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Mnemon

Asia. The troops knew neither the occasion of the Artax. war, nor into what countries they were going. Cyrus had only caused it to be given out, that he should act against the Pisidians, who had infested his province by their incursions.

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Tissaphernes, rightly judging that all these preparations were too great for so small an enterprize as against Pisidia, had set out post from Miletus to give the king an account of them. This news occasioned great trouble at court. Parysatis, the mother of Artaxerxes and Cyrus, was looked upon as the principal cause of this war; and all persons in her service and interest were suspected of holding intelligence with Cyrus. Statira especially, the reigning queen, reproached her incessantly in the most violent terms. "Where is now," said she to her, "that faith you "have so often engaged for your son's behaviour? "Where those ardent prayers you employed to preserve from death that conspirator against his king "and brother? It is your unhappy fondness has "kindled this war, and plunged us into an abyss of "misfortunes." The antipathy and hatred of the two queens for each other were already very great, and much enflamed by such warm reproaches. We shall see what consequences they have. Artaxerxes assembled a numerous army to receive his brother.

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Cyrus advanced continually by great marches. What troubled him most on the way was the pass of Cilicia, which was a narrow defile between very high and steep mountains, that would admit no more than one carriage to pass at a time. Syennesis, king of the country, prepared to dispute this passage with him, and would infallibly have, succeeded, but for the diversion made by Tamos with his ücet, in conjunction with that of the Lacedæmonians. To defend the coasts against the insults of the fleet, Syennesis abandoned that important post, which a

e Plut. in Artax.

P. 101.

Xenoph. 1. i. p. 248-261.

Artax.

small body of troops might have made good against Mnemon. the greatest army.

When they arrived at Tarsus, the Greeks refused to march any farther, rightly suspecting that they were intended against the king, and loudly exclaiming that they had not entered into the service upon that condition. Clearchus, who commanded them, had occasion for all his address and ability to stifle this commotion in its birth. At first he made use of authority and force, but with very ill success, and desisted therefore from an open opposition to their sentiments: He even affected to enter into their views, and to support them with his approbation and credit. He declared publickly, that he would not separate himself from them, and advised them to depute persons to the prince, to know from his own inouth against whom they were to be led, that they might follow him voluntarily if they approved his measures; if not, that they might demand his permission to withdraw. By this artful evasion he appeased the tumult, and made them easy, and they chose him and some other officers for their deputies. Cyrus, whom he had secretly apprised of every thing, made answer, that he was going to attack Abrocomas his enemy, at twelve days march from thence upon the Euphrates. When this answer was repeated to them, though they plainly saw against whom they were going, they resolved to proceed, and only demanded an augmentation of their pay. Cyrus, instead of one Darick a month to each soldier, promised to give them one and a half.

Some time after, Cyrus was informed that two of the principal officers, upon account of a private quarrel with Clearchus, had deserted with part of their equipage on board a merchant ship. Many were of opinion, that it was proper to send two gallies after

* It is not said where he commanded. It appears to be upon the Euphrates. He marched with three hundred thousand men to join the king's army, but did not arrive till after the battle. The Darick was worth ten livres.

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Artax

them; which might be done with great ease; and that when they were brought back, they should be Mnemon. made an example, by suffering death in sight of the whole army. Cyrus, convinced that favour was the most certain means to the attainment of affection, and that punishments, like violent remedies, ought never to be used but in extreme necessity, declared publickly that he would not suffer it to be said, that he had detained any one in his service by force, and added, that he would send them their wives and children, whom they had left as hostages in his hands.

An answer of so much wisdom and generosity had a surprizing effect; and made even those his firm adherents, who were before inclined to retire. This is an excellent lesson for all who govern. There is in the mind of man a fund of natural generosity, which it is necessary to know and apply. Threats exasperate them, and chastisement makes them revolt, when endeavours are used to force them to do their duty against their will. They desire a certain degree of confidence in their honour, and . that the glory of acquitting themselves of it out of choice be left in their power: To shew that you believe men faithful, is often the best means to make them so.

