urged to aid +them by some advice, with a pious ejaculation, he commenced: "If I +bestow upon you the best counsel I am able, God grant that blessings +in abundance may descend on me; but if the contrary, may evil betide 4 +me! 'Sacred counsel (1),' as the saying goes--well, sirs, if ever the +saying held, it should hold I think to-day; when, if I be proved to +have given you good counsel, I shall not lack panegyrists, or if evil, +your imprecations will be many-tongued. + + (1) Cf. Plato, "Theages," 122. + +"As to trouble, I am quite aware, we shall have much more trouble if +you are conveyed by sea, for we must provide the vessels; whereas, if +you go by land, all the fighting will evolve on you. Still, let come +what may, it behoves me to state my views. I have an intimate +acquaintance with the country of the Paphlagonians and their power. +The country possesses the two features of hill and vale, that is to +say, the fairest plains and the highest mountains. To begin with the +mountains, I know the exact point at which you must make your entry. +It is precisely where the horns of a mountain tower over both sides of +the road. Let the merest handful of men occupy these and they can hold +the pass with ease; for when that is done not all the enemies in the +world could effect a passage. I could point out the whole with my +finger, if you like to send any one with me to the scene. + +"So much for the mountain barrier. But the next thing I know is that +there are plains and a cavalry which the barbarians themselves hold to +be superior to the entire cavalry of the great king. Why, only the +other day these people refused to present themselves to the summons of +the king; their chief is too proud for that. + +"But now, supposing you were able to seize the mountain barrier, by +stealth, or expedition, before the enemy could stop you; supposing +further, you were able to win an engagement in the plain against not +only their cavalry but their more than one hundred and twenty thousand +infantry--you will only find yourself face to face with rivers, a +series of them. First the Thermodon, three hundred feet broad, which I +take it will be difficult to pass, especially with a host of foes in +front and another following behind. Next comes the Iris river, three +hundred feet broad; and thirdly, the Halys, at least two furlongs +broad, which you could not possibly cross without vessels, and who is +going to supply you with vessels? In the same way too the Parthenius 9 +is impassable, which you will reach if you cross the Halys. For my +part, then, I consider the land-journey, I will not say difficult, but +absolutely impossible for you. Whereas if you go by sea, you can coast +along from here to Sinope, and from Sinope to Heraclea. From Heraclea +onwards there is no difficulty, whether by land or by sea; for there +are plenty of vessels at Heraclea." + +After he had finished his remarks, some of his hearers thought they +detected a certain bias in them. He would not have spoken so, but for +his friendship with Corylas, whose official representative he was. +Others guessed he had an itching palm, and that he was hoping to +receive a present for his "sacred advice." Others again suspected that +his object was to prevent their going by foot and doing some mischief +to the country of the Sinopeans. However that might be, the Hellenes +voted in favour of continuing the journey by sea. After this Xenophon +said: "Sinopeans, the army has chosen that method of procedure which +you advise, and thus the matter stands. If there are sure to be +vessels enough to make it impossible for a single man to be left +behind, go by sea we will; but if part of us are to be left while part +go by sea, we will not set foot on board the vessels. One fact we +plainly recognise, strength is everything to us. So long as we have +the mastery, we shall be able to protect ourselves and get provisions; +but if we are once caught at the mercy of our foes, it is plain, we +shall be reduced to slavery." On hearing this the ambassadors bade +them send an embassy, which they did, to wit, Callimachus the +Arcadian, and Ariston the Athenian, and Samolas the Achaean. + +So these set off, but meanwhile a thought shaped itself in the mind of +Xenophon, as there before his eyes lay that vast army of Hellene +hoplites, and that other array of peltasts, archers, and slingers, +with cavalry to boot, and all in a state of thorough efficiency from +long practice, hardened veterans, and all collected in Pontus, where +to raise so large a force would cost a mint of money. Then the idea +dawned upon him: how noble an opportunity to acquire new territory and 15 +power for Hellas, by the founding of a colony--a city of no mean size, +moreover, said he to himself, as he reckoned up their own numbers--and +besides themselves a population planted on the shores of Pontus. +Thereupon he summoned Silanus the Ambraciot, the soothsayer of Cyrus +above mentioned, and before breathing a syllable to any of the +soldiers, he consulted the victims by sacrifice. + +But Silanus, in apprehension lest these ideas might embody themselves, +and the army be permanently halted at some point or other, set a tale +going among the men, to the effect that Xenophon was minded to detain +the army and found a city in order to win himself a name and acquire +power, Silanus himself being minded to reach Hellas with all possible +speed, for the simple reason that he had still got the three thousand +darics presented to him by Cyrus on the occasion of the sacrifice when +he hit the truth so happily about the ten days. Silanus's story was +variously received, some few of the soldiers thinking it would be an +excellent thing to stay in that country; but the majority were +strongly averse. The next incident was that Timasion the Dardanian, +with Thorax the Boeotian, addressed themselves to some Heracleot and +Sinopean traders who had come to Cotyora, and told them that if they +did not find means to furnish the army with pay sufficient to keep +them in provisions on the homeward voyage, all that great force would +most likely settle down permanently in Pontus. "Xenophon has a pet +idea," they continued, "which he urges upon us. We are to wait until +the ships come, and then we are suddenly to turn round to the army and +say: 'Soldiers, we now see the straits we are in, unable to keep +ourselves in provisions on the return voyage, or to make our friends +at home a little present at the end of our journey. But if you like to +select some place on the inhabited seaboard of the Black Sea which may +take your fancy and there put in, this is open to you to do. Those who +like to go home, go; those who care to stay here, stay. You have got 20 +vessels now, so that you can make a sudden pounce upon any point you +choose.'" + +The merchants went off with this tale and reported it to every city +they came to in turn, nor did they go alone, but Timasion the +Dardanian sent a fellow-citizen of his own, Eurymachus, with the +Boeotian Thorax, to repeat the same story. So when it reached the ears +of the men of Sinope and the Heracleots, they sent to Timasion and +pressed him to accept of a gratuity, in return for which he was to +arrange for the departure of the troops. Timasion was only too glad to +hear this, and he took the opportunity when the soldiers were convened +in meeting to make the following remarks: "Soldiers," he said, "do not +set your thoughts on staying here; let Hellas, and Hellas only, be the +object of your affection, for I am told that certain persons have been +sacrificing on this very question, without saying a word to you. Now I +can promise you, if you once leave these waters, to furnish you with +regular monthly pay, dating from the first of the month, at the rate +of one cyzicene (2) a head per month. I will bring you to the Troad, +from which part I am an exile, and my own state is at your service. +They will receive me with open arms. I will be your guide personally, +and I will take you to places where you will get plenty of money. I +know every corner of the Aeolid, and Phrygia, and the Troad, and +indeed the whole satrapy of Pharnabazus, partly because it is my +birthplace, partly from campaigns in that region with Clearchus and +Dercylidas (3)." + + (2) A cyzicene stater = twenty-eight silver drachmae of Attic money + B.C. 335, in the time of Demosthenes; but, like the daric, this + gold coin would fluctuate in value relatively to silver. It + contained more grains of gold than the daric. + + (3) Of Dercylidas we hear more in the "Hellenica." In B.C. 411 he was + harmost at Abydos; in B.C. 399 he superseded Thimbron in Asia + Minor; and was himself superseded by Agesilaus in B.C. 396. + +No sooner had he ceased than up got Thorax the Boeotian. This was a +man who had a standing battle with Xenophon about the generalship of +the army. What he said was that, if they once got fairly out of the +Euxine, there was the Chersonese, a beautiful and prosperous country, +where they could settle or not, as they chose. Those who liked could +stay; and those who liked could return to their homes; how ridiculous 25 +then, when there was so much territory in Hellas and to spare, to be +poking about (4) in the land of the barbarian. "But until you find +yourselves there," he added, "I, no less than Timasion, can guarantee +you regular pay." This he said, knowing what promises had been made +Timasion by the men of Heraclea and Sinope to induce them to set sail. + + (4) The word {masteuein} occurs above, and again below, and in other + writings of our author. It is probably Ionic or old Attic, and + occurs in poetry. + +Meanwhile Xenophon held his peace. Then up got Philesius and Lycon, +two Achaeans: "It was monstrous," they said, "that Xenophon should be +privately persuading people to stop there, and consulting the victims +for that end, without letting the army into the secret, or breathing a +syllable in public about the matter." When it came to this, Xenophon +was forced to get up, and speak as follows: "Sirs, you are well aware +that my habit is to sacrifice at all times; whether in your own behalf +or my own, I strive in every thought, word, and deed to be directed as +is best for yourselves and for me. And in the present instance my sole +object was to learn whether it were better even so much as to broach +the subject, and so take action, or to have absolutely nothing to do +with the project. Now Silanus the soothsayer assured me by his answer +of what was the main point: 'the victims were favourable.' No doubt +Silanus knew that I was not unversed myself in his lore, as I have so +often assisted at the sacrifice; but he added that there were symptoms +in the victims of some guile or conspiracy against me. That was a +happy discovery on his part, seeing that he was himself conspiring at +the moment to traduce me before you; since it was he who set the tale +going that I had actually made up my mind to carry out these projects +without procuring your consent. Now, for my part, if I saw that you 30 +were in any difficulties, I should set myself to discover how you +might capture a city, on the understanding of course that all who +wished might sail away at once, leaving those who did not wish, to +follow at a later date, with something perhaps in their pockets to +benefit their friends at home. Now, however, as I see that the men of +Heraclea and Sinope are to send you ships to assist you to sail away, +and more than one person guarantees to give you regular monthly pay, +it is, I admit, a rare chance to be safely piloted to the haven of our +hopes, and at the same time to receive pay for our preservation. For +myself I have done with that dream, and to those, who came to me to +urge these projects, my advice is to have done with them. In fact, +this is my view. As long as you stay together united as to-day, you +will command respect and procure provisions; for might certainly +exercises a right over what belongs to the weaker. But once broken up, +with your force split into bits, you will neither be able to get +subsistence, nor indeed will you get off without paying dearly for it. +In fact, my resolution coincides precisely with yours. It is that we +should set off for Hellas, and if any one stops behind, or is caught +deserting before the whole army is in safety, let him be judged as an +evil-doer. Pray let all who are in favour of this proposition hold up +their hands." + +They all held them up; only Silanus began shouting and vainly striving +to maintain the right of departure for all who liked to depart. But +the soldiers would not suffer him, threatening him that if he were +himself caught attempting to run away they would inflict the aforesaid +penalty. After this, when the Heracleots learned that the departure by +sea was resolved upon, and that the measure itself emanated from +Xenophon, they sent the vessels indeed; but as to the money which they +had promised to Timasion and Thorax as pay for the soldiers, they were +not as good as their word, in fact they cheated them both. Thus the +two who had guaranteed regular monthly pay were utterly confounded, +and stood in terror of the soldiers. What they did then, was to take +to them the other generals to whom they had communicated their former +transactions (that is to say, all except Neon the Asniaean, who, as +lieutenant-general, was acting for Cheirisophus during his continued +absence). This done they came in a body to Xenophon and said that 36 +their views were changed. As they had now got the ships, they thought +it best to sail to the Phasis, and seize the territory of the Phasians +(whose present king was a descendant of Aeetes (5)). Xenophon's reply +was curt:--Not one syllable would he have to say himself to the army +in this matter, "But," he added, "if you like, you can summon an +assembly and have your say." Thereupon Timasion the Dardanian set +forth as his opinion:--It were best to hold no parliament at present, +but first to go and conciliate, each of them, his own officers. Thus +they went away and proceeded to execute their plans. + + (5) Aeetes is the patronym of the kings of Colchis from mythical times + onwards; e.g. Medea was the daughter of Aeetes. + + + + +VII + +Presently the soldiers came to learn what was in course of agitation, 1 +and Neon gave out that Xenophon had persuaded the other generals to +adopt his views, and had a plan to cheat the soldiers and take them +back to the Phasis. The soldiers were highly indignant; meetings were +held; little groups gathered ominously; and there seemed an alarming +probability that they would repeat the violence with which they had +lately treated the heralds of the Colchians and the clerks of the +market; when all who did not save themselves by jumping into the sea +were stoned to death. So Xenophon, seeing what a storm was brewing, +resolved to anticipate matters so far as to summon a meeting of the +men without delay, and thus prevent their collecting of their own +accord, and he ordered the herald to announce an assembly. The voice +of the herald was no sooner heard than they rushed with great +readiness to the place of meeting. Then Xenophon, without accusing the +generals of having come to him, made the following speech: "I hear +that a charge is brought against me. It is I apparently who am going +to cheat you and carry you off to Phasis. I beg you by all that is +holy to listen to me; and if there be found any guilt in me, let me +not leave this place till I have paid the penalty of my misdoing; but +if my accusers are found guilty, treat them as they deserve. I +presume, sirs, you know where the sun rises and where he sets, and +that he who would go to Hellas must needs journey towards the sunset; +whereas he who seeks the land of the barbarian must contrariwise fix 6 +his face towards the dawn. Now is that a point in which a man might +hope to cheat you? Could any one make you believe that the sun rises +here and sets there, or that he sets here and rises there? And +doubtless you know this too, that it is Boreas, the north wind, who +bears the mariner out of Pontus towards Hellas, and the south wind +inwards towards the Phasis, whence the saying-- + + "'When the North wind doth blow + Home to Hellas we will go (1).' + + (1) Whether this was a local saying or a proverb I cannot say. The + words have a poetical ring about them: "When Borrhas blows, fair + voyages to Hellas." + +"He would be a clever fellow who could befool you into embarking with +a south wind blowing. That sounds all very well, you think, only I may +get you on board during a calm. Granted, but I shall be on board my +one ship, and you on board another hundred at least, and how am I to +constrain you to voyage with me against your will, or by what cajolery +shall I carry you off? But I will imagine you so far befooled and +bewitched by me, that I have got you to the Phasis; we proceed to +disembark on dry land. At last it will come out, that wherever you +are, you are not in Hellas, and the inventor of the trick will be one +sole man, and you who have been caught by it will number something +like ten thousand with swords in your hands. I do not know how a man +could better ensure his own punishment than by embarking on such a +policy with regards to himself and you. + +"Nay, these tales are the invention of silly fellows who are jealous +of the honour you bestow on me. A most uncalled-for jealousy! Do I +hinder any of them from speaking any word of import in his power? of +striking a blow in your behalf and his own, if that is his choice? or, +finally, of keeping his eyes and ears open to secure your safety? What +is it? In your choice of leaders do I stand in the way of any one, is +that it? Let him step forward, I yield him place; he shall be your +general; only he must prove that he has your good at heart. + +"For myself, I have done; but for yourselves, if any of you conceive 11 +either that he himself could be the victim of a fraud, or that he +could victimise any one else in such a thing as this, let him open his +lips and explain to us how. Take your time, but when you have sifted +the matter to your hearts' content, do not go away without suffering +me to tell you of something which I see looming. If it should burst +upon us and prove in fact anything like what it gives signs of being +now, it is time for us to take counsel for ourselves and see that we +do not prove ourselves to be the worst and basest of men in the sight +of gods and men, be they friends or be they foes." The words moved the +curiosity of the soldiers. They marvelled what this matter might be, +and bade him explain. Thereupon he began again: "You will not have +forgotten certain places in the hills--barbaric fastnesses, but +friendly to the Cerasuntines--from which people used to come down and +sell us large cattle and other things which they possessed, and if I +mistake not, some of you went to the nearest of these places and made +purchases in the market and came back again. Clearetus the captain +learnt of this place, that it was but a little one and unguarded. Why +should it be guarded since it was friendly? so the folk thought. Thus +he stole upon it in the dead of night, and meant to sack it without +saying a word to any of us. His design was, if he took the place, not +to return again to the army, but to mount a vessel which, with his +messmates on board her, was sailing past at the time, and stowing away +what he had seized, to set sail and begone beyond the Euxine. All this +had been agreed upon and arranged with his comrades on board the +vessel, as I now discover. Accordingly, he summoned to his side all +whom he could persuade, and set off at their head against the little +place. But dawn overtook him on his march. The men collected out of +their strongholds, and whether from a distance or close quarters, made +such a fight that they killed Clearetus and a good many of the rest, +and only a few of them got safe back to Cerasus. + +"These things took place on the day on which we started to come hither +on foot; while some of those who were to go by sea were still at +Cerasus, not having as yet weighed anchor. After this, according to 17 +what the Cerasuntines state, there arrived three inhabitants of the +place which had been attacked; three elderly men, seeking an interview +with our public assembly. Not finding us, they addressed themselves to +the men of Cerasus, and told them, they were astonished that we should +have thought it right to attack them; however, when, as the +Cerasuntines assert, they had assured them that the occurrence was not +authorised by public consent, they were pleased, and proposed to sail +here, not only to state to us what had occurred, but to offer that +those who were interested should take up and bury the bodies of the +slain. + +"But among the Hellenes still at Cerasus were some of those who had +escaped. They found out in which direction the barbarians were minded +to go, and not only had the face themselves to pelt them with stones, +but vociferously encouraged their neighbours to do the same. The three +men--ambassadors, mark you--were slain, stoned to death. After this +occurrence, the men of Cerasus came to us and reported the affair, and +we generals, on being informed, were annoyed at what had taken place, +and took counsel with the Cerasuntines how the dead bodies of the +Hellenes might be buried. While seated in conclave outside the camp, +we suddenly were aware of a great hubbub. We heard cries: 'Cut them +down!' 'Shoot them!' 