anabasis-第11章

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dit　discreditable　the　wide　world　over。〃　These　arguments　he　propounded　at　length。

Meanwhile　Tissaphernes　came　back；　apparently　ready　to　return　home；　he　had　his　own　force　with　him；　and　so　had　Orontas；　who　was　also　present；　his。　The　latter　brought；　moreover；　his　bride　with　him；　the　king's　daughter；　whom　he　had　just　wedded。　The　journey　was　now　at　length　fairly　commenced。　Tissaphernes　led　the　way；　and　provided　a　market。　They　advanced；　and　Ariaeus　advanced　too；　at　the　head　of　Cyrus's　Asiatic　troops；　side　by　side　with　Tissaphernes　and　Orontas；　and　with　these　two　he　also　pitched　his　camp。　The　Hellenes；　holding　them　in　suspicion；　marched　separately　with　the　guides；　and　they　encamped　on　each　occasion　a　parasang　apart；　or　rather　less；　and　both　parties　kept　watch　upon　each　other　as　if　they　were　enemies；　which　hardly　tended　to　lull　suspicion；　and　sometimes；　whilst　foraging　for　wood　and　grass　and　so　forth　on　the　same　ground；　blows　were　exchanged；　which　occasioned　further　embitterments。　Three　stages　they　had　accomplished　ere　they　reached　the　wall　of　Media；　as　it　is　called；　and　passed　within　it。　It　was　built　of　baked　bricks　laid　upon　bitumen。　It　was　twenty　feet　broad　and　a　hundred　feet　high；　and　the　length　of　it　was　said　to　be　twenty　parasangs。　It　lies　at　no　great　distance　from　Babylon。

From　this　point　they　marched　two　stageseight　parasangsand　crossed　two　canals；　the　first　by　a　regular　bridge；　the　other　spanned　by　a　bridge　of　seven　boats。　These　canals　issued　from　the　Tigris；　and　from　them　a　whole　system　of　minor　trenches　was　cut；　leading　over　the　country；　large　ones　to　begin　with；　and　then　smaller　and　smaller；　till　at　last　they　become　the　merest　runnels；　like　those　in　Hellas　used　for　watering　millet　fields。　They　reached　the　river　Tigris。　At　this　point　there　was　a　large　and　thickly　populated　city　named　Sittace；　at　a　　　　　　　　13　distance　of　fifteen　furlongs　from　the　river。　The　Hellenes　accordingly　encamped　by　the　side　of　that　city；　near　a　large　and　beautiful　park；　which　was　thick　with　all　sorts　of　trees。

The　Asiatics　had　crossed　the　Tigris；　but　somehow　were　entirely　hidden　from　view。　After　supper；　Proxenus　and　Xenophon　were　walking　in　front　of　the　place　d'armes；　when　a　man　came　up　and　demanded　of　the　advanced　guard　where　he　could　find　Proxenus　or　Clearchus。　He　did　not　ask　for　Menon；　and　that　too　though　he　came　from　Ariaeus；　who　was　Menon's　friend。　As　soon　as　Proxenus　had　said：　〃I　am　he；　whom　you　seek；〃　the　man　replied：　〃I　have　been　sent　by　Ariaeus　and　Artaozus；　who　have　been　trusty　friends　to　Cyrus　in　past　days；　and　are　your　well…wishers。　They　warn　you　to　be　on　your　guard；　in　case　the　barbarians　attack　you　in　the　night。　There　is　a　large　body　of　troops　in　the　neighbouring　park。　They　also　warn　you　to　send　and　occupy　the　bridge　over　the　Tigris；　since　Tissaphernes　is　minded　to　break　it　down　in　the　night；　if　he　can；　so　that　you　may　not　cross；　but　be　caught　between　the　river　and　the　canal。〃　On　hearing　this　they　took　the　man　to　Clearchus　and　acquainted　him　with　his　statement。　Clearchus；　on　his　side；　was　much　disturbed；　and　indeed　alarmed　at　the　news。　But　a　young　fellow　who　was　present＇1＇；　struck　with　an　idea；　suggested　that　the　two　statements　were　inconsistent；　as　to　the　contemplated　attack　and　the　proposed　destruction　of　the　bridge。　Clearly；　the　attacking　party　must　either　conquer　or　be　worsted：　if　they　conquer；　what　need　of　their　breaking　down　the　bridge？　〃Why！　if　there　were　half　a　dozen　bridges；〃　said　he；　〃we　should　not　be　any　the　more　able　to　save　ourselves　by　flightthere　would　be　no　place　to　flee　to；　but；　in　the　opposite　case；　suppose　we　win；　with　the　bridge　broken　down；　it　is　they　who　will　not　be　able　to　save　themselves　by　flight；　and；　what　is　worse　for　them；　not　a　single　soul　will　be　able　to　bring　them　succour　from　the　other　side；　for　all　their　numbers；　since　the　bridge　will　be　broken　down。〃

