anabasis-第24部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Cheirisophus　was　in　possession　of　the　higher　ground；　and　Lycius；　with　his　little　squadron；　in　an　attempt　to　follow　up　the　pursuit；　had　captured　some　stragglers　of　their　baggage…bearers；　and　with　them　some　handsome　apparel　and　drinking…cups。　The　baggage　animals　of　the　Hellenes　and　the　mob　of　non…combatants　were　just　about　to　cross；　when　Xenonphon　turned　his　troops　right　about　to　face　the　Carduchians。　Vis…a…vis　he　formed　his　line；　passing　the　order　to　the　captains　each　to　form　his　company　into　sections；　and　to　deploy　them　into　line　by　the　left；　the　captains　of　companies　and　lieutenants　in　command　of　sections　to　advance　to　meet　the　Carduchians；　while　the　rear　leaders　would　keep　their　position　facing　the　river。　But　when　the　Carduchians　saw　the　rearguard　so　stript　of　the　mass；　and　looking　now　like　a　mere　handful　of　men；　they　advanced　all　the　more　quickly；　singing　certain　songs　the　while。　Then；　as　matters　were　safe　with　him；　Cheirisophus　sent　back　the　peltasts　and　slingers　and　archers　to　join　Xenophon；　with　orders　to　carry　out　his　instructions。　They　were　in　the　act　of　recrossing；　when　Xenophon；　who　saw　their　intention；　sent　a　messenger　across；　bidding　them　wait　there　at　the　river's　brink　without　crossing；　but　as　soon　as　he　and　his　detachment　began　to　cross　they　were　to　step　in　facing　him　in　two　flanking　divisions　right　and　left　of　them；　as　if　in　the　act　of　crossing；　the　javelin　men　with　their　javelins　on　the　thong；　and　the　bowmen　with　their　arrows　on　the　string；　but　they　were　not　to　advance　far　into　the　stream。　The　order　passed　to　his　own　men　was：　〃Wait　till　you　are　within　sling…shot；　and　the　shield　rattles；　then　sound　the　paean　and　charge　the　enemy。　As　soon　as　he　turns；　and　the　bugle　from　the　river　sounds　for　'the　attack；'　you　will　face　about　to　the　right；　the　rear　rank　leading；　and　the　whole　detachment　falling　back　and　crossing　the　river　as　quickly　as　possible；　every　one　preserving　his　original　rank；　so　as　to　avoid　tramelling　one　another：　the　bravest　man　is　he　who　gets　to　the　other　side　first。〃

The　Carduchians；　seeing　that　the　remnant　left　was　the　merest　handful　　　　30　（for　many　even　of　those　whose　duty　it　was　to　remain　had　gone　off　in　their　anxiety　to　protect　their　beasts　of　burden；　or　their　personal　kit；　or　their　mistresses）；　bore　down　upon　them　valorously；　and　opened　fire　with　slingstones　and　arrows。　But　the　Hellenes；　raising　the　battle　hymn；　dashed　at　them　at　a　run；　and　they　did　not　await　them；　armed　well　enough　for　mountain　warfare；　and　with　a　view　to　sudden　attack　followed　by　speedy　flight；　they　were　not　by　any　means　sufficiently　equipped　for　an　engagement　at　close　quarters。　At　this　instant　the　signal　of　the　bugle　was　heard。　Its　notes　added　wings　to　the　flight　of　the　barbarians；　but　the　Hellenes　turned　right　about　in　the　opposite　direction；　and　betook　themselves　to　the　river　with　what　speed　they　might。　Some　of　the　enemy；　here　a　man　and　there　another；　perceived；　and　running　back　to　the　river；　let　fly　their　arrows　and　wounded　a　few；　but　the　majority；　even　when　the　Hellenes　were　well　across；　were　still　to　be　seen　pursuing　their　flight。　The　detachment　which　came　to　meet　Xenophon's　men；　carried　away　by　their　valour；　advanced　further　than　they　had　need　to；　and　had　to　cross　back　again　in　the　rear　of　Xenophon's　men；　and　of　these　too　a　few　were　wounded。



