Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/130

 108 HISTORY OF GREECE. is a time for you to exhibit your training as well as for me te exhibit mine." l We have here an interchange of raillery between the twc Grecian officers, which is not an uninteresting feature in the his- tory of the expedition. The remark of Cheirisophus, especially illustrates that which I noted in a former chapter as true both of Sparta and Athens 2, the readiness to take bribes, so general in individuals clothed with official power; and the readiness, in official Athenians, to commit such peculation, in spite of serious risk of punishment. Now this chance of punishment proceeded altogether from those accusing orators commonly called demagogues, and -from the popular judicature whom they addressed. The joint working of both greatly abated the evil, yet was incompetent to suppress it. But according to the pictures commonly drawn of Athens, we are instructed to believe that the crying public evil was, too great a license of accusation, and too much judicial trial. As- suredly, such was not the conception of Cheirisophus ; nor shall we find it borne out by any fan- appreciation of the general evidence. When the peculation of official persons was thus notorious in spite of serious risks, what would it have become if the door had been barred to accusing demagogues, and if the numerous popular dikasts had been exchanged for a few select judges of the same stamp and class as the official men themselves ? Enforcing his proposition, Xenophon now informed his colleagues that he had just captured a few guides by laying an ambush for certain native plunderers who beset the rear ; and that these guides acquainted him that the mountain was not inaccessible, but pastured by goats and oxen. He farther offered himself to take command of the marching detachment. But this being overruled by Cheirisophus, some of the best among the captains, Aristonymus, Aristeas, and Nichomachus, volunteered their ser- vices and were accepted. After refreshing the soldiers, the generals marched with the main army near to the foot of the pass, Xen. Anab. iv, 6, 16. A/Uu [tevToi, i(j>ri 6 XeipiaoQoe, /cuyw i'fiuf roi>f 'Adyvaiovc UKOVU detvoif tlvai K^sTTTetv TU dy/ioata, nal fiaka ovrof deivov rov KIV&VVOV rw /cAeTrrovn, Kpa Kal aol Tn6eiicvv<T&ai TTJV ira'.deiav.
 * See Vol. VII, ch. Ixi, -). 401 seq.