anabasis-第25章
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ng the head from the trunk they would march along carrying it； singing and dancing； when they drew within their enemy's field of view。 They carried also a spear fifteen cubits long； lanced at one end＇2＇。 This folk stayed in regular townships； and whenever the Hellenes passed by they invariably hung close on their heels fighting。 They had dwelling…places in their fortresses； and into them they had carried up their supplies； sot hat the Hellenes could get nothing from this district； but supported themselves on the flocks and herds they had taken from the Taochians。 After this the Hellenes reached the river Harpasus； which was four hundred feet broad。 Hence they marched through the Scythenians four stagestwenty parasangsthrough a long level country to more villages； among which they halted three days； and got in supplies。
＇1＇ These are the Armeno…Chalybes； so called by Pliny in contradistinction to another mountain tribe in Pontus so named； who were famous for their forging； and from whom steel received its Greek name ｛khalups｝。 With these latter we shall make acquaintance later on。
＇2＇ I。e。 with a single point or spike only； the Hellenic spear having a spike at the butt end also。
Passing on from thence in four stages of twenty parasangs； they 19 reached a large and prosperous well…populated city； which went by the name of Gymnias＇3＇； from which the governor of the country sent them a guide to lead them through a district hostile to his own。 This guide told them that within five days he would lead them to a place from which they would see the sea； 〃and；〃 he added； 〃if I fail of my word； you are free to take my life。〃 Accordingly he put himself at their head； but he no sooner set foot in the country hostile to himself than he fell to encouraging them to burn and harry the land； indeed his exhortations were so earnest； it was plain that it was for this he had come； and not out of the good…will he bore the Hellenes。
＇3＇ Gymnias is supposed （by Grote； 〃Hist。 of Greece；〃 vol。 ix。 p。 161） to be the same as that which is now called Gumisch…Kanaperhaps 〃at no great distance from Baibut；〃 Tozer； 〃Turkish Armenia；〃 p。 432。 Others have identified it with Erzeroum； others with Ispir。
On the fifth day they reached the mountain； the name of which was Theches＇4＇。 No sooner had the men in front ascended it and caught sight of the sea than a great cry arose； and Xenophon； in the rearguard； catching the sound of it； conjectured that another set of enemies must surely be attacking in front； for they were followed by the inhabitants of the country； which was all aflame； indeed the rearguard had killed some and captured others alive by laying an ambuscade； they had taken also about twenty wicker shields； covered with the raw hides of shaggy oxen。
＇4＇ Some MSS。 give 〃the sacred mountain。〃 The height in question has been identified with 〃the ridge called Tekieh…Dagh to the east of Gumisch…Kana； nearer to the sea than that place〃 （Grote； ib。 p。 162）； but the exact place from which they caught sight of the sea has not been identified as yet； and other mountain ranges have been suggested。
But as the shout became louder and nearer； and those who from time to time came up； began racing at the top of their speed towards the shouters； and the shouting continually recommenced with yet greater volume as the numbers increased； Xenophon settled in his mind that something extraordinary must have happened； so he mounted his horse； and taking with him Lycius and the cavalry； he galloped to the rescue。 Presently they could hear the soldiers shouting and passing on the joyful word； 〃The sea！ the sea！〃
Thereupon they began running； rearguard and all； and the baggage 24 animals and horses came galloping up。 But when they had reached the summit； then indeed they fell to embracing one anothergenerals and officers and alland the tears trickled down their cheeks。 And on a sudden； some one； whoever it was； having passed down the order； the soldiers began bringing stones and erecting a great cairn； whereon they dedicated a host of untanned skins； and staves； and captured wicker shields； and with his own hand the guide hacked the shields to pieces； inviting the rest to follow his example。 After this the Hellenes dismissed the guide with a present raised from the common store； to wit； a horse； a silver bowl； a Persian dress； and ten darics； but what he most begged to have were their rings； and of these he got several from the soldiers。 So； after pointing out to them a village where they would find quarters； and the road by which they would proceed towards the land of the Macrones； as evening fell； he turned his back upon them in the night and was gone。
VIII
From this point the Hellenes marched through the country of the 1 Macrones three stagesten parasangs； and on the first day they reached the river； which formed the boundary between the land of the Macrones and the land of the Scythenians。 Above them； on their right； they had a country of the sternest and ruggedest character； and on their left another river； into which the frontier river discharges itself； and which they must cross。 This was thickly fringed with trees which； though not of any great bulk； were closely packed。 As soon as they came up to them； the Hellenes proceeded to cut them down in their haste to get out of the place as soon as possible。 But the Macrones； armed with wicker shields and lances and hair tunics； were already drawn up to receive them opposite the crossing。 They were cheering one another on； and kept up a steady pelt of stones into the river； though they failed to reach the other side or do any harm。
