reeks, but is repulsed. They reach
the Tigris, encamp at Mespila, and are attacked by Tissaphernes
with a numerous force. They repel him, and alter their order of
march. Traversing a mountainous part of the country, they are
harassed by the enemy, till, on getting possession of a height,
they are enabled to reach the plain beyond it in safety.

1. Having halted for that day, they went forward on the next, rising
earlier in the morning than usual; for they had a ravine formed by a
torrent to pass, at which they were afraid that the enemy would attack
them while they were crossing. 2. It was not till they had got over,
however, that Mithridates again made his appearance, having now with him
a thousand horse, and archers and slingers to the number of four
thousand; for he had solicited and obtained that number from
Tissaphernes, promising that, if he received them, he would deliver the
Greeks into his hands; for he had conceived a contempt for them,
because, in his previous attack on them, though he had but a small force
with him, he had suffered no loss, and thought that he had caused them
great annoyance. 3. When the Greeks, having crossed, were distant about
eight stadia from the ravine, Mithridates also passed over it with his
force. Instructions had been issued to such of the peltasts and
heavy-armed troops as were to pursue, and a charge had been given to the
horsemen to pursue with boldness, as a sufficient force would follow to
support them. 4. When therefore Mithridates overtook them, and the
slings and arrows began to take effect, a signal was given to the Greeks
with the trumpet, and those who had been ordered immediately hastened to
charge the enemy, the cavalry riding forward at the same time. The enemy
however did not wait to receive their charge, but fled back to the
ravine. 5. In the pursuit several of the Barbarian foot were killed,
and about eighteen of the horse were made prisoners in the defile. The
Greeks, of their own impulse, mutilated the dead bodies, in order that
the sight of them might be as horrible as possible to the enemy.

6. The enemy, after faring thus, went off, and the Greeks, advancing the
rest of the day without molestation, arrived at the river Tigris. 7.
Here was a large deserted city, the name of which was Larissa, and which
the Medes had formerly inhabited. The breadth of its wall was five and
twenty feet, and the height of it a hundred; its circuit was tw