anabasis-第45节

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！


le。　Whereupon　Xenophon　addressed　the　other　generals：　〃I　would　advise；　sirs；　that　we　should　detach　one　or　more　flying　columns　to　support　our　main　attack；　so　that　in　case　of　need　at　any　point　we　may　have　reserves　in　readiness　to　assist　our　main　body；　and　the　enemy；　in　the　confusion　of　battle；　may　find　himself　attacking　the　unbroken　lines　of　troops　not　hitherto　engaged。〃　These　views　approved　themselves　to　all。　〃Do　you　then；〃　said　he；　〃lead　on　the　vanguard　straight　at　the　enemy。　Do　not　let　us　stand　parleying　here；　now　that　we　have　caught　sight　of　him　and　he　of　us。　I　will　detach　the　hindmost　companies　in　the　way　we　have　decided　upon　and　follow　you。〃　After　that　they　quietly　advanced；　and　he；　withdrawing　the　rear…rank　companies　in　three　brigades　consisting　of　a　couple　of　hundred　men　apiece；　commissioned　the　first　on　the　right　to　follow　the　main　body　at　the　distance　of　a　hundred　feet。　Samolas　the　Achaean　was　in　command　of　this　brigade。　The　duty　of　the　second；　under　the　command　of　Pyrrhias　the　Arcadian；　was　to　follow　in　the　centre。　The　last　was　posted　on　the　left；　with　Phrasias；　an　Athenian；　in　command。　As　they　advanced；　the　vanguard　reached　a　large　and　difficult　woody　glen；　and　halted；　not　knowing　whether　the　obstacle　needed　to　be　crossed　or　not。　They　passed　down　the　word　for　the　generals　and　officers　to　come　forward　to　the　front。　Xenophon；　wondering　what　it　was　that　stopped　the　march；　and　presently　hearing　the　above　order　passed　along　the　ranks；　rode　up　with　all　speed。　As　soon　as　they　were　met；　Sophaenetus；　as　the　eldest　general；　stated　his　opinion　that　the　question；　whether　a　gully　of　that　kind　ought　to　be　crossed　or　not；　was　not　worth　discussing。　Xenophon；　with　some　ardour；　retorted：　〃You　know；　sirs；　I　have　not　been　in　the　habit　hitherto　of　introducing　you　to　danger　which　you　might　avoid。　It　is　not　your　reputation　for　courage　surely　that　is　at　stake；　but　your　　　　14　safe　return　home。　But　now　the　matter　stands　thus：　It　is　impossible　to　retire　from　this　point　without　a　battle；　if　we　do　not　advance　against　the　enemy　ourselves；　he　will　follow　us　as　soon　as　we　have　turned　our　backs　and　attack　us。　Consider；　then；　is　it　better　to　go　and　meet　the　foe　with　arms　advanced；　or　with　arms　reversed　to　watch　him　as　he　assails　us　on　our　rear？　You　know　this　at　any　rate；　that　to　retire　before　an　enemy　has　nothing　glorious　about　it；　whereas　attack　engenders　courage　even　in　a　coward。　For　my　part；　I　would　rather　at　any　time　attack　with　half　my　men　than　retreat　with　twice　the　number。　As　to　these　fellows；　if　we　attack　them；　I　am　sure　you　do　not　really　expect　them　to　await　us；　though；　if　we　retreat；　we　know　for　certain　they　will　be　emboldened　to　pursue　us。　Nay；　if　the　result　of　crossing　is　to　place　a　difficult　gully　behind　us　when　we　are　on　the　point　of　engaging；　surely　that　is　an　advantage　worth　seizing。　At　least；　if　it　were　left　to　me；　I　would　choose　that　everything　should　appear　smooth　and　passable　to　the　enemy；　which　may　invite　retreat；　but　for　ourselves　we　may　bless　the　ground　which　teaches　us　that　except　in　victory　we　have　no　deliverance。　It　astonishes　me　that　any　one　should　deem　this　particular　gully　a　whit　more　terrible　than　any　of　the　other　barriers　which　we　have　successfully　passed。　How　impassable　was　the　plain；　had　we　failed　to　conquer　their　cavalry！　how　insurmountable　the　mountains　already　traversed　by　us；　with　all　their　peltasts　in　hot　pursuit　at　our　heels！　Nay；　when　we　have　safely　reached　the　sea；　the　Pontus　will　present　a　somewhat　formidable　gully；　when　we　have　neither　vessels　to　convey　us　away　nor　corn　to　keep　us　alive　whilst　we　stop。　But　we　shall　no　sooner　be　there　than　we　must　be　off　again　to　get　provisions。　Surely　it　is　better　to　fight　to…day　after　a　good　breakfast　than　to…morrow　on　an　empty　stomach。　Sirs；　the　offerings　are　favourable　to　us；　the　omens　are　propitious；　the　victims　more　than　promising；　let　us　attack　the　enemy！　Now　that　they　have　had　a　good　look　at　us；　these　fellows　must　not　be　allowed　to　enjoy　their　dinners　or　choose　a　camp　at　their　own　sweet　will。〃