At this juncture one of the light infantry came up to Xenophon； he had been； he said； a slave at Athens； and he wished to tell him that he recognised the speech of these people。 〃I think；〃 said he； 〃that this must be my native country； and if there is no objection I will have a talk with them。〃 〃No objection at all；〃 replied Xenophon； 〃pray talk 5 to them； and ask them first； who they are。〃 In answer to this question they said； 〃they were Macrones。〃 〃Well； then；〃 said he； 〃ask them why they are drawn up in battle and want to fight with us。〃 They answered； 〃Because you are invading our country。〃 The generals bade him say： 〃If so； it is with not intention certainly of doing it or you any harm： but we have been at war with the king； and are now returning to Hellas； and all we want is to reach the sea。〃 The others asked； 〃Were they willing to give them pledges to that effect？〃 They replied： 〃Yes； they were ready to give and receive pledges to that effect。〃 Then the Macrones gave a barbaric lance to the Hellenes； and the Hellenes a Hellenic lance to them： 〃for these；〃 they said； 〃would serve as pledges；〃 and both sides called upon the gods to witness。
After the pledges were exchanged； the Macrones fell to vigorously hewing down trees and constructing a road to help them across； mingling freely with the Hellenes and fraternising in their midst； and they afforded them as good as market as they could； and for three days conducted them on their march； until they had brought them safely to the confines of the Colchians。 At this point they were confronted by a great mountain chain； which however was accessible； and on it the Colchians were drawn up for battle。 In the first instance； the Hellenes drew up opposite in line of battle； as though they were minded to assault the hill in that order； but afterwards the generals determined to hold a council of war； and consider how to make the fairest fight。
Accordingly Xenophon said： 〃I am not for advancing in line； but advise to form companies by columns。 To begin with； the line；〃 he urged； 〃would be scattered and thrown into disorder at once； for we shall find the mountain full of inequalities； it will be pathless here and easy to traverse there。 The mere fact of first having formed in line； and then seeing the line thrown into disorder； must exercise a disheartening effect。 Again； if we advance several deep； the enemy will none the less overlap us； and turn their superfluous numbers to account as best they like； while； if we march in shallow order； we may fully expect our line to be cut through and through by the thick rain 11 of missiles and rush of men； and if this happen anywhere along the line； the whole line will equally suffer。 No； my notion is to form columns by companies； covering ground sufficient with spaces between the companies to allow the last companies of each flank to be outside the enemy's flanks。 Thus we shall with our extreme companies be outside the enemy's line； and the best men at the head of their columns will lead the attack； and every company will pick its way where the ground is easy； also it will be difficult for the enemy to force his way into the intervening spaces； when there are companies on both sides； nor will it be easy for him to cut in twain any individual company marching in column。 If； too； any particular company should be pressed； the neighbouring company will come to the rescue； or if at any point any single company succeed in reaching the height； from that moment not one man of the enemy will stand his ground。〃
This proposal was carried； and they formed into columns by companies＇1＇。 Then Xenophon； returning from the right wing to the left； addressed the soldiers。 〃Men；〃 he said； 〃these men whom you see in front of you are the sole obstacles still interposed between us and the haven of our hopes so long deferred。 We will swallow them up whole； without cooking＇2＇； if we can。〃
＇1＇ For this formation； see 〃The Retreat of the Ten Thousand； a military study for all time；〃 by Lieut。…General J。 L。 Vaughan； C。B。
＇2＇ Or； 〃we will gobble them up raw。〃 He is thinking of the Homeric line （〃Iliad〃； iv。 35） 〃Perchance wert thou to enter within the gates and long walls and devour Priam raw； and Priam's sons and all the Trojans； then mightest thou assuage thine anger。〃Leaf。
The several divisions fell into position； the companies were formed into columns； and the result was a total of something like eighty companies of heavy infantry； each company consisting on an average of a hundred men。 The light infantry and bowmen were arranged in three divisionstwo outside to support the left and the right respectively； and the third in the centreeach division consisting of about six hundred men＇3＇。
＇3＇ This suggests 1800 as the total of the peltasts； 8000 as the total of the hoplites； but the companies were probably not limited to 100； and under 〃peltasts〃 were probably included other light troops。
Before starting； the generals passed the order to offer prayer； and 16 with the prayer and battle hymn rising from their lips they commenced their advance。 Cheirisophus and Xenophon； and the light infantry with them； advanced outside the enemy's line to right and left； and the enemy； seeing their advance； made an effort to keep parallel and confront them； but in order to do so； as he extended partly to right and partly to left； he was pulled to pieces； and there was a large space or hollow left in the centre of his line。 Seeing them separate thus； the light infantry attached to the Arcadian battalion； under
