cyropaedia-第45章

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can　do　excellent　service；　but；　taken　alone；　not　all　the　slingers　in
the　world　could　face　a　mere　handful　armed　with　steel。

＇16＇　Cyrus　was　marching　to　Babylon；　but　on　his　way　he　subdued　the
Phrygians　of　Greater　Phrygia　and　the　Cappadocians；　and　reduced　the
Arabians　to　subjection。　These　successes　enabled　him　to　increase　his
Persian　cavalry　till　it　was　not　far　short　of　forty　thousand　men；　and
he　had　still　horses　left　over　to　distribute　among　his　allies　at　large。

At　length　he　came　before　Babylon　with　an　immense　body　of　cavalry；
archers；　and　javelin…men；　beside　slingers　innumerable。

＇C。5＇　When　Cyrus　reached　the　city　he　surrounded　it　entirely　with　his
forces；　and　then　rode　round　the　walls　himself；　attended　by　his　friends
and　the　leading　officers　of　the　allies。　＇2＇　Having　surveyed　the
fortifications；　he　prepared　to　lead　off　his　troops；　and　at　that　moment
a　deserter　came　to　inform　him　that　the　Assyrians　intended　to　attack　as
soon　as　he　began　to　withdraw；　for　they　had　inspected　his　forces　from
the　walls　and　considered　them　very　weak。　This　was　not　surprising；　for
the　circuit　of　the　city　was　so　enormous　that　it　was　impossible　to
surround　it　without　seriously　thinning　the　lines。　＇3＇　When　Cyrus　heard
of　their　intention；　he　took　up　his　post　in　the　centre　of　his　troops
with　his　own　staff　round　him　and　sent　orders　to　the　infantry　for　the
wings　to　double　back　on　either　side；　marching　past　the　stationary
centre　of　the　line；　until　they　met　in　the　rear　exactly　opposite
himself。　＇4＇　Thus　the　men　in　front　were　immediately　encouraged　by　the
doubling　of　their　depth；　and　those　who　retired　were　equally　cheered；
for　they　saw　that　the　others　would　encounter　the　enemy　first。　The　two
wings　being　united；　the　power　of　the　whole　force　was　strengthened；
those　behind　being　protected　by　those　in　front　and　those　in　front
supported　by　those　behind。　＇5＇　When　the　phalanx　was　thus　folded　back
on　itself；　both　the　front　and　the　rear　ranks　were　formed　of　picked
men；　a　disposition　that　seemed　calculated　to　encourage　valour　and
check　flight。　On　the　flanks；　the　cavalry　and　the　light　infantry　were
drawn　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　commander　as　the　line　contracted。　＇6＇
When　the　whole　phalanx　was　in　close　order；　they　fell　back　from　the
walls；　slowly；　facing　the　foe；　until　they　were　out　of　range；　then　they
turned；　marched　a　few　paces；　and　then　wheeled　round　again　to　the　left；
and　halted；　facing　the　walls；　but　the　further　they　got　the　less　often
they　paused；　until；　feeling　themselves　secure；　they　quickened　their
pace　and　went　off　in　an　uninterrupted　march　until　they　reached　their
quarters。

＇7＇　When　they　were　encamped；　Cyrus　called　a　council　of　his　officers
and　said；　〃My　friends　and　allies；　we　have　surveyed　the　city　on　every
side；　and　for　my　part　I　fail　to　see　any　possibility　of　taking　by
assault　walls　so　lofty　and　so　strong：　on　the　other　hand；　the　greater
the　population　the　more　quickly　must　they　yield　to　hunger；　unless　they
come　out　to　fight。　If　none　of　you　have　any　other　scheme　to　suggest；　I
propose　that　we　reduce　them　by　blockade。〃

＇8＇　Then　Chrysantas　spoke：

〃Does　not　the　river　flow　through　the　middle　of　the　city；　and　it　is　not
at　least　a　quarter　of　a　mile　in　width？〃

〃To　be　sure　it　is；〃　answered　Gobryas；　〃and　so　deep　that　the　water
would　cover　two　men；　one　standing　on　the　other's　shoulders；　in　fact
the　city　is　even　better　protected　by　its　river　than　by　its　walls。〃

＇9＇　At　which　Cyrus　said；　〃Well；　Chrysantas；　we　must　forego　what　is
beyond　our　power：　but　let　us　measure　off　at　once　the　work　for　each　of
us；　set　to；　and　dig　a　trench　as　wide　and　as　deep　as　we　can；　that　we
may　need　as　few　guards　as　possible。〃

