had an opportunity of supplying themselves with provisions in abundance. The houses were well furnished with all sorts of brass utensils, which the Greeks forbore to plunder: neither did they pursue the inhabitants, in hope, by sparing them, to prevail on the Carduchians, since they were enemies to the king, to conduct them through their country in a friendly manner: but they took all the provisions they met with, for they were compelled to it by necessity. However, the Carduchians paid no regard to their invitations, nor showed any other symptoms of a friendly disposition; and when the rear of the Greek army was descending from the top of the mountains into the villages, it being now dark, for as the way was narrow, they spent the whole day in the ascent of the mountains, and the descent from thence into the villages, some of the Carduchians gathering together, attacked the hindmost, and killed and wounded some of them with stones and arrows. They were but few in number, for the Greek army came on them unawares. Had the enemy been more numerous at that time great part of the army had been in danger. In this manner they passed the night in the villages: the Carduchians made fires all round them on the mountains, and both had their eyes on each other.

As soon as it was day, the generals and the captains of the Greeks assembled, and resolved to reserve only those sumpter horses on their march that were necessary and most able, and to leave the rest, and dismiss all the slaves they had newly taken; for the great number of sumpter horses and slaves retarded their march; and many of their men, by having charge of these, were unfit for action. Besides, there being so many to feed, they were under a necessity of providing and carrying double the quantity of provisions.

This being resolved, they gave orders to have it put in execution.

While therefore they were on their march after dinner, the generals placed themselves in a narrow pass, and whatever they found reserved by the soldiers, contrary to order, they took away; and the men submitted, unless any of them happened privately to have retained some beautiful woman he was fond of. In this manner they marched that day, sometimes fighting, and sometimes resting themselves. The next day there was a great storm: however, they were obliged to go on; for their provisions failed them. Chirisophus led the van, and Xenophon brought up the rear. Here, the ways being narrow, the enemy made a brisk attack on them, and coming up close, discharged their arrows, and made use of their slings : so that the Greeks, sometimes pursuing, and sometimes retreating, were obliged to march slowly and Xenophon often ordered the army to halt when the enemy pressed hard on them. On one of these orders Chirisophus, who used to stand still on the like occasions, did not stop, but marched faster than usual, and ordered the men to follow. By this it appeared there was something extraordinary; but they were not at leisure to send to him to inquire the cause of this haste; so that the march of those in the rear had the resemblance more of a flight than a retreat. Here fell a brave man, Cleonymus, a Lacedæmonian, who was wounded in the side by an arrow, that made its way both through his shield and his coat of mail. Here also fell Basias, an Arcadian, whose head was pierced quite through with an arrow. When they arrived at the place where they designed to encamp, Xenophon immediately went as he was to Chirisophus, and blamed him for not stopping, but obliging the rear to fly and

fight at the same time. 'Here we have lost two brave and worthy men,' said he,' without being able either to bring them off, or to bury them.' To this Chirisophus answered,' Cast your eyes on those mountains, and observe how impassable they all are. You see there is but one road, and that a steep one. It is, you may observe, possessed too by a great multitude of men, who stand ready to defend it. For this reason I marched hastily, without staying for you, that if possible I might prevent the enemy, and make myself master of the pass; for our guides assure us there is no other road.' Xenophon replied, I have two prisoners; for when the enemy molested us in our march we placed some men in ambush, which gave us time to breath, and having killed some of them, we were also desirous of taking some alive, with this view, that we might have guides who were acquainted with the country.'

The prisoners therefore being brought before them, they questioned them separately whether they knew of any other road than that which lay before them. One of them said he knew no other, though he was threatened with divers kinds of torture. As he said nothing to the purpose he was put to death in the presence of the other. The survivor said this man pretended he did not know the other road because he had a daughter married to a man who lived there; but that he himself would undertake to conduct us through a road that was passable even for the sumpter horses. Being asked whether there was any difficult pass in that road, he said there was a summit, which if not secured in time would render the passage impracticable. On this it was thought proper to assemble the captains, the targeteers, and some of the heavy-armed men; and having informed them how matters stood, to ask them

whether any of them would show their gallantry, and voluntarily undertake this service. Two of the heavyarmed men offered themselves, Aristonymus of Methydria, and Agasias of Stymphalus, both Arcadians. But Callimachus of Parrhasia, an Arcadian, and Agasias, had a contest who should undertake it. The latter said that he would go, and take with him volunteers out of the whole army. For I am well assured,' said he, 'if I have the command, many of the youth will follow me.' After that they asked if any of the light-armed men, or of their officers, would also be of the party. On which Aristeas of Chios presented himself. He had, on many occasions of this nature, done great service to the army.

II. The day was now far advanced; so the generals ordered these to eat something and set out, and delivered the guide to them bound. It was agreed that if they made themselves masters of the summit, they should make it good that night, and as soon as it was day give them notice of it by sounding a trumpet; and that those above should charge that body of the enemy that was posted in the passage that lay before them, while those below marched up to their assistance with all the expedition they were able. When things were thus ordered they set forward, being about two thousand in number. And notwithstanding it rained most violently Xenophon marched at the head of the rearguard towards the passage before them, in order to draw the attention of the enemy that way, and conceal as much as possible the march of the detachment. When Xenophon with the rear-guard came to a valley which they were to pass, in order to climb the ascent, the barbarians rolled down vast round stones, some a ton in weight, as well as others both larger and smaller. These being dashed against the rocks in their

fall, the splinters were hurled' every way, which made it absolutely impossible to approach the road. Some of the captains despairing to gain this passage, endeavored to find out another, and employed themselves in this manner till it was dark. When they imagined they could retire without being seen, they went away to get their supper; for the rear-guard had not dined that day. However, the enemy continued to roll down stones all night, as was perceived by the noise they made in their fall. In the mean time those who marched round with the guide surprised the enemy's guard as they were sitting round a fire; and having killed some of them, and forced others down the precipice, they stayed there, thinking they had made themselves masters of the summit. But in this they were mistaken, for there was still an eminence above them, near which lay the narrow way, where the guard watched. There was indeed a passage from the post they had taken to that the enemy were possessed of in the open road. Here they remained that night.

As soon as it was day they put themselves in order, and marched in silence against the enemy; and there being a mist, came close to them before they were per

1 This word happily expresses the impetuous dispersion of the splinters, when the stones were shattered by falling against the rocks. There is a passage in Euripides where this word, without the preposition, is very beautifully, or rather dreadfully, made use of to express the scattering of the limbs of Capaneus, when he was dashed to pieces by a thunderbolt just as he was scaling the battlements of Thebes. While o'er the battlements Capaneus sprung, Jove struck him with his thunder, and the earth Resounded with the crack; meanwhile mankind Stood all aghast; from off the ladder's height His limbs were far asunder hurl'd, his hair Flew to'ards Olympus, to the ground his blood, His hands and feet whirl'd like Ixion's wheel, And to the earth his flaming body fell.'