Chapter 3

And now comes the proof of what I stated above—that the king was utterly taken aback by the sudden apparition of the army; only the day before, he had sent and demanded the surrender of their arms—and now, with the rising sun, came heralds sent by him to arrange a truce. These, having reached the advanced guard, asked for the generals. The guard reported their arrival; and Clearchus, who was busy inspecting the ranks, sent back word to the heralds that they must await his leisure. Having carefully arranged the troops so that from every side they might present the appearance of a compact battle line without a single unarmed man in sight, he summoned the ambassadors, and himself went forward to meet them with the soldiers, who for choice accoutrement and noble aspect were the flower of his force; a course which he had invited the other generals also to adopt.

Now comes the proof of what I said above: the king was utterly taken aback by the army’s sudden appearance. Only the day before, he had demanded that they surrender their weapons. Now, at sunrise, he sent heralds to arrange a truce. When the heralds reached the advance guard, they asked for the generals. The guard reported their arrival to Clearchus, who was busy inspecting the ranks. He sent word back that the heralds must wait until he was ready. He carefully arranged the troops so that they would look like a solid battle line from every side. Not a single unarmed man was to be seen. Then he summoned the ambassadors and went forward to meet them. He took with him the finest soldiers in his force, chosen for their excellent equipment and noble appearance. He had also invited the other generals to do the same.

And now, being face to face with the ambassadors, he questioned them as to what their wishes were. They replied that they had come to arrange a truce, and were persons competent to carry proposals from the king to the Hellenes and from the Hellenes to the king. He returned answer to them: "Take back word then to your master, that we need a battle first, for we have had no breakfast; and he will be a brave man who will dare mention the word 'truce' to Hellenes without providing them with breakfast." With this message the heralds rode off, but were back again in no time, which was a proof that the king, or some one appointed by him to transact the business, was hard by. They reported that "the message seemed reasonable to the king; they had now come bringing guides who, if a truce were arranged, would conduct them where they would get provisions." Clearchus inquired "whether the truce was offered to the individual men merely as they went and came, or to all alike." "To all," they replied, "until the king receives your final answer." When they had so spoken, Clearchus, having removed the ambassadors, held a council; and it was resolved to make a truce at once, and then quietly to go and secure provisions; and Clearchus said: "I agree to the resolution; still I do not propose to announce it at once, but to wile away time till the ambassadors begin to fear that we have decided against the truce; though I suspect," he added, "the same fear will be operative on the minds of our soldiers also." As soon as the right moment seemed to have arrived, he delivered his answer in favour of the truce, and bade the ambassadors at once conduct them to the provisions.

When he met the ambassadors, he asked what they wanted. They said they had come to arrange a truce. They were authorized to carry proposals between the king and the Hellenes. He replied: "Then tell your master that we need a battle first, because we have had no breakfast. He will be a brave man who dares mention a 'truce' to Hellenes without providing them with breakfast." The heralds rode off with this message but returned almost immediately. This proved that the king, or someone he had appointed to handle the matter, was nearby. They reported that "the message seemed reasonable to the king. We have now brought guides who, if a truce is arranged, will lead you to provisions." Clearchus asked "whether the truce applied only to individual men as they came and went, or to everyone." "To everyone," they replied, "until the king receives your final answer." After they had spoken, Clearchus sent the ambassadors away and held a council. The council decided to make a truce at once, then go peacefully to secure provisions. Clearchus said: "I agree with the decision. Still, I do not intend to announce it at once. I will wait until the ambassadors begin to fear that we have decided against the truce. Though I suspect," he added, "our soldiers will have the same fear." When the time seemed right, he gave his answer in favor of the truce. He told the ambassadors to lead them to the provisions at once.

So these led the way; and Clearchus, without relaxing precaution, in spite of having secured a truce, marched after them with his army in line and himself in command of the rearguard. Over and over again they encountered trenches and conduits so full of water that they could not be crossed without bridges; but they contrived well enough for these by means of trunks of palm trees which had fallen, or which they cut down for the occasion. And here Clearchus's system of superintendence was a study in itself; as he stood with a spear in his left hand and a stick in the other; and when it seemed to him there was any dawdling among the parties told off to the work, he would pick out the right man and down would come the stick; nor, at the same time, was he above plunging into the mud and lending a hand himself, so that every one else was forced for very shame to display equal alacrity. The men told off for the business were the men of thirty years of age; but even the elder men, when they saw the energy of Clearchus, could not resist lending their aid also. What stimulated the haste of Clearchus was the suspicion in his mind that these trenches were not, as a rule, so full of water, since it was not the season to irrigate the plain; and he fancied that the king had let the water on for the express purpose of vividly presenting to the Hellenes the many dangers with which their march was threatened at the very start.

