cyropaedia-第57章

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lines；　〃Eyes　on　the　standard　and　steady　marching。〃

The　standard　was　a　golden　eagle；　with　outspread　wings；　borne　aloft　on
a　long　spear…shaft；　and　to　this　day　such　is　the　standard　of　the
Persian　king。

Before　they　came　in　full　sight　of　the　Assyrians　Cyrus　halted　the　army
thrice。　＇5＇　And　when　they　had　gone　about　two　miles　or　more；　they　began
to　see　the　enemy　advancing。　As　soon　as　both　armies　were　in　full　view
of　each　other；　and　the　Assyrians　could　see　how　much　they　outflanked
the　Persians　on　either　side；　Croesus　halted；　in　order　to　prepare　an
encircling　movement；　and　pushed　out　a　column　on　the　right　wing　and　the
left；　so　that　the　Persian　forces　might　be　attacked　on　every　side　at
once。

＇6＇　Cyrus　saw　it；　but　gave　no　sign　of　stopping；　he　led　straight　on　as
before。　Meanwhile　he　noticed　that　the　turning…point　where　the
Assyrians　had　pushed　out　on　either　flank　was　an　immense　distance　from
their　centre；　and　he　said　to　Chrysantas：

〃Do　you　see　where　they　have　fixed　their　angle？〃　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　answered
Chrysantas；　〃and　I　am　surprised　at　it：　it　seems　to　me　they　are　drawing
their　wings　too　far　away　from　their　centre。〃　〃Just　so；〃　said　Cyrus；
〃and　from　ours　too。〃　＇7＇　〃Why　are　they　doing　that？〃　asked　the　other。
〃Clearly；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃they　are　afraid　we　shall　attack；　if　their
wings　are　in　touch　with　us　while　their　centre　is　still　some　way　off。〃
〃But；〃　went　on　Chrysantas；　〃how　can　they　support　each　other　at　such　a
distance？〃　〃Doubtless；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃as　soon　as　their　wings　are
opposite　our　flanks；　they　will　wheel　round；　and　then　advance　at　once
on　every　side　and　so　set　us　fighting　everywhere　at　once。〃　＇8＇　〃Well；〃
said　Chrysantas；　〃do　you　think　the　movement　wise？〃　〃Yes；〃　said　Cyrus；
〃it　is　good　enough　in　view　of　what　they　can　see；　but；　in　view　of　what
they　cannot；　it　is　worse　for　them　than　if　they　had　advanced　in　a
single　column。　Do　you；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Arsamas；　〃advance　with
your　infantry；　slowly；　taking　your　pace　from　me；　and　do　you；
Chrysantas；　march　beside　him　with　your　cavalry；　step　for　step。　I　will
make　for　their　angle　myself；　where　I　propose　to　join　battle；　first
riding　round　the　army　to　see　how　things　are　with　all　our　men。　＇9＇　When
I　reach　the　point；　and　we　are　on　the　verge　of　action；　I　will　raise　the
paean　and　then　you　must　quicken　your　pace。　You　will　know　when　we　have
closed　with　the　enemy；　the　din　will　be　loud　enough。　At　the　same　moment
Abradatas　will　dash　out　upon　them：　such　will　be　his　orders；　your　duty
is　to　follow；　keeping　as　close　to　the　chariots　as　possible。　Thus　we
shall　fall　on　the　enemy　at　the　height　of　his　confusion。　And；　God
helping　me；　I　shall　be　with　you　also；　cutting　my　way　through　the　rout
by　the　quickest　road　I　can。

＇10＇　So　he　spoke；　and　sent　the　watchword　down　the　lines；　〃Zeus　our
saviour；　and　Zeus　our　leader；〃　and　went　forward。　As　he　passed　between
the　chariots　and　the　cuirassiers；　he　would　say　to　some；　〃My　men；　the
look　on　your　faces　rejoices　my　heart；〃　and　to　others；　〃You　understand；
gentlemen；　that　this　battle　is　not　for　the　victory　of　a　day；　but　for
all　that　we　have　won　ere　now；　and　for　all　our　happiness　to　come。〃　＇11＇
And　to　others；　〃My　friends；　we　can　never　reproach　the　gods　again：
to…day　they　have　put　all　blessings　in　our　hands。　＇12＇　Let　us　show
ourselves　good　men　and　true。〃　Or　else；　〃Gentlemen；　can　we　invite　each
other　to　a　more　glorious　feast　than　this？　This　day　all　gallant　hearts
are　bidden；　this　day　they　may　feast　their　friends。〃　＇13＇　Or　again；
〃You　know；　I　think；　the　prizes　in　this　game：　the　victors　pursue　and
smite　and　slay；　and　win　wealth　and　fame　and　freedom　and　empire：　the
cowards　lose　them　all。　He　who　loves　his　own　soul　let　him　fight　beside
me：　for　I　will　have　no　disgrace。〃　＇14＇　But　if　he　met　soldiers　who　had
fought　for　him　before；　he　only　said；　〃To　you；　gentlemen；　what　need　I
say？　You　know　the　brave　man's　part　in　battle；　and　the　craven's。〃　＇15＇
And　when　he　came　to　Abradatas；　he　halted；　and　Abradatas　gave　the　reins
to　his　charioteer　and　came　up　to　him；　and　others　gathered　round　from
the　infantry　and　the　chariots；　and　Cyrus　said：