Cyrus soon after declared, that he marched against Artaxerxes. Upon which some murmuring was heard at first, but it soon gave place to the expres sions of joy and satisfaction, occasioned by that prince's magnificent promises to the army.

As Cyrus advanced by long marches, he was informed from all parts, that the king did not intend to come directly to a battle, but had resolved to wait in the remote parts of Persia, till all his forces were

Plut. in Artax. p. 1014. Xenoph. 1. i. p. 261-266. Beneficiis potius quam remediis ingenia experiri placuit. Plin. in Traj.

Nescio an plus moribus conferet princeps, qui bonos esse patitur, quam qui cogit. Plin. ibid.

Plerumque habita fides ipsam olligat fidem. Liv.

Artax. assembled; and that to stop his enemies, he had orMnemon. dered an intrenchment to be thrown up in the plains of Babylonia, with a fossé of five fathoms broad, and three deep, extending the space of twelve * parasangas or leagues, from the Euphrates to the wall of Media. Between the Euphrates and the fossé a way had been left of twenty feet in breadth, by which Cyrus passed with his whole army, having reviewed it the day before. The king had neglected to dispute this pass with him, and suffered him to continue his march towards Babylon. It was Tiribasus, who determined him not to fly in such a manner before an enemy, against whom he had infinite advantages, as well from the number of his troops as the valour of his generals. He resolved therefore to advance against the enemy.

SECT. II. The battle of Cunaxa. The Greeks are victorious on their side, Artaxerxes on his. Cyrus is killed.

THE place where the battle was fought, was called Cunaxa, about † twenty-five leagues from Ba- · bylon. The army of Cyrus consisted of thirteen thousand Greeks, an hundred thousand Barbarians, and twenty chariots armed with scythes. The enemy in horse and foot might amount to about twelve hundred thousand under four generals, Tissaphernes, Gobryas, Arbaces, and Abrocomas, without including six thousand chosen horse, that fought where the king was present, and never quitted his person. But Abrocomas, who had the command of three hundred thousand men, did not arrive till five days after the

Xenoph. in Exped. Cyr. 1. i. p. 263-266. Diod. 1. xiv. p. 253, 254. Plut. p. 1014-1017.

*The parasanga is a measure of ways peculiar to the Persians. It was commonly thirty stadia, which made about a league and a half French. Some were from twenty to sixty stadia, In the march of Cyrus's army I suppose the parasanga only twenty stadia, or one league, for reasons I shall give hereafter.

Five hundred stadia,

battle. In the king's army' were only an hundred Artaxt and fifty chariots armed with scythes.

Cyrus believed, from the enemy's not having defended the pass at the fossé, that there would be no battle; so that the next day the army marched with great negligence. But on the third, Cyrus being in his chariot, with few soldiers in their ranks before him, and the rest marching without any order, or having their arms carried for them, an horseman came in full speed, crying out as he passed, that the enemy approached in order of battle. Upon this, great confusion ensued, from the apprehension that they should not have time to draw up the army. Cyrus, leaping from his chariot, put on his arms immediately, and getting on horseback with his javelin in his hand, he gave orders universally to the troops to stand to their arms, and fall into their ranks; which was executed with so much expedition, that the troops had not time to refresh themselves.

Cyrus posted upon his right a thousand Paphlagonian horse, supported by the Euphrates, and the light-armed infantry of the Greeks; and next them, Clearchus, Proxenes, and the rest of the general officers to Menon, at the head of their several corps. The left wing, composed of Lydians, Phrygians, and other Asiatick nations, were commanded by Ariæus, who had a thousand horse. Cyrus placed himself in the centre, where the chosen troops of the Persians and other Barbarians were posted. He had around him six hundred horsemen, armed at all points, as were their horses, with head and breast-pieces. The prince's head was uncovered, as were those of all the Persians, whose custom it was to give battle in that manner; the arms of all his people were red, and those of Artaxerxes were white.

A little before the onset Clearchus advised Cyrus not to charge in person, but to cover himself in the rear of the Grecian battalions. What is it you say? replied Cyrus. At the time I am endeavouring to makė

Mnemon.

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