The First Four Books of Xenophon's Anabasis Part 10

[Footnote 155: S???a? t???ta?.] As there is no mention of Scythians in the whole Anabasis, Kruger, in his larger edition, suggested that the word S???a? might have been written in the margin by some sciolist, who was thinking of the Athenian t???ta?; but in his smaller edition he has shown that he has learned something better from Arrian, Tact. ii. 13: "Those of the cavalry who use bows are called ?pp?t???ta?, and by some S???a?." _Kuhner_.]

[Footnote 156: In order that they might fall with the greater weight.

_Bornemann_. Or perhaps, as Bishop Thirlwall thinks, that they might reach a greater distance.]

[Footnote 157: ???????.] From p??????, _difficult_, not from p??????, _bad_. See Thucyd. viii. 24, ed. Popp. part iii. vol. iv. p. 658, _seqq._ _Kuhner_.]

[Footnote 158: ?a? e?ep??et?? ?? ??ta??a t??? p??e????. I have rendered this phrase agreeably to the notion of Kruger, who thinks e?ep??et??

used absolutely, or as a substantive. Some, however, understand t?

p?a?s???, or t? st??te?a, which is perhaps better.]

[Footnote 159: ????t???a?.] The ????t?a being the fourth part of a ?????, or twenty-five men. See Xen. De Rep. Lac. ii. 4; Arnold's Thucyd.

v. 68.]

[Footnote 160: As there were six companies of a hundred men each, they moved into the vacant s.p.a.ce, if it was but narrow, by centuries, that is, six men in front, and a hundred deep; if it was somewhat broader, by fifties, that is, twelve men in front, and fifty deep; if very broad, by twenty-fives, that is, twenty-four men in front, and twenty-five deep.

_Kuhner_.]

[Footnote 161: ?? t? ??e?.] Each in his place; one after another in the order which had been previously appointed.]

[Footnote 162: ?? ? ???.] Schneider, Bornemann, and most editors before Dindorf, read ???, _a village_, without the article. Dindorf has added the article from two ma.n.u.scripts, and Kuhner has followed him, supposing that _the particular village_ of which the Greeks had now caught sight is meant. Bornemann, if the article be added, thinks that _the village in which the palace stood_ is intended. The pa.s.sage seems to me decidedly better without the article; for, if it be inserted, the reader is puzzled to know why Xenophon changes the number, when he had just before said that the palace stood in the midst of villages.]

[Footnote 163: According to the discipline of the Persians; see Herod, vii. 21, 56, 223.]

[Footnote 164: This is the first mention of surgeons in the Greek army, as Mr. Stanford observes, since the time of Homer. But whether the persons here mentioned were professed surgeons, or merely some of the soldiers, who, in long service, had gained experience in the treatment of wounds, is uncertain. The latter supposition is more in consonance with the word _appointed_.]

[Footnote 165: ???? ??? d??fe??? ---- ????te? ----p??e??e???.] The ma.n.u.scripts present some variations here. Bornemann's text is the same as Dindorf's. Kuhner prefers d??fe?e? ----????ta? ---- p??e???????, expressing a doubt whether the other method be really Greek.]

[Footnote 166: ?e? ---- ???s? ??d??.] Most commentators concur in taking this as an example of the rarer construction of de? with the dative; though it has been suggested whether ???s? ??d?? may be the dative after ?p?s??a?, as if a Persian horse-soldier had an attendant to equip his horse for him.]

[Footnote 167: ?p?s??a?.] Spelman quarrels with D'Ablancourt for translating this word by "saddle," and adopts in his own version "housings," which I have borrowed from him, from inability to find a better word.]

[Footnote 168: ?? st?at?ped??.] Apparently for the place where they intended to encamp. It seems needless to understand, with Kruger, "castra interea a lixis et calonibus posita."]

[Footnote 169: ??a?e??a?te?.] ??a?e??a?, _castra movere_. Zeune.]

[Footnote 170: The enemy had not occupied the highest part of the mountain, but a lower position upon it. Comp. sect. 37. _Kuhner_.]

CHAPTER V.

The Greeks arrive at a point where the Carduchian mountains overhang the river, and, as they are still hara.s.sed by the enemy, the generals hold a consultation, and determine to march across the mountains.

1. The Barbarians, in consequence, turned their backs and fled every one as he could, and the Greeks took possession of the top of the hill.

Tissaphernes and Ariaeus turned aside, and went off in another direction.

