A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

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Results of the Battle 251
the wanton insults they put upon us, let us with one
accord wreak vengeance on yonder men."
Having so spoken, he turned round, facing the foemen,
and kept quiet; for the order passed by the soothsayer
enjoined on them not to charge before one of their side
was slain or wounded. "As soon as that happens," said
the seer, "we will lead you onwards, and the victory shall
be yours; but for myself, if I err not, death is waiting."
And herein he spoke truly, for they had barely resumed
their arms when he himself, as though he were driven by
some fatal hand, leapt out in front of the ranks, and so
springing into the midst of the foe, was slain, and lies now
buried at the passage of the Cephissus. But the rest were
victorious, and pursued the routed enemy down to the
level ground. There fell in this engagement, from the
number of the Thirty, Critias himself and Hippomachus,
and with them Charmides, the son of Glaucon, one of the
ten archons in Peirasus, and of the rest about seventy men.
The arms of the slain were taken; but as fellow-citizens,
the conquerors forebore to despoil them of their coats.
The battle,
II. Retreat of the Ten Thousand Through the
Snows of Armenia
From this point they marched three desert stages
fifteen parasangs—to the river Euphrates, and crossed it
in water up to the waist. The sources of the river were
reported to be at no great distance. From this place the}'
marched through deep snow over a fiat country three
stages—fifteen parasangs. The last of these marches was
trying, with the north wind blowing in their teeth, drying
up everything and benumbing the men. Here one of the
seers suggested to them to do sacrifice to Boreas, and
sacrifice was done. The effect was obvious to all in the
A march in
the storm.
Xenophon,
Anabasis,
iv. 5.
Ancient
World. 253
ff.; Greece,
261 f.
A parasang,
Persian
measure of
distance,
was a little