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them and put them in as strong a state as possible。 Then； as soon as
you have started with your men； and marched； let us say； for a couple
of days； I could send you a good round number of horse and foot from
my own detachment。 And when you have them at your back； you could
advance at once； and I will follow with the rest of my men as near you
as I may； close enough to appear in time of need。〃
＇18＇ Accordingly； Cyaxares proceeded to muster horse and foot for his
own march； and sent provision…waggons forward to meet him on the road。
Meanwhile Cyrus offered sacrifice for the success of his expedition
and found an opportunity to ask Cyaxares for a troop of his junior
cavalry。 But Cyaxares would only spare a few； though many wished to
go。 Soon afterwards he started for the outposts himself with all his
horse and foot； and then Cyrus found the omens favourable for his
enterprise； and led his soldiers out as though he meant to hunt。 ＇19＇
He was scarcely on his way when a hare started up at their feet； and
an eagle； flying on the right； saw the creature as it fled； swooped
down and struck it； bore it aloft in its talons to a cliff hard by；
and did its will upon it there。 The omen pleased Cyrus well； and he
bowed in worship to Zeus the King； and said to his company； 〃This
shall be a right noble hunt； my friends； if God so will。〃
＇20＇ When he came to the borders he began the hunt in his usual way；
the mass of horse and foot going on ahead in rows like reapers；
beating out the game； with picked men posted at intervals to receive
the animals and give them chase。 And thus they took great numbers of
boars and stags and antelopes and wild…asses： even to this day wild…
asses are plentiful in those parts。 ＇21＇ But when the chase was over；
Cyrus had touched the frontier of the Armenian land； and there he made
the evening meal。 The next day he hunted till he reached the mountains
which were his goal。 And there he halted again and made the evening
meal。 At this point he knew that the army from Cyaxares was advancing；
and he sent secretly to them and bade them keep about eight miles off；
and take their evening meal where they were； since that would make for
secrecy。 And when their meal was over he told them to send their
officers to him； and after supper he called his own brigadiers
together and addressed them thus：
＇22＇ 〃My friends； in old days the Armenian was a faithful ally and
subject of Cyaxares； but now when he sees an enemy against us； he
assumes contempt： he neither sends the troops nor pays the tribute。 He
is the game we have come to catch； if catch we can。 And this； I think；
is the way。 You； Chrysantas；〃 said he； 〃will sleep for a few hours；
and then take half the Persians with you； make for the hill country；
and seize the heights which we hear are his places of refuge when
alarmed。 I will give you guides。 ＇23＇ The hills； they tell us； are
covered with trees and scrub； so that we may hope you will escape
unseen： still you might send a handful of scouts ahead of you；
disguised as a band of robbers。 If they should come across any
Armenians they can either make them prisoners and prevent them from
spreading the news； or at least scare them out of the way； so that
they will not realise the whole of your force； and only take measures
against a pack of thieves。 ＇24＇ That is your task； Chrysantas； and now
for mine。 At break of day I shall take half the foot and all the
cavalry and march along the level straight to the king's residence。 If
he resists； we must fight； if he retreats along the plain we must run
him down； if he makes for the mountains； why then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃it
will be your business to see that none of your visitors escape。 ＇25＇
Think of it as a hunt： we down below are the beaters rounding up the
game； and you are the men at the nets： only bear in mind that the
earths must all be stopped before the game is up； and the men at the
traps must be hidden； or they will turn back the flying quarry。 ＇26＇
One last word； Chrysantas： you must not behave now as I have known you
do in your passion for the chase： you must not sit up the whole night
long without a wink of sleep； you must let all your men have the
modicum of rest that they cannot do without。 ＇27＇ Nor must youjust
because you scour the hills in the hunt without a guide； following the
lead of the quarry and that alone； checking and changing course
wherever it leads youyou must not now plunge into the wildest paths：
you must tell your guides to take you by the easiest road unless it is
much the longest。 ＇28＇ In war； they say； the easiest way is the
quickest。 And once more； because you can race up a mountain yourself
you are not to lead on your men at the double； suit your pace to the
strength of all。 ＇29＇ Indeed； it were no bad thing if some of your
best and bravest were to fall behind here and there and cheer the
laggards on： and it would quicken the pace of all； when the column has
gone ahead； to see them racing back to their places past the marching
files。〃
＇30＇ Chrysantas listened； and his heart beat high at the trust reposed
in him。 He took the guides； and gave the necessary orders for those
who were to march with him； and then he lay down to rest。 And when all
his men had had the sleep he thought sufficient he set out for the
hills。 ＇31＇ Day dawned； and Cyrus sent a messenger to the Armenian
with these words： 〃Cyrus bids you see to it that you bring your
tribute and troops without delay。〃 〃And if he asks you where Cyrus is；
tell the truth and say I am on the frontier。 And if he asks whether I
am advancing myself； tell the truth again and say that you do not
know。 And if he enquires how many we are； bid him send some one with
you to find out。〃
＇32＇ Having so charged the messenger he sent him on forthwith； holding
this to be more courteous than to attack without warning。 Then he drew
up his troops himself in the order best suited for marching； and； if
necessary； for fighting； and so set forth。 The soldiers had orders
that not a soul was to be wronged； and if they met any Armenians they
were to bid them to have no fear； but open a market wherever they
wished； and sell meat or drink as they chose。
NOTES
C1。5。 Is this historical； i。e。 /quasi/…historical？ Are any of the
names real or all invented to give verisimilitude？
C1。13。 Any touch of the sycophancy of the future in it？ As in modern
Germany； a touch of that involved in the system of royalty。
C1。15。 The raw material is good； but not worked up。 Important for the
conception of Hellenic democracy （cf。 § 17）。 Daring； courage； virtue
there is no monopoly of these things。
C1。21。 （Cf。 below VIII。 C2。5） Worthy of Adam Smith。 Xenophon has bump
of economy strongly developed； he resembles J。 P。＇*＇ in that respect。
The economic methodism； the mosaic interbedding； the architectonic
structure of it all； a part and parcel of Xenophon's genius。 Was
Alexander's army a highly…organised； spiritually and materially
built…up； vitalised machine of this sort？ What light does Arrian； that
younger Xenophon； throw upon it？
＇* 〃J。 P。〃 = John Percival； Bishop of Hereford （the writer of the
Introdu