the subjects of the Great King。 Beside the chariots he had a large
number of camels； collected from his friends or captured from the
enemy。 ＇31＇ Moreover； he decided to send a spy into Lydia to ascertain
the movements of the king； and he thought that the right man for this
purpose was Araspas； the officer in charge of the fair lady from Susa。
Matters had gone ill with Araspas： he had fallen passionately in love
with his prisoner； and been led to entreat her to be his paramour。
＇32＇ She had refused； faithful to her husband who was far away； for
she loved him dearly； but she forbore to accuse Araspas to Cyrus；
being unwilling to set friend at strife with friend。 ＇33＇ But when at
length Araspas； thinking it would help him in his desires； began to
threaten her； saying that if she would not yield he would have his
will of her by force； then in her dread of violence she could keep the
matter hid no longer； and she sent her eunuch to Cyrus with orders to
tell him everything。 ＇34＇ And when Cyrus heard it he smiled over the
man who had boasted that he was superior to love； and sent Artabazus
back with the eunuch to tell Araspas that he must use no violence
against such a woman； but if he could persuade her； he might do so。
＇35＇ But Artabazus； when he saw Araspas； rebuked him sternly； saying
that the woman was a sacred trust； and his conduct disgraceful；
impious； and wicked； till Araspas burst into tears of misery and
shame； and was half dead at the thought of what Cyrus would do。 ＇36＇
Learning this； Cyrus sent for him； saw him alone； and said to him face
to face：
〃Araspas； I know that you are afraid of me and in an agony of shame。
Be comforted； we are told that the gods themselves are made subject to
desire； and I could tell you what love has forced some men to undergo；
men who seemed most lofty and most wise。 Did I not pass sentence on
myself； when I confessed I was too weak to consort with loveliness and
remain unmoved？ Indeed it is I who am most to blame in the matter； for
I shut you up myself with this irresistible power。〃
＇37＇ But Araspas broke in on his words：
〃Ah； Cyrus； you are ever the same； gentle and compassionate to human
weaknesses。 But all the rest of the world has no pity on me； they
drown me in wretchedness。 As soon as the tattlers got wind of my
misfortune； all my enemies exulted； and my friends came to me；
advising me to make away with myself for fear of you； because my
iniquity was so great。〃
＇38＇ Then Cyrus said； 〃Now listen： this opinion about you may be the
means by which you can do me a great kindness and your comrades a
great service。〃 〃Oh； that it were possible！〃 said Araspas； 〃for me
ever to be of service to you！〃 ＇39＇ 〃Well；〃 said the other； 〃if you
went to the enemy； feigning that you had fled from me； I think they
would believe you。〃 〃I am sure they would；〃 said Araspas； 〃I know even
my own friends would think that of course I ran away。〃 ＇40＇ 〃Then you
will come back to us；〃 Cyrus went on； 〃with full information about the
enemy's affairs； for； if I am right in my expectation； they will trust
you and let you see all their plans； so that you need miss nothing of
what we wish to know。〃 〃I will be off this moment；〃 said Araspas； 〃it
will be my best credential to have it thought I was just in time to
escape punishment from you。〃
＇41＇ 〃Then you can really bring yourself to leave the beautiful
Pantheia？〃
〃Yes； Cyrus；〃 he answered； 〃I can； for I see now that we have two
souls。 This is the lesson of philosophy that I have learnt from the
wicked sophist Love。 If we had but a single soul； how could she be at
once evil and good？ How could she be enamoured at once of nobleness
and baseness； or at once desire and not desire one deed and the same？
No； it is clear that we have two souls； and when the beautiful soul
prevails； all fair things are wrought； and when the evil soul has the
mastery； she lays her hand to shame and wickedness。 But to…day my good
soul conquers； because she has you to help her。〃
＇42＇ 〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃if you have decided on going； it is thus you
had better go。 Thus you will win their confidence； and then you must
tell them what we are doing； but in such a way as to hinder their own
designs。 It would hinder them； for example； if you said that we were
preparing an attack on their territory at a point not yet decided； for
this would check the concentration of their forces； each leader being
most concerned for the safety of his own home。 ＇43＇ Stay with them；〃
he added； 〃till the last moment possible： what they do when they are
close at hand is just what is most important for us to know。 Advise
them how to dispose their forces in the way that really seems the
best； for then； after you are gone and although it may be known that
you are aware of their order； they will be forced to keep to it； they
will not dare to change it； and should they do so at the last moment
they will be thrown into confusion。〃
＇44＇ Thereupon Araspas took his leave； called together his trustiest
attendants； said what he thought necessary for the occasion； and
