s now the month of December； and Armenia was cold and exposed； being a table…land raised high above the level of the sea。 Whilst halting near some well…supplied villages； the Greeks were overtaken by two deep falls of snow； which almost buried them in their open bivouacs。 Hence a five days' march brought them to the eastern branch of the Euphrates。 Crossing the river； they proceeded on the other side of it over plains covered with a deep snow； and in the face of a biting north wind。 Here many of the slaves and beasts of burthen； and even a few of the soldiers； fell victims to the cold。 Some had their feet frost…bitten； some were blinded by the snow； whilst others； exhausted with cold and hunger； sunk down and died。 On the eighth day they proceeded on their way； ascending the banks of the Phasis； not the celebrated river of that name； but probably the one usually called Araxes。
From thence they fought their way through the country of the Taochi and Chalybes。 They next reached the country of the Scythini； in whose territory they found abundance in a large and populous city called Gymnias。 The chief of this place having engaged to conduct them within sight of the Euxine； they proceeded for five days under his guidance； when； after ascending a mountain； the sea suddenly burst on the view of the vanguard。 The men proclaimed their joy by loud shouts of 〃The sea！ the sea！〃 The rest of the army hurried to the summit； and gave vent to their joy and exultation in tears and mutual embraces。 A few days' march through the country of the Macrones and Colchians at length brought them to the objects for which they had so often pined； and which many at one time had never hoped to see again a Grecian city and the sea。 By the inhabitants of Trapezus or Trebizond； on the Euxine； where they had now arrived； they were hospitably received； and； being cantoned in some Colchian villages near the town； refreshed themselves after the hardships they had undergone by a repose of thirty days。
The most difficult part of the return of the Ten Thousand was now accomplished； and it is unnecessary to trace the remainder of their route。 After many adventures they succeeded in reaching Byzantium； and they subsequently engaged to serve the Lacedaemonians in a war which Sparta had just declared against the satraps Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus。
In the spring of B。C。 399； Thimbron； the Lacedaemonian commander； arrived at Pergamus； and the remainder of the Ten Thousand Greeks became incorporated with his army。 Xenophon now returned to Athens； where he must have arrived shortly after the execution of his master Socrates。 Disgusted probably by that event； he rejoined his old comrades in Asia； and subsequently returned to Greece along with Agesilaus。
CHAPTER XVI。
THE SUPREMACY OF SPARTA； B。C。 404…371。
After the fall of Athens； Sparta stood without a rival in Greece。 In the various cities which had belonged to the Athenian empire Lysander established an oligarchical Council of Ten； called a DECARCHY or Decemvirate； subject to the control of a Spartan HARMOST or governor。 The Decarchies； however； remained only a short time in power； since the Spartan government regarded them with jealousy as the partisans of Lysander； but harmosts continued to be placed in every state subject to their empire。 The government of the harmosts was corrupt and oppressive； no justice could be obtained against them by an appeal to the Spartan authorities at home； and the Grecian cities soon had cause to regret the milder and more equitable sway of Athens。
On the death of Agis in B。C。 398； his half…brother Agesilaus was appointed King； to the exclusion of Leotychides； the son of Agis。 This was mainly effected by the powerful influence of Lysander； who erroneously considered Agesilaus to be of a yielding and manageable disposition and hoped by a skilful use of those qualities to extend his own influence； and under the name of another to be in reality king himself。
Agesilaus was now forty years of age； and esteemed a model of those virtues more peculiarly deemed Spartan。 He was obedient to the constituted authorities； emulous to excel； courageous； energetic； capable of bearing all sorts of hardship and fatigue； simple and frugal in his mode of life。 To these severer qualities he added the popular attractions of an agreeable countenance and pleasing address。 His personal defects at first stood in the way of his promotion。 He was not only low in stature； but also lame of one leg； and there was an ancient oracle which warned the Spartans to beware of 〃a lame reign。〃 The ingenuity of Lysander； assisted probably by the popular qualities of Agesilaus； contrived to overcome this objection by interpreting a lame reign to mean not any bodily defect in the king； but the reign of one who was not a genuine descendant of Hercules。 Once possessed of power； Agesilaus supplied any defect in his title by the prudence and policy of his conduct； and； by the marked deference which he paid both to the Ephors and the senators； he succeeded in gaining for himself more real power than had been enjoyed by any of his predecessors。
