 Book 1, Part 1 of Xenophon's Anabasis. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Graham Redman. Anabasis by Xenophon. Translated by H. G. Dakin's Book 1, Part 1. Darius and Parasatis had two sons. The elder was named Artaxes and 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 need 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 Castellus. Thus Cyrus went up, taking with him to Sophenes as his friend, and accompanied also by a body of Helene's three-hundred heavy-armed men under the command of Zinnias the Parhasian. Now, when Darius was dead and Artaxes was established in the kingdom, Tisophenes brought slanderous accusations against Cyrus before his brother the king of harboring designs against him, and Artaxes, listening to the words of Tisophenes, 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. Perissatis, his mother, was his first resource, for she had more love for Cyrus than for Artaxes 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 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 Tisophanes was plotting against their cities. And truly these cities of Ionia had originally belonged to Tisophanes, being given to him by the king. But at this time, with the exception of Miletus, they had all revolted to Cyrus. In Miletus, Tisophanes 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 Tisophanes should continue to govern them. And in furtherance of this end, the queen, his mother, cooperated 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 Tisophanes, 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 Tisophanes. A third army was being collected for him in the Cursines over against Abidas, 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 derricks. Clearchus took the gold, and with the money raised an army, and using the Cursines, says 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. Then there was the Thacelian Aristipus. Cyrus's friend, 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 Aristipus 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. Further he bad proxiness of the ocean, who was another friend, get together as many men as possible and join him in an expedition which he meditated against the Pesidians, who were causing annoyance to his territory. Similarly, two other friends, Sophonetus, the Stemphalian 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 mylesian exiles against Tysophanes. These orders were duly carried out by the officers in question. But when the right moment seemed to him to have come, at which he should begin his march into the interior, the pretext which he put forward was his desire to expel the Pesidians 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 Aristipus to come to terms with those at home, and to dispatch to him the troops in his employ, to Zeneas the Arcadian, who was acting as general in chief of the foreign troops in the cities, to present himself with all the men available, accepting 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 harkened gladly, they believed in him, and with their arms they presented themselves at Sardis. So too Zeneas arrived at Sardis with the contingent from the cities four thousand hoplites. Proximus also with fifteen hundred hoplites and five hundred light-armed troops, Sofinetus the Stemphalian with one thousand hoplites, Socrates the Achaean with five hundred hoplites, while the Megarian Passion came with three hundred hoplites and three hundred peltasts. This latter officer, as well as Socrates, belonged to the force engaged against Miletus. These all joined him at Sardis. But Tysophanes did not fail to note these proceedings. An equipment so large pointed to something more than an invasion of Pysidia, 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 Tysophanes 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 to the river Meander. That river is two hundred feet broad and was spanned by a bridge consisting of seven boats. Crossing it he marched through Frigia a single stage of eight parasangs to Colossi, an inhabited city prosperous and large. Here he remained seven days and was joined by Menon, the Thessalian, who arrived with one thousand hoplites and five hundred peltasts, dollopies, enianes, and Olympians. From this place he marched three stages, twenty parasangs in all, to Selene, a populous city of Frigia, large and prosperous. Here Cyrus owned a palace and a large park 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 Meander, the sources of which are within the palace buildings, and it flows through the city of Selene. The great king also has a palace in Selene, a strong place on the sources of another river, the Marcias, at the foot of the Acropolis. This river also flows through the city, discharging itself into the Meander, and is five and twenty feet broad. Here is the place where Apollo is said to have flayed Marcias 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 Marcias. It was on this site that Xerxes, as tradition tells, built this very palace as well as the citadel of Selene 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 Syracusan, with three thousand hoplites, and Sofinitas, the Arcadian, with one thousand hoplites. And here Cyrus held a review and numbered his Hellenes in the park and found that they are mounted in all to eleven thousand hoplites and about two thousand peltasts. From this place he continued his march two stages, ten parasangs, to the popular city of Pelti, where he remained three days. While Xenias, the Arcadian, celebrated the Lycea 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 Seremon Agara, a popular city, the last on the confines of Misia. Thence a march of three stages, thirty parasangs, brought him to Caistrupedion, a popular city. Here Cyrus halted five days, and the soldiers whose pay was now more than three months in a rear 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 Epiaxa, the wife of Cyanosus, the king of the Cylissians, 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 Cylissians and Aspendians, and if report speaks truly Cyrus had intimate relations with the queen. From this place he marched two stages, ten parasangs, to Thimbrium, a popular 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 Thimbrium, a popular city. Here he halted three days, and the Cylissian 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 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. 