make for their angle myself； where I propose to join battle； first
riding round the army to see how things are with all our men。 ＇9＇ When
I reach the point； and we are on the verge of action； I will raise the
paean and then you must quicken your pace。 You will know when we have
closed with the enemy； the din will be loud enough。 At the same moment
Abradatas will dash out upon them： such will be his orders； your duty
is to follow； keeping as close to the chariots as possible。 Thus we
shall fall on the enemy at the height of his confusion。 And； God
helping me； I shall be with you also； cutting my way through the rout
by the quickest road I can。
＇10＇ So he spoke； and sent the watchword down the lines； 〃Zeus our
saviour； and Zeus our leader；〃 and went forward。 As he passed between
the chariots and the cuirassiers； he would say to some； 〃My men； the
look on your faces rejoices my heart；〃 and to others； 〃You understand；
gentlemen； that this battle is not for the victory of a day； but for
all that we have won ere now； and for all our happiness to come。〃 ＇11＇
And to others； 〃My friends； we can never reproach the gods again：
to…day they have put all blessings in our hands。 ＇12＇ Let us show
ourselves good men and true。〃 Or else； 〃Gentlemen； can we invite each
other to a more glorious feast than this？ This day all gallant hearts
are bidden； this day they may feast their friends。〃 ＇13＇ Or again；
〃You know； I think； the prizes in this game： the victors pursue and
smite and slay； and win wealth and fame and freedom and empire： the
cowards lose them all。 He who loves his own soul let him fight beside
me： for I will have no disgrace。〃 ＇14＇ But if he met soldiers who had
fought for him before； he only said； 〃To you； gentlemen； what need I
say？ You know the brave man's part in battle； and the craven's。〃 ＇15＇
And when he came to Abradatas； he halted； and Abradatas gave the reins
to his charioteer and came up to him； and others gathered round from
the infantry and the chariots； and Cyrus said：
〃God has rewarded you； Abradatas； according to your prayer； you and
yours。 You hold the first rank among our friends。 And you will not
forget； when the moment for action comes； that those who watch you
will be Persians； and those who follow you； and they will not let you
bear the brunt alone。〃
＇16＇ And Abradatas answered：
〃Even so； Cyrus； and with us here； methinks； all looks well enough：
but the state of our flanks troubles me： the enemy's wings are strong
and stretch far： he has chariots there； and every kind of arm as well；
while we have nothing else with which to oppose him。 So that for
myself；〃 said he； 〃if I had not won by lot the post I hold； I should
feel ashamed to be here in the safest place of all。〃
＇17＇ 〃Nay；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃if it is well with you； have no concern
for the rest。 God willing； I mean to relieve our flanks。 But you
yourself； I conjure you； do not attack until you see the rout of those
detachments that you fear。〃
So much of boasting did Cyrus allow himself on the eve of action；
though he was the last man to boast at other times。
〃When you see them routed；〃 he said； 〃you may take it that I am there；
and then make your rush； for that is the moment when you will find the
enemy weakest and your own men strongest。 ＇18＇ And while there is
time； Abradatas； be sure to drive along your front and prepare your
men for the charge； kindle their courage by your looks； lift up their
hearts by your hopes。 Breathe a spirit of emulation into them； to make
them prove themselves the flower of the chariot…force。 Be assured if
things go well with us all men will say nothing is so profitable as
valour。〃
＇19＇ Accordingly Abradatas mounted his chariot and drove along the
lines to do as Cyrus bade。
Meanwhile Cyrus went on to the left where Hystaspas was posted with
half the Persian cavalry； and he called to him and said：
〃Hystaspas； here is work to test your pace！ If we are quick enough in
cutting off their heads； none of us will be slaughtered first。〃
＇20＇ And Hystaspas answered with a laugh：
〃Leave it to us！ We'll see to the men opposite。 But set some one to
deal with the fellows on our flank： it would be a pity for them to be
idle。〃
And Cyrus answered； 〃I am going to them myself。 But remember；
Hystaspas； to which ever of us God grants the victory； so long as a
single foeman is on the field； attack we must； again and again； until
the last has yielded。〃
＇21＇ With that he passed on； and as he came to the flank he went up to
the officer in command of the chariots and said to him：
〃Good； I intend to support you myself。 And when you hear me fall on
the wing； at that instant do your best to charge straight through your
opponents； you will be far safer once outside their ranks than if you
are caught half…way。〃
＇22＇ Then he went on to the rear and the carriages； where the two
detachments were stationed； a thousand horse and a thousand foot； and
told Artagersas and Pharnouchus； their leaders； to keep the men where
they were。
〃But when；〃 he added； 〃you see me close with the enemy on our right；
