Xenophon's Anabasis (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.9.29)

Others pitied them if they should be captured. Cyrus, having summoned the generals, said: "Xenias and Pasion have left us. But let them know well that they have neither escaped in secret—for I know where they are going—nor have they fled. I have triremes enough to catch their ship. But by the gods, I will not pursue them, nor will anyone say that as long as someone is with me I use him, but when he wishes to leave, I seize them, treat them badly, and despoil them of their wealth. No, let them go, knowing that they are worse toward us than we are toward them. Indeed, I have their children and wives guarded in Tralles. But they will not be deprived of them, but will receive them back because of their former merit toward me." He said this. And the Greeks, if any were even more despondent about the march up, hearing of Cyrus’s character, followed more gladly and readily. After this, Cyrus marches four stages, twenty parasangs, to the Chalus river, which is one plethron in width, full of large and tame fish, which the Syrians considered gods and did not allow to be harmed, nor the doves either. The villages in which they encamped were given to Parysatis for her girdle. From there he marches five stages, thirty parasangs, to the sources of the Dardas river, which is one plethron in width. There were the palaces of Belesys, the one who ruled Syria, and a very large and beautiful park, containing everything that the seasons produce. Cyrus cut it down and burned the palaces. From there he marches three stages, fifteen parasangs, to the Euphrates river, which is four stadia in width, and a large and prosperous city was inhabited there, Thapsacus by name. There they remained for five days. And Cyrus, having summoned the generals of the Greeks,

said...