 Book V. Part III. Such was the conclusion of that day. On the following day the General summoned an assembly of the soldiers when it was resolved to invite the men of Sinope and to take advice with them touching on the remainder of the journey. In the event of their having to continue it on foot, the Sinopeans, through their acquaintance with Pemphlegonia, 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 kindness and their best advice. Hecatonomous rose and wished at once to offer an apology with regard to what he had said about the possibility of making friends with the Pemphlegonians. 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 in our power to be friendly with the Barbarians, we will choose the Hellenes. Then being urged to aid them by some advice, with the pious ejaculation he commenced, if I bestow upon you the best counsel I am able, God grant that blessings and abundance may descend on me, but if the contrary may evil betide me. Sacred counsel, 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 panagyrus, or if evil your implications will be many-tongued. 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 behooves me to state my views. I have an intimate acquaintance with the country of the Pemphlegonians and their power. The country possesses the two features of hill and bale. 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 affect a passage. I could point out the hole 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 agreement in the plain against not only their cavalry, but their more than 120,000 infantry, you will only find yourselves 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 Isis River, three hundred feet broad, and thirdly the Hollis, 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 Parthenias is impassable, which you will reach if you cross the Hollis. 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 Heraklia. From Heraklia onward there is no difficulty, either by land or by sea, for there are plenty of vessels at Heraklia. After he had finished his remarks, some of his hearers thought that they detected a certain bias in them. He would not have spoken so, but for his friendship with Corleus, 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. After that might be, the Hellenes voted in favor 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 recognize, 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 bad them set an embassy, which they did, to Witt, Calomacus the Arcadian, and Ariston the Athenian, and Samalus 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 Helene 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 a new territory and power for Helus, 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 Solanus the Ambrosiat, the soothsayer of Cyrus above mentioned, and before breathing a syllable to any of the soldiers he consulted the victims by sacrifice. But Solanus, in apprehension lest these ideas might embody themselves, and the army be permanently halted at some point or other, set a tale going among 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. Solanus himself being minded to reach Helus with all possible speed, for the simple reason that he had still got the three thousand derricks presented to him by Cyrus, on the occasion of the sacrifice, when he hid the truth so happily about the ten days. Solanus'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 Timaecian the Dardanian, with Thorax the Bocian, addressed themselves to some Heracleate and Synopean traitors, who had come to Catoria, 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 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 Timesian the Dardanian sent a fellow citizen of his own, Eurymachus, with the Bocian thorax, to repeat the same story. So when it reached the years of the men of Synope and the Heracleates, they sent it to Timesian and pressed him to accept of a gratuity, in return for which he was to arrange for the departure of the troops. Timesian 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 Hell us and Hell us 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 scissor-zine ahead per month. I will bring you to the Troad, from which part I am in 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 Eolid, Anphyrgia, and the Troad, and indeed the whole setropy of Farnabasus, partly because it is my birthplace, partly from campaigns in that region, with Cliarchus and Dercilidus. No sooner had he ceased than up got Thorax the Ocean. This was a man who had a standing battle with Xenophon about the general ship of the army. What he said was that, if they once got fairly out of the Yuxin, there was the Cheresonesi, 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, then, when there was so much territory in Helus and Despair, to be poking about in the land of the Barbarian! But until you find yourselves there, he added, I know less than Timatian can guarantee you regular pay. This he said, knowing what promises had been made to Timatian by the men of Heraclea and Sinope, to induce them to set sail. Meanwhile Xenophon held his peace. Then up got Phyllisias and Lycan, to Achaens. 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 Solanus the soothsayer assured me by his answer of what was the main point. The victims were favourable. No doubt Solanus 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 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, 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 Helus, 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 Solanus 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 Heracliates 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 Timasian 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 them to the other generals to whom they had communicated their former transactions, that is to say, all except Neon the Ascenaean, who, as Lieutenant General, was acting for Chereosophus during his continued absence. This done they came in a body to Xenophon, and said that their views were changed. As they had now got the ships they thought it best to sail to Phasus, and seize the territory of the Phasians, whose present king was a descendant of Aetis. 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, to Masian 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. Book 5 Part 4. Number 7. Presently the soldiers came to learn what was in course of agitation, 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 Phasus. 