cyropaedia-第33章

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〃My　friends　and　allies；　what　has　happened　is　only　natural；　for　it　is
human　nature　to　err；　and　I　cannot　find　it　astonishing。　Still　we　may
gain　at　least　one　advantage　from　what　has　occurred；　if　we　learn　that
we　must　never　cut　off　from　our　main　body　a　detachment　weaker　than　the
force　of　the　enemy。　＇20＇　I　do　not　say　that　one　is　never　to　march
anywhere；　if　necessary；　with　an　even　smaller　fraction　than　the
Cadousians　had；　but；　before　doing　so　you　must　communicate　with　some
one　able　to　bring　up　reinforcements；　and　then；　though　you　may　be
trapped　yourself；　it　is　at　least　probable　that　your　friends　behind　you
may　foil　the　foilers；　and　divert　them　from　your　own　party：　there　are
fifty　ways　in　which　one　can　embarrass　the　enemy　and　save　one's
friends。　Thus　separation　need　not　mean　isolation；　and　union　with　the
main　force　may　still　be　kept；　whereas　if　you　sally　forth　without
telling　your　plan；　you　are　no　better　off　than　if　you　were　alone　in　the
field。　＇21＇　However；　God　willing；　we　shall　take　our　revenge　for　this
ere　long；　indeed；　as　soon　as　you　have　breakfasted；　I　will　lead　you　out
to　the　scene　of　yesterday's　skirmish；　and　there　we　will　bury　those　who
fell；　and　show　our　enemies　that　the　very　field　where　they　thought
themselves　victorious　is　held　by　those　who　are　stronger　than　they：
they　shall　never　look　again　with　joy　upon　the　spot　where　they　slew　our
comrades。　Or　else；　if　they　refuse　to　come　out　and　meet　us；　we　will
burn　their　villages　and　harry　all　their　land；　so　that　in　lieu　of
rejoicing　at　the　sight　of　what　they　did　to　us；　they　shall　gnash　their
teeth　at　the　spectacle　of　their　own　disasters。　＇22＇　Go　now；〃　said　he；
〃the　rest　of　you；　and　take　your　breakfast　forthwith；　but　let　the
Cadousians　first　elect　a　leader　in　accordance　with　their　own　laws；　and
one　who　will　guide　them　well　and　wisely；　by　the　grace　of　God；　and　with
our　human　help；　if　they　should　need　it。　And　when　you　have　chosen　your
leader；　and　had　your　breakfast；　send　him　hither　to　me。〃

＇23＇　So　they　did　as　Cyrus　bade　them；　and　when　he　led　the　army　out；　he
stationed　their　new　general　close　to　his　own　person；　and　told　him　to
keep　his　detachment　there；　〃So　that　you　and　I；〃　said　he；　〃may　rekindle
the　courage　in　their　souls。〃

In　this　order　they　marched　out；　and　thus　they　buried　the　Cadousian
dead　and　ravaged　the　country。　Which　done；　they　went　back　to　the
province　of　Gadatas；　laden　with　supplies　taken　from　the　foe。

＇24＇　Now　Cyrus　felt　that　those　who　had　come　over　to　his　side　and　who
dwelt　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Babylon　would　be　sure　to　suffer　unless
he　were　constantly　there　himself；　and　so　he　bade　all　the　prisoners　he
set　free　take　a　message　to　the　king；　and　he　himself　despatched　a
herald　to　say　that　he　would　leave　all　the　tillers　of　the　soil
unmolested　and　unhurt　if　the　Assyrian　would　let　those　who　had　come
over　to　him　continue　their　work　in　peace。　＇25＇　〃And　remember；〃　he
added；　〃that　even　if　you　try　to　hinder　my　friends；　it　is　only　a　few
whom　you　could　stop；　whereas　there　is　a　vast　territory　of　yours　that　I
could　allow　to　be　cultivated。　As　for　the　crops；〃　he　added；　〃if　we　have
war；　it　will　be　the　conqueror；　I　make　no　doubt；　who　will　reap　them；
but　if　we　have　peace；　it　will　be　you。　If；　however；　any　of　my　people
take　up　arms　against　you；　or　any　of　yours　against　me；　we　must；　of
course；　each　of　us；　defend　ourselves　as　best　we　can。〃

＇26＇　With　this　message　Cyrus　despatched　the　herald；　and　when　the
Assyrians　heard　it；　they　urged　the　king　to　accept　the　proposal；　and　so
limit　the　war　as　much　as　possible。　＇27＇　And　he；　whether　influenced　by
his　own　people　or　because　he　desired　it　himself；　consented　to　the
terms。　So　an　agreement　was　drawn　up；　proclaiming　peace　to　the　tillers
of　the　soil　and　war　to　all　who　carried　arms。

