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第60章

anabasis-第60章

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'2' For Bisanthe see above。 Ganos; a little lower down the coast; with     Neontichos once belonged to Alcibiades; if we may believe     Cornelius Nepos; 〃Alc。〃 vii。 4; and Plutarch; 〃Alc。〃 c。 36。 See     above。

Consequently Xenophon fell to considering what he ought to do as regards marching any further up the country; and Heracleides introduced the other generals to Seuthes; urging them to say that they were quite as well able to lead the army as Xenophon; and promising them that within a day or two they should have full pay for two months; and he again implored them to continue the campaign with Seuthes。 To which Timasion replied that for his part he would continue no campaign without Xenophon; not even if they were to give him pay for five months; and what Timasion said; Phryniscus and Cleanor repeated; the views of all three coincided。

Seuthes fell to upbraiding Heracleides in round terms。 〃Why had he not invited Xenophon with the others?〃 and presently they invited him; but by himself alone。 He; perceiving the knavery of Heracleides; and that his object was to calumniate him with the other generals; presented himself; but at the same time he took care to bring all the generals and the officers。 After their joint consent had been secured; they continued the campaign。 Keeping the Pontus on their right; they passed through the millet…eating'3' Thracians; as they are called; and reached Salmydessus。 This is a point at which many trading vessels bound for the Black Sea run aground and are wrecked; owing to a sort of marshy ledge or sandbank which runs out for a considerable distance into the sea'4'。 The Thracians; who dwell in these parts; have set up pillars as boundary marks; and each set of them has the pillage of its own flotsom and jetsom; for in old days; before they set up these landmarks; the wreckers; it is said; used freely to fall foul of and slay one another。 Here was a rich treasure trove; of beds and boxes     14 numberless; with a mass of written books; and all the various things which mariners carry in their wooden chests。 Having reduced this district; they turned round and went back again。 By this time the army of Seuthes had grown to be considerably larger than the Hellenic army; for on the one hand; the Odrysians flocked down in still larger numbers; and on the other; the tribes which gave in their adhesion from time to time were amalgamated with his armament。 They got into quarters on the flat country above Selybria at about three miles'5' distance from the sea。 As to pay; not a penny was as yet forthcoming; and the soldiers were cruelly disaffected to Xenophon; whilst Seuthes; on his side; was no longer so friendlily disposed。 If Xenophon ever wished to come face to face with him; want of leisure or some other difficulty always seemed to present itself。

'3' Or; 〃the Melinophagi。〃

'4' See; for a description of this savage coast; Aesch。 〃Prom。〃 vinc。     726; etc。

〃{trakheia pontou Salmudesia gnathos ekhthroxenos nautaisi; metruia neon。}〃

〃The rugged Salmudesian jaw of the Black Sea; Inhospitable to sailors; stepmother of ships。〃

But the poet is at fault in his geography; since he connects 〃the Salmydesian jaw〃 with the Thermodon。

'5' Lit。 〃thirty stades。〃 Selybria is about fourty…four miles from     Byzantium; two…thirds of the way to Perinthus。



VI

At this date; when nearly two months had already passed; an embassy     1 arrived。 These were two agents from ThibronCharminus; a Lacedaemonian; and Polynicus。 They were sent to say that the Lacedaemonians had resolved to open a campaign against Tissaphernes; and that Thibron; who had set sail to conduct the war; was anxious to avail himself of the troops。 He could guarantee that each soldier should receive a daric a month as pay; the officers double pay; and the generals quadruple。 The Lacedaemonian emissaries had no sooner arrived than Heracleides; having learnt that they had come in search of the Hellenic troops; goes off himself to Seuthes and says: 〃The best thing that could have happened; the Lacedaemonians want these troops and you have done with them; so that if you hand over the troops to them; you will do the Lacedaemonians a good turn and will cease to be bothered for pay any more。 The country will be quit of them once and for ever。〃

On hearing this Seuthes bade him introduce the emissaries。 As soon as they had stated that the object of their coming was to treat for the Hellenic troops; he replied that he would willingly give them up; that his one desire was to be the friend and ally of Lacedaemon。 So he invited them to partake of hospitality; and entertained them            3 magnificently; but he did not invite Xenophon; nor indeed any of the other generals。 Presently the Lacedaemonians asked: 〃What sort of man is Xenophon?〃 and Seuthes answered: 〃Not a bad fellow in most respects; but he is too much the soldiers' friend; and that is why it goes ill with him。〃 They asked: 〃Does he play the popular leader?〃 and Heracleides answered: 〃Exactly so。〃 〃Well then;〃 said they; 〃he will oppose our taking away the troops; will he not?〃 〃To be sure he will;〃 said Heracleides; 〃but you have only to call a meeting of the whole body; and promise them pay; and little further heed will they pay to him; they will run off with you。〃 〃How then are we to get them collected?〃 they asked。 〃Early to…morrow;〃 said Heracleides; 〃we will bring you to them; and I know;〃 he added once more; 〃as soon as they set eyes on you; they will flock to you with alacrity。〃 Thus the day ended。

The next day Seuthes and Heracleides brought the two Laconian agents to the army; and the troops were collected; and the agents made a statement as follows: 〃The Lacedaemonians have resolved on war with Tissaphernes; who did you so much wrong。 By going with us therefore you will punish your enemy; and each of you will get a daric a month; the officers twice that sum; and the generals quadruple。〃 The soldiers lent willing ears; and up jumped one of the Arcadians at once; to find fault with Xenophon。 Seuthes also was hard by; wishing to know what was going to happen。 He stood within ear shot; and his interpreter by his side; not but what he could understand most of what was said in Greek himself。 At this point the Arcadian spoke: 〃For the matter of that; Lacedaemonians; we should have been by your sides long ago; if Xenophon had not persuaded us and brought us hither。 We have never ceased campaigning; night and day; the dismal winter through; but he reaps the fruit of our toils。 Seuthes has enriched him privately; but deprives us of our honest earnings; so that; standing here as I do to address you first; all I can say is; that if I might see the fellow stoned to death as a penalty for all the long dance he has led us; I    10 should feel I had got my pay in full; and no longer grudge the pains we have undergone。〃 The speaker was followed by another and then another in the same strain; and after that Xenophon made the following speech:

〃True is the old adage; there is nothing which mortal man may not expect to see。 Here am I being accused by you to…day; just where my conscience tells me that I have displayed the greatest zeal on your behalf。 Was I not actually on my road home when I turned back? Not; God knows; because I learned that you were in luck's way; but because I heard that you were in sore straits; and I wished to help you; if in any way I could。 I returned; and Seuthes yonder sent me messenger after messenger; and made me promise upon promise; if only I could persuade you to come to him。 Yet; as you yourselves will bear me witness; I was not to be diverted。 Instead of setting my hand to do that; I simply led you to a point from which; with least loss of time; I thought you could cross into Asia。 This I believed was the best thing for you; and you I knew desired it。

〃But when Aristarchus came with his ships of war and hindered our passage across; you will hardly quarrel with me for the step I then took in calling you together that we might advisedly consider our best course。 Having heard both sidesfirst Aristarchus; who ordered you to march to the Chersonese; then Seuthes; who pleaded with you to undertake a campaign with himselfyou all proposed to go w

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