greater resolution to pursue them; from whom if they could safely retire to the camp, yet what should they do there, wanting victuals to sustain them in the place, and ships to carry them away? wherefore he willed them rather to fight well that day, having eaten their dinners, than another day fasting; and not to regard the uneasy return, which might serve to stay cowards from running away, but to wish unto the enemy a fair and easy way, by which he might fly from them. These persuasions were followed with so valiant execution, that both Persians and Bithynians being chased out of the field, abandoned the country forthwith, removing their families, and leaving all that could not suddenly be conveyed away to the discretion of the Greeks, who at good leisure gathered the harvest of these bad neighbours' fields. This was the last fight which they had on the side of Asia. For they were not only suffered quietly to enjoy the spoil of the country, but when the opinion grew common in those parts, that it was the intent of Xenophon to plant a colony on the port of Calpas, ambassadors were sent from the neighbour people to desire friendship, and make offer of their best assistance. But the soldiers had no mind to stay. Wherefore entering further into Bithynia they took a great booty, which they carried away to Chrysopolis, a city near unto Chalcedon, where they sold it. Pharnabazus, lieutenant in Phrygia to Artaxerxes, did greatly fear, lest their long stay in that country might breed in them a desire to visit his province, where they might have found great wealth, and little power to guard it. Therefore he sent to the Lacedæmonian admiral, entreating him with much instance and large promises to waft them over into Europe, to whom Anaxibius the admiral condescending, promised to give the soldiers pay as soon as they arrived at Byzantium. So were they carried out of Asia at the entreaty of the Persian, who in the height of his pride had thought them so surely imprisoned with mighty rivers, that he not only denied to permit their quiet departure, but willed them to surrender their arms into his hands, and so to yield their lives to his discretion. How

discourteously they were entreated by Anaxibius, and how to requite his injurious dealings they seized upon Byzantium, which by Xenophon's persuasion they forbare to sack, I hold it superfluous to relate: for the residue of their doings appertain little to the general course of things. But this expedition, as in all ages it was glorious, so did it both discover the secrets of Asia, and stir up the Greeks to think upon greater enterprises than ever their forefathers had undertaken. Likewise it was the only remarkable action which the time afforded. For the Roman wars did hitherto extend no further than to the next neighbouring towns of Italy; and in Greece all things were quiet, the Lacedæmonians ruling insolently, but without disturbance. True it is, that the seeds of the war shortly following, which the Lacedæmonians made upon Artaxerxes, were already sown before these companies returned out of the high countries of Asia. For the towns of Ionia, which had sided with young Cyrus against Tissaphernes, if not against the great king, prepared to rebel, which they thought safer than to fall into the hands of Tissaphernes, who was now appointed lieutenant both of the old province, and of all that had belonged to Cyrus. Wherefore the Ionians besought the Lacedæmonians to send them aid, whereby to recover their liberty, and obtained their request. For a power was sent over under conduct of Thimbro, a Spartan, who bestowed his men in such towns as had already revolted, to secure the cities and their fields, but not to make any offensive war.

CHAP. XI.

Of the affairs of Greece whilst they were managed by the Lacedæmonians.

SECT. I.

How the Lacedæmonians took courage by example of Xenophon's army to make war upon Artaxerxes.

IT

seems that the Lacedæmonians did well perceive in

how ill part Artaxerxes took their favour shewed unto his brother, and yet were timorous in beginning an open war against him, thinking it sufficient to take all care that no advantage might slip which could serve to strengthen their estate, by finding the Persian work beyond the sea. But when Xenophon's army had revealed the baseness of those effeminate Asiatics, and rehearsed the many victories which they themselves had gotten, upon terms of extreme disadvantage, then was all Greece filled with desire of undertaking upon this huge unwieldy empire, thinking it no hard matter for the joint forces of that whole nation to hew out the way to Susa, whereof one handful had opened the passage to Babylon, and further, finding no power that was able to give them resistance, in all that long journey of four and thirty thousand two hundred and fifty-five furlongs spent in going and returning, which make of English miles about four thousand two hundred four score and one, a very painful march of one year and three months. Nevertheless, the civil distraction wherewith Greece was miserably torn, and especially that hot fire of the Theban war, which, kindled with Persian gold, brake forth suddenly into a great flame, drew back out of Asia the power of the Lacedæmonians to the defence of their own estate; leaving it questionable whether Agesilaus, having both the same, and far greater forces, could have wrought proportionable effects. Sure it is, that in the whole space of two years, which he spent in Asia, his deeds procured more commendation of magnanimity and fair behaviour, than of stout courage and great or profitable achievements. For how highly soever it pleased Xenophon, who was his friend and follower in this and in other wars, to extol his virtue, his exploits being only a few incursions into the countries lying near the sea, carry no proportion to Xenophon's own journey, which I know not whether any age hath paralleled : the famous retreat of Conon the Briton, with six thousand men, from Aquileia to his own country, through all the breadth of Italy and length of France, in despite of the emperor Theodosius, being rather like it than equal. But

