Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/103

ENCOURAGING TOPICS. 81 and above all, extinguishing all those inclinations to acquiesce in new treacherous proposals from the enemy, which the perils of the situation would be likely to suggest. Xenophon had equipped himself in his finest military costume at this his first official appearance before the army, when the scales seemed to tremble between life and death. Taking up the protest of Kleanor against the treachery of the Persians, he insisted that any attempt to enter into convention or trust with such liars, would be utter ruin, but that if energetic resolution were taken to deal with them only at the point of the sword, and punish their mis- deeds, there was good hope of the favor of the gods and of ultimate preservation. As he pronounced this last word, one of the soldiers near him happened to sneeze. Immediately the whole army around shouted with one accord the accustomed invocation to Zeus the Preserver ; and Xenophon, taking up the accident, continued, " Since, gentlemen, this omen from Zeus the Preserver has appeared at the instant when we were talking about preservation, let us here vow to offer the preserving sacrifice to that god, and at the same time to sacrifice to the remaining gods as well as we can, in the first friendly country which we may reach. Let every man who agrees with me, hold up his hand." All held up their hands ; all then joined in the vow, and shouted the paean. This accident, so dexterously turned to profit by the rhetorical skill of Xenophon, was eminently beneficial in raising the array out of the depression which weighed them down, and in disposing them to listen to his animating appeal. Repeating his assurances that the gods were on their side, and hostile to their perjured ene- my, he recalled to their memory the great invasions of Greece by Darius and Xerxes, how the vast hosts of Persia had been disgracefully repelled. The army had shown themselves on the field of Kunaxa worthy of such forefathers ; and they would for the future be yet bolder, knowing by that battle of what stuff the Persians were made. As for Ariasus and his troops, alike traitors and cowards, their desertion was rather a gam than a loss. The enemy were superior in horsemen ; but men on horseback were, after all, only men, half-occupied in the fear of losing their seats, incapable of prevailing against infantry firm on the ground, and only better able to run away. Now that the satrap refused to furnish them with provisions to buy, they on their side were VOL. ix. 4* Goc.