When the Greeks became aware that they [i.e. the Persians] were desirous of withdrawing and were passing the word along, the order to pack up the luggage was proclaimed to the Greek troops within hearing of the enemy. For a time the barbarians delayed their setting out, but when it began to grow late, they went off; for they thought it did not pay to be on the march and arriving at their camp in the night. When the Greeks saw at length that they were manifestly departing, they broke camp and took the road themselves, and accomplished a march of no less than sixty stadia. Thus the two armies got so far apart that on the next day the enemy did not appear, nor on the third; on the fourth day, however, after pushing forward by night the barbarians occupied a high position on the right of the road by which the Greeks were to pass, a spur of the mountain, namely, along the base of which ran the route leading down into the plain.
As soon as Cheirisophus observed that the spur was already
occupied, he summoned Xenophon from the rear, directing him to come to the
front and bring the peltasts with him. Xenophon, however, would not bring the
peltasts, for he could see Tissaphernes and his whole army coming into view
[i.e. from the rear, notes Brownson, the translator]; but he road forward
himself and asked, “Why are you summoning me (Ti kaleis;)?” Cheirisophus
replied, “It is perfectly evident (Exestin horan); the hill overhanging
our downward road has been occupied, and there is no getting by unless we
dislodge these people. Why did you not bring the peltasts?” Xenophon answered
that he had not thought it best to leave the rear unprotected when hostile
troops were coming into sight. “Well, at any rate,” said Cheirisophus, “it is
high time to be thinking how we are to drive these fellows from the hight.”
Then Xenophon observed that the summit of the mountain was close above their
own army and that from this summit there was a way of approach to the hill
where the enemy were; and he said, “Our best plan (Kratiston),
Cheirisophus (ó Cheirisophe),
is to drive with all speed for the mountain top (hémin hiesthai hós tachista epi to akron);
for if we once get the possession of that (én gar touto labómen), those men above our road will not be able
to hold their position (ou
dunésontai menein hoi huper tés hodou). If you choose, then, stay in
command of the army, and I will go; or, if you prefer, you make for the
mountain top, and I will stay here.” “Well,” said Cheirisophus, “I leave it to
you to choose whatever part you wish.” Then Xenophon with the remark that he
was younger, elected to go (haireitai poreuesthai), but he urged
Cheirisophus to send with him some troops from the front (keleuei de hoi
sumpempsai apo tou stomatos andras); for it would have been too long a
journey to bring up men from the rear (apo tés ouras). Cheirisophus accordingly
sent with him the peltasts at the front, replacing them with those that were
inside the square; he also ordered the three hundred picked men under his own
command at the front of the square to join Xenophon’s force (sunepesthai ekeleusen autói kai tous triakosious
hous autos eiche tón epilektón epi tói stomati tou plaisiou).
Then they set out with all possible speed. But no sooner had
the enemy upon the hill observed their dash for the summit of the mountain than
they also set off, to race with the Greeks for this summit. Then there was a
deal of shouting from the Greek army as they urged on their friends, and just
as much shouting from the Tissaphernes’ troops to urge on their men. And
Xenophon, riding along the lines upon his horse, cheered his troops forward:
“My good men,” he said, “believe that now you are racing for Greece, racing
this very hour back to your wives and children, a little toil for this one
moment (nun oligon ponésantes) and no more fighting for the rest of your
journey (amachei tén loipén
poreusometha).” But Soteridas the Sicyonian said: “We are not on an
equality, Xenophon; you are riding on horseback, while I am desperately tired
with carrying my shield.” When Xenophon heard that, he leaped down from his
horse and pushed Soteridas out of his place in the line, then took his shield
away from him and marched on with it as fast as he could; he had also, as it
happened, his cavalry breastplate, and the result was that he was heavily
burdened. And he urged the men in front of him to keep going, while he told
those who were behind to pass along by him, for he found it hard to keep up.
The rest of the soldiers, however, struck and pelted and abused Soteridas until
they forced him to take back his shield and march on. Then Xenophon remounted,
and as long as riding was possible, led the way on horseback, but when the
ground became too difficult, he left his horse behind and hurried forward on
foot. And they reached the summit before the enemy.
Then it was that the barbarians turned about and fled, every
man for himself, while the Greeks held possession of the summit. As for the
troops under Tissaphernes and Ariaeus, they turned off by another road and were
gone; and the army under Cheirisophus descended into the plain and proceeded to
encamp in a village stored with abundant supplies. There were likewise many
other villages richly stored with supplies in this plain on the banks of the
Tigris. When it came to be late in the day, all of a sudden the enemy appeared
in the plain and cut to pieces some of the Greeks who were scattered about in
quest of plunder (kath‘ harpagén);
in fact, many herds of cattle had been captured while they were being taken cross
to the other side of the river. Then Tissaphernes and his followers attempted
to burn the villages; and some of the Greeks got exceedingly despondent, out of
apprehension that they would not have a place from which to take provisions in
case the enemy should succeed in this attempt. Meanwhile Cheirisophus and his
men, who had gone to the rescue of the plunderers, were returning; and when
Xenophon had come down from the mountain, he rode along the lines upon falling
in with the Greeks of the rescuing party and said: “Do you observe, men of
Greece, that they admit the country is now ours? For while they stipulated when
they made the treaty that there should be no burning of the King’s territory,
now they are doing that very thing themselves, as though the land was another’s.
At any rate, if they leave supplies anywhere for their own use, they shall
behold us also proceeding to that spot. But, Cheirisophus,” he went on, “it
seems to me that we ought to sally forth against these incendiaries, like men
defending their own country.” “Well, it does not seem so to me,” said
Cherisophus; “rather, let us set about burning ourselves, and then they will
stop the sooner.”
No comments:
Post a Comment