After　that　the　officers　bade　him　lead　on。　None　gainsaid；　and　he　led　the　way。　His　orders　were　to　cross　the　gully；　where　each　man　chanced　to　　22　find　himself。　By　this　method；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　the　troops　would　more　quickly　mass　themselves　on　the　far　side　than　was　possible；　if　they　defiled　along＇1＇　the　bridge　which　spanned　the　gully。　But　once　across　he　passed　along　the　line　and　addressed　the　troops：　〃Sirs；　call　to　mind　what　by　help　of　the　gods　you　have　already　done。　Bethink　you　of　the　battles　you　have　won　at　close　quarters　with　the　foe；　of　the　fate　which　awaits　those　who　flee　before　their　foes。　Forget　not　that　we　stand　at　the　very　doors　of　Hellas。　Follow　in　the　steps　of　Heracles；　our　guide；　and　cheer　each　the　other　onwards　by　name。　Sweet　were　it　surely　by　some　brave　and　noble　word　or　deed；　spoken　or　done　this　day；　to　leave　the　memory　of　oneself　in　the　hearts　of　those　one　loves。〃

＇1＇　Lit。　〃had　they　wound　off　thread　by　thread〃；　the　metaphor　is　from　　　　　unwinding　a　ball　of　wool。

These　words　were　spoken　as　he　rode　past；　and　simultaneously　he　began　leading　on　the　troops　in　battle　line；　and；　placing　the　peltasts　on　either　flank　of　the　main　body；　they　moved　against　the　enemy。　Along　the　line　the　order　had　sped　〃to　keep　their　spears　at　rest　on　the　right　shoulder　until　the　bugle　signal；　then　lower　them　for　the　charge；　slow　march；　and　even　pace；　no　one　to　quicken　into　a　run。〃　Lastly；　the　watchword　was　passed；　〃Zeus　the　Saviour；　Heracles　our　Guide。〃　The　enemy　waited　their　approach；　confident　in　the　excellence　of　his　position；　but　as　they　drew　closer　the　Hellene　light　troops；　with　a　loud　alala！　without　waiting　for　the　order；　dashed　against　the　foe。　The　latter；　on　their　side；　came　forward　eagerly　to　meet　the　charge；　both　the　cavalry　and　the　mass　of　the　Bithynians；　and　these　turned　the　peltasts。　But　when　with　counter…wave　the　phalanx　of　the　heavy　infantry　rapidly　advancing；　faced　them；　and　at　the　same　time　the　bugle　sounded；　and　the　battle　hymn　rose　from　all　lips；　and　after　this　a　loud　cheer　rose；　and　at　the　same　instant　they　couched　their　spears；at　this　conjuncture　the　enemy　no　longer　welcomed　them；　but　fled。　Timasion　with　his　cavalry　followed　close；　and；　considering　their　scant　numbers；　they　did　great　execution。　It　was　the　left　wing　of　the　enemy；　in　a　line　with　which　the　Hellene　cavalry　were　posted；　that　was　so　speedily　scattered。　But　the　right；　which　was　not　so　hotly　pursued；　collected　upon　a　knoll；　　28　and　when　the　Hellenes　saw　them　standing　firm；　it　seemed　the　easiest　and　least　dangerous　course　to　go　against　them　at　once。　Raising　the　battle　hymn；　they　straightway　fell　upon　them；　but　the　others　did　not　await　their　coming。　Thereupon　the　peltasts　gave　chase　until　the　right　of　the　enemy　was　in　its　turn　scattered；　though　with　slight　loss　in　killed；　for　the　enemy's　cavalry　was　numerous　and　threatening。