＇28＇　Thus　Cyrus　arranged　matters　for　the　husbandmen；　and　he　asked　his
own　supporters　among　the　drovers　to　bring　their　herds；　if　they　liked；
into　his　dominions　and　leave　them　there；　while　he　treated　the　enemy's
cattle　as　booty　wherever　he　could；　so　that　his　allies　found　attraction
in　the　campaign。　For　the　risk　was　no　greater　if　they　took　what　they
needed；　while　the　knowledge　that　they　were　living　at　the　enemy's
expense　certainly　seemed　to　lighten　the　labour　of　the　war。

＇29＇　When　the　time　came　for　Cyrus　to　go　back；　and　the　final
preparations　were　being　made；　Gadatas　brought　him　gifts　of　every　kind；
the　produce　of　a　vast　estate；　and　among　the　cattle　a　drove　of　horses；
taken　from　cavalry　of　his　own；　whom　he　distrusted　owing　to　the　late
conspiracy。　＇30＇　And　when　he　brought　them　he　said；　〃Cyrus；　this　day　I
give　you　these　for　your　own；　and　I　would　pray　you　to　make　such　use　of
them　as　you　think　best；　but　I　would　have　you　remember　that　all　else
which　I　call　mine　is　yours　as　well。　For　there　is　no　son　of　mine；　nor
can　there　ever　be；　sprung　from　my　own　loins；　to　whom　I　may　leave　my
wealth：　when　I　die　myself；　my　house　must　perish　with　me；　my　family　and
my　name。　＇31＇　And　I　must　suffer　this；　Cyrus；　I　swear　to　you　by　the
great　gods　above　us；　who　see　all　things　and　hear　all　things；　though
never　by　word　or　deed　did　I　commit　injustice　or　foulness　of　any　kind。〃

But　here　the　words　died　on　his　lips；　he　burst　into　tears　over　his
sorrows；　and　could　say　no　more。　＇32＇　Cyrus　was　touched　with　pity　at
his　suffering　and　said　to　him：

〃Let　me　accept　the　horses；　for　in　that　I　can　help　you；　if　I　set　loyal
riders　on　them；　men　of　a　better　mind；　methinks；　than　those　who　had
them　before；　and　I　myself　can　satisfy　a　wish　that　has　long　been　mine；
to　bring　my　Persian　cavalry　up　to　ten　thousand　men。　But　take　back；　I
pray　you；　all　these　other　riches；　and　guard　them　safely　against　the
time　when　you　may　find　me　able　to　vie　with　you　in　gifts。　If　I　left　you
now　so　hugely　in　your　debt；　heaven　help　me　if　I　could　hold　up　my　head
again　for　very　shame。〃

＇33＇　Thereto　Gadatas　made　answer；　〃In　all　things　I　trust　you；　and　will
trust　you；　for　I　see　your　heart。　But　consider　whether　I　am　competent
to　guard　all　this　myself。　＇34＇　While　I　was　at　peace　with　the　king；　the
inheritance　I　had　from　my　father　was；　it　may　be；　the　fairest　in　all
the　land：　it　was　near　that　mighty　Babylon；　and　all　the　good　things
that　can　be　gathered　from　a　great　city　fell　into　our　laps；　and　yet
from　all　the　trouble　of　it；　the　noise　and　the　bustle；　we　could　be　free
at　once　by　turning　our　backs　and　coming　home　here。　But　now　that　we　are
at　war；　the　moment　you　have　left　us　we　are　sure　to　be　attacked；
ourselves　and　all　our　wealth；　and　methinks　we　shall　have　a　sorry　life
of　it；　our　enemies　at　our　elbow　and　far　stronger　than　ourselves。　＇35＇
I　seem　to　hear　some　one　say；　why　did　you　not　think　of　this　before　you
revolted？　But　I　answer；　Cyrus；　because　the　soul　within　me　was　stung
beyond　endurance　by　my　wrongs；　I　could　not　sit　and　ponder　the　safest
course；　I　was　always　brooding　over　one　idea；　always　in　travail　of　one
dream；　praying　for　the　day　of　vengeance　on　the　miscreant；　the　enemy　of
God　and　man；　whose　hatred　never　rested；　once　aroused；　once　he
suspected　a　man；　not　of　doing　wrong；　but　of　being　better　than　himself。
＇36＇　And　because　he　is　a　villain；　he　will　always　find；　I　know；　worse
villains　that　himself　to　aid　him；　but　if　one　day　a　nobler　rival　should
appearhave　no　concern；　Cyrus；　you　will　never　need　to　do　battle　with
such　an　one；　yonder　fiend　would　deal　with　him　and　never　cease　to　plot
against　him　until　he　had　dragged　him　in　the　dust；　only　because　he　was
the　better　man。　And　to　work　me　trouble　and　disaster；　he　and　his　wicked
tools　will；　I　fear　me；　have　strength　enough　and　to　spare。〃