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 Pigris 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 Silician queen in her carriage turned and fled. The settlers 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 Parisangs to Iconium, the last city of Phrygia, where he remained three days. Thence he marched through Lycaonia five stages, thirty Parisangs. This was hostile country and he gave it over to the Hellenes to pillage. At this point Cyrus sent back the Silician 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 Parisangs, 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 Megafurnes, a wearer of the royal purple, and along with him another high dignitary among his subordinate commanders. From this place they endeavored to force a passage into Silicia. Now the entrance was by an exceedingly steep cart-road impracticable for an army in face of a resisting force, and reports said that Psienesis 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 Psienesis had left the pass, doubtless after perceiving that Menon's army was already in Silicia 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 Silicia. Whatever the reason might be, Cyrus made his way up into the hills with outlet or hindrance and came in sight of the tents where the Silicians 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 parisangs, to Tarsus, a large and prosperous city of Silicia. Here stood the palace of Psienesis, the king of the country, and through the middle of the city flows a river called the Sitnaus, two hundred feet broad. They found that the city had been deserted by its inhabitants, and had betaken themselves with Psienesis to a strong place on the hills. All had gone except the tavern-keepers. The seaboard inhabitants of Soli and Isai also remained. Now Epiaxa, Psienesis'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 Silicians 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 root had gone astray and perished. That 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 Psienesis to come to him. But the latter replied that he had never yet put himself into the hands of anyone who was his superior, nor was he willing to exceed 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 Psienesis gave Cyrus large sums in aid of his army, while Cyrus presented him with the customary royal gifts, a 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. End of Book 1, Part 1 Recording by Graham Redman Number 3 At Tarsus, Cyrus and his army halted for twenty days. The soldiers, 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 time 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 honored me in various ways, and made me also a present of ten thousand darks. These I accepted, but not to lay them upon 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 wrecked vengeance on them in behalf of Hellas, driving them out of the Chersenis, 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 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 be tied, I mean to share your fate. Never shall it be said of me by anyone that, having led Greek troops against the barbarians, 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 be tied, I will share your fate. I look upon you as my country, my friends, my allies, and with you I think I shall be honoured, wherever I be. Without you I do not see how I can help a friend or her to foe. My decision is taken. Wherever you go, I go also. 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, expressed their approval, and more than two thousand men deserted Zeneas and Passian, and took their arms and baggage-train, and came and camped with Cliarchus. But Cyrus, in despair and vexation at this turn of affairs, sent for Cliarchus. He refused to come, but, without the knowledge of his soldiers, sent a message to Cyrus, bidding him to 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 him seizing me, and inflicting a penalty on the wrongs which he conceives 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 not remain here, we had better rethink 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 the deal is an excellent friend to his friends, but a very dangerous enemy to his foes, and he has backed up 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 anyone has a suggestion to make, now is the time to speak. With these words he ceased. Then various speakers stood up, some of their own motion to propound their views, others inspired by Clearchus to delay on the hopeless difficulty of either staying or going back without the good will 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 aegiatic clamp. 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 refuses 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 the detachment to occupy the pass before Cyrus and the Silicians, 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 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 reminded 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 vouch safe 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 ship 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 be gone. Indeed, it 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 in his march up formally. 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, the answer, 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 Abracomas, an enemy of his was posted on the Euphrates, twelve stages off. His object was to march against this to force said Abracomas and if he were still there, he wished to inflict punishment upon 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. Only demanded an increase of pay and Cyrus promised them to give them half as much again as they had hitherto received, that is to say a dark and a half a month to each man instead of a dark. Was he really leading them to attack the king? Not even at this moment was anyone apprised of the fact at any rate in an open and public manner. Number 4 From this point he marched two stages, from the Sarasang's to the river Saras which is 200 feet and from the Saras he marched a single stage, five Parasang's to Isi the last city in Cilicia that 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 35 ships from Peloponnesus Admiral Pythagoras on board. These had been piloted from Ephesus by Tamos the Egyptian who himself had another fleet of 25 ships belonging to Cyrus. These had formed Tamos' blockading squadron at Miletus when that city sided with Tissafernes. 