21 Xenophon’s Anabasis

At this time (Kai en toutói tói chronói) Archagoras the Argive came up in flight (élthen Archagoras ho Argeios pepheugós) and reported (kai legei) that the Greeks had been dislodged from the first hill (hós apekopésan apo tou lophou), that Cephisodorus and Amphicrates had been killed (kai hoti tethnasi Képhisodóros kai Amphikratés), and likewise all the rest (kai hoi alloi) except such as had leaped down the rocks and reached the rearguard (hosoi mé halamenoi kata tés petras pros tous opisthophulakas aphikonto). After accomplishing this achievement (tauta de diapraxamenoi) the barbarians came to a hill opposite the round hill (hoi barbaroi hékon ep’ antiporon lophon tói mastói), and Xenophon (kai ho Xenophón), through an interpreter, had a colloquy with them in regard to a truce (dielegeto autois di’ herméneós peri spondón) and asked them to give back the bodies of the Greek dead (kai tous nekrous apéitei). They replied that they would give then back (hoi de ephasan apodósein) on condition (eph’ hói) that the Greeks should not burn their houses (mé kaiein tas oikias). To this Xenophon agreed (sunómologei tauta ho Xenophón). But while the rest of the army was passing by (en hói de to men allo strateuma paréiei) and they were engaged in this conference (hoi de tauta dielegonto), all the enemy from that neighbourhood had streamed together to the spot (pantes hoi ek toutou tou topou sunerruésan entautha hoi polemioi); and as soon as Xenophon and his men began to descend from the round hill (kai epei érxanto katabainein apo tou mastou), in order to join the rest of the Greeks at the place where they were halted under arms (pros tous allous entha ta hopla ekeinto), the enemy took this opportunity to rush upon them in great force and with a great deal of uproar (hiento dé hoi polemioi pollói pléthei kai thorubói). When they had reached the crest of the hill (kai epei egenonto epi tés koruphés tou mastou) from which Xenophon was descending (aph’ hou Xenophón katebainen), they proceeded to roll down stones (ekulindoun petrous). They broke one man’s leg (kai henos men kateaxan to skelos), and Xenophon found himself deserted by the servant who was carrying his shield (Xenophónta de ho hupaspistés echón tén aspida apelipen); but Eurylochus of Lusi (Eurylochos Lousieus), a hoplite, ran up to him (prosedramen autói hoplités) and, keeping his shield in front of them both, fell back with him (kai pro amphoin probeblémenos apechórei); and the rest also (kai hoi alloi) made good their retreat to the main array (pros tous suntetagmenous apélthon).

Then (Ek de toutou) the entire Greek army United (pan homou egeneto to Hellénikon), and the troops took up quarters there (kai eskénésan autou) in many fine houses (en pollais kai kalais oikiais) and in the midst of abundant supplies (kai epitédeois dapsilesi); for the inhabitants had wine in such quantities (kai gar oinos polus én) that they kept it in cemented cisterns (hóste en lakkois koniatois eichon). Meanwhile Xenophon and Cheirisophus effected an arrangement (Xenophón de kai Cheirisophos diepraxanto) by which they recovered the bodies of their dead (hóste labontes tous nekrous) and gave back the guide (apedosan ton hégemona); and they rendered to the dead, so far as their means permitted (kai panta epoiésan tois apothanousin ek tón dunatón), all the usual honours that are paid to great men (hósper nomizetai andrasin agathois).

On the next day (téi de husteraiai) they continued their march without a guide (aneu hégemonos eporeuonto), while the enemy, by fighting and by seizing positions in advance wherever the road was narrow (machomenoi d’ hoi polemioi kai hopéi eié stenon chórion), tried to prevent their passage (prokatalambanontes ekóluon tas parodous). Accordingly, whenever they prevented the march of the van (hopote oun tous prótous kóluoien) Xenophon would push forward from the rear to the mountains (Xenophón opisthen ekbainón pros ta oré) and break the blockade of the road for the van (elue tén apophraxin tés hodou tois prótois) by trying to get higher  than those who were halting it (anóteró peirómenos genesthai tón kóluontón), and whenever they attacked the rear (hopote de tois opisthen epithointo), Cheirisophus would sally forth (Cheirisophos ekbainón) and, by trying to get higher than the obstructing force (kai peirómenos anó gignesthai tón kóluontón), would break the blockade of the passage-way for the rear (elue tén apophraxin tés parodou tois opisthen); in this way they continually aided  one another (kai aei houtós eboéthoun allélois) and took zealous care for one another (kai ischurós allélón epemelonto). There were times, indeed (én de), when the barbarians caused a great deal of trouble even to the troops who had climbed to a higher position (kai hopote autois tois anabasi polla pragmata pareichon hoi barbaroi), when they were coming down again (palin katabainousin); for their men were so agile (elaphroi gar ésan) that even if they took to flight from close at hand (hóste kai enguthen pheugontes), they could escape (apopheugein); for they had nothing to carry (ouden gar eichon allo) except bows and slings (é toxa kai sphendonas). As bowmen they were most excellent (aristoi de kai toxotai ésan); they had bows nearly three cubits long (eichon gar toxa eggus tripéché) and their arrows were more than two cubits (ta de toxeumata pleon é dipéché), and when they shot, they would draw their strings by pressing with the left foot against the lower end of the bow (heilkon de tas neuras hopote toxeuoien pros to kató tou toxou tói aristerói podi prosbainontes); and their arrows (ta de toxeumata) would go straight through the shields (echórei dia tón aspidón) and breastplates (kai dia tón thórakón). Whenever they got hold of them, the Greeks would use these arrows as javelins (echrónto de autois hoi Hellénes, epei laboien, akontiois), fitting them with thongs (enankulóntes). In these regions (en toutois tois chóriois) the Cretans made themselves exceedingly useful (hoi Krétes chrésimótatoi egenonto). They were commanded by a Cretan named Stratocles (érche de autón Stratoklés Krés).