IV

The　passage　effected；　they　fell　into　line　about　mid…day；　and　marched　　　　1　through　Armenian　territory；　one　long　plain　with　smooth　rolling　hillocks；　not　less　than　five　parasangs　in　distance；　for　owing　to　the　wars　of　this　people　with　the　Carduchians　there　were　no　villages　near　the　river。　The　village　eventually　reached　was　large；　and　possessed　a　palace　belonging　to　the　satrap；　and　most　of　the　houses　were　crowned　with　turrets；　provisions　were　plentiful。

From　this　village　they　marched　two　stagesten　parasangsuntil　they　had　surmounted　the　sources　of　the　river　Tigris；　and　from　this　point　they　marched　three　stagesfifteen　parasangsto　the　river　Teleboas。　This　was　a　fine　stream；　though　not　large；　and　there　were　many　villages　about　it。　The　district　was　named　Western　Armenia。　The　lieutenant…governor　of　it　was　Tiribazus；　the　king's　friend；　and　whenever　the　latter　paid　a　visit；　he　alone　had　the　privilege　of　mounting　the　king　upon　his　horse。　This　officer　rode　up　to　the　Hellenes　with　a　body　of　cavalry；　and　sending　forward　an　interpreter；　stated　that　he　desired　a　colloquy　with　the　leaders。　The　generals　resolved　to　　　5　hear　what　he　had　to　say；　and　advancing　on　their　side　to　within　speaking　distance；　they　demanded　what　he　wanted。　He　replied　that　he　wished　to　make　a　treaty　with　them；　in　accordance　with　which　he　on　his　side　would　abstain　from　injuring　the　Hellenes；　if　they　would　not　burn　his　houses；　but　merely　take　such　provisions　as　they　needed。　This　proposal　satisfied　the　generals；　and　a　treaty　was　made　on　the　terms　suggested。

From　this　place　they　marched　three　stagesfifteen　parasangsthrough　plain　country；　Tiribazus　the　while　keeping　close　behind　with　his　own　forces　more　than　a　mile　off。　Presently　they　reached　a　palace　with　villages　clustered　round　about　it；　which　were　full　of　supplies　in　great　variety。　But　while　they　were　encamping　in　the　night；　there　was　a　heavy　fall　of　snow；　and　in　the　morning　it　was　resolved　to　billet　out　the　different　regiments；　with　their　generals；　throughout　the　villages。　There　was　no　enemy　in　sight；　and　the　proceeding　seemed　prudent；　owing　to　the　quantity　of　snow。　In　these　quarters　they　had　for　provisions　all　the　good　things　there　aresacrificial　beasts；　corn；　old　wines　with　an　exquisite　bouqet；　dried　grapes；　and　vegetables　of　all　sorts。　But　some　of　the　stragglers　from　the　camp　reported　having　seen　an　army；　and　the　blaze　of　many　watchfires　in　the　night。　Accordingly　the　generals　concluded　that　it　was　not　prudent　to　separate　their　quarters　in　this　way；　and　a　resolution　was　passed　to　bring　the　troops　together　again。　After　that　they　reunited；　the　more　so　that　the　weather　promised　to　be　fine　with　a　clear　sky；　but　while　they　lay　there　in　open　quarters；　during　the　night　down　came　so　thick　a　fall　of　snow　that　it　completely　covered　up　the　stacks　of　arms　and　the　men　themselves　lying　down。　It　cramped　and　crippled　the　baggage　animals；　and　there　was　great　unreadiness　to　get　up；　so　gently　fell　the　snow　as　they　lay　there　warm　and　comfortable；　and　formed　a　blanket；　except　where　it　slipped　off　the　sleepers'　shoulders；　and　it　was　not　until　Xenophon　roused　himself　to　get　up；　and；　without　his　cloak　on＇1＇；　began　to　split　wood；　that　quickly　first　one　and　then　another　got　up；　and　taking　the　log　away　　　　　　12　from　him；　fell　to　splitting。　Thereat　the　rest　followed　suit；　got　up；　and　began　kindling　fire　and　oiling　their　bodies；　for　there　was　a　scented　unguent　to　be　found　there　in　abundance；　which　they　used　instead　of　oil。　It　was　made　from　pig's　fat；　sesame；　bitter　almonds；　and　turpentine。　There　was　a　sweet　oil　also　to　be　found；　made　of　the　same　ingredients。

