History of the World/History of the World (Bureau Development, Inc.)(1992).BIN/dp/0405/04057.txt

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Title:       Retreat Of The Ten Thousand Greeks
Author:      Xenophon

Retreat Of The Ten Thousand Greeks

B.C. 401-399

Introduction

     The expedition of the Greeks, generally known as the "Retreat of the Ten
Thousand," was conducted by Xenophon, a Greek historian, essayist, and
military commander.  Xenophon was a pupil of Socrates, of whom he left a
famous memoir.  In B.C. 401 he accepted the invitation of his friend Proxenus
of Boeotia, a general of Greek mercenaries, to take service under Cyrus the
Younger, brother of Artaxerxes Mnemon, king of Persia.

     Cyrus had considered himself as deeply wronged by his elder brother, who
had thrown him into prison on the death of their father, Darius.  Escaping
from prison, he formed a design to wrest the throne from Artaxerxes.  For this
purpose he engaged the forces of Proxenus, and to this army Xenophon attached
himself.  The rendezvous was Sardis, from which the army marched east under
the pretext of chastising the revolting mountaineers of Pisidia. Instead of
attacking the Pisidians, the followers of Cyrus proceeded east through Asia
and Babylonia till they met the forces of Artaxerxes at Cunaxa. A furious
battle took place, and the rout of the king's army had begun when Cyrus,
elated with the victory that seemed just within his grasp, challenged his
brother to single combat.  In the duel that ensued Cyrus was slain. Proxenus
had already fallen, and the virtual command of the Greek army soon devolved
upon Xenophon, who thereupon began the famous retreat.

     A vivid account of battles, and of hardships endured from the cold, in
the struggle through mountain snows, through almost impassable forests, and
across bridgeless rivers, is given in Xenophon's Anabasis, the celebrated
work, in seven books, which forms the classical narrative of the campaign and
the retreat.  Soon after the death of Cyrus, in September, B.C. 401, the
seizure and murder of the leading Greek generals by the treacherous Persian
satrap, Tissaphernes, placed the Greek army in great peril.  Xenophon, who now
took practical command, counselled and exhorted the surviving leaders, and on
the next day the Greeks formed in a hollow square, the baggage in the centre,
and began their retreat, which led them along the Tigris to the territory of
the Carduchi (Kurds), through Armenia, and across Georgia, the enemy often
harassing them.

     At the point where the climax of the story, which is presented here, may
be said to begin, the Greeks have entered Armenia, passed the sources of the
Tigris, and reached the Teleboas.  Having made a treaty with Tiribazus,
governor of the province, and discovered his insincerity, and that he was
ready to attack them in their passage over the mountains, they resolved upon a
quick resumption of their march.

     When, in the fifth month of the retreat the Greeks at last from a hilltop
beheld the Euxine, they sent up a cry, "The sea! the sea!" which has echoed
through succeeding ages as one of the great historic jubilations of humanity.
At the end of the retreat their numbers were reduced to about six thousand,
and from the starting-point at Cunaxa to the middle of the southern coast of
the Black Sea they had travelled as much as two thousand miles. From Ephesus
to Cunaxa and thence to the Black Sea region they had marched in fifteen
months (February, B.C. 401, to June, 400), and nine months more passed before
they joined the Spartan army in Asia Minor, and their task was fully
accomplished.  Their great performance is regarded as having prepared the way
for Alexander's triumphant advances in the East.  The young conqueror, on the
eve of the battle of Issus, declared that he owed inspiration to the feat of
the Ten Thousand.

Retreat Of The Ten Thousand Greeks

     It was thought necessary to march away as fast as possible, before the
enemy's force should be reassembled, and get possession of the pass.

     Collecting their baggage at once, therefore, they set forward through a
deep snow, taking with them several guides, and, having the same day passed
the height on which Tiribazus had intended to attack them, they encamped.
Hence they proceeded three days' journey through a desert tract of country, a
distance of fifteen parasangs, to the river Euphrates, and passed it without
being wet higher than the middle.  The sources of the river were said not to
be far off.  From hence they advanced three days' march, through much snow and
a level plain, a distance of fifteen parasangs; the third day's march was
extremely troublesome, as the north wind blew full in their faces, completely
parching up everything and benumbing the men.  One of the augurs, in
consequence, advised that they should sacrifice to the wind, and a sacrifice
was accordingly offered, when the vehemence of the wind appeared to everyone
manifestly to abate.  The depth of the snow was a fathom, so that many of the
baggage cattle and slaves perished, with about thirty of the soldiers.

