Chapter 7

Presently the soldiers came to learn what was in course of agitation, and Neon gave out that Xenophon had persuaded the other generals to adopt his views, and had a plan to cheat the soldiers and take them back to the Phasis. The soldiers were highly indignant; meetings were held; little groups gathered ominously; and there seemed an alarming probability that they would repeat the violence with which they had lately treated the heralds of the Colchians and the clerks of the market; when all who did not save themselves by jumping into the sea were stoned to death. So Xenophon, seeing what a storm was brewing, resolved to anticipate matters so far as to summon a meeting of the men without delay, and thus prevent their collecting of their own accord, and he ordered the herald to announce an assembly. The voice of the herald was no sooner heard than they rushed with great readiness to the place of meeting. Then Xenophon, without accusing the generals of having come to him, made the following speech: "I hear that a charge is brought against me. It is I apparently who am going to cheat you and carry you off to Phasis. I beg you by all that is holy to listen to me; and if there be found any guilt in me, let me not leave this place till I have paid the penalty of my misdoing; but if my accusers are found guilty, treat them as they deserve. I presume, sirs, you know where the sun rises and where he sets, and that he who would go to Hellas must needs journey towards the sunset; whereas he who seeks the land of the barbarian must contrariwise fix his face towards the dawn. Now is that a point in which a man might hope to cheat you? Could any one make you believe that the sun rises here and sets there, or that he sets here and rises there? And doubtless you know this too, that it is Boreas, the north wind, who bears the mariner out of Pontus towards Hellas, and the south wind inwards towards the Phasis, whence the saying—

Soon the soldiers learned what was being discussed. Neon announced that Xenophon had persuaded the other generals to accept his views. He said Xenophon planned to trick the soldiers and take them back to the Phasis. The soldiers were furious. They held meetings and gathered in small, threatening groups. It seemed alarmingly likely that they would repeat the violence they had recently inflicted on the Colchians’ heralds and the market clerks. All who had not saved themselves by jumping into the sea had been stoned to death. Xenophon saw the storm brewing and decided to act first. He would call a meeting of the men at once, before they gathered on their own. So he ordered the herald to announce an assembly. As soon as they heard the herald, the men rushed eagerly to the meeting place. Then Xenophon spoke, without accusing the generals of having come to him: "I hear that I have been accused of planning to trick you and carry you off to Phasis. I beg you by all that is holy to listen to me. If I am found guilty, do not let me leave until I have paid for my wrongdoing. But if my accusers are found guilty, treat them as they deserve. "Surely, gentlemen, you know where the sun rises and where it sets. Anyone going to Hellas must travel toward the sunset. Anyone seeking the land of the barbarian must instead face the dawn. Could anyone hope to trick you about that? Could anyone make you believe that the sun rises here and sets there, or sets here and rises there? Surely you also know that Boreas, the north wind, carries sailors out of Pontus toward Hellas. The south wind carries them inward toward the Phasis. That is why the saying goes:

"He would be a clever fellow who could befool you into embarking with a south wind blowing. That sounds all very well, you think, only I may get you on board during a calm. Granted, but I shall be on board my one ship, and you on board another hundred at least, and how am I to constrain you to voyage with me against your will, or by what cajolery shall I carry you off? But I will imagine you so far befooled and bewitched by me, that I have got you to the Phasis; we proceed to disembark on dry land. At last it will come out, that wherever you are, you are not in Hellas, and the inventor of the trick will be one sole man, and you who have been caught by it will number something like ten thousand with swords in your hands. I do not know how a man could better ensure his own punishment than by embarking on such a policy with regards to himself and you.

“It would take a clever fellow to trick you into boarding ships with a south wind blowing. That sounds all very well, you think, but perhaps I could get you aboard when there is no wind. Granted, but I would be aboard my one ship, and you would be aboard at least a hundred others. How could I force you to sail with me against your will? Or how could I persuade you to go? But let us imagine that I have fooled and enchanted you so thoroughly that I have brought you to the Phasis. We go ashore. At last you discover that, wherever you are, you are not in Hellas. One man alone is behind the trick, and you who have been tricked number about ten thousand, with swords in your hands. I do not know how a man could better ensure his own punishment than by carrying out such a plan against you and himself.

