him, in the fuppreffing of the Myfians, Pifidians, and other nations, particularly the Egyptians, who were ever difturbing the tranquillity of thofe provinces that were now put under his government; affuring him, that their forces, which were the fittest for fuch services, would be the most ready to engage in it, not only as auxiliaries, but likewife in grateful return for the obligations they should then juftly owe to him as their deliverer; and concluded his fpeech with words to this effect: " When I con"fider all these things, I am so much surprised "at your diffidence of us, that I would glad"ly know who it is that could infpire you "with it, or induce you to think the Greeks

capable of any finister designs against you." To this the Perfian fatrap, affecting the fame open frankness and willingness of extinguishing thefe dangerous jealoufies, anfwered, that he was highly pleafed with his fpeech, and the wife ftep he had taken, of reviving their mu tual confidence. He took occafion, in his turn, to obferve to him, that, as all the defigns they could poffibly form against the Perfians, would infallibly fall doubly upon themselves, their whole fafety depended only on their friendship and fidelity: "For (continued he) had we any "ill intention against you, how easily could 66 we put it in execution? are not our for

ces ftrong and numerous enough to fur"prife and deftroy you? how many ftrong "paffes are there in your way to Greece, "where we could, with eafe and fafety, stop "your progrefs? and, if this would not do, "how eafily could we famish you, by burn

ing all forts of provifion before you? aad

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"is it to be fuppofed, that, having fo many "eafy ways in our power of destroying you, we should chufe that only one which "would be most detrimental to us, and ex66 pofe us, by fuch perfidy, to the hatred and "refentment of the gods? Since therefore I "have hitherto treated you in a different 66 way than was in my power to do, affure "yourselves, that I did it with a defign to "convince you of my fidelity to, and confi"dence in you; and that, as Cyrus had formerly been fupported by you in his march, 66 I might alfo, by the fame faithful troops, be "conducted back to my government. "have reminded me of the many fervices I may

You

expect from you at the end of our journey; "but there is a main one you have omitted: "it is the peculiar prerogative of the King to wear his tiara upright; but he who shall then "have the difpofal of your forces, may have "it in his power to do fo whenever he fhall "think fit."

CLEARCHUS being now fully fatisfied of his fincerity, and that thefe mifunderstandings had heen raised by ill affected perfons, agreed with him, that they deferved to be very feverely punished; and engaged to bring to him, by the next day, fome of the chief officers of his army; at which time Tiffaphernes promised to let him know, whether they were thofe that had accused him of having treacherous designs against him. As foon as he was got to his Greeks, he began to extol Tiffaphernes's fidelity, and bitterly to inveigh against thefe who had been the authors of those jealoufies and mifreprefentations; vowing that he would have them all confronted,

confronted, and their perfidy punished as it deferved. Accordingly he would have carried the greatest part of the Grecian chiefs to Tiffaphernes, had he not been ftrenuously oppofed by the whole council, who unanimoufly infifted on the danger of trufting the Perfian fo far, and of putting the lives of fo many illuftrious chiefs in the power of that treacherous fatrap. However, Clearchus, naturally hot and imperious, fo far gained his point, that four of them, and twenty fubalterns were induced to accompany him, and these were efcorted by two hundred foldiers, who went with them, under pretence of buying fome provifions. They had no fooner reached Tiffaphernes's pavilion, than Clearchus, with the other four Greek chiefs, viz. Proxenus a Bootian, Menon a Theffalian, Agias an Arcadian, and Socrates an Athenian, were condu&ted in, and, upon the fignal given, were all five immediately feized; whilft the twenty fubalterns, who staid without, were inhumanely butchered on the spot, and the two hundred foldiers cut in pieces by the Perfian cavalry. THE Greeks, from their camp, could easily defery fome extraordinary commotion in that of the Perfians; but could neither know what it was, nor what caufed it; till Nicarchus, an Arcadian foldier, who had been wounded in the belly, came bearing his bowels in his hands, and acquainted them with all that had paffed. Upon this dreadful news, they ran, in the utmoft furprife and confufion, to their -arms, expecting to be forthwith attacked by the whole Perfian army. They had just ranged themselves in battalia, when they perceived

Ariæus,

Ariæus, with Artheafus and Mithridates, coming towards them, at the head of 300 Perfian troops, clad in armour; the former of these, defirous to take the advantage of the confter. nation he faw them in to make them lay down their arms, fent to defire the Greek chiefs that were left, or those who had fucceeded Clearchus, and his unfortunate colleagues, to come forward: Upon which, Cleanor and Sophæ netus immediately advanced, followed by Xenophon, who came to inform himself of the fate of his friend Proxenus. As foon as they were come within hearing, Ariæus faid to them, "Clearchus, O ye Greeks, having been "found guilty of perjury and treafon, hath "been punished with death; and Menon and "Proxenus, who discovered his defigns, are "honoured and rewarded. As for you, "King commands you, to deliver up your arms to him; for his they are, as having "belonged to Cyrus, who was his vaffal." To this the brave Cleanor, an Orchomenian, answered, in name of the reft," moft "perfidious Ariæus, and the reft of Cyrus's "faithlefs friends! have ye no regard to ei "ther gods or men? and, after having plight"ed your faith to us, by the most folemn

66

the

oaths, do you now go to deliver us up to "Tiffaphernes, the most impious and deceit. "ful of all men?" To this the traitor coolly replied, "That it plainly appeared, that Cle"archus was forming fome ill defigns against "Tiffaphernes, Orontas, and the rest of the "Perfian fatraps." Upon which Xenophon rejoined, "If Clearchus hath fo far perju

red himself, he is juftly punished; but

fend

"fend back Proxenus and Menon to us, "who are both your benefactors and our "commanders; for, being our friends, as "well as your's, they will be beft able to ad"vife that which is fitteft to be done by "both." To this the barbarian made no anfwer; but, having conferred a good while with his colleagues, they all returned to their camp; and the four Greek Generals, whom Tiffaphernes had caufed to be feized, were fent by him to the King, who ordered them to be put to death.

THE reader may better imagine, than pen defcribe, the confternation the Greeks were in, when they came to reflect on their prefent difmal fituation; their beft chiefs betrayed and butchered by the vileft treachery; themfelves not only at fuch a vaft diftance from Greece, but in view, and, in all likelihood, in the power of a bloody and perfidious enemy, without friends, allies, prospect of fuccour, or even Generals to command them; furrounded by as many enemies as there were men; and hemmed in by rivers and mountains, which now appeared to them as fo many unfurmountable barriers. The only things that were left to them to depend upon were, their arms and their valour; but the former they expected every minute to be forced from them by the treacherous Perfians;, after which, the latter, if they had any left, would ferve them but in little ftead; as Xenophon juftly obferved to Phalinus, on the fame occafion: fo that they had every thing to fear, and little mercy to expect,. from an exafperated monarch, who could not but refent their late ten