earn to live in idleness, to
revel in abundance, and to associate with the fair and stately wives and
daughters of the Medes and Persians, we should, like the
lotus-eaters,[134] think no more of the road homewards. 26. It seems to
me, therefore, both reasonable and just, that we should first of all
make an attempt to return to Greece, and to the members of our families,
and let our countrymen see that they live in voluntary poverty, since
they might see those, who are now living at home without due means of
subsistence, enriched on betaking themselves hither. But I need say no
more on this head, for it is plain, my fellow-soldiers, that all these
advantages fall to the conquerors.

27. "I must also suggest to you, however, in what manner we may proceed
on our way with the greatest safety, and how we may fight, if it should
be necessary to fight, to the greatest possible advantage. First of all,
then," he continued, "it seems to me that we ought to burn whatever
carriages we have, that our cattle may not influence our movements, but
that we may march whithersoever it may be convenient for the army; and
then that we should burn our tents with them, for tents are troublesome
to carry, and of no service either for fighting or in getting
provisions. 28. I think also that we ought to rid ourselves of whatever
is superfluous in the rest of our baggage, reserving only what we have
for war, or for meat and drink, that as many of us as possible may be
under arms, and as few as possible baggage-bearers; for you are aware
that whatever belongs to the conquered becomes the property of others;
and, if we are victorious, we ought to look upon the enemy as our
baggage-carriers.

29. "It only remains for me to mention a particular which I consider to
be of the greatest importance. You see that the enemy did not venture
openly to commence war against us, until they had seized our generals,
thinking that as long as we had commanders, and were obedient to them,
we should be in a condition to gain the advantage over them in the
field, but, on making prisoners of our generals, they expected that we
should perish from want of direction and order. 30. It is incumbent,
therefore, on our present commanders to be far more vigilant than our
former ones, and on those under command to be far more orderly, and
more obedient to their officers, at present than they were before. 31.
And if you were also to pass a resolution, that, should any one be
di