anabasis-第33章
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g the public moneys； and that too though there is a fearful risk for the person so employed； but； I am told； it is your best men who are addicted to it； if it is your best men who are thought worthy to rule。 So it is a fine opportunity for yourself also； Xenophon； to exhibit your education。〃 17 〃And I；〃 replied Xenophon； 〃am ready to take the rear division； as soon as we have supped； and seize the mountain chain。 I have already got guides； for the light troops laid an ambuscade； and seized some of the cut…purse vagabonds who hung on our rear。 I am further informed by them that the mountain is not inaccessible； but is grazed by goats and cattle； so that if we can once get hold of any portion of it； there will be no difficulty as regards our animalsthey can cross。 As to the enemy； I expect they will not even wait for us any longer； when they once see us on a level with themselves on the heights； for they do not even at present care to come down and meet us on fair ground。〃 Cheirisophus answered： 〃But why should you go and leave your command in the rear？ Send others rather； unless a band of volunteers will present themselves。〃 Thereupon Aristonymus the Methydrian came forward with some heavy infantry； and Nicomachus the Oetean with another body of light troops； and they made an agreement to kindle several watch…fires as soon as they held the heights。 The arrangements made； they breakfasted； and after breakfast Cheirisophus advanced the whole army ten furlongs closer towards the enemy； so as to strengthen the impression that he intended to attack them at that point。
But as soon as they had supped and night had fallen； the party under orders set off and occupied the mountain； while the main body rested where they were。 Now as soon as the enemy perceived that the mountain was taken； they banished all thought of sleep； and kept many watch…fires blazing throughout the night。 But at break of day Cheirisophus offered sacrifice； and began advancing along the road； while the detachment which held the mountain advanced pari passu by the high ground。 The larger mass of the enemy； on his side； remained still on the mountain…pass； but a section of them turned to confront the detachment on the heights。 Before the main bodies had time to draw together； the detachment on the height came to close quarters； and the Hellenes were victorious and gave chase。 Meanwhile the light division of the Hellenes； issuing from the plain； were rapidly advancing against the serried lines of the enemy； whilst Cheirisophus followed up with his heavy infantry at quick march。 But the enemy on the road 25 no sooner saw their higher division being worsted than they fled； and some few of them were slain； and a vast number of wicker shields were taken； which the Hellenes hacked to pieces with their short swords and rendered useless。 So when they had reached the summit of the pass； they sacrificed and set up a trophy； and descending into the plain； reached villages abounding in good things of every kind。
VII
After this they marched into the country of the Taochians five 1 stagesthirty parasangsand provisions failed； for the Taochians lived in strong places； into which they had carried up all their stores。 Now when the army arrived before one of these strong placesa mere fortress； without city or houses； into which a motley crowd of men and women and numerous flocks and herds were gatheredCheirisophus attacked at once。 When the first regiment fell back tired； a second advanced； and again a third； for it was impossible to surround the place in full force； as it was encircled by a river。 Presently Xenophon came up with the rearguard； consisting of both light and heavy infantry； whereupon Cheirisophus halted him with the words： 〃In the nick of time you have come； we must take this place； for the troops have no provisions； unless we take it。〃 Thereupon they consulted together； and to Xenophon's inquiry； 〃What it was which hindered their simply walking in？〃 Cheirisophus replied； 〃There is just this one narrow approach which you see； but when we attempt to pass it by they roll down volleys of stones from yonder overhanging crag；〃 pointing up； 〃and this is the state in which you find yourself； if you chance to be caught；〃 and he pointed to some poor fellows with their legs or ribs crushed to bits。 〃But when they have expended their ammunition；〃 said Xenophon； 〃there is nothing else； is there； to hinder our passing？ Certainly； except yonder handful of fellows； there is no one in front of us that we can see； and of them； only two or three apparently are armed； and the distance to be traversed under fire is； as your eyes will tell you； about one hundred and fifty feet as near as can be； and of this space the first hundred is thickly covered with great pines at intervals； under cover of these； what harm can come to our men from a pelt of stones； flying 6 or rolling？ So then； there is only fifty feet left to cross； during a lull of stones。〃 〃Ay；〃 said Cheirisophus； 〃but with our first attempt to approach the bush a galling fire of stones commences。〃 〃The very thing we want；〃 said the other； 〃for they will use up their ammunition all the quicker； but let us select a point from which we shall have only a brief space to run across； if we can； and from which it will be easier to get back； if we wish。〃
Thereupon Cheirisophus and Xenophon set out with Callimachus the Parrhasian； the captain in command of the officers of the rearguard that day； the rest of the captains remained out of danger。 That done； the next step was for a party of about seventy men to get away under the trees； not in a body； but one by one； every one using his best precaution； and Agasis the Stymphalian； and Aristonymous the Methydrian； who were also officers of the rearguard； were posted as supports outside the trees； for it was not possible for more than a single company to stand safely within the trees。 Here Callimachus hit upon a pretty contrivancehe ran forward from the tree under which he was posted two or three paces； and as soon as the stones came whizzing； he retired easily； but at each excursion more than ten wagon…loads of rocks were expended。 Agasias； seeing how Callimachus was amusing himself； and the whole army looking on as spectators； was seized with the fear that he might miss his chance of being first to run the gauntlet of the enemy's fire and get into the place。 So； without a word of summons to his neighbour； Aristonymous； or to Eurylochus of Lusia； both comrades of his； or to any one else； off he set on his own account； and passed the whole detachment。 But Callimachus； seeing him tearing past； caught hold of his shield by the rim； and in the meantime Aristonymous the Methydrian ran past both； and after him Eurylochus of Lusia； for they were one and all aspirants to valour； and in that high pursuit； each was the eager rival of the rest。 So in this strife of honour； the three of them took the fortress； and when they had once rushed in； not a stone more was hurled from overhead。
And here a terrible spectacle displayed itself： the women first cast their infants down the cliff； and then they cast themselves after 13 their fallen little ones； and the men likewise。 In such a scene； Aeneas the Stymphalian； an officer； caught sight of a man with a fine dress about to throw himself over； and seized hold of him to stop him； but the other caught him to his arms； and both were gone in an instant headlong down the crags； and were killed。 Out of this place the merest handful of human beings were taken prisoners； but cattle and asses in abundance and flocks of sheep。
From this place they marched through the Chalybes＇1＇ seven stages； fifty parasangs。 These were the bravest men whom they encountered on the whole march； coming cheerily to close quarters with them。 They wore linen cuirasses reaching to the groin； and instead of the ordinary 〃wings〃 or basques； a thickly…plaited fringe of cords。 They were also provided with greaves and helmets； and at the girdle a short sabre； about as long as the Laconian dagger； with which they cut the throats of those they mastered； and after severing the head from the trunk they would march along carrying it； singing and dancing； when they drew w
