anabasis-第15章

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heir　thoughts　to　what　they　mean　to　do；　instead　of　to　what　they　are　likely　to　suffer。　Do　that；　and　their　spirits　will　soon　revive　wonderfully。　You　know；　I　need　hardly　remind　you；　it　is　not　numbers　or　strength　that　gives　victory　in　war；　but；　heaven　helping　them；　to　one　or　other　of　two　combatants　it　is　　　　　　　42　given　to　dash　with　stouter　hearts　to　meet　the　foe；　and　such　onset；　in　nine　cases　out　of　ten；　those　others　refuse　to　meet。　This　observation；　also；　I　have　laid　to　heart；　that　they；　who　in　matters　of　war　seek　in　all　ways　to　save　their　lives；　are　just　they　who；　as　a　rule；　die　dishonourably；　whereas　they　who；　recognising　that　death　is　the　common　lot　and　destiny　of　all　men；　strive　hard　to　die　nobly：　these　more　frequently；　as　I　observe；　do　after　all　attain　to　old　age；　or；　at　any　rate；　while　life　lasts；　they　spend　their　days　more　happily。　This　lesson　let　all　lay　to　heart　this　day；　for　we　are　just　at　such　a　crisis　of　our　fate。　Now　is　the　season　to　be　brave　ourselves；　and　to　stimulate　the　rest　by　our　example。〃

With　these　words　he　ceased；　and　after　him；　Cheirisophus　said：　〃Xenophon；　hitherto　I　knew　only　so　much　of　you　as　that　you　were；　I　heard；　an　Athenian；　but　now　I　must　commend　you　for　your　words　and　for　your　conduct。　I　hope　that　there　may　be　many　more　like　you；　for　it　would　prove　a　public　blessing。〃　Then　turning　to　the　officers：　〃And　now；〃　said　he；　〃let　us　waste　no　time；　retire　at　once；　I　beg　you；　and　choose　leaders　where　you　need　them。　After　you　have　made　your　elections；　come　back　to　the　middle　of　the　camp；　and　bring　the　newly　appointed　officers。　After　that；　we　will　there　summon　a　general　meeting　of　the　soldiers。　Let　Tolmides；　the　herald；〃　he　added；　〃be　in　attendance。〃　With　these　words　on　his　lips　he　got　up；　in　order　that　what　was　needful　might　be　done　at　once　without　delay。　After　this　the　generals　were　chosen。　These　were　Timasion　the　Dardanian；　in　place　of　Clearchus；　Xanthicles；　an　Achaean；　in　place　of　Socrates；　Cleanor；　an　Arcadian；　in　place　of　Agias；　Philesius；　an　Achaean；　in　place　of　Menon；　and　in　place　of　Proxenus；　Xenophon　the　Athenian。



II

By　the　time　the　new　generals　had　been　chosen；　the　first　faint　glimmer　　　1　of　dawn　had　hardly　commenced；　as　they　met　in　the　centre　of　the　camp；　and　resolved　to　post　an　advance　guard　and　to　call　a　general　meeting　of　the　soldiers。　Now；　when　these　had　come　together；　Cheirisophus　the　Lacedaemonian　first　rose　and　spoke　as　follows：　〃Fellow…soldiers；　the　present　posture　of　affairs　is　not　pleasant；　seeing　that　we　are　robbed　of　so　many　generals　and　captains　and　soldiers；　and　more　than　that；　our　　2　former　allies；　Ariaeus　and　his　men；　have　betrayed　us；　still；　we　must　rise　above　our　circumstances　to　prove　ourselves　brave　men；　and　not　give　in；　but　try　to　save　ourselves　by　glorious　victory　if　we　can；　or；　if　not；　at　least　to　die　gloriously；　and　never；　while　we　have　breath　in　our　bodies；　fall　into　the　hands　of　our　enemies。　In　which　latter　case；　I　fear；　we　shall　suffer　things；　which　I　pray　the　gods　may　visit　rather　upon　those　we　hate。〃

At　this　point　Cleanor　the　Ochomenian　stood　up　and　spoke　as　follows：　〃You　see；　men；　the　perjury　and　the　impiety　of　the　king。　You　see　the　faithlessness　of　Tissaphernes；　professing　that　he　was　next…door　neighbour　to　Hellas；　and　would　give　a　good　deal　to　save　us；　in　confirmation　of　which　he　took　an　oath　to　us　himself；　he　gave　us　the　pledge　of　his　right　hand；　and　then；　with　a　lie　upon　his　lips；　this　same　man　turned　round　and　arrested　our　generals。　He　had　no　reverence　even　for　Zeus；　the　god　of　strangers；　but；　after　entertaining　Clearchus　at　his　own　board　as　a　friend；　he　used　his　hospitality　to　delude　and　decoy　his　victims。　And　Ariaeus；　whom　we　offered　to　make　king；　with　whom　we　exchanged　pledges　not　to　betray　each　other；　even　this　man；　without　a　particle　of　fear　of　the　gods；　or　respect　for　Cyrus　in　his　grave；　though　he　was　most　honoured　by　Cyrus　in　lifetime；　even　he　has　turned　aside　to　the　worst　foes　of　Cyrus；　and　is　doing　his　best　to　injure　the　dead　man's　friends。　Them　may　the　gods　requite　as　they　deserve！　But　we；　with　these　things　before　our　eyes；　will　not　any　more　be　cheated　and　cajoled　by　them；　we　will　make　the　best　fight　we　can；　and　having　made　it；　whatever　the　gods　think　fit　to　send；　we　will　accept。〃