     They continued to burn fires through the whole night, for there was
plenty of wood at the place of encampment.  But those who came up late could
get no wood; those, therefore, who had arrived before and had kindled fires
would not admit the late comers to the fire unless they gave them a share of
the corn or other provisions that they had brought.  Thus they shared with
each other what they respectively had.  In the places where the fires were
made, as the snow melted, there were formed large pits that reached down to
the ground, and here there was accordingly opportunity to measure the depth of
the snow.

     From hence they marched through snow the whole of the following day, and
many of the men contracted the bulimia. ^1 Xenophon, who commanded in the
rear, finding in his way such of the men as had fallen down with it, knew not
what disease it was.  But as one of these acquainted with it told him that
they were evidently affected with bulimia, and that they would get up if they
had something to eat, he went round among the baggage and wherever he saw
anything eatable he gave it out, and sent such as were able to run to
distribute it among those diseased, who, as soon as they had eaten, rose up
and continued their march.  As they proceeded, Chirisophus came, just as it
grew dark, to a village, and found, at a spring in front of the rampart, some
women and girls belonging to the place fetching water.  The women asked them
who they were, and the interpreter answered, in the Persian language, that
they were people going from the king to the satrap.  They replied that he was
not there, but about a parasang off.

[Footnote 1: Spelman quotes a description of the bulimia from Galen, in which
it is said to be "a disease in which the patient frequently craves for food,
loses the use of his limbs, falls down, turns pale, feels his extremities
become cold, his stomach oppressed, and his pulse feeble." Here, however, it
seems to mean little more than a faintness from long fasting.]

     However, as it was late, they went with the water-carriers within the
rampart, to the head man of the village, and here Chirisophus and as many of
the troops as could come up encamped; but of the rest, such as were unable to
get to the end of the journey spent the night on the way without food or fire,
and some of the soldiers lost their lives on that occasion.  Some of the enemy
too, who had collected themselves into a body, pursued our rear, and seized
any of the baggage-cattle that were unable to proceed, fighting with one
another for the possession of them.  Such of the soldiers also as had lost
their sight from the effects of the snow, or had their toes mortified by the
cold, were left behind.  It was found to be a relief to the eyes against the
snow, if the soldiers kept something black before them on the march, and to
the feet, if they kept constantly in motion, and allowed themselves no rest,
and if they took off their shoes in the night.  But as to such as slept with
their shoes on, the straps worked into their feet, and the soles were frozen
about them, for when their old shoes had failed them, shoes of raw hides had
been made by the men themselves from the newly skinned oxen.

     From such unavoidable sufferings some of the soldiers were left behind,
who, seeing a piece of ground of a black appearance, from the snow having
disappeared there, conjectured that it must have melted, and it had in fact
melted in the spot from the effect of a fountain, which was sending up vapor
in a wooded hollow close at hand.  Turning aside thither, they sat down and
refused to proceed farther.  Xenophon, who was with the rear-guard, as soon as
he heard this tried to prevail on them by every art and means not to be left
behind, telling them, at the same time, that the enemy were collected and
pursuing them in great numbers.  At last he grew angry, and they told him to
kill them, as they were quite unable to go forward.  He then thought it the
best course to strike a terror, if possible, into the enemy that were behind,
lest they should fall upon the exhausted soldiers.  It was now dark, and the
enemy were advancing with a great noise, quarrelling about the booty that they
had taken, when such of the rear-guard as were not disabled started up and
rushed toward them, while the tired men, shouting as loud as they could,
clashed their spears against their shields.  The enemy, struck with alarm,
threw themselves among the snow into the hollow, and no one of them afterward
made himself heard from any quarter.

     Xenophon and those with him, telling the sick men that a party should
come to their relief next day, proceeded on their march, but before they had
gone four stadia they found other soldiers resting by the way in the snow, and
covered up with it, no guard being stationed over them.  They roused them up,
but they said that the head of the army was not moving forward. Xenophon,
going past them and sending on some of the ablest of the peltasts, ordered
them to ascertain what it was that hindered their progress.  They brought word
that the whole army was in that manner taking rest.  Xenophon and his men,
therefore, stationing such a guard as they could, took up their quarters there
without fire or supper.  When it was near day, he sent the youngest of his men
to the sick, telling them to rouse them and oblige them to proceed.  At this
juncture Chirisophus sent some of his people from the village to see how the
rear were faring.  The young men were rejoiced to see them, and gave them the
sick to conduct to the camp, while they themselves went forward, and, before
they had gone twenty stadia, found themselves at the village in which
Chirisophus was quartered.  When they came together, it was thought safe
enough to lodge the troops up and down in the village. Chirisophus accordingly
remained where he was, and the other officers, appropriating by lot the
several villages that they had in sight, went to their respective quarters
with their men.

