anabasis-第24章

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ight　form　into　line。　As　soon　as　the　rearguard　had　come　up；　he　assembled　the　generals　and　officers；　and　addressed　them：　〃The　enemy；　as　you　see；　are　in　occupation　of　the　mountain　pass；　it　is　time　we　should　consider　how　we　are　to　make　the　best　fight　to　win　it。　My　opinion　is；　that　we　should　give　orders　to　the　troops　to　take　their　morning　meal；　whilst　we　deliberate　whether　we　should　cross　the　mountains　to…day　or　to…morrow。〃　〃My　opinion；〃　said　Cleanor；　〃is；　that　as　soon　as　we　have　breakfasted；　we　should　arm　for　the　fight　and　attack　the　enemy；　without　loss　of　time；　for　if　we　fritter　away　to…day；　the　enemy　who　are　now　content　to　look　at　us；　will　grow　bolder；　and　with　their　growing　courage；　depend　upon　it；　others　more　numerous　will　join　them。〃

＇1＇　Probably　a　tributary　of　the　Araxes　=　modern　Pasin…Su。

After　him　Xenophon　spoke：　〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　how　I　see　the　matter；　if　fight　we　must；　let　us　make　preparation　to　sell　our　lives　dearly；　but　if　we　desire　to　cross　with　the　greatest　ease；　the　point　to　consider　is；　how　we　may　get　the　fewest　wounds　and　throw　away　the　smallest　number　of　good　men。　Well　then；　that　part　of　the　mountain　　　　　　　11　which　is　visible　stretches　nearly　seven　miles。　Where　are　the　men　posted　to　intercept　us？　except　at　the　road　itself；　they　are　nowhere　to　be　seen。　It　is　much　better　to　try　if　possible　to　steal　a　point　of　this　desert　mountain　unobserved；　and　before　they　know　where　we　are；　secure　the　prize；　than　to　fly　at　a　strong　position　and　an　enemy　thoroughly　prepared。　Since　it　is　much　easier　to　march　up　a　mountain　without　fighting　than　to　tramp　along　a　level　when　assailants　are　at　either　hand；　and　provided　he　has　not　to　fight；　a　man　will　see　what　lies　at　his　feet　much　more　plainly　even　at　night　than　in　broad　daylight　in　the　midst　of　battle；　and　a　rough　road　to　feet　that　roam　in　peace　may　be　pleasanter　than　a　smooth　surface　with　the　bullets　whistling　about　your　ears＇2＇。　Nor　is　it　so　impossible；　I　take　it；　to　steal　a　march；　since　it　is　open　to　us　to　go　by　night；　when　we　cannot　be　seen；　and　to　fall　back　so　far　that　they　will　never　notice　us。　In　my　opinion；　however；　if　we　make　a　feint　of　attacking　here；　we　shall　find　the　mountain　chain　all　the　more　deserted　elsewhere；　since　the　enemy　will　be　waiting　for　us　here　in　thicker　swarm。

＇2＇　Or；　more　lit。；　〃with　the　head　a　mark　for　missiles。〃

〃But　what　right　have　I　to　be　drawing　conclusions　about　stealing　in　your　presence；　Cheirisophus？　for　you　Lacedaemonians；　as　I　have　often　been　told；　you　who　belong　to　the　'peers；'　practise　stealing　from　your　boyhood　up；　and　it　is　no　disgrace　but　honourable　rather　to　steal；　except　such　things　as　the　law　forbids；　and　in　order；　I　presume；　to　stimulate　your　sense　of　secretiveness；　and　to　make　you　master　thieves；　it　is　lawful　for　you　further　to　get　a　whipping　if　you　are　caught。　Now　then　you　have　a　fine　opportunity　of　displaying　your　training。　But　take　care　we　are　not　caught　stealing　over　the　mountain；　or　we　shall　catch　it　ourselves。〃　〃For　all　that；〃　retorted　Cheirisophus；　〃I　have　heard　that　you　Athenians　are　clever　hands　at　stealing　the　public　moneys；　and　that　too　though　there　is　a　fearful　risk　for　the　person　so　employed；　but；　I　am　told；　it　is　your　best　men　who　are　addicted　to　it；　if　it　is　your　best　men　who　are　thought　worthy　to　rule。　So　it　is　a　fine　opportunity　for　yourself　also；　Xenophon；　to　exhibit　your　education。〃　　　　17　〃And　I；〃　replied　Xenophon；　〃am　ready　to　take　the　rear　division；　as　soon　as　we　have　supped；　and　seize　the　mountain　chain。　I　have　already　got　guides；　for　the　light　troops　laid　an　ambuscade；　and　seized　some　of　the　cut…purse　vagabonds　who　hung　on　our　rear。　I　am　further　informed　by　them　that　the　mountain　is　not　inaccessible；　but　is　grazed　by　goats　and　cattle；　so　that　if　we　can　once　get　hold　of　any　portion　of　it；　there　will　be　no　difficulty　as　regards　our　animalsthey　can　cross。　As　to　the　enemy；　I　expect　they　will　not　even　wait　for　us　any　longer；　when　they　once　see　us　on　a　level　with　themselves　on　the　heights；　for　they　do　not　even　at　present　care　to　come　down　and　meet　us　on　fair　ground。〃　Cheirisophus　answered：　〃But　why　should　you　go　and　leave　your　command　in　the　rear？　Send　others　rather；　unless　a　band　of　volunteers　will　present　themselves。〃　Thereupon　Aristonymus　the　Methydrian　came　forward　with　some　heavy　infantry；　and　Nicomachus　the　Oetean　with　another　body　of　light　troops；　and　they　made　an　agreement　to　kindle　several　watch…fires　as　soon　as　they　held　the　heights。　The　arrangements　made；　they　breakfasted；　and　after　breakfast　Cheirisophus　advanced　the　whole　army　ten　furlongs　closer　towards　the　enemy；　so　as　to　strengthen　the　impression　that　he　intended　to　attack　them　at　that　point。

