anabasis-第13章
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and Ariaeus； who was riding in a wagon to nurse a wound； got down and donned his cuirass； the rest of his party following his example。 Whilst they were arming themselves； the scouts； who had been sent forward； came back with the information that they were not cavalry but baggage animals grazing。 It was at once clear to all that they must be somewhere in the neighbourhood of the king's encampment。 Smoke could actually be seen rising； evidently from villages not far ahead。 Clearchus hesitated to advance upon the enemy； knowing that the troops were tired and hungry； and indeed it was already late。 On the other hand he had no mind either to swerve from his routeguarding against any appearance of flight。 Accordingly he 16 marched straight as an arrow； and with sunset entered the nearest villages with his vanguard and took up quarters。
These villages had been thoroughly sacked and dismantled by the royal armydown to the very woodwork and furniture of the houses。 Still； the vanguard contrived to take up their quarters in some sort of fashion； but the rear division； coming up in the dark； had to bivouac as best they could； one detachment after another； and a great noise they made； with hue and cry to one another； so that the enemy could hear them； and those in their immediate proximity actually took to their heels； left their quarters； and decamped； as was plain enough next morning； when not a beast was to be seen； nor sign of camp or wreath of smoke anywhere in the neighbourhood。 The king； as it would appear； was himself quite taken aback by the advent of the army； as he fully showed by his proceedings next day。
During the progress of this night the Hellenes had their turn of scarea panic seized them； and there was a noise and clatter； hardly to be explained except by the visitation of some sudden terror。 But Clearchus had with him the Eleian Tolmides； the best herald of his time； him he ordered to proclaim silence； and then to give out this proclamation of the generals： 〃Whoever will give any information as to who let an ass into the camp shall receive a talent of silver in reward。〃 On hearing this proclamation the soldiers made up their minds that their fear was baseless； and their generals safe and sound。 At break of day Clearchus gave the order to the Hellenes to get under arms in line of battle； and take up exactly the same position as they held on the day of the battle。
III
And now comes the proof of what I stated abovethat the king was 1 utterly taken aback by the sudden apparition of the army； only the day before； he had sent and demanded the surrender of their armsand now； with the rising sun； came heralds sent by him to arrange a truce。 These； having reached the advanced guard； asked for the generals。 The guard reported their arrival； and Clearchus； who was busy inspecting the ranks； sent back word to the heralds that they must await his leisure。 Having carefully arranged the troops so that from every side they might present the appearance of a compact battle line without a 3 single unarmed man in sight； he summoned the ambassadors； and himself went forward to meet them with the soldiers； who for choice accoutrement and noble aspect were the flower of his force； a course which he had invited the other generals also to adopt。
And now； being face to face with the ambassadors； he questioned them as to what their wishes were。 They replied that they had come to arrange a truce； and were persons competent to carry proposals from the king to the Hellenes and from the Hellenes to the king。 He returned answer to them： 〃Take back word then to your master； that we need a battle first； for we have had no breakfast； and he will be a brave man who will dare mention the word 'truce' to Hellenes without providing them with breakfast。〃 With this message the heralds rode off； but were back again in no time； which was a proof that the king； or some one appointed by him to transact the business； was hard by。 They reported that 〃the message seemed reasonable to the king； they had now come bringing guides who； if a truce were arranged； would conduct them where they would get provisions。〃 Clearchus inquired 〃whether the truce was offered to the individual men merely as they went and came； or to all alike。〃 〃To all；〃 they replied； 〃until the king receives your final answer。〃 When they had so spoken； Clearchus； having removed the ambassadors； held a council； and it was resolved to make a truce at once； and then quietly to go and secure provisions； and Clearchus said： 〃I agree to the resolution； still I do not propose to announce it at once； but to wile away time till the ambassadors begin to fear that we have decided against the truce； though I suspect；〃 he added； 〃the same fear will be operative on the minds of our soldiers also。〃 As soon as the right moment seemed to have arrived； he delivered his answer in favour of the truce； and bade the ambassadors at once conduct them to the provisions。
So these led the way； and Clearchus； without relaxing precaution； in spite of having secured a truce； marched after them with his army in line and himself in command of the rearguard。 Over and over again they encountered trenches and conduits so full of water that they could not 10 be crossed without bridges； but they contrived well enough for these by means of trunks of palm trees which had fallen； or which they cut down for the occasion。 And here Clearchus's system of superintendence was a study in itself； as he stood with a spear in his left hand and a stick in the other； and when it seemed to him there was any dawdling among the parties told off to the work； he would pick out the right man and down would come the stick； nor； at the same time； was he above plunging into the mud and lending a hand himself； so that every one else was forced for very shame to display equal alacrity。 The men told off for the business were the men of thirty years of age； but even the elder men； when they saw the energy of Clearchus； could not resist lending their aid also。 What stimulated the haste of Clearchus was the suspicion in his mind that these trenches were not； as a rule； so full of water； since it was not the season to irrigate the plain； and he fancied that the king had let the water on for the express purpose of vividly presenting to the Hellenes the many dangers with which their march was threatened at the very start。
Proceeding on their way they reached some villages； where their guides indicated to them that they would find provisions。 They were found to contain plenty of corn； and wine made from palm dates； and an acidulated beverage extracted by boiling from the same fruit。 As to the palm nuts or dates themselves； it was noticeable that the sort which we are accustomed to see in Hellas were set aside for the domestic servants； those put aside for the masters are picked specimens； and are simply marvellous for their beauty and size； looking like great golden lumps of amber； some specimens they dried and preserved as sweetmeats。 Sweet enough they were as an accompaniment of wine； but apt to give headache。 Here； too； for the first time in their lives； the men tasted the brain＇1＇ of the palm。 No one could help being struck by the beauty of this object； and the peculiarity of its delicious flavour； but this； like the dried fruits； was exceedingly apt to give headache。 When this cabbage or brain has been removed from the palm the whole tree withers from top to bottom。
＇1＇ I。e。 the cabbage…like crown。
In these villages they remained three days； and a deputation from the 17 great king arrivedTissaphernes and the king's brother…in…law and three other Persianswith a retinue of many slaves。 As soon as the generals of the Hellenes had presented themselves； Tissaphernes opened the proceedings with the following speech； through the lips of an interpreter： 〃Men of Hellas； I am your next…door neighbour in Hellas。 Therefore was it that I； when I saw into what a sea of troubles you were fallen； regarded it as a godsend； if by any means I might obtain； as a boon from the king； the privilege of bringing you back in safety to your own country： and that； I take it； will earn me gratitude from you and all Hellas。 In this determination I preferre
