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here。 If so; this is a quasi…apology for the Athenian /bons pères de
famille/ who condemned Socrates。 Beautiful story of the sophist
teacher's last injunction to Tigranes。
C1。40…41。 What smiles after tears! Like a sunny day succeeding clouds
and blackness。 A pretty story this; of the wife of Tigranes。
/Xenophon's women:/ this one; Pantheia; Croesus' wife; the wife of
Ischomachus (/Economist/); the daughter of Gobryas。
C2。12。 Archaeologically interesting。 N。B。Humanity towards wounded;
Hellenic。 Xenophon's own strategy in the /Anabasis/ is probably the
prototype。
C2。15。 For Hellenic and Xenophontine religiousness。 The
incalculableness of human life: God fulfils himself in many unforeseen
ways。 N。B。Irony also of the situation; since Cyrus doesn't intend
the Armenian to triumph over the Chaldaean in the way he anticipates。
C2。20。 Note how Socratically it is made to work itself out。
C3。 Cyrus; the Archic Man; the 〃born ruler;〃 is also the diplomatic
man (cf。; no doubt; Gladstone); a diplomacy based on organic economic
sense and friendly…naturedness。
C3。10。 Xenophon's theory of fraternity in action; all petty jealousies
brushed aside。
'C3。11。 The 〃captains…of…twelve〃 and the 〃captains…of…six〃 are the
same officers as those called elsewhere 〃captains…of…ten〃 and
〃captains…of…five〃 (cf。 above Bk。 II。 C2。21 note)。 The titles vary
because sometimes the officers themselves are included in the squads
and sometimes not。'
C3。19。 Nice touch; quoting his father as an authority。
C3。40。 With garlands; like the Spartans。 Was it conceivably a Persian
custom too?
C3。44。 Assyrian's speech; not a bad one; though platitudinous。
Xenophon's dramatic form is shown in the intellectual and emotional
side of his characters; rather than by the diction in their mouths; is
it not?
C3。51…52。 Most important for Xenophon; Educationalist。 Cyrus on the
powerlessness of a speech to create valour in the soul of the
untrained: there must be a physical; moral; and spiritual training
there beforehand。 The speech is in Xenophon's best earnest rhetorical
style。
C3。57。 The march into battle; /vide/ Milton。 A beautiful bit of word…
painting。
C3。58。 Cf。 the Prussian army singing a hymn 'in 1870'。
BOOK IV
'C。1' Cyrus waited; with his troops as they were; long enough to show
that he was ready to do battle again if the enemy would come out; but
as they did not stir he drew the soldiers off as far as he thought
well; and there encamped。 He had guards posted and scouts sent
forward; and then he gathered his warriors round him and spoke to them
as follows:
'2' 〃Men of Persia; first and foremost I thank the gods of heaven with
all my soul and strength; and I know you render thanks with me; for we
have won salvation and victory; and it is meet and right to thank the
gods for all that comes to us。 But in the next place I must praise
you; one and all; it is through you all that this glorious work has
been accomplished; and when I have learnt what each man's part has
been from those whose place it is to tell me; I will do my best to
give each man his due; in word and deed。 '3' But I need none to tell
me the exploits of your brigadier Chrysantas; he was next to me in the
battle and I could see that he bore himself as I believe you all have
done。 Moreover; at the very moment when I called on him to retire; he
had just raised his sword to strike an Assyrian down; but he heard my
voice; and at once he dropped his hand and did my bidding。 He sent the
word along the lines and led his division out of range before the
enemy could lay one arrow to the string or let one javelin fly。 Thus
he brought himself and his men safely out of action; because he had
learnt to obey。 '4' But some of you; I see; are wounded; and when I
hear at what moment they received their wounds I will pronounce my
opinion on their deserts。 Chrysantas I know already to be a true
soldier and a man of sense; able to command because he is able to
obey; and here and now I put him at the head of a thousand troops; nor
shall I forget him on the day when God may please to give me other
blessings。 '5' There is one reminder I would make to all。 Never let
slip the lesson of this day's encounter; and judge for yourselves
whether it is cowardice or courage that saves a man in war; whether
the fighters or the shirkers have the better chance; and what the joy
is that victory can yield。 To…day of all days you can decide; for you
have made the trial and the result is fresh。 '6' With such thoughts as
these in your hearts you will grow braver and better still。 And now