But　when　the　Hellenes　saw　the　cavalry　of　Pharnabazus　still　standing　in　compact　order；　and　the　Bithynian　horsemen　massing　together　as　if　to　join　it；　and　like　spectators　gazing　down　from　a　knoll　at　the　occurrences　below；　though　weary；　they　determined　to　attack　the　enemy　as　best　they　could；　and　not　suffer　him　to　recover　breath　with　reviving　courage。　So　they　formed　in　compact　line　and　advanced。　Thereupon　the　hostile　cavalry　turned　and　fled　down　the　steep　as　swiftly　as　if　they　had　been　pursued　by　cavalry。　In　fact　they　sought　the　shelter　of　a　gully；　the　existence　of　which　was　unknown　to　the　Hellenes。　The　latter　accordingly　turned　aside　too　soon　and　gave　up　the　chase；　for　it　was　too　late。　Returning　to　the　point　where　the　first　encounter　took　place　they　erected　a　trophy；　and　went　back　to　the　sea　about　sunset。　It　was　something　like　seven　miles　to　camp。



VI

After　this　the　enemy　confined　themselves　to　their　own　concerns；　and　　　　　1　removed　their　households　and　property　as　far　away　as　possible。　The　Hellenes；　on　their　side；　were　still　awaiting　the　arrival　of　Cleander　with　the　ships　of　war　and　transports；　which　ought　to　be　there　soon。　So　each　day　they　went　out　with　the　baggage　animals　and　slaves　and　fearlessly　brought　in　wheat　and　barley；　wine　and　vegetables；　millet　and　figs；　since　the　district　produced　all　good　things；　the　olive　alone　excepted。　When　the　army　stayed　in　camp　to　rest；　pillaging　parties　were　allowed　to　go　out；　and　those　who　went　out　appropriated　the　spoils；　but　when　the　whole　army　went　out；　if　any　one　went　off　apart　and　seized　　　　　　2　anything；　it　was　voted　to　be　public　property。　Ere　long　there　was　an　ample　abundance　of　supplies　of　all　sorts；　for　marketables　arrived　from　Hellenic　cities　on　all　sides；　and　marts　were　established。　Mariners　coasting　by；　and　hearing　that　a　city　was　being　founded　and　that　there　was　a　harbour；　were　glad　to　put　in。　Even　the　hostile　tribes　dwelling　in　the　neighbourhood　presently　began　to　send　envoys　to　Xenophon。　It　was　he　who　was　forming　the　place　into　a　city；　as　they　understood；　and　they　would　be　glad　to　learn　on　what　terms　they　might　secure　his　friendship。　He　made　a　point　of　introducing　these　visitors　to　the　soldiers。

Meanwhile　Cleander　arrived　with　two　ships　of　war；　but　not　a　single　transport。　At　the　moment　of　his　arrival；　as　it　happened；　the　army　had　taken　the　field；　and　a　separate　party　had　gone　off　on　a　pillaging　expedition　into　the　hills　and　had　captured　a