After　him　Xenophon　arose；　he　was　arrayed　for　war　in　his　bravest　apparel＇1＇：　〃For；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃if　the　gods　grant　victory；　the　finest　attire　will　match　with　victory　best；　or　if　I　must　needs　die；　then　for　one　who　has　aspired　to　the　noblest；　it　is　well　there　should　be　some　outward　correspondence　between　his　expectation　and　his　end。〃　He　began　his　speech　as　follows：　〃Cleanor　has　spoken　of　the　perjury　and　　8　faithlessness　of　the　barbarians；　and　you　yourselves　know　them　only　too　well；　I　fancy。　If　then　we　are　minded　to　enter　a　second　time　into　terms　of　friendship　with　them；　with　the　experience　of　what　our　generals；　who　in　all　confidence　entrusted　themselves　to　their　power；　have　suffered；　reason　would　we　should　feel　deep　despondency。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　we　purpose　to　take　our　good　swords　in　our　hands　and　to　inflict　punishment　on　them　for　what　they　have　done；　and　from　this　time　forward　will　be　on　terms　of　downright　war　with　them；　then；　God　helping；　we　have　many　a　bright　hope　of　safety。〃　The　words　were　scarcely　spoken　when　someone　sneezed＇2＇；　and　with　one　impulse　the　soldiers　bowed　in　worship；　and　Xenophon　proceeded：　〃I　propose；　sirs；　since；　even　as　we　spoke　of　safety；　an　omen　from　Zeus　the　Saviour　has　appeared；　we　vow　a　vow　to　sacrifice　to　the　Saviour　thank…offerings　for　safe　deliverance；　wheresoever　first　we　reach　a　friendly　country；　and　let　us　couple　with　that　vow　another　of　individual　assent；　that　we　will　offer　to　the　rest　of　the　gods　'according　to　our　ability。'　Let　all　those　who　are　in　favour　of　this　proposal　hold　up　their　hands。〃　They　all　held　up　their　hands；　and　there　and　then　they　vowed　a　vow　and　chanted　the　battle　hymn。　But　as　soon　as　these　sacred　matters　were　duly　ended；　he　began　once　more　thus：　〃I　was　saying　that　many　and　bright　are　the　hopes　we　have　of　safety。　First　of　all；　we　it　is　who　confirm　and　ratify　the　oaths　we　take　by　heaven；　but　our　enemies　have　taken　false　oaths　and　broken　the　truce；　contrary　to　their　solemn　word。　This　being　so；　it　is　but　natural　that　the　gods　should　be　opposed　to　our　enemies；　but　with　ourselves　allied；　the　gods；　who　are　able　to　make　the　great　ones　quickly　small；　and　out　of　sore　perplexity　can　save　the　little　ones　with　ease；　what　time　it　pleases　them。　In　the　next　place；　let　me　recall　to　your　minds　the　dangers　of　our　own　forefathers；　that　you　may　see　and　　11　know　that　bravery　is　your　heirloom；　and　that　by　the　aid　of　the　gods　brave　men　are　rescued　even　out　of　the　midst　of　sorest　straits。　So　was　it　when　the　Persians　came；　and　their　attendant　hosts＇3＇；　with　a　very　great　armament；　to　wipe　out　Athens　from　the　face　of　the　earththe　men　of　Athens　had　the　heart　to　withstand　them　and　conquered　them。　Then　they　vowed　to　Artemis　that　for　every　man　they　slew　of　the　enemy；　they　would　sacrifice　to　the　goddess　goats　so　many；　and　when　they　could　not　find　sufficient　for　the　slain；　they　resolved　to　offer　yearly　five　hundred；　and　to　this　day　they　perform　that　sacrifice。　And　at　a　somewhat　later　date；　when　Xerxes　assembled　his　countless　hosts　and　marched　upon　Hellas；　then＇4＇　too　our　fathers　conquered　the　forefathers　of　our　foes　by　land　and　by　sea。

＇1＇　So　it　is　said　of　the　Russian　General　Skobelef；　that　he　had　a　　　　　strange　custom　of　going　into　battle　in　his　cleanest　uniform；　　　　　perfurmed；　and　wearing　a　diamond…hilted　sword；　〃in　order　that；〃　as　　　　　he　said；　〃he　might　die　in　his　best　attire。〃

