hardened by toil； trained by their long discipline； every man in the
front a leader； and all of them alert。 They had laid to heart the
lesson of many a day that it was always safest and easiest to meet
enemies at close quarters； especially archers； javelin…men； and
cavalry。 ＇58＇ While they were still out of range； Cyrus sent the
watchword along the lines； 〃Zeus our help and Zeus our leader。〃 And as
soon as it was returned to him； he sounded the first notes of the
battle…paean； and the men took up the hymn devoutly； in one mighty
chorus。 For at such times those who fear the gods have less fear of
their fellow…men。 ＇59＇ And when the chant was over； the Peers of
Persia went forward side by side； radiant； high…bred； disciplined； a
band of gallant comrades； they looked into each other's eyes； they
called each other by name； with many a cheery cry； 〃Forward； friends；
forward； gallant gentlemen！〃 And the rear…ranks heard the call； and
sent back a ringing cheer； bidding the van lead on。 The whole army of
Cyrus was brimming with courage and zeal and strength and hardihood
and comradeship and self…control； more terrible； I imagine； to an
opponent than aught else could be。 ＇60＇ On the Assyrian side； those in
the van who fought from the chariots； as soon as the mass of the
Persian force drew near； leapt back and drove to their own main body；
but the archers； javelin…men； and slingers； let fly long before they
were in range。 ＇61＇ And as the Persians steadily advanced； stepping
over the spent missiles； Cyrus called to his men：
〃Forward now； bravest of the brave！ Show us what your pace can be！〃
They caught the word and passed it on； and in their eagerness and
passion for the fray some of the leaders broke into a run； and the
whole phalanx followed at their heels。 ＇62＇ Cyrus himself gave up the
regular march and dashed forward at their head； shouting：
〃Brave men to the front！ Who follows me？ Who will lay the first
Assyrian low？〃
At this the men behind took up the shout till it rang through the
field like a battle…cry： 〃Who follows？ Brave men to the front！〃 ＇63＇
Thus the Persians closed。 But the enemy could not hold their ground；
they turned and fled to their entrenchments。 ＇64＇ The Persians swept
after them； many a warrior falling as they crowded in at the gates or
tumbled into the trenches。 For in the rout some of the chariots were
carried into the fosse； and the Persians sprang down after them and
slew man and horse where they fell。 ＇65＇ Then the Median troopers；
seeing how matters stood； charged the Assyrian cavalry； who swerved
and broke before them； chased and slaughtered； horse and rider； by
their conquerors。 ＇66＇ Meanwhile the Assyrians within the camp； though
they stood upon the breastworks； had neither wit nor power to draw bow
or fling spear against the destroyers； dazed as they were by their
panic and the horror of the sight。 Then came the tidings that the
Persians had cut their way through to the gates； and at that they fled
from the breastworks。 ＇67＇ The women； seeing the rout in the camp；
fell to wailing and lamentations； running hither and thither in utter
dismay； young maidens； and mothers with children in their arms；
rending their garments and tearing their cheeks and crying on all they
met； 〃Leave us not； save us； save your children and yourselves！〃 ＇68＇
Then the princes gathered the trustiest men and stood at the gates；
fighting on the breastworks themselves； and urging their troops to
make a stand。 ＇69＇ Cyrus； seeing this； and fearing that if his handful
of Persians forced their way into the camp they would be overborne by
numbers； gave the order to fall back out of range。 ＇70＇ Then was shown
the perfect discipline of the Peers； at once they obeyed the order and
passed it on at once。 And when they were all out of range they halted
and reformed their ranks； better than any chorus could have done；
every man of them knowing exactly where he ought to be。
NOTES
C1。6。 Oriental in feeling； situation well realised。 Hellenic =
Oriental； also in part perhaps。 Also； we know the Oriental through the
medium of Greek to a great extent （cf。 Greek Testament； and earlier
still LXX。）。
C1。8； init。 Cf。 Joseph and his brethren for this hardening of his
heart。
C1。11。 Hellenic political ethics = modern in this matter； apart from
modern theory of nationalism； i。e。 right of nations to exist free。
C1。12。 Quite after the manner of an advocate in a Greek law…court； but
also Oriental （cf。 David and Nathan the seer）。
C1。24。 Fear of exile； autobiographical touch？ Is anything passing
through the mind of Xenophon？ I dare say there is。 ＇Xenophon was
banished from his native city of Athens because of his friendship with
Sparta and with Cyrus the Younger。 See Works； Vol。 I。 p。 xcix。＇
C1。33； fin。 3000 talents。 Something under ￡750；000。
C1。35。 Cyrus drives home the conscience of indebtedness /à la/ Portia
v。 Shylock。 N。B。Humorous also and an Oriental tinge。
C1。38。 One can't help thinking of Socrates and the people of Athens
here。 If so； this is a quasi…apology for the Athenian /bons pères de
