cyropaedia-第38章

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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　and
accoutrements；　in　horsemanship　and　spearmanship　and　archery；　in
endurance　of　toil　and　danger。　＇5＇　Cyrus　would　lead　them　out　to　the
chase；　and　show　especial　honour　to　those　who　distinguished　themselves
in　any　way：　he　would　whet　the　ambition　of　the　officers　by　praising　all
who　did　their　best　to　improve　their　men；　and　by　gratifying　them　in
every　way　he　could。　＇6＇　At　every　sacrifice　and　festival　he　instituted
games　and　contests　in　all　martial　exercises；　and　lavished　prizes　on
the　victors；　till　the　whole　army　was　filled　with　enthusiasm　and
confidence。　＇7＇　By　this　time　Cyrus　had　almost　everything　in　readiness
for　the　campaign；　except　the　battering…machines。　The　Persian　cavalry
was　made　up　to　its　full　number　of　ten　thousand　men；　and　the　scythed
chariots　were　complete；　a　hundred　of　his　own；　and　a　hundred　that
Abradatas　of　Susa　had　provided。　＇8＇　Beside　these　there　were　a　hundred
of　the　old　Median　chariots　which　Cyrus　had　persuaded　Cyaxares　to
remodel　on　his　own　type；　giving　up　the　Trojan　and　Lydian　style。　The
camels　were　ready　also；　each　animal　carrying　a　couple　of　mounted
archers。

The　bulk　of　the　great　army　felt　almost　as　though　they　had　already
conquered；　and　the　enemy's　power　was　held　of　no　account。

＇9＇　While　matters　were　thus；　the　Indians　whom　Cyrus　had　sent　out
returned　with　their　report。　Croesus　had　been　chosen　leader　and
general…in…chief；　a　resolution　had　been　passed；　calling　on　all　the
allied　kings　to　bring　up　their　entire　forces；　raise　enormous　sums　for
the　war；　and　spend　them　in　hiring　mercenaries　where　they　could　and
making　presents　where　they　must。　＇10＇　Large　numbers　of　Thracians；
armed　with　the　short　sword；　had　already　been　enrolled；　and　a　body　of
Egyptians　were　coming　by　sea；　amountingso　said　the　Indiansto
120；000　men；　armed　with　long　shields　reaching　to　their　feet；　huge
spears　（such　as　they　carry　to　this　day）；　and　sabres。　Beside　these；　an
army　was　expected　from　Cyprus；　and　there　were　already　on　the　spot　all
the　Cilicians；　the　men　of　both　the　Phrygias；　of　Lycaonia；　Paphlagonia；
and　Cappadocia；　the　Arabians；　the　Phoenicians；　and　all　the　Assyrians
under　the　king　of　Babylon。　Moreover；　the　Ionians；　and　Aeolians；　and
indeed　nearly　all　the　Hellenic　colonists　on　the　coast　were　compelled
to　follow　in　the　train　of　Croesus。　＇11＇　Croesus　himself　had　already
sent　to　Lacedaemon　to　propose　an　alliance　with　the　Spartans。　The
armament　was　mustering　on　the　banks　of　the　Pactolus；　and　they　were　to
push　forward　presently　to　Thymbrara　（the　place　which　is　still　the
mustering…ground　for　all　the　Asiatic　subjects　of　the　Great　King　west
of　Syria）；　and　orders　had　been　issued　to　open　a　market　there。　This
report　agreed　with　the　accounts　given　by　the　prisoners；　for　Cyrus　was
always　at　pains　to　gave　men　captured　from　whom　he　could　get　some
information；　and　he　would　also　send　out　spies　disguised　as　runaway
slaves。

＇12＇　Such　were　the　tidings；　and　when　the　army　heard　the　news　there　was
much　anxiety　and　concern；　as　one　may　well　suppose。　The　men　went　about
their　work　with　an　unusual　quietness；　their　faces　clouded　over；　or
gathered　in　knots　and　clusters　everywhere；　anxiously　asking　each　other
the　news　and　discussing　the　report。　＇13＇　When　Cyrus　saw　that　fear　was
in　the　camp；　he　called　a　meeting　of　his　generals；　and　indeed　of　all
whose　dejection　might　injure　the　cause　and　whose　confidence　assist　it。
Moreover；　he　sent　word　that　any　of　the　attendants；　or　any　of　the　rank
and　file；　who　wished　to　hear　what　he　had　to　say；　would　be　allowed　to
come　and　listen。　When　they　met；　he　spoke　as　follows：