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 like a demonian carouselphus who had been sent for by Cyrus and had brought with him 700 hoplites over whom he was to act as general in the service of Cyrus. The fleet lay at anchor opposite Cyrus' tent. Here too another reinforcement presented itself. It was a body of 400 hoplites, Hellenic mercenaries in the service of Ebrocomus who deserted him for Cyrus and joined in the campaign against the king. From Ecy he marched a single stage five parisangs to the gates of Cilicia in Syria. This was a double fortress. The inner and nearer one which protects Cilicia was held by Cynaceus 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 Carces which is a hundred feet broad and the whole space between was scarcely more than 600 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 that 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 Abracomus doing so with the large army. This however Abracomus had not done but as soon as he learnt that Cyrus was in Cilicia he had turned around and made his exit from Phoenicia to join the king of the army amounting as reports said to 300,000 men. From this point Cyrus pursued his march through Syria a single stage five parasangs to Mirandus a city inhabited by Phoenicians on the sea coast. This was a commercial port and numerous merchant vessels were riding at anchor in the harbor. Here they halted seven days and here Xenius and Pasean 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 rumor 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. Xenius and Pasean, he said have taken leave of us but they need not flatter themselves that in doing so they have stolen into hiding. I know where they have gone nor will they owe their escape to speed. I have met a war and captured 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 behavior to them is better than theirs to us. And yet I have their children and their relatives 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 bent 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 20 Parisangs to the river Chalice. 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. So too the pigeons of the place. The villages in which they camp belong to Parisatis as part of her girdle money. From this point he marched on five stages 30 Parisangs to the sources of the river Dardis which is 100 feet broad here stood the palace of Bellasus 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 then he marched on three stages 15 Parisangs to the river Euphrates which is nearly half a mile broad a large and flourishing city named Thapsicus stands on its banks here they halted five days and here Cyrus sent for the generals of the Helians and told them that the advance was now to be made upon Babylon against the great king he bade them to 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 accusing them of having kept secret what they had long known and refused to go unless 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 final 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 as soon as Babylon was reached and they're paying full until he had safely conveyed them back to Ionia again in this manner the Hellenic force was 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 the Cyrus or not collected his own troops apart and made them the following speech Men, he said Listen to me, there is a method by which without risk or toil you may win the special favor of Cyrus beyond the rest of the soldiers you ask what is it I should 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 refrates at once before it is clear what the answer the rest will make if they vote in favor of following he will 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 the 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 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 had crossed he was well pleased and he sent glues in 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 wedded above the chest nor even until this moment said the man of Thapsicus had the river been so crossed on foot boats had always been required but these at the present time Ebrochomus 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 in this place he continued his march through Syria 9 stages 50 parasangs and they reached the river Araxes here were several villages full of corn and wine in which they halted 3 days and provisioned the army end of book 1 part 2 book 1 part 3 of Xenophon's anabasis this is the Libervox recording all Libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libervox.org anabasis by Xenophon translated by H.G. Dakins book 1 part 3 number 5 thence he marched on through Arabia keeping the Euphrates on the right 5 desert stages 35 parasangs in this region the ground was 1 long level plain stretching far and wide like the sea full of absinthe 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 and greatest abundance with plenty of ostriches besides these there were busters and antelopes these creatures were occasionally chased 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 soon had to be abandoned for the bird, in its effort to escape speedily put a long interval between itself and its pursuers plying its legs at full speed and using its wings the while like a sail the busters 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 went in its way through this region they reached the river Moscus which is 100 feet in breadth here stood a big, deserted city called Corsotay almost literally environed by the stream which flows round it in a circle here they halted 3 days and profissioned themselves thence they continued their march 13 desert stages 90 parasangs with the Euphrates still on their right until they reached the gates on these marches several of the baggage was 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 up 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 cappith of wheat or barley shekels the shekel being equal to seven and a half attic obels whilst the cappith is the equivalent of two attic cheoneth case dry measure so that the troops