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 Kulcians 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 the 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 your faces. I beg you, by all that is holy, 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 hell us must need journey towards the sunset, whereas he who seeks the land of the barbarians must, contrary wise, fix 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 hell us, and the south wind inwards towards the faces, once the saying, when the north wind doth blow, home to hell us we will go. He would be a clever fellow who could befool you into embarking with the south wind blowing. That sounds all very well, you think, only I may get you on board during the 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 cajolary shall I carry you off? But I will imagine you so far befooled and bewitched by me that I have got you to the faces. We proceed to disembark on dry land. At last it will come out, that wherever you are you are not in hell us, and that 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 the blow on 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, and 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 either that he himself could be the victim of a fraud, or that he could victimise any one 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 heart's 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 to the curiosity of the soldiers. They marveled 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 sera sentines, 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. Claretas, the captain, learned 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 be gone beyond the Yucsin. 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 Don 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 Claretas and a good many of the rest, and only a few of them got safe back to Saracis. 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 Saracis, not having as yet weighed anchor. After this, according to what the Saracintines 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 Saracis, and told them they were astonished that we should have thought it right to attack them. However, when, as the Saracintines assert, they had assured them that the occurrence was not authorized by public consent, they were pleased, and proposed to sail here, not only to stay 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 Saracis, 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 depelled with stones, but vociferously encouraged their neighbors to do the same. The three men, ambassadors, mark you, were slain, stone to death. After this occurrence, the men of Saracis 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 Saracintines 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 of, 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 Saracintines, 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 chanting on someone who was better informed, I was told by him that the clerks of the market were treating the army most scandalously. Just then someone got sight of the market-clerk, Zellarchus, making his way off towards the sea, and lifted up his voice aloud, and the rest responding to the cry as if a wild boar or a stag had been startled, they rushed upon him. The Saracintines, 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 intimated 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 Saracus? They had done no wrong. They were simply afraid that some madness had ceased 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, a vicious 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 whomesoever 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. Zalarchus, 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 Helene's cannot approach Serasa safely without a strong force, and the corpses which the very men who slew 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 the blood of heralds upon his hands? All we could do was to implore the Seracentines 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 sight. If, however, these seem to you to be the deeds rather of wild beasts than of human beings, but think 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 will we come of the praise we expect to win from the mouths of men? Who will vouchsafe it to us if this is our behavior? 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 ring-leaders in these matters should be punished, and that for the future to set an example of lawlessness should be forbidden. Every such ring-leader was to be prosecuted on the capital charge. The generals were to bring all offenders to the bar of justice. Prosecutions for all other misdemeanors committed since the death of Cyrus were to be instituted, and they ended by constituting the officers into a board of die-castes. 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. Number 8 It was further resolved that the generals themselves should undergo a judicial examination in reference to their conduct in past time. In the course of investigation, Phylicias and Xanthocles, respectively, were condemned to pay a sum of twenty minnet to meet a deficiency to that amount occurred during the guardianship of the cargoes of the merchantmen. Sophanetus was fined ten minnet 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. Xenophon got up and demanded that the first speaker should state where and when it was that 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 deadbeat, so acute was the suffering, with the enemy close on our heels, finally, 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. Appeltast, then? No, nor yet appeltast, but he had been ordered by his messmates to drive a mule, although he was a free man. Then at last he recognized 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 messmate's kit. Havoc, said Xenophon. Nay, I distributed it. Some to one man, some to another to carry, and bad 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. A man was left behind from inability to proceed further. I recognized 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 is sent to this. Well, then, said Xenophon, after I had sent you forward I overtook you again, as I came up with the rear guard. 