Conditions and Terms of Use PREFACE Copyright © Heritage History 2009 Miss Younghusband kindly insists that I should write a Some rights reserved preface to her new volume, and I cannot refuse. It contains a translation by her hand from the German of Professor C. Witt's This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an organization version of the Retreat of the Ten Thousand. dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. Such a book ought, I think, no less than its predecessors The Myths of Hellas, The Tale of Troy, and The Wanderings of The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public domain and Ulysses, to become a favourite with those youthful readers, to are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may therefore be reproduced whom it is primarily addressed. Indeed, considering the nature of within the United States without paying a royalty to the author. the history, older persons may perhaps find an interest in it. The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, however, are The original Greek narrative, on which Professor Witt the property of Heritage History and are licensed to individual users with some restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the integrity has based his version, is, of course, the well-known Anabasis of of the work itself, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to assure that Xenophon, which is one of the most fascinating books in the compromised or incomplete versions of the work are not widely disseminated. world. And I agree with the translator in hoping that some of those who read the story for the first time in English will be led In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a copyright to study Greek sufficiently to read it again and again in the by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are included at the foot of every page of text. We request all electronic and printed versions of this text include language of Xenophon himself. these markings and that users adhere to the following restrictions. That remarkable personage, who in spite of his Spartan 1) This text may be reproduced for personal or educational purposes as long as leanings was a thorough Athenian at heart—found himself on a the original copyright and Heritage History version number are faithfully sudden called upon to play the part of a leader: and played it to reproduced. perfection. But if he deserved well of his countrymen and fellow soldiers by his service in the field, he has deserved still better of 2) You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your own all later generations by the vigour, not of his sword, but of his work. pen. 3) You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes unless Perhaps we owe it to his Socratic training that whilst the you have the prior written consent of Heritage History. memories were still fresh he sat down to describe the exploits of 4) This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original the Ten Thousand in a style admirably suited to the narrative; document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred and produced a masterpiece. I do not think there is a dull page in during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly the book. reliable reproduction. The incidents, albeit they took place in the broad Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial noonday of Grecian history, are as thrilling as any tale told by purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources the poets in the divine dawn of the highly gifted Hellenic race. can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] The men themselves who play so noble a part are evidently true Original Copyright 1892 by Frances Younghusband. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 descendants of the Homeric heroes. If they have fits of black And what of Xenophon himself? There is much to be despondency —the cloud is soon dispelled when there is need said on that topic. But it is 'another story.' In this he must speak for action, and by a sense of their own dignity. The spirit of their for himself. forefathers, who fought and won at Marathon and Salamis and < G.> Plataeae, has entered into them. They enter the lists of battle with the same gaiety. They confront death with similar equanimity. Buoyancy is the distinctive note of the Anabasis. TRANSLATOR'S NOTE But there is another side to the matter. These In translating Professor Witt's version of the Retreat of Xenophontine soldiers are also true enfants du siecle. They bear the Ten Thousand, I have ventured to divide the chapters, and the impress of their own half century markedly: and it was an also to re-arrange in some cases the grouping of sentences and age not by any means entirely heroic. It had its painful and paragraphs, for the sake of greater clearness. The figures given prosaic side. for numbers, distances and sums of money, are the same as in 'Nothing,' a famous Frenchman, M. Henri Taine, has Mr. Dakyns' translation of the works of Xenophon. Here and remarked in one of his essays entitled Xénophon,' is more there too I have modified or omitted or added a phrase, as for singular than this Greek army—which is a kind of roving instance in substituting, on the first page, Alfred the Great for commonwealth, deliberating and acting, fighting and voting: an Karl der Grosse, as an example more familiar to English readers; epitome of Athens set adrift in the centre of Asia: there are the and in adding to the description of Persepolis one or two details same sacrifices, the same assemblies, the same party strifes, the to explain the illustrations. But in the main I have endeavoured same outbursts of violence; to-day at peace and to-morrow at to reproduce accurately Professor Witt's text in simple English, war; now on land and again on shipboard; every successive without either addition or omission. incident serves but to evoke the energy and awaken the poetry The illustrations are mostly taken (by permission) from latent in their souls.' MM. Perrot and Chipiez's 'Histoire de l'Art daps l'Antiquité.' How does this happen? It is due, I think, to the Ten Some few are from Baumeister's Dictionary. Thousand to admit: It was so, because in spite of personal The two views are from photographs kindly lent for the defects they were true to themselves. 'The Greeks,' as the aged purpose by Mr. Cecil Smith, of the British Museum. Egyptian priest exclaimed to Solon, in another context, 'are always children.' I am glad to take the opportunity of expressing my very grateful thanks to Mr. Dakyns for his kindness in forwarding this This something childlike—this glory had not as yet in the attempt to interest English children in the writings of an author year 400 B.C. faded into the light of common day. But as M. to whom he has himself given so many hours of sympathetic Taine adds concerning the writing itself, 'The beauty of style study. And I hope that many readers of this little book may be transcends even the interest of the story,' and we may well stimulated to the effort of studying for themselves the works of imagine that a less capable writer than Xenophon (Sophaenetus the great historian in the original Greek. for instance) would have robbed the narrative and the actors alike of half their splendour. Frances Younghusband. Original Copyright 1892 by Frances Younghusband. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE LAST OF TISSAPHERNES .............................................. 55 THE RIVER OR THE MOUNTAINS? ...................................... 57 THE CARDUCHIANS ............................................................. 58 TRANSLATOR'S NOTE ........................................................... 3 SEIZING A PASS .................................................................... 59 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................ 4 A LONG DAY'S FIGHTING ................................................... 62 THE GREAT KING ................................................................. 5 THE CROSSING OF THE KENTRITES .................................... 64 THE PERSIAN EMPIRE ........................................................... 7 THE SATRAP TIRIBAZUS ...................................................... 66 HELLAS .................................................................................. 9 AN ARMENIAN WINTER ...................................................... 68 THE RIVAL BROTHERS ......................................................... 9 ARMENIAN VILLAGES ......................................................... 70 PREPARATIONS .................................................................... 12 THE TAOCHIANS .................................................................. 72 ON THE MARCH .................................................................. 14 THE SEA! THE SEA! ............................................................. 74 THE PRINCESS EPYAXA ...................................................... 16 THE MACRONIANS AND THE COLCHIANS ........................... 76 CLEARCHUS ......................................................................... 18 THE GAMES AT TREBIZOND ................................................ 78 NEGOTIATIONS AT TARSUS ................................................. 20 THE AFTER-LIFE OF XENOPHON