subsisted on meat alone for the whole period some of the stages were 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 gluce and pig race to take a body of barbarians and to help in extricating the wagons as they seemed to be slow about the business they turned round angrily to the Persian nobles and bade them let a hand to force the wagons out then if ever what goes on to constitute one branch of good discipline was to be witnessed each of those addressed just when he chanced to be 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 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 mirey clay and in less time than one could have conceived they had landed the wagons safe on terra firma and had versed to stoppages except when 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 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 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 Cliarchus in which Cliarchus sentenced Menon 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 Cliarchus the same day Cliarchus 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 pass through Menon's quarters Cyrus had not yet come up in the same direction one of Menon's men who was splitting wood caught sight of Cliarchus 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 Cliarchus 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 rested against their knees at the head of his Thracians and horsemen of which he had more than 40 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 Prozenus came up from behind as chance would have it with his division of hoplites and without a moment's hesitation there was no space between the rival parties and grounded arms then he fell to begging Cliarchus 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 Prozenus retire and leave the intervening space open at this juncture Cyrus arrived and inquiring what 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 soon in the mists exclaiming Cliarchus, Prozenus and you other helions 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 to whom you see around will be worse foes to us than those who are present serving the king at these words Cliarchus came to a senses both parties paused from battle and retired to their quarters order reigned number six as they advanced from this point opposite Carmandë they looked upon the hoof prince and dung of horses at frequent intervals it looked like the trail of some two thousand horses and 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 formally 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 to deal with these troopers who were burning down everything in front of them he would lay an empty skate 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 had never got the chance of setting eyes on Cyrus' army and reporting its advent to the king the proposal seemed plausible to Cyrus who accordingly authorized 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 air long join him with as many troopers as he could bring he baited 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 dispatch he delivered into the hands of one who was a trusty messenger as he thought the emperor took it 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 a position round his tent this the generals did bringing up about 3,000 hoplites Clearchus was also invited inside to assist at the court-martial with 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 Orantis the 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 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 Orantis 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 Mycians and injure my territory as far as in you lay I did then once more having discovered the limits of your power did you flee to the altar of Artemis crying out that you repented did you thus work upon my feelings that we a second time shook hands and made interchange of solemn pledges are these things so? Orantis again assented then what injury have you received from me? Cyrus asked now that 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 would 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 in turn including the kinsmen of Orantis took him by the girdle which is as much to say let him die the death and then those appointed let him out and they who in old days were want to do obeisance to him could not refrain even at that moment from bowing down before him albeit they knew he was being led to death after they conducted him to the tent of Artepates 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 number seven from this place Cyrus marched through Babylonia three stages twelve parisangs now on the third night about midnight Cyrus held a review of the Helians and Asiatics on the plane 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 Thessalion 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 he arrived bringing Cyrus information about the royal army then Cyrus summoned the generals and captains of the Helians 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 Helus 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 this 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 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 as you are left at home here Galates a Sammian exile and a trusty friend of Cyrus being present exclaimed I am 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 to be able to make good all your promises and repay when Cyrus heard that he answered you'll 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 a 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 might 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 Helians I will give you 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 Helians 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 Cliarchus put a question to him but do you think that your brother will give battle to you Cyrus answered not without a battle be assured shall the prize be won if he be the son of Darius and Parisatus a brother of mine in the final arming for battle at this juncture the numbers were as follows of Helians there were 10,400 heavy infantry with 2,500 targetiers while the barbarians with Cyrus reached a total of 100,000 he had to about 20 chariots the enemy's forces were reported to number 1,200,000 with 200 syth chariots besides he had 6,000 cavalry under Artigerses