kindnesses that he had shown them； many could recall the favours the
boy had won for them from his grandfather through his sheer goodness
of heart； and many； now that they had seen the Hyrcanians and heard
say they were leading them to untold treasures； went out from simple
love of gain。 ＇11＇ So they sallied forth； the entire body of the
Persians and all the Medes； except those who were quartered with
Cyaxares： these stayed behind； and their men with them。 But all the
rest went out with radiant faces and eager hearts； not following him
from constraint； but offering willing service in their gratitude。 ＇12＇
So； as soon as they were well afield； Cyrus went to the Medes and
thanked them； praying that the gods in their mercy might guide them
all； and that he himself might have power given him to reward their
zeal。 He ended by saying that the infantry would lead the van； while
they would follow with the cavalry； and whenever the column halted on
the march they were to send him gallopers to receive his orders。 ＇13＇
Then he bade the Hyrcanians lead the way； but they exclaimed； 〃What？
Are you not going to wait until we bring the hostages？ Then you could
begin the march with pledges from us in return for yours。〃
But he answered； as the story says； 〃If I am not mistaken； we hold the
pledges now； in our own hearts and our own right hands。 We believe
that if you are true to us we can do you service； and if you play us
false； you will not have us at your mercy； God willing； we shall hold
you at ours。 Nevertheless；〃 he added； 〃since you tell us your own folk
follow in the Assyrian rear； point them out to us as soon as you set
eyes upon them； that we may spare their lives。〃
＇14＇ When the Hyrcanians heard this they led the way as he ordered；
marvelling at his strength of soul。 Their own fear of the Assyrians；
the Lydians； and their allies； had altogether gone； their dread now
was lest Cyrus should regard themselves as mere dust in the balance；
and count it of no importance whether they stayed with him or not。
＇15＇ As night closed in on their march； the legend runs that a strange
light shone out； far off in the sky； upon Cyrus and his host； filling
them with awe of the heavenly powers and courage to meet the foe。
Marching as they did； their loins girt and their pace swift； they
covered a long stretch of road in little time； and with the half light
of the morning they were close to the Hyrcanian rear…guard。 ＇16＇ As
soon as the guides saw it； they told Cyrus that these were their own
men： they knew this； they added； from the number of their fires； and
the fact that they were in the rear。 ＇17＇ Therefore Cyrus sent one of
the guides to them； bidding them come out at once； if they were
friendly； with their right hands raised。 And he sent one of his own
men also to say； 〃According as you make your approach； so shall we
Persians comport ourselves。〃
Thus one of the two messengers stayed with Cyrus while the other rode
up to his fellows。 ＇18＇ Cyrus halted his army to watch what the tribe
would do； and Tigranes and the Median officers rode along the ranks to
ask for orders。 Cyrus explained that the troops nearest to them were
the Hyrcanians； and that one of the ambassadors had gone； and a
Persian with him； to bid them come out at once； if they were friendly；
with their right hands raised。 〃If they do so；〃 he added； 〃you must
welcome them as they come； each of you at your post； and take them by
the hand and encourage them； but if they draw sword or try to escape；
you must make an example of them： not a man of them must be left。〃
Such were his orders。 ＇19＇ However； as soon as the Hyrcanians heard
the message； they were overjoyed： springing to their steeds they
galloped up to Cyrus； holding out their right hands as he had bidden。
Then the Medes and Persians gave them the right hand of fellowship in
return； and bade them be of courage。 ＇20＇ And Cyrus spoke：
〃Sons of the Hyrcanians； we have shown our trust in you already； and
you must trust us in return。 And now tell me； how far from here do the
Assyrian headquarters lie； and their main body？〃 〃About four miles
hence；〃 they answered。
＇21＇ 〃Forward then； my men；〃 said Cyrus； 〃Persians； Medes； and
Hyrcanians。 I have learnt already； you see； to call you friends and
comrades。 All of you must remember that the moment has come when； if
hand falters or heart fails； we meet with utter disaster： our enemies
know why we are here。 But if we summon our strength and charge home；
you shall see them caught like a pack of runaway slaves； some on their
knees； others in full flight； and the rest unable to do even so much
for themselves。 They are beaten already； and they will see their
conquerors fall on them before they dream of an approach； before their
ranks are formed or their preparations made； and the sight will
paralyse them。 ＇22＇ If we wish to sleep and eat and live in peace and
happiness from this time forth； let us not give them leisure to take
counsel or arrange defence； or so much as see that we are men； and not
a storm of shields and battle…axes and flashing swords； sweeping on
