Xenophon, Anabasis (Rise of King Cyrus)

Xenophon
430 – 354 BC Athens
Trans RMBullard
Attic Greek (Classical Period/Hellenistic Period)

[1.1.1] Δαρείου καὶ Παρυσάτιδος γίγνονται παῖδες δύο, πρεσβύτερος μὲν Ἀρταξέρξης, νεώτερος δὲ Κῦρος· 

[Darius and Parysas had two sons, the older Artaxerxes, the younger Cyrus.]

 

ἐπεὶ δὲ ἠσθένει Δαρεῖος καὶ ὑπώπτευε τελευτὴν τοῦ βίου, ἐβούλετο τὼ παῖδε ἀμφοτέρω παρεῖναι. 

[and when Darius perceived and anticipated the end of his life, he requested for the two boys, both of them, to appear at his side]

 

ὁ μὲν οὖν πρεσβύτερος παρὼν ἐτύγχανε· 

[So first the older son came to his side.]

 

Κῦρον δὲ μεταπέμπεται ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς

[but Cyrus was sent off to a province ,]

 

ἧς αὐτὸν σατράπην ἐποίησε,

[over which he was made governor,]

 

καὶ στρατηγὸν δὲ αὐτὸν ἀπέδειξε πάντων

[and he excelled as a military leader above all]

 

ὅσοι ἐς Καστωλοῦ πεδίον ἁθροίζονται.

[, among all those who assembled on the plain of Kastolos.]

 

ἀναβαίνει οὖν ὁ Κῦρος λαβὼν Τισσαφέρνην ὡς φίλον,

[So Cyrus, taking Tissaphernes as his colleague, approached,]

 

καὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἔχων ὁπλίτας ἀνέβη τριακοσίους, ἄρχοντα δὲ αὐτῶν Ξενίαν Παρράσιον.

[and he came up, possessing 300 hoplites from Greece, including their commander Xenias from Parrasios.]

 

[1.1.3] ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐτελεύτησε Δαρεῖος

[And when Darius died]

 

καὶ κατέστη εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν Ἀρταξέρξης, 

 [and Artaxerxes gained the throne,]

 

Τισσαφέρνης διαβάλλει τὸν Κῦρον πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ὡς ἐπιβουλεύοι αὐτῶι.

 [Tissaphernes double-crossed Cyrus, in order to become his adviser.]

 

ὁ δὲ πείθεται καὶ συλλαμβάνει Κῦρον ὡς ἀποκτενῶν·

[And the latter argued and convinced him to have Cyrus killed.] 

 

ἡ δὲ μήτηρ ἐξαιτησαμένη αὐτὸν ἀποπέμπει πάλιν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχήν.

[And his mother, having brought the matter up, sent him <Cyrus> away back to his province.]

 ὁ δ᾽ ὡς ἀπῆλθε κινδυνεύσας καὶ ἀτιμασθείς,
[But he, having been put in danger and done a dishonor, went away,]

 βουλεύεται ὅπως μήποτε ἔτι ἔσται ἐπὶ τῶι ἀδελφῶι,
[and he planned to not yet vie against his brother, at this point,]


ἀλλά, ἢν δύνηται, βασιλεύσει ἀντ᾽ ἐκείνου.
[but if ever it were possible, he would one day rule in his place.]


Παρύσατις μὲν δὴ ἡ μήτηρ ὑπῆρχε τῶι Κύρωι,
[And in fact, Parusatis, his mother, looked after Cyrus,]

 φιλοῦσα αὐτὸν μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν βασιλεύοντα Ἀρταξέρξην.
[as she loved him more than her ruling son, Artaxerxes.]