'Stone them!' and presently we caught sight of a +mass of people racing towards us with stones in their hands, and +others picking them up. The Cerasuntines, naturally enough, +considering the incident they had lately witnessed, retired in terror +to their vessels, and, upon my word, some of us did not feel too +comfortable. All I could do was to go to them and inquire what it all +meant. Some of them had not the slightest notion, although they had +stones in their hands, but chancing on some one who was better +informed, I was told by him that 'the clerks of the market were +treating the army most scandalously.' Just then some one got sight of +the market clerk, Zelarchus, making his way off towards the sea, and +lifted up his voice aloud, and the rest responding to the cry as if a 24 +wild boar or a stag had been started, they rushed upon him. + +"The Cerasuntines, seeing a rush in their direction, thought that, +without a doubt, it was directed against themselves, and fled with all +speed and threw themselves into the sea, in which proceeding they were +imitated by some few of our own men, and all who did not know how to +swim were drowned. But now, what do you think of their case, these men +of Cerasus? They had done no wrong. They were simply afraid that some +madness had seized us, like that to which dogs are liable. + +"I say then, if proceedings like this are to be the order of the day, +you had better consider what the ultimate condition of the army is +like to be. As a body you will not have it in your power to undertake +war against whom you like, or to conclude peace. But in private any +one who chooses will conduct the army on any quest which takes his +fancy. And when ambassadors come to you to demand peace, or whatever +it may be, officious people will put them to death and prevent your +hearing the proposals which brought them to you. The next step will be +that those whom you as a body may choose as generals will be of no +account; but any one who likes to elect himself general, and will +adopt the formula 'Shoot him! shoot him!' will be competent to cut +down whomsoever he pleases untried, be it general or private soldier, +if only he have sufficient followers, as was the case just now. But +just consider what these self-appointed generals have achieved for +you. Zelarchus, the clerk of the market, may possibly have done you a +wrong; if so, he has sailed off and is gone without paying you any +penalty; or he may be guiltless, in which case we have driven him from +the army in terror of perishing unjustly without a trial. While those +who stoned the ambassadors have contrived so cleverly that we alone of +all Hellenes cannot approach Cerasus safely without a strong force, +and the corpses which the very men who slew them themselves invited us +to bury, we cannot now pick up with safety even under a flag of truce. +Who indeed would care to carry a flag of truce, or go as a herald with 30 +the blood of heralds upon his hands? All we could do was to implore +the Cerasuntines to bury them. + +"If then you approve of such doings, have a resolution passed to that +effect, so that, with a prospect of like occurrences in the future, a +man may privately set up a guard and do his best to fix his tent where +he can find a strong position with a commanding site. If, however, +these seem to you to be the deeds rather of wild beasts than of human +beings, bethink you of some means by which to stay them; or else, in +heaven's name, how shall we do sacrifice to the gods gladly, with +impious deeds to answer for? or how shall we, who lay the knife to +each other's throats, give battle to our enemies? What friendly city +will receive us when they see rampant lawlessness in our midst? Who +will have the courage to afford us a market, when we prove our +worthlessness in these weightiest concerns? and what becomes of the +praise we expect to win from the mouths of men? who will vouchsafe it +to us, if this is our behaviour? Should we not ourselves bestow the +worst of names on the perpetrators of like deeds?" + +After this they rose, and, as one man, proposed that the ringleaders +in these matters should be punished; and that for the future, to set +an example of lawlessness should be forbidden. Every such ringleader +was to be prosecuted on the capital charge; the generals were to bring +all offenders to the bar of justice; prosecutions for all other +misdemeanours committed since the death of Cyrus were to be +instituted; and they ended by constituting the officers into a board +of dicasts (2); and upon the strong representation of Xenophon, with +the concurrence of the soothsayers, it was resolved to purify the +army, and this purification was made. + + (2) I.e. a board of judges or jurors. + + + + +VIII + +It was further resolved that the generals themselves should undergo a 1 +judicial examination in reference to their conduct in past time. In +course of investigation, Philesius and Xanthicles respectively were +condemned to pay a sum of twenty minae, to meet a deficiency to that +amount incurred during the guardianship of the cargoes of the +merchantmen. Sophaenetus was fined ten minae for inadequate performance +of his duty as one of the chief officers selected. Against Xenophon a +charge was brought by certain people, who asserted that they had been +beaten by him, and framed the indictment as one of personal outrage +with violence (1). Xenophon got up and demanded that the first speaker +should state "where and when it was he had received these blows." The +other, so challenged, answered, "When we were perishing of cold and +there was a great depth of snow." Xenophon said: "Upon my word, with +weather such as you describe, when our provisions had run out, when +the wine could not even be smelt, when numbers were dropping down dead +beat, so acute was the suffering, with the enemy close on our heels; +certainly, if at such a season as that I was guilty of outrage, I +plead guilty to being a more outrageous brute than the ass, which is +too wanton, they say, to feel fatigue. Still, I wish you would tell +us," said he, "what led to my striking you. Did I ask you for +something and, on your refusing it to me, did I proceed to beat you? +Was it a debt, for which I demanded payment? or a quarrel about some +boy or other? Was I the worse for liquor, and behaving like a +drunkard?" When the man met each of these questions with a negative, +he questioned him further: "Are you a heavy infantry soldier?" "No," +said he. "A peltast, then?" "No, nor yet a peltast"; but he had been +ordered by his messmates to drive a mule, although he was a free man. 5 +Then at last he recognised him, and inquired: "Are you the fellow who +carried home the sick man?" "Yes, I am," said he, "thanks to your +driving; and you made havoc of my messmates' kit." "Havoc!" said +Xenophon: "Nay, I distributed it; some to one man, some to another to +carry, and bade them bring the things safely to me; and when I got +them back I delivered them all safely to you, and you, on your side, +had rendered an account to me of the man. Let me tell you," he +continued, turning to the court, "what the circumstances were; it is +worth hearing:-- + + (1) See the "Dict. of Antiq." 622 a. HYBREOS GRAPHE. In the case of + common assaults as opposed to indecent assault, the prosecution + seems to have been allowable only when the object of a wanton + attack was a free person. Cf. Arist. "Rhet." ii. 24. + +"A man was left behind from inability to proceed farther; I recognised +the poor fellow sufficiently to see that he was one of ours, and I +forced you, sir, to carry him to save his life. For if I am not much +mistaken, the enemy were close at our heels?" The fellow assented to +this. "Well then," said Xenophon, "after I had sent you forward, I +overtook you again, as I came up with the rearguard; you were digging +a trench with intent to bury the man; I pulled up and said something +in commendation; as we stood by the poor fellow twitched his leg, and +the bystanders all cried out, 'Why, the man's alive!' Your remark was: +'Alive or not as he likes, I am not going to carry him' Then I struck +you. Yes! you are right, for it looked very much as if you knew him to +be alive." "Well," said he, "was he any the less dead when I reported +him to you?" "Nay," retorted Xenophon, "by the same token we shall all +one day be dead, but that is no reason why meantime we should all be +buried alive?" Then there was a general shout: "If Xenophon had given +the fellow a few more blows, it might have been better." The others +were now called upon to state the grounds on which they had been +beaten in each case; but when they refused to get up, he proceeded to +state them himself. + +"I confess, sirs, to having struck certain men for failure in +discipline. These were men who were quite content to owe their safety +to us. Whilst the rest of the world marched on in rank and did +whatever fighting had to be done, they preferred to leave the ranks, +and rush forward to loot and enrich themselves at our expense. Now, if 13 +this conduct were to be the rule, general ruin would be the result. I +do not deny that I have given blows to this man or the other who +played the poltroon and refused to get up, helplessly abandoning +himself to the enemy; and so I forced them to march on. For once in +the severe wintry weather I myself happened to sit down for a long +time, whilst waiting for a party who were getting their kit together, +and I discovered how difficult it was to get up again and stretch +one's legs. After this personal experience, whenever I saw any one +else seated in slack and lazy mood, I tried to spur him on. The mere +movement and effort to play the man caused warmth and moisture, +whereas it was plain that sitting down and keeping quiet helped the +blood to freeze and the toes to mortify, calamities which really +befell several of the men, as you yourselves are aware. + +"I can imagine a third case, that of some straggler stopping behind, +merely to rest for rest's sake, and hindering you in front and us +behind alike from pressing on the march. If he got a blow with the +fist from me it saved him a thrust with the lance from the enemy. In +fact, the opportunity they enjoy to-day of taking vengeance on me for +any treatment which I put upon them wrongfully, is derived from their +salvation then; whereas, if they had fallen into the enemy's hands, +let them ask themselves for what outrage, however great, they could +expect to get satisfaction now. My defence," he continued, "is simple: +if I chastised any one for his own good, I claim to suffer the same +penalties as parents pay their children or masters their boys. Does +not the surgeon also cauterise and cut us for our good? But if you +really believe that these acts are the outcome of wanton insolence, I +beg you to observe that although to-day, thank God! I am heartier than +formerly, I wear a bolder front now than then, and I drink more wine, +yet I never strike a soul; no, for I see that you have reached smooth +water. When storm arises, and a great sea strikes the vessel +amidships, a mere shake of the head will make the look-out man furious +with the crew in the forecastle, or the helmsman with the men in the +stern sheets, for at such a crisis even a slight slip may ruin +everything. But I appeal to your own verdict, already recorded, in 21 +proof that I was justified in striking these men. You stood by, sirs, +with swords, not voting tablets, in your hands, and it was in your +power to aid the fellows if you liked; but, to speak the honest truth, +you neither aided them nor did you join me in striking the disorderly. +In other words, you enabled any evilly-disposed person among them to +give rein to his wantonness by your passivity. For if you will be at +pains to investigate, you will find that those who were then most +cowardly are the ringleaders to-day in brutality and outrage. + +"There is Boiscus the boxer, a Thessalian, what a battle he fought +then to escape carrying his shield! so tired was he, and to-day I am +told he has stripped several citizens of Cotyora of the clothes on +their backs. If then you are wise, you will treat this personage in a +way the contrary to that in which men treat dogs. A savage dog is tied +up on the day and loosed at night, but if you are wise you will tie +this fellow up at night and only let him loose in the day. + +"But really," he added, "it does surprise me with what keenness you +remember and recount the times when I incurred the hatred of some one; +but some other occasions when I eased the burden of winter and storm +for any of you, or beat off an enemy, or helped to minister to you in +sickness and want, not a soul of you remembers these. Or when for any +noble deed done by any of you I praised the doer, and according to my +ability did honour to this brave man or that; these things have +slipped from your memories, and are clean forgotten. Yet it were +surely more noble, just, and holy, sweeter and kindlier to treasure +the memory of good rather than of evil." + +He ended, and then one after another of the assembly got up and began +recalling incidents of the kind suggested, and things ended not so +unpleasantly after all. + + + + + +BOOK VI + + + + +I + +After this, whilst waiting, they lived partly on supplies from the 1 +market, partly on the fruit of raids into Paphlagonia. The +Paphlagonians, on their side, showed much skill in kidnapping +stragglers, wherever they could lay hands on them, and in the night +time tried to do mischief to those whose quarters were at a distance +from the camp. The result was that their relations to one another were +exceedingly hostile, so much so that Corylas, who was the chief of +Paphlagonia at that date, sent ambassadors to the Hellenes, bearing +horses and fine apparel, and charged with a proposal on the part of +Corylas to make terms with the Hellenes on the principle of mutual +forbearance from injuries. The generals replied that they would +consult with the army about the matter. Meanwhile they gave them a +hospitable reception, to which they invited certain members of the +army whose claims were obvious. They sacrificed some of the captive +cattle and other sacrificial beasts, and with these they furnished +forth a sufficiently festal entertainment, and reclining on their +truckle beds, fell to eating and drinking out of beakers made of horn +which they happened to find in the country. + +But as soon as the libation was ended and they had sung the hymn, up +got first some Thracians, who performed a dance under arms to the +sound of a pipe, leaping high into the air with much nimbleness, and +brandishing their swords, till at last one man struck his fellow, and +every one thought he was really wounded, so skilfully and artistically 6 +did he fall, and the Paphlagonians screamed out. Then he that gave the +blow stripped the other of his arms, and marched off chanting the +"Sitalcas (1)," whilst others of the Thracians bore off the other, who +lay as if dead, though he had not received even a scratch. + + (1) I.e. the national Thracian hymn; for Sitalcas the king, a national + hero, see Thuc. ii. 29. + +After this some Aenianians (2) and Magnesians got up and fell to +dancing the Carpaea, as it is called, under arms. This was the manner +of the dance: one man lays aside his arms and proceeds to drive a yoke +of oxen, and while he drives he sows, turning him about frequently, as +though he were afraid of something; up comes a cattle-lifter, and no +sooner does the ploughman catch sight of him afar, than he snatches up +his arms and confronts him. They fight in front of his team, and all +in rhythm to the sound of the pipe. At last the robber binds the +countryman and drives off the team. Or sometimes the cattle-driver +binds the robber, and then he puts him under the yoke beside the oxen, +with his two hands tied behind his back, and off he drives. + + (2) The Aenianians, an Aeolian people inhabiting the upper valley of + the Sperchius (the ancient Phthia); their capital was Hypata. + These men belonged to the army collected by Menon, the Thessalian. + So, doubtless, did the Magnesians, another Aeolian tribe occupying + the mountainous coast district on the east of Thessaly. See + Kiepert's "Man. Anct. Geog." (Macmillan's tr.), chap. vi.. 161, + 170. + +After this a Mysian came in with a light shield in either hand and +danced, at one time going through a pantomime, as if he were dealing +with two assailants at once; at another plying his shields as if to +face a single foe, and then again he would whirl about and throw +somersaults, keeping the shields in his hands, so that it was a +beautiful spectacle. Last of all he danced the Persian dance, clashing +the shields together, crouching down on one knee and springing up +again from earth; and all this he did in measured time to the sound of +the flute. After him the Mantineans stepped upon the stage, and some +other Arcadians also stood up; they had accoutred themselves in all +their warlike finery. They marched with measured tread, pipes playing, +to the tune of the 'warrior's march (3)'; the notes of the paean rose, 11 +lightly their limbs moved in dance, as in solemn procession to the +holy gods. The Paphlagonians looked upon it as something truly strange +that all these dances should be under arms; and the Mysians, seeing +their astonishment persuaded one of the Arcadians who had got a +dancing girl to let him introduce her, which he did after dressing her +up magnificently and giving her a light shield. When, lithe of limb, +she danced the Pyrrhic (4), loud clapping followed; and the +Paphlagonians asked, "If these women fought by their side in battle?" +to which they answered, "To be sure, it was the women who routed the +great King, and drove him out of camp." So ended the night. + + (3) See Plato, "Rep." 400 B, for this "war measure"; also Aristoph. + "Clouds," 653. + + (4) For this famous dance, supposed to be of Doric (Cretan or Spartan) + origin, see Smith's "Dict. of Antiquities," "Saltatio"; also Guhl + and Koner, "The Life of the Greeks and Romans," Eng. tr. + +But next day the generals introduced the embassy to the army, and the +soldiers passed a resolution in the sense proposed: between themselves +and the Paphlagonians there was to be a mutual abstinence from +injuries. After this the ambassadors went on their way, and the +Hellenes, as soon as it was thought that sufficient vessels had +arrived, went on board ship, and voyaged a day and a night with a fair +breeze, keeping Paphlagonia on their left. And on the following day, +arriving at Sinope, they came to moorings in the harbour of Harmene, +near Sinope (5). The Sinopeans, though inhabitants of Paphlagonia, are +really colonists of the Milesians. They sent gifts of hospitality to +the Hellenes, three thousand measures of barley with fifteen hundred +jars of wine. At this place Cheirisophus rejoined them with a +man-of-war. The soldiers certainly expected that, having come, he +would have brought them something, but he brought them nothing, except +complimentary phrases, on the part of Anaxibius, the high admiral, and +the rest, who sent them their congratulations, coupled with a promise +on the part of Anaxibius that, as soon as they were outside the +Euxine, pay would be forthcoming. + + (5) Harmene, a port of Sinope, between four and five miles (fifty + stades) west of that important city, itself a port town. See + Smith, "Dict. Geog.," "Sinope"; and Kiepert, op. cit. chap. iv. + 60. + +At Harmene the army halted five days; and now that they seemed to be 17 +so close to Hellas, the question how they were to reach home not +empty-handed presented itself more forcibly to their minds than +heretofore. The conclusion they came to was to appoint a single +general, since one man would be better able to handle the troops, by +night or by day, than was possible while the generalship was divided. +If secrecy were desirable, it would be easier to keep matters dark, or +if again expedition were an object, there would be less risk of +arriving a day too late, since mutual explanations would be avoided, +and whatever approved itself to the single judgement would at once be +carried into effect, whereas previously the generals had done +everything in obedience to the opinion of the majority. + +With these ideas working in their minds, they turned to Xenophon, and +the officers came to him and told him that this was how the soldiers +viewed matters; and each of them, displaying a warmth of kindly +feeling, pressed him to accept the office. Xenophon partly would have +liked to do so, in the belief that by so doing he would win to himself +a higher repute in the esteem of his friends, and that his name would +be reported to the city written large; and by some stroke of fortune +he might even be the discoverer of some blessing to the army +collectively. + +These and the like considerations elated him; he had a strong desire +to hold the supreme command. But then again, as he turned the matter +over, the conviction deepened in his mind that the issue of the future +is to every man uncertain; and hence there was the risk of perhaps +losing such reputation has he had already acquired. He was in sore +straights, and, not knowing how to decide, it seemed best to him to +lay the matter before heaven. Accordingly, he led two victims to the +altar and made sacrifice to Zeus the King, for it was he and no other +who had been named by the oracle at Delphi, and his belief was that +the vision which he had beheld when he first essayed to undertake the +joint administration of the army was sent to him by that god. He also +recalled to mind a circumstance which befell him still earlier, when 23 +setting out from Ephesus to associate himself with Cyrus (6);--how an +eagle screamed on his right hand from the east, and still remained +perched, and the soothsayer who was escorting him said that it was a +great and royal omen (7); indicating glory and yet suffering; for the +punier race of birds only attack the eagle when seated. "Yet," added +he, "it bodes not gain in money; for the eagle seizes his food, not +when seated, but on the wing." + + (6) Cf. "Cyrop." II. i. 1; an eagle appears to Cyrus on the frontiers + of Persia, when about to join his uncle Cyaxares, king of Media, + on his expedition against the Assyrian. + + (7) It is important to note that the Greek word {oionos}, a solitary + or lone-flying bird, also means an omen. "It was a mighty bird and + a mighty omen." + +Thus Xenophon sacrificed, and the god as plainly as might be gave him +a sign, neither to demand the generalship, nor, if chosen, to accept +the office. And that was how the matter stood when the army met, and +the proposal to elect a single leader was unanimous. After this +resolution was passed, they proposed Xenophon for election, and when +it seemed quite evident that they would elect him, if he put the +question to the vote, he got up and spoke as follows:-- + +"Sirs, I am but mortal, and must needs be happy to be honoured by you. +I thank you, and am grateful, and my prayer is that the gods may grant +me to be an instrument of blessing to you. Still, when I consider it +closer, thus, in the presence of a Lacedaemonian, to be preferred by +you as general, seems to me but ill conducive either to your interests +or to mine, since you will the less readily obtain from them hereafter +anything you may need, while for myself I look upon acceptance as even +somewhat dangerous. Do I not see and know with what persistence these +Lacedaemonians prosecuted the war till finally they forced our State +to acknowledge the leadership of Lacedaemon? This confession once +extorted from their antagonists, they ceased warring at once, and the +siege of the city was at an end. If, with these facts before my eyes, +I seem to be doing all I can to neutralise their high self-esteem, I +cannot escape the reflection that personally I may be taught wisdom by +a painful process. But with your own idea that under a single general +there will be less factiousness than when there were many, be assured 29 +that in choosing some other than me you will not find me factious. I +hold that whosoever sets up factious opposition to his leader +factiously opposes his own safety. While if you determine to choose +me, I should not be surprised were that choice to entail upon you and +me the resentment of other people." + +After those remarks on Xenophon's part, many more got up, one after +another, insisting on the propriety of his undertaking the command. +One of them, Agasias the Stymphalian, said: It was really ridiculous, +if things had come to this pass that the Lacedeamonians are to fly +into a rage because a number of friends have met together to dinner, +and omitted to choose a Lacedaemonian to sit at the head of the table. +"Really, if that is how matters stand," said he, "I do not see what +right we have to be officers even, we who are only Arcadians." That +sally brought down the plaudits of the assembly; and Xenophon, seeing +that something more was needed, stepped forward again and spoke, +"Pardon, sirs," he said, "let me make a clean breast of it. I swear to +you by all the gods and goddesses; verily and indeed, I no sooner +perceived your purpose, than I consulted the victims, whether it was +better for you to entrust this leadership to me, and for me to +undertake it, or the reverse. And the gods vouchsafed a sign to me so +plain that even a common man might understand it, and perceive that +from such sovereignty I must needs hold myself aloof." + +Under these circumstances they chose Cheirisophus, who, after his +election, stepped forward and said: "Nay, sirs, be well assured of +this, that had you chosen some one else, I for my part should not have +set up factious opposition. As to Xenophon, I believe you have done +him a good turn by not appointing him; for even now Dexippus has gone +some way in traducing him to Anaxibius, as far as it lay in his power +to do so, and that, in spite of my attempts to silence him. What he +said was that he believed Xenophon would rather share the command of +Clearchus's army with Timasion, a Dardanian, than with himself, a +Laconian. But," continued Cheirisophus, "since your choice has fallen 33 +upon me, I will make it my endeavour to do you all the good in my +power; so make your preparations to weigh anchor to-morrow; wind and +weather permitting, we will voyage to Heraclea; every one must +endeavour, therefore, to put in at that port; and for the rest we will +consult, when we are come thither." + + + + +II + +The next day they weighed anchor and set sail from Harmene with a fair 1 +breeze, two days' voyage along the coast. (As they coasted along they +came in sight of Jason's beach (1), where, as the story says, the ship +Argo came to moorings; and then the mouths of the rivers, first the +Thermodon, then the Iris, then the Halys, and next to it the +Parthenius.) Coasting past (the latter), they reached Heraclea (2), a +Hellenic city and a colony of the Megarians, situated in the territory +of the Mariandynians. So they came to anchorage off the Acherusian +Chersonese, where Heracles (3) is said to have descended to bring up +the dog Cerberus, at a point where they still show the marks of his +descent, a deep cleft more than two furlongs down. Here the Heracleots +sent the Hellenes, as gifts of hospitality, three thousand measures of +barley and two thousand jars of wine, twenty beeves and one hundred +sheep. Through the flat country here flows the Lycus river, as it is +called, about two hundred feet in breadth. + + (1) I have left this passage in the text, although it involves, at + first sight, a topographical error on the part of whoever wrote + it, and Hug and other commentators regard it as spurious. Jason's + beach (the modern Yasoun Bouroun) and the three first-named rivers + lie between Cotyora and Sinope. Possibly the author, or one of his + editors, somewhat loosely inserted a recapitulatory note + concerning the scenery of this coasting voyage at this point. "By + the way, I ought to have told you that as they coasted along," + etc. + + (2) One of the most powerful of commercial cities, distinguished as + Pontica (whence, in the middle ages, Penteraklia), now Eregli. It + was one of the older Greek settlements, and, like Kalchedon (to + give that town its proper name), a Megaro-Doric colony. See + Kiepert, op. cit. chap. iv. 62. + + (3) According to another version of the legend Heracles went down to + bring up Cerberus, not here, but at Taenarum. + +The soldiers held a meeting, and took counsel about the remainder of +the journey: should they make their exit from the Pontus by sea or by +land? and Lycon the Achaean got up and said: "I am astonished, sirs, +that the generals do not endeavour to provide us more efficiently with +provisions. These gifts of hospitality will not afford three days' 4 +victuals for the army; nor do I see from what region we are to provide +ourselves as we march. My proposal, therefore, is to demand of the +Heracleots at least three thousand cyzicenes." Another speaker +suggested, "not less than ten thousand. Let us at once, before we +break up this meeting, send ambassadors to the city and ascertain +their answer to the demand and take counsel accordingly." Thereupon +they proceeded to put up as ambassadors, first and foremost +Cheirisophus, as he had been chosen general-in-chief; others also +named Xenophon. + +But both Cheirisophus and Xenophon stoutly declined, maintaining both +alike that they could not compel a Hellenic city, actually friendly, +to give anything which they did not spontaneously offer. So, since +these two appeared to be backward, the soldiers sent Lycon the +Achaean, Callimachus the Parrhasian, and Agasias the Stymphalian. +These three went and announced the resolutions passed by the army. +Lycon, it was said, even went so far as to threaten certain +consequences in case they refused to comply. The Heracleots said they +would deliberate; and, without more ado, they got together their goods +and chattels from their farms and fields outside, and dismantled the +market outside and transferred it within, after which the gates were +closed, and arms appeared at the battlements of the walls. + +At that check, the authors of these tumultuary measures fell to +accusing the generals, as if they had marred the proceeding; and the +Arcadians and Archaeans banded together, chiefly under the auspices of +the two ringleaders, Callimachus the Parrhasian and Lycon the Achaean. +The language they held was to this effect: It was outrageous that a +single Athenian and a Lacedaemonian, who had not contributed a soldier +to the expedition, should rule Peloponnesians; scandalous that they +themselves should bear the toils whilst others pocketed the spoils, +and that too though the preservation of the army was due to +themselves; for, as every one must admit, to the Arcadians and 10 +Achaeans the credit of that achievement was due, and the rest of the +army went for nothing (which was indeed so far true that the Arcadians +and Achaeans did form numerically the larger half of the whole army). +What then did common sense suggest? Why, that they, the Arcadians and +Achaeans, should make common cause, choose generals for themselves +independently, continue the march, and try somewhat to better their +condition. This proposal was carried. All the Arcadians and Achaeans +who chanced to be with Cheirisophus left him and Xenophon, setting up +for themselves and choosing ten generals of their own. These ten, it +was decreed, were to put into effect such measures as approved +themselves to the majority. Thus the absolute authority vested in +Cheirisophus was terminated there and then, within less than a week of +his appointment. + +Xenophon, however was minded to prosecute the journey in their +company, thinking that this would be a safer plan than for each to +start on his own account. But Neon threw in his weight in favour of +separate action. "Every one for himself," he said, for he had heard +from Cheirisophus that Cleander, the Spartan governor-general at +Byzantium, talked of coming to Calpe Haven with some war vessels. +Neon's advice was due to his desire to secure a passage home in these +war vessels for themselves and their soldiers, without allowing any +one else to share in their good-fortune. As for Cheirisophus, he was +at once so out of heart at the turn things had taken, and soured with +the whole army, that he left it to his subordinate, Neon, to do just +what he liked. Xenophon, on his side, would still have been glad to be +quit of the expedition and sail home; but on offering sacrifice to +Heracles the Leader, and seeking advice, whether it were better and +more desirable to continue the march in charge of the soldiers who had +remained faithful, or to take his departure, the god indicated to him +by the victims that he should adopt the former course. + +In this way the army was now split up into three divisions (4). First, +the Arcadians and Achaeans, over four thousand five hundred men, all +heavy infantry. Secondly, Cheirisophus and his men, viz. one thousand 16 +four hundred heavy infantry and the seven hundred peltasts, or +Clearchus's Thracians. Thirdly, Xenophon's division of one thousand +seven hundred heavy infantry, and three hundred peltasts; but then he +alone had the cavalry--about forty troopers. + + (4) The total now amounted to 8640 and over. + +The Arcadians, who had bargained with the Heracleots and got some +vessels from them, were the first to set sail; they hoped, by pouncing +suddenly on the Bithynians, to make as large a haul as possible. With +that object they disembarked at Calpe Haven (5), pretty nearly at the +middle point in Thrace. Cheirisophus setting off straight from +Heraclea, commenced a land march through the country; but having +entered into Thrace, he preferred to cling to the seaboard, health and +strength failing him. Xenophon, lastly, took vessels, and disembarking +on the confines of Thrace and the Heracleotid, pushed forward through +the heart of the country (6). + + (5) The Haven of Calpe = Kirpe Liman or Karpe in the modern maps. The + name is interesting as being also the ancient name of the rock + fortress of Gibraltar. + + (6) Some MSS. here read, "In the prior chapter will be found a + description of the manner in which the absolute command of + Cheirisophus was abruptly terminated and the army of the Hellenes + broken up. The sequel will show how each of these divisions + fared." The passage is probably one of those commentators' notes, + with which we are now familiar. + + + + +III + +The Arcadians, disembarking under cover of night at Calpe Haven, 1 +marched against the nearest villages about thirty furlongs from the +sea; and as soon as it was light, each of the ten generals led his +company to attack one village, or if the village were large, a couple +of companies advanced under their combined generals. They further +agreed upon a certain knoll, where they were all eventually to +assemble. So sudden was their attack that they seized a number of +captives and enclosed a multitude of small cattle. But the Thracians +who escaped began to collect again; for being light-armed troops they +had slipped in large numbers through the hands of the heavy infantry; +and now that they were got together they first attacked the company of +the Arcadian general, Smicres, who had done his work and was retiring +to the appointed meeting-place, driving along a large train of +captives and cattle. For a good while the Hellenes maintained a +running fight (1); but at the passage of a gorge the enemy routed them, 5 +slaying Smicres himself and those with him to a man. The fate of +another company under command of Hegesander, another of the ten, was +nearly as bad; only eight men escaped, Hegesander being one of them. +The remaining captains eventually met, some with somewhat to show for +their pains, others empty-handed. + + (1) Lit. "marched and fought," as did the forlorn hope under Sir C. + Wilson making its way from Abu Klea to the Nile in Jan. 1885. + +The Thracians, having achieved this success, kept up a continual +shouting and clatter of conversation to one another during the night; +but with day-dawn they marshalled themselves right round the knoll on +which the Hellenes were encamped--both cavalry in large numbers and +light-armed troops--while every minute the stream of new-comers grew +greater. Then they commenced an attack on the heavy infantry in all +security, for the Hellenes had not a single bowman, javelin-man, or +mounted trooper amongst them; while the enemy rushed forward on foot +or galloped up on horseback and let fly their javelins. It was vain to +attempt to retaliate, so lightly did they spring back and escape; and +ever the attack renewed itself from every point, so that on one side +man after man was wounded, on the other not a soul was touched; the +result being that they could not stir from their position, and the +Thracians ended by cutting them off even from their water. In their +despair they began to parley about a truce, and finally various +concessions were made and terms agreed to between them; but the +Thracians would not hear of giving hostages in answer to the demand of +the Hellenes; at that point the matter rested. So fared it with the +Arcadians. + +As to Cheirisophus, that general prosecuted his march along the 10 +seaboard, and without check reached Calpe Haven. Xenophon advanced +through the heart of the country; and his cavalry pushing on in front, +came upon some old men pursuing their road somewither, who were +brought to him, and in answer to his question, whether they had caught +sight of another Hellenic army anywhere, told him all that had already +taken place, adding that at present they were being besieged upon a +knoll with all the Thracians in close circle round them. Thereupon he +kept the old men under strict guard to serve as guides in case of +need; next, having appointed outposts, he called a meeting of the +soldiers, and addressed them: "Soldiers, some of the Arcadians are +dead and the rest are being besieged upon a certain knoll. Now my own +belief is, that if they are to perish, with their deaths the seal is +set to our own fate: since we must reckon with an enemy at once +numerous and emboldened. Clearly our best course is to hasten to their +rescue, if haply we may find them still alive, and do battle by their +side rather than suffer isolation, confronting danger single-handed. + +"Let us then at once push forward as far as may seem opportune till +supper-time, and then encamp. As long as we are marching, let +Timasion, with the cavalry, gallop on in front, but without losing +sight of us; and let him examine all closely in front, so that nothing +may escape our observation." (At the same time too, he sent out some +nimble fellows of the light-armed troops to the flanks and to the high +tops, who were to give a signal if they espied anything anywhere; +ordering them to burn everything inflammable which lay in their path.) +"As for ourselves," he continued, "we need not look to find cover in +any direction; for it is a long step back to Heraclea and a long leap +across to Chrysopolis, and the enemy is at the door. The shortest road +is to Calpe Haven, where we suppose Cheirisophus, if safe, to be; but +then, when we get there, at Calpe Haven there are no vessels for us to +sail away in; and if we stop here, we have not provisions for a single +day. Suppose the beleaguered Arcadians left to their fate, we shall +find it but a sorry alternative to run the gauntlet with +Cheirisophus's detachment alone; better to save them if we can, and 17 +with united forces work out our deliverance in common. But if so, we +must set out with minds prepared, since to-day either a glorious death +awaits us or the achievement of a deed of noblest emprise in the +rescue of so many Hellene lives. Maybe it is God who leads us thus, +God who chooses to humble the proud boaster, boasting as though he +were exceedingly wise, but for us, the beginning of whose every act is +by heaven's grace, that same God reserves a higher grade of honour. +One duty I would recall to you, to apply your minds to the execution +of the orders with promptitude." + +With these words he led the way. The cavalry, scattering as far in +advance as was prudent, wherever they set foot, set fire. The peltasts +moving parallel on the high ground were similarly employed, burning +everything combustible they could discover. While the main army, +wherever they came upon anything which had accidentally escaped, +completed the work, so that the whole country looked as if it were +ablaze; and the army might easily pass for a larger one. When the hour +had come, they turned aside to a knoll and took up quarters; and there +they espied the enemy's watch-fires. He was about forty furlongs +distant. On their side also they kindled as many watch-fires as +possible; but as soon as they had dined the order was passed to quench +all the fires. So during the night they posted guards and slept. But +at daybreak they offered prayers to the gods, and drawing up in order +of battle, began marching with what speed they might. Timasion and the +cavalry, who had the guides with them, and were moving on briskly in +front, found themselves without knowing it at the very knoll upon +which the Hellenes had been beleaguered. But no army could they +discover, whether of friend or foe; only some starveling old women and +men, with a few sheep and oxen which had been left behind. This news +they reported to Xenophon and the main body. At first the marvel was +what had happened; but ere long they found out by inquiries from the +folk who had been left behind, that the Thracians had set off +immediately after sundown, and were gone; the Hellenes had waited till +morning before they made off, but in what direction, they could not 23 +say. + +On hearing this, Xenophon's troops first breakfasted, and then getting +their kit together began their march, desiring to unite with the rest +at Calpe's Haven without loss of time. As they continued their march, +they came across the track of the Arcadians and Achaeans along the +road to Calpe, and both divisions arriving eventually at the same +place, were overjoyed to see one another again, and they embraced each +other like brothers. Then the Arcadians inquired of Xenophon's +officers--why they had quenched the watch-fires? "At first," said +they, "when we lost sight of your watch-fires, we expected you to +attack the enemy in the night; and the enemy, so at least we imagined, +must have been afraid of that and so set off. The time at any rate at +which they set off would correspond. But when the requisite time had +elapsed and you did not come, we concluded that you must have learnt +what was happening to us, and in terror had made a bolt for it to the +seaboard. We resolved not to be left behind by you; and that is how we +also came to march hither." + + + + +IV + +During this day they contented themselves with bivouacking there on 1 +the beach at the harbour. The place which goes by the name of Calpe +Haven is in Asiatic Thrace, the name given to a region extending from +the mouth of the Euxine all the way to Heraclea, which lies on the +right hand as you sail into the Euxine. It is a long day's voyage for +a war-ship, using her three banks of oars, from Byzantium to Heraclea, +and between these two there is not a single Hellenic or friendly city, +but only these Bithynian Thracians, who have a bad reputation for the +savagery with which they treat any Hellenes cast ashore by shipwreck +or otherwise thrown into their power. + +Now the haven of Calpe lies exactly midway, halving the voyage between +Byzantium and Heraclea. It is a long promontory running out into the +sea; the seaward portion being a rocky precipice, at no point less +than twenty fathoms high; but on the landward side there is a neck 3 +about four hundred feet wide; and the space inside the neck is capable +of accommodating ten thousand inhabitants, and there is a haven +immediately under the crag with a beach facing the west. Then there is +a copious spring of fresh water flowing on the very marge of the sea +commanded by the stronghold. Again, there is plenty of wood of various +sorts; but most plentiful of all, fine shipbuilding timber down to the +very edge of the sea. The upland stretches into the heart of the +country for twenty furlongs at least. It is good loamy soil, free from +stones. For a still greater distance the seaboard is thickly grown +with large timber trees of every description. The surrounding country +is beautiful and spacious, containing numerous well populated +villages. The soil produces barley and wheat, and pulse of all sorts, +millet and sesame, figs in ample supply, with numerous vines producing +sweet wines, and indeed everything else except olives. Such is the +character of the country. + +The tents were pitched on the seaward-facing beach, the soldiers being +altogether averse to camping on ground which might so easily be +converted into a city. Indeed, their arrival at the place at all +seemed very like the crafty design of some persons who were minded to +form a city. The aversion was not unnatural, since the majority of the +soldiers had not left their homes on so long a voyage from scantiness +or subsistence, but attracted by the fame of Cyrus's virtues; some of +them bringing followers, while others had expended money on the +expedition. And amongst them was a third set who had run away from +fathers and mothers; while a different class had left children behind, +hoping to return to them with money or other gains. Other people with +Cyrus won great success, they were told (1); why should it not be so +with them? Being persons then of this description, the one longing of +their hearts was to reach Hellas safely. + + (1) I.e. "his society was itself a passport to good fortune." + +It was on the day after their meeting that Xenophon sacrificed as a +preliminary to a military expedition; for it was needful to march out +in search of provisions, besides which he designed burying the dead. 9 +As soon as the victims proved favourable they all set out, the +Arcadians following with the rest. The majority of the dead, who had +lain already five days, they buried just where they had fallen, in +groups; to remove their bodies now would have been impossible. Some +few, who lay off the roads, they got together and buried with what +splendour they could, considering the means in their power. Others +they could not find, and for these they erected a great cenotaph (2), +and covered it with wreaths. When it was all done, they returned home +to camp. At that time they supped, and went to rest. + + (2) "Cenotaph", i.e. "an empty tomb." The word is interesting as + occurring only in Xenophon, until we come to the writers of the + common dialect. Compare "hyuscyamus," hogbean, our henbane, which + we also owe to Xenophon. "Oecon." i. 13, see Sauppe, "Lexil. Xen." + s.vv. + +Next day there was a general meeting of the soldiers, collected +chiefly by Agasias the Stymphalian, a captain, and Hieronymus, an +Eleian, also a captain, and other seniors of the Arcadians; and they +passed a resolution that, for the future, whoever revived the idea of +breaking up the army should be punished by death. And the army, it was +decided, would now resume its old position under the command of its +former generals. Though Cheirisophus, indeed, had already died under +medical treatment for fever (3); and Neon the Asinaean had taken his +place. + + (3) This I take to be the meaning of the words, which are necessarily + ambiguous, since {pharmakon}, "a drug," also means "poison." Did + Cheirisophus conceivably die of fever brought on by some poisonous + draught? or did he take poison whilst suffering from fever? or did + he die under treatment? + +After these resolutions Xenophon got up and said: "Soldiers, the +journey must now, I presume, be conducted on foot; indeed, this is +clear, since we have no vessels; and we are driven to commence it at +once, for we have no provisions if we stop. We then," he continued, +"will sacrifice, and you must prepare yourselves to fight now, if +ever, for the spirit of the enemy has revived." + +Thereupon the generals sacrificed, in the presence of the Arcadian +seer, Arexion; for Silanus the Ambraciot had chartered a vessel at +Heraclea and made his escape ere this. Sacrificing with a view to 13 +departure, the victims proved unfavourable to them. Accordingly they +waited that day. Certain people were bold enough to say that Xenophon, +out of his desire to colonise the place, had persuaded the seer to say +that the victims were unfavourable to departure. Consequently he +proclaimed by herald next morning that any one who liked should be +present at the sacrifice; or if he were a seer he was bidden to be +present and help to inspect the victims. Then he sacrificed, and there +were numbers present; but though the sacrifice on the question of +departure was repeated as many as three times, the victims were +persistently unfavourable. Thereat the soldiers were in high dudgeon, +for the provisions they had brought with them had reached the lowest +ebb, and there was no market to be had. + +Consequently there was another meeting, and Xenophon spoke again: +"Men," said he, "the victims are, as you may see for yourselves, not +yet favourable to the march; but meanwhile, I can see for myself that +you are in need of provisions; accordingly we must narrow the +sacrifice to the particular point." Some one got up and said: +"Naturally enough the victims are unfavourable, for, as I learnt from +some one on a vessel which arrived here yesterday by accident, +Cleander, the governor at Byzantium, intends coming here with ships +and men-of-war." Thereat they were all in favour of stopping; but they +must needs go out for provisions, and with this object he again +sacrificed three times, and the victims remained adverse. Things had +now reached such a pass that the men actually came to Xenophon's tent +to proclaim that they had no provisions. His sole answer was that he +would not lead them out till the victims were favourable. + +So again the next day he sacrificed; and nearly the whole army, so +strong was the general anxiety, flocked round the victims; and now the +very victims themselves failed. So the generals, instead of leading +out the army, called the men together. Xenophon, as was incumbent on +him, spoke: "It is quite possible that the enemy are collected in a +body, and we shall have to fight. If we were to leave our baggage in +the strong place" (pointing overhead) "and sally forth prepared for +battle, the victims might favour us." But the soldiers, on hearing 22 +this proposal, cried out, "No need to take us inside that place; +better sacrifice with all speed." Now sheep there were none any +longer. So they purchased oxen from under a wagon and sacrificed; and +Xenophon begged Cleanor the Arcadian to superintend the sacrifice on +his behalf, in case there might be some change now. But even so there +was no improvement. + +Now Neon was general in place of Cheirisophus, and seeing the men +suffering so cruelly from want, he was willing to do them a good turn. +So he got hold of some Heracleot or other who said he knew of villages +close by from which they could get provisions, and proclaimed by +herald: "If any one liked to come out and get provisions, be it known +that he, Neon, would be their leader." So out came the men with +spears, and wine skins and sacks and other vessels--two thousand +strong in all. But when they had reached the villages and began to +scatter for the purpose of foraging, Pharnabazus's cavalry were the +first to fall upon them. They had come to the aid of the Bithynians, +wishing, if possible, in conjunction with the latter, to hinder the +Hellenes from entering Phrygia. These troopers killed no less than +five hundred of the men; the rest fled for the lives up into the hill +country. + +News of the catastrophe was presently brought into camp by one of +those who had escaped, and Xenophon, seeing that the victims had not +been favourable on that day, took a wagon bullock, in the absence of +other sacrificial beasts, offered it up, and started for the rescue, +he and the rest under thirty years of age to the last man. Thus they +picked up the remnant of Neon's party and returned to camp. It was now +about sunset; and the Hellenes in deep despondency were making their +evening meal, when all of a sudden, through bush and brake, a party of +Bithynians fell upon the pickets, cutting down some and chasing the +rest into camp. In the midst of screams and shouts the Hellenes ran to +their arms, one and all; yet to pursue or move the camp in the night +seemed hardly safe, for the ground was thickly grown with bush; all +they could do was to strengthen the outposts and keep watch under arms +the livelong night. + + + + +V + +And so they spent the night, but with day-dawn the generals led the 1 +way into the natural fastness, and the others picked up their arms and +baggage and followed the lead. Before the breakfast-hour arrived, they +had fenced off with a ditch the only side on which lay ingress into +the place, and had palisaded off the whole, leaving only three gates. +Anon a ship from Heraclea arrived bringing barleymeal, victim animals, +and wine. + +Xenophon was up betimes, and made the usual offering before starting +on an expedition, and at the first victim the sacrifice was +favourable. Just as the sacrifice ended, the seer, Arexion the +Parrhasian, caught sight of an eagle, which boded well, and bade +Xenophon lead on. So they crossed the trench and grounded arms. Then +proclamation was made by herald