these formed the immediate vanguard of the king himself the royal army was marshaled by four generals or field marshals each in command of 300,000 men their names were Ebrocomus, Tissaferonis Gobrius but of this total not more than 900,000 were engaged in the battle with 150 syth chariots since Ebrocomus in his march from Phoenicia arrived five days 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 enemies who were taken prisoners from this place Cyrus advanced one stage three parisangs 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 30 feet broad and 18 feet deep the trench was carried inland through the plain 12 parisangs distance to the wall of Medea here are canals flowing from the river Tigris there are four in number each about 100 feet broad and very deep with corn ships flying upon them they emptied themselves into the Euphrates and are at intervals of one parisang apart and are spanned by bridges between the Euphrates and the trench was a narrow passage 20 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 defense 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 but there were numerous unmistakable traces of horse and infantry in retreat here Cyrus summoned Salanus his Ambrachiat Suthisair and presented him with 3,000 Dorrex because 11 days back when sacrificing he had told him that the king would not fight within 10 days and Cyrus had answered if he does not fight within that time he will not fight at all and if your prophecy comes true I promise you 10 talents so now that the 10 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 the next day Cyrus advanced with less than his former caution 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 end of book 1 part 3 chapter 1 part 4 of Xenophon's Anabasis this is a Librivox recording all Librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org Anabasis by Xenophon translated by H.G. Dakins book 1 part 4 number 8 it was already about full market time and the halting place at which the army was the take up quarters was nearly reached when Pat de Gaes, a Persian a trustee member of Cyrus's personal staff came galloping up at full speed on his horse, which was bathed in sweat and to everyone 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 coarselet then, leaping on his chargers back with the javelins firmly clutched he passed the order to the rest to arm themselves and fall into their several ranks the orders were carried out with alacrity the ranks shaped themselves Cliarchus held the right wing resting on the Euphrates Prosinus was next and after him the rest while Menon with his troops held the Hellenic left of the Asiatic a body of Pavlagonian cavalry 1000 strong were posted beside Cliarchus on the right and with them stood the Hellenic Peltests on the left was Ariias Cyrus' second in command and the rest of the barbarian host Cyrus with his bodyguard of cavalry about 600 strong all armed with coarselets like Cyrus and cureses and helmets but not so Cyrus he went into battle with head unhelmeted so too all the horses with Cyrus wore forehead pieces and breastplates and the troopers carried short Hellenic swords it was now midday 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 cureses that is Tissérphanes 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 squares all along their front was a line of chariots from one another the famous scythe chariots as they were named having their sides fitted to the axle trees and stretching out slant wise 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, writing past in person accompanied by Pigris his interpreter and three or four others called aloud to Cliarchus to advance against the enemy's center for there the king was to be found and if we strike home at this point he added our work is finished Cliarchus though he would see the compact bounty at the center 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 center 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 finally advancing and the Hellenic division was still riveted at the spot completing its formation as the various contingents came up Cyrus writing past at some distance from the lines glancing 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 pulling up his horse begged him to make the announcement generally known that the omens from the victims internal and external alike were good while he was speaking he heard a confused murmur 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 savior and victory I accept it so let it be and with this 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 chounting the Pion and at the same time advance towards the enemy but with the forward movement a certain portion of the line curved onwards in advance with wave like sinuosity and the portion left behind quick into a run and simultaneously a thrilling cry burst from all lips like that in honor of the war god ELEIL ELEIL and then the running became general some say they clashed their shields and spears thereby causing terror to the horses and before they had got within arrow shot the barbarians swerved and took to flight and now the Hellenes gave chase with might and main checked only by shouts to one another chase but to keep their ranks the enemy's chariots reft of their charioteers swept onwards some through the enemy themselves others passed the Hellenes they as they saw them coming opened a gap and let them pass one fellow like some dumbfounded mortal on a race course was caught by the heels but even he they said received no hurt nor indeed with the single exception of someone on the left wing who was said to have been wounded by an arrow did any Helene in this battle suffer a single hurt Cyrus seeing the Hellenes conquering as far as they went 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 him as though he were already king he was not led away to join in the pursuit but keeping his squadron of 600 horsemen in close order waited and watched to see what the king himself would do the king he knew held the center of the Persian army indeed 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 dispatch any necessary writer along the lines his troops will receive the message in half the time accordingly the king on this occasion held the center of his army but for all that was outside Cyrus's left wing and