anabasis-第41节
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of Harmene； near Sinope＇5＇。 The Sinopeans； though inhabitants of Paphlagonia； are really colonists of the Milesians。 They sent gifts of hospitality to the Hellenes； three thousand measures of barley with fifteen hundred jars of wine。 At this place Cheirisophus rejoined them with a man…of…war。 The soldiers certainly expected that； having come； he would have brought them something； but he brought them nothing； except complimentary phrases； on the part of Anaxibius； the high admiral； and the rest； who sent them their congratulations； coupled with a promise on the part of Anaxibius that； as soon as they were outside the Euxine； pay would be forthcoming。
＇5＇ Harmene； a port of Sinope； between four and five miles （fifty stades） west of that important city； itself a port town。 See Smith； 〃Dict。 Geog。；〃 〃Sinope〃； and Kiepert； op。 cit。 chap。 iv。 60。
At Harmene the army halted five days； and now that they seemed to be 17 so close to Hellas； the question how they were to reach home not empty…handed presented itself more forcibly to their minds than heretofore。 The conclusion they came to was to appoint a single general； since one man would be better able to handle the troops； by night or by day； than was possible while the generalship was divided。 If secrecy were desirable； it would be easier to keep matters dark； or if again expedition were an object； there would be less risk of arriving a day too late； since mutual explanations would be avoided； and whatever approved itself to the single judgement would at once be carried into effect； whereas previously the generals had done everything in obedience to the opinion of the majority。
With these ideas working in their minds； they turned to Xenophon； and the officers came to him and told him that this was how the soldiers viewed matters； and each of them； displaying a warmth of kindly feeling； pressed him to accept the office。 Xenophon partly would have liked to do so； in the belief that by so doing he would win to himself a higher repute in the esteem of his friends； and that his name would be reported to the city written large； and by some stroke of fortune he might even be the discoverer of some blessing to the army collectively。
These and the like considerations elated him； he had a strong desire to hold the supreme command。 But then again； as he turned the matter over； the conviction deepened in his mind that the issue of the future is to every man uncertain； and hence there was the risk of perhaps losing such reputation has he had already acquired。 He was in sore straights； and； not knowing how to decide； it seemed best to him to lay the matter before heaven。 Accordingly； he led two victims to the altar and made sacrifice to Zeus the King； for it was he and no other who had been named by the oracle at Delphi； and his belief was that the vision which he had beheld when he first essayed to undertake the joint administration of the army was sent to him by that god。 He also recalled to mind a circumstance which befell him still earlier； when 23 setting out from Ephesus to associate himself with Cyrus＇6＇；how an eagle screamed on his right hand from the east； and still remained perched； and the soothsayer who was escorting him said that it was a great and royal omen＇7＇； indicating glory and yet suffering； for the punier race of birds only attack the eagle when seated。 〃Yet；〃 added he； 〃it bodes not gain in money； for the eagle seizes his food； not when seated； but on the wing。〃
＇6＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 i。 1； an eagle appears to Cyrus on the frontiers of Persia； when about to join his uncle Cyaxares； king of Media； on his expedition against the Assyrian。
＇7＇ It is important to note that the Greek word ｛oionos｝； a solitary or lone…flying bird； also means an omen。 〃It was a mighty bird and a mighty omen。〃
Thus Xenophon sacrificed； and the god as plainly as might be gave him a sign； neither to demand the generalship； nor； if chosen； to accept the office。 And that was how the matter stood when the army met； and the proposal to elect a single leader was unanimous。 After this resolution was passed； they proposed Xenophon for election； and when it seemed quite evident that they would elect him； if he put the question to the vote； he got up and spoke as follows：