＇1＇　Or；　as　we　should　say；　〃in　his　shirt　sleeves。〃　Doubtless　he　lay　　　　　with　his　｛imation｝　or　cloak　loosely　wrapped　round　him；　as　he　　　　　sprang　to　his　feet　he　would　throw　it　off；　or　it　would　fall　off；　　　　　and　with　the　simple　inner　covering　of　the　｛khiton｝　to　protect　him；　　　　　and　arms　free；　he　fell　to　chopping　the　wood；　only　half　clad。

After　this　it　was　resolved　that　they　must　again　separate　their　quarters　and　get　under　cover　in　the　villages。　At　this　news　the　soldiers；　with　much　joy　and　shouting；　rushed　upon　the　covered　houses　and　the　provisions；　but　all　who　in　their　blind　folly　had　set　fire　to　the　houses　when　they　left　them　before；　now　paid　the　penalty　in　the　poor　quarters　they　got。　From　this　place　one　night　they　sent　off　a　party　under　Democrates；　a　Temenite＇2＇；　up　into　the　mountains；　where　the　stragglers　reported　having　seen　watchfires。　The　leader　selected　was　a　man　whose　judgement　might　be　depended　upon　to　verify　the　truth　of　the　matter。　With　a　happy　gift　to　distinguish　between　fact　and　fiction；　he　had　often　been　successfully　appealed　to。　He　went　and　reported　that　he　had　seen　no　watchfires；　but　he　had　got　a　man；　whom　he　brought　back　with　him；　carrying　a　Persian　bow　and　quiver；　and　a　sagaris　or　battleaxe　like　those　worn　by　the　Amazons。　When　asked　〃from　what　country　he　came；〃　the　prisoner　answered　that　he　was　〃a　Persian；　and　was　going　from　the　army　of　Tiribazus　to　get　provisions。〃　They　next　asked　him　〃how　large　the　army　was；　and　for　what　object　it　had　been　collected。〃　His　answer　was　that　〃it　consisted　of　Tiribazus　at　the　head　of　his　own　forces；　and　aided　by　some　Chalybian　and　Taochian　mercenaries。　Tiribazus　had　got　it　together；〃　he　added；　〃meaning　to　attack　the　Hellenes　on　the　high　mountain　pass；　in　a　defile　which　was　the　sole　passage。〃

＇2＇　Reading　｛Temeniten｝；　i。e。　a　native　of　Temenus；　a　district　of　　　　　Syracuse；　al。　｛Temniten｝；　i。e。　from　Temnus　in　the　Aeolid；　al。　　　　　｛Temeniten｝；　i。e。　from　Temenum　in　the　Argolid。

When　the　generals　heard　this　news；　they　resolved　to　collect　the　troops；　and　they　set　off　at　once；　taking　the　prisoner　to　act　as　guide；　and　leaving　a　garrison　behind　with　Sophaenetus　the　Stymphalian　in　　　　　　　19　command　of　those　who　remained　in　the　camp。　As　soon　as　they　had　begun　to　cross　the　hills；　the　light　infantry；　advancing　in　front　and　catching　sight　of　the　camp；　did　not　wait　for　the　heavy　infantry；　but　with　a　loud　shout　rushed　upon　the　enemy's　entrenchment。　The　natives；　hearing　the　din　and　clatter；　did　not　care　to　stop；　but　took　rapidly　to　their　heels。　But；　for　all　their　expedition；　some　of　them　were　killed；　and　as　many　as　twenty　horses　were　captured；　with　the　tent　of　Tiribazus；　and　its　contents；　silver…footed　couches　and　goblets；　besides　certain　persons　styling　themselves　the　butlers　and　bakers。　As　soon　as　the　generals　of　the　heavy　infantry　division　had　learnt　the　news；　they　resolved　to　return　to　the　camp　with　all　speed；　for　fear　of　an　attack　being　made　on　the　remnant　left　behind。　The　recall　was　sounded　and　the　retreat　commenced；　the　camp　was　reached　the　same　day。



V

The　next　day　it　was　resolved　that　they　should　set　off　with　all　　　　　　　　　　1　possible　speed；　before　the　enemy　had　time　to　collect　and　occupy　the　defile。　Having　got　their　kit　and　baggage　together；　they　at　once　began　their　march　through　deep　snow　with　several　guides；　and；　crossing　the　high　pass　the　same　day　on　which　Tiribazus　was　to　have　attacked　them；　got