for the soldiers to breakfast and +start on an expedition under arms; the mob of sutlers and the captured +slaves would be left in camp. Accordingly the mass of the troops set +out. Neon alone remained; for it seemed best to leave that general and +his men to guard the contents of the camp. But when the officers and +soldiers had left them in the lurch, they were so ashamed to stop in +camp while the rest marched out, that they too set out, leaving only +those above five-and-forty years of age. + +These then stayed, while the rest set out on the march. Before they +had gone two miles, they stumbled upon dead bodies, and when they had +brought up the rear of the column in a line with the first bodies to +be seen, they began digging graves and burying all included in the +column from end to end. After burying the first batch, they advanced, +and again bringing the rear even with the first unburied bodies which +appeared, they buried in the same way all which the line of troops +included. Finally, reaching the road that led out of the villages +where the bodies lay thick together, they collected them and laid them +in a common grave. + +It was now about midday, when pushing forward the troops up to the +villages without entering them, they proceeded to seize provisions, +laying hands on everything they could set eyes on under cover of their 7 +lines; when suddenly they caught sight of the enemy cresting certain +hillocks in front of them, duly marshalled in line--a large body of +cavalry and infantry. It was Spithridates and Rhathines, sent by +Pharnabazus with their force at their backs. As soon as the enemy +caught sight of the Hellenes, they stood still, about two miles +distant. Then Arexion the seer sacrificed, and at the first essay the +victims were favourable. Whereupon Xenophon addressed the other +generals: "I would advise, sirs, that we should detach one or more +flying columns to support our main attack, so that in case of need at +any point we may have reserves in readiness to assist our main body, +and the enemy, in the confusion of battle, may find himself attacking +the unbroken lines of troops not hitherto engaged." These views +approved themselves to all. "Do you then," said he, "lead on the +vanguard straight at the enemy. Do not let us stand parleying here, +now that we have caught sight of him and he of us. I will detach the +hindmost companies in the way we have decided upon and follow you." +After that they quietly advanced, and he, withdrawing the rear-rank +companies in three brigades consisting of a couple of hundred men +apiece, commissioned the first on the right to follow the main body at +the distance of a hundred feet. Samolas the Achaean was in command of +this brigade. The duty of the second, under the command of Pyrrhias +the Arcadian, was to follow in the centre. The last was posted on the +left, with Phrasias, an Athenian, in command. As they advanced, the +vanguard reached a large and difficult woody glen, and halted, not +knowing whether the obstacle needed to be crossed or not. They passed +down the word for the generals and officers to come forward to the +front. Xenophon, wondering what it was that stopped the march, and +presently hearing the above order passed along the ranks, rode up with +all speed. As soon as they were met, Sophaenetus, as the eldest +general, stated his opinion that the question, whether a gully of that +kind ought to be crossed or not, was not worth discussing. Xenophon, +with some ardour, retorted: "You know, sirs, I have not been in the +habit hitherto of introducing you to danger which you might avoid. It +is not your reputation for courage surely that is at stake, but your 14 +safe return home. But now the matter stands thus: It is impossible to +retire from this point without a battle; if we do not advance against +the enemy ourselves, he will follow us as soon as we have turned our +backs and attack us. Consider, then; is it better to go and meet the +foe with arms advanced, or with arms reversed to watch him as he +assails us on our rear? You know this at any rate, that to retire +before an enemy has nothing glorious about it, whereas attack +engenders courage even in a coward. For my part, I would rather at any +time attack with half my men than retreat with twice the number. As to +these fellows, if we attack them, I am sure you do not really expect +them to await us; though, if we retreat, we know for certain they will +be emboldened to pursue us. Nay, if the result of crossing is to place +a difficult gully behind us when we are on the point of engaging, +surely that is an advantage worth seizing. At least, if it were left +to me, I would choose that everything should appear smooth and +passable to the enemy, which may invite retreat; but for ourselves we +may bless the ground which teaches us that except in victory we have +no deliverance. It astonishes me that any one should deem this +particular gully a whit more terrible than any of the other barriers +which we have successfully passed. How impassable was the plain, had +we failed to conquer their cavalry! how insurmountable the mountains +already traversed by us, with all their peltasts in hot pursuit at our +heels! Nay, when we have safely reached the sea, the Pontus will +present a somewhat formidable gully, when we have neither vessels to +convey us away nor corn to keep us alive whilst we stop. But we shall +no sooner be there than we must be off again to get provisions. Surely +it is better to fight to-day after a good breakfast than to-morrow on +an empty stomach. Sirs, the offerings are favourable to us, the omens +are propitious, the victims more than promising; let us attack the +enemy! Now that they have had a good look at us, these fellows must +not be allowed to enjoy their dinners or choose a camp at their own +sweet will." + +After that the officers bade him lead on. None gainsaid, and he led +the way. His orders were to cross the gully, where each man chanced to 22 +find himself. By this method, as it seemed to him, the troops would +more quickly mass themselves on the far side than was possible, if +they defiled along (1) the bridge which spanned the gully. But once +across he passed along the line and addressed the troops: "Sirs, call +to mind what by help of the gods you have already done. Bethink you of +the battles you have won at close quarters with the foe; of the fate +which awaits those who flee before their foes. Forget not that we +stand at the very doors of Hellas. Follow in the steps of Heracles, +our guide, and cheer each the other onwards by name. Sweet were it +surely by some brave and noble word or deed, spoken or done this day, +to leave the memory of oneself in the hearts of those one loves." + + (1) Lit. "had they wound off thread by thread"; the metaphor is from + unwinding a ball of wool. + +These words were spoken as he rode past, and simultaneously he began +leading on the troops in battle line; and, placing the peltasts on +either flank of the main body, they moved against the enemy. Along the +line the order had sped "to keep their spears at rest on the right +shoulder until the bugle signal; then lower them for the charge, slow +march, and even pace, no one to quicken into a run." Lastly, the +watchword was passed, "Zeus the Saviour, Heracles our Guide." The +enemy waited their approach, confident in the excellence of his +position; but as they drew closer the Hellene light troops, with a +loud alala! without waiting for the order, dashed against the foe. The +latter, on their side, came forward eagerly to meet the charge, both +the cavalry and the mass of the Bithynians; and these turned the +peltasts. But when with counter-wave the phalanx of the heavy infantry +rapidly advancing, faced them, and at the same time the bugle sounded, +and the battle hymn rose from all lips, and after this a loud cheer +rose, and at the same instant they couched their spears;--at this +conjuncture the enemy no longer welcomed them, but fled. Timasion with +his cavalry followed close, and, considering their scant numbers, they +did great execution. It was the left wing of the enemy, in a line with +which the Hellene cavalry were posted, that was so speedily scattered. +But the right, which was not so hotly pursued, collected upon a knoll; 28 +and when the Hellenes saw them standing firm, it seemed the easiest +and least dangerous course to go against them at once. Raising the +battle hymn, they straightway fell upon them, but the others did not +await their coming. Thereupon the peltasts gave chase until the right +of the enemy was in its turn scattered, though with slight loss in +killed; for the enemy's cavalry was numerous and threatening. + +But when the Hellenes saw the cavalry of Pharnabazus still standing in +compact order, and the Bithynian horsemen massing together as if to +join it, and like spectators gazing down from a knoll at the +occurrences below; though weary, they determined to attack the enemy +as best they could, and not suffer him to recover breath with reviving +courage. So they formed in compact line and advanced. Thereupon the +hostile cavalry turned and fled down the steep as swiftly as if they +had been pursued by cavalry. In fact they sought the shelter of a +gully, the existence of which was unknown to the Hellenes. The latter +accordingly turned aside too soon and gave up the chase, for it was +too late. Returning to the point where the first encounter took place +they erected a trophy, and went back to the sea about sunset. It was +something like seven miles to camp. + + + + +VI + +After this the enemy confined themselves to their own concerns, and 1 +removed their households and property as far away as possible. The +Hellenes, on their side, were still awaiting the arrival of Cleander +with the ships of war and transports, which ought to be there soon. So +each day they went out with the baggage animals and slaves and +fearlessly brought in wheat and barley, wine and vegetables, millet +and figs; since the district produced all good things, the olive alone +excepted. When the army stayed in camp to rest, pillaging parties were +allowed to go out, and those who went out appropriated the spoils; but +when the whole army went out, if any one went off apart and seized 2 +anything, it was voted to be public property. Ere long there was an +ample abundance of supplies of all sorts, for marketables arrived from +Hellenic cities on all sides, and marts were established. Mariners +coasting by, and hearing that a city was being founded and that there +was a harbour, were glad to put in. Even the hostile tribes dwelling +in the neighbourhood presently began to send envoys to Xenophon. It +was he who was forming the place into a city, as they understood, and +they would be glad to learn on what terms they might secure his +friendship. He made a point of introducing these visitors to the +soldiers. + +Meanwhile Cleander arrived with two ships of war, but not a single +transport. At the moment of his arrival, as it happened, the army had +taken the field, and a separate party had gone off on a pillaging +expedition into the hills and had captured a number of small cattle. +In thir apprehension of being deprived of them, these same people +spoke to Dexippus (this was the same man who had made off from +Trapezus with the fifty-oared galley), and urged him to save their +sheep for them. "Take some for yourself," said they, "and give the +rest back to us." So, without more ado, he drove off the soldiers +standing near, who kept repeating that the spoil was public property. +Then off he went to Cleander. "Here is an attempt," said he, "at +robbery." Cleander bade him to bring up the culprit to him. Dexippus +seized on some one, and was for haling him to the Spartan governor. +Just then Agasias came across him and rescued the man, who was a +member of his company; and the rest of the soldiers present set to +work to stone Dexippus, calling him "traitor." Things looked so ill +that a number of the crew of the ships of war took fright and fled to +the sea, and with the rest Cleander himself. Xenophon and the other +generals tried to hold the men back, assuring Cleander that the affair +signified nothing at all, and that the origin of it was a decree pased +by the army. That was to blame, if anything. But Cleander, goaded by +Dexippus, and personally annoyed at the fright which he had +experienced, threatened to sail away and publish an interdict against +them, forbidding any city to receive them, as being public enemies. 9 +For at this date the Lacedaemonians held sway over the whole Hellenic +world. + +Thereat the affair began to wear an ugly look, and the Hellenes begged +and implored Cleander to reconsider his intention. He replied that he +would be as good as his word, and that nothing should stop him, unless +the man who set the example of stoning, with the other who rescued the +prisoner, were given up to him. Now, one of the two whose persons were +thus demanded--Agasias--had been a friend to Xenophon throughout; and +that was just why Dexippus was all the more anxious to accuse him. In +their perplexity the generals summoned a full meeting of the soldiers, +and some speakers were disposed to make very light of Cleander and set +him at naught. But Xenophon took a more serious view of the matter; he +rose and addressed the meeting thus: "Soldiers, I cannot say that I +feel disposed to make light of this business, if Cleander be allowed +to go away, as he threatens to do, in his present temper towards us. +There are Hellenic cities close by; but then the Lacedaemonians are +the lords of Hellas, and they can, any one of them, carry out whatever +they like in the cities. If then the first thing this Lacedaemonian +does is to close the gates of Byzantium, and next to pass an order to +the other governors, city by city, not to receive us because we are a +set of lawless ruffians disloyal to the Lacedaemonians; and if, +further, this report of us should reach the ears of their admiral, +Anaxibius, to stay or to sail away will alike be difficult. Remember, +the Lacedaemonians at the present time are lords alike on land and on +sea. For the sake then of a single man, or for two men's sake, it is +not right that the rest of us should be debarred from Hellas; but +whatever they enjoin we must obey. Do not the cities which gave us +birth yield them obedience also? For my own part, inasmuch as +Dexippus, I believe, keeps telling Cleander that Agasias would never +have done this had not I, Xenophon, bidden him, I absolve you of all +complicity, and Agasias too, if Agasias himself states that I am in +any way a prime mover in this matter. If I have set the fashion of +stone-throwing or any other sort of violence I condemn myself--I say +that I deserve the extreme penalty, and I will submit to undergo it. I 15 +further say that if any one else is accused, that man is bound to +surrender himself to Cleander for judgement, for by this means you +will be absolved entirely from the accusation. But as the matter now +stands, it is cruel that just when we were aspiring to win praise and +honour throughout Hellas, we are destined to sink below the level of +the rest of the world, banned from the Hellenic cities whose common +name we boast." + +After him Agasias got up, and said, "I swear to you, sirs, by the gods +and goddesses, verily and indeed, neither Xenophon nor any one else +among you bade me rescue the man. I saw an honest man--one of my own +company--being taken up by Dexippus, the man who betrayed you, as you +know full well. That I could not endure; I rescued him, I admit the +fact. Do not you deliver me up. I will surrender myself, as Xenophon +suggests, to Cleander to pass what verdict on me he thinks right. Do +not, for the sake of such a matter, make foes of the Lacedaemonians; +rather God grant that (1) each of you may safely reach the goal of his +desire. Only do you choose from among yourselves and send with me to +Cleander those who, in case of any omission on my part, may by their +words and acts supply what is lacking." Thereupon the army granted him +to choose for himself whom he would have go with him and to go; and he +at once chose the generals. After this they all set off to +Cleander--Agasias and the generals and the man who had been rescued by +Agasias--and the generals spoke as follows: "The army has sent us to +you, Cleander, and this is their bidding: 'If you have fault to find +with all, they say, you ought to pass sentence on all, and do with +them what seems best; or if the charge is against one man or two, or +possibly several, what they expect of these people is to surrender +themselves to you for judgement.' Accordingly, if you lay anything to +the charge of us generals, here we stand at your bar. Or do you impute +the fault to some one not here? tell us whom. Short of flying in the +face of our authority, there is no one who will absent himself." + + (1) Reading with the best MSS., {sozoisthe}. Agasias ends his sentence + with a prayer. Al. {sozesthe}, "act so that each," etc. + +At this point Agasias stepped forward and said: "It was I, Cleander, 21 +who rescued the man before you yonder from Dexippus, when the latter +was carrying him off, and it was I who gave the order to strike +Dexippus. My plea is that I know the prisoner to be an honest man. As +to Dexippus, I know that he was chosen by the army to command a +fifty-oared galley, which we had obtained by request from the men of +Trapezus for the express purpose of collecting vessels to carry us +safely home. But this same Dexippus betrayed his fellow-soldiers, with +whom he had been delivered from so many perils, and made off into +hiding like a runaway slave, whereby we have robbed the Trapezuntines +of their frigate, and must needs appear as knaves in their eyes for +this man's sake. As to ourselves, as far as he could, he has ruined +us; for, like the rest of us, he had heard how all but impossible it +was for us to retreat by foot across the rivers and to reach Hellas in +safety. That is the stamp of man whom I robbed of his prey. Now, had +it been you yourself who carried him off, or one of your emissaries, +or indeed any one short of a runaway from ourselves, be sure that I +should have acted far otherwise. Be assured that if you put me to +death at this time you are sacrificing a good, honest man for the sake +of a coward and a scamp." + +When he had listened to these remarks, Cleander replied that if such +had been the conduct of Dexippus, he could not congratulate him. "But +still," he added, turning to the generals, "were Dexippus ever so +great a scamp he ought not to suffer violence; but in the language of +your own demand he was entitled to a fair trial, and so to obtain his +deserts. What I have to say at present therefore is: leave your friend +here and go your way, and when I give the order be present at the +trial. I have no further charge against the army or any one, since the +prisoner himself admits that he rescued the man." Then the man who had +been rescued said: "In behalf of myself, Cleander, if possibly you +think that I was being taken up for some misdeed, it is not so; I +neither struck nor shot; I merely said, 'The sheep are public +property;' for it was a resolution of the soldiers that whenever the +army went out as a body any booty privately obtained was to be public +property. That was all I said, and thereupon yonder fellow seized me 28 +and began dragging me off. He wanted to stop our mouths, so that he +might have a share of the things himself, and keep the rest for these +buccaneers, contrary to the ordinance." In answer to that Cleander +said: "Very well, if that is your disposition you can stay behind too, +and we will take your case into consideration also." + +Thereupon Cleander and his party proceeded to breakfast; but Xenophon +collected the army in assembly, and advised their sending a deputation +to Cleander to intercede in behalf of the men. Accordingly it was +resolved to send some generals and officers with Dracontius the +Spartan, and of the rest those who seemed best fitted to go. The +deputation was to request Cleander by all means to release the two +men. Accordingly Xenophon came and addressed him thus: "Cleander, you +have the men; the army has bowed to you and assented to do what you +wished with respect to these two members of their body and themselves +in general. But now they beg and pray you to give up these two men, +and not to put them to death. Many a good service have these two +wrought for our army in past days. Let them but obtain this from you, +and in return the army promises that, if you will put yourself at +their head and the gracious gods approve, they will show you how +orderly they are, how apt to obey their general, and, with heaven's +help, to face their foes unflinchingly. They make this further request +to you, that you will present yourself and take command of them and +make trial of them. 'Test us ourselves,' they say, 'and test Dexippus, +what each of us is like, and afterwards assign to each his due.'" When +Cleander heard these things, he answered: "Nay, by the twin gods, I +will answer you quickly enough. Here I make you a present of the two +men, and I will as you say present myself, and then, if the gods +vouchsafe, I will put myself at your head and lead you into Hellas. +Very different is your language from the tale I used to hear +concerning you from certain people, that you wanted to withdraw the +army from allegiance to the Lacedaemonians." + +After this the deputation thanked him and retired, taking with them +the two men; then Cleander sacrificed as a preliminary to marching and +consorted friendlily with Xenophon, and the two struck up an alliance. 