These men led the way. Although Clearchus had secured a truce, he remained cautious. He followed them with his army in formation and commanded the rearguard himself. Again and again, they came to trenches and channels so full of water that they could not cross without bridges. They managed by using fallen palm trunks or cutting down trees for the purpose. Clearchus's way of supervising the work was a study in itself. He stood with a spear in his left hand and a stick in the other. When he thought any of the men assigned to the work were dawdling, he picked out the right man and brought down the stick. At the same time, he was not above plunging into the mud and helping himself. This shamed everyone else into working just as eagerly. The men assigned to the job were thirty years old. But even the older men could not resist helping when they saw Clearchus's energy. Clearchus hurried because he suspected that these trenches were not usually so full of water. It was not the season for irrigating the plain. He thought the king had let the water in to show the Hellenes just how many dangers threatened them at the very start of their march.

Proceeding on their way they reached some villages, where their guides indicated to them that they would find provisions. They were found to contain plenty of corn, and wine made from palm dates, and an acidulated beverage extracted by boiling from the same fruit. As to the palm nuts or dates themselves, it was noticeable that the sort which we are accustomed to see in Hellas were set aside for the domestic servants; those put aside for the masters are picked specimens, and are simply marvellous for their beauty and size, looking like great golden lumps of amber; some specimens they dried and preserved as sweetmeats. Sweet enough they were as an accompaniment of wine, but apt to give headache. Here, too, for the first time in their lives, the men tasted the brain¹ of the palm. No one could help being struck by the beauty of this object, and the peculiarity of its delicious flavour; but this, like the dried fruits, was exceedingly apt to give headache. When this cabbage or brain has been removed from the palm the whole tree withers from top to bottom.

As they continued on their way, they reached some villages where their guides said they would find provisions. The villages contained plenty of grain, wine made from dates, and a sour drink made by boiling the same fruit. The dates like those we are used to seeing in Hellas were set aside for the household servants. The dates set aside for the masters were selected specimens, remarkable for their beauty and size. They looked like great golden lumps of amber. Some were dried and preserved as sweets. They were sweet enough to serve with wine, but they were apt to cause headaches. Here, too, the men tasted the brain¹ of the palm for the first time in their lives. Everyone was struck by its beauty and its distinctive, delicious flavor. But like the dried fruit, it was very likely to cause a headache. When this cabbage or brain is removed from the palm, the whole tree withers from top to bottom.

In these villages they remained three days, and a deputation from the great king arrived—Tissaphernes and the king's brother-in-law and three other Persians—with a retinue of many slaves. As soon as the generals of the Hellenes had presented themselves, Tissaphernes opened the proceedings with the following speech, through the lips of an interpreter: "Men of Hellas, I am your next-door neighbour in Hellas. Therefore was it that I, when I saw into what a sea of troubles you were fallen, regarded it as a godsend, if by any means I might obtain, as a boon from the king, the privilege of bringing you back in safety to your own country: and that, I take it, will earn me gratitude from you and all Hellas. In this determination I preferred my request to the king; I claimed it as a favour which was fairly my due; for was it not I who first announced to him the hostile approach of Cyrus? who supported that announcement by the aid I brought; who alone among the officers confronted with the Hellenes in battle did not flee, but charged right through and united my troops with the king inside your camp, where he was arrived, having slain Cyrus; it was I, lastly, who gave chase to the barbarians under Cyrus, with the help of those here present with me at this moment, which are also among the trustiest followers of our lord the king. Now, I counsel you to give a moderate answer, so that it may be easier for me to carry out my design, if haply I may obtain from him some good thing on your behalf."

