anabasis-第32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！


and　proposed　to　sail　here；　not　only　to　state　to　us　what　had　occurred；　but　to　offer　that　those　who　were　interested　should　take　up　and　bury　the　bodies　of　the　slain。

〃But　among　the　Hellenes　still　at　Cerasus　were　some　of　those　who　had　escaped。　They　found　out　in　which　direction　the　barbarians　were　minded　to　go；　and　not　only　had　the　face　themselves　to　pelt　them　with　stones；　but　vociferously　encouraged　their　neighbours　to　do　the　same。　The　three　menambassadors；　mark　youwere　slain；　stoned　to　death。　After　this　occurrence；　the　men　of　Cerasus　came　to　us　and　reported　the　affair；　and　we　generals；　on　being　informed；　were　annoyed　at　what　had　taken　place；　and　took　counsel　with　the　Cerasuntines　how　the　dead　bodies　of　the　Hellenes　might　be　buried。　While　seated　in　conclave　outside　the　camp；　we　suddenly　were　aware　of　a　great　hubbub。　We　heard　cries：　'Cut　them　down！'　'Shoot　them！'　'Stone　them！'　and　presently　we　caught　sight　of　a　mass　of　people　racing　towards　us　with　stones　in　their　hands；　and　others　picking　them　up。　The　Cerasuntines；　naturally　enough；　considering　the　incident　they　had　lately　witnessed；　retired　in　terror　to　their　vessels；　and；　upon　my　word；　some　of　us　did　not　feel　too　comfortable。　All　I　could　do　was　to　go　to　them　and　inquire　what　it　all　meant。　Some　of　them　had　not　the　slightest　notion；　although　they　had　stones　in　their　hands；　but　chancing　on　some　one　who　was　better　informed；　I　was　told　by　him　that　'the　clerks　of　the　market　were　treating　the　army　most　scandalously。'　Just　then　some　one　got　sight　of　the　market　clerk；　Zelarchus；　making　his　way　off　towards　the　sea；　and　lifted　up　his　voice　aloud；　and　the　rest　responding　to　the　cry　as　if　a　　　24　wild　boar　or　a　stag　had　been　started；　they　rushed　upon　him。

〃The　Cerasuntines；　seeing　a　rush　in　their　direction；　thought　that；　without　a　doubt；　it　was　directed　against　themselves；　and　fled　with　all　speed　and　threw　themselves　into　the　sea；　in　which　proceeding　they　were　imitated　by　some　few　of　our　own　men；　and　all　who　did　not　know　how　to　swim　were　drowned。　But　now；　what　do　you　think　of　their　case；　these　men　of　Cerasus？　They　had　done　no　wrong。　They　were　simply　afraid　that　some　madness　had　seized　us；　like　that　to　which　dogs　are　liable。

〃I　say　then；　if　proceedings　like　this　are　to　be　the　order　of　the　day；　you　had　better　consider　what　the　ultimate　condition　of　the　army　is　like　to　be。　As　a　body　you　will　not　have　it　in　your　power　to　undertake　war　against　whom　you　like；　or　to　conclude　peace。　But　in　private　any　one　who　chooses　will　conduct　the　army　on　any　quest　which　takes　his　fancy。　And　when　ambassadors　come　to　you　to　demand　peace；　or　whatever　it　may　be；　officious　people　will　put　them　to　death　and　prevent　your　hearing　the　proposals　which　brought　them　to　you。　The　next　step　will　be　that　those　whom　you　as　a　body　may　choose　as　generals　will　be　of　no　account；　but　any　one　who　likes　to　elect　himself　general；　and　will　adopt　the　formula　'Shoot　him！　shoot　him！'　will　be　competent　to　cut　down　whomsoever　he　pleases　untried；　be　it　general　or　private　soldier；　if　only　he　have　sufficient　followers；　as　was　the　case　just　now。　But　just　consider　what　these　self…appointed　generals　have　achieved　for　you。　Zelarchus；　the　clerk　of　the　market；　may　possibly　have　done　you　a　wrong；　if　so；　he　has　sailed　off　and　is　gone　without　paying　you　any　penalty；　or　he　may　be　guiltless；　in　which　case　we　have　driven　him　from　the　army　in　terror　of　perishing　unjustly　without　a　trial。　While　those　who　stoned　the　ambassadors　have　contrived　so　cleverly　that　we　alone　of　all　Hellenes　cannot　approach　Cerasus　safely　without　a　strong　force；　and　the　corpses　which　the　very　men　who　slew　them　themselves　invited　us　to　bury；　we　cannot　now　pick　up　with　safety　even　under　a　flag　of　truce。　Who　indeed　would　care　to　carry　a　flag　of　truce；　or　go　as　a　herald　with　　30　the　blood　of　heralds　upon　his　hands？　All　we　could　do　was　to　implore　the　Cerasuntines　to　bury　them。