then set upon those in front of you： take them in flank； where they
are weakest； while you advance in line； at your full strength。 Their
lines； as you see； are closed by cavalry； hurl your camels at these；
and you may be sure； even before the fighting begins； they will cut a
comic figure。〃
＇23＇ Thus； with all his dispositions made； Cyrus rode round the head
of his right。 By this time Croesus； believing that the centre； where
he himself was marching； must be nearer the enemy than the distant
wings； had the signal raised for them to stop their advance； halt； and
wheel round where they were。 When they were in position opposite the
Persian force； he signalled for them to charge； and thus three columns
came at once against Cyrus； one facing his front and one on either
flank。 ＇24＇ A tremor ran through the whole army； it was completely
enclosed； like a little brick laid within a large； with the forces of
the enemy all round it； on every side except the rear； cavalry and
heavy infantry； targeteers； archers； and chariots。 ＇25＇ None the less；
the instant Cyrus gave the word they swung round to confront the foe。
There was deep silence through the ranks as they realised what they
had to face； and then Cyrus； when the moment came； began the battle…
hymn and it thundered through the host。 ＇26＇ And as it died away the
war…cry rang out unto the God of Battles； and Cyrus swooped forward at
the head of his cavalry； straight for the enemy's flank； and closed
with them then and there； while the infantry behind him followed；
swift and steady； wave on wave； sweeping out on either side； far out…
flanking their opponents； for they attacked in line and the foe were
in column； to the great gain of Cyrus。 A short struggle； and the ranks
broke and fled before him headlong。 ＇27＇ Artagersas； seeing that Cyrus
had got to work； made his own charge on the left； hurling his camels
forward as Cyrus had advised。 Even at a distance the horses could not
face the camels： they seemed to go mad with fear； and galloped off in
terror； rearing and falling foul of one another： such is the strange
effect of camels upon horses。 ＇28＇ So that Artagersas； his own troops
well in hand； had easy work with the enemy's bewildered masses。 At the
same moment the war…chariots dashed in； right and left； so that many；
flying from the chariots； were cut down by the troopers； and many；
flying from these； were caught by the chariots。 ＇29＇ And now Abradatas
could wait no longer。 〃Follow me； my friends；〃 he shouted； and drove
straight at the enemy； lashing his good steeds forward till their
flanks were bloody with the goad； the other charioteers racing hard
behind him。 The enemy's chariots fled before them instantly； some not
even waiting to take up their fighting…men。 ＇30＇ But Abradatas drove
on through them； straight into the main body of the Egyptians； his
rush shared by his comrades on either hand。 And then； what has often
been shown elsewhere was shown here； namely； that of all strong
formations the strongest is a band of friends。 His brothers…in…arms
and his mess…mates charged with him； but the others； when they saw
that the solid ranks of the Egyptians stood firm； swung round and
pursued the flying chariots。 ＇31＇ Meanwhile Abradatas and his
companions could make no further way： there was not a gap through the
Egyptian lines on either hand； and they could but charge the single
soldiers where they stood； overthrow them by the sheer weight of horse
and car； and crush them and their arms beneath the hoofs and wheels。
And where the scythes caught them； men and weapons were cut to shreds。
＇32＇ In the midst of indescribable confusion； the chariots rocking
among the weltering mounds； Abradatas was thrown out and some of his
comrades with him。 There they stood； and fought like men； and there
they were cut down and died。 The Persians； pouring in after them；
dealt slaughter and destruction where Abradatas and his men had
charged and shaken the ranks； but elsewhere the Egyptians； who were
still unscathed； and they were many； moved steadily on to meet them。
＇33＇ There followed a desperate struggle with lance and spear and
sword； and still the Egyptians had the advantage； because of their
numbers and their weapons。 Their spears were immensely stout and long；
such as they carry to this day； and the huge shield not only gave more
protection than corslet and buckler； but aided the thrust of the
fighter； slung as it was from the shoulder。
＇34＇ Shield locked into shield； they thrust their way forward； and the
Persians could not drive them back； with their light bucklers borne on
the forearm only。 Step by step they gave ground； dealing blow for
blow； till they came under cover of their own artillery。 Then at last
a second shower of blows fell on the Egyptians； while the reserves
would allow no flight of the archers or the javelin…men： at the
sword's point they made them do their duty。 ＇35＇ Thick was the
slaughter； and loud the din of clashing weapons and whirring darts；
and shouting warriors； cheering each other and calling on the gods。
＇36＇ At this moment Cyrus appeared；