The First Four Books of Xenophon's AnabasisXenophon
History
The First Four Books of Xenophon's Anabasis
Xenophon
Cyrus, the Younger, approximately 423 B.C.-401 B.C.; Iran -- History -- To 640
7. They now perceived the Carduchi assembled in great numbers under arms
on the spot where they themselves had been on the previous night. Hence
great despondency was felt by the Greeks, as they knew the difficulty of
passing the river, and saw the Carduchi ready to attack them if they
attempted to cross. 8. This day, therefore, and the following night,
they remained where they were in great perplexity. Xenophon however had
a dream; he thought that he was bound in fetters, but that they fell off
him of their own accord, so that he was set at liberty, and walked
securely[194] whithersoever he pleased. 9. When the morning approached,
he went to Cheirisophus, told him that he had hopes that all would be
well, and related to him his dream. Cheirisophus was much pleased, and,
as soon as it was day, all the generals who were present offered
sacrifice, and the victims were favourable at the very first. As soon as
they left the place of sacrifice, the generals and captains gave
directions to the troops to take their breakfast.
10. While Xenophon was at breakfast, two young men came running up to
him, for every one knew that it was allowable to approach him whether
breakfasting or supping, and to wake him and speak to him even when
asleep, if they had anything to tell of affairs relating to the war. 11.
The youths informed him that they had been gathering sticks for their
fire, and had chanced to see, on the opposite side of the river, among
the rocks that reached down to the stream itself, an old man, a woman,
and some girls, depositing in a cavernous rock what appeared to be bags
of clothes; 12. that when they saw this, they thought it would be safe
to cross, as the ground at that point was inaccessible to the enemy's
horse; that having taken off their clothes, and taken their daggers in
their hands, they went over undressed, in expectation of having to swim,
but that, as they went on, they reached the other side before they were
wet to the middle, and, having thus forded the stream, and taken the
clothes, they came back again. 13. Xenophon immediately therefore made a
libation, and ordered the young men to join in it,[195] and to pray to
the gods who had sent the dream and pointed out the ford, to complete
what was wanting to their success. After the libation, he at once
conducted the youths to Cheirisophus, and to him they gave the same
account. Cheirisophus, on hearing it, made a libation also.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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