     Here Polycrates, an Athenian captain, requested leave of absence, and
taking with him the most active of his men, and hastening to the village to
which Xenophon had been allotted, surprised all the villagers and their head
man in their houses, together with seventeen colts that were bred as a tribute
for the king, and the head man's daughter, who had been but nine days married;
her husband was gone out to hunt hares, and was not found in any of the
villages.  Their houses were underground, the entrance like the mouth of a
well, but spacious below; there were passages dug into them for the cattle,
but the people descended by ladders.  In the houses were goats, sheep, cows,
and fowls, with their young; all the cattle were kept on fodder within the
walls. ^1 There were also wheat, barley, leguminous vegetables, and barley
wine ^1 in large bowls; the grains of barley floated in it even with the brim
of the vessels, and reeds also lay in it, some larger and some smaller,
without joints; and these, when any one was thirsty, he was to take in his
mouth and suck. ^2 The liquor was very strong, unless one mixed water with it,
and a very pleasant drink to those accustomed to it.

[Footnote 1: This description of a village on the Armenian uplands applies
itself to many that I visited in the present day.  The descent by wells is now
rare, but is still to be met with; but in exposed and elevated situations the
houses are uniformly semi-subterraneous and entered by as small an aperture as
possible, to prevent the cold getting in.  Whatever the kind of cottage used,
cows, sheep, goats, and fowls participate with the family in the warmth and
protection thereof.]

[Footnote 1: Something like our ale.]

[Footnote 2: The reeds were used, says Krueger, that none of the grains of
barley might be taken into the mouth.]

     Xenophon made the chief man of his village sup with him, and told him to
be of good courage, assuring him that he should not be deprived of his
children, and that they would not go away without filling his house with
provisions in return for what they took, if he would but prove himself the
author of some service to the army till they should reach another tribe. This
he promised, and, to show his good-will, pointed out where some wine ^3 was
buried.  This night, therefore, the soldiers rested in their several quarters
in the midst of great abundance, setting a guard over the chief, and keeping
his children at the same time under their eye.  The following day Xenophon
took the head man and went with him to Chirisophus, and wherever he passed by
a village he turned aside to visit those who were quartered in it, and found
them in all parts feasting and enjoying themselves; nor would they anywhere
let them go till they had set refreshments before them; and they placed
everywhere upon the same table lamb, kid, pork, veal, and fowl, with plenty of
bread, both of wheat and barley.  Whenever any person, to pay a compliment,
wished to drink to another, he took him to the large bowl, where he had to
stoop down and drink, sucking like an ox: The chief they allowed to take
whatever he pleased, but he accepted nothing from them; where he found any of
his relatives, however, he took them with him.

[Footnote 3: Xenophon seems to mean grape wine; rather than to refer to the
barley wine just before mentioned, of which the taste does not appear to have
been much liked by the Greeks.  Wine from grapes was not made, it is probable,
in these parts, on account of the cold, but Strabo speaks of the fruit wine of
Armenia Minor as not inferior to any of the Greek wines. - Schneider.]

     When they came to Chirisophus, they found his men also feasting in their
quarters, crowned with wreaths made of hay, and Armenian boys, in their
barbarian dress, waiting upon them, to whom they made signs what they were to
do as if they had been deaf and dumb.  When Chirisophus and Xenophon had
saluted one another, they both asked the chief man, through the interpreter
who spoke the Persian language, what country it was.  He replied that it was
Armenia.  They then asked him for whom the horses were bred, and he said that
they were a tribute for the king, and added that the neighboring country was
that of Chalybes, and told them in what direction the road lay. Xenophon then
went away, conducting the chief back to his family, giving him the horse that
he had taken, which was rather old, to fatten and offer in sacrifice (for he
had heard that it had been consecrated to the sun), being afraid, indeed, that
it might die, as it had been injured by the journey.  He then took some of the
young horses, and gave one of them to each of the other generals and captains.
The horses in this country were smaller than those of Persia, but far more
spirited.  The chief instructed the men to tie little bags round the feet of
the horses and other cattle when they drove them through the snow, for without
such bags they sunk up to their bellies.

