BOOK TIIIRD. Castle Disheartening Position of the Greeks. Xenophon exhorts them. BOOK THIRD. AFT FTER the generals were apprehended, and the captains and soldiers who accompanied them put to death, the Grecks were in great distress; knowing that they were surrounded on all sides, with many nations and cities, all their enemies; that no one would any longer supply them with provisions; that they were distant from Greece above ten thousand stadia (one thousand miles), without a guide to conduct them, and their road thither intercepted by impassable rivers; that even those Persians who had served with them under Cyrus had betrayed them, and that they were now left alone without any horse to assist them. These reflections so disheartened them, that few ate anything that evening, few made fires, and many that night never came to their quarters, but laid themselves down every man in the place where he happened to be, unable to sleep through sorrow, and a longing for country, parents, wives and children, whom they never expected to see again. Well was it for them that they had in their number some whose minds were more strongly nerved, and capable of exertion in the hour of danger; and one more especially whose fortitude, energy, and judgment, were fully equal to the fearful emergency in which they stood. This was Xenophon the Athenian, and the historian of the Expedition, who describes himself, as, when the Grecks were in distress, having his share in the general sorrow, and being unable to rest. However, getting a little sleep, he dreamed that it thundered, and that a flash of lightning fell upon his paternal house, which upon that was all in a blaze. Immediately he awoke in a fright, 128 XENOPHION EXHORTS THE GREEKS. [BOOK and the first thought that occurred to him was, 'Why do I lie here? the night wears away, and as soon as the day appears, it is probable the enemy will come and attack us; and if we fall under the power of the king, what can preserve us from being spectators of the most tragical sights, from suffering the most cruel torments, and from dying with the greatest ignominy? yet no one makes preparation for defence, or takes any care about it: but here we lie, as if we were allowed to live in quiet. From what city, therefore, do I expect a general to perform these things? what age do I wait for? But, if I abandon myself to the enemy this day, I shall never live to see another.' Upon this, he rose, and first assembled the captains who had served under Proxenus; and when they were together, he said to them, 'Gentlemen! I can neither sleep (which, I suppose, is your case also), nor lio any longer, when I consider the condition to which we are reduced. For it is plain the enemy would not have declared war against us, had they not first made the necessary preparations, while on our side, none takes any care how we may resist them in the best manner possible. If we are remiss, and fall under the power of the king, what have we to expect from him, who cut off the head and hand of his brother, even after he was dead, and fixed them upon a stake? How then will he treat us, who have no support, and have made war against him, with a design to reduce him from the condition of a king to that of a subject; and, if it lay in your power, to put him to death? Will he not try the power of every extremity, to the end, that by torturing us in the most ignominious manner, he may deter all men from ever making war against him? we ought therefore to do everything rather than fall into his hands. While the peace lasted, I own I never ceased to consider ourselves as extremely miserable, and the king, with those who belonged to him, equally happy. When I cast my eyes around, and beheld how spacious and beautiful a country they were masters of, how they abounded in provisions, |