seeing that no one offered a battle in front nor yet that the troops in front of him he wheeled as if to encircle the enemy it was then that Cyprus 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 600 he mastered the line of troops in front of the king and put to flight the 6000 cutting as it is said with his own hand the general Artegerses but as soon as the route commenced Cyrus's own 600 themselves in the art of pursuit were scattered with the exception of a handful who were left with Cyrus himself chiefly his table companion so called left alone with these he caught sight of the king in 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 coarselet this according to the statement of Tessius the surgeon who further states that he himself healed the wound as Cyrus delivered the blow someone struck him with a javelin under the eye severely and in the struggle which then ensued between the king and Cyrus and those about to protect one or the other we have the statement of Tessius as to the number slain on the king's side for he was by his side on the other Cyrus himself fell and eight of his bravest companions lay at the top of him the story says that Artipus the trustiest among his wound wearers when he saw that Cyrus had fallen to the ground leapt from his horse and threw his arms about him the king bade once slay him as a worthy victim to his brother others say that Artipates drew his scimitar and slew himself by his own hand a golden scimitar it is true that he also wore collar and bracelets and the other ornaments such as the noblest Persians wear for his kindness and fidelity had won him honors at the hands of Cyrus number nine so died Cyrus a man the kingliest and most worthy to rule of all 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 Wylst being brought up with his brother and the other lads his unrivaled excellence was recognized for the sons of the noblest Persians it must be known are brought up one and all as 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 honor from the king and again of others receiving dishonor and the tale of all this is in their ears so that from the earliest boyhood they learn how to rule and be ruled in this courtly training Cyrus earned a double reputation for 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 and horsemanship and for the love of the animal himself nor less in matters of war in the use of the bow in the javelin was held by men in general to be at once the aptest of learners and the most eager practicer as soon as his age permitted the same preeminence showed itself in his fondness for the chase not without a certain appetite for perilous adventure in facing the wild beasts themselves made a furious rush at him and without wincing he grappled with her and was pulled from his horse receiving wounds the scars of which were visible through his 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 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 those forces whose business it is to muster the flame of Castellus nothing was more noticeable in his conduct than the importance which he attached to the faithful fulfillment of every treaty or compact or undertaking entered into with others he would tell no lies to anyone thus doubtless it was 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 to the combatant that he would suffer nothing contrary to its terms therefore in the war with Tissafernes all of the states of their own accord chose Cyrus in lieu of Tissafernes 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 he would never abandon those who had once become his friends he made no secret of his endeavor to outdo his friends and foes alike in reciprocity of conduct the prayer has been attributed to him God grant that I may live long 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 neither to lay at his feet their money their cities their own lives and persons nor is it to be inferred that from this that he suffered the malefactor and wrongdoer to laugh him to scorn on the contrary these he punished most unflinchingly it was no rare sight to see on the well troddened highways men who had forfeited hand or foot or eye the result being that throughout the satripy of Cyrus anyone 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 a special honor to take the first instance to hand he had a war with the Pesitians and Mycians 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 richly subjected and afterwards honored them with other gifts so that if the good and brave were set on a pinnacle of fortune cowards were recognized as their natural slaves and so it befell that Cyrus never had lack of volunteers in any service or danger whenever it was expected that his eye would be upon them so again wherever he might discover anyone ready to establish 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 a more profitable investment than so many pounds a month that 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 assistance it was said whatever the work might be or if he saw any skillful and just steward who furnished well the country over which he ruled and created revenues so far from robbing him at any time to whom he 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 endeavor was rather to turn to account the riches of those who kept them secret towards the friends he had made whose kindness he knew or whose fitness his fellow workers with himself might wish to carry out he had tested he showed himself in turn and 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 hearts desire many were the gifts bestowed on him for many in 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 as personal endorments 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 matters of well-doing is not surprising seeing that he was much more powerful than they but he should not 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 flag into some friend with a message to say Cyrus says this is the best wine he has tasted for a long time he uses his excuse for sending it to you he hopes that you will drink it up today 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 favorite dish he hopes you will taste it yourself or perhaps there was a great dearth of Provinter when through the number of his servants and his own forethought he was unable to get