They stayed in these villages for three days. Then a delegation arrived from the great king. It included Tissaphernes, the king's brother-in-law, and three other Persians, along with many slaves. When the generals of the Hellenes came before them, Tissaphernes began by speaking through an interpreter: "Men of Hellas, I am your neighbor in Hellas. So when I saw how much trouble you were in, I saw an opportunity. I hoped to obtain the king's permission to bring you safely back to your own country. I thought you and all Hellas would be grateful to me for that. "With this in mind, I made my request to the king. I claimed it as a favor I had earned. Was I not the first to tell him that Cyrus was approaching as an enemy? Did I not back up that warning by bringing help? Of the officers who faced the Hellenes in battle, I alone did not flee. Instead, I charged straight through and joined my troops with the king inside your camp. He had reached the camp after killing Cyrus. Finally, I pursued the barbarians under Cyrus with the help of the men here with me now. They are also among the most trusted followers of our lord the king. "Now, I advise you to give a moderate answer. That will make it easier for me to carry out my plan, if I can obtain some benefit from him for you."

Thereupon the Hellenes retired and took counsel. Then they answered, and Clearchus was their spokesman: "We neither mustered as a body to make war against the king, nor was our march conducted with that object. But it was Cyrus, as you know, who invented many and divers pretexts, that he might take you off your guard, and transport us hither. Yet, after a while, when we saw that he was in sore straits, we were ashamed in the sight of God and man to betray him, whom we had permitted for so long a season to benefit us. But now that Cyrus is dead, we set up no claim to his kingdom against the king himself; there is neither person nor thing for the sake of which we would care to injure the king's country; we would not choose to kill him if we could, rather we would march straight home, if we were not molested; but, God helping us, we will retaliate on all who injure us. On the other hand, if any be found to benefit us, we do not mean to be outdone in kindly deeds, as far as in us lies."

Then the Hellenes withdrew and discussed the matter. Clearchus spoke for them when they answered: "We did not gather as a force to make war against the king. Nor did we march here for that purpose. As you know, Cyrus invented many different excuses to catch you off guard and bring us here. But later, when we saw that he was in great difficulty, we were ashamed to betray him before God and man. We had allowed him to do us favors for so long. Now that Cyrus is dead, we make no claim to his kingdom against the king himself. There is no person or thing for whose sake we would want to harm the king's country. We would not choose to kill him even if we could. Instead, we would march straight home if no one attacked us. But with God's help, we will strike back at all who harm us. On the other hand, if anyone helps us, we will do our best to repay their kindness with equal kindness."

So he spoke, and Tissaphernes listened and replied: "That answer will I take back to the king and bring you word from him again. Until I come again, let the truce continue, and we will furnish you with a market." All next day he did not come back, and the Hellenes were troubled with anxieties, but on the third day he arrived with the news that he had obtained from the king the boon he asked; he was permitted to save the Hellenes, though there were many gainsayers who argued that it was not seemly for the king to let those who had marched against him depart in peace. And at last he said: "You may now, if you like, take pledges from us, that we will make the countries through which you pass friendly to you, and will lead you back without treachery into Hellas, and will furnish you with a market; and wherever you cannot purchase, we will permit you to take provisions from the district. You, on your side, must swear that you will march as through a friendly country, without damage—merely taking food and drink wherever we fail to supply a market—or, if we afford a market, you shall only obtain provisions by paying for them." This was agreed to, and oaths and pledges exchanged between them—Tissaphernes and the king's brother-in-law upon the one side, and the generals and officers of the Hellenes on the other. After this Tissaphernes said: "And now I go back to the king; as soon as I have transacted what I have a mind to, I will come back, ready equipped, to lead you away to Hellas, and to return myself to my own dominion."

So he spoke, and Tissaphernes listened and replied: "I will take that answer back to the king and bring you his reply. Until I return, let the truce continue, and we will provide you with a market." Tissaphernes did not return the next day, and the Hellenes grew anxious. But on the third day he came back with news that the king had granted his request. He had been allowed to save the Hellenes, though many had argued against it. They said it was improper for the king to let those who had marched against him leave in peace. At last Tissaphernes said: "You may now, if you wish, receive pledges from us. We will make the countries you pass through friendly to you. We will lead you back to Hellas without betraying you, and we will provide you with a market. Wherever you cannot buy supplies, we will allow you to take them from the surrounding country. In return, you must swear to march as if through a friendly country, without doing damage. You may take food and drink wherever we fail to provide a market. But if we provide a market, you must pay for your supplies." They agreed to these terms and exchanged oaths and pledges. Tissaphernes and the king's brother-in-law swore on one side, and the generals and officers of the Hellenes on the other. Afterward Tissaphernes said: "Now I am going back to the king. As soon as I have done what I intend to do, I will return, ready and equipped. I will lead you back to Hellas and then return to my own territory."