32 Xenophon’s Anabasis

From there they marched through the land of the Chalybians seven stages, fifty parasangs (Enteuthen eporeuthésan dia Chalubón stathmous hepta parasangas heptékonta). These were the most valiant of all the peoples they passed through (houtoi ésan hón diélthon alkimótatoi), and would come to hand-to-hand encounter (kai eis cheiras éisan). They had corselets of linen reaching down to the groin (eichon de thórakas linous mechri tou étrou), with a thick fringe of plaited cords instead of flaps (anti de tón pterugón sparta pukna estrammena). They had greaves also and helmets (eichon de kai knémidas kai krané), and at the girdle a knife about as long as a Laconian dagger (kai para tén zónén machairion hoson xuélén Lakónikén), with which they would slaughter whomever they might be able to vanquish (hói esphatton hón kratein dunainto); then they would cut off their heads and carry them along on their march (kai apotemnontes an tas kephalas echontes eporeuonto), and they would sing and dance whenever they were likely to be seen by the enemy (kai éidon kai echoreuon hopote hoi polemioi autous opsesthai emellon). They carried also a spear about five cubits long, with a point at only one end (eichon de kai doru hós pente pécheón mian lonchén echon). These people would stay within their towns (houtoi enemenon en tois polismasin), and when the Greeks passed by, they would follow them (epei de parelthoien hoi Hellénes, heiponto), always ready to fight (aei machoumenoi). Their dwellings were in strongholds (óikoun de en tois ochurois), and therein they had stored away all their provisions (kai ta epitédeia en toutois anakekomismenoi ésan); hence the Greeks could get nothing in this country (hóste méden lambanein autothen tous Hellénas), but they had subsisted on the cattle they had taken from the Taochians (alla dietraphésan tois kténesin ha ek tón Taochón elabon). Leaving this land, the Greeks arrived at the Harpasus river (ek toutón hoi Hellénes aphikonto epi ton Harpason potamon), which was four plethra in width (euros tettarón plethrón). From there they marched through the territory of the Scythinians four stages, twenty parasangs (enteuthen eporeuthésan dia Skuthinón stathmous tettaras parasangas eikosi), over a level plain, and they arrived at some villages (dia pediou eis kómas), and there remained for three days and collected provisions (en hais emeinan hémeras treis kai epesitisanto).

From there they journeyed four stages, twenty parasangs (Enteuthen diélhon stathmous tettaras parasangas eikosi), to a large and prosperous inhabited city which was called Gymnias (pros polin megalén kai eudaimona kai oikoumenén hé ekaleito Gumnias). From this city the ruler of the land sent the Greeks a guide (ek tautés ho tés chóras archón tois Hellésin hégemona pempei), in order to lead them through territory that was hostile to his own (hopós dia tés heautón polemias chóras agoi autous). When the guide came (elthón ekeinos), he said that he would lead them within five days to a place from which they could see the sea (legei hoti axei autous pente hémerón eis chórion hothen opsontai thalattan); if he failed to do so, he was ready to accept death (ei de mé, tethnanai epéngeilato). Thus taking the lead (kai hégoumenos), as soon as he had brought them into the hostile territory (epeidé enebalen eis tén polemian), he kept urging them to spread abroad fire and ruin (parekeleueto aithein kai phtheirein tén chóran), thereby making it clear that it was with this end in view that he had come (hói kai deilon egeneto hoti toutou heneka elthoi), and not out of good-will toward the Greeks (ou tés tón Hellénón eunoias). On the fifth day they did in fact reach the mountain (kai aphiknountai epi to oros téi pemptéi hémerai); its name was Theches (onoma de tói orei én Théchés). Now as the vanguard got to the top of the mountain (epei de hoi prótoi egenonto epi tou orous), a great shout went up (kraugé pollé egeneto). And when Xenophon and the rearguard heard it (akousas de ho Xenophón kai hoi opisthophulakes), they imagined that other enemies were attacking in front (óiéthésan emprosthen allous epitithesthai polemious); for enemies were following behind them from the district that was in flames (heiponto gar opisthen ek tés kaiomenés chóras), and the rearguard had killed some of them and captured others by setting an ambush (kai autón hoi opisthophulakes apekteinan te tinas kai ezógrésan enedran poiésamenoi), and had also taken about twenty wicker shields covered with raw, shaggy ox-hides (kai gerra elabon daseión boón ómoboeia amphi ta eikosin). But as the shout kept getting louder and nearer (epeidé de boé pleión te egigneto kai enguteron), as the successive ranks that came up all began to run at full speed toward the ranks ahead that were one after another joining in the shout, and as the shout kept growing far louder as the number of men grew steadily greater, it became quite clear to Xenophon that there was something of unusual importance (kai hoi aei epiontes etheon dromói epi tous aei boóntas kai pollói meizón egigneto hé boé hosói dé pleious egignonto, edokei dé meizon ti einai tói Xenophónti); so he mounted a horse (kai anabas eph’ hippon), took with him Lycius and the cavalry, and pushed ahead to lend aid (kai Lukion kai tous hippeas analabón pareboéthei); and in a moment they heard the soldiers shouting, “The Sea! The Sea!” and passing the word along (kai tacha dé akouousi boóntón tón stratiótón Thalatta thalatta kai parenguóntón). Then all the troops of the rearguard likewise broke into a run (entha dé etheon pantes kai hoi opisthophulakes), and the pack animals began racing ahead and the horses (kai ta hupozugia élauneto kai hoi hippoi). And when all had reached the summit (epei de aphikonto pantes epi to akron), then indeed they fell into embracing one another (entautha dé perieballon allélous), and generals and captains as well (kai stratégous kai lochagous), with tears in their eyes (dakruontes). And on a sudden (kai exapinés), at the bidding of some one or other (hotou dé parenguésantos), the soldiers began to bring stones and to build a big cairn (hoi stratiótai pherousi lithous kai poiousi kolónon megan). Thereon they placed as offerings a quantity of raw ox-hides and walking sticks and the captured wicker shields (entautha anetithesan dermatón pléthos ómoboeión kai baktérias kai ta aichmalóta gerra); and the guide not only cut these shields to pieces himself (kai ho hégemón autos te etemne ta gerra), but urged the others to do so (kai tois allois diekeleueto). After this the Greeks dismissed the guide with gifts from the common stock – a horse, a silver cup, a Persian dress, and ten darics (meta tauta ton hégemona hoi Hellénes apopempousi dóra dontes apo koinou hippon kai phialén arguran kai skeuén Persikén kai dareikous deka); but what he particularly asked the men were their rings (éitei de malista tous daktulious), and he got a considerable number of them (kai elabe pollous para tón stratiótón). Then he showed them a village to encamp in (kómén de deixas autois hou skénésousi) and the road they were to follow to the country of Macronians (kai tén hodon hén poreusontai eis Makrónas), and, as soon as evening came, took his departure (epei hespera egeneto, óicheto apión).