Chapter 40 Volume VIII

A review of past conduct was also conducted on the generals.After handing over the report, Felicius and Xanticles were fined twenty minas for their negligence in guarding the cargo; There were also charges against Xenophon, who said he had beaten someone and was guilty of indiscriminate beating.Xenophon asked the first to say so to show where he had been beaten.The man replied, "In that place where the snow was so deep that we almost froze to death." Xenophon said, "Well then, it's really like the weather you said, with no provisions and no smell of wine. Now, when many of us are weary and weary, and the enemy pursues us, if I abuse you at such a time, I confess I am even more absurd than a donkey; as the saying goes, an ass is absurd and not afraid of fatigue. But please Explain why you were beaten. Was it because I asked you for something and you didn't give it to me? Was it me asking you for something back? Was it a fight over something beloved? Was it a drunken rampage?" When the man replied no Because of this, Xenophon asked him if he was a hoplite.He replied no.So a light armored soldier?No, not light soldiers either.He said he was sent by his companions to drive a mule, though he was a freeman.At this mention, Xenophon recognized him and asked:

"Are you the one who transports the patients?" replied the man, "Yes, my God, because you made me do it, and you scattered my companion's luggage." Xenophon said, "Oh, Spread out like this: I give it to others to carry, and let them give it to me.When it was given to me, I returned it to you in its entirety, and you showed me the patient." "Listen, everyone," went on Xenophon, "how it happened. , because it is well worth hearing. "A pawn, who was left behind because he could go no further. I knew him well only that he was one of us. I let this gentleman carry him to save his life, because, I remember, the enemy was pursuing us." The guy agreed that what was said was true.Xenophon continued, "Well, after I had sent you ahead, I followed you and caught up with you, and found you digging a hole to bury this man. I stopped and praised you But when we stood aside, the man raised his leg. We all screamed. Said 'This man is alive'. And you said, 'Let him live if he wants, I won't carry him any more I hit you.' So I hit you. You told the truth, because it seems you know the man is alive." The guy said, "Well, what does it matter? After I let you see, he Isn't it still dead?" Xenophon said, "ah, we are all going to die eventually. Could it be that

Should we therefore be buried alive? " At this time everyone shouted, this guy, Xenophon hasn't beaten enough, and he still needs to beat him.So he asked the other people who were beaten to tell the reasons for each of them being beaten.They didn't get up and talk.At this point he himself went on to say: "Brothers, I admit that I have indeed fought against undisciplined people. You marched in order, fought when necessary, and protected them. And they themselves left the ranks without permission, ran away To go up and plunder, to get an advantage. If we all did that, we would all be dead. Also, I did hit him when he was a weakling, and would not get up, and was willing to fall, and forced him to go on Forward. For one time, in freezing weather, I sat for a long time by myself, waiting for some men to pack their packs, and I found it difficult to stand up and stretch my legs. Afterwards, when I met others sitting down and dodging, I always It is to drive them forward. For moving, standing up gives a certain warmth and suppleness, while sitting still tends to freeze the blood and rot the toes. This, you know yourselves, is the misfortune of many. .And once a man was somewhere who, perhaps through indolence, fell behind so that neither your front nor our rear could advance. I gave him a blow lest the enemy should spear him He. To be honest, it is precisely because of this reason that these people are saved and can be rewarded and satisfied for the injustice they have suffered at my hands. If they fall into the hands of the enemy, how much suffering they will have to suffer before they can demand satisfaction now What about ①?

"My defense is simple," he went on, "if I punish anyone, it is for his own good. I think I should state it this way: as a parent is to a son and a teacher is to a schoolchild. A doctor is to a patient's Burns and excisions are also used for benefits. But if you think I did it out of absurdity, behold now, Gods bless me, I'm more confident than I was then, I'm braver and I drink more; but I don't No beating--reasoning because I see you in peace. But when the storm is raging and the sea is rough, you don't see, even for beating a ton, the pilot loses his temper with the man at the bow, and the helmsman at the stern Are the people angry? Because in that case even a small mistake is enough to spoil the overall situation. You judged yourself that I was right to hit these people. You stood by, with swords in your hands instead of ballots, You can help them if you want to help them. But, my God, you don't help these people, and you don't join me in fighting this kind of disruptors. The result is that you let them go and give the bad ones. Freedom of action debauchery.

"I think, if you will look into this matter, you will find that the most cowardly men were the most dissolute men then. Behold, Boyicus, the Thessaly boxer, tried his best to evade the shield at that time, saying, He's worn out, but now it's heard he's stripped a lot of Kotilans. So, if you're wise, you'll treat this fellow differently than you would treat a dog, for wild dogs tie them up by day and let them loose by night .And this fellow, if you are wise, will tie him up at night and let him go by day. "Honestly," he went on, "I wonder that if I complained about any of you, you wouldn't keep silent in your mind; and if I protected anyone from cold or starvation, or His protection from his enemies, or his aid in his infirmity, no one remembers. Again, if I praise a man for his good deeds, or reward him as much as I can Nor do you remember any such thing when you are valorous. But surely it is more honorable, more just, more just, and more virtuous to remember the good than the bad."

And so men began to arise, and recall the past; and the result was all pleasant and satisfying.