The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. III.

How he brought off the Grecian Army.

* 1.1 THe Greeks finding themselves in such a strait, were in despair ever to see their Country again. Xenophon cal∣ling together the Officers of Proxenus, told them,

They were not to expect any mercy from the King, who had shewen none to the body of his dead brother, having fastned his head and hand to a Gibbet, and that they must reslove to put their safetie in their armes.

Apollonides a B••eotian al∣ledg'd, that there was no means of safety but in the Kings fa∣vour

and began to reckon the dangers wherewith they were surrounded. Xenophon answered.

That when upon the death of Cyrus, they marched up to the Kings armies, he laboured for a cessation, but when their Captains went to him unarm∣ed, he abused them; and that Apollonides deserved to be ca∣shierd, as the dishonour of his Nation.

Agasthias replyed, (which words Laertius ascribes to Xenophon)

he was an incon∣siderable fellow, whose ears were boared as the slaves of Ly∣dia: So they turned him out.

Having called together all the Commanders, Xenophon advised them to chuse new in the room of those that were lost, of whom he was elected in the place of Proxenus: Hereupon he put on his richest habit, as fittest either for death or victory, for* 1.2 his greatest delight was in fair polished armes, affirming, that if he overcame, he deserved such, if he were overcome and died in the field, they would decently expresse his quality, and were the fittest sepulchrall ornaments of a valiant man. His shield was of Argos, his breast∣plate of Altica, his helmet of B••eotia, his horse of Epidaurium; whereby Aelian argued the elegance of the person, in choosing such things as were fair, and esteeming him worthy of such. Thus adorned, he made an oration to the Army, advising them (from the examples of their late commanders) not to trust the enemy, but in order to their return, to burn their Cariages, and Tents: this advice was put in execution; Cherisophus a Lacedae∣monian had charge of the Van, Xenophon of the Reer, chosen (saith) Chio as well for his courage as wisdome, being in both excellent: betwixt these two there grew so great a friendship, that in all the time of the retreat they never had but one diffe∣rence; their march was directed towards the heads of those great rivers which lay in their way, that they might passe them where they were fordable; having crost the River Zathe, Mi∣thridates came up to them, and galled the Reer with shot, which the Greeks not able to requite, Xenophon provided two hun∣dred slings, and finding fifty horses fit for service, imployed among the Carriage, mounted men upon them, whereby ha∣ving frustrated the second attempt of Mithridates, they mar∣ched to Larissa, seated upon Tigris, thence to Mespila; in their march from thence, Tissaphernes overtook them with a great Army, but was twice worsted; whereupon (as the securest course) he seized on a Mountain, under which they must of necessity passe; Xenophon with a party gained by another way the top of that Mountain, not without much difficulty of pas∣sage and trouble; and to animate his souldiers, one of them, named Soteridas, murmured that he was on horse-back, where∣as himselfe marched on foot, opprest with the weight of his shield; which Xenophon hearing, alighted, took his shield from him, and thrusting him out of his rank, marched (notwith∣standing