"Nay, these tales are the invention of silly fellows who are jealous of the honour you bestow on me. A most uncalled-for jealousy! Do I hinder any of them from speaking any word of import in his power? of striking a blow in your behalf and his own, if that is his choice? or, finally, of keeping his eyes and ears open to secure your safety? What is it? In your choice of leaders do I stand in the way of any one, is that it? Let him step forward, I yield him place; he shall be your general; only he must prove that he has your good at heart.

"No, these stories were made up by fools who are jealous of the honor you give me. What an unjustified jealousy! Do I stop any of them from saying anything important they can contribute? Do I stop them from fighting for you and for themselves, if they choose? Or from keeping their eyes and ears open to protect you? What is it? Am I standing in anyone's way when you choose your leaders? Let him step forward. I will make way for him. He can be your general, but he must prove that he has your good at heart.

"For myself, I have done; but for yourselves, if any of you conceive either that he himself could be the victim of a fraud, or that he could victimise any one else in such a thing as this, let him open his lips and explain to us how. Take your time, but when you have sifted the matter to your hearts' content, do not go away without suffering me to tell you of something which I see looming. If it should burst upon us and prove in fact anything like what it gives signs of being now, it is time for us to take counsel for ourselves and see that we do not prove ourselves to be the worst and basest of men in the sight of gods and men, be they friends or be they foes." The words moved the curiosity of the soldiers. They marvelled what this matter might be, and bade him explain. Thereupon he began again: "You will not have forgotten certain places in the hills—barbaric fastnesses, but friendly to the Cerasuntines—from which people used to come down and sell us large cattle and other things which they possessed, and if I mistake not, some of you went to the nearest of these places and made purchases in the market and came back again. Clearetus the captain learnt of this place, that it was but a little one and unguarded. Why should it be guarded since it was friendly? so the folk thought. Thus he stole upon it in the dead of night, and meant to sack it without saying a word to any of us. His design was, if he took the place, not to return again to the army, but to mount a vessel which, with his messmates on board her, was sailing past at the time, and stowing away what he had seized, to set sail and begone beyond the Euxine. All this had been agreed upon and arranged with his comrades on board the vessel, as I now discover. Accordingly, he summoned to his side all whom he could persuade, and set off at their head against the little place. But dawn overtook him on his march. The men collected out of their strongholds, and whether from a distance or close quarters, made such a fight that they killed Clearetus and a good many of the rest, and only a few of them got safe back to Cerasus.

"As for me, I am finished. But perhaps one of you thinks he could be deceived in such a matter, or could deceive someone else. If so, let him speak and explain how. Take your time and examine the matter to your hearts' content. But before you leave, let me tell you of something I see coming. It may happen and prove to be much like what it now appears to be. If so, it is time to consider our position. We must make sure we do not appear the worst and most dishonorable of men, both to gods and to men, whether friends or enemies." His words stirred the soldiers' curiosity. They wondered what he meant and told him to explain. So he began again: "You will remember certain places in the hills. They were barbaric strongholds, but friendly to the Cerasuntines. People used to come down from them to sell us cattle and other things they owned. If I am not mistaken, some of you visited the nearest place, bought things in its market, and returned. Clearetus the captain learned that this place was small and unguarded. The people thought they had no reason to guard it, since it was friendly to us. "So he set out to attack it in the dead of night. He meant to plunder it without saying a word to any of us. If he took the place, he did not intend to return to the army. Instead, he planned to board a vessel that was then sailing past with his messmates aboard. He would load what he had seized and sail away beyond the Euxine. As I now learn, he had agreed on all this with his comrades aboard the vessel. So he gathered everyone he could persuade and led them against the small place. But dawn caught him on the way. The men gathered from their strongholds and fought them, both at a distance and at close quarters. They killed Clearetus and many of the others. Only a few of his men returned safely to Cerasus.

"These things took place on the day on which we started to come hither on foot; while some of those who were to go by sea were still at Cerasus, not having as yet weighed anchor. After this, according to what the Cerasuntines state, there arrived three inhabitants of the place which had been attacked; three elderly men, seeking an interview with our public assembly. Not finding us, they addressed themselves to the men of Cerasus, and told them, they were astonished that we should have thought it right to attack them; however, when, as the Cerasuntines assert, they had assured them that the occurrence was not authorised by public consent, they were pleased, and proposed to sail here, not only to state to us what had occurred, but to offer that those who were interested should take up and bury the bodies of the slain.