The affairs of Asia Minor soon began to draw the attention of Agesilaus to that quarter。 The assistance lent to Cyrus by the Spartans was no secret at the Persian court； and Tissaphernes； who had been rewarded for his fidelity with the satrapy of Cyrus in addition to his own； no sooner returned to his government than he attacked the Ionian cities； then under the protection of Sparta。 A considerable Lacedaemonian force under Thimbron was despatched to their assistance； and which； as related in the preceding chapter； was joined by the remnant of the Greeks who had served under Cyrus。 Thimbron； however； proved so inefficient a commander； that he was superseded at the end of 399 or beginning of 398 B。C。； and Dercyllidas appointed in his place。 But though at first successful against Pharnabazus in AEolis； Dercyllidas was subsequently surprised in Caria in such an unfavourable position that he would have suffered severely but for the timidity of Tissaphernes； who was afraid to venture upon an action。 Under these circumstances an armistice was agreed to for the purpose of treating for a peace （397 B。C。）。
Pharnabazus availed himself of this armistice to make active preparations for a renewal of the war。 He obtained large reinforcements of Persian troops； and began to organize a fleet in Phoenicia and Cilicia。 This was intrusted to the Athenian admiral Conon； of whom we now first hear again after a lapse of seven years since his defeat at AEgospotami。 After that disastrous battle Conon fled with nine triremes to Cyprus； where he was now living under the protection of Evagoras； prince of Salamis。
It was the news of these extensive preparations that induced Agesilaus； on the suggestion of Lysander； to volunteer his services against the Persians。 He proposed to take with him only 30 full Spartan citizens； or peers； to act as a sort of council； together with 2000 Neodamodes； or enfranchised Helots； and 6000 hoplites of the allies。 Lysander intended to be the leader of the 30 Spartans； and expected through them to be the virtual commander of the expedition of which Agesilaus was nominally the head。
Since the time of Agamemnon no Grecian king had led an army into Asia； and Agesilaus studiously availed himself of the prestige of that precedent in order to attract recruits to his standard。 The Spartan kings claimed to inherit the sceptre of Agamemnon； and to render the parallel more complete； Agesilaus proceeded with a division of his fleet to Aulis； intending there to imitate the memorable sacrifice of the Homeric hero。 But as he had neglected to ask the permission of the Thebans； and conducted the sacrifice and solemnities by means of his own prophets and ministers； and in a manner at variance with the usual rites of the temple； the Thebans were offended； and expelled him by armed force：an insult which he never forgave。
It was in 396 B。C。 that Agesilaus arrived at Ephesus and took the command in Asia。 He demanded of the Persians the complete independence of the Greek cities in Asia； and in order that there might be time to communicate with the Persian court； the armistice was renewed for three months。 During this interval of repose； Lysander； by his arrogance and pretensions； offended both Agesilaus and the Thirty Spartans。 Agesilaus； determined to uphold his dignity； subjected Lysander to so many humiliations that he was at last fain to request his dismissal from Ephesus； and was accordingly sent to the Hellespont； where he did good service to the Spartan interests。
Meanwhile Tissaphernes； having received large reinforcements； sent a message to Agesilaus before the armistice had expired； ordering him to quit Asia。 Agesilaus immediately made preparations as if he would attack Tissaphernes in Caria； but having thus put the enemy on a false scent； he suddenly turned northwards into Phrygia； the satrapy of Pharnabazus； and marched without opposition to the neighbourhood of Dascylium； the residence of the satrap himself。 Here； however； he was repulsed by the Persian cavalry。 He now proceeded into winter quarters at Ephesus； where be employed himse