＇2＇　For　this　ancient　omen　see　〃Odyssey；〃　xvii。　541：　〃Even　as　she　　　　　spake；　and　Telemachus　sneezed　loudly；　and　around　the　roof　rung　　　　　wondrously。　And　Penelope　laughed。〃　。　。　。　〃Dost　thou　not　mark　how　　　　　my　son　has　sneezed　a　blessing　on　all　my　words？〃

＇3＇　See　Herod。　vi。　114；　the　allusion　is　to　the　invasion　of　Greeze　by　　　　　Datis　and　Artaphernes；　and　to　their　defeat　at　Marathon；　B。C。　490。　　　　　〃Heredotus　estimates　the　number　of　those　who　fell　on　the　Persian　　　　　side　at　6400　men：　the　number　of　Athenian　dead　is　accurately　known；　　　　　since　all　were　collected　for　the　last　solemn　obsequiesthey　were　　　　　192。〃Grote；　〃Hist。　of　Greece；〃　vol。　v。　p。　475。

＇4＇　Then　=　at　Salamis；　B。C。　480；　and　at　Plataea　and　Mycale；　B。C。　479；　　　　　on　the　same　day。

〃And　proofs　of　these　things　are　yet　to　be　seen　in　trophies；　but　the　greatest　witness　of　all　is　the　freedom　of　our　citiesthe　liberty　of　that　land　in　which　you　were　born　and　bred。　For　you　call　no　man　master　or　lord；　you　bow　your　heads　to　none　save　to　the　gods　alone。　Such　were　your　forefathers；　and　their　sons　are　ye。　Think　not　I　am　going　to　say　that　you　put　to　shame　in　any　way　your　ancestryfar　from　it。　Not　many　days　since；　you　too　were　drawn　up　in　battle　face　to　face　with　these　true　descendants　of　their　ancestors；　and　by　the　help　of　heaven　you　conquered　them；　though　they　many　times　outnumbered　you。　At　that　time；　it　was　to　win　a　throne　for　Cyrus　that　you　showed　your　bravery；　to…day；　when　the　struggle　is　for　your　own　salvation；　what　is　more　natural　than　that　you　should　show　yourselves　braver　and　more　zealous　still。　Nay；　it　is　very　meet　and　right　that　you　should　be　more　undaunted　still　to…day　to　face　the　foe。　The　other　day；　though　you　had　not　tested　them；　and　before　your　eyes　lay　their　immeasurable　host；　you　had　the　heart　to　go　against　them　with　the　spirit　of　your　fathers。　To…day　you　have　made　　　　　　16　trial　of　them；　and　knowing　that；　however　many　times　your　number；　they　do　not　care　to　await　your　onset；　what　concern　have　you　now　to　be　afraid　of　them？

〃Nor　let　any　one　suppose　that　herein　is　a　point　of　weakness；　in　that　Cyrus's　troops；　who　before　were　drawn　up　by　your　side；　have　now　deserted　us；　for　they　are　even　worse　cowards　still　than　those　we　worsted。　At　any　rate　they　have　deserted　us；　and　sought　refuge　with　them。　Leaders　of　the　forlorn　hope　of　flightfar　better　is　it　to　have　them　brigaded　with　the　enemy　than　shoulder　to　shoulder　in　our　ranks。　But　if　any　of　you　is　out　of　heart　to　think　that　we　have　no　cavalry；　while　the　enemy　have　many　squadrons　to　command；　lay　to　heart　this　doctrine；　that　ten　thousand　horse　only　equal　ten　thousand　men　upon　their　backs；　neither　less　nor　more。　Did　any　one　ever　die　in　battle　from　the　bite　or　kick　of　a　horse？　It　is　the　men；　the　real　swordsmen；　who　do　whatever　is　done　in　battles。　In　fact　we；　on　our　stout　shanks；　are　better　mounted　than　those　cavalry　fellows；　there　they　hang　on　to　their　horses'　necks　in　mortal　dread；　not　only　of　us；　but　of　falling　off；　while　we；　well　planted　upon　earth；　can　deal　far　heavier　blows　to　our　assailants；　and　aim　more　steadily　at　who　we　will。　There　is　one　point；　I　admit；　in　which　their　cavalry　have　the　whip…hand　of　us；　it　is　safer　for　them　than　it　is　for　us　to　run　away。

〃May　be；　however；　you　are　in　good　heart　about　the　fighting；　but　annoyed　to　think　that　Tissaphernes　will　not　guide　us　any　more；　and　that　the　king　will　not　furnish　us　with　a　market　any　longer。　Now；　consider；　is　it　better　for　us　to　have　a　guide　like　Tissaphernes；　whom　we　know　to　be　plotting　against　us；　or　to　take　our　chance　of　the　stray　people　whom　we　catch　and　compel　to　guide　us；　who　will　know　that　any　mistake　made　in　leading　us　will　be　a　sad　mistake　for　their　own　lives？　Again；　is　it　better　to　be　buying　provisions　i