So the generals called an assembly and made this announcement; and the soldiers were angry with the generals, and said that they had known about this for a long time, but had been keeping it from the troops; furthermore, they refused to go on unless they were given money,The troops are not now asking for additional pay, as at Tarsus (Xen. Anab. 1.3.21), but for a special donation. See below. as were the men who made the journey with Cyrus before,See Xen. Anab. 1.1.2. when he went to visit his father; they had received the donation, even though they marched, not to battle, but merely because Cyrus’ father summoned him.

All these things the generals reported back to Cyrus, and he promised that he would give every man five minasThe Attic mina was equivalent (but see note on Xen. Anab. 1.1.9) to about 3 1 5s. or $18.00; Cyrus probably means here the Persian mina, which was worth about one-fourth more than the Attic. in silver when they reached Babylon and their pay in full until he brought the Greeks back to Ionia again.Mercenaries were usually expected to make their own way home after a campaign had ended and did not receive pay for the time consumed by the homeward journey. By these promises the greater part of the Greek army was persuaded.But as for Menon, before it was clear what the rest of the soldiers would do, that is, whether they would follow Cyrus or not, he gathered together his own troops apart from the others and spoke as follows:

Soldiers, if you will obey me, you will, without either danger or toil, be honoured by Cyrus above and beyond the rest of the troops. What, then, do I direct you to do? At this moment Cyrus is begging the Greeks to follow him against the King; my own plan, then, is that you should cross the Euphrates river before it is clear what answer the rest of the Greeks will make to Cyrus.

For if they vote to follow him, it is you who will get the credit for that decision because you began the crossing, and Cyrus will not only feel grateful to you, regarding you as the most zealous in his cause, but he will return the favour—and he knows how to do that if any man does; on the other hand, if the rest vote not to follow him, we shall all go back together, but you, as the only ones who were obedient, are the men he will employ, not only for garrison duty,i.e. easy service. but for captaincies; and whatever else you may desire, I know that you, as friends of Cyrus, will secure from him.

Upon hearing these words the soldiers were persuaded, and made the crossing before the rest gave their answer. When Cyrus learned that they had crossed, he was delighted and sent Glus to the troops with this message: Soldiers, to-day I commend you; but I shall see to it that you also shall have cause to commend me, else count me no longer Cyrus.