anabasis-第17章
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the king demands your arms。 He claims them as his； since they belonged to Cyrus； who was his slave。〃 To this the Hellenes made answer by the mouth of Cleanor of Orchomenus； their spokesman； who said； addressing Ariaeus： 〃Thou villain； Ariaeus； and you the rest of you； who were Cyrus's friends； have you no shame before God or man； first to swear to us that you have the same friends and the same enemies as we ourselves； and then to turn and betray us； making common cause with Tissaphernes； that most impious and villainous of men？ With him you have murdered the very men to whom you gave your solemn word and oath； and to the rest of us turned traitors； and； having so done； 39 you join hand with our enemies to come against us。〃 Ariaeus answered： 〃There is no doubt but that Clearchus has been known for some time to harbour designs agaisnt Tissaphernes and Orontas； and all of us who side with them。〃 Taking up this assertion； Xenophon said： 〃Well； then； granting that Clearchus broke the truce contrary to our oaths； he has his deserts； for perjurers deserve to perish； but where are Proxenus and Menon； our generals and your good friends and benefactors； as you admit？ Send them back to us。 Surely； just because they are friends of both parites； they will try to give us the best advice for you and for us。〃
At this； the Asiatics stood discussing with one another for a long while； and then they went away without vouchsafing a word。
VI
The generals who were thus seized were taken up to the king and there 1 decapitated。 The first of these； Clearchus； was a thorough soldier； and a true lover of fighting。 This is the testimony of all who knew him intimately。 As long as the war between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians lasted； he could find occupation at home； but after the peace； he persuaded his own city that the Thracians were injuring the Hellenes； and having secured his object； set sail； empowered by the ephorate to make war upon the Thracians north of the Chersonese and Perinthus。 But he had no sooner fairly started than； for some reason or other； the ephors changed their minds； and endeavoured to bring him back again from the isthmus。 Thereupon he refused further obedience； and went off with sails set for the Hellespont。 In consequence he was condemned to death by the Spartan authorities for disobedience to orders； and now； finding himself an exile； he came to Cyrus。 Working on the feelings of that prince； in language described elsewhere； he received from his entertainer a present of ten thousand darics。 Having got this money； he did not sink into a life of ease and indolence； but collected an army with it； carried on war against the Thracians； and 5 conquered them in battle； and from that date onwards harried and plundered them with war incessantly； until Cyrus wanted his army； whereupon he at once went off； in hopes of finding another sphere of warfare in his company。
These； I take it； were the characteristic acts of a man whose affections are set on warfare。 When it is open to him to enjoy peace with honour； no shame； no injury attached； still he prefers war； when he may live at home at ease； he insists on toil； if only it may end in fighting； when it is given to him to keep his riches without risk； he would rather lessen his fortune by the pastime of battle。 To put it briefly； war was his mistress； just as another man will spend his fortune on a favourite； or to gratify some pleasure； so he chose to squander his substance on soldiering。
But if the life of a soldier was a passion with him； he was none the less a soldier born； as herein appears； danger was a delight to him； he courted it； attacking the enemy by night or by day； and in difficulties he did not lose his head； as all who ever served in a campaign with him would with one consent allow。 A good solder！ the question arises； Was he equally good as a commander？ It must be admitted that； as far as was compatible with his quality of temper； he was； none more so。 Capable to a singular degree of devising how his army was to get supplies； and of actually getting them； he was also capable of impressing upon those about him that Clearchus must be obeyed； and that he brought about by the very hardness of his nature。 With a scowling expression and a harshly…grating voice； he chastised with severity； and at times with such fury； that he was sorry afterwards himself for what he had done。 Yet it was not without purpose that he applied the whip； he had a theory that there was no good to be got out of an unchastened army。 A saying of his is recorded to the effect that the soldier who is to mount guard and keep his hands off his friends； and be ready to dash without a moment's hesitation against the foemust fear his commander more than the enemy。 Accordingly； in any strait； this was the man whom the soldiers were eager to obey； and they would have no other in his place。 The 11 cloud which lay upon his brow； at those times lit up with brightness； his face became radiant； and the old sternness was so charged with vigour and knitted strength to meet the foe； that it savoured of salvation； not of cruelty。 But when the pinch of danger was past； and it was open to them to go and taste subordination under some other officer； many forsook him。 So lacking in grace of manner was he； but was ever harsh and savage； so that the feeling of the soldiers towards him was that of schoolboys to a master。 In other words； though it was not his good fortune ever to have followers inspired solely by friendship or goodwill； yet those who found themselves under him； either by State appointment or through want； or other arch necessity； yielded him implicit obedience。 From the moment that he led them to victory； the elements which went to make his soldiers efficient were numerous enough。 There was the feeling of confidence in facing the foe； which never left them； and there was the dread of punishment at his hands to keep them orderly。 In this way and to this extent he knew how to rule； but to play a subordinate part himself he had no great taste； so； at any rate； it was said。 At the time of his death he must have been about fifty years of age。
Proxenus； the Boeotian； was of a different temperament。 It had been the dream of his boyhood to become a man capable of great achievements。 In obedience to this passionate desire it was； that he paid his fee to Gorgias of Leontini＇1＇。 After enojoying that teacher's society； he flattered himself that he must be at once qualified to rule； and while he was on friendly terms with the leaders of the age； he was not to be outdone in reciprocity of service＇2＇。 In this mood he 17 threw himself into the projects of Cyrus； and in return expected to derive from this essay the reward of a great name； large power； and wide wealth。 But for all that he pitched his hopes so high； it was none the less evident that he would refuse to gain any of the ends he set before him wrongfully。 Righteously and honourably he would obtain them； if he might； or else forego them。 As a commander he had the art of leading gentlemen； but he failed to inspire adequately either respect for himself or fear in the soldiers under him。 Indeed； he showed a more delicate regard for his soldiers than his subordinates for him； and he was indisputably more apprehensive of incurring their hatred than they were of losing their fidelity。 The one thing needful to real and recognised generalship was； he thought； to praise the virtuous and to withhold praise from the evildoer。 It can be easily understood； then； that of those who were brought in contact with him； the good and noble indeed were his well…wishers； but he laid himself open to the machinations of the base； who looked upon him as a person to be dealt with as they liked。 At the time of his death he was only thirty years of age。
＇1＇ The famous rhetorician of Leontini； 485…380 B。C。 His fee was 100 minae。
＇2＇ Proxenus； like Cyrus； is to some extent a prototype of the Cyrus of the 〃Cyropaedia。〃 In other words； the author； in delineating the portrait of his ideal prince； drew from the recollection of many princely qualities observed by him in the characters of many friends。 Apart from the intrinsic charm of the story； the 〃
