anabasis-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ey　turned　and　fled。　The　peltasts　followed　without　delay；　and　pursued　them　right　up　to　their　city；　while　the　heavy　troops　in　unbroken　order　followed。　As　soon　as　they　were　up　at　the　houses　of　the　capital；　there　and　then　the　enemy；　collecting　all　together　in　one　strong　body；　fought　valiantly；　and　hurled　their　javelins；　or　else　clenched　their　long　stout　spears；　almost　too　heavy　for　a　man　to　wield；　and　did　their　best　to　ward　off　the　attack　at　close　quarters。

But　when　the　Hellenes；　instead　of　giving　way；　kept　massing　together　more　thickly；　the　barbarians　fled　from　this　place　also；　and　in　a　body　deserted　the　fortress。　Their　king；　who　sat　in　his　wooden　tower　or　mossyn；　built　on　the　citadel　（there　he　sits　and　there　they　maintain　him；　all　at　the　common　cost；　and　guard　him　narrowly）；　refused　to　come　forth；　as　did　also　those　in　the　fortress　first　taken；　and　so　were　burnt　to　a　cinder　where　they　were；　their　mossyns；　themseves；　and　all。　The　Hellenes；　pillaging　and　ransacking　these　places；　discovered　in　the　different　houses　treasures　and　magazines　of　loaves；　pile　upon　pile；　〃the　ancestral　stores；〃　as　the　Mossynoecians　told　them；　but　the　new　corn　was　laid　up　apart　with　the　straw…stalk　and　ear　together；　and　this　was　for　the　most　part　spelt。　Slices　of　dolphin　were　another　discovery；　in　narrow…necked　jars；　all　properly　salted　and　pickled；　and　there　was　blubber　of　dolphin　in　vessels；　which　the　Mossynoecians　used　precisely　as　the　Hellenes　use　oil。　Then　there　were　large　stores　of　nuts　on　the　upper　floor；　the　broad　kind　without　a　division＇3＇。　This　was　also　a　chief　article　of　food　with　themboiled　nuts　and　baked　loaves。　Wine　was　also　discovered。　This；　from　its　rough；　dry　quality；　tasted　sharp　when　drunk　pure；　but　mixed　with　water　was　sweet　and　fragrant。

＇3＇　I。e。　〃chestnuts。〃

The　Hellenes　breakfasted　and　then　started　forward　on　their　march；　having　first　delivered　the　stronghold　to　their　allies　among　the　Mossynoecians。　As　for　the　other　strongholds　belonging　to　tribes　allied　with　their　foes；　which　they　passed　en　route；　the　most　accessible　were　either　deserted　by　their　inhabitants　or　gave　in　their　adhesion　　　　　　　　　　30　voluntarily。　The　following　description　will　apply　to　the　majority　of　them：　the　cities　were　on　an　average　ten　miles　apart；　some　more；　some　less；　but　so　elevated　is　the　country　and　intersected　by　such　deep　clefts　that　if　they　chose　to　shout　across　to　one　another；　their　cries　would　be　heard　from　one　city　to　another。　When；　in　the　course　of　their　march；　they　came　upon　a　friendly　population；　these　would　entertain　them　with　exhibitions　of　fatted　children　belonging　to　the　wealthy　classes；　fed　up　on　boiled　chestnuts　until　they　were　as　white　as　white　can　be；　of　skin　plump　and　delicate；　and　very　nearly　as　broad　as　they　were　long；　with　their　backs　variegated　and　their　breasts　tattooed　with　patterns　of　all　sorts　of　flowers。　They　sought　after　the　women　in　the　Hellenic　army；　and　would　fain　have　laid　with　them　openly　in　broad　daylight；　for　that　was　their　custom。　The　whole　community；　male　and　female　alike；　were　fair…complexioned　and　white…skinned。

It　was　agreed　that　this　was　the　most　barbaric　and　outlandish　people　that　they　had　passed　through　on　the　whole　expedition；　and　the　furthest　removed　from　the　Hellenic　customs；　doing　in　a　crowd　precisely　what　other　people　would　prefer　to　do　in　solitude；　and　when　alone　behaving　exactly　as　others　would　behave　in　company；　talking　to　themselves　and　laughing　at　their　own　expense；　standing　still　and　then　again　capering　about；　wherever　they　might　chance　to　be；　without　rhyme　or　reason；　as　if　their　sole　business　were　to　show　off　to　the　rest　of　the　world。



V

Through　this　country；　friendly　or　hostile　as　the　chance　might　be；　the　　　1　Hellenes　marched；　eight　stages　in　all；　and　reached　the　Chalybes。　These　were　a　people　few　in　number；　and　subject　to　the　Mossynoecians。　Their　livelihood　was　for　the　most　part　derived　from　mining　and　forging　iron。

