anabasis-第5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！


e；　and　retired　to　their　quarters：　order　reigned。



VI

As　they　advanced　from　this　point　（opposite　Charmande）；　they　came　upon　　　1　the　hoof…prints　and　dung　of　horses　at　frequent　intervals。　It　looked　like　the　trail　of　some　two　thousand　horses。　Keeping　ahead　of　the　army；　these　fellows　burnt　up　the　grass　and　everything　else　that　was　good　for　use。　Now　there　was　a　Persian；　named　Orontas；　he　was　closely　related　to　the　king　by　birth：　and　in　matters　pertaining　to　war　reckoned　among　the　best　of　Persian　warriors。　Having　formerly　been　at　war　with　Cyrus；　and　afterwards　reconciled　to　him；　he　now　made　a　conspiracy　to　destroy　him。　he　made　a　proposal　to　Cyrus：　if　Cyrus　would　furnish　him　with　a　thousand　horsemen；　he　would　deal　with　these　troopers；　who　were　burning　down　everything　in　front　of　them；　he　would　lay　an　ambuscade　and　cut　them　down；　or　he　would　capture　a　host　of　them　alive；　in　any　case；　he　would　put　a　stop　to　their　agressiveness　and　burnings；　he　would　see　to　it　that　they　did　not　ever　get　a　chance　of　setting　eyes　on　Cyrus's　army　and　reporting　its　advent　to　the　king。　The　proposal　seemed　plausible　to　Cyrus；　who　accordingly　authorised　Orontas　to　take　a　detachment　from　each　of　the　generals；　and　be　gone。　He；　thinking　that　he　had　got　his　horsemen　ready　to　his　hand；　wrote　a　letter　to　the　king；　announcing　that　he　would　ere　long　join　him　with　as　many　troopers　as　he　could　bring；　he　bade　him；　at　the　same　time；　instruct　the　royal　cavalry　to　welcome　him　as　a　friend。　The　letter　further　contained　certain　reminders　of　his　former　friendship　and　fidelity。　This　despatch　he　delivered　into　the　hands　of　one　who　was　a　trusty　messenger；　as　he　thought；　but　the　bearer　took　and　gave　it　to　Cyrus。　Cyrus　read　it。　Orontas　was　arrested。　Then　Cyrus　summoned　to　his　tent　seven　of　the　noblest　Persians　among　his　personal　attendants；　and　sent　orders　to　the　Hellenic　generals　to　bring　up　a　body　of　hoplites。　These　troops　were　to　take　up　a　position　round　his　tent。　This　the　generals　did；　bringing　up　about　three　thousand　hoplites。　Clearchus　was　also　invited　inside；　to　assist　at　the　court…martial；　a　compliment　due　to　the　position　he　held　among　the　other　generals；　in　the　opinion　not　only　of　Cyrus；　but　also　of　the　rest　of　the　court。　When　he　came　out；　he　reported　the　circumstances　of　the　trial　（as　to　which；　indeed；　there　was　no　mystery）　to　his　friends。　He　said　that　Cyrus　opened　the　inquiry　with　these　words：　〃I　have　invited　you　hither；　my　friends；　that　I　may　take　advice　with　you；　and　carry　out　whatever；　in　the　sight　of　God　and　man；　it　is　right　for　me　to　do；　as　concerning　the　man　before　you；　Orontas。　The　　　　　　6　prisoner　was；　in　the　first　instance；　given　to　me　by　my　father；　to　be　my　faithful　subject。　In　the　next　place；　acting；　to　use　his　own　words；　under　the　orders　of　my　brother；　and　having　hold　of　the　acropolis　of　Sardis；　he　went　to　war　with　me。　I　met　war　with　war；　and　forced　him　to　think　it　more　prudent　to　desist　from　war　with　me：　whereupon　we　shook　hands；　exchanging　solemn　pledges。　After　that；〃　and　at　this　point　Cyrus　turned　to　Orontas；　and　addressed　him　personally〃after　that；　did　I　do　you　any　wrong？〃　Answer；　〃Never。〃　Again　another　question：　〃Then　later　on；　having　received；　as　you　admit；　no　injury　from　me；　did　you　revolt　to　the　Mysians　and　injure　my　territory；　as　far　as　in　you　lay？〃〃I　did；〃　was　the　reply。　〃Then；　once　more　having　discovered　the　limits　of　your　power；　did　you　flee　to　the　altar　of　Artemis；　crying　out　that　you　repented？　and　did　you　thus　work　upon　my　feelings；　that　we　a　second　time　shook　hands　and　made　interchange　of　solemn　pledges？　Are　these　things　so？〃　Orontas　again　assented。　〃Then　what　injury　have　you　received　from　me；〃　Cyrus　asked；　〃that　now　for　the　third　time；　you　have　been　detected　in　a　treasonous　plot　against　me？〃〃I　must　needs　do　so；〃　he　answered。　Then　Cyrus　put　one　more　question：　〃But　the　day　may　come；　may　it　not；　when　you　will　once　again　be　hostile　to　my　brother；　and　a　faithful　friend　to　myself？〃　The　other　answered：　〃Even　if　I　were；　you　could　never　be　brought　to　believe　it；　Cyrus。〃