35 +When the Spartan saw with what good discipline the men carried out +their orders, he was still more anxious to become their leader. +However, in spite of sacrifices repeated on three successive days, the +victims steadily remained unfavourable. So he summoned the generals +and said to them: "The victims smile not on me, they suffer me not to +lead you home; but be not out of heart at that. To you it is given, as +it would appear, to bring your men safe home. Forwards then, and for +our part, whenever you come yonder, we will bestow on you as warm a +welcome as we may." + +Then the soldiers resolved to make him a present of the public cattle, +which he accepted, but again gave back to them. So he sailed away; but +the soldiers made division of the corn which they had collected and of +the other captured property, and commenced their homeward march +through the territory of the Bithynians. + +At first they confined themselves to the main road; but not chancing +upon anything whereby they might reach a friendly territory with +something in their pockets for themselves, they resolved to turn sharp +round, and marched for one day and night in the opposite direction. By +this proceeding they captured many slaves and much small cattle; and +on the sixth day reached Chrysopolis in Chalcedonia (2). Here they +halted seven days while they disposed of their booty by sale. + + (2) The name should be written "Calchedonia." The false form drove out + the more correct, probably through a mispronunciation, based on a + wrong derivation, at some date long ago. The sites of Chrysopolis + and Calchedon correspond respectively to the modern Scutari and + Kadikoi. + + + + + +BOOK VII + + (In the earlier portion of the narrative will be found a +detailed history of the fortunes of the Hellenes during their +march up country with Cyrus down to the date of the battle; +and, subsequently to his death, until they reached the Euxine; +as also of all their doings in their efforts to escape from +the Euxine, partly by land marches and partly under sail by +sea, until they found themselves outside the mouth of the +Black Sea (south of the Bosphorus) at Chrysopolis in Asia.) + + + + +I + +At this point Pharnabazus, who was afraid that the army might 1 +undertake a campaign against his satrapy, sent to Anaxibius, the +Spartan high admiral, who chanced to be in Byzantium, and begged him +to convey the army out of Asia, undertaking to comply with his wishes +in every respect. Anaxibius accordingly sent to summon the generals +and officers to Byzantium, and promised that the soldiers should not +lack pay for service, if they crossed the strait. The officers said +that they would deliberate and return an answer. Xenophon individually +informed them that he was about to quit the army at once, and was only +anxious to set sail. Anaxibius pressed him not to be in so great a +hurry: "Cross over with the rest," he said, "and then it will be time +enough to think about quitting the army." This the other undertook to +do. + +Now Seuthes the Thracian sent Medosades and begged Xenophon to use his +influence to get the army across. "Tell Xenophon, if he will do his +best for me in this matter, he will not regret it." Xenophon answered: +"The army is in any case going to cross; so that, as far as that is +concerned, Seuthes is under no obligation to me or to any one else; 6 +but as soon as it is once across, I personally shall be quit of it. +Let Seuthes, therefore, as far as he may deem consistent with +prudence, apply to those who are going to remain and will have a voice +in affairs." + +After this the whole body of troops crossed to Byzantium. But +Anaxibius, instead of proceeding to give pay, made proclamation that, +"The soldiers were to take up their arms and baggage and go forth," as +if all he wished were to ascertain their numbers and bid them +god-speed at the same moment. The soldiers were not well pleased at +that, because they had no money to furnish themselves with provisions +for the march; and they sluggishly set about getting their baggage +together. Xenophon meanwhile, being on terms of intimacy with the +governor, Cleander, came to pay his host a final visit, and bid him +adieu, being on the point of setting sail. But the other protested; +"Do not do so, or else," said he, "you will be blamed, for even now +certain people are disposed to hold you to account because the army is +so slow in getting under weigh." The other answered, "Nay, I am not to +blame for that. It is the men themselves, who are in want of +provisions; that is why they are out of heart at their exodus." "All +the same," he replied, "I advise you to go out, as if you intended to +march with them, and when you are well outside, it will be time enough +to take yourself off." "Well then," said Xenophon, "we will go and +arrange all this with Anaxibius." They went and stated the case to the +admiral, who insisted that they must do as he had said, and march out, +bag and baggage, by the quickest road; and as an appendix to the +former edict, he added, "Any one absenting himself from the review and +the muster will have himself to blame for the consequences." This was +peremptory. So out marched, the generals first, and then the rest; and +now, with the exception of here a man and there, they were all +outside; it was a "clean sweep"; and Eteonicus stood posted near the +gates, ready to close them, as soon as the men were fairly out, and to +thrust in the bolt pin. + +Then Anaxibius summoned the generals and captains, and addressed them: +"Provisions you had better get from the Thracian villages; you will 13 +find plenty of barley, wheat, and other necessaries in them; and when +you have got them, off with you to the Chersonese, where Cyniscus will +take you into his service." Some of the soldiers overheard what was +said, or possibly one of the officers was the medium of communication; +however it was, the news was handed on to the army. As to the +generals, their immediate concern was to try and gain some information +as to Seuthes: "Was he hostile or friendly? also, would they have to +march through the Sacred mountain (1), or round about through the +middle of Thrace?" + + (1) So the mountain-range is named which runs parallel to the + Propontis (Sea of Marmora) from lat. 41 degrees N. circa to lat. + 40 degrees 30'; from Bisanthe (Rhodosto) to the neck of the + Chersonese (Gallipoli). + +While they were discussing these points, the soldiers snatched up +their arms and made a rush full speed at the gates, with the intention +of getting inside the fortification again. But Eteonicus and his men, +seeing the heavy infantry coming up at a run promptly closed the gates +and thrust in the bolt pin. Then the soldiers fell to battering the +gates, exclaiming that it was iniquitous to thrust them forth in this +fashion into the jaws of their enemies. "If you do not of your own +accord open the gates," they cried, "we will split them in half"; and +another set rushed down to the sea, and so along the break-water and +over the wall into the city; while a third set, consisting of those +few who were still inside, having never left the city, seeing the +affair at the gates, severed the bars with axes and flung the portals +wide open; and the rest came pouring in. + +Xenophon, seeing what was happening, was seized with alarm lest the +army betake itself to pillage, and ills incurable be wrought to the +city, to himself, and to the soldiers. Then he set off, and, plunging +into the throng, was swept through the gates with the crowd. The +Byzantines no sooner saw the soldiers forcibly rushing in than they +left the open square, and fled, some to the shipping, others to their +homes, while those already indoors came racing out, and some fell to +dragging down their ships of war, hoping possibly to be safe on board +these; while there was not a soul who doubted but that the city was 19 +taken, and that they were all undone. Eteonicus made a swift retreat +to the citadel. Anaxibius ran down to the sea, and, getting on board a +fisherman's smack, sailed round to the acropolis, and at once sent off +to fetch over the garrison troops from Chalcedon, since those already +in the acropolis seemed hardly sufficient to keep the men in check. + +The soldiers, catching sight of Xenophon, threw themselves upon him, +crying: "Now, Xenophon, is the time to prove yourself a man. You have +got a city, you have got triremes, you have got money, you have got +men; to-day, if you only chose, you can do us a good turn, and we will +make you a great man." He replied: "Nay, I like what you say, and I +will do it all; but if that is what you have set your hearts on, fall +into rank and take up position at once." This he said, wishing to +quiet them, and so passed the order along the lines himself, while +bidding the rest to do the same: "Take up position; stand easy." But +the men themselves, by a species of self-marshalling, fell into rank, +and were soon formed, the heavy infantry eight deep, while the light +infantry had run up to cover either wing. The Thracian Square, as it +is called, is a fine site for manouvering, being bare of buildings and +level. As soon as the arms were stacked and the men's tempers cooled, +Xenophon called a general meeting of the soldiers, and made the +following speech:-- + +"Soldiers, I am not surprised at your wrath, or that you deem it +monstrous treatment so to be cheated; but consider what will be the +consequences if we gratify our indignation, and in return for such +deception, avenge ourselves on the Lacedaemonians here present, and +plunder an innocent city. We shall be declared enemies of the +Lacedaemonians and their allies; and what sort of war that will be, we +need not go far to conjecture. I take it, you have not forgotten some +quite recent occurrences. We Athenians entered into war against the +Lacedaemonians and their allies with a fleet consisting of not less +than three hundred line-of-battle ships, including those in dock as +well as those afloat. We had vast treasures stored up in the city, and +a yearly income which, derived from home or foreign sources, amounted +to no less than a thousand talents. Our empire included all the 27 +islands, and we were possessed of numerous cities both in Asia and in +Europe. Amongst others, this very Byzantium, where we are now, was +ours; and yet in the end we were vanquished, as you all very well +know. + +"What, must we anticipate, will now be our fate? The Lacedaemonians +have not only their old allies, but the Athenians and those who were +at that time allies of Athens are added to them. Tissaphernes and all +the rest of the Asiatics on the seaboard are our foes, not to speak of +our arch-enemy, the king himself, up yonder, whom we came to deprive +of his empire, and to kill, if possible. I ask then, with all these +banded together against us, is there any one so insensate as to +imagine that we can survive the contest? For heaven's sake, let us not +go mad or loosely throw away our lives in war with our own native +cities--nay, our own friends, our kith and our kin; for in one or +other of the cities they are all included. Every city will march +against us, and not unjustly, if, after refusing to hold one single +barbarian city by right of conquest, we seize the first Hellenic city +that we come to and make it a ruinous heap. For my part, my prayer is +that before I see such things wrought by you, I, at any rate, may lie +ten thousand fathoms under ground! My counsel to you, as Hellenes, is +to try and obtain your just rights, through obedience to those who +stand at the head of Hellas; and if so be that you fail in those +demands, why, being more sinned against than sinning, need we rob +ourselves of Hellas too? At present, I propose that we should send to +Anaxibius and tell him that we have made an entrance into the city, +not meditating violence, but merely to discover if he and his will +show us any good; for if so, it is well; but of otherwise, at least we +will let him see that he does not shut the door upon us as dupes and +fools. We know the meaning of discipline; we turn our backs and go." + +This resolution was passed, and they sent Hieronymus an Eleian, with +two others, Eurylochus an Arcadian and Philesius an Achaean, to +deliver the message. So these set off on their errand. But while the +soldiers were still seated in conclave, Coeratadas, of Thebes, 33 +arrived. He was a Theban not in exile, but with a taste for +generalship, who made it his business to see if any city or nation +were in need of his services. Thus, on the present occasion, he +presented himself, and begged to state that he was ready to put +himself at their head, and lead them into the Delta of Thrace (2), as +it is called, where they would find themselves in a land of plenty; +but until they got there, he would provide them with meat and drink +enough and to spare. While they were still listening to this tale, the +return message from Anaxibius came. His answer was: "The discipline, +they had spoken of, was not a thing they would regret; indeed he would +report their behaviour to the authorities at home; and for himself, he +would take advice and do the best he could for them." + + (2) The exact locality, so called, is not known; doubtless it lay + somewhere between Byzantium and Salmydessus, possibly at Declus + (mod. Derkos); or possibly the narrow portion of Thrace between + the Euxine, Bosphorus, and Propontis went by this name. See note + in Pretor ad. loc., and "Dict. Geog." "Thracia." + +Thereupon the soldiers accepted Coeratadas as their general, and +retired without the walls. Their new general undertook to present +himself to the troops next day with sacrificial beasts and a +soothsayer, with eatables also and drinkables for the army. Now, as +soon as they were gone out, Anaxibius closed the gates and issued a +proclamation to the effect that "any of the soldiers caught inside +should be knocked down to the hammer and sold at once." Next day, +Coeratadas arrived with the victims and the soothsayer. A string of +twenty bearers bearing barleymeal followed at his heels, succeeded by +other twenty carrying wine, and three laden with a supply of olives, +and two others carrying, the one about as much garlic as a single man +could lift, and the other a similar load of onions. These various +supplies he set down, apparently for distribution, and began to +sacrifice. + +Now Xenophon sent to Cleander, begging him to arrange matters so that +he might be allowed to enter the walls, with a view to starting from +Byzantium on his homeward voyage. Cleander came, and this is what he 39 +said: "I have come; but I was barely able to arrange what you want. +Anaxibius insisted: 'It was not convenient that Xenophon should be +inside while the soldiers are close to the walls without; the +Byzantines at sixes and sevens moreover; and no love lost between the +one party of them and the other.' Still, he ended by bidding you to +come inside, if you were really minded to leave the town by sea with +himself." Accordingly Xenophon bade the soldiers good-bye, and +returned with Cleander within the walls. + +To return to Coeratadas. The first day he failed to get favourable +signs at the sacrifice, and never a dole of rations did he make to the +soldiers. On the second day the victims were standing ready near the +altar, and so was Coeratadas, with chaplet crowned, all ready to +sacrifice, when up comes Timasion the Dardanian, with Neon the +Asinaean, and Cleanor of Orchomenus, forbidding Coeratadas to +sacrifice: "He must understand there was an end to his generalship, +unless he gave them provisions." The other bade them measure out the +supplies, "Pray, dole them out." But when he found that he had a good +deal short of a single day's provisions for each man, he picked up his +paraphernalia of sacrifice and withdrew. As to being general, he would +have nothing more to say to it. + + + + +II + +Now these five were left--Neon the Asinaean, Phryniscus the Achaean, 1 +Philesius the Achaean, Xanthicles the Achaean, Timasion the +Dardanian--at the head of the army, and they pushed on to some +villages of the Thracians facing Byzantium, and there encamped. Now +the generals could not agree. Cleanor and Phryniscus wished to march +to join Seuthes, who had worked upon their feelings by presenting one +with a horse and the other with a woman to wife. But Neon's object was +to come to the Chersonese: "When we are under the wing of the +Lacedaemonians," he thought, "I shall step to the front and command +the whole army." + +Timasion's one ambition was to cross back again into Asia, hoping to +be reinstated at home and end his exile. The soldiers shared the +wishes of the last general. But, as time dragged on, many of the men +sold their arms at different places and set sail as best they could; +others (actually gave away their arms, some here, some there, and (1)) 3 +became absorbed in the cities. One man rejoiced. This was Anaxibius, +to whom the break-up of the army was a blessing. "That is the way," he +said to himself, "I can best gratify Pharnabazus." + + (1) The MSS. give the words so rendered--{oi de kai (didontes ta opla + kata tous khorous)}, which some critics emend {diadidontes}, + others bracket as suspected, others expunge. + +But Anaxibius, while prosecuting his voyage from Byzantium, was met at +Cyzicus by Aristarchus, the new governor, who was to succeed Cleander +at Byzantium; and report said that a new admiral, Polus, if he had not +actually arrived, would presently reach the Hellespont and relieve +Anaxibius. The latter sent a parting injunction to Aristarchus to be +sure and sell all the Cyreian soldiers he could lay hands on still +lingering in Byzantium; for Cleander had not sold a single man of +them; on the contrary, he had made it his business to tend the sick +and wounded, pitying them, and insisting on their being received in +the houses. Aristarchus changed all that, and was no sooner arrived in +Byzantium than he sold no less than four hundred of them. Meanwhile +Anaxibius, on his coasting voyage, reached Parium, and, according to +the terms of their agreement, he sent to Pharnabazus. But the latter, +learning that Aristarchus was the new governor at Byzantim, and that +Anixibius had ceased to be admiral, turned upon him a cold shoulder, +and set out concocting the same measures concerning the Cyreian army +with Aristarchus, as he had lately been at work upon with Anaxibius. + +Anaxibius thereupon summoned Xenophon and bade him, by every manner of +means, sail to the army with the utmost speed, and keep it together. +"He was to collect the scattered fragments and march them down to +Perinthus, and thence convey them across to Asia without loss of +time." And herewith he put a thirty-oared galley at his service, and +gave him a letter of authority and an officer to accompany him, with +an order to the Perinthians "to escort Xenophon without delay on +horseback to the army." So it was that Xenophon sailed across and +eventually reached the army. The soldiers gave him a joyous welcome, +and would have been only too glad to cross from Thrace into Asia under +his leadership. + +But Seuthes, hearing that Xenophon had arrived, sent Medosades again, 10 +by sea to meet him, and begged him to bring the army to him; and +whatever he thought would make his speech persuasive, he was ready to +promise him. But the other replied, that none of these things were +open to him to do; and with this answer Medosades departed, and the +Hellenes proceeded to Perinthus. Here on arrival Neon withdrew his +troops and encamped apart, having about eight hundred men; while the +remainder of the army lay in one place under the walls of Perinthus. + +After this, Xenophon set himself to find vessels, so as to lose no +time in crossing. But in the interval Aristarchus, the governor from +Byzantium, arrived with a couple of war-ships, being moved to do so by +Pharnabazus. To make doubly sure, he first forbade the skippers and +shipmasters to carry the troops across, and then he visited the camp +and informed the soldiers that their passage into Asia was forbidden. +Xenophon replied that he was acting under the orders of Anaxibius, who +had sent him thither for this express purpose; to which Aristarchus +retorted, "For the matter of that, Anaxibius is no longer admiral, and +I am governor in this quarter; if I catch any of you at sea, I will +sink you." With these remarks he retired within the walls of +Perinthus. + +Next day, he sent for the generals and officers of the army. They had +already reached the fortification walls, when some one brought word to +Xenophon that if he set foot inside, he would be seized, and either +meet some ill fate there or more likely be delivered up to +Pharnabazus. On hearing this Xenophon sent forward the rest of the +party, but for himself pleaded that there was a sacrifice which he +wished to offer. In this way he contrived to turn back and consult the +victims, "Would the gods allow him to try and bring the army over to +Seuthes?" On the one hand it was plain that the idea of crossing over +to Asia in the face of this man with his ships of war, who meant to +bar the passage, was too dangerous. Nor did he altogether like the +notion of being blocked up in the Chersonese with an army in dire need +of everything; where, besides being at the beck and call of the 15 +governor of the place, they would be debarred from the necessities of +life. + +While Xenophon was thus employed, the generals and officers came back +with a message from Aristarchus, who had told them they might retire +for the present, but in the afternoon he would expect them. The former +suspicions of a plot had now ripened to a certainty. Xenophon meantime +had ascertained that the victims were favourable to his project. He +personally, and the army as a whole, might with safety proceed to +Seuthes, they seemed to say. Accordingly, he took with him Polycrates, +the Athenian captain, and from each of the generals, not including +Neon, some one man whom they could in each case trust, and in the +night they set off to visit the army of Seuthes, sixty furlongs +distant. + +As they approached, they came upon some deserted watch-fires, and +their first impression was that Seuthes had shifted his position; but +presently perceiving a confused sound (the voices of Seuthes' people +signalling to one another), the explanation dawned on him: Seuthes +kept his watch-fires kindled in front of, instead of behind, his night +pickets, in order that the outposts, being in the dark, might escape +notice, their numbers and position thus being a mystery; whilst any +party approaching from the outside, so far from escaping notice, +would, through the glare of the fire, stand out conspicuously. +Perceiving how matters stood, Xenophon sent forward his interpreter, +who was one of the party, and bade him inform Seuthes that Xenophon +was there and craved conference with him. The others asked if he were +an Athenian from the army yonder, and no sooner had the interpreter +replied, "Yes, the same," than up they leapt and galloped off; and in +less time than it takes to tell a couple of hundred peltasts had come +up who seized and carried off Xenophon and those with him and brought +them to Seuthes. The latter was in a tower right well guarded, and +there were horses round it in a circle, standing all ready bitted and +bridled; for his alarm was so great that he gave his horses their +provender during the day (2), and during the nights he kept watch and 21 +ward with the brutes thus bitted and bridled. It was stated in +explanation that in old days an ancestor of his, named Teres, had been +in this very country with a large army, several of whom he had lost at +the hands of the native inhabitants, besides being robbed of his +baggage train. The inhabitants of the country are Thynians, and they +are reputed to be far the most warlike set of fighters--especially at +night. + + (2) I.e. "instead of letting them graze." + +When they drew near, Seuthes bade Xenophon enter, and bring with him +any two he might choose. As soon as they were inside, they first +greeted one another warmly, and then, according to the Thracian +custom, pledged themselves in bowls of wine. There was further present +at the elbow of Seuthes, Medosades, who on all occasions acted as his +ambassador-in-chief. Xenophon took the initiative and spoke as +follows: "You have sent to me, Seuthes, once and again. On the first +occasion you sent Medosades yonder, to Chalcedon, and you begged me to +use my influence in favour of the army crossing over from Asia. You +promised me, in return for this conduct on my part, various +kindnesses; at least that is what Medosades stated"; and before +proceeding further he turned to Medosades and asked, "Is not that so?" +The other assented. "Again, on a second occasion, the same Medosades +came when I had crossed over from Parium to rejoin the army; and he +promised me that if I would bring you the army, you would in various +respects treat me as a friend and brother. He said especially with +regard to certain seaboard places of which you are the owner and lord, +that you were minded to make me a present of them." At this point he +again questioned Medosades, "Whether the words attributed to him were +exact?" and Medosades once more fully assented. "Come now," proceeded +Xenophon, "recount what answer I made you, and first at Chalcedon." +"You answered that the army was, in any case, about to cross over to +Byzantium; and as far as that went, there was no need to pay you or +any one else anything; and for yourself, you added, that once across +you were minded to leave the army, which thing came to pass even as +you said." "Well! what did I say," he asked, "at your next visit, when 28 +you came to me in Selybria?" "You said that the proposal was +impossible; you were all going to Perinthus to cross into Asia." +"Good," said Xenophon, "and in spite of it all, at the present moment, +here I am myself, and Phryniscus, one of my colleagues, and Polycrates +yonder, a captain; and outside, to represent the other generals (all +except Neon the Laconian), the trustiest men they could find to send. +So that if you wish to give these transactions the seal of still +greater security, you have nothing to do but to summon them also; and +do you, Polycrates, go and say from me, that I bid them leave their +arms outside, and you can leave your own sword outside before you +enter with them on your return." + +When Seuthes had heard so far, he interposed: "I should never mistrust +an Athenian, for we are relatives already (3), I know; and the best of +friends, I believe, we shall be." After that, as soon as the right men +entered, Xenophon first questioned Seuthes as to what use he intended +to make of the army, and he replied as follows: "Maesades was my +father; his sway extended over the Melanditae, the Thynians, and the +Tranipsae. Then the affairs of the Odrysians took a bad turn, and my +father was driven out of this country, and later on died himself of +sickness, leaving me to be brought up as an orphan at the court of +Medocus, the present king. But I, when I had grown to man's estate, +could not endure to live with my eyes fixed on another's board. So I +seated myself on the seat by him as a suppliant, and begged him to +give me as many men as he could spare, that I might wreak what +mischief I could on those who had driven us forth from our land; that +thus I might cease to live in dependence upon another's board, like a +dog watching his master's hand. In answer to my petition, he gave me 34 +the men and the horses which you will see at break of day, and +nowadays I live with these, pillaging my own ancestral land. But if +you would join me, I think, with the help of heaven, we might easily +recover my empire. That is what I want of you." "Well then," said +Xenophon, "supposing we came, what should you be able to give us? the +soldiers, the officers, and the generals? Tell us that these witnesses +may report your answer." And he promised to give "to the common +soldiers a cyzicene (4), to a captain twice as much, and to a general +four times as much, with as much land as ever they liked, some yoke of +oxen, and a fortified place upon the seaboard." "But now supposing," +said Xenophon, "we fail of success, in spite of our endeavours; +suppose any intimidation on the part of the Lacedaemonians should +arise; will you receive into your country any of us who may seek to +find a refuge with you?" He answered: "Nay, not only so, but I shall +look upon you as my brothers, entitled to share my seat, and the joint +possessors of all the wealth which we may be able to acquire. And to +you yourself, O Xenophon! I will give my daughter, and if you have a +daughter, I will buy her in Thracian fashion; and I will give you +Bisanthe as a dwelling-place, which is the fairest of all my +possessions on the seaboard (5)." + + (3) Tradition said that the Thracians and Athenians were connected, + through the marriage of a former prince Tereus (or Teres) with + Procne, the daughter of Pandion. This old story, discredited by + Thucydides, ii. 29, is referred to in Arist. "Birds," 368 foll. + The Birds are about to charge the two Athenian intruders, when + Epops, king of the Birds, formerly Tereus, king of Thrace, but + long ago transformed into a hoopoe, intercedes in behalf of two + men, {tes emes gunaikos onte suggene kai phuleta}, "who are of my + lady's tribe and kin." As a matter of history, the Athenians had + in the year B.C. 431 made alliance with Sitalces, king of the + Odrysians (the son of Teres, the first founder of their empire), + and made his son, Sadocus, an Athenian citizen. Cf. Thuc. ib.; + Arist. Acharnians, 141 foll. + + (4) A cyzicene monthly is to be understood. + + (5) Bisanthe, one of the Ionic colonies founded by Samos, with the + Thracian name Rhaedestus (now Rodosto), strongly placed so as to + command the entrance into the Sacred mountain. + + + + +III + +After listening to these proposals, they gave and accepted pledges of 1 +good faith; and so the deputation rode off. Before day they were back +again in camp, and severally rendered a report to those who sent them. +At dawn Aristarchus again summoned the generals and officers, but the +latter resolved to have done with the visit to Aristarchus, and to +summon a meeting of the army. In full conclave the soldiers met, with +the exception of Neon's men, who remained about ten furlongs off. When +they were met together Xenophon rose, and made the following +announcement: "Men, Aristarchus with his ships of war hinders us from +sailing where we fain would go; it is not even safe to set foot on 3 +board a vessel. But if he hinders us here, he hastens us there. 