     When the eighth day was come, Xenophon committed the guide to
Chirisophus.  He left the chief ^1 all the members of his family, except his
son, a youth just coming to mature age; him he gave in charge to Episthenes of
Amphipolis, in order that if the father should conduct them properly he might
return home with him.  At the same time they carried to his house as many
provisions as they could, and then broke up their camp and resumed their
march.  The chief conducted them through the snow, walking at liberty.  When
he came to the end of the third day's march, Chirisophus was angry at him for
not guiding them to some villages.  He said that there was none in that part
of the country.  Chirisophus then struck him, but did not confine him, and in
consequence he ran off in the night, leaving his son behind him.  This affair,
the ill-treatment and neglect of the guide, was the only cause of dissension
between Chirisophus and Xenophon during the march.  Episthenes conceived an
affection for the youth, and, taking him home, found him extremely attached to
him.

[Footnote 1: This is rather oddly expressed, for the guide and the chief were
the same person.]

     After this occurrence they proceeded seven days' journey, five parasangs
each day, till they came to the river Phasis, the breadth of which is a
plethrum.  Hence they advanced two days' journey, ten parasangs, when, on the
pass that led over the mountains into the plain, the Chalybes, Taochi, and
Phasians were drawn up to oppose their progress.  Chirisophus, seeing these
enemies in possession of the height, came to a halt, at the distance of about
thirty stadia, that he might not approach them while leading the army in a
column.  He accordingly ordered the other officers to bring up their
companies, that the whole force might be formed in line.

     When the rear-guard was come up, he called together the generals and
captains and spoke to them as follows: "The enemy, as you see, is in
possession of the pass over the mountains, and it is proper for us to consider
how we may encounter them to the best advantage.  It is my opinion, therefore,
that we should direct the troops to get their dinner and that we ourselves
should hold a council, in the mean time, whether it is advisable to cross the
mountain to-day or to-morrow."

     "It seems best to me," exclaimed Cleanor, "to march at once, as soon as
we have dined and resumed our arms, against the enemy; for if we waste the
present day in inaction the enemy, who are now looking down upon us, will grow
bolder, and it is likely that, as their confidence is increased, others will
join them in greater numbers."

     After him Xenophon said: "I am of opinion that if it be necessary to
fight, we ought to make our arrangements so as to fight with the greatest
advantage; but that if we propose to pass the mountains as easily as possible,
we ought to consider how we may incur the fewest wounds and lose the fewest
men.  The range of hills, as far as we see, extends more than sixty stadia in
length; but the people nowhere seem to be watching us except along the line of
road; and it is, therefore, better, I think, to endeavor to try to seize
unobserved some part of the unguarded range, and to get possession of it, if
we can, beforehand, than to attack a strong post and men prepared to resist
us, for it is far less difficult to march up a steep ascent without fighting
than along a level road with enemies on each side; and in the night, if men
are not obliged to fight, they can see better what is before them than by day
if engaged with enemies; while a rough road is easier to the feet to those who
are marching without molestation than a smooth one to those who are pelted on
the head with missiles.  Nor do I think it at all impracticable for us to
steal a way for ourselves, as we can march by night, so as not to be seen, and
can keep at such a distance from the enemy as to allow no possibility of being
heard.  We seem likely, too, in my opinion, if we make a pretended attack on
this point, to find the rest of the range still less guarded, for the enemy
will so much the more probably stay where they are.  But why should I speak
doubtfully about stealing?  For I hear that you Lacedaemonians, O Chirisophus,
such of you at least as are of the better class, practise stealing from your
boyhood, and it is not a disgrace, but an honor, to steal whatever the law
does not forbid; while, in order that you may steal with the utmost dexterity,
and strive to escape discovery, it is appointed by law that, if you are caught
stealing, you are scourged.  It is now high time for you, therefore, to give
proof of your education, and to take care that we may not receive many
stripes."

     "But I hear that you Athenians also," rejoined Chirisophus, "are very
clever at stealing the public money, though great danger threatens him that
steals it; and that your best men steal it most, if indeed your best men are
thought worthy to be your magistrates; so that it is time for you likewise to
give proof of your education."