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 and 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 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 to the other who played the pultrune 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 anyone 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 for me, it saved him a thrust with the lance from the enemy. In fact, the opportunity they enjoy today 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 defense, he continued, is simple. If I chastened any one for his own good, I claim to suffer by the same penalties as parents pay their children or masters their boys. Does not the surgeon also cauterize and cut us for our own good? But if you really believe that these acts are the outcome of wanton insolence, I beg you to observe that, although today, thank God, I am hardier 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 amid ships, 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 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 reign to his wantoness by your passivity. For if you will be at pains to investigate, you will find that those who were then most cowardly are the ring-leaders today in brutality and outrage. There is Boyskis, the boxer, a Thessalayan, what a battle he fought then to escape carrying his shield. So tired was he, and today I am told he has stripped several citizens of catoria 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 in recount the times when I incurred the hatred of someone, 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, 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 and pleasantly after all. End of book five. Book six, part one 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 B.G. Oxford. Anabasis by Xenophon, translated by H.G. Dackens. Book six, part one. Number one. After this, whilst waiting, they lived partly on supplies from the market, partly on the fruit of raids into Papalagonia. The Papalagonians 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 Corilas, who was the chief of Papalagonia at that date, sent ambassadors to the Helens, bearing horses and fine apparel, and charged with a proposal on the part of Corilas to make terms with the Helens 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 everyone thought he was really wounded, so skillfully and artistically did he fall, and the Papalagonians screamed out. Then he that gave the blow stripped the other of his arms, and marched off chanting the Sitalcas, whilst others of the thracians bore off the other, who lay as if dead, though he had not received even a scratch. After this some Anyanians and Magnasians got up and fell to dancing the Carpea, 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 about him frequently, as though he were afraid of something. Up comes a cattle lifter, and no sooner does the plowman 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. After this a Mycian 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 whorl about, and throw somersaults, keeping 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 the earth, and all this he did in measured time to the sound of the flute. After him, the Mantenians stepped upon the stage, and some other Arcadians also stood up. They had accoutered themselves in all their warlike finery. They marched with measured tread, pipes playing to the tune of the warrior march. The notes of the peon rose. Lightly their limbs moved and danced, as in solemn procession to the Holy Gods. The Paphalagonians looked upon it as something truly strange, that all these dances should be under arms, and the Mycians, 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, loud clapping followed, and the Paphalagonians asked, if these women fought by their side in the 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. 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 Paphalagonians. There was to be a mutual abstinence from injuries. After this the ambassadors went on their way, and the Helens, 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 Paphalagonia on their left. And on the following day, arriving at Sinop, they came to moorings in the harbor of Harmene, near Sinop. The Sinopians, though inhabitants of Paphalagonia, are really colonists of the Milesians. They sent gifts of hospitality to the Helens, 3,000 measures of barley with 1,500 jars of wine. At this place Kyrysophus 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 Anasibius, the High Admiral, and the rest who sent them their congratulations, coupled with a promise on the part of Anasibius, that as soon as they were outside the Usine, pay would be forthcoming. At Harmene, the army halted five days. And now that they seemed to be so close to Helens, the question how they were to reach home, not empty-handed, presented itself more forcibly to their minds than here to fore. 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 general ship 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 judgment 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 blessings 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 a risk of perhaps losing such reputation as he had already acquired. He was in sore straits, 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 setting out from Ephesus to associate himself with Cyrus, 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, indicating glory and yet suffering, for the punier race of birds only attacked the eagle when seated. Yet he added, it bodes not gain in money, for the eagle seizes his food, not when seated, but on the wing. 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 honored 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 Lacedemonian, 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. I do not see and know with what persistence these Lacedemonians prosecuted the war, till finally they forced our state to acknowledge the leadership of Lacedemon. 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 neutralize 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 siege general there will be less factiousness than when there were many, be assured, 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 determined 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, a gaseous, the Stemphalian, said, it was really ridiculous if things had come to this past that the Lacedemonians are to fly into a rage because a number of friends have met together to dinner and omitted to choose a Lacedemonian 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 need hold myself aloof. Under these circumstances they chose Chiresophus, who after his election stepped forward and said, Nacers, be well assured of this, that had you chosen someone 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 Decipus has gone some way in introducing him to Anasibius, 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 Clercus' army with Timasion, a Dardanian, than with himself a Laconian, but continued Chiresophus, since your choice has fallen upon me, I will make it my endeavour to do you all the good in my power, so make your preparations to weigh anchor tomorrow. Wind and weather permitting, we will voyage to Heraclea, everyone must endeavour therefore to put in at that port, and for the rest we will consult when we are come thither. Number two, the next day they weighed anchor and set sail from Harmene, with a fair breeze, two days voyage along the coast. As they coasted along they came in sight of Jason's beach, where, as the story says, the ship Argo came to Moorings, and then the mouth of the rivers. First the Termondon, then the Iris, then the Halles, and next to it the Parthenius. Coasting past the latter, they reached Heraclea, a Hellenic city and a colony of the Megarians, situated in the territory of the Marianndians. So they came to anchorage off the Acherusian Cherosonese, where Heracles is said to have descended to bring up the dog Serberus 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 Hellens as gifts of hospitality, three thousand measures of barley, and two thousand jars of wine, twenty beaves, and one hundred sheep. Through the flat country there flows the Lycus river, as it is called, about two hundred feet in breadth. 