"battle men are feldom killed by the mettal "of a horfe: and, I think, we can fight more firmly upon our feet, than they up"on their prancing and fcarred horfes; the

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only advantage of which is, that they can "fly with greater fpeed upon them. If you "think it a grievance that we fhall no longer "have Tiffaphernes for our guide, and the

King to fupply us with provifions, let it be "confidered how much fafer it will be for us, 46 to be conducted by men of our own chu❝fing, than by fuch a vile traitor; men that "will fhare with us in the fame dangers, and "whofe lives will be our fecurity for their "faithfulness. And as for provifions, will it 66 not be better for us to get them by our "valour, and to be our own carvers, than to "buy them at fuch extravagant and difadvan"tageous rates as we have done, confidering "the lowness of our cath? If you are fright❝ed at the difficulties of repaffing the rivers; "by what we have already experienced, I "would have you confider how probable "it is, that the barbarians have purpofely "mifled us: however, at the worst, it is but "tracing them up to their fources; and there you may foord them, without going up " to the knees in water. But if all thefe "fhould fail us, we ought not to be difhear"tened: we are not inferior in bravery to the "Myfians, Pifidians, and Lycanians, who have "fhaken off the Perfian yoke, who are in "quiet poffeffion of fome of the fineft pro"vinces of the Perfian empire, and have their "fortified towns, and make frequent inroads "into all the neighbouring countries. After

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"all, I know not whether it be not impolitick

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in us to betray fuch earnestness after our na66 tive country; and whether it would not be "C more wifely done, to order our matters, as if "we defigned to fettle ourselves here. I am "fure, that if the Myfians would confent to "leave their prefent abode, the King would be "fo far from refusing them proper and faithful "guides to conduct them, that he would even. "level the roads, and furnish them with carriages, if they infifted upon it; and I doubt not "but he would as readily do the fame for us, "if he once faw us difpofed to stay here: but "I am much afraid, that, in this cafe, our "living in plenty and ease, and the conver"fation of the beautiful Mede and Perfian 66 woman, would foon make us forget our na"tive home; and am therefore of opinion, "that it is better for us to return to Greece, "and let our countrymen know, that it is "their fault they are no richer, fince they "might fend all their poor hither, to be glut"ted with wealth; for this, Gentlemen, is "the reward of victory." Xenophon thus proceeded.

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"THE next thing I have to propofe to you "is,`in what manner we may march with the greateft fecurity, and, if necessary, fight "with the greateft advantage. And first of all, "I think we ought to burn all our carriages; "the care of which will retard our marches: "the fame I think of our tents and bag(6 gage, of which we should only preferve that "which is moft neceffary, either for war, or "for our provisions, that we may march on "the more regularly. One fuccessful victory

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"will indemnify us; for the conquered, and "what belongs to them, will be ours of course. "One main point I must by no means omit: 66 you know, that the Perfians did not dare to 66 attack us, whilft we were under the conduct "of fuch experienced generals as we then "had; but fince they have feized and butchered them, and think us under a kind of "anarchy, they will conclude, that we may "be easily conquered by them: for this reafon, I think it highly neceffary, that our prefent generals be more cautious and vi66 gilant, and the foldiers more obedient and "fubmiffive to them; which may be effectually done, if you make an order, that every one of you that are prefent fhall affift the commander in punishing the ftubborn "and difobedient. By this means the ene(6 my will find, that, inftead of one Clear"chus, we have recovered a thousand, who "would not fuffer a man to neglect his duty.. "If what I have propofed meets with your approbation, ratify it immediately, and let "it be put in execution before the enemy appear; and if any of you, though a private centinal, hath any thing better to offer, let him do it without fear; for our "prefervation is a general concern."

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He was filent; and Cheirifophus only faid, that if there fhould be any neceffity to add any thing to what Xenophon had proposed, it might be done afterwards: "At prefent, faid

he, let us who are of his opinion, ratify "what he hath laid before us." Upon which they all held up their hands; and Xenophon concluded his fpeech, in words to this effect:

"It is now evident, that we ought to march to "fome place where we may fupply ourselves "with provifions; and I am informed, that "there are many rich villages not above

twenty ftades from hence: should the ene66 my attempt to harafs us in our march, it "will be only like cowardly dogs that bark "after thofe that fly, but run away from those "that face them. Poffibly, therefore, we shall

retreat with greater fafety, if we difpofe "the heavy-armed men and baggage in an hol"low fquare: let each man therefore take his "poft before the enemy appear, that when "they approach us, he may have nothing to do "but to engage them. Let Cheirifophus the "Lacedemonian command the front; let the 66 two eldest Generals command the flanks ; "and Timafion and me, who are the youngest "for the prefent, take charge of the rear. "We may hereafter find occasion to improve "this difpofition; and if any of you can offer any thing better, let him do it; or else approve of mine, by holding up his hands; which they all did; and then he said, " You 66 are now to depart, and execute what is de"termined. Whoever among you is defirous (6 to return to his family, let him remember, "that fighting bravely is the only means to "effect it. Whoever hath a mind to live, "let him endeavour to conquer. If any of

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you covets wealth, let him ftrive to over66 come for the victorious not only preferves "his own, but is intitled to what belongs to "the conquered."

XENOPHON had no fooner ended, than they all went about their feveral works, burnt their carriages,

carriages, tents, and fuperfluous baggage; and were juft fat down to dinner, when Mithridates appeared, with about 30 horfe, and de fired to fpeak to the Grecian chiefs. This man, who had formerly ferved under Cyrus, was fent by the King, as a fit perfon to found their refolutions; and he, pretending the same friendfhip to them that ever he had, told them, that if he found them upon any falutary expedient, he would bring all his men with him, and join them in it. After a fhort confultation, Cheirifephus, in the name of the reft, told him, that their defign was, to make as safe and peaceable a retreat as they could; but that, if they met with any oppofition, they were refolved to fight their way through it. Mithridates tried in vain to perfuade them, that fuch an enterprife could not be carried on against the King's confent. His arguments rendered him the more fufpected to them. Upon which they immediately refolved, that from that time they would never admit of any farther treaty or parley with the Perfians, till they were got out of their dominions.

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As foon as they had dined, they began their march, and croffed over the river Zabatus, in the order that had been propofed by Xenophon; and their phalanx, which faced on the four fides, feemed to bid defiance to the eneThey had not gone far, till the Persian fatrap appeared again, at the head of 200 horfe, and 400 light archers and flingers. They advanced at firft as friends; but, as foon as they were got within fhot, they began to dif charge a volley of arrows and ftones; which greatly annoyed the Grecian rear, whose bows