THE FIRST BOOK 221 



example would come with any grace after those two of 

 Alexander and Caesar ?) were it not in regard of the rare- 

 ness of circumstance that I find in one other particular, as 

 that which did so suddenly pass from extreme scorn to 

 extreme wonder ; and it is of Xenophon the philosopher, 

 who went from Socrates' school into Asia, in the expedition 

 of Cyrus the younger against King Artaxerxes. This 

 Xenophon at that time was very young, and never had 

 seen the wars before; neither had any command in the 

 army, but only followed the war as a voluntary, for the 

 love and conversation of Proxenus his friend. He was 

 present when Falinus came in message from the great king 

 to the Grecians, after that Cyrus was slain in the field, and 

 they a handful of men left to themselves in the midst of 

 the king's territories, cut off from their country by many 

 navigable rivers, and many hundred miles. The message 

 imported that they should deliver up their arms, and sub- 

 mit themselves to the king's mercy. To which message 

 before answer was made, divers of the army conferred 

 familiarly with Falinus ; and amongst the rest Xenophon 

 happened to say, ' Why Falinus, we have now but these 

 two things left, our arms and our virtue ; and if we yield 

 up our arms, how shall we make use of our virtue?' 

 Whereto Falinus smiling on him, said, * If I be not deceived, 

 young gentleman, you are an Athenian ; and I believe you 

 study philosophy, and it is pretty that you say ; but you 

 are much abused if you think your virtue can withstand 

 the king's power.' Here was the scorn ; the wonder fol- 

 lowed : which was, that this young scholar or philosopher, 

 after all the captains were murdered in parley by treason, 

 conducted those ten thousand foot through the heart of all 

 the king's high countries from Babylon to Graecia in safety, 

 in despite of all the king's forces, to the astonishment of 

 the world, and the encouragement of the Grecians in time 

 succeeding to make invasion upon the kings of Persia ; as 

 was after purposed by Jason the Thessalian, attempted 

 by Agesilaus the Spartan, and achieved by Alexander the 

 Macedonian ; all upon the ground of the act of that young 

 scholar. 