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, Serves, that the generals do not endeavor to provide us more efficiently with provisions. These gifts of hospitality will not afford three days of 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 Seisycenes. 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 Caerisophus, as he had been chosen general-in-chief. Others also named Xenophon, but both Caerisophus 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, Calimacos the Parhasian, and Agassias the Stemphalian. 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 the Achaeans banded together, chiefly under the auspices of two ring-laders, Calimacos the Parhasian and Lycon the Achaean. The language they held was to this effect. It was outrageous that a single Athenian and a Lacedemonian, who had not contributed a soldier to the expedition, should rule the 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 everyone must admit to the Arcadians and 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 Caerisophus, 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 Caerisophus 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 his weight in favor of separate action. Everyone for himself, he said. For he had heard from Caerisophus that Cleander, the Spartan Governor General at Byzantium, talked of coming to Kalpehaven 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 anyone else to share in their good fortune. As for Caerisophus, 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. First, the Arcadians and Achaeans, over 4,500 men, all heavy infantry. Secondly, Caerisophus and his men, Viz 1,400 heavy infantry and the 700 Peltast, or Clercus Thracians. Thirdly, Xenophon's division of 1,700 heavy infantry and 300 Peltast, but then he alone had the cavalry, about 40 troopers. The Arcadians who had bargained with the Heracliots and got some vessels from them were the first to set sail. They hoped by pouncing suddenly on the Bithyans to make as large a hall as possible. With that object, they disembarked at Kalpehaven, pretty nearly at the middle point in Thrace. Caerisophus, setting off straight from Heraclia, 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 Heracliotid, pushed forward through the heart of the country. End of Book 6, Part 1, Recording by B. G. Oxford. Book 6, Part 2 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 B. G. Oxford. Anabasis by Xenophon. Translated by H. G. Dackens. Book 6, Part 2. Number 3. The Arcadians disembarking under cover of night at Kalpehaven marched against the nearest villages about 30 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, Smeacris, who had done his work and was retiring to the appointed meeting-place, driving a long train of captives and cattle. For a good while the Helens maintained a running fight, but at the passage of a gorge the enemy routed them, slaying Smeacris 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. 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 marshaled themselves right round the knoll on which the Helens were encamped, both cavalry in large numbers and light-armed troops, while every minute the stream of newcomers grew greater. Then they commenced an attack on the heavy infantry in all security, for the Helens 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 an escape, and ever the attack renewed itself from every point, so that on one side man after man was wounded and 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 parlay about a truce, and finally various concessions were made and terms were agreed to between them, but the Thracians would not hear of giving hostages in answer to the demand of the Helens. At that point the matter rested, so fared it with the Arcadians. As to Carisapus, that general prosecuted his march along the seaboard, and without check reached Kalpehaben. Xenophon advanced through the heart of the country, and his cavalry, pushing on in front, came upon some old men, pursuing their roads some wither, 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 happily 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 suppertime, and then in camp. 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 aspired anything anywhere, ordering them to burn everything in flammable 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 Kalpehaven, where we suppose Chrysopolis, if safe to be, but then when we get there, at Kalpehaven, 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 Chrysopolis' detachment alone. Better to save them if we can, and with united forces work out our deliverance in common. But if so, we must set out with minds prepared, since today either a glorious death awaits us or the achievement of a deed of noblest imprise in the rescue of so many hellen 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 the 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 aspired 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. Temassion 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 Helens had been beleaguered. But no army could they discover, whether friend or foe, only some starvelling 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 Helens had waited till morning before they made off, but in what direction they could not 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 Kalpehaven without loss of time. As they continued their march they came across the track of the Arcadians and the Achaeans along the road to Kalpe, and both the visions 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 watchfires. At first, said they, when we lost sight of your watchfires, 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. 