     "I am then ready," exclaimed Xenophon, "to march with the rear-guard as
soon as we have supped, to take possession of the hills.  I have guides too,
for our light-armed men captured some of the marauders following us, by lying
in ambush, and from them I learn that the mountains are not impassable, but
are grazed over by goats and oxen, so that if we once gain possession of any
part of the range, there will be tracks also for our baggage cattle.  I expect
also that the enemy will no longer keep their ground, when they see us upon a
level with them on the heights, for they will not now come down to be upon a
level with us." Chirisophus then said: "But why should you go, and leave the
charge of the rear?  Rather send others, unless some volunteers present
themselves." Upon this Aristonymus of Methydria came forward with his
heavy-armed men, and Aristeas of Chios and Nichomachus of Ceta with their
light-armed; and they made an arrangement that as soon as they should reach
the top they should light a number of fires.  Having settled these points,
they went to dinner; and after dinner Chirisophus led forward the whole army
ten stadia toward the enemy, that he might appear to be fully resolved to
march against them on that quarter.

     When they had taken their supper, and night came on, those appointed for
the service went forward and got possession of the hills; the other troops
rested where they were.  The enemy, when they saw the heights occupied, kept
watch and burned a number of fires all night.  As soon as it was day,
Chirisophus, after having offered sacrifice, marched forward along the road;
while those who had gained the heights advanced by the ridge.  Most of the
enemy, meanwhile, stayed at the pass, but a part went to meet the troops
coming along the heights.  But before the main bodies came together, those on
the ridge closed with one another, and the Greeks had the advantage, and put
the enemy to flight.  At the same time the Grecian peltasts ran up from the
plain to attack the enemy drawn up to receive them, and Chirisophus followed
at a quick pace with the heavy-armed men.  The enemy at the pass, however,
when they saw those above defeated, took to flight.  Not many of them were
killed, but a great number of shields were taken, which the Greeks, by hacking
them with their swords, rendered useless.  As soon as they had gained the
ascent, and had sacrificed and erected a trophy, they went down into the plain
before them, and arrived at a number of villages stored with abundance of
excellent provisions.

     From hence they marched five days' journey, thirty parasangs, to the
country of the Taochi, where provisions began to fail them; for the Taochi
inhabited strong fastnesses, in which they had laid up all their supplies.
Having at length, however, arrived at one place which had no city or houses
attached to it, but in which men and women and a great number of cattle were
assembled, Chirisophus, as soon as he came before it, made it the object of an
attack; and when the first division that assailed it began to be tired,
another succeeded, and then another, for it was not possible for them to
surround it in a body, as there was a river about it.  When Xenophon came up
with his rear-guard, peltasts, and heavy-armed men, Chirisophus exclaimed:
"You come seasonably, for we must take this place, as there are no provisions
for the army unless we take it."

     They then deliberated together, and Xenophon asking what hindered them
from taking the place, Chirisophus replied: "The only approach to it is the
one which you see; but when any of our men attempt to pass along it, the enemy
roll down stones over yonder impending rock, and whoever is struck is treated
as you behold"; and he pointed, at the same moment, to some of the men who had
had their legs and ribs broken.  "But if they expend all their stones,"
rejoined Xenophon, "is there anything else to prevent us from advancing?  For
we see, in front of us, only a few men, and but two or three of them armed.
The space, too, through which we have to pass under exposure to the stones is,
as you see, only about a hundred and fifty feet in length; and of this about a
hundred feet is covered with large pine trees in groups, against which, if the
men place themselves, what would they suffer either from the flying stones or
the rolling ones?  The remaining part of the space is not above fifty feet,
over which, when the stones cease, we must pass at a running pace."

     "But," said Chirisophus, "the instant we offer to go to the part covered
with trees, the stones fly in great numbers."

     "That, " cried Xenophon, "would be the very thing we want, for thus they
will exhaust their stones the sooner.  Let us then advance, if we can, to the
point whence we shall have but a short way to run, and from which we may, if
we please, easily retreat."

     Chirisophus and Xenophon, with Callimachus of Parrhasia, one of the
captains, who had that day the lead of all the other captains of the
rear-guard, then went forward, all the rest of the captains remaining out of
danger.  Next, about seventy of the men advanced under the trees, not in a
body, but one by one, each sheltering himself as he could.  Agasias of
Stymphalus; and Aristonymus of Methydria, who were also captains of the
rear-guard, with some others were at the same time standing behind, without
the trees, for it was not safe for more than one company to stand under them.
Callimachus then adopted the following stratagem: he ran forward two or three
paces from the tree under which he was sheltered, and when the stones began to
be hurled, hastily drew back; and at each of his sallies more than ten
cartloads of stones were spent.