〃If　then　you　approve　of　such　doings；　have　a　resolution　passed　to　that　effect；　so　that；　with　a　prospect　of　like　occurrences　in　the　future；　a　man　may　privately　set　up　a　guard　and　do　his　best　to　fix　his　tent　where　he　can　find　a　strong　position　with　a　commanding　site。　If；　however；　these　seem　to　you　to　be　the　deeds　rather　of　wild　beasts　than　of　human　beings；　bethink　you　of　some　means　by　which　to　stay　them；　or　else；　in　heaven's　name；　how　shall　we　do　sacrifice　to　the　gods　gladly；　with　impious　deeds　to　answer　for？　or　how　shall　we；　who　lay　the　knife　to　each　other's　throats；　give　battle　to　our　enemies？　What　friendly　city　will　receive　us　when　they　see　rampant　lawlessness　in　our　midst？　Who　will　have　the　courage　to　afford　us　a　market；　when　we　prove　our　worthlessness　in　these　weightiest　concerns？　and　what　becomes　of　the　praise　we　expect　to　win　from　the　mouths　of　men？　who　will　vouchsafe　it　to　us；　if　this　is　our　behaviour？　Should　we　not　ourselves　bestow　the　worst　of　names　on　the　perpetrators　of　like　deeds？〃

After　this　they　rose；　and；　as　one　man；　proposed　that　the　ringleaders　in　these　matters　should　be　punished；　and　that　for　the　future；　to　set　an　example　of　lawlessness　should　be　forbidden。　Every　such　ringleader　was　to　be　prosecuted　on　the　capital　charge；　the　generals　were　to　bring　all　offenders　to　the　bar　of　justice；　prosecutions　for　all　other　misdemeanours　committed　since　the　death　of　Cyrus　were　to　be　instituted；　and　they　ended　by　constituting　the　officers　into　a　board　of　dicasts＇2＇；　and　upon　the　strong　representation　of　Xenophon；　with　the　concurrence　of　the　soothsayers；　it　was　resolved　to　purify　the　army；　and　this　purification　was　made。

＇2＇　I。e。　a　board　of　judges　or　jurors。



VIII

It　was　further　resolved　that　the　generals　themselves　should　undergo　a　　　1　judicial　examination　in　reference　to　their　conduct　in　past　time。　In　course　of　investigation；　Philesius　and　Xanthicles　respectively　were　condemned　to　pay　a　sum　of　twenty　minae；　to　meet　a　deficiency　to　that　amount　incurred　during　the　guardianship　of　the　cargoes　of　the　merchantmen。　Sophaenetus　was　fined　ten　minae　for　inadeqate　performance　of　his　duty　as　one　of　the　chief　officers　selected。　Against　Xenophon　a　charge　was　brought　by　certain　people；　who　asserted　that　they　had　been　beaten　by　him；　and　framed　the　indictment　as　one　of　personal　outrage　with　violence＇1＇。　Xenophon　got　up　and　demanded　that　the　first　speaker　should　state　〃where　and　when　it　was　he　had　received　these　blows。〃　The　other；　so　challenged；　answered；　〃When　we　were　perishing　of　cold　and　there　was　a　great　depth　of　snow。〃　Xenophon　said：　〃Upon　my　word；　with　weather　such　as　you　describe；　when　our　provisions　had　run　out；　when　the　wine　could　not　even　be　smelt；　when　numbers　were　dropping　down　dead　beat；　so　acute　was　the　suffering；　with　the　enemy　close　on　our　heels；　certainly；　if　at　such　a　season　as　that　I　was　guilty　of　outrage；　I　plead　guilty　to　being　a　more　outrageous　brute　than　the　ass；　which　is　too　wanton；　they　say；　to　feel　fatigue。　Still；　I　wish　you　would　tell　us；〃　said　he；　〃what　led　to　my　striking　you。　Did　I　ask　you　for　something　and；　on　your　refusing　it　to　me；　did　I　proceed　to　beat　you？　Was　it　a　debt；　for　which　I　demanded　payment？　or　a　quarrel　about　some　boy　or　other？　Was　I　the　worse　for　liquor；　and　behaving　like　a　drunkard？〃　When　the　man　met　each　of　these　questions　with　a　negative；　he　questioned　him　further：　〃Are　you　a　heavy　infantry　soldier？〃　〃No；〃　said　he。　〃A　peltast；　then？〃　〃No；　nor　yet　a　peltast〃；　but　he　had　been　ordered　by　his　messmates　to　drive　a　mule；　although　he　was　a　free　man。　　　5　Then　at　last　he　recognised　him；　and　inquired：　〃Are　you　the　fellow　who　carried　home　the　sick　man？〃　〃Yes；　I　am；〃　said　he；　〃thanks　to　your　driving；　and　you　made　havoc　of　my　messmates'　kit。〃　〃Havoc！〃　said　Xenophon：　〃Nay；　I　distributed　it；　some　to　one　man；　some　to　another　to　carry；　and　bade　them　bring　the　things　safely　to　me；　and　when　I　got　them　back　I　delivered　them　all　safely　to　you；　and　you；　on　your　side；　had　rendered　an　account　to　me　of　the　man。　Let　me　tell　you；〃　he　continued；　turning　to　the　court；　〃what　the　circumstances　were；　it　is　worth　hearing：

