anabasis-第39章

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eturn　an　answer。　Xenophon　individually　informed　them　that　he　was　about　to　quit　the　army　at　once；　and　was　only　anxious　to　set　sail。　Anaxibius　pressed　him　not　to　be　in　so　great　a　hurry：　〃Cross　over　with　the　rest；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　it　will　be　time　enough　to　think　about　quitting　the　army。〃　This　the　other　undertook　to　do。

Now　Seuthes　the　Thracian　sent　Medosades　and　begged　Xenophon　to　use　his　influence　to　get　the　army　across。　〃Tell　Xenophon；　if　he　will　do　his　best　for　me　in　this　matter；　he　will　not　regret　it。〃　Xenophon　answered：　〃The　army　is　in　any　case　going　to　cross；　so　that；　as　far　as　that　is　concerned；　Seuthes　is　under　no　obligation　to　me　or　to　any　one　else；　　　　　6　but　as　soon　as　it　is　once　across；　I　personally　shall　be　quit　of　it。　Let　Seuthes；　therefore；　as　far　as　he　may　deem　consistent　with　prudence；　apply　to　those　who　are　going　to　remain　and　will　have　a　voice　in　affairs。〃

After　this　the　whole　body　of　troops　crossed　to　Byzantium。　But　Anaxibius；　instead　of　proceeding　to　give　pay；　made　proclamation　that；　〃The　soldiers　were　to　take　up　their　arms　and　baggage　and　go　forth；〃　as　if　all　he　wished　were　to　ascertain　their　numbers　and　bid　them　god…speed　at　the　same　moment。　The　soldiers　were　not　well　pleased　at　that；　because　they　had　no　money　to　furnish　themselves　with　provisions　for　the　march；　and　they　sluggishly　set　about　getting　their　baggage　together。　Xenophon　meanwhile；　being　on　terms　of　intimacy　with　the　governor；　Cleander；　came　to　pay　his　host　a　final　visit；　and　bid　him　adieu；　being　on　the　point　of　setting　sail。　But　the　other　protested；　〃Do　not　do　so；　or　else；〃　said　he；　〃you　will　be　blamed；　for　even　now　certain　people　are　disposed　to　hold　you　to　account　because　the　army　is　so　slow　in　getting　under　weigh。〃　The　other　answered；　〃Nay；　I　am　not　to　blame　for　that。　It　is　the　men　themselves；　who　are　in　want　of　provisions；　that　is　why　they　are　out　of　heart　at　their　exodus。〃　〃All　the　same；〃　he　replied；　〃I　advise　you　to　go　out；　as　if　you　intended　to　march　with　them；　and　when　you　are　well　outside；　it　will　be　time　enough　to　take　yourself　off。〃　〃Well　then；〃　said　Xenophon；　〃we　will　go　and　arrange　all　this　with　Anaxibius。〃　They　went　and　stated　the　case　to　the　admiral；　who　insisted　that　they　must　do　as　he　had　said；　and　march　out；　bag　and　baggage；　by　the　quickest　road；　and　as　an　appendix　to　the　former　edict；　he　added；　〃Any　one　absenting　himself　from　the　review　and　the　muster　will　have　himself　to　blame　for　the　consequences。〃　This　was　peremptory。　So　out　marched；　the　generals　first；　and　then　the　rest；　and　now；　with　the　exception　of　here　a　man　and　there；　they　were　all　outside；　it　was　a　〃clean　sweep〃；　and　Eteonicus　stood　posted　near　the　gates；　ready　to　close　them；　as　soon　as　the　men　were　fairly　out；　and　to　thrust　in　the　bolt　pin。

Then　Anaxibius　summoned　the　generals　and　captains；　and　addressed　them：　〃Provisions　you　had　better　get　from　the　Thracian　villages；　you　will　　　　　13　find　plenty　of　barley；　wheat；　and　other　necessaries　in　them；　and　when　you　have　got　them；　off　with　you　to　the　Chersonese；　where　Cyniscus　will　take　you　into　his　service。〃　Some　of　the　soldiers　overheard　what　was　said；　or　possibly　one　of　the　officers　was　the　medium　of　communication；　however　it　was；　the　news　was　handed　on　to　the　army。　As　to　the　generals；　their　immediate　concern　was　to　try　and　gain　some　information　as　to　Seuthes：　〃Was　he　hostile　or　friendly？　also；　would　they　have　to　march　through　the　Sacred　mountain＇1＇；　or　round　about　through　the　middle　of　Thrace？〃

＇1＇　So　the　mountain…range　is　named　which　runs　parallel　to　the　　　　　Propontis　（Sea　of　Marmora）　from　lat。　41　degress　N。　circa　to　lat。　　　　　40　degrees　30'；　from　Bisanthe　（Rhodosto）　to　the　neck　of　the　　　　　Chersonese　（Gallipoli）。

