anabasis-第34章

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ing　out　from　Ephesus　to　associate　himself　with　Cyrus＇6＇；how　an　eagle　screamed　on　his　right　hand　from　the　east；　and　still　remained　perched；　and　the　soothsayer　who　was　escorting　him　said　that　it　was　a　great　and　royal　omen＇7＇；　indicating　glory　and　yet　suffering；　for　the　punier　race　of　birds　only　attack　the　eagle　when　seated。　〃Yet；〃　added　he；　〃it　bodes　not　gain　in　money；　for　the　eagle　seizes　his　food；　not　when　seated；　but　on　the　wing。〃

＇6＇　Cf。　〃Cyrop。〃　II。　i。　1；　an　eagle　appears　to　Cyrus　on　the　frontiers　　　　　of　Persia；　when　about　to　join　his　uncle　Cyaxares；　king　of　Media；　　　　　on　his　expedition　against　the　Assyrian。

＇7＇　It　is　important　to　note　that　the　Greek　word　｛oionos｝；　a　solitary　　　　　or　lone…flying　bird；　also　means　an　omen。　〃It　was　a　mighty　bird　and　　　　　a　mighty　omen。〃

Thus　Xenophon　sacrificed；　and　the　god　as　plainly　as　might　be　gave　him　a　sign；　neither　to　demand　the　generalship；　nor；　if　chosen；　to　accept　the　office。　And　that　was　how　the　matter　stood　when　the　army　met；　and　the　proposal　to　elect　a　single　leader　was　unanimous。　After　this　resolution　was　passed；　they　proposed　Xenophon　for　election；　and　when　it　seemed　quite　evident　that　they　would　elect　him；　if　he　put　the　question　to　the　vote；　he　got　up　and　spoke　as　follows：

〃Sirs；　I　am　but　mortal；　and　must　needs　be　happy　to　be　honoured　by　you。　I　thank　you；　and　am　grateful；　and　my　prayer　is　that　the　gods　may　grant　me　to　be　an　instrument　of　blessing　to　you。　Still；　when　I　consider　it　closer；　thus；　in　the　presence　of　a　Lacedaemonian；　to　be　preferred　by　you　as　general；　seems　to　me　but　ill　conducive　either　to　your　interests　or　to　mine；　since　you　will　the　less　readily　obtain　from　them　hereafter　anything　you　may　need；　while　for　myself　I　look　upon　acceptance　as　even　somewhat　dangerous。　Do　I　not　see　and　know　with　what　persistence　these　Lacedaemonians　prosecuted　the　war　till　finally　they　forced　our　State　to　acknowledge　the　leadership　of　Lacedaemon？　This　confession　once　extorted　from　their　antagonists；　they　ceased　warring　at　once；　and　the　seige　of　the　city　was　at　an　end。　If；　with　these　facts　before　my　eyes；　I　seem　to　be　doing　all　I　can　to　neutralise　their　high　self…esteem；　I　cannot　escape　the　reflection　that　personally　I　may　be　taught　wisdom　by　a　painful　process。　But　with　your　own　idea　that　under　a　single　general　there　will　be　less　factiousness　than　when　there　were　many；　be　assured　　　29　that　in　choosing　some　other　than　me　you　will　not　find　me　factious。　I　hold　that　whosoever　sets　up　factious　opposition　to　his　leader　factiously　opposes　his　own　safety。　While　if　you　determine　to　choose　me；　I　should　not　be　surprised　were　that　choice　to　entail　upon　you　and　me　the　resentment　of　other　people。〃

After　those　remarks　on　Xenophon's　part；　many　more　got　up；　one　after　another；　insisting　on　the　propriety　of　his　undertaking　the　command。　One　of　them；　Agasias　the　Stymphalian；　said：　It　was　really　ridiculous；　if　things　had　come　to　this　pass　that　the　Lacedeamonians　are　to　fly　into　a　rage　because　a　number　of　friends　have　met　together　to　dinner；　and　omitted　to　choose　a　Lacedaemonian　to　sit　at　the　head　of　the　table。　〃Really；　if　that　is　how　matters　stand；〃　said　he；　〃I　do　not　see　what　right　we　have　to　be　officers　even；　we　who　are　only　Arcadians。〃　That　sally　brought　down　the　plaudits　of　the　assembly；　and　Xenophon；　seeing　that　something　more　was　needed；　stepped　forward　again　and　spoke；　〃Pardon；　sirs；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　make　a　clean　breast　of　it。　I　swear　to　you　by　all　the　gods　and　goddesses；　verily　and　indeed；　I　no　sooner　perceived　your　purpose；　than　I　consulted　the　victims；　whether　it　was　better　for　you　to　entrust　this　leadership　to　me；　and　for　me　to　undertake　it；　or　the　reverse。　And　the　gods　vouchsafed　a　sign　to　me　so　plain　that　even　a　common　man　might　understand　it；　and　perceive　that　from　such　sovereignty　I　must　needs　hold　myself　aloof。〃

