cyropaedia-第23章

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＇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　all
things　that　are　needed　for　a　fine　repast。　The　victors；　whoever　they
are；　will　be　here　anon；　and　will　expect　an　overflowing　board。　You　may

rest　assured　it　will　not　be　against　your　interests　to　give　them　a
welcome　they　can　approve。〃

＇38＇　At　that　the　stewards　went　off　at　once　and　set　to　work　with　all
zeal　to　carry　out　their　instructions。　Then　Cyrus　summoned　his　own
officers　and　said　to　them：

〃My　friends；　it　is　clear　that　we　have　it　in　our　power；　now　that　our
allies'　backs　are　turned；　to　help　ourselves　to　breakfast；　and　take　our
choice　of　the　most　delicate　dishes　and　the　rarest　wines。　But　I
scarcely　think　this　would　do　us　so　much　good　as　to　show　that　we　study
the　interest　of　our　friends：　the　best　of　cheer　will　not　give　us　half
the　strength　we　could　draw　from　the　zeal　of　loyal　allies　whose
gratitude　we　had　won。　＇39＇　If　we　forget　those　who　are　toiling　for　us
now；　pursuing　our　foes；　slaying　them；　and　fighting　wherever　they
resist；　if　they　see　that　we　sit　down　to　enjoy　ourselves　and　devour　our
meal　before　we　know　how　it　goes　with　them；　I　fear　we　shall　cut　a　sorry
figure　in　their　eyes；　and　our　strength　will　turn　to　weakness　through
lack　of　friends。　The　true　banquet　for　us　is　to　study　the　wants　of
those　who　have　run　the　risk　and　done　the　work；　to　see　that　they　have
all　they　need　when　they　come　home；　a　banquet　that　will　give　us　richer
delight　than　any　gorging　of　the　belly。　＇40＇　And　remember；　that　even　if
the　thought　of　them　were　not　enough　to　shame　us　from　it；　in　no　case　is
this　a　moment　for　gluttony　and　drunkenness：　the　thing　we　set　our　minds
to　do　is　not　yet　done：　everything　is　full　of　danger　still；　and　calls
for　carefulness。　We　have　enemies　in　this　camp　ten　times　more　numerous
than　ourselves；　and　they　are　all　at　large：　we　need　both　to　guard
against　them　and　to　guard　them；　so　that　we　may　have　servants　to
furnish　us　with　supplies。　Our　cavalry　are　not　yet　back；　and　we　must
ask　ourselves　where　they　are　and　whether　they　mean　to　stay　with　us
when　they　return。　＇41＇　Therefore；　gentlemen；　I　would　say；　for　the
present　let　us　above　all　be　careful　to　avoid　the　food　and　drink　that
leads　to　slumber　and　stupefaction。　＇42＇　And　there　is　another　matter：
this　camp　contains　vast　treasures；　and　I　am　well　aware　we　have　it　in
our　power　to　pick　and　choose　as　much　as　we　like　for　ourselves　out　of
what　belongs　by　right　to　all　who　helped　in　its　capture。　But　it　does
not　seem　to　me　that　grasping　will　be　so　lucrative　as　proving　ourselves
just　toward　our　allies；　and　so　binding　them　closer。　＇43＇　I　go　further：
I　say　that　we　should　leave　the　distribution　of　the　spoil　to　the　Medes；
the　Hyrcanians；　and　Tigranes；　and　count　it　gain　if　they　allot　us　the
smaller　share；　for　then　they　will　be　all　the　more　willing　to　stay　with
us。　＇44＇　Selfishness　now　could　only　secure　us　riches　for　the　moment；
while　to　let　these　vanities　go　in　order　to　obtain　the　very　fount　of
wealth；　that；　I　take　it；　will　ensure　for　us　and　all　whom　we　call　ours
a　far　more　enduring　gain。　＇45＇　Was　it　not；〃　he　continued；　〃for　this
very　reason　that　we　trained　our