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！
for if so； it is well； but of otherwise； at least we will let him see that he does not shut the door upon us as dupes and fools。 We know the meaning of discipline； we turn our backs and go。〃
This resolution was passed； and they sent Hieronymus an Eleian； with two others； Eurylochus an Arcadian and Philesius an Achaean； to deliver the message。 So these set off on their errand。 But while the soldiers were still seated in conclave； Coeratadas； of Thebes； 33 arrived。 He was a Theban not in exile； but with a taste for generalship； who made it his business to see if any city or nation were in need of his services。 Thus； on the present occasion； he presented himself； and begged to state that he was ready to put himself at their head； and lead them into the Delta of Thrace＇2＇； as it is called； where they would find themselves in a land of plenty； but until they got there； he would provide them with meat and drink enough and to spare。 While they were still listening to this tale； the return message from Anaxibius came。 His answer was： 〃The discipline； they had spoken of； was not a thing they would regret； indeed he would report their behaviour to the authorities at home； and for himself； he would take advice and do the best he could for them。〃
＇2＇ The exact locality； so called； is not known； doubtless it lay somewhere between Byzantium and Salmydessus； possibly at Declus （mod。 Derkos）； or possibly the narrow portion of Thrace between the Euxine； Bosphorus； and Propontis went by this name。 See note in Pretor ad。 loc。； and 〃Dict。 Geog。〃 〃Thracia。〃
Thereupon the soldiers accepted Coeratadas as their general； and retired without the walls。 Their new general undertook to present himself to the troops next day with sacrificial beasts and a soothsayer； with eatables also and drinkables for the army。 Now； as soon as they were gone out； Anaxibius closed the gates and issued a proclamation to the effect that 〃any of the soldiers caught inside should be knocked down to the hammer and sold at once。〃 Next day； Coeratadas arrived with the victims and the soothsayer。 A string of twenty bearers bearing barleymeal followed at his heels； succeeded by other twenty carrying wine； and three laden with a supply of olives； and two others carrying； the one about as much garlic as a single man could lift； and the other a similar load of onions。 These various supplies he set down； apparently for distribution； and began to sacrifice。
Now Xenophon sent to Cleander； begging him to arrange matters so that he might be allowed to enter the walls； with a view to starting from Byzantium on his homeward voyage。 Cleander came； and this is what he 39 said： 〃I have come； but I was barely able to arrange what you want。 Anaxibius insisted： 'It was not convenient that Xenophon should be inside while the soldiers are close to the walls without； the Byzantines at sixes and sevens moreover； and no love lost between the one party of them and the other。' Still； he ended by bidding you to come inside； if you were really minded to leave the town by sea with himself。〃 Accordingly Xenophon bade the soldiers good…bye； and returned with Cleander within the walls。
To return to Coeratadas。 The first day he failed to get favourable signs at the sacrifice； and never a dole of rations did he make to the soldiers。 On the second day the victims were standing ready near the altar； and so was Coeratadas； with chaplet crowned； all ready to sacrifice； when up comes Timasion the Dardanian； with Neon the Asinaean； and Cleanor of Orchomenus； forbidding Coeratadas to sacrifice： 〃He must understand there was an end to his generalship； unless he gave them provisions。〃 The other bade them measure out the supplies； 〃Pray； dole them out。〃 But when he found that he had a good deal short of a single day's provisions for each man； he picked up his paraphernalia of sacrifice and withdrew。 As to being general； he would have nothing more to say to it。
II
Now these five were leftNeon the Asinaean； Phryniscus the Achaean； 1 Philesius the Achaean； Xanthicles the Achaean； Timasion the Dardanianat the head of the army； and they pushed on to some villages of the Thracians facing Byzantium； and there encamped。 Now the generals could not agree。 Cleanor and Phryniscus wished to march to join Seuthes； who had worked upon their feelings by presenting one with a horse and the other with a woman to wife。 But Neon's object was to come to the Chersonese： 〃When we are under the wing of the Lacedaemonians；〃 he thought； 〃I shall step to the front and command the whole army。〃
Timasion's one ambition was to cross back again into Asia； hoping to be reinstated at home and end his exile。 The soldiers shared the wishes of the last general。 But； as time dragged on； many of the men sold their arms at different places and set sail as best they could； others ＇actually gave away their arms； some here； some there； and＇1＇＇ 3 became absorbed in the cities。 One man rejoiced。 This was Anaxibius； to whom the break…up of the army was a blessing。 〃That is the way；〃 he said to himself； 〃I can best gratify Pharnabazus。〃
＇1＇ The MSS。 give the words so rendered｛oi de kai ＇didontes ta opla kata tous khorous＇｝； which some critics emend ｛diadidontes｝； others bracket as suspected； others expunge。
But Anaxibius； while prosecuting his voyage from Byzantium； was met at Cyzicus by Aristarchus； the new governor； who was to succeed Cleander at Byzantium； and report said that a new admiral； Polus； if he had not actually arrived； would presently reach the Hellespont and relieve Anaxibius。 The latter sent a parting injunction to Aristarchus to be sure and sell all the Cyreian soldiers he could lay hands on still lingering in Byzantium； for Cleander had not sold a single man of them； on the contrary； he had made it his business to tend the sick and wounded； pitying them； and insisting on their being received in the houses。 Aristarchus changed all that； and was no sooner arrived in Byzantium than he sold no less than four hundred of them。 Meanwhile Anaxibius； on his coasting voyage； reached Parium； and； according to the terms of their agreement； he sent to Pharnabazus。 But the latter； learning that Aristarchus was the new governor at Byzantim； and that Anixibius had ceased to be admiral； turned upon him a cold shoulder； and set out concocting the same measures concerning the Cyreian army with Aristarchus； as he had lately been at work upon with Anaxibius。
Anaxibius thereupon summoned Xenophon and bade him； by every manner of means； sail to the army with the utmost speed； and keep it together。 〃He was to collect the scattered fragments and march them down to Perinthus； and thence convey them across to Asia without loss of time。〃 And herewith he put a thirty…oared galley at his srrvice； and gave him a letter of authority and an officer to accompany him； with an order to the Perinthians 〃to escort Xenophon without delay on horseback to the army。〃 So it was that Xenophon sailed across and eventually reached the army。 The soldiers gave him a joyous welcome； and would have been only too glad to cross from Thrace into Asia under his leadership。
But Seuthes； hearing that Xenophon had arrived； sent