you may rest in the consciousness that you are dear to God and have
done your duty bravely and steadily; and so take your meal and make
your libations and sing the paean and be ready for the watchword。〃
So saying; Cyrus mounted his horse and galloped on to Cyaxares; and
the two rejoiced together as victors will。 And then; after a glance at
matters there and an inquiry if aught were needed; he rode back to his
own detachment。 Then the evening meal was taken and the watches were
posted and Cyrus slept with his men。
'8' Meanwhile the Assyrians; finding that their king was among the
slain and almost all his nobles with him; fell into utter despair; and
many of them deserted during the night。 And at this fear crept over
Croesus and the allies; they saw dangers on every side; and heaviest
of all was the knowledge that the leading nation; the head of the
whole expedition; had received a mortal blow。 Nothing remained but to
abandon the encampment under cover of night。 '9' Day broke; and the
camp was seen to be deserted; and Cyrus; without more ado; led his
Persians within the entrenchments; where they found the stores that
the enemy had left: herds of sheep and goats and kine; and long rows
of waggons laden with good things。 Cyaxares and his Medes followed;
and all arms took their breakfast in the camp。 '10' But when the meal
was over; Cyrus summoned his brigadiers and said to them:
〃Think what blessings we are flinging away now; spurning; as it were;
the very gifts of heaven! So at least it seems to me。 The enemy have
given us the slip; as you see with your own eyes。 Is it likely that
men who forsook the shelter of their own fortress will ever face us in
fair field on level ground? Will those who shrink from us before they
put our prowess to the test ever withstand us now when we have
overthrown and shattered them? They have lost their best and bravest;
and will the cowards dare to give us battle?〃
'11' At that one of his officers cried; 〃Why not pursue at once; if
such triumphs are before us?〃
And Cyrus answered; 〃Because we have not the horses。 The stoutest of
our enemies; those whom we must seize or slay; are mounted on steeds
that could sweep past us like the wind。 God helping us; we can put
them to flight; but we cannot overtake them。〃
'12' 〃Then;〃 said they; 〃why not go and lay the matter before
Cyaxares?〃
And he answered; 〃If so; you must all go with me; that Cyaxares may
see it is the wish of all。〃
So they all went together and spoke as they thought best。 '13' Now
Cyaxares felt; no doubt; a certain jealousy that the Persians should
be the first to broach the matter; but he may also have felt that it
was really wiser to run no further risks for the present; he had;
moreover; abandoned himself to feasting and merrymaking; and he saw
that most of his Medes were in like case。 Whatever the reason; this
was the answer he gave:
'14' 〃My good nephew; I have always heard and always seen that you
Persians of all men think it your duty never to be insatiate in the
pursuit of any pleasure; and I myself believe that the greater the joy
the more important is self…restraint。 Now what greater joy could there
be than the good fortune which waits on us to…day? '15' When fortune
comes to us; if we guard her with discretion; we may live to grow old
in peace; but if we are insatiate; if we use and abuse our pleasures;
chasing first one and then another; we may well fear lest that fate be
ours which; the proverb tells us; falls on those mariners who cannot
forgo their voyages in the pursuit of wealth; and one day the deep sea
swallows them。 Thus has many a warrior achieved one victory only to
clutch at another and lose the first。 '16' If indeed; our enemies who
have fled were weaker than we; it might be safe enough to pursue them。
But now; bethink you; how small a portion of them we have fought and
conquered; the mass have had no part in the battle; and they; if we do
not force them to fight; will take themselves off through sheer
cowardice and sloth。 As yet they know nothing of our powers or their
own; but if they learn that to fly is as dangerous as to hold their
ground; we run the risk of driving them to be brave in spite of
themselves。 '17' You may be sure they are just as anxious to save
their wives and children as you can be to capture them。 Take a lesson
from hunting: the wild sow when she is sighted will scamper away with
her young; though she be feeding with the herd; but if you attack her
little ones she will never fly; even if she is all alone; she will
turn on the hunte