anabasis-第18章

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when　a　bridge　had　to　be　crossed　or　other　passage　effected；　was；　that　each　unit　of　the　force　pressed　on　in　anxiety　to　get　over　first；　and　at　these　moments　it　was　easy　for　the　enemy　to　make　an　attack。　The　generals　accordingly；　having　recognsied　the　defect；　set　about　curing　it。　To　do　so；　they　made　six　lochi；　or　divisions　of　a　hundred　men　apiece；　each　of　which　had　its　own　set　of　captains　and　under…officers　in　command　of　half　and　quarter　companies。　　　21　It　was　the　duty　of　these　new　companies；　during　a　march；　whenever　the　flanks　needed　to　close　in；　to　fall　back　to　the　rear；　so　as　to　disencumber　the　wings。　This　they　did　by　wheeling　clear　of　them。　When　the　sides　of　the　oblong　again　extended；　they　filled　up　the　interstices；　if　the　gap　were　narrow；　by　columns　of　companies；　if　broader；　by　columns　of　half…companies；　or；　if　broader　still；　by　columns　of　quarter…companies；　so　that　the　space　between　was　always　filled　up。　If　again　it　were　necessary　to　effect　a　passage　by　bridge　or　otherwise；　there　was　no　confusion；　the　several　companies　crossing　in　turns；　or；　if　the　occasion　arose　to　form　in　line　of　battle；　these　companies　came　up　to　the　front　and　fell　in＇7＇。

＇7＇　In　the　passage　above　I　have　translated　｛lokhoi｝　companies；　and；　as　　　　　usual；　｛lokhagoi｝　captains。　The　half　company　is　technically　called　　　　　a　pentecostys；　and　a　quarter　company　an　enomoty；　and　the　officers　　　　　in　charge　of　them　respectively　penteconter　and　enomotarch。　These　　　　　would　be　equivalent　nearly　to　our　subalterns　and　sergeants；　and　in　　　　　the　evolutions　described　would　act　as　guides　and　markers　in　charge　　　　　of　their　sections。　Grote　thinks　there　were　six　companies　formed　on　　　　　each　flanktwelve　in　all。　See　〃Hist。　of　Greece；〃　vol。　ix。　p。　123；　　　　　note　（1st　ed。）

In　this　way　they　advanced　four　stages；　but　ere　the　fifth　was　completed；　they　came　in　sight　of　a　palace　of　some　sort；　with　villages　clustered　round　it；　they　could　further　see　that　the　road　leading　to　this　place　pursued　its　course　over　high　undulating　hillocks；　the　spur　of　the　mountain　range；　under　which　lay　the　village。　These　knolls　were　a　welcome　sight　to　the　Hellenes；　naturally　enough；　as　the　enemy　were　cavalry。　However；　when　they　had　issued　from　the　plain　and　ascended　the　first　crest；　and　were　in　the　act　of　descending　it　so　as　to　mount　the　next；　at　this　juncture　the　barbarians　came　upon　them。　From　the　high　ground　down　the　sheer　steep　they　poured　a　volley　of　darts；　slingstones；　and　arrows；　which　they　discharged　〃under　the　lash＇8＇；〃　wounding　many；　until　they　got　the　better　of　the　Hellenic　light　troops；　and　drove　them　for　shelter　behind　the　heavy　infantry；　so　that　this　day　that　arm　was　altogether　useless；　huddling　in　the　mob　of　sutlers；　both　　　26　slingers　and　archers　alike。

＇8＇　I。e。　the　Persian　leaders　were　seen　flogging　their　men　to　the　　　　　attack。　Cf。　Herod。　vii。　22。　3。

But　when　the　Hellenes；　being　so　pressed；　made　an　attempt　to　pursue；　they　could　barely　scale　to　the　summit；　being　heavy…armed　troops；　while　the　enemy　as　lightly　sprung　away；　and　they　suffered　similarly　in　retiring　to　join　the　rest　of　the　army。　And　then；　on　the　second　hill；　the　whole　had　to　be　gone　through　again；　so　that　when　it　came　to　the　third　hillock；　they　determined　not　to　move　the　main　body　of　troops　from　their　position　until　they　had　brought　up　a　squadron　of　light　infantry　from　the　right　flank　of　the　square　to　a　point　on　the　mountain　range。　When　this　detachment　were　once　posted　above　their　pursuers；　the　latter　desisted　from　attacking　the　main　body　in　its　descent；　for　fear　of　being　cut　off　and　finding　themselves　between　two　assailants。　Thus　the　rest　of　the　day　they　moved　on　in　two　divisions：　one　set　keeping　to　the　road　by　the　hillocks；　the　other　marching　parallel　on　the　higher　level　along　the　mountains；　and　thus　they　reached　the　villages　and　appointed　eight　surgeons　to　attend　to　the　many　wounded。