them in one rain of blows。 ＇23＇ You Hyrcanians must go in front of us
as a screen； that we may lie behind you as long as may be。 And as soon
as I close with them； you must give me； each of you； a squadron of
horse； to use in case of need while I am waiting at the camp。 ＇24＇ I
would advise the older men among you and the officers； to ride in
close order； so that your ranks should not be broken； if you come
across a compact body of the foe； let the younger men give chase； and
do the killing； our safest plan to…day is to leave as few of the enemy
alive as possible。 ＇25＇ And if we conquer；〃 he added； 〃we must beware
of what has overset the fortune of many a conqueror ere now； I mean
the lust for plunder。 The man who plunders is no longer a man； he is a
machine for porterage； and all who list may treat him as a slave。 ＇26＇
One thing we must bear in mind： nothing can bring such gain as
victory； at one clutch the victor seizes all； men and women； and
wealth； and territory。 Therefore make it your one object to secure the
victory； if he is conquered； the greatest plunderer is caught。 One
more wordremember； even in the heat of pursuit to rejoin me while it
is still daylight； for when darkness has fallen we will not admit a
soul within the lines。〃
＇27＇ With these words he sent them off to their appointed stations；
bidding them repeat his instructions on the way to their own
lieutenants； who were posted in front to receive the orders； and make
each of them pass down the word to his own file of ten。 Thereupon the
advance began； the Hyrcanians leading off； Cyrus holding the centre
himself； marching with his Persians； and the cavalry in the usual way；
drawn up on either flank。
＇28＇ As the day broke the enemy saw them for the first time： some
simply stared at what was happening； others began to realise the
truth； calling and shouting to each other； unfastening their horses；
getting their goods together； tearing what they needed off the beasts
of burden； and others arming themselves； harnessing their steeds；
leaping to horse； others helping the women into their carriages； or
seizing their valuables； some caught in the act of burying them；
others； and by far the greatest number； in sheer headlong flight。 Many
and divers were their shifts； as one may well conceive； save only that
not one man stood at bay： they perished without a blow。 ＇29＇ Now
Croesus； king of Lydia； seeing that it was summer…time； had sent his
women on during the night； so that they might travel more pleasantly
in the cool； and he himself had followed with his cavalry to escort
them。 ＇30＇ The Lord of Hellespontine Phrygia； it is said； had done the
same。 And these two； when they heard what was happening from the
fugitives who overtook them； fled for their lives with the rest。 ＇31＇
But it was otherwise with the kings of Cappadocia and Arabia； they had
not gone far； and they stood their ground； but they had not even time
to put on their corslets； and were cut down by the Hyrcanians。 Indeed；
the mass of those who fell were Assyrians and Arabians； for； being in
their own country； they had taken no precautions on the march。 ＇32＇
The victorious Medes and the Hyrcanians had their hands full with the
chase； and meanwhile Cyrus made the cavalry who were left with him
ride all round the camp and cut down any man who left it with weapons
in his hands。 Then he sent a herald to those who remained； bidding the
horsemen and targeteers and archers come out on foot； with their
weapons tied in bundles； and deliver them up to him； leaving their
horses in their stalls： he who disobeyed should lose his head； and a
cordon of Persian troops stood round with their swords drawn。 ＇33＇ At
that the weapons were brought at once； and flung down； and Cyrus had
the whole pile burnt。
＇34＇ Meanwhile he did not forget that his own troops had come without
food or drink； that nothing could be done without provisions； and that
to obtain these in the quickest way； it was necessary on every
campaign to have some one to see that quarters were prepared and
supplies ready for the men on their return。 ＇35＇ It occurred to him it
was more than likely that such officers； of all others； would be left
behind in the Assyrian camp； because they would have been delayed by
the packing。
Accordingly； he sent out a proclamation that all the stewards should
present themselves before him； and if there was no such officer left；
the oldest man in every tent must take his place； any one failing to
obey would suffer the severest penalties。 The stewards； following the
example of their masters； obeyed at once。 And when they came before
him he ordered those who had more than two months' rations in their
quarters to sit down on the ground； and then those who had provisions
for one month。 ＇36＇ Thereupon very few were left standing。 ＇37＇ Having
thus got the information he needed； he spoke to them as follows：
〃Gentlemen； if any of you dislike hard blows and desire gentle
treatment at our hands； make it your business to provide twice as much
meat and drink in every tent as you have been wont to do； with a