for him from home, giving him a promise that, if he
came, he would recommend him to the friendship of Cyrus, whom he
considered, he said, as a greater object of regard than his own country.
5. Xenophon, on reading the letter, consulted Socrates the Athenian, as
to the propriety of making the journey; and Socrates, fearing that if he
attached himself to Cyrus it might prove a ground for accusation against
him with his country, because Cyrus was thought to have zealously
assisted the Lacedaemonians in their war with Athens, advised Xenophon to
go to Delphi, and consult the god respecting the expedition. 6.
Xenophon, having gone thither accordingly, inquired of Apollo to which
of the gods he should sacrifice and pray, in order most honourably and
successfully to perform the journey which he contemplated, and, after
prosperously accomplishing it, to return in safety. Apollo answered him
that "he should sacrifice to the gods to whom it was proper for him to
sacrifice."[119] 7. When he returned, he repeated the oracle to
Socrates, who, on hearing it, blamed him for not asking Apollo in the
first place, whether it were better for him to go or stay at home;
whereas, having settled with himself that he would go, he only asked how
he might best go; "but since you have," said he, "put the question thus,
you must do what the god has directed." 8. Xenophon, therefore, having
sacrificed to the gods that Apollo commanded, set sail, and found
Proxenus and Cyrus at Sardis, just setting out on their march up the
country, and was presented to Cyrus. 9. Proxenus desiring that he should
remain with them, Cyrus joined in the same desire, and said that as soon
as the expedition was ended, he would send him home again. The
expedition was said to be intended against the Pisidians. 10. Xenophon
accordingly joined in the enterprise, being thus deceived, but not by
Proxenus; for he did not know that the movement was against the king,
nor did any other of the Greeks, except Clearchus. When they arrived in
Cilicia, however, it appeared manifest to every one that it was against
the king that their force was directed; but, though they were afraid of
the length of the journey, and unwilling to proceed, yet the greater
part of them, out of respect[120] both for one another and for Cyrus,
continued to follow him; of which number was Xenophon.

11. When this perplexity occurred, Xenophon was distressed as well as
the other Greeks, and unable to rest, but h