cyropaedia-第18章

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is　no　ally　half　so　good　as　speed。　If　we　scale　the　heights　before　the
enemy　have　time　to　gather；　we　may　take　the　position　out　of　hand
without　a　blow；　and　at　most　we　shall　only　find　a　handful　of　weak　and
scattered　forces　to　oppose　us。　＇5＇　Steady　speed　is　all　I　ask　for；　and
surely　I　could　ask　for　nothing　easier　or　less　dangerous。　To　arms　then！
The　Medes　will　march　on　our　left；　half　the　Armenians　on　our　right；　and
the　rest　in　the　van　to　lead　the　way；　the　cavalry　in　our　rear；　to　cheer
us　on　and　push　us　forward　and　let　none　of　us　give　way。〃

＇6＇　With　that　Cyrus　led　the　advance；　the　army　in　column　behind　him。　As
soon　as　the　Chaldaeans　saw　them　sweeping　up　from　the　plain；　they
signalled　to　their　fellows　till　the　heights　re…echoed　with　answering
shouts；　and　the　tribesmen　gathered　on　every　side。　Then　Cyrus　sent　word
along　his　lines；　〃Soldiers　of　Persia；　they　are　signalling　to　us　to
make　haste。　If　only　we　reach　the　top　before　them；　all　they　can　do　will
be　in　vain。〃

＇7＇　Now　the　Chaldaeans　were　said　to　be　the　most　warlike　of　all　the
tribes　in　that　country；　and　each　of　them　was　armed　with　a　shield　and　a
brace　of　javelins。　They　fight　for　pay　wherever　they　are　needed；　partly
because　they　are　warriors　born；　but　partly　through　poverty；　for　their
country　is　mountainous；　and　the　fertile　part　of　it　small。　＇8＇　As　Cyrus
and　his　force　drew　near　the　head　of　the　pass；　Tigranes；　who　was
marching　at　his　side；　said：

〃Do　you　know；　Cyrus；　that　before　long　we　shall　be　in　the　thick　of　the
fight　ourselves？　Our　Armenians　will　never　stand　the　charge。〃　Cyrus
answered　that　he　was　well　aware　of　that；　and　immediately　sent　word
that　the　Persians　should　be　ready　to　give　chase　at　once；　〃as　soon　as
we　see　the　Armenians　decoying　the　enemy　by　feigning　flight　and　drawing
them　within　our　reach。〃

＇9＇　Thus　they　marched　up　with　the　Armenians　in　the　van：　and　the
Chaldaeans　who　had　collected　waited　till　they　were　almost　on　them；　and
then　charged　with　a　tremendous　shout；　as　their　custom　was；　and　the
Armenians；　as　was　ever　theirs；　turned　and　ran。　＇10＇　But　in　the　midst
of　the　pursuit　the　Chaldaeans　met　new　opponents　streaming　up　the　pass；
armed　with　short　swords；　and　some　of　them　were　cut　to　pieces　at　once
before　they　could　withdraw；　while　others　were　taken　prisoners　and　the
rest　fled；　and　in　a　few　moments　the　heights　were　won。　From　the　top　of
the　pass　Cyrus　and　his　staff　looked　down　and　saw　below　them　the
Chaldaean　villages　with　fugitives　pouring　from　the　nearest　houses。
＇11＇　Soon　the　rest　of　the　army　came　up；　and　Cyrus　ordered　them　all　to
take　the　morning　meal。　When　it　was　over；　and　he　had　ascertained　that
the　look…out　was　really　in　a　strong　position；　and　well　supplied　with
water；　he　set　about　fortifying　a　post　without　more　ado；　and　he　bade
Tigranes　send　to　his　father　and　bid　him　come　at　once　with　all　the
carpenters　and　stonemasons　he　could　fetch；　and　while　a　messenger　went
off　to　the　king　Cyrus　did　all　he　could　with　what　he　had　at　hand。

＇12＇　Meanwhile　they　brought　up　the　prisoners；　all　of　them　bound　in
chains　and　some　wounded。　But　Cyrus　when　he　saw　their　plight　ordered
the　chains　to　be　struck　off；　and　sent　for　surgeons　to　dress　their
wounds；　and　then　he　told　them　that　he　came　neither　to　destroy　them　nor
to　war　against　them；　but　to　make　peace　between　them　and　the　Armenians。
〃I　know；〃　he　said；　〃before　your　pass　was　taken　you　did　not　wish　for
peace。　Your　own　land　was　in　safety　and　you　could　harry　the　Armenians：
but　you　can　see　for　yourselves　how　things　stand　to…day。　＇13＇
Accordingly　I　will　let　you　all　go　back　to　your　homes　in　freedom；　and　I
will　allow　you　and　your　fellows　to　take　counsel　together　and　choose
whether　you　will　have　us　for　your　enemies　or　your　friends。　If　you
decide　on　war；　you　had　better　not　come　here　again　without　your
weapons；　but　if　you　choose　peace；　come　unarmed　and　welcome：　it　shall
be　my　care　to　see　that　all　is　well　with　you；　if　you　are　my　friends。〃

