第 26 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 14:15      字数:9321
  here。 If so; this is a quasi…apology for the Athenian /bons pères de
  famille/ who condemned Socrates。 Beautiful story of the sophist
  teacher's last injunction to Tigranes。
  C1。40…41。 What smiles after tears! Like a sunny day succeeding clouds
  and blackness。 A pretty story this; of the wife of Tigranes。
  /Xenophon's women:/ this one; Pantheia; Croesus' wife; the wife of
  Ischomachus (/Economist/); the daughter of Gobryas。
  C2。12。 Archaeologically interesting。 N。B。Humanity towards wounded;
  Hellenic。 Xenophon's own strategy in the /Anabasis/ is probably the
  prototype。
  C2。15。 For Hellenic and Xenophontine religiousness。 The
  incalculableness of human life: God fulfils himself in many unforeseen
  ways。 N。B。Irony also of the situation; since Cyrus doesn't intend
  the Armenian to triumph over the Chaldaean in the way he anticipates。
  C2。20。 Note how Socratically it is made to work itself out。
  C3。 Cyrus; the Archic Man; the 〃born ruler;〃 is also the diplomatic
  man (cf。; no doubt; Gladstone); a diplomacy based on organic economic
  sense and friendly…naturedness。
  C3。10。 Xenophon's theory of fraternity in action; all petty jealousies
  brushed aside。
  'C3。11。 The 〃captains…of…twelve〃 and the 〃captains…of…six〃 are the
  same officers as those called elsewhere 〃captains…of…ten〃 and
  〃captains…of…five〃 (cf。 above Bk。 II。 C2。21 note)。 The titles vary
  because sometimes the officers themselves are included in the squads
  and sometimes not。'
  C3。19。 Nice touch; quoting his father as an authority。
  C3。40。 With garlands; like the Spartans。 Was it conceivably a Persian
  custom too?
  C3。44。 Assyrian's speech; not a bad one; though platitudinous。
  Xenophon's dramatic form is shown in the intellectual and emotional
  side of his characters; rather than by the diction in their mouths; is
  it not?
  C3。51…52。 Most important for Xenophon; Educationalist。 Cyrus on the
  powerlessness of a speech to create valour in the soul of the
  untrained: there must be a physical; moral; and spiritual training
  there beforehand。 The speech is in Xenophon's best earnest rhetorical
  style。
  C3。57。 The march into battle; /vide/ Milton。 A beautiful bit of word…
  painting。
  C3。58。 Cf。 the Prussian army singing a hymn 'in 1870'。
  BOOK IV
  'C。1' Cyrus waited; with his troops as they were; long enough to show
  that he was ready to do battle again if the enemy would come out; but
  as they did not stir he drew the soldiers off as far as he thought
  well; and there encamped。 He had guards posted and scouts sent
  forward; and then he gathered his warriors round him and spoke to them
  as follows:
  '2' 〃Men of Persia; first and foremost I thank the gods of heaven with
  all my soul and strength; and I know you render thanks with me; for we
  have won salvation and victory; and it is meet and right to thank the
  gods for all that comes to us。 But in the next place I must praise
  you; one and all; it is through you all that this glorious work has
  been accomplished; and when I have learnt what each man's part has
  been from those whose place it is to tell me; I will do my best to
  give each man his due; in word and deed。 '3' But I need none to tell
  me the exploits of your brigadier Chrysantas; he was next to me in the
  battle and I could see that he bore himself as I believe you all have
  done。 Moreover; at the very moment when I called on him to retire; he
  had just raised his sword to strike an Assyrian down; but he heard my
  voice; and at once he dropped his hand and did my bidding。 He sent the
  word along the lines and led his division out of range before the
  enemy could lay one arrow to the string or let one javelin fly。 Thus
  he brought himself and his men safely out of action; because he had
  learnt to obey。 '4' But some of you; I see; are wounded; and when I
  hear at what moment they received their wounds I will pronounce my
  opinion on their deserts。 Chrysantas I know already to be a true
  soldier and a man of sense; able to command because he is able to
  obey; and here and now I put him at the head of a thousand troops; nor
  shall I forget him on the day when God may please to give me other
  blessings。 '5' There is one reminder I would make to all。 Never let
  slip the lesson of this day's encounter; and judge for yourselves
  whether it is cowardice or courage that saves a man in war; whether
  the fighters or the shirkers have the better chance; and what the joy
  is that victory can yield。 To…day of all days you can decide; for you
  have made the trial and the result is fresh。 '6' With such thoughts as
