In the Anabasis—true tale of the Ten Thousand’s retreat—Xenophon leads free Greek citizens who elect leaders and argue. To move them he must earn respect by courage. When they must seize a ridge before Persian cavalry, he urges them from his horse: “Think of Greece, your wives, your sons—strain now and you won’t fight all day.” Soteridas of Sicyon retorts that such words are cheap from a man on horseback. Xenophon acts: he dismounts, drags Soteridas out, takes his hoplite shield, and—still in hi