＇14＇　And　when　the　Chaldaeans　heard　that；　they　poured　out　praises　and
thanks；　and　then　they　turned　homewards　and　departed。

Meanwhile　the　king；　receiving　the　call　of　Cyrus；　and　hearing　the
business　that　was　at　hand；　had　gathered　his　workmen　together　and　took
what　he　thought　necessary　and　came　with　all　speed。　＇15＇　And　when　he
caught　sight　of　Cyrus；　he　cried：　〃Ah；　my　lord；　blind　mortals　that　we
are！　How　little　can　we　see　of　the　future；　and　how　much　we　take　in　hand
to　do！　I　set　myself　to　win　freedom　and　I　made　myself　a　slave；　and　now；
when　we　were　captured　and　said　to　ourselves　that　we　were　utterly
undone；　suddenly　we　find　a　safety　we　never　had　before。　Those　who
troubled　us　are　taken　now；　even　as　I　would　have　them。　＇16＇　Be　well
assured；　Cyrus；〃　he　added；　〃that　I　would　have　paid　the　sum　you　had
from　me　over　and　over　again　simply　to　dislodge　the　Chaldaeans　from
these　heights。　The　things　of　worth　you　promised　me　when　you　took　the
money　have　been　paid　in　full　already；　and　we　discover　that　we　are　not
your　creditors；　but　deep　in　your　debt　for　many　kindnesses；　and　we
shall　be　ashamed　not　to　return　them；　or　we　should　be　base　indeed；　for
try　as　we　may；　we　shall　never　be　able　to　requite　in　full　so　great　a
benefactor。〃

＇17＇　Such　thanks　the　Armenian　gave。

Then　the　Chaldaeans　came　back；　begging　Cyrus　to　make　peace　with　them。
And　Cyrus　asked　them：　〃Am　I　right　in　thinking　that　you　desire　peace
to…day　because　you　believe　it　will　be　safer　for　you　than　war；　now　that
we　hold　these　heights？〃

And　the　Chaldaeans　said　that　so　it　was。　＇18＇　〃Well　and　good；〃　said　he。
〃And　what　if　other　benefits　were　gained　by　peace？〃　〃We　should　be　all
the　better　pleased；〃　said　they。　〃Is　there　any　other　reason；〃　he　asked；
〃for　your　present　poverty；　except　your　lack　of　fertile　soil？〃　They
said　that　there　was　none。　〃Well　then；〃　Cyrus　went　on；　〃would　you　be
willing　to　pay　the　same　dues　as　the　Armenians；　if　you　were　allowed　to
cultivate　as　much　of　their　land　as　you　desired？〃　And　the　Chaldaeans
said　they　would；　if　only　they　could　rely　on　being　fairly　treated。　＇19＇
〃Now；〃　said　Cyrus；　turning　to　the　Armenian　king；　〃would　you　like　that
land　of　yours　which　is　now　lying　idle　to　be　tilled　and　made
productive；　supposing　the　workers　paid　you　the　customary　dues？〃　〃I
would；　indeed；〃　said　the　king；　〃so　much　so　that　I　am　ready　to　pay　a
large　sum　for　it。　It　would　mean　a　great　increase　to　my　revenue。〃　＇20＇
〃And　you；　Chaldaeans；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃with　your　splendid　mountains；
would　you　let　the　Armenians　use　them　for　pasture　if　the　graziers　paid
you　what　was　fair？〃　〃Surely　yes；〃　said　the　Chaldaeans；　〃it　would　mean
much　profit　and　no　pains。〃

〃Son　of　Armenia；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃would　you　take　this　land　for　grazing；
if　by　paying　a　small　sum　to　the　Chaldaeans　you　got　a　far　greater
return　yourself？〃

〃Right　willingly；〃　said　he；　〃if　I　thought　my　flocks　could　feed　in
safety。〃

〃And　would　they　not　be　safe　enough；〃　suggested　Cyrus；　〃if　this　pass
were　held　for　you？〃　To　which　the　king　agreed。　＇21＇　But　the　Chaldaeans
cried；　〃Heaven　help　us！　We　could　not　till　our　own　fields　in　safety；
not　to　speak　of　theirs；　if　the　Armenians　held　the　pass。〃　〃True；〃
answered　Cyrus；　〃but　how　would　it　be　if　the　pass　were　held　for　you？〃
〃Ah；　then；〃　said　they；　〃all　would　be　well　enough。〃　〃Heaven　help　us！〃
cried　the　Armenian　in　his　turn；　〃all　might　be　well　enough　for　them；
but　it　would　be　ill　for　us　if　these　neighbours　of　ours　recovered　the
post；　especially　now　that　it　is　fortified。〃　＇22＇　Then　Cyrus　said；
〃See；　then；　this　is　what　I　will　do：　I　will　hand　over　the　pass　to
neither　of　you：　we　Persians　will　guard　it　ourselves；　and　if　either　of
you　injure　the　other；　we　will　step　in　and　side　with　the　sufferers。〃