  these in your hearts you will grow braver and better still。 And now
  you may rest in the consciousness that you are dear to God and have
  done your duty bravely and steadily; and so take your meal and make
  your libations and sing the paean and be ready for the watchword。〃
  So saying; Cyrus mounted his horse and galloped on to Cyaxares; and
  the two rejoiced together as victors will。 And then; after a glance at
  matters there and an inquiry if aught were needed; he rode back to his
  own detachment。 Then the evening meal was taken and the watches were
  posted and Cyrus slept with his men。
  '8' Meanwhile the Assyrians; finding that their king was among the
  slain and almost all his nobles with him; fell into utter despair; and
  many of them deserted during the night。 And at this fear crept over
  Croesus and the allies; they saw dangers on every side; and heaviest
  of all was the knowledge that the leading nation; the head of the
  whole expedition; had received a mortal blow。 Nothing remained but to
  abandon the encampment under cover of night。 '9' Day broke; and the
  camp was seen to be deserted; and Cyrus; without more ado; led his
  Persians within the entrenchments; where they found the stores that
  the enemy had left: herds of sheep and goats and kine; and long rows
  of waggons laden with good things。 Cyaxares and his Medes followed;
  and all arms took their breakfast in the camp。 '10' But when the meal
  was over; Cyrus summoned his brigadiers and said to them:
  〃Think what blessings we are flinging away now; spurning; as it were;
  the very gifts of heaven! So at least it seems to me。 The enemy have
  given us the slip; as you see with your own eyes。 Is it likely that
  men who forsook the shelter of their own fortress will ever face us in
  fair field on level ground? Will those who shrink from us before they
  put our prowess to the test ever withstand us now when we have
  overthrown and shattered them? They have lost their best and bravest;
  and will the cowards dare to give us battle?〃
  '11' At that one of his officers cried; 〃Why not pursue at once; if
  such triumphs are before us?〃
  And Cyrus answered; 〃Because we have not the horses。 The stoutest of
  our enemies; those whom we must seize or slay; are mounted on steeds
  that could sweep past us like the wind。 God helping us; we can put
  them to flight; but we cannot overtake them。〃
  '12' 〃Then;〃 said they; 〃why not go and lay the matter before
  Cyaxares?〃
  And he answered; 〃If so; you must all go with me; that Cyaxares may
  see it is the wish of all。〃
  So they all went together and spoke as they thought best。 '13' Now
  Cyaxares felt; no doubt; a certain jealousy that the Persians should
  be the first to broach the matter; but he may also have felt that it
  was really wiser to run no further risks for the present; he had;
  moreover; abandoned himself to feasting and merrymaking; and he saw
  that most of his Medes were in like case。 Whatever the reason; this
  was the answer he gave:
  '14' 〃My good nephew; I have always heard and always seen that you
  Persians of all men think it your duty never to be insatiate in the
  pursuit of any pleasure; and I myself believe that the greater the joy
  the more important is self…restraint。 Now what greater joy could there
  be than the good fortune which waits on us to…day? '15' When fortune
  comes to us; if we guard her with discretion; we may live to grow old
  in peace; but if we are insatiate; if we use and abuse our pleasures;
  chasing first one and then another; we may well fear lest that fate be
  ours which; the proverb tells us; falls on those mariners who cannot
  forgo their voyages in the pursuit of wealth; and one day the deep sea
  swallows them。 Thus has many a warrior achieved one victory only to
  clutch at another and lose the first。 '16' If indeed; our enemies who
  have fled were weaker than we; it might be safe enough to pursue them。
  But now; bethink you; how small a portion of them we have fought and
  conquered; the mass have had no part in the battle; and they; if we do
  not force them to fight; will take themselves off through sheer
  cowardice and sloth。 As yet they know nothing of our powers or their
  own; but if they learn that to fly is as dangerous as to hold their
  ground; we run the risk of driving them to be brave in spite of
  themselves。 '17' You may be sure they are just as anxious to save
  their wives and children as you can be to capture them。 Take a lesson
  from hunting: the wild sow when she is sighted will scamper away with
  her young; though she be feeding with the herd; but if you attack her
  little ones she will never fly; even if she is all alone; she will
  turn on the hunte