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anabasis-第35章

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; and was going from the army of Tiribazus to get provisions。〃 They next asked him 〃how large the army was; and for what object it had been collected。〃 His answer was that 〃it consisted of Tiribazus at the head of his own forces; and aided by some Chalybian and Taochian mercenaries。 Tiribazus had got it together;〃 he added; 〃meaning to attack the Hellenes on the high mountain pass; in a defile which was the sole passage。〃

'2' Reading {Temeniten}; i。e。 a native of Temenus; a district of     Syracuse; al。 {Temniten}; i。e。 from Temnus in the Aeolid; al。     {Temeniten}; i。e。 from Temenum in the Argolid。

When the generals heard this news; they resolved to collect the troops; and they set off at once; taking the prisoner to act as guide; and leaving a garrison behind with Sophaenetus the Stymphalian in       19 command of those who remained in the camp。 As soon as they had begun to cross the hills; the light infantry; advancing in front and catching sight of the camp; did not wait for the heavy infantry; but with a loud shout rushed upon the enemy's entrenchment。 The natives; hearing the din and clatter; did not care to stop; but took rapidly to their heels。 But; for all their expedition; some of them were killed; and as many as twenty horses were captured; with the tent of Tiribazus; and its contents; silver…footed couches and goblets; besides certain persons styling themselves the butlers and bakers。 As soon as the generals of the heavy infantry division had learnt the news; they resolved to return to the camp with all speed; for fear of an attack being made on the remnant left behind。 The recall was sounded and the retreat commenced; the camp was reached the same day。



V

The next day it was resolved that they should set off with all          1 possible speed; before the enemy had time to collect and occupy the defile。 Having got their kit and baggage together; they at once began their march through deep snow with several guides; and; crossing the high pass the same day on which Tiribazus was to have attacked them; got safely into cantonments。 From this point they marched three desert stagesfifteen parassangsto the river Euphrates; and crossed it in water up to the waist。 The sources of the river were reported to be at no great distance。 From this place they marched through deep snow over a flat country three stagesfifteen parasangs'1'。 The last of these marches was trying; with the north wind blowing in their teeth; drying up everything and benumbing the men。 Here one of the seers suggested to them to do sacrifice to Boreas; and sacrifice was done。 The effect was obvious to all in the diminished fierceness of the blast。 But there was six feet of snow; so that many of the baggage animals and slaves were lost; and about thirty of the men themselves。

'1' Al。 〃ten;〃 al。 〃five。〃

They spent the whole night in kindling fire; for there was fortunately no dearth of wood at the halting…place; only those who came late into camp had no wood。 Accordingly those who had arrived a good while and    5 had kindled fires were not for allowing these late…comers near the fires; unless they would in return give a share of their corn or of any other victuals they might have。 Here then a general exchange of goods was set up。 Where the fire was kindled the snow melted; and great trenches formed themselves down to the bare earth; and here it was possible to measure the depth of the snow。

Leaving these quarters; they marched the whole of the next day over snow; and many of the men were afflicted with 〃boulimia〃 (or hunger…faintness)。 Xenophon; who was guarding the rear; came upon some men who had dropt down; and he did not know what ailed them; but some one who was experienced in such matters suggested to him that they had evidently got boulimia; and if they got something to eat; they would revive。 Then he went the round of the baggage train; and laying an embargo on any eatables he could see; doled out with his own hands; or sent off other able…bodied agents to distribute to the sufferers; who as soon as they had taken a mouthful got on their legs again and continued the march。

On and on they marched; and about dusk Cheirisophus reached a village; and surprised some women and girls who had come from the village to fetch water at the fountain outside the stockade。 These asked them who they were。 The interpreters answered for them in Persian: 〃They were on their way from the king to the satrap;〃 in reply to which the women gave them to understand that the satrap was not at home; but was away a parasang farther on。 As it was late they entered with the water…carriers within the stockade to visit the headman of the village。 Accordingly Cheirisophus and as many of the troops as were able got into cantonments there; while the rest of the soldiersthose namely who were unable to complete the marchhad to spend the night out; without food and without fire; under the circumstances some of the men perished。

On the heels of the army hung perpetually bands of the enemy; snatching away disabled baggage animals and fighting with each other over the carcases。 And in its track not seldom were left to their fate disabled soldiers; struck down with snow…blindness or with toes         12 moritified by frostbite。 As to the eyes; it was some alleviation against the snow to march with something black before them; for the feet; the only remedy was to keep in motion without stopping for an instant; and to loose the sandal at night。 If they went to sleep with the sandals on; the thong worked into the feet; and the sandals were frozen fast to them。 This was partly due to the fact that; since their old sandals had failed; they wore untanned brogues made of newly…flayed ox…hides。 It was owing to some such dire necessity that a party of men fell out and were left behind; and seeing a black…looking patch of ground where the snow had evidently disappeared; they conjectured it must have been melted; and this was actually so; owing to a spring of some sort which was to be seen steaming up in a dell close by。 To this they had turned aside and sat down; and were loth to go a step further。 But Xenophon; with his rearguard; perceived them; and begged and implored them by all manner of means not to be left behind; telling them that the enemy were after them in large packs pursuing; and he ended by growing angry。 They merely bade him put a knife to their throats; not one step farther would they stir。 Then it seemed best to frighten the pursuing enemy if possible; and prevent their falling upon the invalids。 It was already dusk; and the pursuers were advancing with much noise and hubbub; wrangling and disputing over their spoils。 Then all of a sudden the rearguard; in the plenitude of health and strength'2'; sprang up out of their lair and run upon the enemy; whilst those weary wights'3' bawled out as loud as their sick throats could sound; and clashed their spears against their shields; and the enemy in terror hurled themselves through the snow into the dell; and not one of them ever uttered a sound again。

'2' Hug; after Rehdantz; would omit the words 〃in the plenitude of     health and strength。〃

'3' Or; 〃the invalids。〃

Xenophon and his party; telling the sick
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