'Be +off to the Chersonese,' says he, 'force a passage through the Sacred +mountain.' If we master it and succeed in getting to that place, he +has something in store for us. He promises that he will not sell you +any more, as he did at Byzantium; you shall not be cheated again; you +shall have pay; he will no longer, as now, suffer you to remain in +want of provisions. That is his proposal. But Seuthes says that if you +will go to him he will treat you well. What you have now to consider +is, whether you will stay to debate this question, or leave its +settlement till we have gone up into a land of provisions. If you ask +me my opinion, it is this: Since here we have neither money to buy, +nor leave to take without money what we need, why should we not go up +into these villages where the right to help ourselves is conferred by +might? There, unhampered by the want of bare necessaries, you can +listen to what this man and the other wants of you and choose +whichever sounds best. Let those," he added, "who agree to this, hold +up their hands." They all held them up. "Retire then," said he, "and +get your kit together, and at the word of command, follow your +leader." + +After this, Xenophon put himself at the head and the rest followed. +Neon, indeed, and other agents from Aristarchus tried to turn them +from their purpose, but to their persuasions they turned a deaf ear. +They had not advanced much more than three miles, when Seuthes met +them; and Xenophon, seeing him, bade him ride up. He wished to tell +him what they felt to be conducive to their interests, and in the +presence of as many witnesses as possible. As soon as he had +approached, Xenophon said: "We are going where the troops will have +enough to live upon; when we are there, we will listen to you and to +the emissaries of the Laconian, and choose between you both whatever +seems best. If then you will lead us where provisions are to be got in +plenty, we shall feel indebted to you for your hospitality." And +Seuthes answered: "For the matter of that, I know many villages, +close-packed and stocked with all kinds of provisions, just far enough 9 +off to give you a good appetite for your breakfasts." "Lead on then!" +said Xenophon. When they had reached the villages in the afternoon, +the soldiers met, and Seuthes made the following speech: "My request +to you, sirs, is that you will take the field with me, and my promise +to you is that I will give every man of you a cyzicene, and to the +officers and generals at the customary rate; besides this I will +honour those who show special merit. Food and drink you shall get as +now for yourselves from the country; but whatever is captured, I shall +claim to have myself, so that by distribution of it I may provide you +with pay. Let them flee, let them creep into hiding-places, we shall +be able to pursue after them, we will track them out; or if they +resist, along with you we will endeavour to subdue them to our hands." +Xenophon inquired: "And how far from the sea shall you expect the army +to follow you?" "Nowhere more than seven days' journey," he answered, +"and in many places less." + +After this, permission was given for all who wished to speak, and many +spoke, but ever to one and the same tune: "What Seuthes said, was very +right. It was winter, and for a man to sail home, even if he had the +will to do so, was impossible. On the other hand, to continue long in +a friendly country, where they must depend upon what they could +purchase, was equally beyond their power. If they were to wear away +time and support life in a hostile country, it was safer to do so with +Seuthes than by themselves, not to speak of all these good things; but +if they were going to get pay into the bargain, that indeed was a +godsend." To complete the proceedings, Xenophon said: "If any one +opposes the measure, let him state his views; if not, let the officer +put the proposition to the vote." No one opposed; they put it to the +vote, and the resolution was carried; and without loss of time, he +informed Seuthes that they would take the field with him. + +After this the troops messed in their separate divisions, but the +generals and officers were invited by Seuthes to dinner at a +neighbouring village which was in his possession. When they were at +the doors, and on the point of stepping in to dinner, they were met by 16 +a certain Heracleides, of Maronea (1). He came up to each guest, +addressing himself particularly to those who, as he conjectured, ought +to be able to make a present to Seuthes. He addressed himself first to +some Parians who were there to arrange a friendship with Medocus, the +king of the Odrysians, and were bearers of presents to the king and to +his wife. Heracleides reminded them: "Medocus is up country twelve +days' journey from the sea; but Seuthes, now that he has got this +army, will be lord on the sea-coast; as your neighbour, then, he is +the man to do you good or do you ill. If you are wise, you will give +him whatever he askes of you. On the whole, it will be laid out at +better interest than if you have it to Medocus, who lives so far off." +That was his mode of persuasion in their case. Next he came to +Timasion the Dardanian, who, some one had told him, was the happy +possessor of certain goblets and oriental carpets. What he said to him +was: "It is customary when people are invited to dinner by Seuthes for +the guests to make him a present; now if he should become a great +person in these parts, he will be able to restore you to your native +land, or to make you a rich man here." Such were the solicitations +which he applied to each man in turn whom he accosted. Presently he +came to Xenophon and said: "You are at once a citizen of no mean city, +and with Seuthes also your own name is very great. Maybe you expect to +obtain a fort or two in this country, just as others of your +countrymen have done (2), and territory. It is only right and proper +therefore that you should honour Seuthes in the most magnificent +style. Be sure, I give this advice out of pure friendliness, for I +know that the greater the gift that you are ready to bestow on him, +the better the treatment you will receive at his hands." Xenophon, on +hearing this, was in a sad dilemma, for he had brought with him, when +he crossed from Parium, nothing but one boy and just enough to pay his +travelling expenses. + + (1) A Greek colony in Thrace. Among Asiatico-Ionian colonies were + Abdera, founded by Teos, and Maroneia, celebrated for its wine, + founded by Chios about 540 B.C.--Kiepert, "Man. Anct. Geog." viii. + 182. + + (2) Notably Alcibiades, who possessed two or three such fortresses. + +As soon as the company, consisting of the most powerful Thracians 21 +there present, with the generals and captains of the Hellenes, and any +embassy from a state which might be there, had arrived, they were +seated in a circle, and the dinner was served. Thereupon three-legged +stools were brought in and placed in front of the assembled guests. +They were laden with pieces of meat, piled up, and there were huge +leavened-loaves fastened on to the pieces of meat with long skewers. +The tables, as a rule, were set beside the guests at intervals. That +was the custom; and Seuthes set the fashion of the performance. He +took up the loaves which lay by his side and broke them into little +pieces, and then threw the fragments here to one and there to another +as seemed to him good; and so with the meat likewise, leaving for +himself the merest taste. Then the rest fell to following the fashion +set them, those that is who had tables placed beside them. + +Now there was an Arcadian, Arystas by name, a huge eater; he soon got +tired of throwing the pieces about, and seized a good three-quarters +loaf in his two hands, placed some pieces of meat upon his knees, and +proceeded to discuss his dinner. Then beakers of wine were brought +round, and every one partook in turn; but when the cupbearer came to +Arystas and handed him the bowl, he looked up, and seeing that +Xenophon had done eating: "Give it him," quoth he, "he is more at +leisure. I have something better to do at present." Seuthes, hearing a +remark, asked the cupbearer what was said, and the cupbearer, who knew +how to talk Greek, explained. Then followed a peal of laughter. + +When the drinking had advanced somewhat, in came a Thracian with a +white horse, who snatched the brimming bowl and said: "Here's a health +to thee, O Seuthes! Let me present thee with this horse. Mounted on +him, thou shalt capture whom thou choosest to pursue, or retiring from +battle, thou shalt not dread the foe." He was followed by one who +brought in a boy, and presented him in proper style with "Here's a +health to thee, O Seuthes!" A third had "clothes for his wife." +Timasion, the Dardanian, pledged Seuthes, and presented a silver +bowl (3) and a carpet worth ten minae. Gnesippus, an Athenian, got up 28 +and said: "It was a good old custom, and a fine one too, that those +who had, should give to the king for honour's sake, but to those who +had not, the king should give; whereby, my lord," he added, "I too may +one day have the wherewithal to give thee gifts and honour." Xenophon +the while was racking his brains what he was to do; he was not the +happier because he was seated in the seat next Seuthes as a mark of +honour; and Heracleides bade the cupbearer hand him the bowl. The wine +had perhaps a little mounted to his head; he rose, and manfully seized +the cup, and spoke: "I also, Seuthes, have to present you with myself +and these my dear comrades to be your trusty friends, and not one of +them against his will. They are more ready, one and all, still more +than I, to be your friends. Here they are; they ask nothing from you +in return, rather they are forward to labour in your behalf; it will +be their pleasure to bear the brunt of battle in voluntary service. +With them, God willing, you will gain vast territory; you will recover +what was once your forefathers'; you will win for yourself new lands; +and not lands only, but horses many, and of men a multitude, and many +a fair dame besides. You will not need to seize upon them in robber +fashion; it is your friends here who, of their own accord, shall take +and bring them to you, they shall lay them at your feet as gifts." Up +got Seuthes and drained with him the cup, and with him sprinkled the +last drops fraternally (4). + + (3) Or rather "saucer" ({phiale}). + + (4) For the Thracian custom, vide Suidas, s.v. {kataskedazein}. + +At this stage entered musicians blowing upon horns such as they use +for signal calls, and trumpeting on trumpets, made of raw oxhide, +tunes and airs, like the music of the double-octave harp (5). Seuthes +himself got up and shouted, trolling forth a war song; then he sprang +from his place and leapt about as though he would guard himself +against a missile, in right nimble style. Then came in a set of clowns +and jesters. + + (5) Or, "magadis." This is said to have been one of the most perfect + instruments. It comprised two full octaves, the left hand playing + the same notes as the right an octave lower. Guhl and Koner, p. + 203, Engl. transl. See also "Dict. Antiq." "Musica"; and Arist. + "Polit." xix. 18, {Dia ti e dia pason sumphonia adetai mone; + magasizousi gar tauten, allen de oudemian}, i.e. "since no + interval except the octave ({dia pason}) could be 'magidised' (the + effect of any other is well known to be intolerable), therefore no + other interval was employed at all." + +But when the sun began to set, the Hellenes rose from their seats. It 33 +was time, they said, to place the night sentinels and to pass the +watchword; further, they begged of Seuthes to issue an order that none +of the Thracians were to enter the Hellenic camp at night, "since +between your Thracian foes and our Thracian friends there might be +some confusion." As they sallied forth, Seuthes rose to accompany +them, like the soberest of men. When they were outside, he summoned +the generals apart and said: "Sirs, our enemies are not aware as yet +of our alliance. If, therefore, we attack them before they take +precautions not to be caught, or are prepared to repel assault, we +shall make a fine haul of captives and other stock." The generals +fully approved of these views, and bade him lead on. He answered: +"Prepare and wait; as soon as the right time comes I will be with you. +I shall pick up the peltasts and yourselves, and with the help of the +gods, I will lead on." "But consider one point," urged Xenophon; "if +we are to march by night, is not the Hellenic fashion best? When +marching in the daytime that part of the army leads the van which +seems best suited to the nature of the country to be traversed--heavy +or light infantry, or cavalry; but by night our rule is that the +slowest arm should take the lead. Thus we avoid the risk of being +pulled to pieces: and it is not so easy for a man to give his +neighbour the slip without intending, whereas the scattered fragments +of an army are apt to fall foul of one another, and to cause damage or +incur it in sheer ignorance." To this Seuthes replied: "You reason +well, and I will adopt your custom. I will furnish you with guides +chosen from the oldest experts of the country, and I will myself +follow with the cavalry in the rear; it will not take me long, if need +be, to present myself at the front." Then, for kinship's sake, they +chose "Athenaia (6)" as their watchword. With this, they turned and +sought repose. + + (6) "Our Lady of Athens." + +It was about midnight when Seuthes presented himself with his cavalry +troopers armed with corselets, and his light infantry under arms. As 40 +soon as he had handed over to them the promised guides, the heavy +infantry took the van, followed by the light troops in the centre, +while the cavalry brought up the rear. At daybreak Seuthes rode up to +the front. He complimented them on their method: so often had he +himself, while marching by night with a mere handful of men, been +separated with his cavalry from his infantry. "But now," said he, "we +find ourselves at dawn of day all happily together, just as we ought +to be. Do you wait for me here," he proceeded, "and recruit +yourselves. I will take a look round and rejoin you." So saying he +took a certain path over hill and rode off. As soon as he had reached +deep snow, he looked to see whether there were footprints of human +beings leading forward or in the opposite direction; and having +satisfied himself that the road was untrodden, back he came, +exclaiming: "God willing, sirs, it will be all right; we shall fall on +the fellows, before they know where they are. I will lead on with the +cavalry; so that if we catch sight of any one, he shall not escape and +give warning to the enemy. Do you follow, and if you are left behind, +keep to the trail of the horses. Once on the other side of the +mountains, we shall find ourselves in numerous thriving villages." + +By the middle of the day he had already gained the top of the pass and +looked down upon the villages below. Back he came riding to the heavy +infantry and said: "I will at once send off the cavalry into the plain +below, and the peltasts too, to attack the villages. Do you follow +with what speed you may, so that in case of resistance you may lend us +your aid." Hearing this, Xenophon dismounted, and the other asked: +"Why do you dismount just when speed is the thing we want?" The other +answered: "But you do not want me alone, I am sure. The hoplites will +run all the quicker and more cheerily if I lead them on foot." + +Thereupon Seuthes went off, and Timasion with him, taking the Hellene +squadron of something like forty troopers. Then Xenophon passed the +order: the active young fellows up to thirty years of age from the +different companies to the front; and off with these he went himself, +bowling along (7); while Cleanor led the other Hellenes. When they had 46 +reached the villages, Seuthes, with about thirty troopers, rode up, +exclaiming: "Well, Xenophon, this is just what you said! the fellows +are caught, but now look here. My cavalry have gone off unsupported; +they are scattered in pursuit, one here, one there, and upon my word, +I am more than half afraid the enemy will collect somewhere and do +them a mischief. Some of us must remain in the villages, for they are +swarming with human beings." "Well then," said Xenophon, "I will seize +the heights with the men I have with me, and do you bid Cleanor extend +his line along the level beside the villages." When they had done so, +there were enclosed--of captives for the slave market, one thousand; +of cattle, two thousand; and of other small cattle, ten thousand. For +the time being they took up quarters there. + + (7) {etropkhaze}, a favourite word with our author. Herodotus uses it; + so does Aristot.; so also Polybius; but the Atticists condemn it, + except of course in poetry. + + + + +IV + +But the next day Seuthes burnt the villages to the ground; he left not 1 +a single house, being minded to inspire terror in the rest of his +enemies, and to show them what they also were to expect, if they +refused obedience; and so he went back again. As to the booty, he sent +off Heracliedes to Perinthus to dispose of it, with a view to future +pay for the soldiers. But for himself he encamped with the Hellenes in +the lowland country of the Thynians, the natives leaving the flats and +betaking themselves in flight to the uplands. + +There was deep snow, and cold so intense that the water brought in for +dinner and the wine within the jars froze; and many of the Hellenes +had their noses and ears frost-bitten. Now they came to understand why +the Thracians wear fox-skin caps on their heads and about their ears; +and why, on the same principle, they are frocked not only about the +chest and bust but so as to cover the loins and thighs as well; and +why on horseback they envelop themselves in long shawls which reach +down to the feet, instead of the ordinary short rider's cloak. Seuthes +sent off some of the prisoners to the hills with a message to say that +if they did not come down to their homes, and live quietly and obey +him, he would burn down their villages and their corn, and leave them 5 +to perish with hunger. Thereupon down they came, women and children +and the older men; the younger men preferred to quarter themselves in +the villages on the skirts of the hills. On discovering this, Seuthes +bade Xenophon take the youngest of the heavy infantry and join him on +an expedition. They rose in the night, and by daybreak had reached the +villages; but the majority of the inhabitants made good their escape, +for the hills were close at hand. Those whom he did catch, Seuthes +unsparingly shot down. + +Now there was a certain Olynthian, named Episthenes; he was a great +lover of boys, and seeing a handsome lad, just in the bloom of youth, +and carrying a light shield, about to be slain, he ran up to Xenophon +and supplicated him to rescue the fair youth. Xenophon went to Seuthes +and begged him not to put the boy to death. He explained to him the +disposition of Episthenes; how he had once enrolled a company, the +only qualification required being that of personal beauty; and with +these handsome young men at his side there were none so brave as he. +Seuthes put the question, "Would you like to die on his behalf, +Episthenes?" whereat the other stretched out his neck, and said, +"Strike, if the boy bids you, and will thank his preserver." Seuthes, +turning to the boy, asked, "Shall I smite him instead of you?" The boy +shook his head, imploring him to slay neither the one nor the other, +whereupon Episthenes caught the lad in his arms, exclaiming, "It is +time you did battle with me, Seuthes, for my boy; never will I yield +him up," and Seuthes laughed: "what must be must," and so consented. + +In these villages he decided that they must bivouac, so that the men +on the mountains might be still further deprived of subsistence. +Stealthily descending he himself found quarters in the plain; while +Xenophon with his picked troops encamped in the highest village on the +skirts of the hills,; and the rest of the Hellenes hard by, among the +highland Thracians (1), as they are called. + + (1) Cf. "Highlanders." + +After this, not many days had idly slipt away before the Thracians +from the mountains came down and wished to arrange with Seuthes for 12 +terms of truce and hostages. Simultaneously came Xenophon and informed +Seuthes that they were camped in bad quarters, with the enemy next +door; "it would be pleasanter too," he added, "to bivouac in a strong +position in the open, than under cover on the edge of destruction." +The other bade him take heart and pointed to some of their hostages, +as much as to say "Look there!" Parties also from the mountaineers +came down and pleaded with Xenophon himself, to help arrange a truce +for them. This he agreed to do, bidding them to pluck up heart, and +assuring them that they would meet with no mischief, if they yielded +obedience to Seuthes. All their parleying, however, was, as it turned +out, merely to get a closer inspection of things. This happened in the +day, and in the following night the Thynians descended from the hill +country and made an attack. In each case, the guide was the master of +the house attacked; otherwise it would have taxed their powers to +discover the houses in the dark, which, for the sake of their flocks +and herds, were palisaded all round with great stockades. As soon as +they had reached the doors of any particular house, the attack began, +some hurling in their spears, others belabouring with their clubs, +which they carried, it was said, for the purpose of knocking off the +lance points from the shaft. Others were busy setting the place on +fire; and they kept calling Xenophon by name: "Come out, Xenophon, and +die like a man, or we will roast you alive inside." + +By this time too the flames were making their appearance through the +roof, and Xenophon and his followers were within, with their coats of +mail on, and big shields, swords, and helmets. Then Silanus, a +Macistian (2), a youth of some eighteen years, signalled on the +trumpet; and in an instant, out they all leapt with their drawn +swords, and the inmates of other quarters as well. The Thracians took +to their heels, according to their custom, swinging their light +shields round their backs. As they leapt over the stockade some were +captured, hanging on the top with their shields caught in the palings; +others missed the way out, and so were slain; and the Hellenes chased +them hotly, till they were outside the village. + + (2) "Of Macistus," a town in the Triphylia near Scillus. + +A party of Thynians turned back, and as the men ran past in bold 18 +relief against a blazing house, they