At　this　point　Cyrus　turned　to　those　who　were　present　and　said：　〃Such　has　been　the　conduct　of　the　prisoner　in　the　past：　such　is　his　language　now。　I　now　call　upon　you；　and　you　first；　Clearchus；　to　declare　your　opinionwhat　think　you？〃　And　Clearchus　answered：　〃My　advice　to　you　is　to　put　this　man　out　of　the　way　as　soon　as　may　be；　so　that　we　may　be　saved　the　necessity　of　watching　him；　and　have　more　leisure；　as　far　as　he　is　concerned；　to　requite　the　services　of　those　whose　friendship　is　sincere。〃〃To　this　opinion；〃　he　told　us；　〃the　rest　of　the　court　adhered。〃　After　that；　at　the　bidding　of　Cyrus；　each　of　those　present；　　　10　in　turn；　including　the　kinsmen　of　Orontas；　took　him　by　the　girdle；　which　is　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Let　him　die　the　death；〃　and　then　those　appointed　led　him　out；　and　they　who　in　old　days　were　wont　to　do　obeisance　to　him；　could　not　refrain；　even　at　that　moment；　from　bowing　down　before　him；　albeit　they　knew　he　was　being　led　forth　to　death。

After　they　had　conducted　him　to　the　tent　of　Artapates；　the　trustiest　of　Cyrus's　wand…bearers；　none　set　eyes　upon　him　ever　again；　alive　or　dead。　No　one；　of　his　own　knowledge；　could　declare　the　manner　of　his　death；　though　some　conjectured　one　thing　and　some　another。　No　tomb　to　mark　his　resting…place；　either　then　or　since；　was　ever　seen。



VII

From　this　place　Cyrus　marched　through　Babylonia　three　stagestwelve　　　　1　parasangs。　Now；　on　the　third　stage；　about　midnight；　Cyrus　held　a　review　of　the　Hellenes　and　Asiatics　in　the　plain；　expecting　that　the　king　would　arrive　the　following　day　with　his　army　to　offer　battle。　He　gave　orders　to　Clearchus　to　take　command　of　the　right　wing；　and　to　Menon　the　Thessalian　of　the　left；　while　he　himself　undertook　to　the　disposition　of　his　own　forces　in　person。　After　the　review；　with　the　first　approach　of　day；　deserters　from　the　great　king　arrived；　bringing　Cyrus　information　about　the　royal　army。　Then　Cyrus　summoned　the　generals　and　captains　of　the　Hellenes；　and　held　a　council　of　war　to　arrange　the　plan　of　battle。　He　took　this　opportunity　also　to　address　the　following　words　of　compliment　and　encouragement　to　the　meeting：　〃Men　of　Hellas；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　certainly　not　from　dearth　of　barbarians　to　fight　my　battles　that　I　put　myself　at　your　head　as　my　allies；　but　because　I　hold　you　to　be　better　and　stronger　than　many　barbarians。　That　is　why　I　took　you。　See　then　that　you　prove　yourselves　to　be　men　worthy　of　the　liberty　which　you　possess；　and　which　I　envy　you。　Libertyit　is　a　thing　which；　be　well　assured；　I　would　choose　in　preference　to　all　my　other　possessions；　multiplied　many　times。　But　I　would　like　you　to　know　into　what　sort　of　struggle　you　are　going：　learn　its　nature　from　one　who　knows。　Their　numbers　are　great；　and　they　come　on　with　much　noise；　but　if　you　can　hold　out　against　these　two　things；　I　confess　I　am　ashamed　to　think；　what　a　sorry　set　of　folk　you　will　　　　　　4　find　the　inhabitants　of　this　land　to　be。　But　you　are　men；　and　brave　you　must　be；　being　men：　it　is　agreed；　then　if　you　wish　to　return　home；　any　of　you；　I　undertake　to　send　you　back；　in　such　sort　that　your　friends　at　home　shall　envy　you；　but　I　flatter　myself　I　shall　persuade　many　of　you　to　accept　what　I　will　offer　you　here；　in　lieu　of　what　you　left　at　home。〃

