Greece -- History -- To 146 B.C.; History, Ancient
111. Now Artybios was riding a horse which had been trained to rear
up against a hoplite. Onesilos accordingly being informed of this, and
having a shield-bearer, by race of Caria, who was of very good repute
as a soldier and full of courage besides, 89 said to this man: "I am
informed that the horse of Artybios rears upright and works both with
his feet and his mouth against any whom he is brought to attack. Do thou
therefore consider the matter, and tell me forthwith which of the two
thou wilt rather watch for and strike, the horse or Artybios himself."
To this his attendant replied: "O king, I am ready to do both or either
of these two things, and in every case to do that which thou shalt
appoint for me; but I will declare to thee the way in which I think it
will be most suitable 90 for thy condition. I say that it is right for
one who is king and commander to fight with a king and commander; for if
thou shalt slay the commander of the enemy, it turns to great glory for
thee; and again, if he shall slay thee, which heaven forbid, even death
when it is at the hands of a worthy foe is but half to be lamented: but
for us who are under thy command it is suitable to fight with the others
who are under his command and with his horse: and of the tricks of the
horse have thou no fear at all, for I engage to thee that after this
at least he shall never stand against any man more." Thus he spoke; and
shortly afterwards the opposed forces joined battle both on land and
with their ships.
112. On that day the Ionians for their part greatly distinguished
themselves and overcame the Phenicians, and of them the Samians were
best: and meanwhile on land, when the armies met, they came to close
quarters and fought; and as regards the two commanders, what happened
was this:--when Artybios came to fight with Onesilos sitting upon his
horse, Onesilos, as he had concerted with his shield-bearer, struck at
Artybios himself, when he came to fight with him; and when the horse put
its hoofs against the shield of Onesilos, then the Carian struck with a
falchion 91 and smote off the horse's feet.
113. So Artybios the commander of the Persians fell there on the spot
together with his horse: and while the others also were fighting,
Stesenor the despot of Curion deserted them, having with him a
large force of men,--now these Curians are said to be settlers
from Argos,--and when the Curians had deserted, forthwith also the
war-chariots of the men of Salamis proceeded to do the same as the
Curians. When these things took place, the Persians had the advantage
over the Cyprians; and after their army had been put to rout, many
others fell and among them Onesilos the son of Chersis, he who brought
about the revolt of the Cyprians, and also the king of the Solians,
Aristokypros the son of Philokypros,--that Philokypros whom Solon the
Athenian, when he came to Cyprus, commended in verse above all other
despots.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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