4. During this day they contented themselves with bifwacking there on the beach at the harbor. The place which goes by the name of Kalpehaven is an Asiatic Thrace, the name given to a region extending from the mouth of the Usine all the way to Heraklia, which lies on the right hand as you sail into the Usine. It is a long day's voyage for a warship, using her three banks of ores from Byzantium to Heraklia, and between these two there is not a single Hellenic or friendly city, but only these Bythian Thraceans, who have a bad reputation for the savagery with which they treat any Helens cast ashore by shipwreck or otherwise thrown into their power. Now the haven of Kalpe lies exactly midway, having the voyage between Byzantium and Heraklia. 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, 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 march 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 as the character of the country. The tents were pitched on the seaword facing beach, the soldiers being altogether averse to camping on ground which might so easily be converted into a city. Indeed their arrival at that 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 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, one great success they were told, 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. 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. As soon as the victims proved favorable, 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 splendor they could, considering the means and their power. Others they could not find, and for these they erected a great cenotaph and covered it with reeds. When it was all done they returned home to camp, and that time they supped and went to rest. Next day there was a general meeting of the soldiers, collected chiefly by Agassius, the Stemifalian, a captain, and Hieronymus and Elien, 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 Chiresophus, indeed, had already died under medical treatment for fever, and Neon, the Asenian, had taken his place. 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 general sacrificed, in the presence of the Arcadian seer Arexion, for Silanos the Ambrosiot had chartered a vessel at Heraclia, and made his escape ere this. Sacrificing with a view to departure, the victims proved unfavorable to them. Accordingly, they waited that day. Certain people were bold enough to say that Xenophon, out of his desire to colonize the place, had persuaded the seer to say that the victims were unfavorable to departure. Consequently, he proclaimed by Harold next morning that anyone who liked should be present at the sacrifice, or, if he were a seer, he was bitten to be present and helped 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 unfavorable. Thereat the soldiers were in high dungeon, 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, he said, the victims are, as you may see for yourselves, not yet favorable 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. Someone got up and said, Naturally enough, the victims are unfavorable, for as I learned, from someone 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 favor 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 favorable. 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 favor us, but the soldiers on hearing 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 Kleanor, 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 Kyresophus, and seeing the men suffering so cruelly from want, he was willing to do them a good turn. So he got hold of some Heracliot or other who said he knew of villages close by, from which they could get provisions, and proclaimed by Herald. If anyone 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, for Nabaz's cavalry were the first to fall upon them. They had come to the aid of the Bithyans, wishing if possible in conjunction with the latter, to hinder the Helens from entering Phrygia. These troopers killed no less than five hundred 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 Helens in deep despondency were making their evening meal. When all of a sudden, through bush and break, a party of Bithyans fell upon the pickets, cutting down some and chasing the rest into camp. In the midst of screams and shouts the Helens 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 strengthen the outposts and keep watch under arms the live long night. Book 6 Part 3 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 B. G. Oxford. Anabasis by Xenophon. Translated by H. G. Dackens. Book 6, Part 3. Number 5. And so they spent the night, but with day dawn the generals led the way to 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 hole, leaving only three gates. A non a ship from Heraclea arrived, bringing barley meal, 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 favorable. Just as the sacrifice ended, the seer, Arexion the Parhesian, caught sight of an eagle, which boated well, and bade Xenophon lead on. So they crossed the trench and grounded arms. Then proclamation was made by Harold for the soldiers to breakfast and start on an expedition under arms. The mob of settlers and the captured slaves would be left in camp. Accordingly the mass of 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 lines. When suddenly they caught sight of the enemy cresting certain hillocks in front of them duly marshaled in line a large body of cavalry and infantry. It was Spithridates and Rathinas sent by Farnabasas with their forces at their backs. As soon as the enemy caught sight of the helens they stood still about two miles distant. Then Arexion the seer sacrificed and at the first essay the victims were favorable 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 a battle may find himself attacking the unbroken lines of troops not hitherto engaged. These views approved themselves to all. Do you then, he said, lead on the vanguard straight at the enemy. Do not let us stand parlaying 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. Samolis the Achaean was in command of this brigade. The duty of the second under the command of Perius the Arcadian was to follow in the center. The last was posted on the left with Frazius the 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, Sophonatus, 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 ardor retorted, you know, sirs, I have not been in the habit here to fore of introducing you to danger which you might avoid. It is not your reputation for courage, surely, that is at stake, but your 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 galley 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 anyone should deem this particular galley a whit more trouble 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 pell-tasts 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 today after a good breakfast than tomorrow 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 gained shade, and he led the way. His orders were to cross the gully, where each man chanced to find himself. By this method, as it seemed to him, the troops would more quickly mask themselves on the far side than was possible if they defiled along 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 one's self in the hearts of those one loves. 