Thence　they　came　to　the　Tibarenians。　The　country　of　the　Tibarenians　was　far　more　level；　and　their　fortresses　lay　on　the　seaboard　and　were　less　strong；　whether　by　art　or　nature。　The　generals　wanted　to　attack　these　places；　so　that　the　army　might　get　some　pickings；　and　they　would　not　accept　the　gifts　of　hospitality　which　came　in　from　the　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2　Tibarenians；　but　bidding　them　wait　till　they　had　taken　counsel；　they　proceeded　to　offer　sacrifice。　After　several　abortive　attempts；　the　seers　at　last　pronounced　an　opinion　that　the　gods　in　no　wise　countenanced　war。　Then　they　accepted　the　gifts　of　hospitality；　and　marching　through　what　was　now　recognised　as　a　friendly　country；　in　two　days　reached　Cotyora；　a　Hellenic　city；　and　a　colony　of　Sinope；　albeit　situated　in　the　territory　of　the　Tibarenians＇1＇。

＇1＇　The　MSS。　here　read；　〃Up　to　this　point　the　expedition　was　conducted　　　　　on　land；　and　the　distance　traversed　on　foot　from　the　battle…field　　　　　near　Babylon　down　to　Cotyora　amounted　to　one　hundred　and　　　　　twenty…two　stagesthat　is　to　say；　six　hundred　and　twenty　　　　　parasangs；　or　eighteen　thousand　stades；　or　if　measured　in　time；　an　　　　　eight　months'　march。〃　The　words　are　probably　the　note　of　some　　　　　editor　or　commentator；　though　it　is　quite　likely　that　the　author　　　　　himself　may　have　gone　through　such　calculations　and　even　have　　　　　inserted　them　as　a　note　to　his　text。

Here　they　halted　forty…five　days；　during　which　they　first　of　all　sacrificed　to　the　gods；　and　instituted　processions；　each　set　of　the　Hellenes　according　to　their　several　tribes；　with　gymnastic　contests。　Provisions　they　got　in　meanwhile；　partly　from　Paphlagonia；　partly　from　the　estates　of　the　Cotyorites；　for　the　latter　would　neither　provide　them　a　market　nor　receive　their　sick　within　their　walls。

Meanwhile　ambassadors　arrived　from　Sinope；　full　of　fears；　not　only　for　the　Cotyorites　and　their　city；　which　belonged　to　Sinope；　and　brought　in　tribute；　but　also　for　the　territory　which；　as　they　had　heard；　was　being　pillaged。　Accordingly　they　came　to　the　camp　and　made　a　speech。　Hecatonymus；　who　was　reported　to　be　a　clever　orator；　acted　as　their　spokesman：　〃Soldiers；〃　he　said；　〃the　city　of　the　Sinopeans　has　sent　us　to　offer　you；　as　Hellenes；　our　compliments　and　congratulations　on　your　victories　over　the　barbarians；　and　next；　to　express　our　joyful　satisfaction　that　you　have　surmounted　all　those　terrible　sufferings　of　which　we　have　heard；　and　have　reached　this　place　in　safety。　As　Hellenes　we　claim　to　receive　at　your　hands；　as　fellow…Hellenes；　kindness　and　not　harm。　We　have　certainly　not　ourselves　set　you　an　example　heretofore　of　evil　treatment。　Now　the　Cotyorites　are　our　colonists。　It　was　we　who　gave　them　this　country　to　dwell　in；　having　　　　　10　taken　it　from　the　barbarians；　for　which　reason　also　they；　with　the　men　of　Cerasus　and　Trapezus；　pay　us　an　appointed　tribute。　So　that；　whatever　mischief　you　inflict　on　the　men　of　Cotyora；　the　city　of　Sinope　takes　as　personal　to　herself。　At　the　present　time　we　hear　that　you　have　made　forcible　entry　into　their　city；　some　of　you；　and　are　quartered　in　the　houses；　besides　taking　forcibly　from　the　Cotyorite　estates　whatever　you　need；　by　hook　and　by　crook。　Now　against　these　things　we　enter　protest。　If　you　mean　to　go　on　so　doing；　you　will　drive　us　to　make　friends　with　Corylas　and　the　Paphlagonians；　or　any　one　else　we　can　find。〃

