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！
BOOK III
＇In the preceding pages of the narrative will be found a full account； not only of the doings of the Hellenes during the advance of Cyrus till the date of the battle； but of the inci… dents which befell them after Cyrus' death at the commencement of the retreat； while in company with Tissaphernes during the truce。＇
I
After the generals had been seized； and the captains and soldiers who 1 formed their escort had been killed； the Hellenes lay in deep perplexitya prey to painful reflections。 Here were they at the king's gates； and on every side environing them were many hostile cities and tribes of men。 Who was there now to furnish them with a market？ Separated from Hellas by more than a thousand miles； they had not even a guide to point the way。 Impassable rivers lay athwart their homeward route； and hemmed them in。 Betrayed even by the Asiatics； at whose side they had marched with Cyrus to the attack； they were left in isolation。 Without a single mounted trooper to aid them in pursuit： was it not perfectly plain that if they won a battle； their enemies would escape to a man； but if they were beaten themselves； not one soul of them would survive？
Haunted by such thoughts； and with hearts full of despair； but few of them tasted food that evening； but few of them kindled even a fire； and many never came into camp at all that night； but took their rest where each chanced to be。 They could not close their eyes for very pain and yearning after their fatherlands or their parents； the wife or child whom they never expected to look upon again。 Such was the plight in which each and all tried to seek repose。
Now there was in that host a certain man； an Athenian＇1＇； Xenophon； who had accompanied Cyrus； neither as a general； nor as an officer； nor yet as a private soldier； but simply on the invitation of an old friend； Proxenus。 This old friend had sent to fetch him from home； promising； if he would come； to introduce him to Cyrus； 〃whom；〃 said Proxenus； 〃I consider to be worth my fatherland and more to me。〃
＇1＇ The reader should turn to Grote's comments on the first appearance of Xenophon。 He has been mentioned before； of course； more than once before； but he now steps； as the protagonist； upon the scene； and as Grote says： 〃It is in true Homeric vein； and in something like Homeric language； that Xenophon （to whom we owe the whole narrative of the expedition） describes his dream； or the intervention of Oneiros； sent by Zeus； from which this renovating impulse took its rise。〃
Xenophon having read the letter； consulted Socrates the Athenian； whether he should accept or refuse the invitation。 Socrates； who had a suspicion that the State of Athens might in some way look askance at my friendship with Cyrus； whose zealous co…operation with the Lacedaemonians against Athens in the war was not forgotten； advised Xenophon to go to Delphi and there to consult the god as to the desirability of such a journey。 Xenophon went and put the question to Apollo； to which of the gods he must pray and do sacrifice； so that he might best accomplish his intended journey and return in safety； with good fortune。 Then Apollo answered him： 〃To such and such gods must thou do sacrifice；〃 and when he had returned home he reported to Socrates the oracle。 But he； when he heard； blamed Xenophon that he had not； in the first instance； inquired of the god； whether it were better for him to go or to stay； but had taken on himself to settle that point affirmatively； by inquiring straightway； how he might best 7 perform the journey。 〃Since； however；〃 continued Socrates； 〃you did so put the question； you should do what the god enjoined。〃 Thus； and without further ado； Xenophon offered sacrifice to those whom the god had named； and set sail on his voyage。 He overtook Proxenus and Cyrus at Sardis； when they were just ready to start on the march up country； and was at once introduced to Cyrus。 Proxenus eagerly pressed him to stopa request which Cyrus with like ardour supported； adding that as soon as the campaign was over he would send him home。 The campaign referred to was understood to be against the Pisidians。 That is how Xenophon came to join the expedition； deceived indeed； though not by Proxenus； who was equally in the dark with the rest of the Hellenes； not counting Clearchus； as to the intended attack upon the king。 Then； though the majority were in apprehension of the journey； which was not at all to their minds； yet； for very shame of one another and Cyrus； they continued to follow him； and with the rest went Xenophon。
And now in this season of perplexity； he too； with the rest； was in sore distress； and could not sleep； but anon； getting a snatch of sleep； he had a dream。 It seemed to him in a vision that there was a storm of thunder and lightning； and a bolt fell on his father's house； and thereupon the house was all in a blaze。 He sprung up in terror； and pondering the matter； decided that in part the dream was good： in that he had seen a great light from Zeus； whilst in the midst of toil and danger。 But partly too he feared it； for evidently it had come from Zeus the king。 And the fire kindled all aroundwhat could that mean but that he was hemmed in by various perplexities； and so could not escape from the country of the king？ The full meaning； however； is to be discovered from what happened after the dream。
This is what took place。 As soon as he was fully awake； the first clear thought which came into his head was； Why am I lying here？ The night advances； with the day； it is like enough； the enemy will be upon us。 If we are to fall into the hands of the king； what is left us but to face the most horrible of sights； and to suffer the most 13 fearful pains； and then to die； insulted； an ignominious death？ To defend ourselvesto ward off that fatenot a hand stirs： no one is preparing； none cares； but here we lie； as though it were time to rest and take our ease。 I too！ what am I waiting for？ a general to undertake the work？ and from what city？ am I waiting till I am older mysef and of riper age？ older I shall never be； if to…day I betray myself to my enemies。
Thereupon he got up； and called together first Proxenus's officers； and when they were met； he said： 〃Sleep； sirs； I cannot； nor can you； I fancy； nor lie here longer； when I see in what straits we are。 Our enemy； we may be sure； did not open war upon us till he felt he had everything amply ready； yet none of us shows a corresponding anxiety to enter the lists of battle in the bravest style。
〃And yet； if we yield ourselves and fall into the king's power； need we ask what our fate will be？ This man； who； when his own brother； the son of the same parents； was dead； was not content with that； but severed head and hand from the body； and nailed them to a cross。 We； then； who have not even the tie of blood in our favour； but who marched against him； meaning to make a slave of him instead of a kingand to slay him if we could： what is likely to be our fate at his hands？ Will he not go all lengths so that； by inflicting on us the extreme of ignominy and torture； he may rouse in the rest of mankind a terror of ever marching against him any mo