While　they　were　discussing　these　points；　the　soldiers　snatched　up　their　arms　and　made　a　rush　full　speed　at　the　gates；　with　the　intention　of　getting　inside　the　fortification　again。　But　Eteonicus　and　his　men；　seeing　the　heavy　infantry　coming　up　at　a　run　promptly　closed　the　gates　and　thrust　in　the　bolt　pin。　Then　the　soldiers　fell　to　battering　the　gates；　exclaiming　that　it　was　iniquitous　to　thrust　them　forth　in　this　fashion　into　the　jaws　of　their　enemies。　〃If　you　do　not　of　your　own　accord　open　the　gates；〃　they　cried；　〃we　will　split　them　in　half〃；　and　another　set　rushed　down　to　the　sea；　and　so　along　the　break…water　and　over　the　wall　into　the　city；　while　a　third　set；　consisting　of　those　few　who　were　still　inside；　having　never　left　the　city；　seeing　the　affair　at　the　gates；　severed　the　bars　with　axes　and　flung　the　portals　wide　open；　and　the　rest　came　pouring　in。

Xenophon；　seeing　what　was　happening；　was　seized　with　alarm　lest　the　army　betake　itself　to　pillage；　and　ills　incurable　be　wrought　to　the　city；　to　himself；　and　to　the　soldiers。　Then　he　set　off；　and；　plunging　into　the　throng；　was　swept　through　the　gates　with　the　crowd。　The　Byzantines　no　sooner　saw　the　soldiers　forcibly　rushing　in　than　they　left　the　open　square；　and　fled；　some　to　the　shipping；　others　to　their　homes；　while　those　already　indoors　came　racing　out；　and　some　fell　to　dragging　down　their　ships　of　war；　hoping　possibly　to　be　safe　on　board　these；　while　there　was　not　a　soul　who　doubted　but　that　the　city　was　　　　　19　taken；　and　that　they　were　all　undone。　Eteonicus　made　a　swift　retreat　to　the　citadel。　Anaxibius　ran　down　to　the　sea；　and；　getting　on　board　a　fisherman's　smack；　sailed　round　to　the　acropolis；　and　at　once　sent　off　to　fetch　over　the　garrison　troops　from　Chalcedon；　since　those　already　in　the　acropolis　seemed　hardly　sufficient　to　keep　the　men　in　check。

The　soldiers；　catching　sight　of　Xenophon；　threw　themselves　upon　him；　crying：　〃Now；　Xenophon；　is　the　time　to　prove　yourself　a　man。　You　have　got　a　city；　you　have　got　triremes；　you　have　got　money；　you　have　got　men；　to…day；　if　you　only　chose；　you　can　do　us　a　good　turn；　and　we　will　make　you　a　great　man。〃　He　replied：　〃Nay；　I　like　what　you　say；　and　I　will　do　it　all；　but　if　that　is　what　you　have　set　your　hearts　on；　fall　into　rank　and　take　up　position　at　once。〃　This　he　said；　wishing　to　quiet　them；　and　so　passed　the　order　along　the　lines　himself；　while　bidding　the　rest　to　do　the　same：　〃Take　up　position；　stand　easy。〃　But　the　men　themselves；　by　a　species　of　self…marshalling；　fell　into　rank；　and　were　soon　formed；　the　heavy　infantry　eight　deep；　while　the　light　infantry　had　run　up　to　cover　either　wing。　The　Thracian　Square；　as　it　is　called；　is　a　fine　site　for　manouvering；　being　bare　of　buildings　and　level。　As　soon　as　the　arms　were　stacked　and　the　men's　tempers　cooled；　Xenophon　called　a　general　meeting　of　the　soldiers；　and　made　the　following　speech：

〃Soldiers；　I　am　not　surprised　at　your　wrath；　or　that　you　deem　it　monstrous　treatment　so　to　be　cheated；　but　consider　what　will　be　the　consequences　if　we　gratify　our　indignation；　and　in　return　for　such　deception；　avenge　ourselves　on　the　Lacedaemonians　here　present；　and　plunder　an　innocent　city。　We　shall　be　declared　enemies　of　the　Lacedaemonians　and　their　allies；　and　what　sort　of　war　that　will　be；　we　need　not　go　far　to　conjecture。　I　take　it；　you　have　not　forgotten　some　quite　recent　occurrences。　We　Athenians　entered　into　war　against　the　Lacedaemonians　and　their　allies　with　a　fleet　consisting　of　not　less　than　three　hundred　line…of…battle　ships；　including　those　in　dock　as　well　as　those　afloat。　We　had　vast　treasures　stored　up　in　the　city；　and　a　yearly　income　which；　derived　from　home　or　foreign　sources；　amounted　to　no　less　than　a　thousand　talents。　Our　empire　included　all　the　　　　　　　　　27　islands；　and　we　were　possessed　of　numerous　cities　both　in　Asia　and　in　Europe。　Amongst　others；　this　very　Byzantium；　where　we　are　now；　was　ours；　and　yet　in　the　end　we　were　vanquished；　as　you　all　very　well　know。

