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le 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； w