Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/66

 44 WSTOEY OF GREECE. gerrha, or wicker shields, spiked so as to be fastened in the ground while arrows were shot from behind them ; next, the Egyptian infantry with long wooden shields covering the whole body and legs. In front of all was a row of chariots with scythes attached to the wheels, destined to begin the charge against the Grecian phalanx. 1 As the Greeks were completing their array, Cyrus rode to the front, and desired Klearchus to make his attack with the Greeks upon the centre of the enemy ; since it was there that the king in person would be posted, and if that were once beaten, the victory was gained. But such was the superiority of Artaxerxes in num- bers, that his centre extended beyond the left of Cyrus. Accord- ingly Klearchus, afraid of withdrawing his right from the river, lest he should be taken both in flank and rear, chose to keep his position on the right, and merely replied to Cyrus, that he would manage everything for the best. I have before remarked 2 how often the fear of being attacked on the unshielded side and on the rear, led the Greek soldier into movements inconsistent with mili- tary expediency ; and it will be seen presently that Klearchus, blindly obeying this habitual rule of precaution, was induced here to commit the capital mistake of keeping on the right flank, con- trary to the more judicious direction of Cyrus. 3 The latter con- tinued for a short time riding slowly in front of the lines, looking alternately at the two armies, when Xenophon, one of the small total of Grecian horsemen, and attached to the division of Proxe- nus, rode forth from the line to accost him, asking if he had any orders to give. Cyrus desired him to proclaim to every one that the sacrifices were favorable. Hearing a murmur going through the Grecian ranks, he inquired from Xenophon what it was ; and received for answer, that the watchword was now being passed along for the second tune. He asked, with some surprise, who gave the watchword ? and what it was ? Xenophon replied that it was " Zeus the Preserver, and Victory." "I accept it," re- plied Cyrus ; " let that be the word ;" and immediately rode away to his own post in the centre, among the Asiatics. 1 Xcn. Anab. i, 8, 8-11. 3 Plutarch (Artaxcrx. c. 8} makes this criticism upon Klearchus; and it geems quite just,
 * Thucyd. v. 70. See Vol. VII, ch. Ivi, p. 84 of this History.