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 Savior, Heracles our guide. The enemy waited their approach, confident in the excellence of his position. But as they drew closer, the Helen light troops, with the 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 Bithyans, and these turned the Peltasts. But when the counter-wave, the phalanx of the heavy infantry, rapidly advancing, faced them, and at the same time the bugle sounded, and the battle-him 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. Tommassian, 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 Helen cavalry were posted, that was so speedily scattered. But the right, which was not so hotly pursued, collected upon a knoll, and when the Helens saw them standing firm, it seemed the easiest and least dangerous course to go against them at once. Raising the battle-him, they straight away 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 kill, for the enemy's cavalry was numerous and threatening. But when the Helens saw the cavalry of Farnabasus, still standing in compact order, and the Bythian 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 Helens. 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. Number six. After this the enemy confined themselves to their own concerns and removed their households and property as far away as possible. The Helens 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 accepted. 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 anyone went off a part and seized anything, it was voted to be public property. Erelong 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, hearing that a city was being founded and that there was a harbor, were glad to put in. Even the hostile tribes dwelling in the neighborhood 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 his 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 their apprehension of being deprived of them, these same people spoke to Decipus. This was the same man who had made off from Trapezes with the fifty-ord 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. Decipus seized on someone and was forhailing him to the Spartan governor. Just then, Agassius 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 Decipus, 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 passed by the army. That was to blame, if anything. But Cleander, goaded by Decipus, 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. For, at this date, the Lacedemonians held sway over the whole Hellenic world. There at, the affair began to wear an ugly look, and the Helens 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, Agassius, had been a friend to Xenophon throughout, and that was just why Decipus 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 toward us. There are Hellenic cities close by, but then the Lacedemonians are the lords of Helus, and they can, any one of them, carry out whatever they like in the cities. If then, the first thing this Lacedemonian 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 Lacedemonians. And if further, this report of us should reach the ears of their admiral, Anasibius, to stay or to sail away will alike be difficult. Remember, the Lacedemonians 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 Helus, 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 Decipus, I believe, keeps telling Klander that Agassius would never have done this had not I, Xenophon, bitten him. I absolve you of all complicity, and Agassius, too, if Agassius 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 further say that if anyone else is accused, that man is bound to surrender himself to Klander for judgment, 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 are aspiring to win praise and honor throughout Helus we are destined to sink below the level of the rest of the world, ban from the Hellenic cities whose common name we boast. After him, Agassius got up and said, I swear to you, sirs, by the gods and goddesses, verily and indeed, neither Xenophon nor anyone else among you bade me rescue the man. I saw an honest man, one of my own company, being taken up by Decipus, 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 Klander to pass what verdict on me he thinks right. Do not, for the sake of such a matter, make foes of the Lacedemonians. Rather, God grant that each of you may safely reach the goal of his desire. Only do you choose from among yourselves and send with me to Klander 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 Klander, Agassius and the generals, and the man who had been rescued by Agassius, and the generals spoke as follows. The army has sent us to you, Klander, 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 judgment. Accordingly, if you lay anything to the charge of us generals, here we stand at your bar, or do you impute the fault to someone not here, tell us whom. Short of flying in the face of our authority, there is no one who will absent himself. At this point, Agassius stepped forward and said, It was I, Klander, who rescued the man before you yonder from Decipus, when the latter was carrying him off, and it was I who gave the order to strike Decipus. My plea is that I know the prisoner to be an honest man. As to Decipus, I know that he was chosen by the army to command a fifty-ord galley, which we had obtained by request from the men of Trapezes, for the express purpose of collecting vessels to carry us safely home. But this same Decipus 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 Trapezontinas 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 anyone 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, Klander replied that if such had been the conduct of Decipus, he could not congratulate him. But still, he added, turning to the generals, were Decipus, 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 desserts. 