Cheirisophus and his forces, going down into the plain, encamped in a village abounding with acceptable supplies; and there were also in this plain many other villages stored with excellent provisions, lying along the river Tigris. 2. When it was evening, the enemy suddenly showed themselves in the plain, and cut off some of the Greeks who were dispersed over the ground foraging; for several herds of cattle had been intercepted as they were being transported to the other side of the river. 3. Here Tissaphernes and his party attempted to set fire to the villages, and some of the Greeks were much disheartened, being apprehensive that, if they should burn them, they would have no place whence to procure supplies.

4. Cheirisophus and his men now returned from giving succour;[171] and Xenophon, when he came down, riding past the ranks, as the Greeks, coming in from affording aid, met him, said, 5. "You see, Greeks, that the enemy admit that the country is now ours, for whereas they stipulated, when they made the truce, that we should not burn the king's country, they now burn it themselves, as being no longer theirs. But wherever they leave supplies for themselves, thither also they shall see us direct our march. 6. I think, however, Cheirisophus," continued he, "that we ought to resist these burners, as if in defence of our own territory." "I," replied Cheirisophus, "am of a different opinion; rather let us burn also," said he, "and thus they will the sooner cease."

7. When they returned to their quarters,[172] the soldiers busied themselves about their provisions, but the generals and captains held a council. There was now much perplexity; for on one side of them were exceeding high mountains, and on the other a river of such depth, that, when they sounded it, their spears did not rise above the water. 8.

While they were in doubt how to act, a Rhodian came to them, and said, "I am willing to convey you across, O Greeks, by four thousand heavy-armed men at a time, if you will furnish me with what I require for the purpose, and give me a talent as a remuneration." 9. Being asked what he should require, he replied, "I shall want two thousand hides made into bags; and I see here many sheep, goats, oxen, and a.s.ses, the hides of which, being blown out,[173] would easily furnish the means of crossing. 10. I shall want also the ropes which you use for the baggage-cattle; joining, with these, the bags to one another, steadying each bag by attaching stones to it, letting the stones down like anchors into the water, extending the bags across the stream, and securing them to both banks, I will then lay wood upon them, and strew earth over the wood. 11. That you will not sink, you will at once see; for each skin will prevent two men from sinking, and the wood and earth will keep them from slipping off." 12. The generals, on hearing this proposal, thought the invention ingenious, but the execution of it impossible, for there were numerous cavalry on the other side to hinder their pa.s.sage, who, at the commencement, would not have allowed the first that made the attempt to effect their purposes.

13. The next day they retreated back towards Babylon, to some unburnt villages, having first set fire to those which they abandoned; so that the enemy did not come up to them, but watched them, and seemed to be wondering which way the Greeks would turn themselves, and what they had in their mind. 14. The rest of the soldiers then turned their thoughts to getting supplies; but the generals and captains held another council, and, bringing together the prisoners, questioned them as to the whole country around, what each part was. 15. They said that the parts toward the south were on the road towards Babylon and Media, through which the Greeks had come; that the road towards the east led to Susa and Ecbatana, where the king was said to pa.s.s the summer and spring; that the one across[174] the river, towards the west, led to Lydia and Ionia; and that the other over the mountains, towards the north, led to the Carduchi. 16. This people, they said, lived among the mountains, were very warlike, and did not obey the king; that on one occasion, a royal army of a hundred and twenty thousand men had penetrated into their country, whence, from the impracticability of the ground, not one of them returned; but that, whenever they made a treaty with the satrap of the plain, some of them had intercourse with the Carduchi, and some of the Carduchi with them. 17. The generals, having heard these statements, kept apart by themselves those who said that they knew the road in each direction, not letting it be known which way they intended to go. It appeared necessary to the generals, however, to make their way over the mountains into the country of the Carduchi; for the prisoners said that after pa.s.sing through this they would come to Armenia, a large and rich country, of which Orontes was governor, whence it would be easy for them to go whichever way they pleased.

18. With reference to this proceeding, they made a sacrifice, in order that, when it should seem time, they might commence their march; for they were afraid that the pa.s.sage over the mountains might be pre-occupied by the enemy; and they gave orders, that when the soldiers had supped, they should all pack up their baggage and go to rest, and follow their leaders whenever the signal should be given.

