Anabasis, Book 2, Ch. 1 - Demands from the King at politburo diktat 2.0

Anabasis, Book 2, Ch. 1 - Demands from the King

Now aware that Cyrus is dead, the Greeks are in a tough spot.

While they (the Greek messengers to Ariaeus) went away, Clearchus stayed (behind). And the army was procuring food in what way it was able, slaughtering the oxen and asses from the pack animals; and going a short distance from their lines to where the battle took place, (to collect and) use as firewood the many arrows that the Greeks had compelled the deserters from the King to throw away, and wicker shields, and wooden Egyptian shields; and there were even many of the abandoned spears and wagons for them to collect. All these they used to boil meat and live on it for that day.

And at full-market time (mid-morning) heralds from the King and Tissaphernes arrived. Most were barbarians, but of them only one Greek: Phalinus, who was with Tissaphernes and held by him in great esteem, as he professed to be knowledge in both tactics and heavy infantry fighting. These, approaching and calling for the leaders of the Greeks, said that the King, since he had defeated Cyrus, was directing the Greeks to surrender their weapons (and) come into the King’s camp to obtain whatever favorable (terms) that they could (i.e. to throw themselves at his mercy).

So said the King’s heralds. While the Greeks heard this with anger (or dismay?), nonetheless Clearchus merely said that it was not for the victors to surrender their weapons. “But,” he said, “You, O gentlemen generals, reply to these (heralds) in whatever (words) are honorable and noble, and I will return promptly.” Because one of his servants summoned him, so that he could see what had been taken out of the sacrificial victim, for he had just then been sacrificing.

Thereupon, Cleanor the Arcadian, being the eldest (general) replied that they would rather die before they would surrender their arms. And Proxenus the Theban said, “But, Phalinus, I myself am confused whether the King, as victor demands our weapons, or, as in friendship, (he asks for) them as gifts. For, if as victor, is it necessary for him to ask, and not just come and take them?” But if, by persuasion, he hopes to receive them, let him say what the soldiers will get if they give these to him.”

I like the part about Clearchus and him being busy with the sacrifice. Is that merely happenstance, mentioned just because it occurred that way. Or, was Clearchus playing some more devious game, perhaps not wanting to be associated with any terms of negotiation or surrender to the King? I really don’t know. That’s one of the maddening things about ancient texts where events are described briefly by only one source. We, the modern readers, may be tempted to read much into them, but perhaps, paraphrasing Freud, “sometimes a sacrifice is just a sacrifice.”

On the other hand, there can be no doubt about Cleanor’s challenge that the King, if he indeed was so powerful, to “come and take” their weapons. It is an unmistakable allusion to King Leonidas’ identical challenge to King Xerxes, many years before at Thermopylae.

A couple points of translation:

The Greek phrase, “βαρέως ἤκουσαν,” is literally “heard heavily.” The adverb “βαρέως” could be rendered “angrily” or “sadly.” But since Clearchus’ proposal to reply honorably is introduced with a word meaning “nevertheless,” maybe “angrily” is better, given that context.

The Greek “θαυμάζω,” is “I am confused,” and that’s how I rendered it, perhaps too literally. Another translation would be “I would like to know.”