When they had breakfast and were setting out upon the march (epei de aristésantes eporeuonto), the generals quietly stationed men in the defile (hupostésantes en tói stenói hoi stratégoi) and proceeded to take away from the troops such of the things specified as had not been given up if they found any (ei ti heuriskoien tón eirémenón mé apheimenon, aphéirounto); and the soldiers submitted (hoi d’epeithonto), except in cases where a man had smuggled through a handsome boy or woman, for example, that he had set his heart upon (plén ei tis eklepsen, hoion é paidos epithymésas é gynaikos tón euprepón). So they went on for that day (kai tautén men tén hémeran houtós eporeuthésan), now fighting a little (ta men ti machomenoi) and now resting (ta de ti anapauomenoi). On the next day (eis de tén husteraian) there was a heavy storm (gignetai cheimón polus), but they had to continue their march (anankaion d‘ én poreuesthai), for they had not an adequate supply of provisions (ou gar én hikana t‘apitédeia); and Cheirisophus led the way (kai hégeito men Cheirisophos) while Xenophon commanded the rearguard (ópisthophulakei de Xenophón). Here the enemy began a vigorous attack (kai hoi polemioi ischurós epetithento), and in the narrow places on the road (kai stenón ontón tón chórión) came close up to discharge their bows and slings (engus prosiontes etoxeuon kai esphendonón). The result was that the Greeks were forced to give chase and then fall back, and hence made but a slow progress (hóste énankazonto hoi Hellénes epidiókontes kai palin anachazontes scholéi poreuesthai); and time after time, when the enemy pressed them hard, Xenophon would send word to Cheirisophus to wait a little (kai thamina paréngellen ho Xenophón hupomenein, hote hoi polemioi ischurós epikeointo). Now while Cheirisophus was accustomed to wait whenever such word was given (entautha ho Cheirisophos allote men hote parenguóito hupemene), on this occasion he did not do so (tote de ouch hupemene), but led on rapidly (all‘ ége tacheós) and passed back the order to keep up with him (kai paréngua hepesthai). It was evident, therefore, that something was the matter, but there was no time to go forward and find out the reason for this haste; consequently the progress of the rearguard became more like a flight than a march (hóste délon én hoti pragma ti eié, scholé d’ ouk én idein parelthonti to aition tés spoudés, hóste hé poreia homoia fugéi egigneto tois opisthophulaxi). Then it was that a brave man was killed (kai entautha apothnéiskei anér agathos), Leonymus the Laconian (Lakónikos Leónumos), who was pierced in the side by an arrow that went through his shield and cuirass (toxeutheis dia tés aspidos kai spolados); also Basias the Arcadian (kai Basias Arkas), who was shot clean through the head (diamperes tén kephalén).
As soon as they reached a halting place (epei de
aphikonto epi stathmon), Xenophon went straight to Cheirisophus, just as he
was, and proceeded to reproach him for not waiting (euthus hósper eichen ho Xenophón elthón pros
Cheirisophon éitiato auton hoti ouch hupemenen), but compelling them
to flee and fight at the same time (all’ énankazonto pheugontes
hama machesthai); “and now,” he went on, “two fine brave fellows
have lost their lives (kai nun
duo kaló te kai agathó andre tethnaton), and we were not able to
pick up their bodies or bury them” (kai oute anelesthai oute thapsai
edunametha). Cheirisophus’ reply was (apokrinetai ho Cheirisophos), “Take
a look,” (Blepson) said he (ephé), “at the mountains (pros ta oré), and observe (kai
ide) how impassable all of them are (hós abata panta esti). The only road is the one there (mia d‘ hauté hodos), which you
see (hén horais), a
steep one, too (orthia), and on that you can see the great crowd of
people (kai epi tautéi anthrópón
horan exesti soi ochlon tosouton) who have taken possession of it
and are guarding our way out (hoi kateiléphotes phulattousi tén ekbasin).
That’s the reason why I was hurrying (taut’ egó espeudon) and why I would not wait for
you (kai dia touto se ouch hupemenon), for I hoped to reach the pass and
occupy it before they did (ei pós
dunaimén phthasai prin kateiléphthai tén huperbolén). The guides
that we have say there is no other road (hoi d’ hégemones hous echomen ou phasin einai allén hodon).
And Xenophon answered (ho de
Xenophón legei), “Well, I also have two men (all’ egó echó duo andras). For at the time the enemy was giving us
trouble (epei gar hémin pragmata
pareichon), we set an ambush (enédreusamen). It allowed us,
for one thing, to catch our breath (hoper hémas kai anapneusai epoiése); but, besides, we killed a
number of them (kai apekteinamen
tinas autón), and we took especial pains to get some prisoners (kai zóntas prouthuméthémen labein)
for this very purpose (autou toutou heneka), of being able to employ as
guides men who know the country (hopós hégemosin eidosi tén chóran chrésaimetha).”
They brought up the two men at once (kai euthus agagontes
tous anthrópous) and
questioned them (élenchon)
separately (dialabontes) as to whether they knew
any other road (ei tina allén eideien
hodon) besides the one that was in plain sight (é tén phaneran). The first man said he
did not (ho men oun heteros ouk ephé), despite the numerous threats that were made to him (mala pollón phobón prosagomenón); and since
he would give no information (epei
de ouden óphelimon elegen), he was slaughtered before the eyes of
the second one (horóntos tou heterou
katesphagé). The latter now said (ho de loipos elexen) that the
reason why this first man had maintained that he did not know any other road (hoti houtos ou phaié dia tauta eidenai),
was because he chanced to have a daughter living in that neighbourhood with a
husband to whom he had given her (hoti autói etunchane thugatér ekei par’ andri ekdedomené); but as for
himself (autos d’), he said that he would lead the Greeks by a road that
could be traversed even by baggage animals (ephé hégésesthai dunatén kai hupozugiois poreuesthai hodon). Upon
being asked (erótómenos d’)
whether there was any point on it which was difficult to pass (ei eié ti en autéi
duspariton chórion), he replied that there was a height (ephé einai akron) which they could not
possibly pass unless they should seize it beforehand (ho ei mé tis prokatalépsoito, adunaton esesthai
parelthein).
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