departed。
＇45＇ Now Pantheia； when she heard that Araspas had fled； sent a
messenger to Cyrus； saying：
〃Grieve not； Cyrus； that Araspas has gone to join the foe： I will
bring you a far trustier friend than he； if you will let me send for
my husband； and I know he will bring with him all the power that he
has。 It is true that the old king was my husband's friend； but he who
reigns now tried to tear us two asunder； and my husband knows him for
a tyrant and a miscreant； and would gladly be quit of him and take
service with such a man as you。〃
＇46＇ When Cyrus heard that； he bade Pantheia send word to her husband；
and she did so。 Now when Abradatas saw the tokens from his wife； and
learnt how matters stood； he was full of joy； and set out for Cyrus'
camp immediately； with a thousand horsemen in his train。 And when he
came to the Persian outposts he sent to Cyrus saying who he was； and
Cyrus gave orders that he should be taken to Pantheia forthwith。 ＇47＇
So husband and wife met again after hope had well…nigh vanished； and
were in each other's arms once more。 And then Pantheia spoke of Cyrus；
his nobleness； his honour； and the compassion he had shown her； and
Abradatas cried：
〃Tell me； tell me； how can I repay him all I owe him in your name and
mine！〃 And she answered：
〃So deal with him； my husband； as he has dealt with you。〃
＇48＇ And thus Abradatas went to Cyrus； and took him by the hand； and
said：
〃Cyrus； in return for the kindness you have shown us； I can say no
more than this： I give myself to you； I will be your friend； your
servant； and your ally： whatever you desire； I will help you to win；
your fellow…worker always； so far as in me lies。〃
＇49＇ Then Cyrus answered：
〃And I will take your gift： but for the moment you must leave me； and
sup with your wife： another day you will let me play the host； and
give you lodging with your friends and mine。〃
＇50＇ Afterwards Abradatas perceived how much Cyrus had at heart the
scythe…bearing chariots and the cavalry and the war…horses with their
armour； and he resolved to equip a hundred chariots for him out of his
own cavalry force。 ＇51＇ These he proposed to lead himself in a chariot
of his own； four…poled and drawn by eight horses； all the eight
protected by chest…plates of bronze。 ＇52＇ So Abradatas set to work；
and this four…poled chariot of his gave Cyrus the idea of making a car
with eight poles； drawn by eight yoke of oxen； to carry the lowest
compartment of the battering engines； which stood； with its wheels；
about twenty…seven feet from the ground。 ＇53＇ Cyrus felt that he had a
series of such towers brought into the field at a fair pace they would
be of immense service to him； and inflict as much damage on the enemy。
The towers were built with galleries and parapets； and each of them
could carry twenty men。 ＇54＇ When the whole was put together he tested
it and found that the eight yoke of oxen could draw the whole tower
with the men more easily than one yoke by itself could manage the
ordinary weight of baggage； which came to about five…and…twenty
talents apiece； whereas the tower； build of planks about as thick as
the boards for a stage； weighed less than fifteen for each yoke。 ＇55＇
Thus； having satisfied himself that the attempt was perfectly
possible； he arranged to take the towers into action； believing that
in war selfishness meant salvation； justice； and happiness。
＇C。2＇ About this time ambassadors came to Cyrus from India with gifts
of courtesy and a message from their king； saying：
〃I send you greeting； Cyrus； and I rejoice that you told me of your
needs。 I desire to be your friend and I offer you gifts； and if you
have need of anything more； I bid you say the word； and it shall be
yours。 I have told my men to do whatever you command。〃
＇2＇ Then Cyrus answered：
〃This； then； is my bidding： the rest of you shall stay where you have
pitched your tents； you shall guard your treasures and live as you
choose： but three of you shall go to the enemy and make believe that
you have come to him about an alliance with your king； and thus you
shall learn how matters stand； and all they say and all they do； and
so bring me word again with speed。 And if you serve me well in this； I
shall owe you even more than I could owe you for these gifts。 There
are some spies who are no better than slaves； and have no skill to
find out anything more than is known already； but there are men of
another sort； men of your stamp； who can discover plans that are not
yet disclosed。〃
＇3＇ The Indians listened gladly； and for the moment made themselves at
home as the guests of Cyrus： but the next day they got ready and set
off on their journey； promising to find out as much as they could of
the enemy's secrets and bring him word again with all possible speed。
＇4＇ Meanwhile Cyrus continued his preparations for the war on a
magnificent scale； like one who meant to accomplish no small
achievement。 Not only did he carry out all the resolutions of the
allies； but he breathed a spirit of emulation into his own friends and
followers； till each strove to outshine his fellows in arms an