supplies for himself at such times he would send to his friends in different parts baiting them feed their horses on his hay since he would not do for horses that carried his friends to go starving then on any long march or expedition where the crowd of lookers on would be large he would call to his friends to him and entertain them with serious talk so much as to say these I delight to honor so that for myself and 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 accept the attempt of Vorontis 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 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 every one of his faithful bodyguard of friends and table companions with the sole exception of Arius 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 his troops under his lead and of book one part four book one part five of Xenophon's anabasis this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org anabasis by Xenophon translated by H.G. Dackens book one part five number ten then the head of Cyrus and his right hand were severed from his body but the king and those about him pursued and fell upon the Cyrian camp and the troops of Arius 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 is said so the king and those with him fell to ravaging right and left and amongst other spoiled women who was the concubine of Cyrus witty and beautiful if fame speaks correctly the Melisian 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 Helians who had been left among the camp followers on guard these fell at once into line and put to sword many of the pillagers though they lost some men themselves they stuck to the place 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 Helians 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 Helians learned that the king and his troops were in the baggage camp and the king on his side was informed by Tissa Fannies that the Helians 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 Cliarchist summoned Prozenus who was next to 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 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 Helians during the battle as also Tissa Fannies and his division the latter had not fled in the first shock of the encounter he had charged parallel to the line of the Peltests and threw them but charged as he might he did not laid low a single man on the contrary the Helians made a gap to let him through hacking them with their swords and hurling their javelins as they passed Episthanes of Amphipolis was in command of the Peltests and he showed himself a sensible man it was said thus it was that Tissa Fannies having got through haphazard and returned the way he came but reaching the camp of the Helians there fell in with the king and falling into order again the two divisions advanced side by side but when they were parallel with the original left wing of the Helians 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 they liberated the king passed by and ranged his troops on line to meet them in exactly the same position in which he advanced to offer battle at the commencement of the engagement the Helians now seeing them in close proximity and in battle order once again raised the pion 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 for the Helians 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 the kind of golden eagle with wings extended but as soon as the Helians 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 Cliarchus 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 Helians halted they grounded arms and rested marveling the while that Syrus 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 trained brought up or should return to camp they resolved to return and about supper time reached the tents such was the conclusion of the day they found the larger portion of their property pillaged with intervals alike not accepting the wagons laded with corn and wine which Syrus had prepared in case of some extreme need overtaking the expedition to divide among the Helians there were 400 of these wagons and these now had been ransacked by the king and his men so that the greater number of the Helians went supperless having already gone without their breakfasts since the king had appeared before the usual halt for breakfast and the life in this they passed the night end of book 1 book 2 part 1 of Xenophon's anabasis this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Anna Simon anabasis by Xenophon translated by H.G. Dacons book 2 part 1 number 1 with the break of day the generals met and were surprised that Syrus should not have appeared himself or at any rate have sent someone 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 affected junction with Syrus just as they were on the point of starting with the rising sun came Procless the ruler of Tothrania he was a descendant of Demeratus the Laconian and with him also came Gloss the son of Teimos these two told them first that Syrus was dead next that Arraias had retreated with the rest of the barbarians to the halting place once they had started at dawn on the previous day and wished to inform them that if they were reminded to come he would wait for this one day but on the morrow he should return home again to Ionia when he came when they heard these tidings they were totally distressed so too were the rest of the Helians when they were informed of it then Clearchus spoke as follows who would that Syrus were yet alive but since he is dead take back this answer to Arraias 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 hear this have begun our march upon the king so we can promise to Arraias 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 Kerasophus the Laconian and Minon the Thessalian that was what Minon himself wished being as he was a friend and intimate of Arraias 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 Helians had forced the deserters from the king to throw away there were arrows and wicker shields also and the huge wooden shield to the Egyptians there are many targets also and empty wagons left to be carried off here was a stall 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 when heralds from the king and Tiszafernes arrived these were barbarians with one exception this was a certain feloness a Helene who lived at the court