Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/32

22 several divisions by Clearchus, Proxenus, Meno, and others. To the left of them was the native force, under Ariæus, a Persian general, on the extreme left, and with Cyrus commanding in person in the centre. This young pretender to the throne of Persia seemed full of hope and enthusiasm, and despised all precautions. While all others wore helmets, he presented himself for the battle with his head uncovered.

Riding along the front of his line with a small staff, he came to where the Greeks were stationed, and calling out to Clearchus, told him to lead his troops against the enemy's centre, where the King was, and strike there; "for if," he said, "we are victorious in that quarter, the day is ours." As the event showed, this order was sound enough; and if Clearchus had had sufficient contempt for his opponents to carry it out, probably the course of subsequent history would have been changed. But in order to do so, the Greeks would have had to pass before the entire line of the enemy (less than half a mile distant) with their right or unshielded side exposed. Secondly, they would run the risk of being outflanked on the extreme left, owing to the great length of the enemy's line. Under these circumstances, Clearchus determined in his own mind to stick to the river, which protected his right flank, and to charge where he was. So he merely replied to Cyrus that "he would see that all went right."

In the meanwhile Xenophon (who is now for the first time mentioned) rode up to Cyrus and asked if he had any commands. Cyrus directed him to tell the