〃What；　must　we　anticipate；　will　now　be　our　fate？　The　Lacedaemonians　have　not　only　their　old　allies；　but　the　Athenians　and　those　who　were　at　that　time　allies　of　Athens　are　added　to　them。　Tissaphernes　and　all　the　rest　of　the　Asiatics　on　the　seaboard　are　our　foes；　not　to　speak　of　our　arch…enemy；　the　king　himself；　up　yonder；　whom　we　came　to　deprive　of　his　empire；　and　to　kill；　if　possible。　I　ask　then；　with　all　these　banded　together　against　us；　is　there　any　one　so　insensate　as　to　imagine　that　we　can　survive　the　contest？　For　heaven's　sake；　let　us　not　go　mad　or　loosely　throw　away　our　lives　in　war　with　our　own　native　citiesnay；　our　own　friends；　our　kith　and　our　kin；　for　in　one　or　other　of　the　cities　they　are　all　included。　Every　city　will　march　against　us；　and　not　unjustly；　if；　after　refusing　to　hold　one　single　barbarian　city　by　right　of　conquest；　we　seize　the　first　Hellenic　city　that　we　come　to　and　make　it　a　ruinous　heap。　For　my　part；　my　prayer　is　that　before　I　see　such　things　wrought　by　you；　I；　at　any　rate；　may　lie　ten　thousand　fathoms　under　ground！　My　counsel　to　you；　as　Hellenes；　is　to　try　and　obtain　your　just　rights；　through　obedience　to　those　who　stand　at　the　head　of　Hellas；　and　if　so　be　that　you　fail　in　those　demands；　why；　being　more　sinned　against　than　sinning；　need　we　rob　ourselves　of　Hellas　too？　At　present；　I　propose　that　we　should　send　to　Anaxibius　and　tell　him　that　we　have　made　an　entrance　into　the　city；　not　meditating　violence；　but　merely　to　discover　if　he　and　his　will　show　us　any　good；　for　if　so；　it　is　well；　but　of　otherwise；　at　least　we　will　let　him　see　that　he　does　not　shut　the　door　upon　us　as　dupes　and　fools。　We　know　the　meaning　of　discipline；　we　turn　our　backs　and　go。〃

This　resolution　was　passed；　and　they　sent　Hieronymus　an　Eleian；　with　two　others；　Eurylochus　an　Arcadian　and　Philesius　an　Achaean；　to　deliver　the　message。　So　these　set　off　on　their　errand。　But　while　the　soldiers　were　still　seated　in　conclave；　Coeratadas；　of　Thebes；　　　　　　　　　　33　arrived。　He　was　a　Theban　not　in　exile；　but　with　a　taste　for　generalship；　who　made　it　his　business　to　see　if　any　city　or　nation　were　in　need　of　his　services。　Thus；　on　the　present　occasion；　he　presented　himself；　and　begged　to　state　that　he　was　ready　to　put　himself　at　their　head；　and　lead　them　into　the　Delta　of　Thrace＇2＇；　as　it　is　called；　where　they　would　find　themselves　in　a　land　of　plenty；　but　until　they　got　there；　he　would　provide　them　with　meat　and　drink　enough　and　to　spare。　While　they　were　still　listening　to　this　tale；　the　return　message　from　Anaxibius　came。　His　answer　was：　〃The　discipline；　they　had　spoken　of；　was　not　a　thing　they　would　regret；　indeed　he　would　report　their　behaviour　to　the　authorities　at　home；　and　for　himself；　he　would　take　advice　and　do　the　best　he　could　for　them。〃

＇2＇　The　exact　locality；　so　called；　is　not　known；　doubtless　it　lay　　　　　somewhere　between　Byzantium　and　Salmydessus；　possibly　at　Declus　　　　　（mod。　Derkos）；　or　possibly　the　narrow　portion　of　Thrace　between　　　　　the　Euxine；　Bosphorus；　and　Propontis　went　by　this　name。　See　note　　　　　in　Pretor　ad。　loc。；　and　〃Dict。　Geog。〃　〃Thracia。〃

Thereupon　the　soldiers　accepted　Coeratadas　as　their　general；　and　retired　without　the　walls。　Their　new　general　undertook　to　present　himself　to　the　troops　next　day　with　sacrificial　beasts　and　a　soothsayer；　with　eatables　also　and　drinkables　for　the　army。　Now；　as　soon　as　they　were　gone　out；　Anaxibius　closed　the　gates　and　issued　a　proclamation　to　the　effect　that　〃any　of　the　soldiers　caught　inside　should　be　knocked　down　to　the　hammer　and　sold　at　once。〃　Next　day；　Coeratadas　arrived　with　the　victims　and　the　soothsayer。　A　string　of　twenty　bearers　bearin