But　as　soon　as　they　had　supped　and　night　had　fallen；　the　party　under　orders　set　off　and　occupied　the　mountain；　while　the　main　body　rested　where　they　were。　Now　as　soon　as　the　enemy　perceived　that　the　mountain　was　taken；　they　banished　all　thought　of　sleep；　and　kept　many　watch…fires　blazing　throughout　the　night。　But　at　break　of　day　Cheirisophus　offered　sacrifice；　and　began　advancing　along　the　road；　while　the　detachment　which　held　the　mountain　advanced　pari　passu　by　the　high　ground。　The　larger　mass　of　the　enemy；　on　his　side；　remained　still　on　the　mountain…pass；　but　a　section　of　them　turned　to　confront　the　detachment　on　the　heights。　Before　the　main　bodies　had　time　to　draw　together；　the　detachment　on　the　height　came　to　close　quarters；　and　the　Hellenes　were　victorious　and　gave　chase。　Meanwhile　the　light　division　of　the　Hellenes；　issuing　from　the　plain；　were　rapidly　advancing　against　the　serried　lines　of　the　enemy；　whilst　Cheirisophus　followed　up　with　his　heavy　infantry　at　quick　march。　But　the　enemy　on　the　road　　　　25　no　sooner　saw　their　higher　division　being　worsted　than　they　fled；　and　some　few　of　them　were　slain；　and　a　vast　number　of　wicker　shields　were　taken；　which　the　Hellenes　hacked　to　pieces　with　their　short　swords　and　rendered　useless。　So　when　they　had　reached　the　summit　of　the　pass；　they　sacrificed　and　set　up　a　trophy；　and　descending　into　the　plain；　reached　villages　abounding　in　good　things　of　every　kind。



VII

After　this　they　marched　into　the　country　of　the　Taochians　five　　　　　　　　　　1　stagesthirty　parasangsand　provisions　failed；　for　the　Taochians　lived　in　strong　places；　into　which　they　had　carried　up　all　their　stores。　Now　when　the　army　arrived　before　one　of　these　strong　placesa　mere　fortress；　without　city　or　houses；　into　which　a　motley　crowd　of　men　and　women　and　numerous　flocks　and　herds　were　gatheredCheirisophus　attacked　at　once。　When　the　first　regiment　fell　back　tired；　a　second　advanced；　and　again　a　third；　for　it　was　impossible　to　surround　the　place　in　full　force；　as　it　was　encircled　by　a　river。　Presently　Xenophon　came　up　with　the　rearguard；　consisting　of　both　light　and　heavy　infantry；　whereupon　Cheirisophus　halted　him　with　the　words：　〃In　the　nick　of　time　you　have　come；　we　must　take　this　place；　for　the　troops　have　no　provisions；　unless　we　take　it。〃　Thereupon　they　consulted　together；　and　to　Xenophon's　inquiry；　〃What　it　was　which　hindered　their　simply　walking　in？〃　Cheirisophus　replied；　〃There　is　just　this　one　narrow　approach　which　you　see；　but　when　we　attempt　to　pass　it　by　they　roll　down　volleys　of　stones　from　yonder　overhanging　crag；〃　pointing　up；　〃and　this　is　the　state　in　which　you　find　yourself；　if　you　chance　to　be　caught；〃　and　he　pointed　to　some　poor　fellows　with　their　legs　or　ribs　crushed　to　bits。　〃But　when　they　have　expended　their　ammunition；〃　said　Xenophon；　〃there　is　nothing　else；　is　there；　to　hinder　our　passing？　Certainly；　except　yonder　handful　of　fellows；　there　is　no　one　in　front　of　us　that　we　can　see；　and　of　them；　only　two　or　three　apparently　are　armed；　and　the　distance　to　be　traversed　under　fire　is；　as　your　eyes　will　tell　you；　about　one　hundred　and　fifty　feet　as　near　as　can　be；　and　of　this　space　the　first　hundred　is　thickly　covered　with　great　pines　at　intervals；　under　cover　of　these；　what　harm　can　come　to　our　men　from　a　pelt　of　stones；　flying　　　6　or　rolling？　So　then；　there　is　only　fifty　feet　left　to　cross；　during　a　lull　of　stones。〃　〃Ay；〃　said　Cheirisophus；　〃but　with　our　first　attempt　to　approach　the　bush　a　galling　fire　of　stones　commences。〃　〃The　very　thing　we　want；〃　said　the　other；　〃for　they　will　use　up　their　ammunition　all　the　quicker；　but　let　us　select　a　point　from　which　we　shall　have　only　a　brief　space　to　run　across；　if　we　can；　and　from　which　it　will　be　easier　to　get　back；　if　we　wish。〃

