Chapter 4

During this day they contented themselves with bivouacking there on the beach at the harbour. The place which goes by the name of Calpe Haven is in Asiatic Thrace, the name given to a region extending from the mouth of the Euxine all the way to Heraclea, which lies on the right hand as you sail into the Euxine. It is a long day's voyage for a war-ship, using her three banks of oars, from Byzantium to Heraclea, and between these two there is not a single Hellenic or friendly city, but only these Bithynian Thracians, who have a bad reputation for the savagery with which they treat any Hellenes cast ashore by shipwreck or otherwise thrown into their power.

That day, they simply camped on the beach at the harbor. Calpe Haven is in Asiatic Thrace. This region stretches from the mouth of the Euxine to Heraclea, on the right as you sail into the Euxine. From Byzantium to Heraclea, the voyage takes a warship with three banks of oars a long day. Between the two cities there is not a single Hellenic or friendly city. There are only the Bithynian Thracians. They are notorious for their savage treatment of Hellenes who are shipwrecked on their shores or otherwise fall into their hands.

Now the haven of Calpe lies exactly midway, halving the voyage between Byzantium and Heraclea. It is a long promontory running out into the sea; the seaward portion being a rocky precipice, at no point less than twenty fathoms high; but on the landward side there is a neck about four hundred feet wide; and the space inside the neck is capable of accommodating ten thousand inhabitants, and there is a haven immediately under the crag with a beach facing the west. Then there is a copious spring of fresh water flowing on the very marge of the sea commanded by the stronghold. Again, there is plenty of wood of various sorts; but most plentiful of all, fine shipbuilding timber down to the very edge of the sea. The upland stretches into the heart of the country for twenty furlongs at least. It is good loamy soil, free from stones. For a still greater distance the seaboard is thickly grown with large timber trees of every description. The surrounding country is beautiful and spacious, containing numerous well populated villages. The soil produces barley and wheat, and pulse of all sorts, millet and sesame, figs in ample supply, with numerous vines producing sweet wines, and indeed everything else except olives. Such is the character of the country.

The harbor of Calpe lies exactly halfway between Byzantium and Heraclea. A long headland extends into the sea. Its seaward side is a rocky cliff, at least twenty fathoms high at every point. On the landward side, a neck of land about four hundred feet wide connects it to the mainland. The area beyond the neck can accommodate ten thousand inhabitants. Directly below the cliff is a harbor with a beach facing west. A strong spring of fresh water flows at the very edge of the sea, within reach of the stronghold. There is also plenty of wood of various kinds. Fine timber for shipbuilding is especially plentiful, growing right down to the sea. The upland stretches at least twenty furlongs into the interior. Its soil is good, loamy, and free of stones. Along the coast, for an even greater distance, large timber trees of every kind grow thickly. The surrounding country is beautiful and spacious, with many well-populated villages. The soil produces barley, wheat, all kinds of pulses, millet, and sesame. It also produces plenty of figs, and many vines yield sweet wines. In fact, the country produces everything else except olives. That is what the country is like.

The tents were pitched on the seaward-facing beach, the soldiers being altogether averse to camping on ground which might so easily be converted into a city. Indeed, their arrival at the place at all seemed very like the crafty design of some persons who were minded to form a city. The aversion was not unnatural, since the majority of the soldiers had not left their homes on so long a voyage from scantiness or subsistence, but attracted by the fame of Cyrus's virtues; some of them bringing followers, while others had expended money on the expedition. And amongst them was a third set who had run away from fathers and mothers; while a different class had left children behind, hoping to return to them with money or other gains. Other people with Cyrus won great success, they were told ¹; why should it not be so with them? Being persons then of this description, the one longing of their hearts was to reach Hellas safely.

The tents were pitched on the beach facing the sea. The soldiers strongly opposed camping on ground that could so easily be turned into a city. In fact, their arrival there seemed to be the result of a plot by people who wanted to found a city. Their reluctance was understandable. Most of the soldiers had not left home on such a long voyage because they lacked a living. They had come because they had heard of Cyrus's virtues. Some had brought followers, while others had spent their own money on the expedition. A third group had run away from their fathers and mothers. Others had left children behind, hoping to return to them with money or other gains. They had been told that other people with Cyrus had enjoyed great success ¹. Why should they not enjoy the same success? The soldiers' one great wish was to reach Hellas safely.

It was on the day after their meeting that Xenophon sacrificed as a preliminary to a military expedition; for it was needful to march out in search of provisions, besides which he designed burying the dead. As soon as the victims proved favourable they all set out, the Arcadians following with the rest. The majority of the dead, who had lain already five days, they buried just where they had fallen, in groups; to remove their bodies now would have been impossible. Some few, who lay off the roads, they got together and buried with what splendour they could, considering the means in their power. Others they could not find, and for these they erected a great cenotaph², and covered it with wreaths. When it was all done, they returned home to camp. At that time they supped, and went to rest.

