any injustice to our charge we choose the king of the Indians himself
to be our judge； and he shall decide between us。〃
＇9＇ With that the embassy departed。 And when they had gone out Cyrus
turned to his uncle and began； 〃Cyaxares； when I came to you I had
scant wealth of my own and of the little I brought with me only a
fragment is left。 I have spent it all on my soldiers。 You may wonder
at this；〃 he added； 〃when it is you who have supported them； but；
believe me； the money has not been wasted： it has all been spent on
gifts and rewards to the soldiers who deserved it。 ＇10＇ And I am
sure；〃 he added； 〃if we require good workers and good comrades in any
task whatever； it is better and pleasanter to encourage them by kind
speeches and kindly acts than to drive them by pains and penalties。
And if it is for war that we need such trusty helpers； we can only win
the men we want by every charm of word and grace of deed。 For our true
ally must be a friend and not a foe； one who can never envy the
prosperity of his leader nor betray him in the day of disaster。 ＇11＇
Such is my conviction； and such being so； I do not hide from myself
the need of money。 But to look to you for everything； when I know that
you spend so much already； would be monstrous in my eyes。 I only ask
that we should take counsel together so as to prevent the failure of
your funds。 I am well aware that if you won great wealth； I should be
able to help myself at need； especially if I used it for your own
advantage。 ＇12＇ Now I think you told me the other day that the king of
Armenia has begun to despise you； because he hears we have an enemy；
and therefore he will neither send you troops nor pay the tribute
which is due。〃 ＇13＇ 〃Yes；〃 answered Cyaxares； 〃such are his tricks。
And I cannot decide whether to march on him at once and try to subdue
him by force； or let the matter be for the time； for fear of adding to
the enemies we have。〃 Then Cyrus asked； 〃Are his dwellings strongly
fortified； or could they be attacked？〃 And Cyaxares answered； 〃The
actual fortifications are not very strong： I took good care of that。
But he has the hill…country to which he can retire； and there for the
moment lie secure； knowing that he himself is safely out of reach；
with everything that he can convoy thither； unless we are prepared to
carry on a siege； as my father actually did。〃
＇14＇ Thereupon Cyrus said； 〃Now if you are willing to send me with a
moderate force of cavalryI will not ask for many menI believe；
heaven helping me； I could compel him to send the troops and the
tribute。 And I even hope that in the future he may become a firmer
friend that he is now。〃 ＇15＇ And Cyaxares said： 〃I think myself they
are more likely to listen to you than to me。 I have been told that his
sons were your companions in the chase when you were lads； and
possibly old habits will return and they will come over to you。 Once
they were in our power； everything could be done as we desire。〃
〃Then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃this plan of ours had better be kept secret； had
it not？〃 〃No doubt；〃 answered Cyaxares。 〃In that way they would be
more likely to fall into our hands； and if we attack them they would
be taken unprepared。〃
＇16＇ 〃Listen then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃and see what you think of this。 I
have often hunted the marches between your country and Armenia with
all my men； and sometimes I have taken horsemen with me from our
comrades here。〃 〃I see；〃 said Cyaxares； 〃and if you chose to do the
like again it would seem only natural； but if your force was obviously
larger than usual； suspicion would arise at once。〃 ＇17＇ 〃But it is
possible；〃 said Cyrus； 〃to frame a pretext which would find credit
with us and with them too； if any rumour reached them。 We might give
out that I intend to hold a splendid hunt and I might ask you openly
for a troop of horse。〃
〃Admirable！〃 said Cyaxares。 〃And I shall refuse to give you more than
a certain number； my reason being that I wish to visit the outposts on
the Syrian side。 And as a matter of fact；〃 he added； 〃I do wish to see
them and put them in as strong a state as possible。 Then； as soon as
you have started with your men； and marched； let us say； for a couple
of days； I could send you a good round number of horse and foot from
my own detachment。 And when you have them at your back； you could
advance at once； and I will follow with the rest of my men as near you
as I may； close enough to appear in time of need。〃
＇18＇ Accordingly； Cyaxares proceeded to muster horse and foot for his
own march； and sent provision…waggons forward to meet him on the road。
Meanwhile Cyrus offered sacrifice for the success of his expedition
and found an opportunity to ask Cyaxares for a troop of his junior
cavalry。 But Cyaxares would only spare a few； though many wished to
go。 Soon afterwards he started for the outposts himself with all his
horse and foot； and then Cyrus found the omens favourable for his
enterprise； and led his soldiers out as though he meant to hunt。 ＇19＇
He was scarcely on his way when a hare started up at their feet； and