Here　they　halted　three　days　for　the　sake　of　the　wounded　chiefly；　while　a　further　inducement　was　the　plentiful　supply　of　provisions　which　they　found；　wheat　and　wine；　and　large　stores　of　barley　laid　up　for　horses。　These　supplies　had　been　collected　by　the　ruling　satrap　of　the　country。　On　the　fourth　day　they　began　their　descent　into　the　plain；　but　when　Tissaphernes　overtook　them；　necessity　taught　them　to　camp　in　the　first　village　they　caught　sight　of；　and　give　over　the　attempt　of　marching　and　fighting　simultaneously；　as　so　many　were　hors　de　combat；　being　either　on　the　list　of　wounded　themselves；　or　else　engaged　in　carrying　the　wounded；　or　laden　with　the　heavy　arms　of　those　so　occupied。　But　when　they　were　once　encamped；　and　the　barbarians；　advancing　upon　the　village；　made　an　attempt　to　harass　them　with　their　sharp…shooters；　the　superiority　of　the　Hellenes　was　pronounced。　To　sustain　a　running　fight　with　an　enemy　constantly　attacking　was　one　thing；　to　keep　him　at　arm's　length　from　a　fixed　base　of　action　another：　and　the　difference　was　much　in　their　favour。

But　when　it　was　late　afternoon；　the　time　had　come　for　the　enemy　to　　　　　　34　withdraw；　since　the　habit　of　the　barbarian　was　never　to　encamp　within　seven　or　eight　miles　of　the　Hellenic　camp。　This　he　did　in　apprehension　of　a　night　attack；　for　a　Persian　army　is　good　for　nothing　at　night。　Their　horses　are　haltered；　and；　as　a　rule；　hobbled　as　well；　to　prevent　their　escaping；　as　they　might　if　loose；　so　that；　if　any　alarm　occurs；　the　trooper　has　to　saddle　and　bridle　his　horse；　and　then　he　must　put　on　his　own　cuirass；　and　then　mountall　which　performances　are　difficult　at　night　and　in　the　midst　of　confusion。　For　this　reason　they　always　encamped　at　a　distance　from　the　Hellenes。

When　the　Hellenes　perceived　that　they　were　preparing　to　retire；　and　that　the　order　was　being　given；　the　herald's　cry；　〃Pack　up　for　starting；〃　might　be　heard　before　the　enemy　was　fairly　out　of　earshot。　For　a　while　the　Asiatics　paused；　as　if　unwilling　to　be　gone；　but　as　night　closed　in；　off　they　went；　for　it　did　not　suit　their　notions　of　expediency　to　set　off　on　a　march　and　arrive　by　night。　And　now；　when　the　Hellenes　saw　that　they　were　really　and　clearly　gone；　they　too　broke　up　their　camp　and　pursued　their　march　till　they　had　traversed　seven　and　a　half　miles。　Thus　the　distance　between　the　two　armies　grew　to　be　so　great；　that　the　next　day　the　enemy　did　not　appear　at　all；　nor　yet　on　the　third　day；　but　on　the　fourth　the　barbarians　had　pushed　on　by　a　forced　night　march　and　occupied　a　commanding　position　on　the　right；　where　the　Hellenes　had　to　pass。　It　was　a　narrow　mountain　spur＇9＇　overhanging　the　descent　into　the　plain。

＇9＇　Lit。　〃a　mere　nail　tip。〃

But　when　Cheirisophus　saw　that　this　ridge　was　occupied；　he　summoned　Xenophon　from　the　rear；　bidding　him　at　the　same　time　to　bring　up　peltasts　to　the　front。　That　Xenophon　hesitated　to　do；　for　Tissaphernes　and　his　whole　army　were　coming　up　and　were　well　within　sight。　Galloping　up　to　the　front　himself；　he　asked：　〃Why　do　you　summon　me？〃　The　other　answered　him：　〃The　reason　is　plain；　look　yonder；　this　crest　which　overhangs　our　descent　has　been　occupied。　There　is　no　passing；　　　　　39　until　we　have　dislodged　these　fellows；　why　have　you　not　brought　up　the　light　infantry？〃　Xenophon　explained：　he　had　not　thought　it　desirable　to　leave　the　rear　unprotected；　with　an　enemy　appearing　in　the　field　of　view。　〃However；　it　is　time；〃　he　added；　〃to　decide　how　we　are　to　dislodge　these　fellows　from　the　crest。〃　At　this　moment　his　eye　fell　on　the　peak　of　the　mountain；　rising　immediately　above　their　army；　and　he　could　see　an　approach　leading　from　it　to　the　crest　in　question　where　the　enemy　lay。　He　exclaimed：　〃The　best　thing　we　can　do；　Cheirisophus；　is　to　make　a　dash　at　the　height　itself；　and　with　what　speed　we　may。　If　we　take　it；　the　party　in　command　of　the　road　will　never　be　able　to　stop。　If　you　like；　stay　in　command　of　the　army；　and　I　will　go；　or；　if　you　prefer；　do　you　go　to　the　mountain；　and　I　will　stay　here。〃〃I　leave　it　to　you；〃　Cheirisophus　answered；　〃to　choose　which　you　like　best。〃　Xenophon　remarking；　〃I　am　the　younger；〃　elected　to　go；　but　he　stipulated　for　a　detachment　from　the　front　to　accompany　him；　since　it　was　a　long　way　to　fetch　up　troops　from　the　rear。　Accordingly　Cheirisophus　furnished　him　with　the　light　infantry　from　the　front；　reoccupying　their　place　by　those　from　the　centre。　He　also　gave　him；　to　form　part　of　the　detachment；　the　three　hundred　of　the　picked　corps＇10＇　under　his　own　command　at　the　head　of　the　square。