of Tiszafernes 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 man who now came up and having summoned the generals of the Helenes they delivered themselves of the following message the great king having won the victory and slain Cyrus bids the Helenes to surrender their arms to but take themselves to the gates of the king's palace and there obtained for themselves what terms they can that was what the heralds said and the Helenes listened with heavy hearts but clericus 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 you may to these gentlemen I will rejoin you presently at the moment an official had summoned him to come the generals which had been taken out for as a chance he was engaged in sacrificing as soon as he was gone Cleonel 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 then come and take them but if he would feign weedlers out of them by fine speeches he should tell us what the soldiers will receive in turn for such kindness in answer to him felonus 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 by impossible 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 the Athenian spoke felonus he said at this instant as you yourself can see we have nothing left but our arms and our valour if we keep the forma we imagine we can make use of the letter 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 felonus laughed when he heard those words and said spoken like a philosopher my fine young man and very pretty reasoning too yet let me tell you your wits are somewhat scattered imagine that your fellow 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 please his fancy say for a campaign against Egypt their arms were at his service they would help to lay that country at his feet just then Cleyarchus returned and wished to know what answer they had given the words were barely out of his mouth before felonus 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 felonus 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 council as to what we'd better do touching your proposals I back 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 honor of after time when it will be said of you how once on a time felonus was sent by the great king to bid certain hellenes yield up their arms and when they had taken him into their council he gave them such and such advice you know that whatever advice you do give us cannot fail to be reported in helles 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 felonus 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 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 felonus said that answer we will repeat but the king baited me tell you this besides whilst you remain here 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 asked felonus 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 but what he was minded really to do that he refused to make further manifest number 2 felonus and those that were with him turned and went but the messengers from arius broclus and caresophus came back as the meanan he stayed behind with arius they brought back this answer from arius 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 tomorrow on the homeward route and clearchus said it at 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 with 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 unfavorable 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 vessels and we could not possibly cross it without boats with 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 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 cleric is led and the rest followed in obedience to his orders not that they expressly chosen him but they saw that he alone had the sense and wisdom requisite in a general while the rest were inexperienced here under cover of the darkness which descended the Thracian with 40 horsemen and 300 Thracian infantry deserted to the king but the rest of the troops leading and the rest flowing in accordance with the orders promulgated took their departure and about midnight reached their first stage having come up with Arias and his army they grounded arms just as they stood in rank and the generals and officers of the Helens met in the tent of Arias there they exchanged oaths the Helens on the one side and Arias with his principal officers on the other not to betray one another but to be true to each other as allies the Asiatic further solemnly pledged themselves by oath to lead the way without treachery the oath were retified by the sacrifice of a bull a wolf, a boar and a ram over a shield the Helens dipped the sword the barbarian's allowance into the blood of the victims as soon as the pledge was taken clericus spoke and now Arias he said since you and we have one expedition in prospect will you 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 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 of the danger is over the king will never overtake us with the small army he will not dare to dog our heels and with the 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 held to a 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 recommended the journey keeping the sun on their right and calculated that with the west string 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 a Ryus who was riding in a wagon to nurse a wound got down 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 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 clericus hesitated to advance upon the enemy knowing that the troops were tired and hungry 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 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 all the beast was to be seen nor a sign of camp or wrath of smoke anywhere in the neighbourhood the king as it would appear by the advent of the army as he fully shewed by his proceedings next day during the progress of this night the helens had their turn of scare a panic seized them and there was a noise and clutter hardly to be explained except by the visitation of some sudden terror but cleracus had with him the ailean Tomides 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 that generals safe and sound at break of day cleracus gave the order to the helens to get under arms in line of battle and take up exactly the same position as they held on the day of the battle End of book 2 part 1