Thereupon　Cheirisophus　and　Xenophon　set　out　with　Callimachus　the　Parrhasian；　the　captain　in　command　of　the　officers　of　the　rearguard　that　day；　the　rest　of　the　captains　remained　out　of　danger。　That　done；　the　next　step　was　for　a　party　of　about　seventy　men　to　get　away　under　the　trees；　not　in　a　body；　but　one　by　one；　every　one　using　his　best　precaution；　and　Agasis　the　Stymphalian；　and　Aristonymous　the　Methydrian；　who　were　also　officers　of　the　rearguard；　were　posted　as　supports　outside　the　trees；　for　it　was　not　possible　for　more　than　a　single　company　to　stand　safely　within　the　trees。　Here　Callimachus　hit　upon　a　pretty　contrivancehe　ran　forward　from　the　tree　under　which　he　was　posted　two　or　three　paces；　and　as　soon　as　the　stones　came　whizzing；　he　retired　easily；　but　at　each　excursion　more　than　ten　wagon…loads　of　rocks　were　expended。　Agasias；　seeing　how　Callimachus　was　amusing　himself；　and　the　whole　army　looking　on　as　spectators；　was　seized　with　the　fear　that　he　might　miss　his　chance　of　being　first　to　run　the　gauntlet　of　the　enemy's　fire　and　get　into　the　place。　So；　without　a　word　of　summons　to　his　neighbour；　Aristonymous；　or　to　Eurylochus　of　Lusia；　both　comrades　of　his；　or　to　any　one　else；　off　he　set　on　his　own　account；　and　passed　the　whole　detachment。　But　Callimachus；　seeing　him　tearing　past；　caught　hold　of　his　shield　by　the　rim；　and　in　the　meantime　Aristonymous　the　Methydrian　ran　past　both；　and　after　him　Eurylochus　of　Lusia；　for　they　were　one　and　all　aspirants　to　valour；　and　in　that　high　pursuit；　each　was　the　eager　rival　of　the　rest。　So　in　this　strife　of　honour；　the　three　of　them　took　the　fortress；　and　when　they　had　once　rushed　in；　not　a　stone　more　was　hurled　from　overhead。

And　here　a　terrible　spectacle　displayed　itself：　the　women　first　cast　their　infants　down　the　cliff；　and　then　they　cast　themselves　after　　　　　　　13　their　fallen　little　ones；　and　the　men　likewise。　In　such　a　scene；　Aeneas　the　Stymphalian；　an　officer；　caught　sight　of　a　man　with　a　fine　dress　about　to　throw　himself　over；　and　seized　hold　of　him　to　stop　him；　but　the　other　caught　him　to　his　arms；　and　both　were　gone　in　an　instant　headlong　down　the　crags；　and　were　killed。　Out　of　this　place　the　merest　handful　of　human　beings　were　taken　prisoners；　but　cattle　and　asses　in　abundance　and　flocks　of　sheep。

From　this　place　they　marched　through　the　Chalybes＇1＇　seven　stages；　fifty　parasangs。　These　were　the　bravest　men　whom　they　encountered　on　the　whole　march；　coming　cheerily　to　close　quarters　with　them。　They　wore　linen　cuirasses　reaching　to　the　groin；　and　instead　of　the　ordinary　〃wings〃　or　basques；　a　thickly…plaited　fringe　of　cords。　They　were　also　provided　with　greaves　and　helmets；　and　at　the　girdle　a　short　sabre；　about　as　long　as　the　Laconian　dagger；　with　which　they　cut　the　throats　of　those　they　mastered；　and　after　severing　the　head　from　the　trunk　they　would　march　along　carrying　it；　singing　and　dancing；　when　they　drew　w