an eagle； flying on the right； saw the creature as it fled； swooped
down and struck it； bore it aloft in its talons to a cliff hard by；
and did its will upon it there。 The omen pleased Cyrus well； and he
bowed in worship to Zeus the King； and said to his company； 〃This
shall be a right noble hunt； my friends； if God so will。〃
＇20＇ When he came to the borders he began the hunt in his usual way；
the mass of horse and foot going on ahead in rows like reapers；
beating out the game； with picked men posted at intervals to receive
the animals and give them chase。 And thus they took great numbers of
boars and stags and antelopes and wild…asses： even to this day wild…
asses are plentiful in those parts。 ＇21＇ But when the chase was over；
Cyrus had touched the frontier of the Armenian land； and there he made
the evening meal。 The next day he hunted till he reached the mountains
which were his goal。 And there he halted again and made the evening
meal。 At this point he knew that the army from Cyaxares was advancing；
and he sent secretly to them and bade them keep about eight miles off；
and take their evening meal where they were； since that would make for
secrecy。 And when their meal was over he told them to send their
officers to him； and after supper he called his own brigadiers
together and addressed them thus：
＇22＇ 〃My friends； in old days the Armenian was a faithful ally and
subject of Cyaxares； but now when he sees an enemy against us； he
assumes contempt： he neither sends the troops nor pays the tribute。 He
is the game we have come to catch； if catch we can。 And this； I think；
is the way。 You； Chrysantas；〃 said he； 〃will sleep for a few hours；
and then take half the Persians with you； make for the hill country；
and seize the heights which we hear are his places of refuge when
alarmed。 I will give you guides。 ＇23＇ The hills； they tell us； are
covered with trees and scrub； so that we may hope you will escape
unseen： still you might send a handful of scouts ahead of you；
disguised as a band of robbers。 If they should come across any
Armenians they can either make them prisoners and prevent them from
spreading the news； or at least scare them out of the way； so that
they will not realise the whole of your force； and only take measures
against a pack of thieves。 ＇24＇ That is your task； Chrysantas； and now
for mine。 At break of day I shall take half the foot and all the
cavalry and march along the level straight to the king's residence。 If
he resists； we must fight； if he retreats along the plain we must run
him down； if he makes for the mountains； why then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃it
will be your business to see that none of your visitors escape。 ＇25＇
Think of it as a hunt： we down below are the beaters rounding up the
game； and you are the men at the nets： only bear in mind that the
earths must all be stopped before the game is up； and the men at the
traps must be hidden； or they will turn back the flying quarry。 ＇26＇
One last word； Chrysantas： you must not behave now as I have known you
do in your passion for the chase： you must not sit up the whole night
long without a wink of sleep； you must let all your men have the
modicum of rest that they cannot do without。 ＇27＇ Nor must youjust
because you scour the hills in the hunt without a guide； following the
lead of the quarry and that alone； checking and changing course
wherever it leads youyou must not now plunge into the wildest paths：
you must tell your guides to take you by the easiest road unless it is
much the longest。 ＇28＇ In war； they say； the easiest way is the
quickest。 And once more； because you can race up a mountain yourself
you are not to lead on your men at the double； suit your pace to the
strength of all。 ＇29＇ Indeed； it were no bad thing if some of your
best and bravest were to fall behind here and there and cheer the
laggards on： and it would quicken the pace of all； when the column has
gone ahead； to see them racing back to their places past the marching
files。〃
＇30＇ Chrysantas listened； and his heart beat high at the trust reposed
in him。 He took the guides； and gave the necessary orders for those
who were to march with him； and then he lay down to rest。 And when all
his men had had the sleep he thought sufficient he set out for the
hills。 ＇31＇ Day dawned； and Cyrus sent a messenger to the Armenian
with these words： 〃Cyrus bids you see to it that you bring your
tribute and troops without delay。〃 〃And if he asks you where Cyrus is；
tell the truth and say I am on the frontier。 And if he asks whether I
am advancing myself； tell the truth again and say that you do not
know。 And if he enquires how many we are； bid him send some one with
you to find out。〃
＇32＇ Having so charged the messenger he sent him on forthwith； holding
this to be more courteous than to attack without warning。 Then he drew
up his troops himself in the order best suited for marching； and； if
necessary； for fighting； and so set forth。 The soldiers had orders
that not a soul was to be wronged； and if they met any Armenians they
were to bid them to have no fear； but open a market wherever they
wished； and sell meat or