＇1＇　Possibly　Xenophon　himself。

Clearchus　listened　to　the　reasoning；　and　then　he　asked　the　messenger；　〃How　large　the　country　between　the　Tigris　and　the　canal　might　be？〃　〃A　　　21　large　district；〃　he　replied；　〃and　in　it　are　villages　and　cities　numerous　and　large。〃　Then　it　dawned　upon　them：　the　barbarians　had　sent　the　man　with　subtlety；　in　fear　lest　the　Hellenes　should　cut　the　bridge　and　occupy　the　island　territory；　with　the　strong　defences　of　the　Tigris　on　the　one　side　and　of　the　canal　on　the　other；　supplying　themselves　with　provisions　from　the　country　so　included；　large　and　rich　as　it　was；　with　no　lack　of　hands　to　till　it；　in　addition　to　which；　a　harbour　of　refuge　and　asylum　would　be　found　for　any　one；　who　was　minded　to　do　the　king　a　mischief。

After　this　they　retired　to　rest　in　peace；　not；　however；　neglecting　to　send　a　guard　to　occupy　the　bridge　in　spite　of　all；　and　there　was　no　attack　from　any　quarter　whatsoever；　nor　did　any　of　the　enemy's　people　approach　the　bridges：　so　the　guards　were　able　to　report　next　morning。　But　as　soon　as　it　was　morning；　they　proceeded　to　cross　the　bridge；　which　consisted　of　thirty…seven　vessels；　and　in　so　doing　they　used　the　utmost　precaution　possible；　for　reports　were　brought　by　some　of　the　Hellenes　with　Tissaphernes　that　an　attempt　was　to　be　made　to　attack　them　while　crossing。　All　this　turned　out　to　be　false；　though　it　is　true　that　while　crossing　they　did　catch　sight　of　Glus　watching；　with　some　others；　to　see　if　they　crossed　the　river；　but　as　soon　as　he　had　satisfied　himself　on　that　point；　he　rode　off　and　was　gone。

From　the　river　Tigris　they　advanced　four　stagestwenty　parasangsto　the　river　Physcus；　which　is　a　hundred　feet　broad　and　spanned　by　a　bridge。　Here　lay　a　large　and　populous　city　named　Opis；　close　to　which　the　Hellenes　were　encountered　by　the　natural　brother　of　Cyrus　and　Artaxerxes；　who　was　leading　a　large　army　from　Susa　and　Ecbatana　to　assist　the　king。　He　halted　his　troops　and　watched　the　Helleens　march　past。　Clearchus　led　them　in　column　two　abreast：　and　from　time　to　time　the　vanguard　came　to　a　standstill；　just　so　often　and　just　so　long　the　effect　repeated　itself　down　to　the　hindmost　man：　halt！　halt！　halt！　along　the　whole　line：　so　that　even　to　the　Hellenes　themselves　their　army　seemed　enormous；　and　the　Persian　was　fairly　astonished　at　the　spectacle。

From　this　place　they　marched　through　Media　six　desert　stagesthirty　　　　27　parasangsto　the　villages　of　Parysatis；　Cyrus's　and　the　king's　mother。　These　Tissaphernes；　in　mockery　of　Cyrus；　delivered　over　to　the　Hellenes　to　plunder；　except　that　the　folk　in　them　were　not　to　be　made　slaves。　They　contained　much　corn；　cattle；　and　other　property。　From　this　place　they　advanced　four　desert　stagestwenty　parasangskeeping　the　Tigris　on　the　left。　On　the　first　of　these　stages；　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　lay　a　large　city；　it　was　a　well…to…do　place　named　Caenae；　from　which　the　natives　used　to　carry　across　loaves　and　cheeses　and　wine　on　rafts　made　of　skins。