＇1＇　See　the　〃Dict。　of　Antiq。〃　622　a。　HYBREOS　GRAPHE。　In　the　case　of　　　　　common　assaults　as　opposed　to　indecent　assault；　the　prosecution　　　　　seems　to　have　been　allowable　only　when　the　object　of　a　wanton　　　　　attack　was　a　free　person。　Cf。　Arist。　〃Rhet。〃　ii。　24。

〃A　man　was　left　behind　from　inability　to　proceed　farther；　I　recognised　the　poor　fellow　sufficiently　to　see　that　he　was　one　of　ours；　and　I　forced　you；　sir；　to　carry　him　to　save　his　life。　For　if　I　am　not　much　mistaken；　the　enemy　were　close　at　our　heels？〃　The　fellow　assented　to　this。　〃Well　then；〃　said　Xenophon；　〃after　I　had　sent　you　forward；　I　overtook　you　again；　as　I　came　up　with　the　rearguard；　you　were　digging　a　trench　with　intent　to　bury　the　man；　I　pulled　up　and　said　something　in　commendation；　as　we　stood　by　the　poor　fellow　twitched　his　leg；　and　the　bystanders　all　cried　out；　'Why；　the　man's　alive！'　Your　remark　was：　'Alive　or　not　as　he　likes；　I　am　not　going　to　carry　him'　Then　I　struck　you。　Yes！　you　are　right；　for　it　looked　very　much　as　if　you　knew　him　to　be　alive。〃　〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃was　he　any　the　less　dead　when　I　reported　him　to　you？〃　〃Nay；〃　retorted　Xenophon；　〃by　the　same　token　we　shall　all　one　day　be　dead；　but　that　is　no　reason　why　meantime　we　should　all　be　buried　alive？〃　Then　there　was　a　general　shout：　〃If　Xenophon　had　given　the　fellow　a　few　more　blows；　it　might　have　been　better。〃　The　others　were　now　called　upon　to　state　the　grounds　on　which　they　had　been　beaten　in　each　case；　but　when　they　refused　to　get　up；　he　proceeded　to　state　them　himself。

〃I　confess；　sirs；　to　having　struck　certain　men　for　failure　in　discipline。　These　were　men　who　were　quite　content　to　owe　their　safety　to　us。　Whilst　the　rest　of　the　world　marched　on　in　rank　and　did　whatever　fighting　had　to　be　done；　they　preferred　to　leave　the　ranks；　and　rush　forward　to　loot　and　enrich　themselves　at　our　expense。　Now；　if　　13　this　conduct　were　to　be　the　rule；　general　ruin　would　be　the　result。　I　do　not　deny　that　I　have　given　blows　to　this　man　or　the　other　who　played　the　poltroon　and　refused　to　get　up；　helplessly　abandoning　himself　to　the　enemy；　and　so　I　forced　them　to　march　on。　For　once　in　the　severe　wintry　weather　I　myself　happened　to　sit　down　for　a　long　time；　whilst　waiting　for　a　party　who　were　getting　their　kit　together；　and　I　discovered　how　difficult　it　was　to　get　up　again　and　stretch　one's　legs。　After　this　personal　experience；　whenever　I　saw　any　one　else　seated　in　slack　and　lazy　mood；　I　tried　to　spur　him　on。　The　mere　movement　and　effort　to　play　the　man　caused　warmth　and　moisture；　whereas　it　was　plain　that　sitting　down　and　keeping　quiet　helped　the　blood　to　freeze　and　the　toes　to　mortify；　calamities　which　really　befell　several　of　the　men；　as　you　yourselves　are　aware。

〃I　can　imagine　a　third　case；　that　of　some　straggler　stopping　behind；　merely　to　rest　for　rest's　sake；　and　hindering　you　in　front　and　us　behind　alike　from　pressing　on　the　march。　If　he　got　a　blow　with　the　fist　from　me　it　saved　him　a　thrust　with　the　lance　from　the　enemy。　In　fact；　the　opportunity　they　enjoy　to…day　of　taking　vengeance　on　me　for　any　treatment　which　I　put　upon　them　wrongfully；　is　derived　from　their　salvation　then；　whereas；　if　they　had　fallen　into　the　enemy's　hands；　let　them　ask　themselves　for　what　outrage；　however　great；　they　could　expect　to　get　satisfaction　now。　My　defence；〃　he　continued；　〃is　simple