Under　these　circumstances　they　chose　Cheirisophus；　who；　after　his　election；　stepped　forward　and　said：　〃Nay；　sirs；　be　well　assured　of　this；　that　had　you　chosen　some　one　else；　I　for　my　part　should　not　have　set　up　factious　opposition。　As　to　Xenophon；　I　believe　you　have　done　him　a　good　turn　by　not　appointing　him；　for　even　now　Dexippus　has　gone　some　way　in　traducing　him　to　Anaxibius；　as　far　as　it　lay　in　his　power　to　do　so；　and　that；　in　spite　of　my　attempts　to　silence　him。　What　he　said　was　that　he　believed　Xenophon　would　rather　share　the　command　of　Clearchus's　army　with　Timasion；　a　Dardanian；　than　with　himself；　a　Laconian。　But；〃　continued　Cheirisophus；　〃since　your　choice　has　fallen　　　33　upon　me；　I　will　make　it　my　endeavour　to　do　you　all　the　good　in　my　power；　so　make　your　preparations　to　weigh　anchor　to…morrow；　wind　and　weather　permitting；　we　will　voyage　to　Heraclea；　every　one　must　endeavour；　therefore；　to　put　in　at　that　port；　and　for　the　rest　we　will　consult；　when　we　are　come　thither。〃



II

The　next　day　they　weighed　anchor　and　set　sail　from　Harmene　with　a　fair　　1　breeze；　two　days'　voyage　along　the　coast。　＇As　they　coasted　along　they　came　in　sight　of　Jason's　beach＇1＇；　where；　as　the　story　says；　the　ship　Argo　came　to　moorings；　and　then　the　mouths　of　the　rivers；　first　the　Thermodon；　then　the　Iris；　then　the　Halys；　and　next　to　it　the　Parthenius。＇　Coasting　past　＇the　latter＇；　they　reached　Heraclea＇2＇；　a　Hellenic　city　and　a　colony　of　the　Megarians；　situated　in　the　territory　of　the　Mariandynians。　So　they　came　to　achorage　off　the　Acherusian　Chersonese；　where　Heracles＇3＇　is　said　to　have　descended　to　bring　up　the　dog　Cerberus；　at　a　point　where　they　still　show　the　marks　of　his　descent；　a　deep　cleft　more　than　two　furlongs　down。　Here　the　Heracleots　sent　the　Hellenes；　as　gifts　of　hospitality；　three　thousand　measures　of　barley　and　two　thousand　jars　of　wine；　twenty　beeves　and　one　hundred　sheep。　Through　the　flat　country　here　flows　the　Lycus　river；　as　it　is　called；　about　two　hundred　feet　in　breadth。

＇1＇　I　have　left　this　passage　in　the　text；　although　it　involves；　at　　　　　first　sight；　a　topographical　error　on　the　part　of　whoever　wrote　　　　　it；　and　Hug　and　other　commentators　regard　it　as　spurious。　Jason's　　　　　beach　（the　modern　Yasoun　Bouroun）　and　the　three　first…named　rivers　　　　　lie　between　Cotyora　and　Sinope。　Possibly　the　author；　or　one　of　his　　　　　editors；　somewhat　loosely　inserted　a　recapitulatory　note　　　　　concerning　the　scenery　of　this　coasting　voyage　at　this　point。　〃By　　　　　the　way；　I　ought　to　have　told　you　that　as　they　coasted　along；〃　　　　　etc。

＇2＇　One　of　the　most　powerful　of　commercial　cities；　distinguished　as　　　　　Pontica　（whence；　in　the　middle　ages；　Penteraklia）；　now　Eregli。　It　　　　　was　one　of　the　older　Greek　settlements；　and；　like　Kalchedon　（to　　　　　give　that　town　its　proper　name）；　a　Megaro…Doric　colony。　See　　　　　Kiepert；　op。　cit。　chap。　iv。　62。

＇3＇　According　to　another　version　of　the　legend　Heracles　went　down　to　　　　　bring　up　Cerberus；　not　here；　but　at　Taenarum。

The　soldiers　held　a　meeting；　and　took　counsel　about　the　remainder　of　the　journey：　should　they　make　their　exit　from　the　Pontus　by　sea　or　by　land？　and　Lycon　the　Achaean　got　up　and　said：　〃I　am　astonished；　sirs；　that　the　generals　do　not　endeavour　to　provide　us　more　efficiently　with　provisions。　These　gifts　of　hospitality　will　not　afford　three　days'　　　　　　4　victuals　for　the　army；　nor　do　I　see　from　what　region　we　are　to　provide　ourselves　as　we　march。　My　proposal；　therefore；　is　to　demand　of　the　Heracleots　at　least　three　thousand　cyzicenes。〃　Another　speaker　suggested；　〃not　less　than　ten　thousand。　Let　us　at　once；　before　we　break　up　this　meeting；　send　ambassadors　to　the　city　and　ascertain　their　answer　to　the　demand　and　take　counsel　accordingly。〃　Thereupon　they　proceeded　to　put　up　as　ambassadors；　first　and　foremost　Cheirisophus；　as　he　had　been　chosen　general…in…chief；　others　also　named　Xenophon。