V

After　this　they　reached　the　river　Zapatas＇1＇；　which　is　four　hundred　　　　　1　feet　broad；　and　here　they　halted　three　days。　During　the　interval　suspicions　were　rife；　though　no　act　of　treachery　displayed　itself。　Clearchus　accordingly　resolved　to　bring　to　an　end　these　feelings　of　mistrust；　before　they　led　to　war。　Consequently；　he　sent　a　messenger　to　the　Persian　to　say　that　he　desired　an　interview　with　him；　to　which　the　other　readily　consented。　As　soon　as　they　were　met；　Clearchus　spoke　as　follows：　〃Tissaphernes；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　forget　that　oaths　have　been　exchanged　between　us；　and　right　hands　shaken；　in　token　that　we　will　abstain　from　mutual　injury；　but　I　can　see　that　you　watch　us　narrowly；　as　if　we　were　foes；　and　we；　seeing　this；　watch　you　narrowly　in　return。　But　as　I　fail　to　discover；　after　investigation；　that　you　are　endeavouring　to　do　us　a　mischiefand　I　am　quite　sure　that　nothing　of　the　sort　has　ever　entered　our　heads　with　regard　to　youthe　best　plan　seemed　to　me　to　come　and　talk　the　matter　over　with　you；　so　that；　if　possible；　we　might　dispel　the　mutual　distrust　on　either　side。　For　I　have　known　people　ere　now；　the　victims　in　some　cases　of　calumny；　or　possibly　of　mere　suspicion；　who　in　apprehension　of　one　another　and　eager　to　deal　the　first　blow；　have　committed　irreparable　wrong　against　those　who　neither　intended　nor　so　much　as　harboured　a　thought　of　mischief　against　them。　I　have　come　to　you　under　a　conviction　that　such　　6　misunderstandings　may　best　be　put　a　stop　to　by　personal　intercourse；　and　I　wish　to　instruct　you　plainly　that　you　are　wrong　in　mistrusting　us。　The　first　and　weightiest　reason　is　that　the　oaths；　which　we　took　in　the　sight　of　heaven；　are　a　barrier　to　mutual　hostility。　I　envy　not　the　man　whose　conscience　tells　him　that　he　has　disregarded　these！　For　in　a　war　with　heaven；　by　what　swiftness　of　foot　can　a　man　escape？in　what　quarter　find　refuge？in　what　darkness　slink　away　and　be　hid？to　what　strong　fortress　scale　and　be　out　of　reach？　Are　not　all　things　in　all　ways　subject　to　the　gods？　is　not　their　lordship　over　all　alike　outspread？　As　touching　the　gods；　therefore；　and　our　oaths；　that　is　how　I　view　this　matter。　To　their　safe　keeping　we　consigned　the　friendship　which　we　solemnly　contracted。　But　turning　to　matters　human；　you　I　look　upon　as　our　greatest　blessing　in　this　present　time。　With　you　every　path　is　plain　to　us；　every　river　passable；　and　of　provisions　we　shall　know　no　stint。　But　without　you；　all　our　way　is　through　darkness；　for　we　known　nothing　concerning　it；　every　river　will　be　an　obstacle；　each　multitude　a　terror；　but；　worst　terror　of　all；　the　vast　wilderness；　so　full　of　endless　perplexity。　Nay；　if　in　a　fit　of　madness　we　murdered　you；　what　then？　in　slaying　our　benefactor　should　we　not　have　challenged　to　enter　the　lists　against　us　a　more　formidable　antagonist　in　the　king　himself？　Let　me　tell　you；　how　many　high　hopes　I　should　rob　myself　of；　were　I　to　take　in　hand　to　do　you　mischief。

＇1＇　The　Greater　Zab；　which　flows　into　the　Tigris　near　a　town　now　　　　　called　Senn；　with　which　most　travellers　identify　Caenae。

〃I　coveted　the　friendship　of　Cyrus；　I　believed　him　to　be　abler　than　any　man　of　his　day　to　benefit　those　whom　he　chose；　but　to…day　I　look　and；　behold；　it　is　you　who　are　in　his　place；　the　power　which　belonged　　　11　to　Cyrus　and　his　territory　are　yours　now。　You　have　them；　and　your　own　satrapy　besides；　safe　and　sound；　while　the　king's　power；　which　was　a　thorn　in　the　side　of　Cyrus；　is　your　support。　This　being　so；　it　would　be　madness　not　to　wish　to　be　your　friend。　But　I　will　go　further　and　state　to　you　the　reasons　of　my　confidence；　that　you　on　your　side　will　desire　our　friendship。　I　know　that　the　Mysians　are　a　cause　of　trouble　to　you；　and　I　flatter　myself　that　with　my　present　force　I　could　render　them　humbly　obedient　to　you。　This　applies　to　the　Pisidians　also；　and　I　am　told　there　are　many　other　such　tribes　besides。　I　think　I　can　deal　with　them　all；　they　shall　cease　from　being　a　constant　distubance　to　your　peace　and　prosperity。　Then　there　are　the　Egyptians＇2＇。　I　know　your　anger　against　them　to…day　is　very　great。　Nor　can　I　see　what　better　force　you　will　find　to　help　you　in　chastising　them　than　this　which　marches　at　my　back　to…day。　Again；　if　you　seek　the　friendship　of　any　of　your　neighbours　round；　there　shall　be　no　friend　so　great　as　you；　if　any　one　annoys　you；　with　us　as　your　faithful　servitors　you　shall　belord　it　over　him；　and　such　service　we　will　render　you；　not　as　hirelings　merely　for　pay's　sake；　but　for　the　gratitu