＇37＇　Cyrus　thought　there　was　much　in　what　he　said；　and　he　answered
forthwith：

〃Tell　me；　Gadatas；　did　we　not　put　a　stout　garrison　in　your　fortress；
so　as　to　make　it　safe　for　you　whenever　you　needed　it；　and　are　you　not
taking　the　field　with　us　now；　so　that；　if　the　gods　be　on　our　side　as
they　are　to…day；　that　scoundrel　may　fear　you；　not　you　him？　Go　now；
bring　with　you　all　you　have　that　is　sweet　to　look　on　and　to　love；　and
then　join　our　march：　you　shall　be；　I　am　persuaded；　of　the　utmost
service　to　me；　and　I；　so　far　as　in　me　lies；　will　give　you　help　for
help。〃

＇38＇　When　Gadatas　heard　that；　he　breathed　again；　and　he　said：

〃Could　I　really　be　in　time　to　make　my　preparations　and　be　back　before
you　leave？　I　would　fain　take　my　mother　with　me　on　the　march。〃

〃Assuredly；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃you　will　be　in　time：　for　I　will　wait　until
you　say　that　all　is　ready。〃

＇39＇　So　it　came　to　pass　that　Gadatas　went　his　way；　and　with　the　aid　of
Cyrus　put　a　strong　garrison　in　his　fortress；　and　got　together　the
wealth　of　his　broad　estates。　And　moreover　he　brought　with　him　in　his
own　retinue　servants　he　could　trust　and　in　whom　he　took　delight；　as
well　as　many　others　in　whom　he　put　no　trust　at　all；　and　these　he
compelled　to　bring　their　wives　with　them；　and　their　sisters；　that　so
they　might　be　bound　to　his　service。

＇40＇　Thus　Gadatas　went　with　Cyrus；　and　Cyrus　kept　him　ever　at　his
side；　to　show　him　the　roads　and　the　places　for　water　and　fodder　and
food；　and　lead　them　where　there　was　most　abundance。

＇41＇　At　last　they　came　in　sight　of　Babylon　once　more；　and　it　seemed　to
Cyrus　that　the　road　they　were　following　led　under　the　very　walls。
Therefore　he　summoned　Gobryas　and　Gadatas；　and　asked　them　if　there　was
not　another　way；　so　that　he　need　not　pass　so　close　to　the　ramparts。
＇42＇　〃There　are　many　other　ways；　my　lord；〃　answered　Gobryas；　〃but　I
thought　you　would　certainly　want　to　pass　as　near　the　city　as　possible；
and　display　the　size　and　splendour　of　your　army　to　the　king。　I　knew
that　when　your　force　was　weaker　you　advanced　to　his　walls；　and　let　him
see　us；　few　as　we　were；　and　I　am　persuaded　that　if　he　has　made　any
preparation　for　battle　now；　as　he　said　he　would；　when　he　sees　the
power　you　have　brought　with　you；　he　will　think　once　more　that　he　is
unprepared。〃

＇435＇　But　Cyrus　said：

〃Does　it　seem　strange　to　you；　Gobryas；　that　when　I　had　a　far　smaller
army　I　took　it　right　up　to　the　enemy's　walls；　and　to…day　when　my　force
is　greater　I　will　not　venture　there？　＇44＇　You　need　not　think　it
strange：　to　march　up　is　not　the　same　as　to　march　past。　Every　leader
will　march　up　with　his　troops　disposed　in　the　best　order　for　battle
and　a　wise　leader　will　draw　them　off　so　as　to　secure　safety　rather
than　sped。　＇45＇　But　in　marching　past　there　is　no　means　of　avoiding
long　straggling　lines　of　waggons；　long　strings　of　baggage…bearers；　and
all　these　must　be　screened　by　the　fighting…force　so　as　never　to　leave
the　baggage　unprotected。　＇46＇　But　this　must　mean　a　thin　weak　order　for
the　fighting…men；　and　if　the　enemy　choose　to　attack　at　any　point　with
their　full　force；　they　can　strike　with　far　more　weight　than　any　of　the
troops　available　to　meet　them　at　the　moment。　＇47＇　Again；　the　length　of
line　means　a　long　delay　in　bringing　up　relief；　whereas　the　enemy　have
only　a　handsbreadth　to　cover　as　they　rush　out　from　the　walls　or
retire。　＇48＇　But　now；　if　we　leave　a　distance　between　ourselves　and
them　as　wide　as　our　line　is　long；　not　only　with　they　realise　our
numbers　plainly　enough；　but　our　veil　of　glittering　armour　will　make
the　whole　multitude　more　formidable　in　their　eyes。　＇49＇　And；　if　they
do　attack　us　anywhere；　we　shall　be　able　to　foresee　their　advance　a
long　way　off　and　be　quite　prepared　to　giv