＇23＇　Then　both　parties　applauded　the　decision；　and　said　that　only　thus
could　they　establish　a　lasting　peace；　and　on　these　terms　they
exchanged　pledges；　and　a　covenant　was　made　that　both　nations　alike
were　to　be　free　and　independent；　but　with　common　rights　of　marriage；
and　tillage；　and　pasturage；　and　help　in　time　of　war　if　either　were
attacked。　＇24＇　Thus　the　matter　was　concluded；　and　to　this　day　the
treaty　holds　between　the　Chaldaeans　and　Armenia。

Peace　was　no　sooner　made　than　both　parties　began　building　what　they
now　considered　their　common　fortress；　working　side　by　side　and
bringing　up　all　that　was　needed。　＇25＇　And　when　evening　fell；　Cyrus
summoned　them　all　as　fellow…guests　to　his　board；　saying　that　they　were
friends　already。　At　the　supper　as　they　sat　together；　one　of　the
Chaldaeans　said　to　Cyrus　that　the　mass　of　his　nation　would　feel　they
had　received　all　they　could　desire；　〃But　there　are　men　among　us；〃　he
added；　〃who　live　as　freebooters：　they　do　not　know　how　to　labour　in　the
field；　and　they　could　not　learn；　accustomed　as　they　are　from　youth　up
to　get　their　livelihood　either　by　plundering　for　themselves　or　serving
as　mercenaries；　often　under　the　king　of　India；　for　he　is　a　man　of　much
wealth；　but　sometimes　under　Astyages。〃　＇26＇　Then　Cyrus　said：　〃Why
should　they　not　take　service　with　me？　I　undertake　to　give　them　at
least　as　much　as　they　ever　got　elsewhere。〃　The　Chaldaeans　readily
agreed　with　him　and　prophesied　that　he　would　have　many　volunteers。

＇27＇　So　this　matter　was　settled　to　the　mind　of　all。　But　Cyrus；　on
hearing　that　the　Chaldaeans　were　in　the　habit　of　going　to　India；
remembered　how　Indian　ambassadors　had　come　to　the　Medes　to　spy　out
their　affairs；　and　how　they　had　gone　on　to　their　enemiesdoubtless　to
do　the　same　thereand　he　felt　a　wish　that　they　should　hear　something
of　what　he　had　achieved　himself。　＇28＇　So　he　said　to　the　company：　〃Son
of　Armenia；　and　men　of　the　Chaldaeans；　I　have　something　to　ask　you。
Tell　me；　if　I　were　to　send　ambassadors　to　India；　would　you　send　some
of　your　own　folk　with　them　to　show　them　the　way；　and　support　them　in
gaining　for　us　all　that　I　desire？　I　still　need　more　money　if　I　am　to
pay　all　the　wages；　as　I　wish；　in　full；　and　give　rewards　and　make
presents　to　such　of　my　soldiers　as　deserve　them。　It　is　for　such　things
I　need　all　the　money　I　can　get；　for　I　believe　them　to　be　essential。　It
would　be　pleasanter　for　me　not　to　draw　on　you；　because　I　look　on　you
already　as　my　friends；　but　I　should　be　glad　to　take　from　the　Indian　as
much　as　he　will　give　me。　My　messengerthe　one　for　whom　I　ask　guides
and　coadjutorswill　go　to　the　king　and　say：　'Son　of　India；　my　master
has　sent　me　to　you；　bidding　me　say　that　he　has　need　of　more　money。　He
is　expecting　another　army　from　Persia；'　and　indeed　I　do　expect　one；〃
Cyrus　added。　〃Then　my　messenger　will　proceed；　'If　you　can　send　my
master　all　that　you　have　at　hand　he　will　do　his　best；　if　God　grant　him
success；　that　you　should　feel　your　kindness　has　not　been　ill…advised。'
＇30＇　That　is　what　my　emissary　will　say：　and　you　must　give　such
instructions　to　yours　as　you　think　fit　yourselves。　If　I　get　money　from
the　king；　I　shall　have　abundance　at　my　disposal：　if　I　fail；　at　least
we　shall　owe　him　no　gratitude；　and　as　far　as　he　is　concerned　we　may
look　to　our　own　interests　alone。〃

＇31＇　So　Cyrus　spoke；　convinced　that　the　ambassadors　from　Armenia　and
Chaldaea　would　speak　of　him　as　he　desired　all　men　might　do。　And　then；
as　the　hour　was　come；　they　broke　up　the　meeting　and　took　their　rest。

＇C。3＇　But　on　the　next　day　Cyrus　despatched　his　messenger　with　the
instructions；　and　the　Armenians　and　Chaldaeans　sent　their