anabasis-第23章

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thful　got　on　their　legs　again　and　continued　the　march。

On　and　on　they　marched；　and　about　dusk　Cheirisophus　reached　a　village；　and　surprised　some　women　and　girls　who　had　come　from　the　village　to　fetch　water　at　the　fountain　outside　the　stockade。　These　asked　them　who　they　were。　The　interpreters　answered　for　them　in　Persian：　〃They　were　on　their　way　from　the　king　to　the　satrap；〃　in　reply　to　which　the　women　gave　them　to　understand　that　the　satrap　was　not　at　home；　but　was　away　a　parasang　farther　on。　As　it　was　late　they　entered　with　the　water…carriers　within　the　stockade　to　visit　the　headman　of　the　village。　Accordingly　Cheirisophus　and　as　many　of　the　troops　as　were　able　got　into　cantonments　there；　while　the　rest　of　the　soldiersthose　namely　who　were　unable　to　complete　the　marchhad　to　spend　the　night　out；　without　food　and　without　fire；　under　the　circumstances　some　of　the　men　perished。

On　the　heels　of　the　army　hung　perpetually　bands　of　the　enemy；　snatching　away　disabled　baggage　animals　and　fighting　with　each　other　over　the　carcases。　And　in　its　track　not　seldom　were　left　to　their　fate　disabled　soldiers；　struck　down　with　snow…blindness　or　with　toes　　　　　　　　　12　moritified　by　frostbite。　As　to　the　eyes；　it　was　some　alleviation　against　the　snow　to　march　with　something　black　before　them；　for　the　feet；　the　only　remedy　was　to　keep　in　motion　without　stopping　for　an　instant；　and　to　loose　the　sandal　at　night。　If　they　went　to　sleep　with　the　sandals　on；　the　thong　worked　into　the　feet；　and　the　sandals　were　frozen　fast　to　them。　This　was　partly　due　to　the　fact　that；　since　their　old　sandals　had　failed；　they　wore　untanned　brogues　made　of　newly…flayed　ox…hides。　It　was　owing　to　some　such　dire　necessity　that　a　party　of　men　fell　out　and　were　left　behind；　and　seeing　a　black…looking　patch　of　ground　where　the　snow　had　evidently　disappeared；　they　conjectured　it　must　have　been　melted；　and　this　was　actually　so；　owing　to　a　spring　of　some　sort　which　was　to　be　seen　steaming　up　in　a　dell　close　by。　To　this　they　had　turned　aside　and　sat　down；　and　were　loth　to　go　a　step　further。　But　Xenophon；　with　his　rearguard；　perceived　them；　and　begged　and　implored　them　by　all　manner　of　means　not　to　be　left　behind；　telling　them　that　the　enemy　were　after　them　in　large　packs　pursuing；　and　he　ended　by　growing　angry。　They　merely　bade　him　put　a　knife　to　their　throats；　not　one　step　farther　would　they　stir。　Then　it　seemed　best　to　frighten　the　pursuing　enemy　if　possible；　and　prevent　their　falling　upon　the　invalids。　It　was　already　dusk；　and　the　pursuers　were　advancing　with　much　noise　and　hubbub；　wrangling　and　disputing　over　their　spoils。　Then　all　of　a　sudden　the　rearguard；　in　the　plenitude　of　health　and　strength＇2＇；　sprang　up　out　of　their　lair　and　run　upon　the　enemy；　whilst　those　weary　wights＇3＇　bawled　out　as　loud　as　their　sick　throats　could　sound；　and　clashed　their　spears　against　their　shields；　and　the　enemy　in　terror　hurled　themselves　through　the　snow　into　the　dell；　and　not　one　of　them　ever　uttered　a　sound　again。

＇2＇　Hug；　after　Rehdantz；　would　omit　the　words　〃in　the　plenitude　of　　　　　health　and　strength。〃