[Footnote 171: ?? t?? ???e?a?.] Xenophon is here somewhat obscure; for he made no mention of this ???e?a before. Cheirisophus and his men seem to have gone to aid the party of Greeks that were dispersed for plunder, when some of them were cut off by the Persians, and when Tissaphernes attempted to burn the villages. * * * Afterwards he is rather tautological; for the words ????a ----?? ?????e? express no more than is said in ?? ?? ?f? ?e???s?f?? ---- ???e?a?, except that they serve to mark the exact time when Xenophon addressed the men. _Kuhner_.]

[Footnote 172: ?p? t?? s?????.] The tents were burned, iii. 3. 1; and Kruger therefore observes that we must consider t?? s????? as equivalent to t? st?at?ped??, or the place of encampment. This explanation is better than that of Weiske and Zeune, who think that the _shelter of the villages_ is meant.]

[Footnote 173: ? ?p?da???ta ?a? f?s????ta.] "Which being skinned and blown out." From brevity, Xenophon has said that of the animals which he ought to have said of their skins. _Kruger_.]

[Footnote 174: ??a??t?.] The road "for one crossing" the river.]

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I.

The Greeks enter the territory of the Carduchi, where they suffer greatly from the wind and cold, as well as from the Barbarians, who hara.s.s them with frequent attacks on their march.

1. What occurred in the expedition up the country to the time of the battle, and what took place after the battle during the truce which the king and the Greeks that went up with Cyrus concluded, and what hostilities were committed against the Greeks after the king and Tissaphernes had violated the truce, and while the Persian army was pursuing them, have been related in the preceding part of the narrative.

2. When they had arrived at a spot where the Tigris was quite impa.s.sable from its depth and width, and where there was no pa.s.sage along, its banks, as the Carduchian mountains hung steep over the stream, it appeared to the generals that they must march over those mountains, 3.

for they had heard from the prisoners that "if they could but cross the Carduchian mountains, they would be able to ford, if they wished, the sources of the Tigris in Armenia, or, if they declined doing so, to make a circuit round them." The sources of the Euphrates, too, they said were not far from those of the Tigris; and such is the truth.[175]

4. Their entrance upon the territory of the Carduchi they made in the following manner, endeavouring at once to escape observation, and to antic.i.p.ate the enemy in getting possession of the heights. 5. When it was about the last watch, and enough of the night was left to allow them to cross the plain under cover of the darkness, they arose at a given signal, and, marching onwards, reached the hills by break of day. 6.

Here Cheirisophus took the lead of the army, having with him both his own men and all the light-armed; while Xenophon brought up the rear with the heavy-armed troops, having not a single light-armed soldier; for there seemed to be no danger that any of the enemy would attack them in the rear as they were marching up the mountains. Cheirisophus indeed mounted the summit before any of the enemy perceived him; he then led slowly forward; 7. and each portion of the army, as it pa.s.sed the summit in succession, followed him to the villages which lay in the windings and recesses of the mountains.[176] 8. The Carduchi, in consequence, quitting their dwellings, and taking with them their wives and children, fled to the hills. There was plenty of provisions left for the Greeks to take; and the houses were furnished with great numbers of brazen utensils, none of which the Greeks took away. Nor did they pursue the people, being inclined to spare them, if perchance the Carduchi, since they were enemies to the king, might consent to allow them to pa.s.s through their country as that of friends; 9, the provisions, however, as many as fell in their way, they carried off; for it was a matter of necessity to do so. But as for the Carduchi themselves, they would neither listen when they called, nor did they give any other sign of friendly feeling.

10. But when the rear of the Greeks was descending from the hills into the villages, being now overtaken by darkness, (for, as the way was narrow, their ascent of the heights, and descent to the villages, had lasted the entire day,) some of the Carduchi, collecting together, attacked the hindmost, and killed and wounded some of them with stones and arrows. They were but few; for the Greek troops had come on them unawares; 11. but had they a.s.sembled in greater numbers, a great part of the army would have been in danger of being destroyed. For this night, accordingly, they took up their abode in the villages; and the Carduchi lighted a number of fires around them on the hills, and observed the positions of one another.[177] 12. As soon as it was day, the generals and captains of the Greeks, meeting together, resolved, when they should march, to reserve only such of the baggage-cattle as were most necessary and most able, abandoning the rest, and to dismiss all the slaves in the army that had been recently captured; 13. for the cattle and the slaves, being numerous, rendered their progress slow, and the number of men in charge of them were unable to take part in any encounter; and besides, when the men were so numerous, it was necessary to procure and carry with them a double quant.i.ty of provisions. This resolution being pa.s.sed, they made proclamation that the troops should act accordingly.