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 anyone, since the prisoner himself admits that he rescued the man. Then the man who had been rescued said, In behalf of myself, Klander, if you possibly 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 Yonderfellow seized me 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, Klander said, Very well, if that is your disposition, you can stay behind too, and we will take your case into consideration also. Thereupon Klander and his party proceeded to breakfast. But Xenophon collected the army in assembly, and advised their sending deputation to Klander 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 Klander by all means to release the two men. Accordingly Xenophon came and addressed him thus. Klander, you have the men, the army has vowed 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, dissipus, what each of us is like and afterwards a sign to each his due. When Klander 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 vouch safe, 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 Lassidemonians. After this the deputation thanked him and retired, taking with them the two men. Then Klander sacrificed as a preliminary to marching and consorted friend Lily with Xenophon and the two struck up an alliance. When the Spartans 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 unfavorable. 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 Bithyans. 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 they reached Chrysopolis in Chalcedonia. Here they halted seven days while they disposed of their booty by sail. End of book six, recording by B. G. Oxford. Book seven, part one 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 seven, part one. Number one. At this point Farnabasis, who was afraid that the army might undertake a campaign against his satropy, sent to Enix Abias, 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. Enix Abias 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. And Enix Abias 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 Suthis the Thracian sent Meadowsades 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, Suthis is under no obligation to me or to anyone else. But as soon as it is once across, I personally shall be quit of it. Let Suthis, 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 Enix Abias, 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 Godspeed 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 peoples are disposed to hold you to account, because the army is so slow in getting under way. 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 Enix Zabeus. 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 Etonicus 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 Enix Zabeus summoned the Generals and Captains and addressed them. Provisions you had better get from the Thracian villages. You will find plenty of barley, wheat, and other necessaries in them, and when you have got them, off with you to the Chesseronesi, where Ceniscus 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 Suthis. Was he hostile or friendly? Also, would they have to march through the sacred mountain, or round about through the middle of Thrace? 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 Etonicus 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 their 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 water break and over the while 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 but take itself to pillage, and ill's 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 taken, and that they were all undone. Atonicus made a swift retreat to the citadel. An exibius ran down to the sea, and getting on board a fisherman's smack, sailed round to the Acropolis, and at once set 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. Today, if you only choose, 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 your heart set on, fall into rank and take up positions 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-martialing, fell into rank, and were soon formed, the heavy infantry ate deep, while the light infantry had run up to cover either wing. The Thracian square, as it is called, is a fine sight for maneuvering, being bare of buildings and level. As soon as the arms were stacked and the men's timbers 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 Lachodimonians here present, and plunder an innocent city. We shall be declared enemies of the Lachodimonians and their allies, and what sort of war will that 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 Lachodimonians and their allies, with a fleet consisting of not less than three thousand 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 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 Lachodimonians have not only their old allies, but the Athenians and those who were at that time allies of Athens are added to them. Tisifernes, and all the rest of the Asiatic's 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 asked then, with all these banded together against us, is there anyone so insensate as to imagine 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 the 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 underground. 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, do we need rob ourselves of Hellas too? At present I propose that we should send to Annex Abias 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 if 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 Heronimus and Eleon, with two others, Eurylochus and Arcadian and Felicius and Achaean, to deliver the message. So these set off on their errand. But while the soldiers were still seated in conclave, Corotatus of Thebes arrived. He was a Theban, not an 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 would lead them into Delta of Therese, 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 to spare. While they were still listening to this tale, the return message from Annex Abias 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. Thereupon the soldiers accepted Corotatus as their general, and returned without the walls. Their new general undertook to present himself to the troops next day, with sacrificial beasts and a tooth-sayer, with eatables also and drinkables for the army. Now, as soon as they were gone out, Annex Abias 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, Corotatus arrived with the victims in the sooth-sayer. A string of twenty-bearers bearing barley-meal followed at his heel, succeeded by twenty other 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 for Byzantium on his homeward voyage. Cleander came, and this is what he said. I have come, but I was barely able to arrange what you want. Annex Abias 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 bad the soldiers goodbye, and returned with Cleander within the walls. To return to Corotatus. The first day he failed to get favorable 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 Corotatus, with Chaplet crowned, all ready to sacrifice, when up comes Thymossian the Dardanian, with Neon the Asinian, and Cleanor of Orco-menus, forbidding Corotatus to sacrifice. He must understand there was an end to his generalship, unless he gave them provisions. The other bad 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.