The Battle of Cunaxa by Jean Adrien Guignet 1816-1854

"Thereupon the Hellenes retired and took counsel. Then they answered, and Clearchus was their spokesman: "We neither mustered as a body to make war against the king, nor was our march conducted with that object. But it was Cyrus, as you know, who invented many and diverse pretexts, that he might take you off your guard, and transport us hither. Yet, after a while, when we saw that he was in sore straits, we were ashamed in the sight of God and man to betray him, whom we had permitted for so long a season to benefit us. But now that Cyrus is dead, we set up no claim to his kingdom against the king himself; there is neither person nor thing for the sake of which we would care to injure the king's country; we would not choose to kill him if we could, rather we would march straight home, if we were not molested; but, the Gods helping us, we will retaliate on all who injure us. On the other hand, if any be found to benefit us, we do not mean to be outdone in kindly deeds, as far as in us lies."

-Xenophon of Athens, Anabasis: Book 2 Chapter 3

The Battle of Cunaxa by Jean Adrien Guignet 1816-1854

Detail of Clearchus of Sparta. Clearchus would be treacherously murdered in Babylon by Tissaphernes, Persian satrap of Lydia.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adrien_Guignet_-_Retreat_of_the_ten_thousand.jpg

 

Quote:

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Anabasis/Book_2/Chapter_3