To　meet　these　charges　Xenophon；　on　behalf　of　the　soldiers；　rose　and　said：　〃As　to　ourselves；　men　of　Sinope；　having　got　so　far；　we　are　well　content　to　have　saved　our　bodies　and　our　arms。　Indeed　it　was　impossible　at　one　and　the　same　moment　to　keep　our　enemies　at　bay　and　to　despoil　them　of　their　goods　and　chattels。　And　now；　since　we　have　reached　Hellenic　cities；　how　has　it　fared　with　us？　At　Trapezus　they　gave　us　a　market；　and　we　paid　for　our　provisions　at　a　fair　market　price。　In　return　for　the　honour　they　did　us；　and　the　gifts　of　hospitality　they　gave　the　army；　we　requited　them　with　honour。　Where　the　barbarian　was　friendly　to　them；　we　stayed　our　hands　from　injury；　or　under　their　escort；　we　did　damage　to　their　enemies　to　the　utmost　of　our　power。　Ask　them；　what　sort　of　people　they　found　us。　They　are　here；　some　of　them；　to　answer　for　themselves。　Their　fellow…citizens　and　the　state　of　Trapezus；　for　friendship's　sake；　have　sent　them　with　us　to　act　as　our　guides。

〃But　wherever　we　come；　be　it　foreign　or　Hellenic　soil；　and　find　no　market　for　provisions；　we　are　wont　to　help　ourselves；　not　out　of　insolence　but　from　necessity。　There　have　been　tribes　like　the　Carduchians；　the　Taochians；　the　Chaldaeans；　which；　albeit　they　were　not　subject　to　the　great　king；　yet　were　no　less　formidable　than　independent。　These　we　had　to　bring　over　by　our　arms。　The　necessity　of　getting　provisions　forced　us；　since　they　refused　to　offer　us　a　market。　Whereas　some　other　folk；　like　the　Macrones；　in　spite　of　their　being　barbarians；　we　regarded　as　our　friends；　simply　because　they　did　provide　us　with　the　best　market　in　their　power；　and　we　took　no　single　　　18　thing　of　theirs　by　force。　But；　to　come　to　these　Cotyorites；　whom　you　claim　to　be　your　people；　if　we　have　taken　aught　from　them；　they　have　themselves　to　blame；　for　they　did　not　deal　with　us　as　friends；　but　shut　their　gates　in　our　faces。　They　would　neither　welcome　us　within　nor　furnish　us　with　a　market　without。　The　only　justification　they　alleged　was　that　your　governor＇2＇　had　authorised　this　conduct。

＇2＇　Lit。　〃harmost〃。　The　term；　denoting　properly　a　governor　of　the　　　　　islands　and　foreign　cities　sent　out　by　the　Lacedaemonians　during　　　　　their　supremacy；　came；　it　would　seem；　to　be　adopted　by　other　Greek　　　　　communities　under　somewhat　similar　circumstances。　Cotyora　receives　　　　　a　harmost　from　her　mother…city；　Sinope。　For　the　Greek　colonies　　　　　here　mentioned；　see　Kiepert's　〃Man。　Anct。　Geog。〃　（Engl。　tr。；　Mr。　　　　　G。　A。　Macmillan）；　p。　63。

〃As　to　your　assertion；〃　he　continued；　turning　to　Hecatonymus；　〃that　we　have　got　in　by　force　and　have　taken　up　quarters；　this　is　what　we　did。　We　requested　them　to　receive　our　sick　and　wounded　under　cover；　and　when　they　refused　to　open　their　gates；　we　walked　in　where　the　place　itself　invited　us。　All　the　violence　we　have　committed　amounts　to　this；　that　our　sick　folk　are　quartered　under　cover；　paying　for　their　expenses；　and　we　keep　a　sentry　at　the　gates；　so　that　our　sick　and　wounded　may　not　lie　at　the　mercy　of　your　governor；　but　we　may　have　it　in　our　power　to　remove　them　whenever　we　like。　The　rest　of　us；　you　observe；　are　camping　under　the　canopy　of　heaven；　in　regular　rank　and　file；　and　we　are　ready　to　requite　kindness　with　kindness；　but　to　repel　evil　vigorously。　And　as　for　your　threat；〃　he　said；　once　again　turning　to　the　spokesman；　〃that　you　will；　if　it　suits　you；　make　alliance　with　Corylas　and　the　Paphlagonians　to　attack　us；　for　our　part；　we　have　no　objection　to　fighting　both　sets　of　you；　if　so　be　we　must；　we　have　already　fought　others　many　times　more　numerous　than　you。　Besides；　'if　it　suits　us；'　as　you　put　it；　to　make　the　Paphlagonian　our　friend　（report　says　that　he　has　a　hankering　after　your　city　and　some　other　places　on　the　seaboard）；　we　can　enhance　the　value　of　our　friendship　by　helping　to　win　for　him　what　he　covets。〃

Thereupon　the　ambassadors　showed　very　plainly　their　annoyance　with　Hecatonymus；　on　account　of　the　style　of　his　remarks；　and　one　of　them　stept　forward　to　explain　that　their　intention　in　coming　was　not　at　all　to　raise　a　wa