＇3＇　Or；　〃the　invalids。〃

Xenophon　and　his　party；　telling　the　sick　folk　that　next　day　people　would　come　for　them；　set　off；　and　before　they　had　gone　half　a　mile　they　fell　in　with　some　soldiers　who　had　laid　down　to　rest　on　the　snow　with　their　cloaks　wrapped　round　them；　but　never　a　guard　was　established；　and　they　made　them　get　up。　Their　explanation　was　that　　　　　　19　those　in　front　would　not　move　on。　Passing　by　this　group　he　sent　forward　the　strongest　of　his　light　infantry　in　advance；　with　orders　to　find　out　what　the　stoppage　was。　They　reported　that　the　whole　army　lay　reposing　in　such　fashion。　That　being　so；　Xenophon's　men　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　bivouac　in　the　open　air　also；　without　fire　and　supperless；　merely　posting　what　pickets　they　could　under　the　circumstances。　But　as　soon　as　it　drew　towards　day；　Xenophon　despatched　the　youngest　of　his　men　to　the　sick　folk　behind；　with　orders　to　make　them　get　up　and　force　them　to　proceed。　Meanwhile　Cheirisophus　had　sent　some　of　his　men　quartered　in　the　village　to　enquire　how　they　fared　in　the　rear；　they　were　overjoyed　to　see　them；　and　handed　over　the　sick　folk　to　them　to　carry　into　camp；　while　they　themselves　continued　their　march　forward；　and　ere　twenty　furlongs　were　past　reached　the　village　in　which　Cheirisophus　was　quartered。　As　soon　as　the　two　divisions　were　met；　the　resolution　was　come　to　that　it　would　be　safe　to　billet　the　regiments　throughout　the　villages；　Cheirisophus　remained　where　he　was；　while　the　rest　drew　lots　for　the　villages　in　sight；　and　then；　with　their　several　detachments；　marched　off　to　their　respective　destinations。

It　was　here　that　Polycrates；　an　Athenian　and　captain　of　a　company；　asked　for　leave　of　absencehe　wished　to　be　off　on　a　quest　of　his　own；　and　putting　himself　at　the　head　of　the　active　men　of　the　division；　he　ran　to　the　village　which　had　been　allotted　to　Xenophon。　He　surprised　within　it　the　villagers　with　their　headman；　and　seventeen　young　horses　which　were　being　reared　as　a　tribute　for　the　king；　and；　last　of　all；　the　headman's　own　daughter；　a　young　bride　only　eight　days　wed。　Her　husband　had　gone　off　to　chase　hares；　and　so　he　escaped　being　taken　with　the　other　villagers。　The　houses　were　underground　structures　with　an　aperture　like　the　mouth　of　a　well　by　which　to　enter；　but　they　were　broad　and　spacious　below。　The　entrance　for　the　beasts　of　burden　was　dug　out；　but　the　human　occupants　descended　by　a　ladder。　In　these　dwellings　were　to　be　found　goats　and　sheep　and　cattle；　and　cocks　and　hens；　with　their　various　progeny。　The　flocks　and　herds　were　all　reared　under　cover　upon　green　food。　There　were　stores　within　of　wheat　and　barley　and　vegetables；　and　wine　made　from　barley　in　great　big　bowls；　　　　26　the　grains　of　barley　malt　lay　floating　in　the　beverage　up　to　the　lip　of　the　vessel；　and　reeds　lay　in　them；　some　longer；　some　shorter；　without　joints；　when　you　were　thirsty　you　must　take　one　of　these　into　your　mouth；　and　suck。　The　beverage　without　admixture　of　water　was　very　strong；　and　of　a　delicious　flavour　to　certain　palates；　but　the　taste　must　be　acquired。

Xenophon　made　the　headman　of　the　village　his　guest　at　supper；　and　bade　him　keep　a　good　heart；　so　far　from　robbing　him　of　his　children；　they　would　fill　his　house　full　of　good　things　in　return　for　what　they　took　before　they　went　away；　only　he　must　set　them　an　example；　and　discover　some　blessing　or　other　for　the　army；　until　they　found　themselves　with　another　tribe。　To　this　he　readily　assented；　and　with　the　utmost　cordiality　showed　them　the　cellar　where　the　wine　was　buried。　For　this　night　then；　having　taken　up　their　several　quarters　as　described；　they　slumbered　in　the　midst　of　plenty；　one　and　all；　with　the　headman　under　watch　and　ward；　and　his　children　with　him　safe　in　sight。

But　on　the　following　day　Xenophon　took　the　headman　and　set　off　to　Cheirisophus；　making　a　round　of　the　villages；　and　at　each　place　turning　in　to　visit　the　different　parties。　Everywhere　alike　he　found　them　faring　sumptuously　and　merry…making。　There　was　not　a　single　village　where　they　did　not　insist　on　setting　a　breakfast　before　them；　and　on　the　same　table　were　spread　half　a　dozen　dishes　at　least；　lamb；　kid；　pork；　veal；　fowls；　with　various　sorts　of　bread；　some　of　wheat　and　some　of　barley。　When；　as　an　act　of　courtesy；　any　one　wished　to　drink　his　neighbour's　health；　he　would　drag　him　to　the　big　bowl；　and　when　there；　he　must　duck　his　head　and　take　a　long　pull；　drinking　like　an　ox。　The　headman；　they　insisted　everywere；　must　accept　as　a　present　whatever　he　liked　to　have。　But　he　would　accept　nothing；　except　where　he　espied　any　of　his　relations；　when　he　made　a　point　of　taking　them　off；　him　or　her；　with　himself。

