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On arrival at the doors of Tissaphernes's quarters the generals were summoned inside。 They were Proxenus the Boeotian; Menon the Thessalian; Agias the Arcadian; Clearchus the Laconian; and Socrates the Achaean; while the captains remained at the doors。 Not long after that; at one and the same signal; those within were seized and those without cut down; after which some of the barbarian horsemen galloped over the plain; killing every Hellene they encountered; bond or free。   32 The Hellenes; as they looked from the camp; viewed that strange horsemanship with surprise; and could not explain to themselves what it all meant; until Nicarchus the Arcadian came tearing along for bare life with a wound in the belly; and clutching his protruding entrails in his hands。 He told them all that had happened。 Instantly the Hellenes ran to their arms; one and all; in utter consternation; and fully expecting that the enemy would instantly be down upon the camp。 However; they did not all come; only Ariaeus came; and Artaozus and Mithridates; who were Cyrus's most faithful friends; but the interpreter of the Hellenes said he saw and recognised the brother of Tissaphernes also with them。 They had at their back other Persians also; armed with cuirasses; as many as three hundred。 As soon as they were within a short distance; they bade any general or captain of the Hellenes who might be there to approach and hear a message from the king。 After this; two Hellene generals went out with all precaution。 These were Cleanor the Orchomenian'3'; and Sophaenetus the Stymphalion; attended by Xenophon the Athenian; who went to learn news of Proxenus。 Cheirisophus was at the time away in a village with a party gathering provisions。 As soon as they had halted within earshot; Ariaeus said: 〃Hellenes; Clearchus being shown to have committed perjury and to have broken the truce; has suffered the penalty; and he is dead; but Proxenus and Menon; in return for having given information of his treachery; are in high esteem and honour。 As to yourselves; the king demands your arms。 He claims them as his; since they belonged to Cyrus; who was his slave。〃 To this the Hellenes made answer by the mouth of Cleanor of Orchomenus; their spokesman; who said; addressing Ariaeus: 〃Thou villain; Ariaeus; and you the rest of you; who were Cyrus's friends; have you no shame before God or man; first to swear to us that you have the same friends and the same enemies as we ourselves; and then to turn and betray us; making common cause with Tissaphernes; that most impious and villainous of men? With him you have murdered the very men to whom you gave your solemn word and oath; and to the rest of us turned traitors; and; having so done;   39 you join hand with our enemies to come against us。〃 Ariaeus answered: 〃There is no doubt but that Clearchus has been known for some time to harbour designs agaisnt Tissaphernes and Orontas; and all of us who side with them。〃 Taking up this assertion; Xenophon said: 〃Well; then; granting that Clearchus broke the truce contrary to our oaths; he has his deserts; for perjurers deserve to perish; but where are Proxenus and Menon; our generals and your good friends and benefactors; as you admit? Send them back to us。 Surely; just because they are friends of both parites; they will try to give us the best advice for you and for us。〃

At this; the Asiatics stood discussing with one another for a long while; and then they went away without vouchsafing a word。



VI

The generals who were thus seized were taken up to the king and there   1 decapitated。 The first of these; Clearchus; was a thorough soldier; and a true lover of fighting。 This is the testimony of all who knew him intimately。 As long as the war between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians lasted; he could find occupation at home; but after the peace; he persuaded his own city that the Thracians were injuring the Hellenes; and having secured his object; set sail; empowered by the ephorate to make war upon the Thracians north of the Chersonese and Perinthus。 But he had no sooner fairly started than; for some reason or other; the ephors changed their minds; and endeavoured to bring him back again from the isthmus。 Thereupon he refused further obedience; and went off with sails set for the Hellespont。 In consequence he was condemned to death by the Spartan authorities for disobedience to orders; and now; finding himself an exile; he came to Cyrus。 Working on the feelings of that prince; in language described elsewhere; he received from his entertainer a present of ten thousand darics。 Having got this money; he did not sink into a life of ease and indolence; but collected an army with it; carried on war against the Thracians; and    5 conquered them in battle; and from that date onwards harried and plundered them with war incessantly; until Cyrus wanted his army; whereupon he at once went off; in hopes of finding another sphere of warfare in his company。

These; I take it; were the characteristic acts of a man whose affections are set on warfare。 When it is open to him to enjoy peace with honour; no shame; no injury attached; still he prefers war; when he may live at home at ease; he insists on toil; if only it may end in fighting; when it is given to him to keep his riches without risk; he would rather lessen his fortune by the pastime of battle。 To put it briefly; war was his mistress; just as another man will spend his fortune on a favourite; or to gratify some pleasure; so he chose to squander his substance on soldiering。

But if the life of a soldier was a passion with him; he was none the less a soldier born; as herein appears; danger was a delight to him; he courted it; attacking the enemy by night or by day; and in difficulties he did not lose his head; as all who ever served in a campaign with him would with one consent allow。 A good solder! the question arises; Was he equally good as a commander? It must be admitted that; as far as was compatible with his quality of temper; he was; none more so。 Capable to a singular degree of devising how his army was to get supplies; and of actually getting them; he was also capable of impressing upon those about him that Clearchus must be obeyed; and that he brought about by the very hardness of his nature。 With a scowling expression and a harshly…grating voice; he chastised with severity; and at times with such fury; that he was sorry afterwards himself for what he had done。 Yet it was not without purpose that he applied the whip; he had a theory that there was no good to be got out of an unchastened army。 A saying of his is recorded to the effect that the soldier who is to mount guard and keep his hands off his friends; and be ready to dash without a moment's hesitation against the foemust fear his commander more than the enemy。 Accordingly; in any strait; this was the man whom the soldiers were eager to obey; and they would have no other in his place。 The      11 cloud which lay upon his brow; at those times lit up with brightness; his face became radiant; and the old sternness was so charged with vigour and knitted strength to meet the foe; that it savoured of salvation; not of cruelty。 But when the pinch of danger was past; and it was open to them to go and taste subordination under some other officer; many forsook him。 So lacking in grace of manner was he; but was ever harsh and savage; so that the feeling of the soldiers towards him was that of schoolboys to a master。 In other words; though it was not his good fortune ever to have followers inspired solely by friendship or goodwill; yet those who found themselves under him; either by State appointment or through want; or other arch necessity; yielded him implicit obedience。 From the moment that he led them to victory; the elements which went to make his soldiers efficient were numerous enough。 There was the feeling of confidence in facing the foe; which never left them; and there was the dread of punishment at his hands to keep them orderly。 In this way and to this extent he knew how to rule; but to play a subordinate part himself he had no great taste; so; at any rate; it was said。 At the time of his death he must have been about fifty years of age。

Proxenus; the Boeotian; was of a different temperament。 It had been the dream of his boyhood to become a man capable of great achievements。 In obedience to this passionate desire it was; that he paid his fee to Gorgias of Leontini'1'。 After enojoying that teacher's society; he flattered himself that he must be at once qualified to rule; and while he was on friendly terms with the leaders of the age; he was not to be outdone in reciprocity of service'2'。 In this mood he  17 threw himself into the projects of Cyrus; and in return expected to derive from this essay the reward of a great name; large power; and wide wealth。 But for all that he pitched his hopes so high; it was none the less evident that he would refuse to gain any of the ends he set before him wrongfully。 Righteously and honourably he would obtain them; if he might; or else forego them。 As a commander he had the art of leading gentlemen; but he failed to inspire adequately either respect for himself or fear in the soldiers under him。 Indeed; he showed a more delicate regard for his soldiers

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