destitute of leaders, and no less their fear of the evil hanging over their heads, which they knew not how to avoid. Among the rest, Xenophon, whose learning supplied his want of experience, finding the deep sadness of the whole army to be such as hindered them from taking any course of preventing the danger at hand, began to advise the under-officers of Proxenus's companies, whose familiar friend he had been, to bethink themselves of some mean whereby their safety might be wrought, and the soldiers encouraged; setting before their eyes whatsoever might serve to give them hope, and above all persuading them in no wise to yield to the mercy of their barbarous enemies.

Hereupon they desired him to take upon him the charge of that regiment; and so, together with him, the same night calling up such as were remaining of any account, they made choice of the fittest men to succeed in the places of those who were slain or taken. This being done, and order set down for disburdening the army of all superfluous impediments, they easily comforted themselves for the loss of Tissaphernes' assistance, hoping to take victuals by force better cheap than he had been wont to sell them; to which purpose they intended to take up their lodging two or three miles further, among some plentiful villages, and so to proceed, marching towards the heads of those great rivers which lay in their way, and to pass them where they were fordable. Many attempts were made upon them by Tissaphernes, whom they, serving all on foot, were not able to requite for the harm which they received by the Persian archers, who shot at a further distance than the Greeks could reach. For this cause did Xenophon provide slings, wherewith he overreached the enemy; and finding some horses fit for service, that were employed among the carriages, he set men upon them; training likewise his archers to shoot compass, who had been accustomed to the pointblank. By these means did he bear off the Persians who assailed him; and sometimes gave them chase with that band of fifty horse, which being well backed with a firm body of footmen, and seconded with troops of the light

armed-shot and slingers, compelled the enemy to lie aloof. Tissaphernes, not daring to come to handygripes with these resolute men, did possess the tops of mountains, and places of advantage, by which they were to pass. But finally, when their valour made way through all such difficulties, he betook himself to that course which was indeed the surest, of burning the country. With great sorrow did the Greeks behold the villages on fire, and thereby all hope of victuals cut off. Some advised to defend the country, as granted by the enemy himself to be theirs; others to make more fires, if so perhaps the Persians might be ashamed to do that which were the desire of such as made passage in hostile manner: but these were faint comforts. The best counsel was, that being near unto the Carduchi, a people enemy to the Persian, they should enter into their country, passing over some high mountains which lay between them. This course they followed, which could not have availed them if Tissaphernes had begun sooner to cut off their victuals, rather than to seek to force, or to circumvent them by his fine wit."

SECT. IX.

The difficulties which the Greek army found in passing through the land of the Carduchi.

ENTERING upon the land of the Carduchi, they were encountered with many difficulties of ways, but much more afflicted by the fierce inhabitants, who, accustomed by force to defend themselves against the huge armies of the Persian, were no way inferior to the Greeks in daring, but only in the art of war. They were very light of foot, skilful archers, and used the sling well; which weapons in that mountainous country were of much use against these poor travellers, afflicting them in seven days, which they spent in that passage, far more than all the power of the great king had done. Between the territory of these Carduchi and the parts of Armenia confining them, ran Centrites, a great river, upon which the Greeks refreshed themselves one day, rejoicing that they had so well escaped these dangers, and hoping that the remainder would prove easy. But the next

morning they saw certain troops of horse that lay to forbid their passage. These were levied by the king's deputies in those parts, Tissaphernes and his companies having taken their way towards Ionia. The river was broad and deep, so that it was not possible for such as would enter it, to make resistance against those which kept the opposite banks. To increase these dangers, the Carduchi, following upon them, lay on the side of a mountain within less than a mile of the water. But it was their good hap to discover a ford, by which the greater number of them passing over did easily chase away the subjects of the Persian, and then, sending back the most expedite men, gave succour to the rearward, against which the Carduchi, being slightly armed, could not on plain ground make resistance hand to hand. These Carduchi seem to have inhabited the mountains of Niphates, which are not far from the spring of Tigris; though Ptolomy place them far more to the east, upon the river of Cyrus in Media, wherein he differs much from Xenophon, whose relation, being grounded upon his own knowledge, doth best in this case deserve credit. Of the river Centrites (as of many other rivers, towns, and places mentioned by Xenophon) I will not labour to make a conjecture which may endure the severity of a critic: for Ptolomy, and the whole nation of geographers, add small light to this expedition; only of this last, I think it the same which falleth into Tigris, not much above Artasigarta, springing out of Niphates, and running by the town of Sardeua in Gordene, a province of Armenia the Great, wherein the Greeks having passed Centrites did arrive,

SECT. X.

