Xenophon's Anabasis, Newly Tr., by a Member of the University of Oxford (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 edition. Excerpt: ... t Used him most faithful. t The. According to the horn, or oblong shape.-' 7 be formed in a front line. As soon as the rear guard came, he called together the generals and captains, and spoke thus: "The enemy, as you see, hold possession of the pass over "the mountain, and it is time to consult how we shall most 8 " fairly contend with them. It seems, therefore, to me, pro"per to issue orders to. the soldiers to get their dinners, and "that we should deliberate whether to-day or to-morrow it 9 appears fit to pass over the mountain." "To me, at "least," said Cleanor, "it seems right, that as soon as we "have dined with all haste, we should go fully armed, as "speedily as possible, against the men. For if we waste the "passing day, both the enemy, who now see us, will be more confident, and it is likely that others, whilst they are bold, . "will join them in greater numbers." 10. After him Xenophon said: "I thus think: If there is a "necessity for fighting, this it behooves us to prepare, --in "what manner we shall fight as bravely as possible: but if we "are desirous to pass over as easily as may be, this seems to "me necessary to be considered--how we may receive as few "wounds as we can, and lose as few as possible of the bodies 11 " of our men. The mountain, then, that is before our eyes, "is more than for sixty stadia, but men are no where visible "as watching us, else than by this road: it is much better, "then, both to endeavour, unperceived, to occupy some "part of the desert mountain, and to seize it by antici"pation, f if we can, rather than to fight against strong 12" places, and men prepared for us. For it is much easier to "go over steep ground without fighting, than smooth, the "enemy being on one side and on the other: and a...