let fly a volley of javelins, out +of the darkness into the glare, and wounded two captains, Hieronymus, +an Euodean (3), and Theogenes, a Locrian. No one was killed, only the +clothes and baggage of some of the men were consumed in the flames. +Presently up came Seuthes to the rescue with seven troopers, the first +to hand, and his Thracian trumpeteer by his side. Seeing that +something had happened, he hastened to the rescue, and ever the while +his bugler wound his horn, which music added terror to the foe. +Arrived at length, he greeted them with outstretched hand, exclaiming, +"I thought to find you all dead men." + + (3) If this is the same man as Hieronymus of Elis, who has been + mentioned two or three times already, possibly the word {Euodea} + points to some town or district of Elis; or perhaps the text is + corrupt. + +After that, Xenophon begged him to hand over the hostages to himself, +and if so disposed, to join him on an expedition to the hills, or if +not, to let him go alone. Accordingly the next day Seuthes delivered +up the hostages. They were men already advanced in years, but the pick +of the mountaineers, as they themselves gave out. Not merely did +Seuthes do this, but he came himself, with his force at his back (and +by this time he had treble his former force, for many of the +Odrysians, hearing of his proceedings, came down to join in the +campaign); and the Thynians, espying from the mountains the vast array +of heavy infantry and light infantry and cavalry, rank upon rank, came +down and supplicated him to make terms. "They were ready," they +professed, "to do all that he demanded; let him take pledges of their +good faith." So Seuthes summoned Xenophon and explained their +proposals, adding that he should make no terms with them, if Xenophon +wished to punish them for their night attack. The latter replied: "For +my part, I should think their punishment is great enough already, if +they are to be slaves instead of free men; still," he added, "I advise +you for the future to take as hostages those who are most capable of +doing mischief, and to let the old men abide in peace at home." So to +a man they gave in their adhesion in that quarter of the country. + + + + +V + +Crossing over in the direction of the Thracians above Byzantium, they 1 +reached the Delta, as it is called. Here they were no longer in the +territory of the Maesades, but in the country of Teres the Odrysian + (an ancient worthy (1)). Here Heracleides met them with the proceeds of +the spoil, and Seuthes picked out three pairs of mules (there were +only three, the other teams being oxen); then he summoned Xenophon and +bade him take them, and divide the rest between the generals and +officers, to which Xenophon replied that for himself, he was content +to receive his share another time, but added: "Make a present of these +to my friends here, the generals who have served with me, and to the +officers." So of the pairs of mules Timasion the Dardanian received +one, Cleanor the Orchomenian one, and Phryniscus the Achaean one. The +teams of oxen were divided among the officers. Then Seuthes proceeded +to remit pay due for the month already passed, but all he could give +was the equivalent of twenty days. Heracleides insisted that this was +all he had got by his trafficking. Whereupon Xenophon with some warmth +exclaimed: "Upon my word, Heracleides, I do not think you care for +Seuthes' interest as you should. If you did, you have been at pains to +bring back the full amount of the pay, even if you had had to raise a +loan to do so, and, if by no other means, by selling the coat off your +own back." + + (1) See above re previous Teres. The words "an ancient worthy" may + possibly be an editor's or commentator's note. + +What he said annoyed Heracleides, who was afraid of being ousted from +the friendship of Seuthes, and from that day forward he did his best +to calumniate Xenophon before Seuthes. The soldiers, on their side, +laid the blame of course on Xenophon: "Where was their pay?" and +Seuthes was vexed with him for persistently demanding it for them. Up +to this date he had frequently referred to what he would do when he +got to the seaboard again; how he intended to hand over to him +Bisanthe, Ganos, and Neontichos (2). But from this time forward he +never mentioned one of them again. The slanderous tongue of +Heracleides had whispered him:--it was not safe to hand over fortified 8 +towns to a man with a force at his back. + + (2) For Bisanthe see above. Ganos, a little lower down the coast, with + Neontichos once belonged to Alcibiades, if we may believe + Cornelius Nepos, "Alc." vii. 4, and Plutarch, "Alc." c. 36. See + above. + +Consequently Xenophon fell to considering what he ought to do as +regards marching any further up the country; and Heracleides +introduced the other generals to Seuthes, urging them to say that they +were quite as well able to lead the army as Xenophon, and promising +them that within a day or two they should have full pay for two +months, and he again implored them to continue the campaign with +Seuthes. To which Timasion replied that for his part he would continue +no campaign without Xenophon; not even if they were to give him pay +for five months; and what Timasion said, Phryniscus and Cleanor +repeated; the views of all three coincided. + +Seuthes fell to upbraiding Heracleides in round terms. "Why had he not +invited Xenophon with the others?" and presently they invited him, but +by himself alone. He, perceiving the knavery of Heracleides, and that +his object was to calumniate him with the other generals, presented +himself; but at the same time he took care to bring all the generals +and the officers. After their joint consent had been secured, they +continued the campaign. Keeping the Pontus on their right, they passed +through the millet-eating (3) Thracians, as they are called, and +reached Salmydessus. This is a point at which many trading vessels +bound for the Black Sea run aground and are wrecked, owing to a sort +of marshy ledge or sandbank which runs out for a considerable distance +into the sea (4). The Thracians, who dwell in these parts, have set up +pillars as boundary marks, and each set of them has the pillage of its +own flotsom and jetsom; for in old days, before they set up these +landmarks, the wreckers, it is said, used freely to fall foul of and +slay one another. Here was a rich treasure trove, of beds and boxes 14 +numberless, with a mass of written books, and all the various things +which mariners carry in their wooden chests. Having reduced this +district, they turned round and went back again. By this time the army +of Seuthes had grown to be considerably larger than the Hellenic army; +for on the one hand, the Odrysians flocked down in still larger +numbers, and on the other, the tribes which gave in their adhesion +from time to time were amalgamated with his armament. They got into +quarters on the flat country above Selybria at about three miles (5) +distance from the sea. As to pay, not a penny was as yet forthcoming, +and the soldiers were cruelly disaffected to Xenophon, whilst Seuthes, +on his side, was no longer so friendlily disposed. If Xenophon ever +wished to come face to face with him, want of leisure or some other +difficulty always seemed to present itself. + + (3) Or, "the Melinophagi." + + (4) See, for a description of this savage coast, Aesch. "Prom." vinc. + 726, etc.-- + +"{trakheia pontou Salmudesia gnathos +ekhthroxenos nautaisi, metruia neon.}" + +"The rugged Salmudesian jaw of the Black Sea, +Inhospitable to sailors, stepmother of ships." + +But the poet is at fault in his geography, since he connects "the +Salmydesian jaw" with the Thermodon. + + (5) Lit. "thirty stades." Selybria is about fourty-four miles from + Byzantium, two-thirds of the way to Perinthus. + + + + +VI + +At this date, when nearly two months had already passed, an embassy 1 +arrived. These were two agents from Thibron--Charminus, a +Lacedaemonian, and Polynicus. They were sent to say that the +Lacedaemonians had resolved to open a campaign against Tissaphernes, +and that Thibron, who had set sail to conduct the war, was anxious to +avail himself of the troops. He could guarantee that each soldier +should receive a daric a month as pay, the officers double pay, and +the generals quadruple. The Lacedaemonian emissaries had no sooner +arrived than Heracleides, having learnt that they had come in search +of the Hellenic troops, goes off himself to Seuthes and says: "The +best thing that could have happened; the Lacedaemonians want these +troops and you have done with them, so that if you hand over the +troops to them, you will do the Lacedaemonians a good turn and will +cease to be bothered for pay any more. The country will be quit of +them once and for ever." + +On hearing this Seuthes bade him introduce the emissaries. As soon as +they had stated that the object of their coming was to treat for the +Hellenic troops, he replied that he would willingly give them up, that +his one desire was to be the friend and ally of Lacedaemon. So he +invited them to partake of hospitality, and entertained them 3 +magnificently; but he did not invite Xenophon, nor indeed any of the +other generals. Presently the Lacedaemonians asked: "What sort of man +is Xenophon?" and Seuthes answered: "Not a bad fellow in most +respects; but he is too much the soldiers' friend; and that is why it +goes ill with him." They asked: "Does he play the popular leader?" and +Heracleides answered: "Exactly so." "Well then," said they, "he will +oppose our taking away the troops, will he not?" "To be sure he will," +said Heracleides; "but you have only to call a meeting of the whole +body, and promise them pay, and little further heed will they pay to +him; they will run off with you." "How then are we to get them +collected?" they asked. "Early to-morrow," said Heracleides, "we will +bring you to them; and I know," he added once more, "as soon as they +set eyes on you, they will flock to you with alacrity." Thus the day +ended. + +The next day Seuthes and Heracleides brought the two Laconian agents +to the army, and the troops were collected, and the agents made a +statement as follows: "The Lacedaemonians have resolved on war with +Tissaphernes, who did you so much wrong. By going with us therefore +you will punish your enemy, and each of you will get a daric a month, +the officers twice that sum, and the generals quadruple." The soldiers +lent willing ears, and up jumped one of the Arcadians at once, to find +fault with Xenophon. Seuthes also was hard by, wishing to know what +was going to happen. He stood within ear shot, and his interpreter by +his side; not but what he could understand most of what was said in +Greek himself. At this point the Arcadian spoke: "For the matter of +that, Lacedaemonians, we should have been by your sides long ago, if +Xenophon had not persuaded us and brought us hither. We have never +ceased campaigning, night and day, the dismal winter through, but he +reaps the fruit of our toils. Seuthes has enriched him privately, but +deprives us of our honest earnings; so that, standing here as I do to +address you first, all I can say is, that if I might see the fellow +stoned to death as a penalty for all the long dance he has led us, I 10 +should feel I had got my pay in full, and no longer grudge the pains +we have undergone." The speaker was followed by another and then +another in the same strain; and after that Xenophon made the following +speech:-- + +"True is the old adage; there is nothing which mortal man may not +expect to see. Here am I being accused by you to-day, just where my +conscience tells me that I have displayed the greatest zeal on your +behalf. Was I not actually on my road home when I turned back? Not, +God knows, because I learned that you were in luck's way, but because +I heard that you were in sore straits, and I wished to help you, if in +any way I could. I returned, and Seuthes yonder sent me messenger +after messenger, and made me promise upon promise, if only I could +persuade you to come to him. Yet, as you yourselves will bear me +witness, I was not to be diverted. Instead of setting my hand to do +that, I simply led you to a point from which, with least loss of time, +I thought you could cross into Asia. This I believed was the best +thing for you, and you I knew desired it. + +"But when Aristarchus came with his ships of war and hindered our +passage across, you will hardly quarrel with me for the step I then +took in calling you together that we might advisedly consider our best +course. Having heard both sides--first Aristarchus, who ordered you to +march to the Chersonese, then Seuthes, who pleaded with you to +undertake a campaign with himself--you all proposed to go with +Seuthes; and you all gave your votes to that effect. What wrong did I +commit in bringing you, whither you were eager to go? If, indeed, +since the time when Seuthes began to tell lies and cheat us about the +pay, I have supported him in this, you may justly find fault with me +and hate me. But if I, who at first was most of all his friend, to-day +am more than any one else at variance with him, how can I, who have +chosen you and rejected Seuthes, in fairness be blamed by you for the +very thing which has been the ground of quarrel between him and me? +But you will tell me, perhaps, that I get from Seuthes what is by +right yours, and that I deal subtly by you? But is it not clear that, +if Seuthes has paid me anything, he has at any rate not done so with 16 +the intention of losing by what he gives me, whilst he is still your +debtor? If he gave to me, he gave in order that, by a small gift to +me, he might escape a larger payment to yourselves. But if that is +what you really think has happened, you can render this whole scheme +of ours null and void in an instant by exacting from him the money +which is your due. It is clear, Seuthes will demand back from me +whatever I have got from him, and he will have all the more right to +do so, if I have failed to secure for him what he bargained for when I +took his gifts. But indeed, I am far removed from enjoying what is +yours, and I swear to you by all the gods and goddesses that I have +not taken even what Seuthes promised me in private. He is present +himself and listening, and he is aware in his own heart whether I +swear falsely. And what will surprise you the more, I can swear +besides, that I have not received even what the other generals have +received, no, nor yet what some of the officers have received. But how +so? why have I managed my affairs no better? I thought, sirs, the more +I helped him to bear his poverty at the time, the more I should make +him my friend in the day of his power. Whereas, it is just when I see +the star of his good fortune rising, that I have come to divine the +secret of his character. + +"Some one may say, are you not ashamed to be so taken in like a fool? +Yes, I should be ashamed, if it had been an open enemy who had so +deceived me. But, to my mind, when friend cheats friend, a deeper +stain attaches to the perpetrator than to the victim of deceit. +Whatever precaution a man may take against his friend, that we took in +full. We certainly gave him no pretext for refusing to pay us what he +promised. We were perfectly upright in our dealings with him. We did +not dawdle over his affairs, nor did we shrink from any work to which +he challenged us. + +"But you will say, I ought to have taken security of him at the time, +so that had he fostered the wish, he might have lacked the ability to +deceive. To meet that retort, I must beg you to listen to certain +things, which I should never have said in his presence, except for +your utter want of feeling towards me, or your extraordinary +ingratitude. Try and recall the posture of your affairs, when I 24 +extricated you and brought you to Seuthes. Do you not recollect how at +Perinthus Aristarchus shut the gates in your faces each time you +offered to approach the town, and how you were driven to camp outside +under the canopy of heaven? It was midwinter; you were thrown upon the +resources of a market wherein few were the articles offered for sale, +and scanty the wherewithal to purchase them. Yet stay in Thrace you +must, for there were ships of war riding at anchor in the bay, ready +to hinder your passage across; and what did that stay imply? It meant +being in a hostile country, confronted by countless cavalry, legions +of light infantry. And what had we? A heavy infantry force certainly, +with which we could have dashed at villages in a body possibly, and +seized a modicum of food at most; but as to pursuing the enemy with +such a force as ours, or capturing men or cattle, the thing was out of +the question; for when I rejoined you your original cavalry and light +infantry divisions had disappeared. In such sore straits you lay! + +"Supposing that, without making any demands for pay whatever, I had +merely won for you the alliance of Seuthes--whose cavalry and light +infantry were just what you needed--would you not have thought that I +had planned very well for you? I presume, it was through your +partnership with him and his that you were able to find such complete +stores of corn in the villages, when the Thracians were driven to take +to their heels in such hot haste, and you had so large a share of +captives and cattle. Why! from the day on which his cavalry force was +attached to us, we never set eyes on a single foeman in the field, +though up to that date the enemy with his cavalry and his light +infantry used undauntedly to hang on our heels, and effectually +prevented us from scattering in small bodies and reaping a rich +harvest of provisions. But if he who partly gave you this security has +failed to pay in full the wages due to you therefrom, is not that a +terrible misfortune? So monstrous indeed that you think I ought not to +go forth alive (1). + + (1) I.e. the fate of a scape-goat is too good for me. + +"But let me ask you, in what condition do you turn your backs on this 31 +land to-day? Have you not wintered here in the lap of plenty? Whatever +you have got from Seuthes has been surplus gain. Your enemies have had +to meet the bill of your expenses, whilst you led a merry round of +existence, in which you have not once set eyes on the dead body of a +comrade or lost one living man. Again, if you have achieved any, (or +rather many) noble deeds against the Asiatic barbarian, you have them +safe. And in addition to these to-day you have won for yourselves a +second glory. You undertook a campaign against the European Thracians, +and have mastered them. What I say then is, that these very matters +which you make a ground of quarrel against myself, are rather +blessings for which you ought to show gratitude to heaven. + +"Thus far I have confined myself to your side of the matter. Bear with +me, I beg you, while we examine mine. When I first essayed to part +with you and journey homewards, I was doubly blest. From your lips I +had won some praise, and, thanks to you, I had obtained glory from the +rest of Hellas. I was trusted by the Lacedaemonians; else would they +not have sent me back to you. Whereas to-day I turn to go, calumniated +before the Lacedaemonians by yourselves, detested in your behalf by +Seuthes, whom I meant so to benefit, by help of you, that I should +find in him a refuge for myself and for my children, if children I +might have, in after time. And you the while, for whose sake I have +incurred so much hate, the hate of people far superior to me in +strength, you, for whom I have not yet ceased to devise all the good I +can, entertain such sentiments about me. Why? I am no renegade or +runaway slave, you have got hold of. If you carry out what you say, be +sure you will have done to death a man who has passed many a vigil in +watching over you; who has shared with you many a toil and run many a +risk in turn and out of turn; who, thanks to the gracious gods! has by +your side set up full many a trophy over the barbarian; who, lastly, +has strained every nerve in his body to protect you against +yourselves. And so it is, that to-day you can move freely, where you +choose, by sea or by land, and no one can say you nay; and you, on 37 +whom this large liberty dawns, who are sailing to a long desired goal, +who are sought after by the greatest of military powers, who have pay +in prospect, and for leaders these Lacedaemonians, our acknowledged +chiefs: now is the appointed time, you think, to put me to a speedy +death. But in the days of our difficulties it was very different, O ye +men of marvellous memory! No! in those days you called me 'father!' +and you promised you would bear me ever in mind, 'your benefactor.' +Not so, however, not so ungracious are those who have come to you +to-day; nor, if I mistake not, have you bettered yourselves in their +eyes by your treatment of me." + +With these words he paused, and Charminus the Lacedaemonian got up and +said: "Nay, by the Twins, you are wrong, surely, in your anger against +this man; I myself can bear testimony in his favour. When Polynicus +and I asked Seuthes, what sort of a man he was? Seuthes answered:--he +had but one fault to find with him, that he was too much the soldiers' +friend, which also was the cause why things went wrong with him, +whether as regards us Lacedaemonians or himself, Seuthes." + +Upon that Eurylochus of Lusia, an Arcadian, got up and said +(addressing the two Lacedaemonians), "Yes, sirs; and what strikes me +is that you cannot begin your generalship of us better than by +exacting from Seuthes our pay. Whether he like it or no, let him pay +in full; and do not take us away before." + +Polycrates the Athenian, who was put forward by Xenophon, said: "If my +eyes do not deceive me, sirs, there stands Heracleides, yonder, the +man who received the property won by our toil, who took and sold it, +and never gave back either to Seuthes or to us the proceeds of the +sale, but kept the money to himself, like the thief he is. If we are +wise, we will lay hold of him, for he is no Thracian, but a Hellene; +and against Hellenes is the wrong he has committed." + +When Heracleides heard these words, he was in great consternation; so +he came to Seuthes and said: "If we are wise we will get away from +here out of reach of these fellows." So they mounted their horses and +were gone in a trice, galloping to their own camp. Subsequently 42 +Seuthes sent Abrozelmes, his private interpreter, to Xenophon, begging +him to stay behind with one thousand heavy troops; and engaging duly +to deliver to him the places on the seaboard, and the other things +which he had promised; and then, as a great secret, he told him, that +he had heard from Polynicus that if he once got into the clutches of +the Lacedaemonians, Thibron was certain to put him to death. Similar +messages kept coming to Xenophon by letter or otherwise from several +quarters, warning him that he was calumniated, and had best be on his +guard. Hearing which, he took two victims and sacrificed to Zeus the +King: "Whether it were better and happier to stay with Seuthes on the +terms proposed, or depart with the army?" The answer he received was, +"Depart." + + + + +VII + +After this, Seuthes removed his camp to some considerable distance; 1 +and the Hellenes took up their quarters in some villages, selecting +those in which they could best supply their commissariat, on the road +to the sea. Now these particular villages had been given by Seuthes to +Medosades. Accordingly, when the latter saw his property in the +villages being expended by the Hellenes, he was not over well pleased; +and taking with him an Odrysian, a powerful person amongst those who +had come down from the interior, and about thirty mounted troopers, he +came and challenged Xenophon to come forth from the Hellenic host. He, +taking some of the officers and others of a character to be relied +upon, came forward. Then Medosades, addressing Xenophon, said: "You +are doing wrong to pillage our villages; we give you fair warning--I, +in behalf of Seuthes, and this man by my side, who comes from Medocus, +the king up country--to begone out of the land. If you refuse, +understand, we have no notion of handing it over to you; but if you +injure our country we will retaliate upon you as foes." + +Xenophon, hearing what they had to say, replied: "Such language +addressed to us by you, of all people, is hard to answer. Yet for the +sake of the young man with you, I will attempt to do so, that at least +he may learn how different your nature is from ours. We," he +continued, "before we were your friends, had the free run of this +country, moving this way or that, as it took our fancy, pillaging and 5 +burning just as we chose; and you yourself, Medosades, whenever you +came to us on an embassy, camped with us, without apprehension of any +foe. As a tribe collectively you scarcely approached the country at +all, or if you found yourselves in it, you bivouacked with your horses +bitted and bridled, as being in the territory of your