How Teribazus, governor of Armenia, seeking to entrap the Greeks with terms of feigned peace, was disappointed and shamefully beaten.

THE army finding in Armenia good provision, marched without any disturbance about fifty or threescore miles to the heads of the river Tigris, and passing over them travelled as far further without resistance, till they were en

countered by Teribazus at the river Teleboa, which Xenophon commends as a goodly water, though small; but Ptolomy and others omit it. Teribazus governed that country for the Persian, and was in great favour with Artaxerxes, whose court may seem to have been a school where the art of falsehood was taught as wisdom. He desired peace of the Greeks; which was made upon this condition, that they should take what they pleased, but not burn down the towns and villages in their way. As soon as he had made this league, he levied an army, and besetting the straits of certain mountains which they were to pass, hoped well to make such benefit of their security, as might give him the commendations of being no less craftily dishonest than Tissaphernes. Yet his cunning failed of success: for a great snow fell, which caused the Greeks to make many fires, and scatter themselves abroad in the villages. Teribazus also made many fires, and some of his men wandered about seeking relief. By the fires he was discovered, and by a soldier of his, that was taken prisoner, the whole plot was revealed. Hereupon the Greeks, taking this captive with them for a guide, sought him out; and coming upon his camp did so affright him, that before the whole army could arrive there, the shout which was raised by the vauntcouriers, chased him away. They took his pavilion, wherein (besides many slaves that were artificers of voluptuousness) very rich furniture was left by the treacherous coward, who returned no more to challenge it. From hence the army went northward, and passing Euphrates, not far below the springs thereof, travelled with much difficulty through deep snow, being followed aloof by the enemy, who durst not approach them, but did cut off such as they found straggling behind. The inhabitants of the country, through which they marched, had their wintering houses under ground, wherein was found great plenty of victuals, and of cattle, which likewise did winter in the same cellars with the owners. Having refreshed themselves in those parts, and taken sufficient ease after the miserable journey, which had consumed many of them with extreme cold, they de

parted, leading with them many bondslaves, and taking away (besides other horses and cattle) some colts that were bred up for the great king.

SECT. XI.

The passage of the army to Trabizond, through the countries bordering upon the river of Phasis, and other obscure nations. SO without impediment they came to the river Phasis, near whereunto the people called Phasiani Taochi and Chalybes were seated. These nations joined together, and occupying the tops of a ledge of mountains, which the Greeks were to pass, made countenance of war; but some companies being sent by night to seize upon a place of equal height to that whereon the enemies lay, making good the piece of ground which they had taken, secured the ascent of the rest; which caused these people to fly, every one retiring to the defence of his own. The first upon whose country the Greeks did enter were the Taochi, who, conveying all their provision of victuals into strong holds, brought the army into much want, until with hard labour one place was forced, wherein great store of cattle were taken; the people, to avoid captivity, threw themselves headlong down the rocks, the very women throwing down first their own children, and then casting themselves upon them. Here was taken a great booty of cattle, which served to feed them travelling through the land of the Chalybes, of whom they got nothing but strokes. The Chalybes were a very stout nation, well armed at all points, and exceeding fierce. They encountered the Greeks hand to hand, killing as many as they took prisoners, and cutting off their heads, which they carried away, singing and dancing, to the great grief of their companions living, who were glad, when after seven days' journey they escaped from those continual skirmishes wherewith they had been vexed by these Barbarians. Hence travelling through a good corn country, inhabited by an obscure nation called the Scythini, they came to a rich town, the lord whereof, and of the region adjoining, used them friendly, and promised to guide them to a moun