     Agasias, observing what Callimachus was doing, and that the eyes of the
whole army were upon him, and fearing that he himself might not be the first
to enter the place, began to advance alone - neither calling to Aristonymus
who was next him, nor to Eurylochus of Lusia, both of whom were his intimate
friends, nor to any other person - and passed by all the rest.  Callimachus,
seeing him rushing by, caught hold of the rim of his shield, and at that
moment Aristonymus of Methydria ran past them both, and after him Eurylochus
of Lusia, for all these sought distinction for valor, and were rivals to one
another; and thus, in mutual emulation, they got possession of the place, for
when they had once rushed in, not a stone was hurled from above.  But a
dreadful spectacle was then to be seen; for the women, flinging their children
over the precipice, threw themselves after them; and the men followed their
example.  Aeneas of Stymphalus, a captain, seeing one of them, who had on a
rich garment, running to throw himself over, caught hold of it with intent to
stop him.  But the man dragged him forward, and they both went rolling down
the rocks together, and were killed.  Thus very few prisoners were taken, but
a great number of oxen, asses, and sheep.

     Hence they advanced, seven day's journey, a distance of fifty parasangs,
through the country of the Chalybes.  These were the most warlike people of
all that they passed through, and came to close combat with them.  They had
linen cuirasses, reaching down to the groin, and, instead of skirts, thick
cords twisted.  They had also greaves and helmets, and at their girdles a
short falchion, as large as a Spartan crooked dagger, with which they cut the
throats of all whom they could master, and then, cutting off their heads,
carried them away with them.  They sang and danced when the enemy were likely
to see them.  They carried also a spear of about fifteen cubits in length,
having one spike. ^1 They stayed in their villages till the Greeks has passed
by, when they pursued and perpetually harassed them.  They had their dwellings
in strong places, in which they had also laid up their provisions, so that the
Greeks could get nothing from that country, but lived upon the cattle which
they had taken from the Taochi.

[Footnote 1: Having one iron point at the upper end, and no point at the lower
for fixing the spear in the ground.]

     The Greeks next arrived at the river Harpasus, the breadth of which was
four plethra.  Hence they proceeded through the territory of the Scythini,
four days' journey, making twenty parasangs, over a level tract, until they
came to some villages, in which they halted three days and collected
provisions.  From this place they advanced four days' journey, twenty
parasangs, to a large, rich and populous city, called Gymnias, from which the
governor of the country sent the Greeks a guide to conduct them through a
region at war with his own people.  The guide, when he came, said that he
would take them in five days to a place whence they should see the sea; if
not, he would consent to be put to death.  When, as he proceeded, he entered
the country of their enemies, he exhorted them to burn and lay waste the
lands; whence it was evident that he had come for this very purpose, and not
from any good-will to the Greeks.

     On the fifth day they came to the mountain; and the name of it was
Theches.  When the men who were in the front had mounted the height, and
looked down upon the sea, a great shout proceeded from them; and Xenophon and
the rear-guard, on hearing it, thought that some new enemies were assailing
the front, for in the rear, too, the people from the country that they had
burned were following them, and the rear-guard, by placing an ambuscade, had
killed some, and taken others prisoners, and had captured about twenty
shields made of raw ox-hides with the hair on.  But as the noise still
increased, and drew nearer, and as those who came up from time to time kept
running at full speed to join those who were continually shouting, the cries
becoming louder as the men became more numerous, it appeared to Xenophon that
it must be something of very great moment.  Mounting his horse, therefore,
and taking with him Lycius and the cavalry, he hastened forward to give aid,
when presently they heard the soldiers shouting, "The sea, the sea!" and
cheering on one another.  They then all began to run, the rear-guard as well
as the rest, and the baggage-cattle and horses were put to their speed; and
when they had all arrived at the top, the men embraced one another and their
generals and captains, with tears in their eyes.  Suddenly, whoever it was
that suggested it, the soldiers brought stones, and raised a large mound, on
which they laid a number of raw ox-hides, staves, and shields taken from the
enemy.  The shields the guide himself hacked in pieces, and exhorted the rest
to do the same.  Soon after, the Greeks sent away the guide, giving him
presents from the common stock: a horse, a silver cup, a Persian robe, and
ten darics; but he showed most desire for the rings on their fingers, and
obtained many of them from the soldiers.  Having then pointed out to them a
village where they might take up their quarters, and the road by which they
were to proceed to the Macrones, when the evening came on he departed,
pursuing his way during the night.

