anabasis-第18章
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by him in the characters of many friends。 Apart from the intrinsic charm of the story； the 〃Anabasis〃 is interesting as containing the raw material of experience and reflection which 〃this young scholar or philosopher；〃 our friend； the author； will one day turn to literary account。
As to Menon the Thessalian＇3＇； the mainspring of his action was obvious； what he sought after insatiably was wealth。 Rule he sought after only as a stepping…stone to larger spoils。 Honours and high estate he craved for simply that he might extend the area of his gains； and if he studied to be on friendly terms with the powerful； it was in order that he might commit wrong with impunity。 The shortest road to the achievement of his desires lay； he thought； through false swearing； lying； and cheating； for in his vocabulary simplicity and truth were synonyms of folly。 Natural affection he clearly entertained for nobody。 If he called a man his friend it might be looked upon as 23 certain that he was bent on ensnaring him。 Laughter at an enemy he considered out of place； but his whole conversation turned upon the ridicule of his associates。 In like manner； the possessions of his foes were secure from his designs； since it was no easy task； he thought； to steal from people on their guard； but it was his particular good fortune to have discovered how easy it is to rob a friend in the midst of his security。 If it were a perjured person or a wrongdoer； he dreaded him as well armed and intrenched； but the honourable and the truth…loving he tried to practise on； regarding them as weaklings devoid of manhood。 And as other men pride themselves on piety and truth and righteousness； so Menon prided himself on a capacity for fraud； on the fabrication of lies； on the mockery and scorn of friends。 The man who was not a rogue he ever looked upon as only half educated。 Did he aspire to the first place in another man's friendship； he set about his object by slandering those who stood nearest to him in affection。 He contrived to secure the obedience of his solders by making himself an accomplice in their misdeeds； and the fluency with which he vaunted his own capacity and readiness for enormous guilt was a sufficient title to be honoured and courted by them。 Or if any one stood aloof from him； he set it down as a meritorious act of kindness on his part that during their intercourse he had not robbed him of existence。
＇3＇ For a less repulsive conception of Menon's character； however unhistorical； see Plato's 〃Meno；〃 and Prof。 Jowlett's Introduction； 〃Plato；〃 vol。 i。 p。 265： 〃He is a Thessalian Alcibiades； rich and luxuriousa spoilt child of fortune。〃
As to certain obscure charges brought against his character； these may certainly be fabrications。 I confine myself to the following facts； which are known to all。 He was in the bloom of youth when he procured from Aristippus the command of his mercenaries； he had not yet lost that bloom when he became exceedingly intimate with Ariaeus； a barbarian； whose liking for fair young men was the explanation； and before he had grown a beard himself； he had contracted a similar relationship with a bearded favourite named Tharypas。 When his fellow…generals were put to death on the plea that they had marched with Cyrus against the king； he alone； although he had shared their conduct； was exempted from their fate。 But after their deaths the vengeance of the king fell upon him； and he was put to death； not like 29 Clearchus and the others by what would appear to be the speediest of deathsdecapitationbut； as report says； he lived for a year in pain and disgrace and died the death of a felon。
Agias the Arcadian and Socrates the Achaean were both among the sufferers who were put to death。 To the credit； be it said； of both； no one ever derided either as cowardly in war： no one ever had a fault to find with either on the score of friendship。 They were both about thirty…five years of age。
BOOK III
＇In the preceding pages of the narrative will be found a full account； not only of the doings of the Hellenes during the advance of Cyrus till the date of the battle； but of the inci… dents which befell them after Cyrus' death at the commencement of the retreat； while in company with Tissaphernes during the truce。＇
I
After the generals had been seized； and the captains and soldiers who 1 formed their escort had been killed； the Hellenes lay in deep perplexitya prey to painful reflections。 Here were they at the king's gates； and on every side environing them were many hostile cities and tribes of men。 Who was there now to furnish them with a market？ Separated from Hellas by more than a thousand miles； they had not even a guide to point the way。 Impassable rivers lay athwart their homeward route； and hemmed them in。 Betrayed even by the Asiatics； at whose side they had marched with Cyrus to the attack； they were left in isolation。 Without a single mounted trooper to aid them in pursuit： was it not perfectly plain that if they won a battle； their enemies would escape to a man； but if they were beaten themselves； not one soul of them would survive？
Haunted by such thoughts； and with hearts full of despair； but few of them tasted food that evening； but few of them kindled even a fire； and many never came into camp at all that night； but took their rest where each chanced to be。 They could not close their eyes for very pain and yearning after their fatherlands or their parents； the wife or child whom they never expected to look upon again。 Such was the plight in which each and all tried to seek repose。
Now there was in that host a certain man； an Athenian＇1＇； Xenophon； who had accompanied Cyrus； neither as a general； nor as an officer； nor yet as a private soldier； but simply on the invitation of an old friend； Proxenus。 This old friend had sent to fetch him from home； promising； if he would come； to introduce him to Cyrus； 〃whom；〃 said Proxenus； 〃I consider to be worth my fatherland and more to me。〃
＇1＇ The reader should turn to Grote's comments on the first appearance of Xenophon。 He has been mentioned before； of course； more than once before； but he now steps； as the protagonist； upon the scene； and as Grote says： 〃It is in true Homeric vein； and in something like Homeric language； that Xenophon （to whom we owe the whole narrative of the expedition） describes his dream； or the intervention of Oneiros； sent by Zeus； from which this renovating impulse took its rise。〃
Xenophon having read the letter； consulted Socrates the Athenian； whether he should accept or refuse the invitation。 Socrates； who had a suspicion that the State of Athens might in some way look askance at my friendship with Cyrus； whose zealous co…operation with the Lacedaemonians against Athens in the war was not forgotten； advised Xenophon to go to Delphi and there to consult the god as to the desirability of such a journey。 Xenophon went and put the question to Apollo； to which of the gods he must pray and do sacrifice； so that he might best accomplish his intended journey and return in safety； with good fortune。 Then Apollo answered him： 〃To such and such gods must thou do sacrifice；〃 and when he had returned home he reported to Socrates the oracle。 But he； when he heard； blamed Xenophon that he had not； in the first instance； inquired of the god； whether it were better for him to go or to stay； but had taken on himself to settle that point affirmatively； by inquiring straightway； how he might best 7 perform the journey。 〃Since； however；〃 continued Socrates； 〃you did so put the question； you should do what the god enjoined。〃 Thus； and without further ado； Xenophon offered sacrifice to those whom the god had named； and set sail on his voyage。 He overtook Proxenus and Cyrus at Sardis； when they were just ready to start on the march up country； and was at once introduced to Cyrus。 Proxenus eagerly pressed him to stopa request which Cyrus with like ardour supported； adding that as soon as the campaign was over he would send him home。 The campaign referred to was understood to be against the Pisidians。 That is how Xenophon came to join the expedition； deceived indeed； though not by Proxenus； w
