31 Xenophon’s Anabasis

Thereupon Cheirisophus and Xenophon set forth (Enteuthen eporeuonto Cheirisophos kai Xenophón), and with them Callimachus of Parrhasia, a captain (kai Kallimachos Parrasios lochagos); for he was the officer of the day in command of the captains of the rearguard (toutou gar hégemonia én tón opisthophulakón lochagón ekeinéi téi hémerai); and the other captains remained in a place of safety (hoi de alloi lochagoi emenon en tói asphalei). Following this lead about seventy men got out under shelter of the trees (meta touto oun apélthon hupo ta dendra anthrópoi hós hebdomékonta), not all together, but one by one (ouch hathrooi alla kath’ hena), each protecting himself as best he could (hekastos phulattomenos hós edunato). But Agasias of Stymphalus and Aristonymus of Methydrium, who were likewise captains of the rearguard (Agasias de ho Stumphalios kai Aristónumos Methudrieus, kai houtoi tón opisthophulakón lochagoi ontes), and others also, took places outside the cover of the trees (kai alloi de, ephestasan exó tón dendrón), for not more than one company could stand among them with safety (ou gar én asphalós en tois dendrois hestanai pleon é ton hena lochon). At that moment Callimachus hit upon a scheme (entha dé Klallimachos méchanatai ti); he would run forward two or three steps from the particular tree he was under and (proutrechen apo tou dendrou huph’ hói én autos duo é tria bémata), when the stones began to fly, would draw back without any trouble (epeidé de hoi lithoi pherointo, anechazen eupetós); and at every one of his dashes more than ten cart-loads of stones would be used up (eph’ hekastés de tés prodromés pleon é deka hamaxai petrón anéliskonto). But when Agasias saw what Callimachus was doing (ho de Agasias hós horai ton Kallimachon ho epoiei), with the whole army of spectators (to strateuma pan theómenon), he became fearful that the other would be the first to make the run across to the stronghold (deisas mé houtos prótos paradraméi eis to chórion); so without asking Aristonymus or Eurylochus of Lusi (though the former was close by and both were his friends) or any one else to join him (ou ton Aristónumon plésion onta parakalesas oude Eurulochon ton Lousiea oude allon oudena), he dashed forward himself and proceeded to go past everybody (chórei autos kai parerchetai pantas). Callimachus however, when he saw him going by (ho de Kallimachos hós horai auton parionta), seized the rim of his shield (epilambanetai autou tés ituos); and at that moment Aristonymus of Methydrium ran past both of them (en de toutói parathei autous Aristónumos Methudrieus), and upon his heels Eurylochus of Lusi (kai meta touton Eurulochos Lousieus). For all these four were rivals in valour and continually striving with one another (pantes  gar houtoi antepoiounto aretés kai diégonizonto pros allélous); and in thus contending they captured the stronghold (kai houtós erizontes hairousi to chórion), for once they had rushed in not a stone came down from above (hós gar hapax eisedramon, oudeis petros anóthen énechthé).

Then came a dreadful spectacle (Entautha dé deinon én theama): the women threw their children down from the rocks (hai gar gunaikes riptousai ta paidia) and then threw themselves down after them (eita heautas epikaterriptoun), and the men did likewise (kai hoi andres hósautós). In the midst of this scene Aeneas of Stymphalus, a captain (entautha dé kai Aineias Stumphalios lochagos), catching sight of a man, who was wearing a fine robe, running to cast himself down (idón tina theonta hóAs ripsonta heauton stolén echonta kalén), seized hold of him in order to stop him (epilambanetai hós kólusón); but the man dragged Aeneas along after him (ho de auton epispatai), and both went flying down the cliffs and were killed (kai amphoteroi óichonto kata tón petrón pheromenoi kai apethanon). In this stronghold a very few human beings were captured (enteuthen anthrópoi men panu oligoi eléphthésan), but they secured cattle and asses in large numbers and sheep (boes de kai onoi polloi kai probata).