BOOK SECOND.

Heralds arrive from Artaxerxes. Grecks return to Camp of Ariæus. Oath of Alliance. March to Babylonian Villages. Pass many Canals. Plain of Babylonia. Procrastination of Tissaphernes. Wall of Media. Direction of tho Wall. Nonexistence of two Walls. Marches on Plain of Babylonia. Canals from the Tigris. Sitace. Distance from Opis. Apolloniatis and Sitacene. Bridge on the Tigris. Opis. Mouth of Physcus. Ancient Bed of Tigris. Villages of Parysatis. Cœnæ or Scena, city of the Scenite Arabs. Tékrit. Sénn. Zabatus, Great Zab. Interview of Clearchus and Tissaphornes. Massacre of the Greeks. Death of Clearchus. Retributive Punishment of Menon.

BOOK SECOND.

IN N the foregoing book,' says Xenophon, we have shewn by what means Cyrus raised an army of Greeks, when he marched against his brother Artaxerxes; what was performed during his march, and in what manner the battle was fought; how Cyrus was killed; and the Greeks, thinking they had gained a complete victory, and that Cyrus was alive, returned to their camp, and betook themselves to rest.'

As soon as the day approached, the generals, being assembled, wondered that Cyrus neither sent them any orders, nor appeared himself; they resolved, therefore, to collect what was left of their baggage, and armed themselves to move forwards in order to join Cyrus; but just as they were on the point of marching, and as soon as the sun was risen, two Persians came to them and announced that Cyrus was dead, and that Ariaus had left the field, and had retired with the rest of the troops to the camp they had left the day before, and where he said he would stay for them that day, if they thought fit to come; but that the next he should return to Icnia, whence he came. The generals and the rest of the Greeks hearing this were greatly afflicted; and Clearchus exclaimed with astonishment, Would to God Cyrus was alive! but since he is dead, let Ariæus know that we have overcome the king, and that if he will come hither, we will place him on the throne. After he had said this, he sent back the messengers with Cheirisophus, and, at his own desire, Menon; making provisions during their absence as well as he could, by killing the oxen and asses that belonged to the baggage, and making use of the Persian arrows, bucklers, and the

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HERALDS FROM ARTAXERXES.

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Egyptian shields, that were made of wood, besides a great many targets and empty waggons, for fire-wood.

The same evening heralds arrived from Artaxerxes claiming the victory, and ordering the Greeks to deliver up their arms, and repair to court, to obtain favourable terms from the king. The Greeks, as might naturally be expected, were highly indignant at this specimen of Persian pride, and Clearchus answered, that it was not the part of conquerors to deliver up their arms. Having retired under pretence of inspecting the entrails of a victim, Clearchus was followed by Cleanor the Arcadian in nearly the same strain, and then by Xenophon. It is stated that the resolution of all present was not equal to the bold defiance uttered by these chieftains. Clearchus having returned, endeavoured, by appealing to Phalinus, a Greek in the service of Artaxerxes, who acted as interpreter, to get him himself to advise them not to give up their arms, but Phalinus persisted in the same line of argument. Clearchus then finished the discussion by remarking, that 'if it is proposed we should be friends to the king, we shall be more valuable friends by preserving our arms than by parting with them; and if we are to go to war with him, wo shall make war with greater advantage by keeping our arms than by delivering them!" Phalinus then said, that the king had also ordered him to let it be known, that if the Greeks stayed where they were, they would have peace, but if they advanced or marched back, they must expect war. To this, several times repeated, Clearchus answered: 'If we stay, there may be peace, but if we march back, or advance, war.'

In the meantime, Proclus and Cheirisophus came from Ariæus, leaving Menon with him, and brought word that Ariæus said, there were many Persians of greater consideration than himself, who would never suffer him to be their king, but desires, if you propose marching away with him, that you will come to him to-night, if not, he says he will depart the next morning early.

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Clearchus answered, What you advise is very proper, if we join him; if not, do whatever you think expedient to your advantage.' After this, when it was sun-set, he assembled the generals and captains, and told them the victims forbad proceeding against the king, between whom and them was now interposed the river Tigris, only to be passed on boats, and that they should repair to supper, and prepare at the first sound of the horn to pack up, at the second to load the horses, and at the third to start the baggage marching next to the river, and the heavy-armed men covering it. In this manner Clearchus led them to the camp of Ariæus; three hundred Thracian foot, and forty horse, under Miltocythes, having deserted to the king.

The Persians and Greeks, although at the midnight hour, made a sacrifice of a boar, a bull, a wolf, and a ram, and mixing the blood together in the hollow of a shield, the Greeks dipped a sword therein, and the Barbarians a spear, and each took an oath not to betray one another, and to become allies. The Persians also swore that they would conduct the Greeks without deceit, an oath which was afterwards but too shamefully broken.

This ceremony being over, Aricus, who had no doubt been already tampered with by the king, in answer to a remark by Clearchus, pointed out the evils they had suffered on their way to Babylon, and the impossibility, from the dearth of provisions, of returning by the same road; so that he proposed that they should take a longer way, but on which there would be no want of provisions, and at the same time that they should make their marches as long as possible, in order to gain two or three days' march upon the king.

The Greeks, coinciding in this view, the march was begun as soon as it was day, having the sun on their right, so marching northwards, expecting to arrive by sun-set at some village that lay in the country of Babylon; and in this they were not mistaken. As evening advanced, they