〃Sirs； I am but mortal； and must needs be happy to be honoured by you。 I thank you； and am grateful； and my prayer is that the gods may grant me to be an instrument of blessing to you。 Still； when I consider it closer； thus； in the presence of a Lacedaemonian； to be preferred by you as general； seems to me but ill conducive either to your interests or to mine； since you will the less readily obtain from them hereafter anything you may need； while for myself I look upon acceptance as even somewhat dangerous。 Do I not see and know with what persistence these Lacedaemonians prosecuted the war till finally they forced our State to acknowledge the leadership of Lacedaemon？ This confession once extorted from their antagonists； they ceased warring at once； and the seige of the city was at an end。 If； with these facts before my eyes； I seem to be doing all I can to neutralise their high self…esteem； I cannot escape the reflection that personally I may be taught wisdom by a painful process。 But with your own idea that under a single general there will be less factiousness than when there were many； be assured 29 that in choosing some other than me you will not find me factious。 I hold that whosoever sets up factious opposition to his leader factiously opposes his own safety。 While if you determine to choose me； I should not be surprised were that choice to entail upon you and me the resentment of other people。〃
After those remarks on Xenophon's part； many more got up； one after another； insisting on the propriety of his undertaking the command。 One of them； Agasias the Stymphalian； said： It was really ridiculous； if things had come to this pass that the Lacedeamonians are to fly into a rage because a number of friends have met together to dinner； and omitted to choose a Lacedaemonian to sit at the head of the table。 〃Really； if that is how matters stand；〃 said he； 〃I do not see what right we have to be officers even； we who are only Arcadians。〃 That sally brought down the plaudits of the assembly； and Xenophon； seeing that something more was needed； stepped forward again and spoke； 〃Pardon； sirs；〃 he said； 〃let me make a clean breast of it。 I swear to you by all the gods and goddesses； verily and indeed； I no sooner perceived your purpose； than I consulted the victims； whether it was better for you to entrust this leadership to me； and for me to undertake it； or the reverse。 And the gods vouchsafed a sign to me so plain that even a common man might understand it； and perceive that from such sovereignty I must needs hold myself aloof。〃
Under these circumstances they chose Cheirisophus； who； after his election； stepped forward and said： 〃Nay； sirs； be well assured of this； that had you chosen some one else； I for my part should not have set up factious opposition。 As to Xenophon； I believe you have done him a good turn by not appointing him； for even now Dexippus has gone some way in traducing him to Anaxibius； as far as it lay in his power to do so； and that； in spite of my attempts to silence him。 What he said was that he believed Xenophon would rather share the command of Clearchus's army with Timasion； a Dardanian； than with himself； a Laconian。 But；〃 continued Cheirisophus； 〃since your choice has fallen 33 upon me； I will make it my endeavour to do you all the good in my power； so make your preparations to weigh anchor to…morrow； wind and weather permitting； we will voyage to Heraclea； every one must endeavour； therefore； to put in at that port； and for the rest we will consult； when we are come thither。〃
II
The next day they weighed anchor and set sail from Harmene with a fair 1 breeze； two days' voyage along the coast。 ＇As they coasted along they came in sight of Jason's beach＇1＇； where； as the story says； the ship Argo came to moorings； and then the mouths of the rivers； first the Thermodon； then the Iris； then the Halys； and next to it the Parthenius。＇ Coasting past ＇the latter＇； they reached Heraclea＇2＇； a Hellenic city and a colony of the Megarians； situated in the territory of the Mariandynians。 So they came to achorage off the Acherusian Chersonese； where Heracles＇3＇ is said to have descended to bring up the dog Cerberus； at a point where they still show the marks of his descent； a deep cleft more than two furlongs down。 Here the Heracleots sent the Hellenes； as gifts of hospitality； three thousand measures of barley and two thousand jars of wine； twenty beeves and one hundred sheep。 Through the flat country here flows the Lycus river； as it is called； about two hundred feet in breadth。
＇1＇ I have left this passage in the text； although it involves； at first sight； a topographical error on the part of whoever wrote it； and Hug and other commentators regard it as spurious。 Jason's beach （the modern Yasoun Bouroun） and the three first…named rivers lie between Cotyora and Sinope。 Possibly the author； or one of his editors； somewhat loosely inserted a recapit
