anabasis-第28节
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over the carcases。 And in its track not seldom were left to their fate disabled soldiers； struck down with snow…blindness or with toes 12 moritified by frostbite。 As to the eyes； it was some alleviation against the snow to march with something black before them； for the feet； the only remedy was to keep in motion without stopping for an instant； and to loose the sandal at night。 If they went to sleep with the sandals on； the thong worked into the feet； and the sandals were frozen fast to them。 This was partly due to the fact that； since their old sandals had failed； they wore untanned brogues made of newly…flayed ox…hides。 It was owing to some such dire necessity that a party of men fell out and were left behind； and seeing a black…looking patch of ground where the snow had evidently disappeared； they conjectured it must have been melted； and this was actually so； owing to a spring of some sort which was to be seen steaming up in a dell close by。 To this they had turned aside and sat down； and were loth to go a step further。 But Xenophon； with his rearguard； perceived them； and begged and implored them by all manner of means not to be left behind； telling them that the enemy were after them in large packs pursuing； and he ended by growing angry。 They merely bade him put a knife to their throats； not one step farther would they stir。 Then it seemed best to frighten the pursuing enemy if possible； and prevent their falling upon the invalids。 It was already dusk； and the pursuers were advancing with much noise and hubbub； wrangling and disputing over their spoils。 Then all of a sudden the rearguard； in the plenitude of health and strength＇2＇； sprang up out of their lair and run upon the enemy； whilst those weary wights＇3＇ bawled out as loud as their sick throats could sound； and clashed their spears against their shields； and the enemy in terror hurled themselves through the snow into the dell； and not one of them ever uttered a sound again。
＇2＇ Hug； after Rehdantz； would omit the words 〃in the plenitude of health and strength。〃
＇3＇ Or； 〃the invalids。〃
Xenophon and his party； telling the sick folk that next day people would come for them； set off； and before they had gone half a mile they fell in with some soldiers who had laid down to rest on the snow with their cloaks wrapped round them； but never a guard was established； and they made them get up。 Their explanation was that 19 those in front would not move on。 Passing by this group he sent forward the strongest of his light infantry in advance； with orders to find out what the stoppage was。 They reported that the whole army lay reposing in such fashion。 That being so； Xenophon's men had nothing for it but to bivouac in the open air also； without fire and supperless； merely posting what pickets they could under the circumstances。 But as soon as it drew towards day； Xenophon despatched the youngest of his men to the sick folk behind； with orders to make them get up and force them to proceed。 Meanwhile Cheirisophus had sent some of his men quartered in the village to enquire how they fared in the rear； they were overjoyed to see them； and handed over the sick folk to them to carry into camp； while they themselves continued their march forward； and ere twenty furlongs were past reached the village in which Cheirisophus was quartered。 As soon as the two divisions were met； the resolution was come to that it would be safe to billet the regiments throughout the villages； Cheirisophus remained where he was； while the rest drew lots for the villages in sight； and then； with their several detachments； marched off to their respective destinations。
It was here that Polycrates； an Athenian and captain of a company； asked for leave of absencehe wished to be off on a quest of his own； and putting himself at the head of the active men of the division； he ran to the village which had been allotted to Xenophon。 He surprised within it the villagers with their headman； and seventeen young horses which were being reared as a tribute for the king； and； last of all； the headman's own daughter； a young bride only eight days wed。 Her husband had gone off to chase hares； and so he escaped being taken with the other villagers。 The houses were underground structures with an aperture like the mouth of a well by which to enter； but they were broad and spacious below。 The entrance for the beasts of burden was dug out； but the human occupants descended by a ladder。 In these dwellings were to be found goats and sheep and cattle； and cocks and hens； with their various progeny。 The flocks and herds were all reared under cover upon green food。 There were stores within of wheat and barley and vegetables； and wine made from barley in great big bowls； 26 the grains of barley malt lay floating in the beverage up to the lip of the vessel； and reeds lay in them； some longer； some shorter； without joints； when you were thirsty you must take one of these into your mouth； and suck。 The beverage without admixture of water was very strong； and of a delicious flavour to certain palates； but the taste must be acquired。
Xenophon made the headman of the village his guest at supper； and bade him keep a good heart； so far from robbing him of his children； they would fill his house full of good things in return for what they took before they went away； only he must set them an example； and discover some blessing or other for the army； until they found themselves with another tribe。 To this he readily assented； and with the utmost cordiality showed them the cellar where the wine was buried。 For this night then； having taken up their several quarters as described； they slumbered in the midst of plenty； one and all； with the headman under watch and ward； and his children with him safe in sight。
But on the following day Xenophon took the headman and set off to Cheirisophus； making a round of the villages； and at each place turning in to visit the different parties。 Everywhere alike he found them faring sumptuously and merry…making。 There was not a single village where they did not insist on setting a breakfast before them； and on the same table were spread half a dozen dishes at least； lamb； kid； pork； veal； fowls； with various sorts of bread； some of wheat and some of barley。 When； as an act of courtesy； any one wished to drink his neighbour's health； he would drag him to the big bowl； and when there； he must duck his head and take a long pull； drinking like an ox。 The headman； they insisted everywere； must accept as a present whatever he liked to have。 But he would accept nothing； except where he espied any of his relations； when he made a point of taking them off； him or her； with himself。
When they reached Cheirisophus they found a similar scene。 There too 33 the men were feasting in their quarters； garlanded with whisps of hay and dry grass； and Armenian boys were playing the part of waiters in barbaric costumes； only they had to point out by gesture to the boys what they were to do； like deaf and dumb。 After the first formalities； when Cheirisophus and Xenophon had greeted one another like bosom friends； they interrogated the headman in common by means of the Persian…speaking interpreter。 〃What was the country？〃 they asked： he replied； 〃Armenia。〃 And again； 〃For whom are the horses being bred？〃 〃They are tribute for the king；〃 he replied。 〃And the neighbouring country？〃 〃Is the land of the Chalybes；〃 he said； and he described the road which led to it。 So for the present Xenophon went off； taking the headman back with him to his household and friends。 He also made him a present of an oldish horse which he had got； he had heard that the headman was a priest of the sun； and so he could fatten up the beast and sacrifice him； otherwise he was afraid it might die outright； for it had been injured by the long marching。 For himself he took his pick of the colts； and gave a colt apiece to each of his fellow…generals and officers。 The horses here were smaller than the Persian horses； but much more spirited。 It was here too that their friend the headman explained to them； how they should wrap small bags or sacks around the feet of the horses and other cattle when marching through the snow； for without such precautions the creatures sank up to their bellies。
VI
When a week had passed； on the eighth day Xenophon delivered over the 1 guide （that is to say； the village headman） to Cheirisophus。 He left the headman's household safe behind in the village； with the exception of his son； a lad in the bloom of youth。 This boy was entrusted to Episthenes of Amphipolis to guard； if the headman proved himself a good guide； he was to take away his son also at his departure。 They finally made his house the repository of all the good things they could contrive to get together； then they broke up their camp and commenced to march； the headman guiding them through the snow unfettered。 When they had reached the third stage Cheirisophus flew 2 into a rage with him； because he had not brought them to any villages。 The headman pleaded that there were none in this part。 Cheirisophus struck him； but forgot to bind him； and the end of it was that the headman ran away in the night and was gone； leaving his son behi