famille/ who condemned Socrates。 Beautiful story of the sophist
teacher's last injunction to Tigranes。
C1。40…41。 What smiles after tears！ Like a sunny day succeeding clouds
and blackness。 A pretty story this； of the wife of Tigranes。
/Xenophon's women：/ this one； Pantheia； Croesus' wife； the wife of
Ischomachus （/Economist/）； the daughter of Gobryas。
C2。12。 Archaeologically interesting。 N。B。Humanity towards wounded；
Hellenic。 Xenophon's own strategy in the /Anabasis/ is probably the
prototype。
C2。15。 For Hellenic and Xenophontine religiousness。 The
incalculableness of human life： God fulfils himself in many unforeseen
ways。 N。B。Irony also of the situation； since Cyrus doesn't intend
the Armenian to triumph over the Chaldaean in the way he anticipates。
C2。20。 Note how Socratically it is made to work itself out。
C3。 Cyrus； the Archic Man； the 〃born ruler；〃 is also the diplomatic
man （cf。； no doubt； Gladstone）； a diplomacy based on organic economic
sense and friendly…naturedness。
C3。10。 Xenophon's theory of fraternity in action； all petty jealousies
brushed aside。
＇C3。11。 The 〃captains…of…twelve〃 and the 〃captains…of…six〃 are the
same officers as those called elsewhere 〃captains…of…ten〃 and
〃captains…of…five〃 （cf。 above Bk。 II。 C2。21 note）。 The titles vary
because sometimes the officers themselves are included in the squads
and sometimes not。＇
C3。19。 Nice touch； quoting his father as an authority。
C3。40。 With garlands； like the Spartans。 Was it conceivably a Persian
custom too？
C3。44。 Assyrian's speech； not a bad one； though platitudinous。
Xenophon's dramatic form is shown in the intellectual and emotional
side of his characters； rather than by the diction in their mouths； is
it not？
C3。51…52。 Most important for Xenophon； Educationalist。 Cyrus on the
powerlessness of a speech to create valour in the soul of the
untrained： there must be a physical； moral； and spiritual training
there beforehand。 The speech is in Xenophon's best earnest rhetorical
style。
C3。57。 The march into battle； /vide/ Milton。 A beautiful bit of word…
painting。
C3。58。 Cf。 the Prussian army singing a hymn ＇in 1870＇。
BOOK IV
＇C。1＇ Cyrus waited； with his troops as they were； long enough to show
that he was ready to do battle again if the enemy would come out； but
as they did not stir he drew the soldiers off as far as he thought
well； and there encamped。 He had guards posted and scouts sent
forward； and then he gathered his warriors round him and spoke to them
as follows：
＇2＇ 〃Men of Persia； first and foremost I thank the gods of heaven with
all my soul and strength； and I know you render thanks with me； for we
have won salvation and victory； and it is meet and right to thank the
gods for all that comes to us。 But in the next place I must praise
you； one and all； it is through you all that this glorious work has
been accomplished； and when I have learnt what each man's part has
been from those whose place it is to tell me； I will do my best to
give each man his due； in word and deed。 ＇3＇ But I need none to tell
me the exploits of your brigadier Chrysantas； he was next to me in the
battle and I could see that he bore himself as I believe you all have
done。 Moreover； at the very moment when I called on him to retire； he
had just raised his sword to strike an Assyrian down； but he heard my
voice； and at once he dropped his hand and did my bidding。 He sent the
word along the lines and led his division out of range before the
enemy could lay one arrow to the string or let one javelin fly。 Thus
he brought himself and his men safely out of action； because he had
learnt to obey。 ＇4＇ But some of you； I see； are wounded； and when I
hear at what moment they received their wounds I will pronounce my
opinion on their deserts。 Chrysantas I know already to be a true
soldier and a man of sense； able to command because he is able to
obey； and here and now I put him at the head of a thousand troops； nor
shall I forget him on the day when God may please to give me other
blessings。 ＇5＇ There is one reminder I would make to all。 Never let
slip the lesson of this day's encounter； and judge for yourselves
whether it is cowardice or courage that saves a man in war； whether
the fighters or the shirkers have the better chance； and what the joy
is that victory can yield。 To…day of all days you can decide； for you
have made the trial and the result is fresh。 ＇6＇ With such thoughts as
these in your hearts you will grow braver and better still。 And now
you may rest in the consciousness that you are dear to God and have
done your duty bravely and steadily； and so take your meal and make
your libations and sing the paean and be ready for the watchword。〃
So saying； Cyrus mounted his horse and galloped on to Cyaxares； and
the two rejoiced together as victors will。 And then； after a glance at
matters there and an inquiry if aught were needed； he rode back to his
own detachment。 Then the evening meal was taken and the watches were
posted and Cyrus slept with his men。
＇8