a smaller history of greece-第41章
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to return home； but that； if any obstacle was offered； they were prepared to repel hostilities。 In a day or two Tissaphernes returned and with some parade stated that he had with great difficulty obtained permission to SAVE the Greek army； that he was ready to conduct them in person into Greece； and to supply them with provisions； for which； however； they were to pay。 An agreement was accordingly entered into to this effect； and after many days delay they commenced the homeward march。 After marching three days they passed through the wall of Media； which was 100 feet high and 20 feet broad。 Two days more brought them to the Tigris； which they crossed on the following morning by a bridge of boats。 They then marched northward； arriving in four days at the river Physcus and a large city called Opis。 Six days' further march through a deserted part of Media brought them to some villages belonging to queen Parysatis； which； out of enmity to her as the patron of Cyrus； Tissaphernes abandoned to be plundered by the Greeks。 From thence they proceeded in five days to the river Zabatus； or Greater Zab； having previously crossed the Lesser Zab； which Xenophon neglects to mention。 In the first of these five days they saw on the opposite side of the Tigris a large city called Caenae； the inhabitants of which brought over provisions to them。 At the Greater Zab they halted three days。 Mistrust； and even slight hostilities； had been already manifested between the Greeks and Persians； but they now became so serious that Clearchus demanded an interview with Tissaphernes。 The latter protested the greatest fidelity and friendship towards the Greeks； and promised to deliver to the Greek generals； on the following day； the calumniators who had set the two armies at variance。 But when Clearchus； with four other generals； accompanied by some lochages or captains； and 200 soldiers； entered the Persian camp； according to appointment； the captains and soldiers were immediately cut down； whilst the five generals were seized； put into irons； and sent to the Persian court。 After a short imprisonment； four of them were beheaded； the fifth； Menon； who pretended that he had betrayed his colleagues into the hands of Tissaphernes； was at first spared； but after a year's detention was put to death with tortures。
Apprehension and dismay reigned among the Greeks。 Their situation was； indeed； appalling。 They were considerably more than a thousand miles from home； in a hostile and unknown country； hemmed in on all sides by impassable rivers and mountains； without generals； without guides； without provisions。 Xenophon was the first to rouse the captains to the necessity for taking immediate precautions。 Though young； he possessed as an Athenian citizen some claim to distinction； and his animated address showed him fitted for command。 He was saluted general on the spot； and in a subsequent assembly was； with four others； formally elected to that office。
The Greeks； having first destroyed their superfluous baggage； crossed the Greater Zab； and pursued their march on the other bank。 They passed by the ruined cities of Larissa and Mespila on the Tigris； in the neighbourhood of the ancient Nineveh。 The march from Mespila to the mountainous country of the Carduchi occupied several days in which the Greeks suffered much from the attacks of the enemy。
Their future route was now a matter of serious perplexity。 On their left lay the Tigris； so deep that they could not fathom it with their spears； while in their front rose the steep and lofty mountains of the Carduchi； which came so near the river as hardly to leave a passage for its waters。 As all other roads seemed barred； they formed the resolution of striking into these mountains； on the farther side of which lay Armenia； where both the Tigris and the Euphrates might be forded near their sources。 After a difficult and dangerous march of seven days； during which their sufferings were far greater than any they had experienced from the Persians the army at length emerged into Armenia。 It was now the month of December； and Armenia was cold and exposed； being a table…land raised high above the level of the sea。 Whilst halting near some well…supplied villages； the Greeks were overtaken by two deep falls of snow； which almost buried them in their open bivouacs。 Hence a five days' march brought them to the eastern branch of the Euphrates。 Crossing the river； they proceeded on the other side of it over plains covered with a deep snow； and in the face of a biting north wind。 Here many of the slaves and beasts of burthen； and even a few of the soldiers； fell victims to the cold。 Some had their feet frost…bitten； some were blinded by the snow； whilst others； exhausted with cold and hunger； sunk down and died。 On the eighth day they proceeded on their way； ascending the banks of the Phasis； not the celebrated river of that name； but probably the one usually called Araxes。
From thence they fought their way through the country of the Taochi and Chalybes。 They next reached the country of the Scythini； in whose territory they found abundance in a large and populous city called Gymnias。 The chief of this place having engaged to conduct them within sight of the Euxine； they proceeded for five days under his guidance； when； after ascending a mountain； the sea suddenly burst on the view of the vanguard。 The men proclaimed their joy by loud shouts of 〃The sea！ the sea！〃 The rest of the army hurried to the summit； and gave vent to their joy and exultation in tears and mutual embraces。 A few days' march through the country of the Macrones and Colchians at length brought them to the objects for which they had so often pined； and which many at one time had never hoped to see again a Grecian city and the sea。 By the inhabitants of Trapezus or Trebizond； on the Euxine； where they had now arrived； they were hospitably received； and； being cantoned in some Colchian villages near the town； refreshed themselves after the hardships they had undergone by a repose of thirty days。
The most difficult part of the return of the Ten Thousand was now accomplished； and it is unnecessary to trace the remainder of their route。 After many adventures they succeeded in reaching Byzantium； and they subsequently engaged to serve the Lacedaemonians in a war which Sparta had just declared against the satraps Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus。
In the spring of B。C。 399； Thimbron； the Lacedaemonian commander； arrived at Pergamus； and the remainder of the Ten Thousand Greeks became incorporated with his army。 Xenophon now returned to Athens； where he must have arrived shortly after the execution of his master Socrates。 Disgusted probably by that event； he rejoined his old comrades in Asia； and subsequently returned to Greece along with Agesilaus。
CHAPTER XVI。
THE SUPREMACY OF SPARTA； B。C。 404…371。
After the fall of Athens； Sparta stood without a rival in Greece。 In the various cities which had belonged to the Athenian empire Lysander established an oligarchical Council of Ten； called a DECARCHY or Decemvirate； subject to the control of a Spartan HARMOST or governor。 The Decarchies； however； remained only a short time in power； since the Spartan government regarded them with jealousy as the partisans of Lysander； but harmosts continued to be placed in every state subject to their empire。 The government of the harmosts was corrupt and oppressive； no justice could be obtained against them by an appeal to the Spartan authorities at home； and the Grecian cities soon had cause to regret the milder and more equitable sway of Athens。
On the death of Agis in B。C。 398； his half…brother Agesilaus was appointed King； to the exclusion of Leotychides； the son of Agis。 This was mainly effected by the powerful influence of Lysander； who erroneously considered Agesilaus to be of a yielding and manageable disposition and hoped by a skilful use of those qualities to extend his own influence； and under the name of another to be in reality king himself。
Agesilaus was now forty years of age； and esteemed a model of those virtues more peculiarly deemed Spartan。 He was obedient to the constituted authorities； emulous to excel； courageous；