     Hence the Greeks advanced three days' journey, a distance of ten
parasangs, through the country of the Macrones.  On the first day they came to
a river which divides the territories of the Macrones from those of the
Scythini.  On their right they had an eminence extremely difficult of access,
and on their left another river, into which the boundary river, which they had
to cross, empties itself.  This stream was thickly edged with trees, not
indeed large, but growing closely together.  These the Greeks, as soon as they
came to the spot, cut down, ^1 being in haste to get out of the country as
soon as possible.  The Macrones, however, equipped with wicker shields, and
spears, and hair tunics, were drawn up on the opposite side of the
crossing-place; they were animating one another and throwing stones into the
river. ^1 They did not hit our men or cause them any inconvenience.

[Footnote 1: The Greeks cut down the trees in order to throw them into the
stream, and form a kind of bridge on which they might cross.]

[Footnote 1: They threw stones into the river that they might stand on them
and approach nearer to the Greeks, so as to use their weapons with more
effect.]

     At this juncture one of the peltasts came up to Xenophon, saying that he
had been a slave at Athens, and adding that he knew the language of these men.
"I think, indeed," said he, "that this is my country, and, if there is nothing
to prevent, I should wish to speak to the people."

     "There is nothing to prevent," replied Xenophon; "so speak to them, and
first ascertain what people they are." When he asked them, they said that they
were the Macrones.  "Inquire, then," said Xenophon, "why they are drawn up to
oppose us and wish to be our enemies." They replied, "Because you come against
our country." The generals then told him to acquaint them that we were not
come with any wish to do them injury, but that we were returning to Greece
afterhaving been engaged in war with the king, and that we were desirous to
reach the sea.  They asked if the Greeks would give pledges to this effect;
and the Greeks replied that they were willing both to give and receive them.
The Macrones accordingly presented the Greeks with a barbarian lance, and the
Greeks gave them a Grecian one; for they said that such were their usual
pledges.  Both parties called the gods to witness.

     After these mutual assurances, the Macrones immediately assisted them in
cutting away the trees and made a passage for them as if to bring them over,
mingling freely among the Greeks; they also gave such facilities as they could
for buying provisions, and conducted them through their country for three
days, until they brought them to the confines of the Colchians.  Here was a
range of hills, high, but accessible, and upon them the Colchians were drawn
up in array.  The Greeks, at first, drew up against them in a line, with the
intention of marching up the hill in this disposition; but afterward the
generals thought proper to assemble and deliberate how they might engage with
the best effect.

     Xenophon then said it appeared to him that they ought to relinquish the
arrangement in line, and to dispose the troops in columns; "for a line,"
pursued he, "will be broken at once, as we shall find the hills in some parts
impassable, though in others easy of access; and this disruption will
immediately produce despondency in the men, when, after being ranged in a
regular line, they find it dispersed.  Again, if we advance drawn up very many
deep, the enemy will stretch beyond us on both sides, and will employ the
parts that outreach us in any way they may think proper; and if we advance
only a few deep, it would not be at all surprising if our line be broken
through by showers of missiles and men falling upon us in large bodies.  If
this happen in any part, it will be ill for the whole extent of the line.  I
think, then, that having formed our companies in columns, we should keep them
so far apart from each other as that the last companies on each side may be
beyond the enemy's wings.  Thus our extreme companies will both outflank the
line of the enemy, and, as we march in file, the bravest of our men will close
with the enemy first, and wherever the ascent is easiest, there each division
will direct its course.  Nor will it be easy for the enemy to penetrate into
the intervening spaces when there are companies on each side, nor will it be
easy to break through a column as it advances; while, if any one of the
companies be hard pressed, the neighboring one will support it; and if but one
of the companies can by any path attain the summit, the enemy will no longer
stand their ground."

     This plan was approved, and they threw the companies into columns.
Xenophon, riding along from the right wing to the left, said: "Soldiers, the
enemy whom you see before you is now the only obstacle to hinder us from being
where we have long been eager to be.  These, if we can, we must eat up alive."