superiors. +Presently you made friends with us, and, thanks to us, by God's help +you have won this country, out of which to-day you seek to drive us; a +country which we held by our own strength and gave to you. No hostile +force, as you well know, was capable of expelling us. It might have +been expected of you personally to speed us on our way with some gift, +in return for the good we did you. Not so; even though our backs are +turned to go, we are too slow in our movements for you. You will not +suffer us to take up quarters even, if you can help it, and these +words arouse no shame in you, either before the gods, or this +Odrysian, in whose eyes to-day you are man of means, though until you +cultivated our friendship you lived a robber's life, as you have told +us. However, why do you address yourself to me? I am no longer in +command. Our generals are the Lacedaemonians, to whom you and yours +delivered the army for withdrawal; and that, without even inviting me +to attend, you most marvellous of men, so that if I lost their favour +when I brought you the troops, I might now win their gratitude by +restoring them." + +As soon as the Odrysian had heard this statement, he exclaimed: "For +my part, Medosades, I sink under the earth for very shame at what I +hear. If I had known the truth before, I would never have accompanied +you. As it is, I return at once. Never would King Medocus applaud me, +if I drove forth his benefactors." With these words, he mounted his +horse and rode away, and with him the rest of his horsemen, except +four or five. But Medosades, still vexed by the pillaging of the +country, urged Xenophon to summon the two Lacedaemonians; and he, +taking the pick of his men, came to Charminus and Polynicus and +informed them that they were summoned by Medosades; probably they, +like himself, would be warned to leave the country; "if so," he added, 14 +"you will be able to recover the pay which is owing to the army. You +can say to them, that the army has requested you to assist in exacting +their pay from Seuthes, whether he like it or not; that they have +promised, as soon as they get this, cheerfully to follow you; that the +demand seems to you to be only just, and that you have accordingly +promised not to leave, until the soldiers have got their dues." The +Lacedaemonians accepted the suggestion: they would apply these +arguments and others the most forcible they could hit upon; and with +the proper representatives of the army, they immediately set off. + +On their arrival Charminus spoke: "If you have anything to say to us, +Medosades, say it; but if not, we have something to say to you." And +Medosades submissively made answer: "I say," said he, "and Seuthes +says the same: we think we have a right to ask that those who have +become our friends should not be ill-treated by you; whatever ill you +do to them you really do to us, for they are a part of us." "Good!" +replied the Lacedaemonians, "and we intend to go away as soon as those +who won for you the people and the territory in question have got +their pay. Failing that, we are coming without further delay to assist +them and to punish certain others who have broken their oaths and done +them wrong. If it should turn out that you come under this head, when +we come to exact justice, we shall begin with you." Xenophon added: +"Would you prefer, Medosades, to leave it to these people themselves, +in whose country we are (your friends, since this is the designation +you prefer), to decide by ballot, which of the two should leave the +country, you or we?" To that proposal he shook his head, but he +trusted the two Laconians might be induced to go to Seuthes about the +pay, adding, "Seuthes, I am sure, will lend a willing ear;" or if they +could not go, then he prayed them to send Xenophon with himself, +promising to lend the latter all the aid in his power, and finally he +begged them not to burn the villages. Accordingly they sent Xenophon, +and with him a serviceable staff. Being arrived, he addressed Seuthes +thus:-- + +"Seuthes, I am here to advance no claims, but to show you, if I can, 21 +how unjust it was on your part to be angered with me because I +zealously demanded of you on behalf of the soldiers what you promised +them. According to my belief, it was no less to your interest to +deliver it up, than it was to theirs to receive it. I cannot forget +that, next to the gods, it was they who raised you up to a conspicuous +eminence, when they made you king of large territory and many men, a +position in which you cannot escape notice, whether you do good or do +evil. For a man so circumstanced, I regarded it as a great thing that +he should avoid the suspicion even of ungrateful parting with his +benefactors. It was a great thing, I thought, that you should be well +spoken of by six thousand human beings; but the greatest thing of all, +that you should in no wise discredit the sincerity of your own word. +For what of the man who cannot be trusted? I see that the words of his +mouth are but vain words, powerless, and unhonoured; but with him who +is seen to regard truth, the case is otherwise. He can achieve by his +words what another achieves by force. If he seeks to bring the foolish +to their senses--his very frown, I perceive, has a more sobering +effect than the chastisement inflicted by another. Or in negotiations +the very promises of such an one are of equal weight with the gifts of +another. + +"Try and recall to mind in your own case, what advance of money you +made to us to purchase our alliance. You know you did not advance one +penny. It was simply confidence in the sincerity of your word which +incited all these men to assist you in your campaign, and so to +acquire for you an empire, worth many times more than thirty talents, +which is all they now claim to receive. Here then, first of all, goes +the credit which won for you your kingdom, sold for so mean a sum. Let +me remind you of the great importance which you then attached to the +acquisition of your present conquests. I am certain that to achieve +what stands achieved to-day, you would willingly have foregone the +gain of fifty times that paltry sum. To me it seems that to lose your +present fortune were a more serious loss than never to have won it; +since surely it is harder to be poor after being rich than never to 28 +have tasted wealth at all, and more painful to sink to the level of a +subject, being a king, then never to have worn a crown. + +"You cannot forget that your present vassals were not persuaded to +become your subjects out of love for you, but by sheer force; and but +for some restraining dread they would endeavour to be free again +to-morrow. And how do you propose to stimulate their sense of awe, and +keep them in good behaviour towards you? Shall they see our soldiers +so disposed towards you that a word on your part would suffice to keep +them now, or if necessary would bring them back again to-morrow? while +others hearing from us a hundred stories in your praise, hasten to +present themselves at your desire? Or will you drive them to conclude +adversely, that through mistrust of what has happened now, no second +set of soldiers will come to help you, for even these troops of ours +are more their friends than yours? And indeed it was not because they +fell short of us in numbers that they became your subjects, but from +lack of proper leaders. There is a danger, therefore, now lest they +should choose as their protectors some of us who regard ourselves as +wronged by you, or even better men than us--the Lacedaemonians +themselves; supposing our soldiers undertake to serve with more +enthusiasm, if the debt you owe to them be first exacted; and the +Lacedaemonians, who need their services, consent to this request. It +is plain, at any rate, that the Thracians, now prostrate at your feet, +would display far more enthusiasm in attacking, than in assisting you; +for your mastery means their slavery, and your defeat their liberty. + +"Again, the country is now yours, and from this time forward you have +to make provision for what is yours; and how will you best secure it +an immunity from ill? Either these soldiers receive their dues and go, +leaving a legacy of peace behind, or they stay and occupy an enemy's +country, whilst you endeavour, by aid of a still larger army, to open +a new campaign and turn them out; and your new troops will also need +provisions. Or again, which will be the greater drain on your purse? +to pay off your present debt, or, with that still owing, to bid for +more troops, and of a better quality? + +"Heracleides, as he used to prove to me, finds the sum excessive. But 35 +surely it is a far less serious thing for you to take and pay it back +to-day than it would have been to pay the tithe of it, before we came +to you; since the limit between less and more is no fixed number, but +depends on the relative capacity of payer and recipient, and your +yearly income now is larger than the whole property which you +possessed in earlier days. + +"Well, Seuthes, for myself these remarks are the expression of +friendly forethought for a friend. They are expressed in the double +hope that you may show yourself worthy of the good things which the +gods have given you, and that my reputation may not be ruined with the +army. For I must assure you that to-day, if I wished to injure a foe, +I could not do so with this army. Nor again, if I wished to come and +help you, should I be competent to the task; such is the disposition +of the troops towards me. And yet I call you to witness, along with +the gods who know, that never have I received anything from you on +account of the soldiers. Never to this day have I, to my private gain, +asked for what was theirs, nor even claimed the promises which were +made to myself; and I swear to you, not even had you proposed to pay +me my dues, would I have accepted them, unless the soldiers also had +been going to receive theirs too; how could I? How shameful it would +have been in me, so to have secured my own interests, whilst I +disregarded the disastrous state of theirs, I being so honoured by +them. Of course to the mind of Heracleides this is all silly talk; +since the one great object is to keep money by whatever means. That is +not my tenet, Seuthes. I believe that no fairer or brighter jewel can +be given to a man, and most of all a prince, than the threefold grace +of valour, justice, and generosity. He that possesses these is rich in +the multitude of friends which surround him; rich also in the desire +of others to be included in their number. While he prospers, he is +surrounded by those who will rejoice with him in his joy; or if +misfortune overtake him, he has no lack of sympathisers to give him +help. However, if you have failed to learn from my deeds that I was, +heart and soul, your friend; if my words are powerless to reveal the +fact to-day, I would at least direct your attention to what the 43 +soldiers said; you were standing by and heard what those who sought to +blame me said. They accused me to the Lacedaemonians, and the point of +their indictment was that I set greater store by yourself than by the +Lacedaemonians; but, as regards themselves, the charge was that I took +more pains to secure the success of your interests than their own. +They suggested that I had actually taken gifts from you. Was it, do +you suppose, because they detected some ill-will in me towards you +that they made the allegation? Was it not rather, that they had +noticed my abundant zeal on your behalf? + +"All men believe, I think, that a fund of kindly feeling is due to him +from whom we accept gifts. But what is your behaviour? Before I had +ministered to you in any way, or done you a single service, you +welcomed me kindly with your eyes, your voice, your hospitality, and +you could not sate yourself with promises of all the fine things that +were to follow. But having once achieved your object, and become the +great man you now are, as great indeed as I could make you, you can +stand by and see me degraded among my own soldiers! Well, time will +teach you--that I fully believe--to pay whatever seems to you right, +and even without the lessons of that teacher you will hardly care to +see whose who have spent themselves in benefiting you, become your +accusers. Only, when you do pay your debt, I beg of you to use your +best endeavour to right me with the soldiers. Leave me at least where +you found me; that is all I ask." + +After listening to this appeal, Seuthes called down curses on him, +whose fault it was, that the debt had not long ago been paid, and, if +the general suspicion was correct, this was Heracleides. "For myself," +said Seuthes, "I never had any idea of robbing you of your just dues. +I will repay." Then Xenophon rejoined: "Since you are minded to pay, I +only ask that you will do so through me, and will not suffer me on +your account to hold a different position in the army from what I held +when we joined you." He replied: "As far as that goes, so far from +holding a less honoured position among your own men on my account, if +you will stay with me, keeping only a thousand heavy infantry, I will +deliver to you the fortified places and everything I promised." The +other answered: "On these terms I may not accept them, only let us go 51 +free." "Nay, but I know," said Seuthes, "that it is safer for you to +bide with me than to go away." Then Xenophon again: "For your +forethought I thank you, but I may not stay. Somewhere I may rise to +honour, and that, be sure, shall redound to your gain also." Thereupon +Seuthes spoke: "Of silver I have but little; that little, however, I +give to you, one talent; but of beeves I can give you six hundred +head, and of sheep four thousand, and of slaves six score. These take, +and the hostages besides, who wronged you, and begone." Xenophon +laughed and said: "But supposing these all together do not amount to +the pay; for whom is the talent, shall I say? It is a little dangerous +for myself, is it not? I think I had better be on the look-out for +stones when I return. You heard the threats?" + +So for the moment he stayed there, but the next day Seuthes gave up to +them what he had promised, and sent an escort to drive the cattle. The +soldiers at first maintained that Xenophon had gone to take up his +abode with Seuthes, and to receive what he had been promised; so when +they saw him they were pleased, and ran to meet him. And Xenophon, +seeing Charminus and Polynicus, said: "Thanks to your intervention, +this much has been saved for the army. My duty is to deliver this +fraction over to your keeping; do you divide and distribute it to the +soldiers." Accordingly they took the property and appointed official +vendors of the booty, and in the end incurred considerable blame. +Xenophon held aloof. In fact it was no secret that he was making his +preparations to return home, for as yet the vote of banishment had not +been passed at Athens (1). But the authorities in the camp came to him +and begged him not to go away until he had conducted the army to its +destination, and handed it over to Thibron. + + (1) I.e. "at this moment the vote of banishment had not been passed + which would prevent his return to Athens." The natural inference + from these words is, I think, that the vote of banishment was + presently passed, at any rate considerably earlier than the battle + of Coronea in B.C. 394, five years and a half afterwards. + + + + +VIII + +From this place they sailed across to Lampsacus, and here Xenophon was 1 +met by Eucleides the soothsayer, a Phliasian, the son of Cleagoras, +who painted "the dreams (1)" in the Lycium. Eucleides congratulated +Xenophon upon his safe return, and asked him how much gold he had got? +and Xenophon had to confess: "Upon my word, I shall have barely enough +to get home, unless I sell my horse, and what I have about my person." +The other could not credit the statement. Now when the Lampsacenes +sent gifts of hospitality to Xenophon, and he was sacrificing to +Apollo, he requested the presence of Eucleides; and the latter, seeing +the victims, said: "Now I believe what you said about having no money. +But I am certain," he continued, "if it were ever to come, there is an +obstacle in the way. If nothing else, you are that obstacle yourself." +Xenophon admitted the force of that remark. Then the other: "Zeus +Meilichios (2) is an obstacle to you, I am sure," adding in another +tone of voice, "have you tried sacrificing to that god, as I was wont +to sacrifice and offer whole burnt offerings for you at home?" +Xenophon replied that since he had been abroad, he had not sacrificed +to that god. Accordingly Eucleides counselled him to sacrifice in the +old customary way: he was sure that his fortune would improve. The +next day Xenophon went on to Ophrynium and sacrificed, offering a +holocaust of swine, after the custom of his family, and the signs +which he obtained were favourable. That very day Bion and Nausicleides +arrived laden with gifts for the army. These two were hospitably +entertained by Xenophon, and were kind enough to repurchase the horse +he had sold in Lampsacus for fifty darics; suspecting that he had +parted with it out of need, and hearing that he was fond of the beast +they restored it to him, refusing to be remunerated. + + (1) Reading {ta enupnia}, or if {ta entoikhia} with Hug and others, + translate "the wall-paintings" or the "frescoes." Others think + that a writing, not a painting, is referred to. + + (2) Zeus Meilichios, or the gentle one. See Thuc. i. 126. The festival + of the Diasia at Athens was in honour of that god, or rather of + Zeus under that aspect. Cf. Arist. "Clouds," 408. + +From that place they marched through the Troad, and, crossing Mount +Ida, arrived at Antandrus, and then pushed along the seaboard of Mysia +to the plain of Thebe (3). Thence they made their way through 8 +Adramytium and Certonus (4) by Atarneus, coming into the plain of the +Caicus, and so reached Pergamus in Mysia. + + (3) Thebe, a famous ancient town in Mysia, at the southern foot of Mt. + Placius, which is often mentioned in Homer ("Il." i. 366, vi. 397, + xxii. 479, ii. 691). See "Dict. Geog." s.v. The name {Thebes + pedion} preserves the site. Cf. above {Kaustrou pedion}, and such + modern names as "the Campagna" or "Piano di Sorrento." + + (4) The site of Certonus is not ascertained. Some critics have + conjectured that the name should be Cytonium, a place between + Mysia and Lydia; and Hug, who reads {Kutoniou}, omits {odeusantes + par 'Atanea}, "they made their way by Atarneus," as a gloss. + +Here Xenophon was hospitably entertained at the house of Hellas, the +wife of Gongylus the Eretrian (5), the mother of Gorgion and Gongylus. +From her he learnt that Asidates, a Persian notable, was in the plain. +"If you take thirty men and go by night, you will take him prisoner," +she said, "wife, children, money, and all; of money he has a store;" +and to show them the way to these treasures, she sent her own cousin +and Daphnagoras, whom she set great store by. So then Xenophon, with +these two to assist, did sacrifice; and Basias, an Eleian, the +soothsayer in attendance, said that the victims were as promising as +could be, and the great man would be an easy prey. Accordingly, after +dinner he set off, taking with him the officers who had been his +staunchest friends and confidants throughout; as he wished to do them +a good turn. A number of others came thrusting themselves on their +company, to the number of six hundred, but the officers repelled them: +"They had no notion of sharing their portion of the spoil," they said, +"just as though the property lay already at their feet." + + (5) Cf. Thuc. i. 128; also "Hell." III. i. 6. + +About midnight they arrived. The slaves occupying the precincts of the +tower, with the mass of goods and chattles, slipped through their +fingers, their sole anxiety being to capture Asidates and his +belongings. So they brought their batteries to bear, but failing to +take the tower by assault (since it was high and solid, and well +supplied with ramparts, besides having a large body of warlike +defenders), they endeavoured to undermine it. The wall was eight clay +bricks thick, but by daybreak the passage was effected and the wall +undermined. At the first gleam of light through the aperture, one of 14 +the defendants inside, with a large ox-spit, smote right through the +thigh of the man nearest the hole, and the rest discharged their +arrows so hotly that it was dangerous to come anywhere near the +passage; and what with their shouting and kindling of beacon fires, a +relief party at length arrived, consisting of Itabelius at the head of +his force, and a body of Assyrian heavy infantry from Comania, and +some Hyrcanian cavalry (6), the latter also being mercenaries of the +king. There were eighty of them, and another detachment of light +troops, about eight hundred, and more from Parthenium, and more again +from Apollonia and the neighbouring places, also cavalry. + + (6) The Hyrcanian cavalry play an important part in the "Cyropaedeia." + They are the Scirites of the Assyrian army who came over to Cyrus + after the first battle. Their country is the fertile land touching + the south-eastern corner of the Caspian. Cf. "Cyrop." IV. ii. 8, + where the author (or an editor) appends a note on the present + status of the Hyrcanians. + +It was now high time to consider how they were to beat a retreat. So +seizing all the cattle and sheep to be had, with the slaves, they put +them within a hollow square and proceed to drive them off. Not that +they had a thought to give to the spoils now, but for precaution's +sake and for fear lest if they left the goods and chattels behind and +made off, the retreat would rapidly degenerate into a stampede, the +enemy growing bolder as the troops lost heart. For the present then +they retired as if they meant to do battle for the spoils. As soon as +Gongylus espied how few the Hellenes were and how large the attacking +party, out he came himself, in spite of his mother, with his private +force, wishing to share in the action. Another too joined in the +rescue--Procles, from Halisarna and Teuthrania, a descendant of +Damaratus. By this time Xenophon and his men were being sore pressed +by the arrows and slingstones, though they marched in a curve so as to +keep their shields facing the missiles, and even so, barely crossed the +river Carcasus, nearly half of them wounded. Here it was that Agasias +the Stymphalian, the captain, received his wound, while keeping up a +steady unflagging fight against the enemy from beginning to end. And +so they reached home in safety with about two hundred captives, and +sheep enough for sacrifices. + +The next day Xenophon sacrificed and led out the whole army under the 20 +cover of night, intending to pierce far into the heart of Lydia with a +view to lulling to sleep the enemy's alarm at his proxmity, and so in +fact to put him off his guard. But Asidates, hearing that Xenophon had +again sacrificed with the intention of another attack, and was +approaching with his whole army, left his tower and took up quarters +in some villages lying under the town of Parthenium. Here Xenophon's +party fell in with him, and took him prisoner, with his wife, his +children, his horses, and all that he had; and so the promise of the +earlier victims was literally fulfilled. After that they returned +again to Pergamus, and here Xenophon might well thank God with a warm +heart, for the Laconians, the officers, the other generals, and the +soldiers as a body united to give him the pick of horses and cattle +teams, and the rest; so that he was now in a position himself to do +another a good turn. + +Meanwhile Thibron arrived and received the troops which he +incorporated with the rest of his Hellenic forces, and so proceeded to +prosecute a war against Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus (7). + + (7) The MSS. add: "The following is a list of the governors of the + several territories of the king which were traversed by us during + the expedition: Artimas, governor of Lydia; Artacamas, of Phrygia; + Mithridates, of Lycaonia and Cappadocia; Syennesis, of Cilicia; + Dernes, of Phoenicia and Arabia; Belesys, of Syria and Assyria; + Rhoparas, of Babylon; Arbacus, of Media; Tiribazus, of the + Phasians and Hesperites. Then some independent tribes--the + Carduchians or Kurds, and Chalybes, and Chaldaeans, and Macrones, + and Colchians, and Mossynoecians, and Coetians, and Tibarenians. + Then Corylas, the governor of Paphlagonia; Pharnabazus, of the + Bithynians; Seuthes, of the European Thracians. The entire + journey, ascent and descent, consisted of two hundred and fifteen + stages = one thousand one hundred and fifty-five parasangs = + thirty-four thousand six hundred and fifty stades. Computed in + time, the length of ascent and descent together amounted to one + year and three months." The annotator apparently computes the + distance from Ephesus to Cotyora. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1170 *** |