or come up with the beasts I chase and knock them over myself or else
spear them as though they stood stock still； for when hunter and
hunted are both of them racing； if they are only side by side； it is
as good as though neither of them moved。 ＇17＇ And the creature I have
always envied；〃 he continued； 〃the centaurif only he had the
intelligence and forethought of a man； the adroit skill and the
cunning hand； with the swiftness and strength of a horse； so as to
overtake all that fled before him； and overthrow all that resisted
why； all these powers I shall collect and gather in my own person when
once I am a rider。 ＇18＇ Forethought I intend to keep with my human
wits； my hands can wield my weapons； and my horse's legs will follow
up the foe； and my horse's rush overthrow him。 Only I shall not be
tied and fettered to my steed； flesh of his flesh； and blood of his
blood； like the old centaur。 ＇19＇ And that I count a great improvement
on the breed； far better than being united to the animal； body and
soul。 The old centaur； I imagine； must have been for ever in
difficulties； as a horse； he could not use the wonderful inventions of
man； and as a man； he could not enjoy the proper pleasures of a horse。
＇20＇ But I； if I learn to ride； once set me astride my horse； and I
will do all that the centaur can； and yet； when I dismount； I can
dress myself as a human being； and dine； and sleep in my bed； like the
rest of my kind： in short； I shall be a jointed centaur that can be
taken to pieces and put together again。 ＇21＇ And I shall gain another
point or so over the original beast： he； we know； had only two eyes to
see with and two ears to hear with； but I shall watch with four eyes
and with four ears I shall listen。 You know； they tell us a horse can
often see quicker than any man； and hear a sound before his master；
and give him warning in some way。 Have the goodness； therefore；〃 he
added； 〃to write my name down among those who want to ride。〃
＇22＇ 〃And ours too；〃 they all cried； 〃ours too； in heaven's name！〃
Then Cyrus spoke： 〃Gentlemen； since we are all so well agreed； suppose
we make it a rule that every one who receives a horse from me shall be
considered to disgrace himself if he is seen trudging afoot； be his
journey long or short？〃
＇23＇ Thus Cyrus put the question； and one and all assented； and hence
it is that even to this day the custom is retained； and no Persian of
the gentle class would willingly be seen anywhere on foot。
＇C。4＇ In this debate their time was spent； and when it was past midday
the Median cavalry and the Hyrcanians came galloping home； bringing in
men and horses from the enemy； for they had spared all who surrendered
their arms。 ＇2＇ As they rode up the first inquiry of Cyrus was whether
all of them were safe； and when they answered yes； he asked what they
had achieved。 And they told their exploits in detail； and how bravely
they had borne themselves； magnifying it all。 ＇3＇ Cyrus heard their
story through with a pleasant smile； and praised them for their work。
〃I can see for myself；〃 he said； 〃that you have done gallant deeds。
You seem to have grown taller and fairer and more terrible to look on
than when we saw you last。〃
＇4＇ Then he made them tell him how far they had gone； and whether they
had found the country inhabited。 They said they had ridden a long way；
and that the whole country was inhabited； and full of sheep and goats
and cattle and horses； and rich in corn and every good thing。
＇5＇ 〃Then there are two matters；〃 he said； 〃to which we must attend；
first we must become masters of those who own all this； and next we
must ensure that they do not run away。 A well…populated country is a
rich possession； but a deserted land will soon become a desert。 ＇6＇
You have put the defenders to the sword； I know； and rightlyfor that
is the only safe road to victory； but you have brought in as prisoners
those who laid down their arms。 Now if we let these men go； I maintain
we should do the very best thing for ourselves。 ＇7＇ We gain two
points； first； we need neither be on our guard against them nor mount
guard over them nor find them victuals （and we do not propose to
starve them； I presume）； and in the next place； their release means
more prisoners to…morrow。 ＇8＇ For if we dominate the country all the
inhabitants are ours； and if they see that these men are still alive
and at large they will be more disposed to stay where they are； and
prefer obedience to battle。 That is my own view； but if any one sees a
better course； let him point it out。〃
＇9＇ However； all his hearers approved the plan proposed。 Thus it came
to pass that Cyrus summoned the prisoners and said to them：
＇10＇ 〃Gentlemen； you owe it to your own obedience this day that your
lives are safe； and for the future if you continue in this conduct； no
evil whatsoever shall befall you； true； you will not have the same
ruler as before； but you will dwell in the same houses； you will
cultivate the same land； you will live with your wives and govern your
children as you do now。 Moreover you will not have us to fight with；