"These events took place on the day we set out to walk here. Some of those who were to travel by sea were still at Cerasus and had not yet set sail. Afterward, according to the Cerasuntines, three elderly men arrived from the place that had been attacked. They wanted to speak to our public assembly. When they did not find us, they spoke to the men of Cerasus instead. They said they were astonished that we had thought it right to attack them. But the Cerasuntines say they assured the three men that the attack had not been approved by the assembly. The men were pleased and proposed to sail here. They wanted not only to tell us what had happened, but also to offer those concerned the chance to recover and bury the bodies of the dead.

"But among the Hellenes still at Cerasus were some of those who had escaped. They found out in which direction the barbarians were minded to go, and not only had the face themselves to pelt them with stones, but vociferously encouraged their neighbours to do the same. The three men—ambassadors, mark you—were slain, stoned to death. After this occurrence, the men of Cerasus came to us and reported the affair, and we generals, on being informed, were annoyed at what had taken place, and took counsel with the Cerasuntines how the dead bodies of the Hellenes might be buried. While seated in conclave outside the camp, we suddenly were aware of a great hubbub. We heard cries: 'Cut them down!' 'Shoot them!' 'Stone them!' and presently we caught sight of a mass of people racing towards us with stones in their hands, and others picking them up. The Cerasuntines, naturally enough, considering the incident they had lately witnessed, retired in terror to their vessels, and, upon my word, some of us did not feel too comfortable. All I could do was to go to them and inquire what it all meant. Some of them had not the slightest notion, although they had stones in their hands, but chancing on some one who was better informed, I was told by him that 'the clerks of the market were treating the army most scandalously.' Just then some one got sight of the market clerk, Zelarchus, making his way off towards the sea, and lifted up his voice aloud, and the rest responding to the cry as if a wild boar or a stag had been started, they rushed upon him.

"But some of those who had escaped were among the Hellenes still at Cerasus. They learned which way the barbarians intended to go. They had the nerve to throw stones at them and loudly urged their neighbors to do the same. The three men were stoned to death. They were ambassadors, mind you. Afterward, the men of Cerasus came to us and reported what had happened. We generals were upset by the news. We consulted with the Cerasuntines about how to bury the bodies of the Hellenes. While we were meeting outside the camp, we suddenly heard a great commotion. People were shouting, 'Cut them down!' 'Shoot them!' 'Stone them!' Then we saw a crowd racing toward us with stones in their hands. Others were picking up stones. The Cerasuntines had just seen the ambassadors stoned, so naturally they fled in terror to their ships. And, I must say, some of us were not entirely comfortable either. All I could do was go to the crowd and ask what it all meant. Some had no idea, even though they were holding stones. But I found someone who knew more. He told me that 'the market clerks were treating the army outrageously.' Just then, someone spotted the market clerk Zelarchus heading toward the sea and shouted. The others took up the cry and rushed at him, as if a wild boar or a stag had been driven out of hiding.

"The Cerasuntines, seeing a rush in their direction, thought that, without a doubt, it was directed against themselves, and fled with all speed and threw themselves into the sea, in which proceeding they were imitated by some few of our own men, and all who did not know how to swim were drowned. But now, what do you think of their case, these men of Cerasus? They had done no wrong. They were simply afraid that some madness had seized us, like that to which dogs are liable.

“The Cerasuntines saw people rushing toward them and were certain the attack was directed at them. They fled as fast as they could and threw themselves into the sea. A few of our own men did the same, and all who could not swim drowned. But what do you think of the situation of these men of Cerasus? They had done no wrong. They were simply afraid that we had been seized by a madness like the kind that can afflict dogs.

"I say then, if proceedings like this are to be the order of the day, you had better consider what the ultimate condition of the army is like to be. As a body you will not have it in your power to undertake war against whom you like, or to conclude peace. But in private any one who chooses will conduct the army on any quest which takes his fancy. And when ambassadors come to you to demand peace, or whatever it may be, officious people will put them to death and prevent your hearing the proposals which brought them to you. The next step will be that those whom you as a body may choose as generals will be of no account; but any one who likes to elect himself general, and will adopt the formula 'Shoot him! shoot him!' will be competent to cut down whomsoever he pleases untried, be it general or private soldier, if only he have sufficient followers, as was the case just now. But just consider what these self-appointed generals have achieved for you. Zelarchus, the clerk of the market, may possibly have done you a wrong; if so, he has sailed off and is gone without paying you any penalty; or he may be guiltless, in which case we have driven him from the army in terror of perishing unjustly without a trial. While those who stoned the ambassadors have contrived so cleverly that we alone of all Hellenes cannot approach Cerasus safely without a strong force, and the corpses which the very men who slew them themselves invited us to bury, we cannot now pick up with safety even under a flag of truce. Who indeed would care to carry a flag of truce, or go as a herald with the blood of heralds upon his hands? All we could do was to implore the Cerasuntines to bury them.

