Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/59

 MIONIGH1 REVIEW BY CYRUS. 37 thousand hoplites. Orontes was examined, found guilty, and pri- vately put to death. * After three days' march, estimated by Xenophon at twelve parasangs, Cyrus was induced by the evidences before him, or by the reports of deserters, to believe that the opposing army was close at hand, and that a battle was impending. Accordingly, in the middle of the night, he mustered his whole army, Greeks as well as barbarians ; but the enemy did not appear as had been expected. His numbers W3re counted at this spot, and it was found that there were, of Greeks ten thousand four hundred hop- lites, and two thousand five hundred peltasts ; of the barbarian or Asiatic force of Cyrus, one hundred thousand men with twenty scythed chariots. The numbers of the Greeks had been somewhat diminished during the march, from sickness, desertion, or other causes. The reports of deserters described the army of Arta- xerxes at one million two hundred thousand men, besides the six thousand horse-guards commanded by Artagerses, and two hun- dred scythed chariots, under the command of Abrokomas, Tissa- phernes, and two others. It was ascertained afterwards, how- ever, that the force of Abrokomas had not yet joined, and later accounts represented the numerical estimation as too great by one-fourth. In expectation of an action, Cyrus here convened the generals as well as the Lochages (or captains) of the Greeks ; as well to consult about suitable arrangements, as to stimulate their zeal in his cause. Few points in this narrative are more striking than the language addressed by the Persian prince to the Greeks, on this as well as on other occasions. " It is not from want of native forces, men of Hellas, that I have brought you hither, but because I account you better and braver than any number of natives. Prove yourselves now worthy of the freedom which you enjoy ; that freedom for which I e*avy you, and which I would choose, be assured, in preference to all my possessions a thousand times multiplied. Learn now from me, who know it well, all that you will have to encounter, vast numbers and plenty of nois3 ; but if you despise these, I am 1 The description given of this scene (known to the Greeks through the communications of Klearchus) by Xenophon, is extremely interesting (Anab. i, 6). I omit it from regard to space.