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

A small decorative Greek letter alpha marks the start of this section.

"But how you may also praise me, will be my concern, or no longer consider me Cyrus." The soldiers, being in great hopes, prayed that he might be successful. And it was said that he also sent gifts to Menon magnificently. Having done this, he crossed. And the rest of the army followed him, all of it. And of those crossing the river, no one was wet above the chest by the river. The Thapsacenes said that this river had never before been passable on foot, except then, but only by boats, which Abrocomas burned as he passed by, so that Cyrus would not cross. It seemed to be divine, and that the river clearly yielded to Cyrus as the one who was going to be king. From there he marches through Syria nine stages, fifty parasangs, and they arrive at the Araxes river. There were many villages there full of grain and wine. There they remained for three days, and they provisioned themselves. From there he marches through Arabia, keeping the Euphrates river on the right, five desert stages, thirty-five parasangs. In this place the land was all a level plain like the sea, full of wormwood. If anything else of wood or reed was in it, everything was fragrant like spices. But no trees were in it. Of wild animals, most numerous were the wild asses, and not a few great ostriches. There were also bustards and gazelles. The horsemen sometimes chased these animals. And the asses, when someone pursued them, would run ahead and stand still. For they ran much faster than the horse, and again when the horse approached, they would do the same, so it was not possible to catch them unless the horsemen, standing apart, hunted them by taking turns with their horses. And the meat of those captured was similar to venison, but more tender. But no one caught an ostrich. And the horsemen who pursued them quickly stopped.