Here　Gaulites；　a　Samian　exile；　and　a　trusty　friend　of　Cyrus；　being　present；　exclaimed：　〃Ay；　Cyrus；　but　some　say　you　can　afford　to　make　large　promises　now；　because　you　are　in　the　crisis　of　impending　danger；　but　let　matters　go　well　with　you；　will　you　recollect？　They　shake　their　heads。　Indeed；　some　add　that；　even　if　you　did　recollect；　and　were　ever　so　willing；　you　would　not　be　able　to　make　good　all　your　promises；　and　repay。〃　When　Cyrus　heard　that；　he　answered：　〃You　forget；　sirs；　my　father's　empire　stretches　southwards　to　a　region　where　men　cannot　dwell　by　reason　of　the　heat；　and　northwards　to　a　region　uninhabitable　through　cold；　but　all　the　intervening　space　is　mapped　out　in　satrapies　belonging　to　my　brother's　friends：　so　that　if　the　victory　be　ours；　it　will　be　ours　also　to　put　our　friends　in　possession　in　their　room。　On　the　whole　my　fear　is；　not　that　I　may　not　have　enough　to　give　to　each　of　my　friends；　but　lest　I　may　not　have　friends　enough　on　whom　to　bestow　what　I　have　to　give；　and　to　each　of　you　Hellenes　I　will　give　a　crown　of　gold。〃

So　they；　when　they　heard　these　words；　were　once　more　elated　than　ever　themselves；　and　spread　the　good　news　among　the　rest　outside。　And　there　came　into　his　presence　both　the　generals　and　some　of　the　other　Hellenes　also；　claiming　to　know　what　they　should　have　in　the　event　of　victory；　and　Cyrus　satisfied　the　expectations　of　each　and　all；　and　so　dismissed　them。　Now　the　advice　and　admonition　of　all　who　came　into　conversation　with　him　was；　not　to　enter　the　battle　himself；　but　to　post　himself　in　rear　of　themselves；　and　at　this　season　Clearchus　put　a　question　to　him：　〃But　do　you　think　that　your　brother　will　give　battle　　　9　to　you；　Cyrus？〃　and　Cyrus　answered：　〃Not　without　a　battle；　be　assured；　shall　the　prize　be　won；　if　he　be　the　son　of　Darius　and　Parysatis；　and　a　brother　of　mine。〃

In　the　final　arming　for　battle　at　this　juncture；　the　numbers　were　as　follows：　Of　Hellenes　there　were　ten　thousand　four　hundred　heavy　infantry　with　two　thousand　five　hundred　targeteers；　while　the　barbarians　with　Cyrus　reached　a　total　of　one　hundred　thousand。　He　had　too　about　twenty　scythe…chariots。　The　enemy's　forces　were　reported　to　number　one　million　two　hundred　thousand；　with　two　hundred　scythe…chariots；　besides　which　he　had　six　thousand　cavalry　under　Artagerses。　These　formed　the　immediate　vanguard　of　the　king　himself。　The　royal　army　was　marshalled　by　four　generals　or　field…marshals；　each　in　command　of　three　hundred　thousand　men。　Their　names　were　Abrocomas；　Tissaphernes；　Gobryas；　and　Arbaces。　（But　of　this　total　not　more　than　nine　hundred　thousand　were　engaged　in　the　battle；　with　one　hundred　and　fifty　scythe…chariots；　since　Abrocomas；　on　his　march　from　Phoenicia；　arrived　five　days　too　late　for　the　battle。）　Such　was　the　information　brought　to　Cyrus　by　deserters　who　came　in　from　the　king's　army　before　the　battle；　and　it　was　corroborated　after　the　battle　by　those　of　the　enemy　who　were　taken　prisoners。

From　this　place　Cyrus　advanced　one　stagethree　parasangswith　the　whole　body　of　his　troops；　Hellenic　and　barbarian　alike　in　order　of　battle。　He　expected　the　king　to　give　battle　the　same　day；　for　in　the　middle　of　this　day's　march　a　deep　sunk　trench　was　reached；　thirty　feet　broad；　and　eighteen　feet　deep。　The　trench　was　carried　inland　through　the　plain；　twelve　parasang's　distance；　to　the　wall　of　Media＇1＇。　＇Here　are　canals；　flowing　from　the　river　Tigris；　they　are　four　in　number；　each　a　hundred　feet　broad；　and　very　deep；　with　corn　ships　plying　upon　　　15　them；　they　empty　themselves　into　the　Euphrates；　and　are　at　intervals　of　one　parasang　apart；　and　are　spanned　by　bridges。＇

＇1＇　For　〃the　wall　of　Media〃　see　Grote；　〃Hist。　of　Greece；〃　vol。　ix。　p。　　　　　87　and　foll。　note　1　（1st　ed。）；　and　various　authorities　there　　　　　quoted　or　referred　to。　The　next　passage　enclosed　in　＇＇　may　　　　　possibly　be　a　commentator's　or　editor's　note；　but；　on　the　whole；　I　　　　　have　thought　it　best　to　keep　the　words　in　the　text　instead　of　　　　　relegating　them；　as　heretofore；　to　a　note。　Perhaps　some　future　　　　　traveller　may　clear　up　all　difficulties。