＇10＇　Thereupon　Cyrus　took　his　measurements　all　round　the　city；　and；
leaving　a　space　on　either　bank　of　the　river　large　enough　for　a　lofty
tower；　he　had　a　gigantic　trench　dug　from　end　to　end　of　the　wall；　his
men　heaping　up　the　earth　on　their　own　side。　＇11＇　Then　he　set　to　work
to　build　his　towers　by　the　river。　The　foundations　were　of　palm…trees；
a　hundred　feet　long　and　morethe　palm…tree　grows　to　a　greater　height
than　that；　and　under　pressure　it　will　curve　upwards　like　the　spine　of
an　ass　beneath　a　load。　＇12＇　He　laid　these　foundations　in　order　to　give
the　impression　that　he　meant　to　besiege　the　town；　and　was　taking
precautions　so　that　the　river；　even　if　it　found　its　way　into　his
trench；　should　not　carry　off　his　towers。　Then　he　had　other　towers
built　along　the　mound；　so　as　to　have　as　many　guard…posts　as　possible。
＇13＇　Thus　his　army　was　employed；　but　the　men　within　the　walls　laughed
at　his　preparations；　knowing　they　had　supplies　to　last　them　more　than
twenty　years。　When　Cyrus　heard　that；　he　divided　his　army　into　twelve；
each　division　to　keep　guard　for　one　month　in　the　year。　＇14＇　At　this
the　Babylonians　laughed　louder　still；　greatly　pleased　at　the　idea　of
being　guarded　by　Phrygians　and　Lydians　and　Arabians　and　Cappadocians；
all　of　whom；　they　thought；　would　be　more　friendly　to　themselves　than
to　the　Persians。

＇15＇　However　by　this　time　the　trenches　were　dug。　And　Cyrus　heard　that
it　was　a　time　of　high　festival　in　Babylon　when　the　citizens　drink　and
make　merry　the　whole　night　long。　As　soon　as　the　darkness　fell；　he　set
his　men　to　work。　＇16＇　The　mouths　of　the　trenches　were　opened；　and
during　the　night　the　water　poured　in；　so　that　the　river…bed　formed　a
highway　into　the　heart　of　the　town。

＇17＇　When　the　great　stream　had　taken　to　its　new　channel；　Cyrus　ordered
his　Persian　officers　to　bring　up　their　thousands；　horse　and　foot
alike；　each　detachment　drawn　up　two　deep；　the　allies　to　follow　in
their　old　order。　＇18＇　They　lined　up　immediately；　and　Cyrus　made　his
own　bodyguard　descend　into　the　dry　channel　first；　to　see　if　the　bottom
was　firm　enough　for　marching。　＇19＇　When　they　said　it　was；　he　called　a
council　of　all　his　generals　and　spoke　as　follows：

＇20＇　〃My　friends；　the　river　has　stepped　aside　for　us；　he　offers　us　a
passage　by　his　own　high…road　into　Babylon。　We　must　take　heart　and
enter　fearlessly；　remembering　that　those　against　whom　we　are　to　march
this　night　are　the　very　men　we　have　conquered　before；　and　that　too
when　they　had　their　allies　to　help　them；　when　they　were　awake；　alert；
and　sober；　armed　to　the　teeth；　and　in　their　battle　order。　＇21＇
To…night　we　go　against　them　when　some　are　asleep　and　some　are　drunk；
and　all　are　unprepared：　and　when　they　learn　that　we　are　within　the
walls；　sheer　astonishment　will　make　them　still　more　helpless　than
before。　＇22＇　If　any　of　you　are　troubled　by　the　thought　of　volleys　from
the　roofs　when　the　army　enters　the　city；　I　bid　you　lay　these　fears
aside：　if　our　enemies　do　climb　their　roofs　we　have　a　god　to　help　us；
the　god　of　Fire。　Their　porches　are　easily　set　aflame；　for　the　doors
are　made　of　palm…wood　and　varnished　with　bitumen；　the　very　food　of
fire。　＇23＇　And　we　shall　come　with　the　pine…torch　to　kindle　it；　and
with　pitch　and　tow　to　feed　it。　They　will　be　forced　to　flee　from　their
homes　or　be　burnt　to　death。　＇24＇　Come；　take　your　swords　in　your　hand：
God　helping　me；　I　will　lead　you　on。　Do　you；〃　he　said；　turning　to
Gadatas　and　Gobryas；　〃show　us　the　streets；　you　know　them；　and　once　we
are　inside；　lead　us　straight　to　the　palace。〃

＇25＇　〃So　we　will；〃　said　Gobryas　and　his　men；　〃and　it　would　not
surprise　us　to　find　the　palace…gates　unbarred；　for　this　night　the
whole　city　is　given　over　to　revelry。　Still；　we　are　sure　to　find　a
guard；　for　one　is　always　stationed　there。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃there　is　no　time　for　lingering；　we　must　be　off　at
once　and　take　them　unprepared。〃