of Agesilaus and his wars in Asia and Greece we shall speak more in due place.

SECT. II.

The prosperous beginnings of the war in Asia.

THIMBRO, receiving Xenophon's men, began to take in towns, and to entertain all such as were willing to revolt from the Persian, who were many, and some of them such as had been highly beholding to the king, who seem to have had no other cause of discontent, than that they were to live under the government of Tissaphernes, whom all others did as vehemently hate as the king his master did love him. The managing of the war begun by Thimbro was for his oppressions taken out of his hands, and committed to Dercyllidas, a Spartan, who behaved himself as a good man of war, and a wise commander. For whereas the rule of the low countries of Asia was divided between Pharnabazus and Tissaphernes, who did ill agree, Pharnabazus being the worthier man, but the other by his prince's favour the greater, and having the chief command in those wars against the Greeks; Dercyllidas, who did bear a private hatred to Pharnabazus, (knowing well that Tissaphernes was of a mischievous nature, and would not be sorry to see his corrival throughly beaten, though to the king's loss,) made an appointment with Tissaphernes, and forthwith entered Æolis, which was under the jurisdiction of Pharnabazus, which province, in few days, he brought into his own

power.

That country of Æolis had about the same time suffered a violent alteration, which gave easy success to the attempts of Dercyllidas. Zenis, a Dardanian, had been deputy to Pharnabazus in those parts, after whose death his wife Mania procured his office, wherein she behaved herself so well, that she not only was beloved of the people under her government, but enlarged her territory by the conquest of certain towns adjoining; and sundry times gave assistance. to Pharnabazus in his wars against the Mysians and Pisidians. For she had in pay some companies of Greeks,

whose valour by her good usage did her great service. But somewhat before the arrival of Dercyllidas in those parts, a son-in-law of hers, called Midias, whom she trusted and loved much, being blinded with ambition, found means to stifle her, and kill her son of seventeen years old; which done, he seized upon two of her principal towns, wherein her treasure lay, hoping to have been admitted into possession of her whole estate. Being denied entrance by her soldiers that lay in garrison, he sent messengers with presents to Pharnabazus, desiring him to make him governor in the place of Mania. His presents were not only rejected by Pharnabazus, but revenge of his foul treason threatened, whereby the wicked villain was driven into terms of almost utter desperation. In the mean time came Dercyllidas, to whom the towns of Mania, that held against Midias, did quickly open their gates. One only town stood out four days, (against the will of the citizens, who were covetous of liberty,) the governor striving in vain to have kept it to the use of Pharnabazus. Now remained only two cities, Gergethe and Scepsis, which the traitor held, who fearing all men, as being loved of none, sent ambassadors to Dercyllidas, desiring leave to speak with him, and pledges for his se curity; upon the delivery of which he issued out of Scepsis, and coming into the camp, made offer to join with the Greeks, upon such conditions as might seem reasonable. But he was plainly told by Dercyllidas, that other condition there was none, than to set the citizens freely at liberty: and presently upon these words they marched toward Scepsis. When Midias perceived that it was in vain to strive against the army and the townsmen, who were all of one mind, he quietly went along with Dercyllidas, who remaining but a few hours in the city, did a sacrifice to Minerva, and then leading away the garrison of Midias, he left the city free, and departed toward Gergethe. Midias did not forsake his company, but followed him, earnestly entreating that he might be suffered to retain Gergethe; but coming to the gates, he was bidden to command his soldiers that they should be opened, for (quoth Dercyllidas) I must here