＇10＇　Some　think　that　these　three　hundred　are　three　of　the　detached　　　　　companies　described　above；　others；　that　they　were　a　picked　corps　　　　　in　attendance　on　the　commander…in…chief。

They　set　out　from　the　low　ground　with　all　the　haste　imaginable。　But　the　enemy　in　position　on　the　crest　no　sooner　perceived　their　advance　upon　the　summit　of　the　pass　than　they　themselves　set　off　full　tilt　in　a　rival　race　for　the　summit　too。　Hoarse　were　the　shouts　of　the　Hellenic　troops　as　the　men　cheered　their　companions　forwards；　and　hoarse　the　answering　shouts　from　the　troops　of　Tissaphernes；　urging　on　theirs。　Xenophon；　mounted　on　his　charger；　rode　beside　his　men；　and　roused　their　ardour　the　while。　〃Now　for　it；　brave　sirs；　bethink　you　that　this　race　is　for　Hellas！now　or　never！to　find　your　boys；　your　wives；　one　small　effort；　and　the　rest　of　the　march　we　shall　pursue　in　peace；　without　ever　a　blow　to　strike；　now　for　it。〃　But　Soteridas　the　Sicyonian　said：　〃We　are　not　on　equal　terms；　Xenophon；　you　are　mounted　　　47　on　a　horse；　I　can　hardly　get　along　with　my　shield　to　carry；〃　and　he；　on　hearing　the　reproach；　leapt　from　his　horse。　In　another　instant　he　had　pushed　Soteridas　from　the　ranks；　snatched　from　him　his　shield；　and　begun　marching　as　quickly　as　he　might　under　the　circumstances；　having　his　horseman's　cuirass　to　carry　as　well；　so　that　he　was　sore　pressed；　but　he　continued　to　cheer　on　the　troops：　exhorting　those　in　front　to　lead　on　and　the　men　toiling　behind　to　follow　up＇11＇。　Soteridas　was　not　spared　by　the　rest　of　the　men。　They　gave　him　blows；　they　pelted　him；　they　showered　him　with　abuse；　till　they　compelled　him　to　take　back　his　shield　and　march　on；　and　the　other；　remounting；　led　them　on　horseback　as　long　as　the　footing　held；　but　when　the　ground　became　too　steep；　he　left　his　horse　and　pressed　forward　on　foot；　and　so　they　found　themselves　on　the　summit　before　the　enemy。

＇11＇　Some　MSS。　〃and　the　men　behind　to　pass　him　by；　as　he　could　but　ill　　　　　keep　up　the　pace。〃



V

There　and　then　the　barbarians　turned　and　fled　as　best　they　might；　and　　　1　the　Hellenes　held　the　summit；　while　the　troops　with　Tissaphernes　and　Ariaeus　turned　aside　and　disappeared　by　another　road。　The　main　body　with　Cheirisophus　made　its　way　down　into　the　plain　and　encamped　in　a　village　filled　with　good　things　of　divers　sorts。　Nor　did　this　village　stand　alone；　there　were　others　not　a　few　in　this　plain　of　the　Tigris　equally　overflowing　with　plenty。　It　was　now　afternoon；　and　all　of　a　sudden　the　enemy　came　in　sight　on　the　plain；　and　succeeded　in　cutting　down　some　of　the　Hellenes　belonging　to　parties　who　were　scattered　over　the　flat　land　in　quest　of　spoil。　Indeed；　many　herds　of　cattle　had　been　caught　whilst　being　conveyed　across　to　the　other　side　of　the　river。　And　now　Tissaphernes　and　his　troops　made　an　attempt　to　burn　the　villages；　and　some　of　the　Hellenes　were　disposed　to　take　the　matter　deeply　to　heart；　being　apprehensive　that　they　might　not　know　where　to