The day after their meeting, Xenophon offered sacrifices before setting out on a military expedition. They needed to march out in search of provisions, and he also intended to bury the dead. As soon as the sacrifices gave favorable signs, they all set out, with the Arcadians following the others. Most of the dead had lain where they fell for five days. They buried these men in groups where they had fallen, since it would have been impossible to move their bodies. They gathered a few who lay away from the roads and buried them as splendidly as their resources allowed. They could not find the others, so they built a great cenotaph² for them and covered it with wreaths. When they had finished, they returned to camp. There they ate supper and went to sleep.

Next day there was a general meeting of the soldiers, collected chiefly by Agasias the Stymphalian, a captain, and Hieronymus, an Eleian, also a captain, and other seniors of the Arcadians; and they passed a resolution that, for the future, whoever revived the idea of breaking up the army should be punished by death. And the army, it was decided, would now resume its old position under the command of its former generals. Though Cheirisophus, indeed, had already died under medical treatment for fever ³; and Neon the Asinaean had taken his place.

The next day, the soldiers held a general meeting. It was called chiefly by Agasias the Stymphalian and Hieronymus, an Eleian, both captains, and other senior Arcadians. They passed a resolution that anyone who proposed breaking up the army in the future would be put to death. They also decided that the army would return to its former generals' command. Cheirisophus, however, had already died while receiving treatment for a fever ³. Neon the Asinaean had taken his place.

After these resolutions Xenophon got up and said: "Soldiers, the journey must now, I presume, be conducted on foot; indeed, this is clear, since we have no vessels; and we are driven to commence it at once, for we have no provisions if we stop. We then," he continued, "will sacrifice, and you must prepare yourselves to fight now, if ever, for the spirit of the enemy has revived."

After these decisions, Xenophon stood up and said: "Soldiers, I suppose we must now travel on foot. That much is clear, since we have no ships. And we must leave at once, because we have no food if we stay. We will offer sacrifices," he continued, "and you must prepare to fight now more than ever. The enemy's fighting spirit has returned."

Thereupon the generals sacrificed, in the presence of the Arcadian seer, Arexion; for Silanus the Ambraciot had chartered a vessel at Heraclea and made his escape ere this. Sacrificing with a view to departure, the victims proved unfavourable to them. Accordingly they waited that day. Certain people were bold enough to say that Xenophon, out of his desire to colonise the place, had persuaded the seer to say that the victims were unfavourable to departure. Consequently he proclaimed by herald next morning that any one who liked should be present at the sacrifice; or if he were a seer he was bidden to be present and help to inspect the victims. Then he sacrificed, and there were numbers present; but though the sacrifice on the question of departure was repeated as many as three times, the victims were persistently unfavourable. Thereat the soldiers were in high dudgeon, for the provisions they had brought with them had reached the lowest ebb, and there was no market to be had.

Then the generals made sacrifices in the presence of Arexion, the Arcadian seer. Silanus the Ambraciot had already hired a ship at Heraclea and escaped. The generals made sacrifices to learn whether they should depart, but the signs were unfavorable. So they waited that day. Some people dared to say that Xenophon wanted to found a colony there. They claimed he had persuaded the seer to say that the signs were unfavorable for departure. So the next morning, Xenophon had a herald announce that anyone who wished could attend the sacrifice. Any seer who wished to attend was invited to help inspect the victims. Xenophon then made the sacrifice, and many people attended. But although he repeated the sacrifice concerning departure three times, the signs remained unfavorable. The soldiers were very angry. The provisions they had brought with them were almost gone, and there was no market where they could buy more.

Consequently there was another meeting, and Xenophon spoke again: "Men," said he, "the victims are, as you may see for yourselves, not yet favourable to the march; but meanwhile, I can see for myself that you are in need of provisions; accordingly we must narrow the sacrifice to the particular point." Some one got up and said: "Naturally enough the victims are unfavourable, for, as I learnt from some one on a vessel which arrived here yesterday by accident, Cleander, the governor at Byzantium, intends coming here with ships and men-of-war." Thereat they were all in favour of stopping; but they must needs go out for provisions, and with this object he again sacrificed three times, and the victims remained adverse. Things had now reached such a pass that the men actually came to Xenophon's tent to proclaim that they had no provisions. His sole answer was that he would not lead them out till the victims were favourable.