＇26＇　Thereupon　they　entered：　and　of　those　they　met　some　were　struck
down　and　slain；　and　others　fled　into　their　houses；　and　some　raised　the
hue　and　cry；　but　Gobryas　and　his　friends　covered　the　cry　with　their
shouts；　as　though　they　were　revellers　themselves。　And　thus；　making
their　way　by　the　quickest　route；　they　soon　found　themselves　before　the
king's　palace。　＇27＇　Here　the　detachment　under　Gobryas　and　Gadatas
found　the　gates　closed；　but　the　men　appointed　to　attack　the　guards
rushed　on　them　as　they　lay　drinking　round　a　blazing　fire；　and　closed
with　them　then　and　there。　＇28＇　As　the　din　grew　louder　and　louder；
those　within　became　aware　of　the　tumult；　till；　the　king　bidding　them
see　what　it　meant；　some　of　them　opened　the　gates　and　ran　out。　＇29＇
Gadatas　and　his　men；　seeing　the　gates　swing　wide；　darted　in；　hard　on
the　heels　of　the　others　who　fled　back　again；　and　they　chased　them　at
the　sword's　point　into　the　presence　of　the　king。

＇30＇　They　found　him　on　his　feet；　with　his　drawn　scimitar　in　his　hand。
By　sheer　weight　of　numbers　they　overwhelmed　him：　and　not　one　of　his
retinue　escaped；　they　were　all　cut　down；　some　flying；　others　snatching
up　anything　to　serve　as　a　shield　and　defending　themselves　as　best　they
could。　＇31＇　Cyrus　sent　squadrons　of　cavalry　down　the　different　roads
with　orders　to　kill　all　they　found　in　the　street；　while　those　who　knew
Assyrian　were　to　warn　the　inhabitants　to　stay　indoors　under　pain　of
death。　＇32＇　While　they　carried　out　these　orders；　Gobryas　and　Gadatas
returned；　and　first　they　gave　thanks　to　the　gods　and　did　obeisance
because　they　had　been　suffered　to　take　vengeance　on　their　unrighteous
king；　and　then　they　fell　to　kissing　the　hands　and　feet　of　Cyrus；
shedding　tears　of　joy　and　gratitude。　＇33＇　And　when　it　was　day　and
those　who　held　the　heights　knew　that　the　city　was　taken　and　the　king
slain；　they　were　persuaded　to　surrender　the　citadel　themselves。　＇34＇
Cyrus　took　it　over　forthwith；　and　sent　in　a　commandant　and　a　garrison；
while　he　delivered　the　bodies　of　the　fallen　to　their　kinsfolk　for
burial；　and　bade　his　heralds　make　proclamation　that　all　the　citizens
must　deliver　up　their　arms：　wherever　weapons　were　discovered　in　any
house　all　the　inmates　would　be　put　to　death。　So　the　arms　were
surrendered；　and　Cyrus　had　them　placed　in　the　citadel　for　use　in　case
of　need。　＇35＇　When　all　was　done　he　summoned　the　Persian　priests　and
told　them　the　city　was　the　captive　of　his　spear　and　bade　them　set
aside　the　first…fruits　of　the　booty　as　an　offering　to　the　gods　and
mark　out　land　for　sacred　demesnes。　Then　he　distributed　the　houses　and
the　public　buildings　to　those　whom　he　counted　his　partners　in　the
exploit；　and　the　distribution　was　on　the　principle　accepted；　the　best
prizes　to　the　bravest　men：　and　if　any　thought　they　had　not　received
their　deserts　they　were　invited　to　come　and　tell　him。　＇36＇　At　the　same
time　he　issued　a　proclamation　to　the　Babylonians；　bidding　them　till
the　soil　and　pay　the　dues　and　render　willing　service　to　those　under
whose　rule　they　were　placed。　As　for　his　partners　the　Persians；　and
such　of　his　allies　as　elected　to　remain　with　him；　he　gave　them　to
understand　they　were　to　treat　as　subjects　the　captives　they　received。

＇37＇　After　this　Cyrus　felt　that　the　time　was　come　to　assume　the　style
and　manner　that　became　a　king：　and　he　wished　this　to　be　done　with　the
goodwill　and　concurrence　of　his　friends　and　in　such　a　way　that；
without　seeming　ungracious；　he　might　appear　but　seldom　in　public　and
always　with　a　certain　majesty。　Therefore　he　devised　the　following
scheme。　At　break　of　day　he　took　his　station　at　some　convenient　place；
and　received　all　who　desired　speech　with　him；　and　then　dismissed　them。
＇38＇　The　people；　when　they　heard