cyropaedia-第27章

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they　made　them　in　front　of　it；　so　that　in　case　of　attack　they　might
see　their　assailants；　while　they　themselves　remained　unseen。　And　often
they　lit　other　fires　in　their　rear　as　well；　to　deceive　the　enemy；　so
that　at　times　the　Assyrian　scouts　actually　fell　in　with　the　advance…
guard；　having　fancied　from　the　distance　of　the　fires　that　they　were
still　some　way　from　the　encampment。

＇26＇　Meanwhile　the　Assyrians　and　their　allies；　as　the　two　armies　came
into　touch；　halted；　and　threw　up　an　entrenchment；　just　as　all
barbarian　leaders　do　to…day；　whenever　they　encamp；　finding　no
difficulty　in　the　work　because　of　the　vast　numbers　at　their　command；
and　knowing　that　cavalry　may　easily　be　thrown　into　confusion　and
become　unmanageable；　especially　if　they　are　barbarians。　＇27＇　The
horses　must　be　tethered　at　their　stalls；　and　in　case　of　attack　a　dozen
difficulties　arise：　the　soldier　must　loose　his　steed　in　the　dark；
bridle　and　saddle　him；　put　on　his　own　armour；　mount；　and　then　gallop
through　the　camp；　and　this　last　it　is　quite　impossible　to　do。
Therefore　the　Assyrians；　like　all　barbarians；　throw　up　entrenchments
round　their　position；　and　the　mere　fact　of　being　inside　a　fastness
leaves　them；　they　consider；　the　choice　of　fighting　at　any　moment　they
think　fit。　＇28＇　So　the　two　armies　drew　nearer　and　nearer；　and　when
they　were　about　four　miles　apart；　the　Assyrians　proceeded　to　encamp　in
the　manner　described：　their　position　was　completely　surrounded　by　a
trench；　but　also　perfectly　visible；　while　Cyrus　took　all　the　cover　he
could　find；　screening　himself　behind　villages　and　hillocks；　in　the
conviction　that　the　more　sudden　the　disclosure　of　a　hostile　force　the
greater　will　be　the　enemy's　alarm。

＇29＇　During　the　first　night　neither　army　did　more　than　post　the
customary　guards　before　they　went　to　sleep；　and　on　the　next　day　the
king　of　Assyria；　and　Croesus；　and　their　officers；　still　kept　the
troops　within　their　lines。　But　Cyrus　and　Cyaxares　drew　up　their　men；
prepared　to　fight　if　the　enemy　advanced。

Ere　long　it　was　plain　that　they　would　not　venture　out　that　day；　and
Cyaxares　summoned　Cyrus　and　his　staff　and　said：

＇30＇　〃I　think；　gentlemen；　it　would　be　well　for　us　to　march　up　to　the
breastworks　in　our　present　order；　and　show　them　that　we　wish　to　fight。
If　we　do　so；〃　he　added；　〃and　they　refuse　our　challenge；　it　will
increase　the　confidence　of　our　own　men；　and　the　mere　sight　of　our
boldness　will　add　to　the　enemy's　alarm。〃

＇31＇　So　it　seemed　to　Cyaxares；　but　Cyrus　protested：　〃In　the　name　of
heaven；　Cyaxares；　let　us　do　no　such　thing。　By　such　an　advance　we
should　only　reveal　our　numbers　to　them：　they　would　watch　us　at　their
ease；　conscious　that　they　are　safe　from　any　danger；　and　when　we　retire
without　doing　them　any　harm　they　will　have　another　look　at　us　and
despise　us　because　of　our　inferiority　in　numbers；　and　to…morrow　they
will　come　out　much　emboldened。　＇32＇　At　present；〃　he　added；　〃they　know
that　we　are　here；　but　they　have　not　seen　us；　and　you　may　be　sure　they
do　not　despise　us；　they　are　asking　what　all　this　means；　and　they　never
cease　discussing　the　problem；　of　that　I　am　convinced。　They　ought　not
to　see　us　until　they　sally　out；　and　in　that　moment　we　ought　to　come　to
grips　with　them；　thankful　to　have　caught　them　as　we　have　so　long
desired。〃