When　they　reached　Cheirisophus　they　found　a　similar　scene。　There　too　　　　33　the　men　were　feasting　in　their　quarters；　garlanded　with　whisps　of　hay　and　dry　grass；　and　Armenian　boys　were　playing　the　part　of　waiters　in　barbaric　costumes；　only　they　had　to　point　out　by　gesture　to　the　boys　what　they　were　to　do；　like　deaf　and　dumb。　After　the　first　formalities；　when　Cheirisophus　and　Xenophon　had　greeted　one　another　like　bosom　friends；　they　interrogated　the　headman　in　common　by　means　of　the　Persian…speaking　interpreter。　〃What　was　the　country？〃　they　asked：　he　replied；　〃Armenia。〃　And　again；　〃For　whom　are　the　horses　being　bred？〃　〃They　are　tribute　for　the　king；〃　he　replied。　〃And　the　neighbouring　country？〃　〃Is　the　land　of　the　Chalybes；〃　he　said；　and　he　described　the　road　which　led　to　it。　So　for　the　present　Xenophon　went　off；　taking　the　headman　back　with　him　to　his　household　and　friends。　He　also　made　him　a　present　of　an　oldish　horse　which　he　had　got；　he　had　heard　that　the　headman　was　a　priest　of　the　sun；　and　so　he　could　fatten　up　the　beast　and　sacrifice　him；　otherwise　he　was　afraid　it　might　die　outright；　for　it　had　been　injured　by　the　long　marching。　For　himself　he　took　his　pick　of　the　colts；　and　gave　a　colt　apiece　to　each　of　his　fellow…generals　and　officers。　The　horses　here　were　smaller　than　the　Persian　horses；　but　much　more　spirited。　It　was　here　too　that　their　friend　the　headman　explained　to　them；　how　they　should　wrap　small　bags　or　sacks　around　the　feet　of　the　horses　and　other　cattle　when　marching　through　the　snow；　for　without　such　precautions　the　creatures　sank　up　to　their　bellies。



VI

When　a　week　had　passed；　on　the　eighth　day　Xenophon　delivered　over　the　　　1　guide　（that　is　to　say；　the　village　headman）　to　Cheirisophus。　He　left　the　headman's　household　safe　behind　in　the　village；　with　the　exception　of　his　son；　a　lad　in　the　bloom　of　youth。　This　boy　was　entrusted　to　Episthenes　of　Amphipolis　to　guard；　if　the　headman　proved　himself　a　good　guide；　he　was　to　take　away　his　son　also　at　his　departure。　They　finally　made　his　house　the　repository　of　all　the　good　things　they　could　contrive　to　get　together；　then　they　broke　up　their　camp　and　commenced　to　march；　the　headman　guiding　them　through　the　snow　unfettered。　When　they　had　reached　the　third　stage　Cheirisophus　flew　　　　　2　into　a　rage　with　him；　because　he　had　not　brought　them　to　any　villages。　The　headman　pleaded　that　there　were　none　in　this　part。　Cheirisophus　struck　him；　but　forgot　to　bind　him；　and　the　end　of　it　was　that　the　headman　ran　away　in　the　night　and　was　gone；　leaving　his　son　behind　him。　This　was　the　sole　ground　of　difference　between　Cheirisophus　and　Xenophon　during　the　march；　this　combination　of　ill…treatment　and　neglect　in　the　case　of　the　guide。　As　to　the　boy；　Episthenes　conceived　a　passion　for　him；　and　took　him　home　with　him；　and　found　in　him　the　most　faithful　of　friends。

After　this　they　marched　seven　stages　at　the　rate　of　five　parasangs　a　day；　to　the　banks　of　the　river　Phasis＇1＇；　which　is　a　hundred　feet　broad：　and　thence　they　marched　another　couple　of　stages；　ten　parasangs；　but　at　the　pass　leading　down　into　the　plain　there　appeared　in　front　of　them　a　mixed　body　of　Chalybes　and　Taochians　and　Phasianians。　When　Cheirisophus　caught　sight　of　the　enemy　on　the　pass　at　a　distance　of　about　three　or　four　miles；　he　ceased　marching；　not　caring　to　approach　the　enemy　with　his　troops　in　column；　and　he　passed　down　the　order　to　the　others：　to　deploy　their　companies　to　the　front；　that　the　troops　might　form　into　line。　As　soon　as　the　rearguard　had　come　up；　he　assembled　the　generals　and　officers；　a