nor any one else。 ＇11＇ On the contrary； if any wrong is done you； it
is we who will fight on your behalf。 And to prevent any one from
ordering you to take the field； you will bring your arms to us and
hand them over。 Those who do this can count on peace and the faithful
fulfilment of our promises； those who will not； must expect war； and
that at once。 ＇12＇ Further； if any man of you comes to us and shows a
friendly spirit； giving us information and helping us in any way； we
will treat him not as a servant； but as a friend and benefactor。
This；〃 he added； 〃we wish you to understand yourselves and make known
among your fellows。 ＇13＇ And if it should appear that you yourselves
are willing to comply but others hinder you； lead us against them； and
you shall be their masters； not they yours。〃
Such were his words； and they made obeisance and promised to do as he
bade。
＇C。5＇ And when they were gone； Cyrus turned to the Medes and the men
of Armenia； and said； 〃It is high time； gentlemen； that we should
dine； one and all of us； food and drink are prepared for you； the best
we had skill to find。 Send us； if you will； the half of the bread that
has been baked； there is ample； I know； for both of us； but do not
send any relish with it； nor any drink； we have quite enough at hand。
＇2＇ And do you；〃 he added； turning to the Hyrcanians； 〃conduct our
friends to their quarters； the officers to the largest tentsyou know
where they areand the rest where you think best。 For yourselves； you
may dine where you like； your quarters are intact； and you will find
everything there prepared for you exactly as it is for the others。 ＇3＇
All of you alike must understand that during the night we Persians
will guard the camp outside； but you must keep an eye over what goes
on within； and see that your arms are ready to hand； our messmates are
not our friends as yet。〃
＇4＇ So the Medes and Tigranes with his men washed away the stains of
battle； and put on the apparel that was laid out for them； and fell to
dinner； and the horses had their provender too。 They sent half the
bread to the Persians but no relish with it and no wine； thinking that
Cyrus and his men possessed a store； because he had said they had
enough and to spare。 But Cyrus meant the relish of hunger； and the
draught from the running river。 ＇5＇ Thus he regaled his Persians； and
when the darkness fell he sent them out by fives and tens and ordered
them to lie in ambush around the camp； so as to form a double guard；
against attack from without； and absconders from within； any one
attempting to make off with treasures would be caught in the act。 And
so it befell； for many tried to escape； and all of them were seized。
＇6＇ As for the treasures； Cyrus allowed the captors to keep them； but
he had the absconders beheaded out of hand； so that for the future a
thief by night was hardly to be found。 Thus the Persians passed their
time。 ＇7＇ But the Medes drank and feasted and made music and took
their fill of good cheer and all delights； there was plenty to serve
their purpose； and work enough for those who did not sleep。
＇8＇ Cyaxares； the king of the Medes； on the very night when Cyrus set
forth； drank himself drunk in company with the officers in his own
quarters to celebrate their good fortune。 Hearing uproar all about
him； he thought that the rest of the Medes must have stayed behind in
the camp； except perhaps a few； but the fact was that their domestics；
finding the masters gone； had fallen to drinking in fine style and
were making a din to their hearts' content； the more so that they had
procured wine and dainties from the Assyrian camp。 ＇9＇ But when it was
broad day and no one knocked at the palace gate except the guests of
last night's revel； and when Cyaxares heard that the camp was deserted
the Medes gone； the cavalry goneand when he went out and saw for
himself that it was so； then he fumed with indignation against Cyrus
and his own men； to think that they had gone off and left him in the
lurch。 It is said that without more ado； savage and mad with anger as
he was； he ordered one of his staff to take his troopers and ride at
once to Cyrus and his men； and there deliver this message：
＇10＇ 〃I should never have dreamed that Cyrus could have acted towards
me with such scant respect； or； if he could have thought of it； that
the Medes could have borne to desert me in this way。 And now； whether
Cyrus will or no； I command the Medes to present themselves before me
without delay。〃
＇11＇ Such was the message。 But he who was to take it said； 〃And how
shall I find them； my lord？〃
〃Why；〃 said Cyaxares； 〃as Cyrus and his men found those they went to
seek。〃
〃I only asked；〃 continued the messenger； 〃because I was told that some
Hyrcanians who had revolted from the enemy came here； and went off
with him to act as guides。〃
＇12＇ When Cyaxares heard that； he was the more enraged to think that
Cyrus had never told him； and the more urgent to have his Medes
removed from him at once； and he summoned them home under fiercer
threats than ever； threatening the officer as well if