For that day again they found quarters in the villages that lie above the plain bordering the Centrites river (Tautén d’ au tén hémeran éulisthésan en tais kómais tais huper tou pediou para ton Kentritén potamon), which is about two plethra in width (euros hós diplethron) and separates (hos horizei) Armenia and the country of the Carduchians (tén Armenian kai tén tón Kardouchón chóran). There the Greeks took breath (kai hoi Hellénes entautha anepneusan), glad to behold a plain (asmenoi idontes pedion); for the river was distant six or seven stadia from the mountains of the Carduchians (apeiche de tón oreón ho potamos hex é hepta stadia tón Kardouchón). At the time, then (tote men oun), they went into their quarters very happily (éulisthésan mala hédeós), for they had provisions (kai ta‘pitédeia echontes) and likewise many recollection of the hardships that were now past (kai polla tón pareléluthotón ponón mnémoneuontes). For during all the seven days of their march through the land of the Carduchians they were continually fighting (hepta gar hémeras hosasper eporeuthésan dia tón Kardouchón pasas machomenoi dietelesan), and they suffered more evils than all which they had suffered taken together at the hands of the King and Tissaphernes (kai epathon kaka hosa oude ta sumpanta hupo basileós kai Tissaphernous). In the feeling, therefore, that they were rid of these troubles (hós oun apéllagmenoi toutón) they lay down happily to rest (hédeós ekoiméthésan).
At daybreak, however (Hama de téi hémerai), they caught
sight of horsemen at a place across the river (horósin hippeas pou peran tou
potamou), fully armed (exóplismenous) and ready to dispute their passage (hós kólusontas
diabainein), and likewise foot-soldiers drawn up in line of battle upon the
bluffs above the horsemen (pezous para tais ochthais paratetagmenous anó tón
hippeón), to prevent their pushing into Armenia (hós kólusontas eis Armenian ekbainein). All these were the troops of Orontas and
Artuchas (ésan d‘ houtoi Oronta
kai Artoucha), and consisted of Armenians (Armenioi),
Mardians (Mardoi), and Chaldean mercenaries (kai Chaldaioi misthophoroi).
The Chaldaeans were said to be an independent and valiant people (elecgonto
de hoi Chaldaioi eleutheroi te kai alkimoi einai); they had as weapons (hopla
d’ eichon) long wicker shields (gerra makra) and lances (kai
lonchas). Now the bluffs just mentioned (hai de ochthai hautai),
upon which these troops were drawn up (eph’ hón paratetagmenoi houtoi ésan), were
distant three or four plethra from the river (tria é tettara plethra apo tou potamou apeichon),
and there was only one road to be seen that led up them (hodos de mia horómené én agousa anó), apparently
an artificial road (hósper
cheiropoiétos); so at this point the Greeks undertook to cross the
river (tautéi epeirónto
diabainein hoi Hellénes.). When they made the attempt, however, the
water proved to be more then breast deep (epei de peirómenois to te hudór huper tón mastón ephaineto) and
the river bed was rough with large, slippery stones (kai trachus én ho
potamos megalois lithois kai olisthérois); furthermore, they could not
carry their shields in the water (kai out’ en tói hudati ta hopla én echein), for if
they tried that, the current would snatch them away (én de mé, hérpazen ho potamos), while
if a man carried them on his head (epi tés kephalés ta hopla ei tis pheroi),
his body was unprotected against arrows and other missiles (gumnoi egignonto
pros ta toxeumata kai t’alla
belé); so they turned back (anechórésan) and went into camp there by the
side of the river (kai autou estratopedeusanto para ton potamon).
Meanwhile, at the point where they have themselves spent the previous night (entha
de autoi tén prosthen nukta ésan),
on the mountain side (epi tou orous), they could see the Carduchians
gathered together under arms in great numbers (heórón tous Kardouchous).
Then it was that great despondency fell upon the Greeks (entautha dé pollé athumia én tois Hellésin),
as they saw before them a river difficult to cross (horósi men tou potamou tén dusporian),
beyond it troops that would obstruct their crossing (horósi de tous diabainein kólusontas),
and behind them the Carduchians, ready to fall upon their rear when they tried
to cross (horósi de tois
diabainousi epikeisomenous tous Kardouchous opisthen).
That day and night, accordingly,
they remained there (tautén men
oun tén hémeran kai nukta emeinan), in great
perplexity (en polléi aporiai
ontes). But Xenophon had a dream (Xenophón de onar eiden); he thought that he was bound in fetters
(edoxen en pedais dedesthai), but that the fetters fell off from him of
their ow accord (hautai de autói automatai perirruénai), so that he was
released (hóste luthénai)
and could take as long steps as he pleased (kai diabainein hoposon ebouleto).
When dawn came (epei de orthros én), he went to Cheirisophus (erchetai
pros ton Cheirisophon), told him he had hopes that all would be well (kai
legei hoti elpidas echei kalós
esesthai), and related to him his dream (kai diégeitai autói to
onar). Cheirisophus was pleased (ho de hédeto te), and as soon as
the day began to break (kai hós tachista heós hupephainen), all the
generals were at hand and proceeded to offer sacrifices (ethuento pantes hoi
stratégoi). And
with the very first victim the omens were favourable (kai ta men hiera kala én euthus apo tou prótou). Then
the generals and the captains withdrew from the sacrifice (kai apiontes apo
tón hierón hoi sratégoi kai lochagoi) and gave orders to the troops to get
their breakfasts (paréngellon téi
stratiai aristopoieisthai).
While Xenofon was breakfasting (Kai
aristónti tói Xenophónti),
two young men were running to him (prosetrechon duo neaniskó); for all
knew (éidesan gar pantes)
that they might go to him whether he was breakfasting or dining (hoti exéiei
autói kai aristónti kai deipnounti proselthein), and that if he were
asleep, they might awaken him (kai ei katheudoi epegeiranta) and tell
him whatever they might have to tell that concerned the war (eipein, ei tis
ti echoi tón pros ton polemon). In the
present case the young men reported (kai tote elegon) that they happened
to be gathering dry sticks for the purpose of making a fire (hoti tunchanoien
phrugana sullegontes hós epi pur), and while so occupied they had descried
across the river, among some rocks that reached down to the very edge of the
river (ka’peita katidoien en tói peran en petrais kathékousais ep‘ auton ton potamon), an old
man and a woman and some little girls (geronta te kai gunaika kai paidiskas)
putting away what looked like bags of clothes in a cavernous rock (hósper
marsipous himatión katatithemenous en petrai antróidei). When they saw this
proceeding (idousi de sphisi), they said, they made up their minds that
it was safe for them to cross (doxai asphales einai diabénai), for this was a place
that was not accessible to enemy’s cavalry (oude gar tois polemiois hippeusi
prosbaton einai kata touto). They accordingly stripped (ekduntes d’
ephasan), keeping only their daggers (echontes ta encheiridia), and
started across naked, supposing that they would have to swim (gumnoi hós
neusomenoi diabainein); but they went on and got across without wetting
themselves up to the middle (poreuomenoi de prosthen diabénai prin brexai ta aidoia);
once on the other side (kai diabantes), they took the clothes and came
back again (lambanontes ta himatia palin hékein).
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