     When the men were all in their places, and they had formed the companies
into columns, there were about eighty companies of heavy-armed men, and each
company consisted of about eighty men.  The peltasts and archers they divided
into three bodies, each about six hundred men, one of which they placed beyond
the left wing, another beyond the right, and the third in the centre. The
generals then desired the soldiers to make their vows to the gods; and having
made them, and sung the paean, they moved forward.  Chirisophus and Xenophon,
and the peltasts that they had with them, who were beyond the enemy's flanks,
pushed on; and the enemy, observing their motions, and hurrying forward to
receive them, was drawn off, some to the right and others to the left, and
left a great void in the centre of the line; when the peltasts in the Arcadian
division, whom Aeschines the Acarnanian commanded, seeing the Colchians
separate, ran forward in all haste, thinking that they were taking to flight;
and these were the first that reached the summit. The Arcadian heavy-armed
troop, of which Clearnor the Orchomenian was captain, followed them.  But the
enemy, when once the Greeks began to run, no longer stood its ground, but went
off in flight, some one way and some another.

     Having passed the summit, the Greeks encamped in a number of villages
containing abundance of provisions.  As to other things here, there was
nothing at which they were surprised; but the number of bee-hives was
extraordinary, and all the soldiers that ate of the combs lost their senses,
vomited, and were affected with purging, and not any of them was able to stand
upright; such as had eaten a little were like men greatly intoxicated, and
such as had eaten much were like madmen, and some like persons at the point of
death.  They lay upon the ground, in consequence, in great numbers, as if
there had been a defeat; and there was general dejection.  The next day no one
of them was found dead; and they recovered their senses about the same hour
that they had lost them on the preceding day; and on the third and fourth days
they got up as if after having taken physic. ^1

[Footnote 1: That there was honey in these parts, with intoxicating qualities,
was well known to antiquity.  Pliny mentions two sorts of it, one produced at
Heraclea in Pontus, and the other among the Sanni or Macrones. The
peculiarities of the honey arose from the herbs to which the bees resorted;
the first came from the flower of a plant called aegolethron, or goatsbane;
the other from a species of rhododendron.  Tournefort, when he was in that
country, saw honey of this description.  Ainsworth found that the intoxicating
honey had a bitter taste.  This honey is also mentioned by Dioscorides.]

     From hence they proceeded two days' march, seven parasangs, and arrived
at Trebizond, a Greek city, of large population, on the Euxine Sea; a colony
of Sinope, but lying in the territory of the Colchians.  Here they stayed
about thirty days, encamping in the villages of the Colchians, whence they
made excursions and plundered the country of Colchis.  The people of Trebizond
provided a market for the Greeks in the camp, and entertained them in the
city; and made them presents of oxen, barley-meal, and wine.  They negotiated
with them also on behalf of the neighboring Colchians, those especially who
dwelt in the plain, and from them too were brought presents of oxen.

     Soon after, they prepared to perform the sacrifice which they had vowed.
Oxen enough had been brought them to offer to Jupiter the Preserver, and to
Hercules, for their safe conduct, and whatever they had vowed to the other
gods.  They also celebrated gymnastic games upon the hill where they were
encamped, and chose Dracontius, a Spartan - who had become an exile from his
country when quite a boy, for having involuntarily killed a child by striking
him with a dagger - to prepare the course and preside at the contests.  When
the sacrifice was ended, they gave the hides ^1 to Dracontius, and desired him
to conduct them to the place where he had made the course.  Dracontius,
pointing to the place where they were standing, said, "This hill is an
excellent place for running, in whatever direction the men may wish."

[Footnote 1: Lion and Kuehner have a notion that these skins were to be given
as prizes to the victors, referring to Herodotus, who says that the Egyptians,
in certain games which they celebrate in honor of Perseus, offer as prizes
cattle, cloaks, and hides.  Krueger doubts whether they were intended for
prizes, or were given as a present to Dracontius.]

     "But how will they be able," said they, "to wrestle on ground so rough
and bushy?"

     "He that falls," said he, "will suffer the more." Boys, most of them from
among the prisoners, contended in the short course, and in the long course
above sixty Cretans ran; while others were matched in wrestling, boxing, and
the pancratium.  It was a fine sight; for many entered the lists, and as their
friends were spectators, there was great emulation.  Horses also ran; and they
had to gallop down the steep, and, turning round in the sea, to come up again
to the altar.  In the descent, many rolled down; but in the ascent, against
the exceedingly steep ground, the horses could scarcely get up at a walking
pace.  There was consequently great shouting and laughter and cheering from
the people.