he had also a horse-man Cuirasse) in his room: But the souldiers beat and reviled Soteridas, till they constrained him to take again his shield and place. When they had gained the top, the enemy, being prevented fled, and set fire on the villages.* 1.3 The Grecians, (intercepted by the River Tigris) marched over the mountains into the Country of the Carduchi, a people enemy to the Persians, rough and warlike, from whom they found such opposition, that in seven daies march through their country, they were put to continuall fights, and suffe∣red more distresses then the Persian had put them to, Fording the River K••ntrites, which bounds that country, they passed into Armenia, where having put to flight some troops of horse raised by the Kings deputies in these parts to oppose their pas∣sage, they marched without disturbance to the heads of Tigris, which they passed; thence to the River of Tele••od in west Ar∣menia, molested with extream snowes, losing many by extre∣mity of cold, till they came to the River Phasis, neer which li∣ved the Phasiani, Tacc••i, and the Chalybes; the Tacchi into whose country they first came, conveying their provision into strong holds, reduced the Greeks to great want, untill with much paines they forced one of them, where they took as much Cattle as maintained them in their passage through the coun∣try of the Chalybes, a stout Nation, of whom they could get nothing but blowes: thence they marched to the River Har∣pasus, so to the Scy••hini, where the Lord of Gymnias, a town in those parts, led them through the enemies country (which he willed them to burn as they went) to the Mountain Theches••, from whence they might behold the sea, to the great joy of the souldiers. Passing friendly through the country of the Ma∣crones, to the Colchian Mountains, discom••iting the Colchi, who opposed them, they arived at T••aprezond, a City upon the Eu∣xine sea, where was a Greek Colony; here they sacrificed and celebrated games:* 1.4 Cherisophus they sent to Anaxibius, the Lace∣daemonian Admirall, (with whom he was intimate) to procure ships for their transportation home. Whilest they stayed in ex∣pectation of his return, they maintained themselves by incur∣sions upon the Colchi and Dryla••; but he not coming, and their provision failing, Xenophon perswaded the Cities adjoyning to cleer them a passage by Land, which they took to Cerasus a Greek City, where mustering their men, they found but eight thousand six hundred left of ten thousand that went up with Cyrus; the rest consumed by enemies, snow, and sicknesse: They shared the mony that had been made by the sale of Captives, reserving a tenth for a offering to Apollo and Diana: Xenophon reserved his to be disposed at Delphi and Ephesus, From Cerasus they passed through the Country of the Mosyna••ci, a barbarous people, divided into factions; the stronger part despising their

friendship, they joyned with the weaker, whom they left Ma∣ster of all: Then they marched to the Chalybes, thence to the Tibarenes, passing quietly through their Country to Cotyora, a Greek Town and Colony of the Sinopians Thus far the Ar∣my marched on foot; the distance of the place where they fought with Artax••rxes to Cotyora, being one hundred twenty two encampings, six hundred twenty parasangs, ten thousand eight hundred twenty furlongs, the time eight Months.

Those of Cotyora refusing to afford them a Market or enter∣tainment for their sick, they entered the Town by force, and took provision, partly out of Pap ••lagonia, partly out of the Ter∣ritory of the Cotyonites; whereupon the City of S••nope to which Cotyora was tributary, sent Ambassadours to them, complain∣ing of this dealing, and threating to joyne with Corylas and the Paphlagonians; whereto Xenophon answered,

that they fear∣ed not, if need were, to war against them both, but could, if they pleased, gain the friendship of Corylas and the Paphla∣gonians as well as they.

Upon which answer, the Ambassa∣dours growing calm, promised them all friendship from the State of Sinope, and to assist them with shipping for the whole Army, it being impossible to go by Land, by reason of the Ri∣vers ••hermod••••, Halys, ••••is and Parthenius.

Xenophon had designed to plant a Colony there, but his in∣tention being divulg'd by Silanus, a Sooth-sayer, those of Sinope, and Heraclea sent to the Grecians, promising them not only a sufficient fleet, but desiring under hand Timasion a Greek Commander to promise the Army a good summe of mony to convey them to Tro••••; which offers Xenophon (who only desired the common good) perswaded them to accept, and to engage mutually, not to forsake one another till they were all in safe∣tie: those of Heraclea sent shipping, but not the mony; whereupon Timasion and other commanders fearing the soul∣diers, desired Zenophon the Army might go to Phasis, which he refused, but thereby was occasion'd a suspition that he should plot to deceive the Army and to bring them back to Phasis, whereof he acquitted himselfe. Here a generall inquisition was made of all offences since the death of Cyrus, and they were punished; some accused Xenophon for beating them, all which proved for just causes, one for offering to bury his sick com∣panion alive; some for forsaking their ranks; others for lying on the ground in the snow, or lingring behind. Thus were all things quietly setled.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Xe••ph. lib. 3;
• * 1.2

  Aelian. var. hist. 3. 24.
• * 1.3

  Xenoph. lib. 4.
• * 1.4

  Xenoph. lib. ••.