“I say, then, that if this kind of conduct continues, you should consider what will ultimately become of the army. Together, you will no longer have the power to wage war or make peace with whom you choose. Instead, any individual who wishes will lead the army on whatever quest takes his fancy. And when ambassadors come to ask for peace or make other proposals, busybodies will kill them. They will prevent you from hearing the proposals the ambassadors came to make. Next, the generals you choose together will count for nothing. But anyone who appoints himself general and cries ‘Shoot him! Shoot him!’ will be able to kill anyone he pleases without a trial. He will be able to kill a general or an ordinary soldier, if only he has enough followers, as just happened. But consider what these self-appointed generals have achieved for you. Zelarchus, the market clerk, may have wronged you. If so, he has sailed away without paying any penalty. Or he may be innocent. If so, we have driven him from the army, terrified that he would be killed unjustly without a trial. Meanwhile, those who stoned the ambassadors have been so clever that we alone of all Hellenes cannot safely approach Cerasus without a strong force. And the very men who killed the ambassadors invited us to bury their bodies. Yet now we cannot safely recover them, even under a flag of truce. Who would want to carry a flag of truce or go as a herald with the blood of heralds on his hands? All we could do was beg the Cerasuntines to bury them.”

"If then you approve of such doings, have a resolution passed to that effect, so that, with a prospect of like occurrences in the future, a man may privately set up a guard and do his best to fix his tent where he can find a strong position with a commanding site. If, however, these seem to you to be the deeds rather of wild beasts than of human beings, bethink you of some means by which to stay them; or else, in heaven's name, how shall we do sacrifice to the gods gladly, with impious deeds to answer for? or how shall we, who lay the knife to each other's throats, give battle to our enemies? What friendly city will receive us when they see rampant lawlessness in our midst? Who will have the courage to afford us a market, when we prove our worthlessness in these weightiest concerns? and what becomes of the praise we expect to win from the mouths of men? who will vouchsafe it to us, if this is our behaviour? Should we not ourselves bestow the worst of names on the perpetrators of like deeds?"

"If you approve of such actions, then pass a resolution saying so. That way, expecting more of the same, each man can set up his own guard. He can also do his best to pitch his tent in a strong position on high ground. But if these seem to you more like the actions of wild beasts than human beings, think of a way to stop them. Otherwise, in heaven's name, how can we gladly sacrifice to the gods when we have such impious deeds to answer for? How can we fight our enemies when we are cutting each other's throats? What friendly city will receive us when its people see lawlessness running wild among us? Who will dare to provide us with a market when we show ourselves worthless in these most important matters? And what will become of the praise we expect from others? Who will praise us if this is how we behave? Wouldn't we ourselves call people who did such things by the worst names?"

After this they rose, and, as one man, proposed that the ringleaders in these matters should be punished; and that for the future, to set an example of lawlessness should be forbidden. Every such ringleader was to be prosecuted on the capital charge; the generals were to bring all offenders to the bar of justice; prosecutions for all other misdemeanours committed since the death of Cyrus were to be instituted; and they ended by constituting the officers into a board of dicasts²; and upon the strong representation of Xenophon, with the concurrence of the soothsayers, it was resolved to purify the army, and this purification was made.

After this, they rose and unanimously proposed that the ringleaders in these matters should be punished. They also proposed that setting an example of lawlessness should be forbidden in the future. Every such ringleader was to be charged with a capital offense. The generals were to bring all offenders to trial. Prosecutions were also to be brought for all other misdemeanors committed since the death of Cyrus. Finally, they appointed the officers to serve as a court of dicasts². Xenophon strongly urged them to purify the army, and the soothsayers agreed. They resolved to do so, and the army was purified.