So they held another meeting, and Xenophon spoke again. "Men," he said, "as you can see, the sacrifices still give unfavorable signs for the march. But I can see that you need provisions. So we must sacrifice again and ask about that particular need." Someone stood up and said: "The sacrifices are unfavorable for an obvious reason. I heard the reason from someone aboard a ship that arrived here by chance yesterday. Cleander, the governor at Byzantium, intends to come here with ships and warships." After that, they all wanted to stay. But they had to go out for provisions, so Xenophon sacrificed three more times. The signs were still unfavorable. The situation became so serious that the men came to Xenophon's tent to tell him they had no provisions. He replied only that he would not lead them out until the signs were favorable.

So again the next day he sacrificed; and nearly the whole army, so strong was the general anxiety, flocked round the victims; and now the very victims themselves failed. So the generals, instead of leading out the army, called the men together. Xenophon, as was incumbent on him, spoke: "It is quite possible that the enemy are collected in a body, and we shall have to fight. If we were to leave our baggage in the strong place" (pointing overhead) "and sally forth prepared for battle, the victims might favour us." But the soldiers, on hearing this proposal, cried out, "No need to take us inside that place; better sacrifice with all speed." Now sheep there were none any longer. So they purchased oxen from under a wagon and sacrificed; and Xenophon begged Cleanor the Arcadian to superintend the sacrifice on his behalf, in case there might be some change now. But even so there was no improvement.

The next day, he sacrificed again. Nearly the whole army gathered around the sacrificial animals, so great was their anxiety. This time, the animals themselves failed to provide favorable signs. So the generals called the men together instead of leading the army out. Xenophon spoke, as it was his duty to do: "The enemy may have gathered in force, and we may have to fight. We could leave our baggage in the stronghold above us." He pointed overhead. "If we did that and marched out ready for battle, the sacrifices might give favorable signs." But when the soldiers heard this proposal, they cried out, "There is no need to take us inside that place. Better to sacrifice as quickly as possible." There were no sheep left, so they bought oxen from under a wagon and sacrificed them. Xenophon asked Cleanor the Arcadian to oversee the sacrifice for him, in case the signs might change. But even then, the signs were no better.

Now Neon was general in place of Cheirisophus, and seeing the men suffering so cruelly from want, he was willing to do them a good turn. So he got hold of some Heracleot or other who said he knew of villages close by from which they could get provisions, and proclaimed by herald: "If any one liked to come out and get provisions, be it known that he, Neon, would be their leader." So out came the men with spears, and wine skins and sacks and other vessels—two thousand strong in all. But when they had reached the villages and began to scatter for the purpose of foraging, Pharnabazus's cavalry were the first to fall upon them. They had come to the aid of the Bithynians, wishing, if possible, in conjunction with the latter, to hinder the Hellenes from entering Phrygia. These troopers killed no less than five hundred of the men; the rest fled for the lives up into the hill country.

Neon was now general in place of Cheirisophus. He saw the men suffering terribly from lack of supplies and wanted to help them. He found some Heracleot who said he knew of nearby villages where they could get provisions. Neon then had a herald announce: "If anyone wants to go out and get provisions, Neon will lead them." So the men came out with spears, wine skins, sacks, and other containers, two thousand in all. But when they reached the villages and began to scatter to search for provisions, Pharnabazus's cavalry attacked them first. The cavalry had come to help the Bithynians. Together, they hoped, if possible, to keep the Hellenes from entering Phrygia. The cavalry killed at least five hundred of the men. The rest fled for their lives into the hills.

News of the catastrophe was presently brought into camp by one of those who had escaped, and Xenophon, seeing that the victims had not been favourable on that day, took a wagon bullock, in the absence of other sacrificial beasts, offered it up, and started for the rescue, he and the rest under thirty years of age to the last man. Thus they picked up the remnant of Neon's party and returned to camp. It was now about sunset; and the Hellenes in deep despondency were making their evening meal, when all of a sudden, through bush and brake, a party of Bithynians fell upon the pickets, cutting down some and chasing the rest into camp. In the midst of screams and shouts the Hellenes ran to their arms, one and all; yet to pursue or move the camp in the night seemed hardly safe, for the ground was thickly grown with bush; all they could do was to strengthen the outposts and keep watch under arms the livelong night.

One of the survivors soon brought news of the disaster to the camp. Xenophon saw that the sacrifices had not been favorable that day. With no other animals available for sacrifice, he offered up a wagon bull. He then set out to rescue the men, taking every man under thirty with him. They found the survivors of Neon's party and brought them back to camp. It was now about sunset. The Hellenes were deeply discouraged and were eating their evening meal. Suddenly, a party of Bithynians came through the bushes and attacked the sentries. They killed some and chased the rest into camp. Amid screams and shouts, every one of the Hellenes rushed to take up arms. But pursuing the Bithynians or moving camp at night hardly seemed safe, because the ground was thick with bushes. All they could do was strengthen the outposts and stand watch under arms throughout the night.