But　both　Cheirisophus　and　Xenophon　stoutly　declined；　maintaining　both　alike　that　they　could　not　compel　a　Hellenic　city；　actually　friendly；　to　give　anything　which　they　did　not　spontaneously　offer。　So；　since　these　two　appeared　to　be　backward；　the　soldiers　sent　Lycon　the　Achaean；　Callimachus　the　Parrhasian；　and　Agasias　the　Stymphalian。　These　three　went　and　announced　the　resolutions　passed　by　the　army。　Lycon；　it　was　said；　even　went　so　far　as　to　threaten　certain　consequences　in　case　they　refused　to　comply。　The　Heracleots　said　they　would　deliberate；　and；　without　more　ado；　they　got　together　their　goods　and　chattels　from　their　farms　and　fields　outside；　and　dismantled　the　market　outside　and　transferred　it　within；　after　which　the　gates　were　closed；　and　arms　appeared　at　the　battlements　of　the　walls。

At　that　check；　the　authors　of　these　tumultuary　measures　fell　to　accusing　the　generals；　as　if　they　had　marred　the　proceeding；　and　the　Arcadians　and　Archaeans　banded　together；　chiefly　under　the　auspiecs　of　the　two　ringleaders；　Callimachus　the　Parrhasian　and　Lycon　the　Achaean。　The　language　they　held　was　to　this　effect：　It　was　outrageous　that　a　single　Athenian　and　a　Lacedaemonian；　who　had　not　contributed　a　soldier　to　the　expedition；　should　rule　Peloponnesians；　scandalous　that　they　themselves　should　bear　the　toils　whilst　others　pocketed　the　spoils；　and　that　too　though　the　preservation　of　the　army　was　due　to　themselves；　for；　as　every　one　must　admit；　to　the　Arcadians　and　　　　　　　　　　10　Achaeans　the　credit　of　that　achievement　was　due；　and　the　rest　of　the　army　went　for　nothing　（which　was　indeed　so　far　true　that　the　Arcadians　and　Achaeans　did　form　numerically　the　larger　half　of　the　whole　army）。　What　then　did　common　sense　suggest？　Why；　that　they；　the　Arcadians　and　Achaeans；　should　make　common　cause；　choose　generals　for　themselves　independently；　continue　the　march；　and　try　somewhat　to　better　their　condition。　This　proposal　was　carried。　All　the　Arcadians　and　Achaeans　who　chanced　to　be　with　Cheirisophus　left　him　and　Xenophon；　setting　up　for　themselves　and　choosing　ten　generals　of　their　own。　These　ten；　it　was　decreed；　were　to　put　into　effect　such　measures　as　approved　themselves　to　the　majority。　Thus　the　absolute　authority　vested　in　Cheirisophus　was　terminated　there　and　then；　within　less　than　a　week　of　his　appointment。

Xenophon；　however　was　minded　to　prosecute　the　journey　in　their　campany；　thinking　that　this　would　be　a　safer　plan　than　for　each　to　start　on　his　own　account。　But　Neon　threw　in　his　weight　in　favour　of　separate　action。　〃Every　one　for　himself；〃　he　said；　for　he　had　heard　from　Cheirisophus　that　Cleander；　the　Spartan　governor…general　at　Byzantium；　talked　of　coming　to　Calpe　Haven　with　some　war　vessels。　Neon's　advice　was　due　to　his　desire　to　secure　a　passage　home　in　these　war　vessels　for　themselves　and　their　soldiers；　without　allowing　any　one　else　to　share　in　their　good…fortune。　As　for　Cheirisophus；　he　was　at　once　so　out　of　heart　at　the　turn　things　had　taken；　and　soured　with　the　whole　army；　that　he　left　it　to　his　subordinate；　Neon；　to　do　just　what　he　liked。　Xenophon；　on　his　side；　would　still　have　been　glad　to　be　quit　of　the　expedition　and　sail　home；　but　on　offering　sacrifice　to　Heracles　the　Leader；　and　seeking　advice；　whether　it　were　better　and　more　desirable　to　continue　the　march　in　charge　of　the　soldiers　who　had　remained　faithful；　or　to　take　his　departure；　the　god　indicated　to　him　by　the　victims　that　he　should　adopt　the　former　course。

In　this　way　the　army　was　now　split　up　into　three　divisions＇4＇。　First；　the　Arcadians　and　Achaeans；　over　four　thousand　five　hundred　men；　all　heavy　infa