anabasis-第39章
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lled themselves in the following way。 They stood in rows of about a hundred each； like the rows of dancers in a chorus； standing vis…a…vis to one another； and all bearing wicker shields； made of white oxhide； shaggy； and shaped like an ivy leaf； in the right hand they brandished a javelin about six cubits long； with a lance in front； and rounded like a ball at the butt end of the shaft。
Their bodies were clad in short frocks； scarcely reaching to the knees and in texture closely resembling that of a linen bedclothes' bag； on their heads they wore leathern helmets just like the Paphlagonian helmet； with a tuft of hair in the middle； as like a tiara in shape as possible。 They carried moreover iron battle…axes。 Then one of them gave； as it were； the key…note and started； while the rest； taking up the strain and the step； followed singing and marking time。 Passing through the various corps and heavy armed battalions of the Hellenes； they marched straight against the enemy； to what appeared the most assailable of his fortresses。 It was situated in front of the city； or mother city； as it is called； which latter contains the high citadel of the Mossynoecians。 This citadel was the real bone of contention； the occupants at any time being acknowledged as the masters of all the other Mossynoecians。 The present holders （so it was explained） had no right to its possession； for the sake of self…aggrandisement they had seized what was really common property。
Some of the Hellenes followed the attacking party； not under the orders of the generals； but for the sake of plunder。 As they advanced； the enemy for a while kept quiet； but as they got near the place； they 16 made a sortie and routed them； killing several of the barbarians as well as some of the Hellenes who had gone up with them； and so pursued them until they saw the Hellenes advancing to the rescue。 Then they turned round and made off； first cutting off the heads of the dead men and flaunting them in the face of the Hellenes and of their own private foes； dancing the while and singing in a measured strain。 But the Hellenes were much vexed to think that their foes had only been rendered bolder； while the Hellenes who had formed part of the expedition had turned tail and fled； in spite of their numbers； a thing which had not happened previously during the whole expedition。 So Xenophon called a meeting of the Hellenes and spoke as follows： 〃Soldiers； do not in any wise be cast down by what has happened； be sure that good no less than evil will be the result； for to begin with； you now know certainly that those who are going to guide us are in very deed hostile to those with whom necessity drives us to quarrel； and； in the next place； some of our own body； these Hellenes who have made so light of orderly array and conjoint action with ourselves； as though they must needs achieve in the company of barbarians all they could with ourselves； have paid the penalty and been taught a lesson； so that another time they will be less prone to leave our ranks。 But you must be prepared to show these friendly barbarians that you are of a better sort； and prove to the enemy that battle with the undisciplined is one thing； but with men like yourselves another。〃
Accordingly they halted； as they were； that day。 Next day they sacrificed and finding the victims favourable； they breakfasted； formed the companies into columns； and with their barbarians arranged in similar order on their left； began their march。 Between the companies were the archers only slightly retired behind the front of the heavy infantry； on account of the enemy's active light troops； who ran down and kept up volleys of stones。 These were held in check by the archers and peltasts； and steadily step by step the mass marched on； first to the position from which the barbarians and those with them had been driven two days back； and where the enemy were now drawn 23 up to meet them。 Thus it came to pass that the barbarians first grappled with the peltasts and maintained the battle until the heavy infantry were close； when they turned and fled。 The peltasts followed without delay； and pursued them right up to their city； while the heavy troops in unbroken order followed。 As soon as they were up at the houses of the capital； there and then the enemy； collecting all together in one strong body； fought valiantly； and hurled their javelins； or else clenched their long stout spears； almost too heavy for a man to wield； and did their best to ward off the attack at close quarters。
But when the Hellenes； instead of giving way； kept massing together more thickly； the barbarians fled from this place also； and in a body deserted the fortress。 Their king； who sat in his wooden tower or mossyn； built on the citadel （there he sits and there they maintain him； all at the common cost； and guard him narrowly）； refused to come forth； as did also those in the fortress first taken； and so were burnt to a cinder where they were； their mossyns； themseves； and all。 The Hellenes； pillaging and ransacking these places； discovered in the different houses treasures and magazines of loaves； pile upon pile； 〃the ancestral stores；〃 as the Mossynoecians told them； but the new corn was laid up apart with the straw…stalk and ear together； and this was for the most part spelt。 Slices of dolphin were another discovery； in narrow…necked jars； all properly salted and pickled； and there was blubber of dolphin in vessels； which the Mossynoecians used precisely as the Hellenes use oil。 Then there were large stores of nuts on the upper floor； the broad kind without a division＇3＇。 This was also a chief article of food with themboiled nuts and baked loaves。 Wine was also discovered。 This； from its rough； dry quality； tasted sharp when drunk pure； but mixed with water was sweet and fragrant。
＇3＇ I。e。 〃chestnuts。〃
The Hellenes breakfasted and then started forward on their march； having first delivered the stronghold to their allies among the Mossynoecians。 As for the other strongholds belonging to tribes allied with their foes； which they passed en route； the most accessible were either deserted by their inhabitants or gave in their adhesion 30 voluntarily。 The following description will apply to the majority of them： the cities were on an average ten miles apart； some more； some less； but so elevated is the country and intersected by such deep clefts that if they chose to shout across to one another； their cries would be heard from one city to another。 When； in the course of their march； they came upon a friendly population； these would entertain them with exhibitions of fatted children belonging to the wealthy classes； fed up on boiled chestnuts until they were as white as white can be； of skin plump and delicate； and very nearly as broad as they were long； with their backs variegated and their breasts tattooed with patterns of all sorts of flowers。 They sought after the women in the Hellenic army； and would fain have laid with them openly in broad daylight； for that was their custom。 The whole community； male and female alike； were fair…complexioned and white…skinned。
It was agreed that this was the most barbaric and outlandish people that they had passed through on the whole expedition； and the furthest removed from the Hellenic customs； doing in a crowd precisely what other people would prefer to do in solitude； and when alone behaving exactly as others would behave in company； talking to themselves and laughing at their own expense； standing still and then again capering about； wherever they might chance to be； without rhyme or reason； as if their sole business were to show off to the rest of the world。
V
Through this country； friendly or hostile as the chance might be； the 1 Hellenes marched； eight stages in all； and reached the Chalybes。 These were a people few in number； and subject to the Mossynoecians。 Their livelihood was for the most part derived from mining and forging iron。
Thence they came to the Tibarenians。 The country of the Tibarenians was far more level； and their fortresses lay on the seaboard and were less strong； whether by art or nature。 The generals wanted to attack these places； so that the army might get some pickings； a
