[1] Cf.  Plato, “Theages,” 122.

“As to trouble, I am quite aware, we shall have much more trouble if you are conveyed by sea, for we must provide the vessels; whereas, if you go by land, all the fighting will evolve on you.  Still, let come what may, it behoves me to state my views.  I have an intimate acquaintance with the country of the Paphlagonians and their power.  The country possesses the two features of hill and vale, that is to say, the fairest plains and the highest mountains.  To begin with the mountains, I know the exact point at which you must make your entry.  It is precisely where the horns of a mountain tower over both sides of the road.  Let the merest handful of men occupy these and they can hold the pass with ease; for when that is done not all the enemies in the world could effect a passage.  I could point out the whole with my finger, if you like to send any one with me to the scene.

“So much for the mountain barrier.  But the next thing I know is that there are plains and a cavalry which the barbarians themselves hold to be superior to the entire cavalry of the great king.  Why, only the other day these people refused to present themselves to the summons of the king; their chief is too proud for that.

“But now, supposing you were able to seize the mountain barrier, by stealth, or expedition, before the enemy could stop you; supposing further, you were able to win an engagement in the plain against not only their cavalry but their more than one hundred and twenty thousand infantry—­you will only find yourself face to face with rivers, a series of them.  First the Thermodon, three hundred feet broad, which I take it will be difficult to pass, especially with a host of foes in front and another following behind.  Next comes the Iris river, three hundred feet broad; and thirdly, the Halys, at least two furlongs broad, which you could not possibly cross without vessels, and who is going to supply you with vessels?  In the same way too the Parthenius 9 is impassable, which you will reach if you cross the Halys.  For my part, then, I consider the land-journey, I will not say difficult, but absolutely impossible for you.  Whereas if you go by sea, you can coast along from here to Sinope, and from Sinope to Heraclea.  From Heraclea onwards there is no difficulty, whether by land or by sea; for there are plenty of vessels at Heraclea.”

After he had finished his remarks, some of his hearers thought they detected a certain bias in them.  He would not have spoken so, but for his friendship with Corylas, whose official representative he was.  Others guessed he had an itching palm, and that he was hoping to receive a present for his “sacred advice.”  Others again suspected that his object was to prevent their going by foot and doing some mischief to the country of the Sinopeans.  However that might be, the Hellenes voted in favour of continuing the journey by sea.  After this Xenophon said:  “Sinopeans, the army has chosen that