＇33＇　So　Cyrus　spoke；　and　Cyaxares　and　the　others　were　convinced；　and
waited。　In　the　evening　they　took　their　meal；　and　posted　their　pickets
and　lit　watch…fires　in　front　of　their　outposts；　and　so　turned　to
sleep。　＇34＇　But　early　the　next　morning　Cyrus　put　a　garland　on　his　head
and　went　out　to　offer　sacrifice；　and　sent　word　to　all　the　Peers　of
Persia　to　join　him；　wearing　garlands　like　himself。　And　when　the　rite
was　over；　he　called　them　together　and　said：　〃Gentlemen；　the
soothsayers　tell　us；　and　I　agree；　that　the　gods　announce　by　the　signs
in　the　victims　that　the　battle　is　at　hand；　and　they　assure　us　of
victory；　they　promise　us　salvation。　＇35＇　I　should　be　ashamed　to
admonish　you　at　such　a　season；　or　tell　you　how　to　bear　yourselves：　I
do　not　forget　that　we　have　all　been　brought　up　in　the　same　school；　you
have　learnt　the　same　lessons　as　I；　and　practised　them　day　by　day；　and
you　might　well　instruct　others。　But　you　may　not　have　noticed　one
point；　and　for　this　I　would　ask　a　hearing。　＇36＇　Our　new　comrades；　the
men　we　desire　to　make　our　peersit　may　be　well　to　remind　them　of　the
terms　on　which　Cyaxares　has　kept　us　and　of　our　daily　discipline；　the
goal　for　which　we　asked　their　help；　and　the　race　in　which　they
promised　to　be　our　friendly　rivals。　＇37＇　Remind　them　also　that　this
day　will　test　the　worth　of　every　man。　With　learners　late　in　life；　we
cannot　wonder　if　now　and　then　a　prompter　should　be　needed：　it　is　much
to　be　thankful　for　if　they　show　themselves　good　men　and　true　with　the
help　of　a　reminder。　＇38＇　Moreover；　while　you　help　them　you　will　be
putting　your　own　powers　to　the　test。　He　who　can　give　another　strength
at　such　a　crisis　may　well　have　confidence　in　his　own；　whereas　one　who
keeps　his　ideal　to　himself　and　is　content　with　that；　ought　to　remember
that　he　is　only　half　a　man。　＇39＇　There　is　another　reason；〃　he　added；
〃why　I　do　not　speak　to　them　myself；　but　ask　you　to　do　so。　I　want　them
to　try　to　please　you：　you　are　nearer　to　them　than　I；　each　of　you　to
the　men　of　his　own　division：　and　be　well　assured　that　if　you　show
yourselves　stout…hearted　you　will　be　teaching　them　courage；　and　others
too；　by　deeds　as　well　as　words。〃

＇40＇　With　that　Cyrus　dismissed　them；　and　bade　them　break　their　fast
and　make　libation；　and　then　take　their　places　in　the　ranks；　still
wearing　their　garlands　on　their　heads。　As　they　went　away　he　summoned
the　leaders　of　the　rearguard　and　gave　them　his　instructions：

＇41＇　〃Men　of　Persia；　you　have　been　made　Peers　and　chosen　for　special
duties；　because　we　think　you　equal　to　the　best　in　other　matters；　and
wiser　than　most　in　virtue　of　your　age。　The　post　that　you　hold　is　every
whit　as　honourable　as　theirs　who　form　the　front：　from　your　position　in
the　rear　you　can　single　out　the　gallant　fighters；　and　your　praise　will
make　them　outdo　themselves　in　valour；　while　if　any　man　should　be
tempted　to　give　way；　your　eyes　will　be　upon　him　and　you　will　not
suffer　it。　＇42＇　Victory　will　mean　even　more　to　you　than　to　the　others；
because　of　your　age　and　the　weight　of　your　equipment。　If　the　men　in
front　call　on　you　to　follow；　answer　readily；　and　let　them　see　that　you
can　hold　your　own　with　them；　shout　back　to　them；　and　bid　them　lead　on
quicker　still。　And　now；〃　said　he；　〃go　back　and　take　your　breakfast；
and　then　join　your　ranks　with　the　rest；　wearing　your　garlands　on　your
heads。〃

＇43＇　Thus　Cyrus　and　his　men　made　their　preparations；　and　meanwhile　the
Assyrians　on　their　side　took　their　breakfast；　and　then　sallied　forth
boldly　and　drew　up　in　gallant　order。　It　was　the　king　himself　who
marshalled　them；　driving　past　in　his　chariot　and　encouraging　his
troops。

＇44＇　〃Men　of　Assyria；〃　he　said；　〃to…day　you　must　show　your　valour。
To…day　you　fight　for　your　lives　and　your　land；　the　land　where　you　were
born　and　the　homes　where　you　were　bred；　and　for　your　wives　and　your
children；　and　all　the　blessings　that　are　yours。　If　you　win；　you　will
possess　them　all　in　safety　as　before；　but　if　you　lose；　you　must
surrender　them　into　the　hands　of　your　enemies。　＇45＇　Abide；　therefore；
and　do　battle　as　though　you　were　enamoured　of　victory。　It　would　be
folly　for　her　lovers　to　turn　their　backs　to　the　foe；　sightless；
handless；　helpless；　and　a　fool　is　he　who　flies　because　he　longs　to
live；　for　he　must　know　that　safety　comes　to　those　who　conquer；　but
death　to　those　who　flee；　and　fools　are　they　whose　hearts　are　set　on
riches；　but　whose　spirits　are　ready　to　admit　defeat。　It　is　the　victor
who　preserves　his　own　possessions　and　wins　the　property　of　those　whom
he　overcomes：　the　conquered　lose　themselves　and　all　they　call　their
own。〃

＇46＇　Thus　spoke　the　king　of　Assyria。

But　meanwhile　Cyaxares　sent　to　Cyrus　saying　that　the　moment　for　attack
had　come。　〃Although；〃　he　added；　〃there　are　as　yet　but　few　of　them
outside　the　trenches；　by　the　time　we　have　advanced　there　will　be　quite
enough。　Let　us　not　wait　until　they　outnumber　us；　but　charge　at　once
while　we　are