14. When they had breakfasted, and were on the march, the generals, taking their stand in a narrow part of the way, took from the soldiers whatever of the things mentioned they found had not been left behind; and the men submitted to this, unless any of them, smitten with desire of a handsome boy or woman, conveyed them past secretly.[178] Thus they proceeded during this day, sometimes having to fight a little, and sometimes resting themselves. 15. On the next day a great storm arose; but they were obliged to pursue their march, for they had not a sufficient supply of provisions. Cheirisophus continued to lead, and Xenophon had charge of the rear. 16. The enemy pressed steadily upon them, and, where the pa.s.ses were narrow, came close up, and used their bows and their slings; so that the Greeks, sometimes pursuing and sometimes retreating, were compelled to march but slowly; and Xenophon, when the enemy attacked them violently, had frequently to pa.s.s the word for a halt. 17. Cheirisophus, at other times, when the order was pa.s.sed, halted, but on one occasion he did not halt, but hurried on rapidly, and pa.s.sed the word to follow; so that it was manifest that there was something extraordinary; but there was no time to go forward and ascertain the cause of the haste; and the march of the rear-guard became like a flight. 18. On this occasion a brave soldier, Cleonymus a Lacedaemonian, met his death, being shot with an arrow in the side through his shield and corslet;[179] and also Basias, an Arcadian, shot right through the head.

19. When they arrived at the place of encampment, Xenophon immediately proceeded, just as he was, to Cheirisophus, and blamed him for not having halted, as the men had been compelled to flee and fight at the same time. "Two honourable and brave soldiers," said he, "have now been killed, and we have been unable either to carry off their bodies or bury them." 20. To this remark Cheirisophus answered, "Cast your eyes upon those mountains, and observe how impa.s.sable they all are. The only road which you see is steep; and close upon it you may perceive a great mult.i.tude of men, who, having occupied the pa.s.s, keep guard at it. 21.

For these reasons I hastened on, and therefore did not wait for you, to try if I could get the start of the enemy before the pa.s.s was seized; and the guides whom we have say that there is no other road." 22.

Xenophon rejoined, "I have two prisoners; for when the enemy molested us, we placed an ambush, which enabled us to recover breath, and killed some of them; and we were also anxious to take some alive for this very purpose, that we might use them, as being well acquainted with the country, for guides."

23. Immediately after, bringing forward the two men, they inquired of them separately whether they knew of any other road than that which was open to their view. The one denied that he knew of any other, though many threats were held out to him; and as he would give no useful information, he was put to death in sight of the other. 24. The survivor said that the other had denied any knowledge of a road, because he had a daughter there married to somebody, but stated that he himself would lead them by a road that might be pa.s.sed even by beasts of burden. 25.

Being then asked if there was any spot in it difficult to be pa.s.sed, he replied that there was one height, and that unless a party secured it before-hand, it would be impossible for them to pa.s.s. 26. Upon this it was thought proper to call together the captains, both of the peltasts and of the heavy-armed men,[180] and to acquaint them with the prospect of affairs, and ask whether any of them was willing to prove himself a man of valour, and engage to go on this service as a volunteer. 27. Of the heavy-armed, Aristonymus of Methydrium, and Agasias of Stymphalus, both Arcadians, offered themselves; and Callimachus of Parrhasia, also an Arcadian, disputed the honour with them, and said that he himself was eager to go, taking with him volunteers from the whole army; "for I am sure," said he, "that, many of the young men will follow if I take the lead." 28. They then asked if any of the officers of the light-armed troops were willing to join in the attempt; and Aristeas of Chios presented himself, a man who had often proved himself of great value to the army for similar services.

[Footnote 175: ?a? ?st?? ??t?? ????.] A most happy emendation of Abreschius, Dilucid. Thucyd. p. 640, for ?a? ?st?? ??t? ste???.]

[Footnote 176: "Thus they accomplished their entrance into Kurdistan without opposition, and crossed one of the most defensible pa.s.ses that they were almost destined to meet. * * * The recesses--left between the hills are in the present day the seat of villages, as they were in the time of Xenophon, and the crags in front, and in the rear, bristle with the small and rude rock-forts of the Kurds." _Ainsworth, Travels in the Track_, p. 153, 154.]