〃God　has　rewarded　you；　Abradatas；　according　to　your　prayer；　you　and
yours。　You　hold　the　first　rank　among　our　friends。　And　you　will　not
forget；　when　the　moment　for　action　comes；　that　those　who　watch　you
will　be　Persians；　and　those　who　follow　you；　and　they　will　not　let　you
bear　the　brunt　alone。〃

＇16＇　And　Abradatas　answered：

〃Even　so；　Cyrus；　and　with　us　here；　methinks；　all　looks　well　enough：
but　the　state　of　our　flanks　troubles　me：　the　enemy's　wings　are　strong
and　stretch　far：　he　has　chariots　there；　and　every　kind　of　arm　as　well；
while　we　have　nothing　else　with　which　to　oppose　him。　So　that　for
myself；〃　said　he；　〃if　I　had　not　won　by　lot　the　post　I　hold；　I　should
feel　ashamed　to　be　here　in　the　safest　place　of　all。〃

＇17＇　〃Nay；〃　answered　Cyrus；　〃if　it　is　well　with　you；　have　no　concern
for　the　rest。　God　willing；　I　mean　to　relieve　our　flanks。　But　you
yourself；　I　conjure　you；　do　not　attack　until　you　see　the　rout　of　those
detachments　that　you　fear。〃

So　much　of　boasting　did　Cyrus　allow　himself　on　the　eve　of　action；
though　he　was　the　last　man　to　boast　at　other　times。

〃When　you　see　them　routed；〃　he　said；　〃you　may　take　it　that　I　am　there；
and　then　make　your　rush；　for　that　is　the　moment　when　you　will　find　the
enemy　weakest　and　your　own　men　strongest。　＇18＇　And　while　there　is
time；　Abradatas；　be　sure　to　drive　along　your　front　and　prepare　your
men　for　the　charge；　kindle　their　courage　by　your　looks；　lift　up　their
hearts　by　your　hopes。　Breathe　a　spirit　of　emulation　into　them；　to　make
them　prove　themselves　the　flower　of　the　chariot…force。　Be　assured　if
things　go　well　with　us　all　men　will　say　nothing　is　so　profitable　as
valour。〃

＇19＇　Accordingly　Abradatas　mounted　his　chariot　and　drove　along　the
lines　to　do　as　Cyrus　bade。

Meanwhile　Cyrus　went　on　to　the　left　where　Hystaspas　was　posted　with
half　the　Persian　cavalry；　and　he　called　to　him　and　said：

〃Hystaspas；　here　is　work　to　test　your　pace！　If　we　are　quick　enough　in
cutting　off　their　heads；　none　of　us　will　be　slaughtered　first。〃

＇20＇　And　Hystaspas　answered　with　a　laugh：

〃Leave　it　to　us！　We'll　see　to　the　men　opposite。　But　set　some　one　to
deal　with　the　fellows　on　our　flank：　it　would　be　a　pity　for　them　to　be
idle。〃

And　Cyrus　answered；　〃I　am　going　to　them　myself。　But　remember；
Hystaspas；　to　which　ever　of　us　God　grants　the　victory；　so　long　as　a
single　foeman　is　on　the　field；　attack　we　must；　again　and　again；　until
the　last　has　yielded。〃

＇21＇　With　that　he　passed　on；　and　as　he　came　to　the　flank　he　went　up　to
the　officer　in　command　of　the　chariots　and　said　to　him：

〃Good；　I　intend　to　support　you　myself。　And　when　you　hear　me　fall　on
the　wing；　at　that　instant　do　your　best　to　charge　straight　through　your
opponents；　you　will　be　far　safer　once　outside　their　ranks　than　if　you
are　caught　half…way。〃

＇22＇　Then　he　went　on　to　the　rear　and　the　carriages；　where　the　two
detachments　were　stationed；　a　thousand　horse　and　a　thousand　foot；　and
told　Artagersas　and　Pharnouchus；　their　leaders；　to　keep　the　men　where
they　were。

〃But　when；〃　he　added；　〃you　see　me　close　with　the　enemy　on　our　right；
then　set　upon　those　in　front　of　you：　take　them　in　flank；　where　they
are　weakest；　while　you　advance　in　line；　at　your　full　strength。　Their
lines；　as　you　see；　are　closed　by　cavalry；　hurl　your　camels　at　these；
and　you　may　be　sure；　even　before　the　fighting　begins；　they　will　cut　a
comic　figure。〃

＇23＇　Thus；　with　all　his　dispositions　made；　Cyrus　rode　round　the　head
of　his　right。　By　this　time　Croesus；　believing　that　the　centre；　where
he　himself　was　marching；　must　be　nearer　the　enemy　than　the　distant
wings；　had　the　signal　raised　for　them　to　stop　their　advance；　halt；　and
wheel　round　where　they　were。　When　they　were　in　position　opposite　the
Persian　force；　he　signalled　for　them　to　charge；　and　thus　three　columns
came　at　once　against　Cyrus；　one　facing　his　front　and　one　on　either
flank。　＇24＇　A　tremor　ran　through　the　whole　army；　it　was　completely
enclosed；　like　a　little　brick　laid　within　a　large；　with　the　forces　of
the　enemy　all　round　it；　on　every　side　except　the　rear；　cavalry　and
heavy　infantry；　targeteers；　archers；　and　chariots。　＇25＇　None　the　les