＇14＇　〃My　friends　and　allies；　I　make　no　secret　of　the　reason　I　have
called　you　here。　It　was　because　I　saw　that　some　of　you；　when　the
reports　of　the　enemy　reached　us；　looked　like　men　who　were　panic…
stricken。　But　I　must　say　I　am　astonished　that　any　of　you　should　feel
alarm　because　the　enemy　is　mustering　his　forces；　and　not　be　reassured
by　remembering　that　our　own　is　far　larger　than　it　was　when　we
conquered　him　before；　and　far　better　provided；　under　heaven；　with　all
we　need。　＇15＇　I　ask　you　how　you　would　have　felt；　you　who　are　afraid
now；　if　you　had　been　told　that　a　force　exactly　like　our　own　was
marching　upon　us；　if　you　had　heard　that　men　who　had　conquered　us
already　were　coming　now；　carrying　in　their　hearts　the　victory　they　had
won；　if　you　knew　that　those　who　made　short　work　then　of　all　our　bows
and　javelins　were　advancing　again；　and　others　with　them；　ten　thousand
times　as　many？　＇16＇　Suppose　you　heard　that　the　very　men　who　had　routed
our　infantry　once　were　coming　on　now　equipt　as　before；　but　this　time
on　horseback；　scorning　arms　and　javelins；　each　man　armed　with　one
stout　spear；　ready　to　charge　home？　＇17＇　Suppose　you　heard　of　chariots；
made　on　a　new　pattern；　not　to　be　kept　motionless；　standing；　as
hitherto；　with　their　backs　turned　to　the　foe　as　if　for　flight；　but
with　the　horses　shielded　by　armour；　and　the　drivers　sheltered　by
wooden　walls　and　protected　by　breastplates　and　helmets；　and　the　axles
fitted　with　iron　scythes　so　that　they　can　charge　straight　into　the
ranks　of　the　foe？　＇18＇　And　suppose　you　heard　that　they　have　camels　to
ride　on；　each　one　of　which　would　scare　a　hundred　horses；　and　that　they
will　bring　up　towers　from　which　to　help　their　own　friends；　and
overwhelm　us　with　volleys　of　darts　so　that　we　cannot　fight　them　on
level　ground？　＇19＇　If　this　were　what　you　had　heard　of　the　enemy；　I　as
you；　once　again；　you　who　are　now　so　fearful　what　would　you　have　done？
You　who　turn　pale　when　told　that　Croesus　has　been　chosen　commander…in…
chief；　Croesus　who　proved　himself　so　much　more　cowardly　than　the
Syrians；　that　when　they　were　worsted　in　battle　and　fled；　instead　of
helping　them；　his　own　allies；　he　took　to　his　heels　himself。　＇20＇　We
are　told；　moreover；　that　the　enemy　himself　does　not　feel　equal　to
facing　you　alone；　he　is　hiring　others　to　fight　for　him　better　than　he
could　for　himself。　I　can　only　say；　gentlemen；　that　if　any　individual
considers　our　position　as　I　describe　it　alarming　or　unfavourable；　he
had　better　leave　us。　Let　him　join　our　opponents；　he　will　do　us　far
more　service　there　than　here。〃

＇21＇　When　Cyrus　had　ended；　Chrysantas　the　Persian　stood　up　and　said：

〃Cyrus；　you　must　not　wonder　if　the　faces　of　some　were　clouded　when
they　heard　the　news。　The　cloud　was　a　sign　of　annoyance；　not　of　fear。
Just　as　if；〃　he　went　on；　〃a　company　were　expecting　breakfast
immediately；　and　then　were　told　there　was　some　business　that　must　be
got　through　first；　I　do　not　suppose　any　of　them　would　be　particularly
pleased。　Here　we　were；　saying　to　ourselves　that　our　fortunes　were
made；　and　now　we　are　informed　there　is　still　something　to　be　done；　and
of　course　our　countenances　fell；　not　because　we　were　afraid；　but
because　we　could　have　wished　it　all　over　and　done　with。　＇22＇　However；
since　it　now　appears　that　Syria　is　not　to　be　the　only　prizethough
there　is　much　to　be　got　in　Syria；　flocks　and　herds　and　corn　and　palm…
trees　yielding　fruitbut　Lydia　as　well；　Lydia　the　land　of　wine　and
oil　and　fig…trees；　Lydia；　to　whose　shores　the　sea　brings　more　good
things　than　eyes　can　feast　on；　I　say　that　once　we　realise　this　we　can
mope　no　longer；　our　spirits　will　rise　apace；　and　we　shall　hasten　to
lay　our　hands　on　the　Lydian　wealth　without　delay。〃

So　he　spoke；　and　the　allies　were　well　pleased　at　his　words　and　gave
him　loud　applause。

＇23＇　〃Truly；　gentlemen；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃as　Chrysantas　says；　I　think　we
ought　to　march　without　delay；　if　only　to　be　beforehand　with　our　foes；
and　reach　their　magazines　before　they　do　themselves；　and　besides；　the
quicker　we　are；　the　fewer　resources　we　shall　find　with　them。　＇24＇　That
is　how　I　put　the　matter；　but　if　any　one　sees　a　safer　or　an　easier　way；
let　him　instruct　us。〃

But　many　speakers　followed；　all　urging　an　immediate　march；　without　one
speech　in　opposition；　and　so　Cyrus　took　up　the　word　again　and　said：

＇25＇　〃My　friends　and　allies；　God　helping　us；　our　hearts；　our　bodies；
and　our　weapons　have　now　been　long　prepared：　all　that　remains　is　to
get　together　what　we　need　for　ourselves　and　our　animals　on　a　march　of
at　least　twenty　days。　I　reckon　that　the　journey　itself　must　take　more
than　fifteen；　and　not