4. First of all, I made war upon the
Thracians, and, in the cause of Greece, and with your assistance, took
vengeance upon them by expelling them from the Chersonesus, when they
would have taken the country from its Grecian colonists. When Cyrus
summoned me, I set out to join him, taking you with me, that if he had
need of my aid, I might do him service in return for the benefits that I
had received from him. 5. But since you are unwilling to accompany him
on this expedition, I am under the obligation, either, by deserting you,
to preserve the friendship of Cyrus, or, by proving false to him, to
adhere to you. Whether I shall do right, I do not know; but I shall give
you the preference, and will undergo with you whatever may be necessary.
Nor shall any one ever say, that, after leading Greeks into a country of
Barbarians, I deserted the Greeks, and adopted, in preference, the
friendship of the Barbarians.

6. "Since, however, you decline to obey me, or to follow me, I will go
with you, and submit to whatever may be destined for us. For I look upon
you to be at once my country, my friends, and my fellow-soldiers, and
consider that with you I shall be respected, wherever I may be: but
that, if separated from you, I shall be unable either to afford
assistance to a friend, or to avenge myself upon an enemy. Feel assured,
therefore, that I am resolved to accompany you wherever you go."

7. Thus he spoke; and the soldiers, as well those under his own command
as the others, on hearing these assurances, applauded him for saying
that he would not march against the king; and more than two thousand of
the troops of Xenias and Pasion, taking with them their arms and
baggage, went and encamped under Clearchus.

8. Cyrus, perplexed and grieved at these occurrences, sent for
Clearchus; who, however, would not go, but sending a messenger to Cyrus
without the knowledge of the soldiers, bade him be of good courage, as
these matters would be arranged to his satisfaction. He also desired
Cyrus to send for him again, but, when Cyrus had done so, he again
declined to go.[34] 9. Afterwards, having assembled his own soldiers,
and those who had recently gone over to him, and any of the rest that
wished to be present, he spoke to the following effect:

"It is evident, soldiers, that the situation of Cyrus with regard to us
is the same as ours with regard to him; for we are no longer his
soldiers, since we refuse to follow him, nor is he any