cyropaedia-第58章

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heavy　infantry；　targeteers；　archers；　and　chariots。　＇25＇　None　the　less；
the　instant　Cyrus　gave　the　word　they　swung　round　to　confront　the　foe。
There　was　deep　silence　through　the　ranks　as　they　realised　what　they
had　to　face；　and　then　Cyrus；　when　the　moment　came；　began　the　battle…
hymn　and　it　thundered　through　the　host。　＇26＇　And　as　it　died　away　the
war…cry　rang　out　unto　the　God　of　Battles；　and　Cyrus　swooped　forward　at
the　head　of　his　cavalry；　straight　for　the　enemy's　flank；　and　closed
with　them　then　and　there；　while　the　infantry　behind　him　followed；
swift　and　steady；　wave　on　wave；　sweeping　out　on　either　side；　far　out…
flanking　their　opponents；　for　they　attacked　in　line　and　the　foe　were
in　column；　to　the　great　gain　of　Cyrus。　A　short　struggle；　and　the　ranks
broke　and　fled　before　him　headlong。　＇27＇　Artagersas；　seeing　that　Cyrus
had　got　to　work；　made　his　own　charge　on　the　left；　hurling　his　camels
forward　as　Cyrus　had　advised。　Even　at　a　distance　the　horses　could　not
face　the　camels：　they　seemed　to　go　mad　with　fear；　and　galloped　off　in
terror；　rearing　and　falling　foul　of　one　another：　such　is　the　strange
effect　of　camels　upon　horses。　＇28＇　So　that　Artagersas；　his　own　troops
well　in　hand；　had　easy　work　with　the　enemy's　bewildered　masses。　At　the
same　moment　the　war…chariots　dashed　in；　right　and　left；　so　that　many；
flying　from　the　chariots；　were　cut　down　by　the　troopers；　and　many；
flying　from　these；　were　caught　by　the　chariots。　＇29＇　And　now　Abradatas
could　wait　no　longer。　〃Follow　me；　my　friends；〃　he　shouted；　and　drove
straight　at　the　enemy；　lashing　his　good　steeds　forward　till　their
flanks　were　bloody　with　the　goad；　the　other　charioteers　racing　hard
behind　him。　The　enemy's　chariots　fled　before　them　instantly；　some　not
even　waiting　to　take　up　their　fighting…men。　＇30＇　But　Abradatas　drove
on　through　them；　straight　into　the　main　body　of　the　Egyptians；　his
rush　shared　by　his　comrades　on　either　hand。　And　then；　what　has　often
been　shown　elsewhere　was　shown　here；　namely；　that　of　all　strong
formations　the　strongest　is　a　band　of　friends。　His　brothers…in…arms
and　his　mess…mates　charged　with　him；　but　the　others；　when　they　saw
that　the　solid　ranks　of　the　Egyptians　stood　firm；　swung　round　and
pursued　the　flying　chariots。　＇31＇　Meanwhile　Abradatas　and　his
companions　could　make　no　further　way：　there　was　not　a　gap　through　the
Egyptian　lines　on　either　hand；　and　they　could　but　charge　the　single
soldiers　where　they　stood；　overthrow　them　by　the　sheer　weight　of　horse
and　car；　and　crush　them　and　their　arms　beneath　the　hoofs　and　wheels。
And　where　the　scythes　caught　them；　men　and　weapons　were　cut　to　shreds。
＇32＇　In　the　midst　of　indescribable　confusion；　the　chariots　rocking
among　the　weltering　mounds；　Abradatas　was　thrown　out　and　some　of　his
comrades　with　him。　There　they　stood；　and　fought　like　men；　and　there
they　were　cut　down　and　died。　The　Persians；　pouring　in　after　them；
dealt　slaughter　and　destruction　where　Abradatas　and　his　men　had
charged　and　shaken　the　ranks；　but　elsewhere　the　Egyptians；　who　were
still　unscathed；　and　they　were　many；　moved　steadily　on　to　meet　them。

＇33＇　There　followed　a　desperate　struggle　with　lance　and　spear　and
sword；　and　still　the　Egyptians　had　the　advantage；　because　of　their
numbers　and　their　weapons。　Their　spears　were　immensely　stout　and　long；
such　as　they　carry　to　this　day；　and　the　huge　shield　not　only　gave　more
protection　than　corslet　and　buckler；　but　aided　the　thrust　of　the
fighter；　slung　as　it　was　from　the　shoulder。

＇34＇　Shield　locked　into　shield；　they　thrust　their　way　forward；　and　the
Persians　could　not　drive　them　back；　with　their　light　bucklers　borne　on
the　forearm　only。　Step　by　step　they　gave　ground；　dealing　blow　for
blow；　till　they　came　under　cover　of　their　own　artillery。　Then　at　last
a　second　shower　of　blows　fell　on　the　Egyptians；　while　the　reserves
would　allow　no　flight　of　the　archers　or　the　javelin…men：　at　the
sword's　point　they　made　them　do　their　duty。　＇35＇　Thick　was　the
slaughter；　and　loud　the　din　of　clashing　weapons　and　whirring　darts；
and　shouting　warriors；　cheering　each　other　and　calling　on　the　gods。

＇36＇　At　this　moment　Cyrus　appeared；　cutting　his　way　through　his　own
opponents。　To　see　the　Persians　thrust　from　their　position　was　misery
to　him；　but　he　knew　he　could　check　the　enemy's　advance　most　quickly　by
galloping　round　to　their　rear；　and　thither　he　dashed；　bidding　his
troops　follow；　and　there　they　fell　upon　them　and　smote　them　as　they
were　gazing　ahead；　and　there　they　mowed　them　down。

＇37＇　The　Egyptians；　seeing　what　had　happened；　cried　out　that　the　enemy
had　taken　them　in　the　rear；　and　wheeled　round　under　a　storm　of　blows。
At　this　the　confusion　reached　its　height；　cavalry　and　infantry
struggling　all　together。　An　Egyptian　fell　under　Cyrus'　horse；　and　as
the　hoofs　struck　him　he　stabbed　the　creature　in　the　belly。　The　charger
reared　at　the　blow　and　Cyrus　was　thrown。　＇38＇　Then　was　seen　what　it　is
for　a　leader　to　be　loved　by　his　men。　With　a　terrible　cry　the　men
dashed　forward；　conquering　thrust　with　thrust　and　blow　with　blow。　One
of　his　squires　leapt　down　and　set　Cyrus　on　his　own　charger。　＇39＇　And
as　Cyrus　sprang　on　the　horse　he　saw　the　Egyptians　worsted　everywhere。
For　by　now　Hystaspas　was　on　the　ground　with　his　cavalry；　and
Chrysantas　also。　Still　Cyrus　would　not　allow　them　to　charge　the
Egyptian　phalanx：　the　archers　and　javelin…men　were　to　play　on　them
from　outside。　Then　he　made　his　way　along　the　lines　to　the　artillery；
and　there　he　mounted　one　of　the　towers　to　take　a　survey　of　the　field；
and　see　if　any　of　the　foe　still　held　their　ground　and　kept　up　the
fight。　＇40＇　But　he　saw　the　plain　one　chaos　of　flying　horses　and　men
and　chariots；　pursuers　and　pursued；　conquerors　and　conquered；　and
nowhere　any　who　still　stood　firm；　save　only　the　Egyptians。　These；　in
sore　straits　as　they　were；　formed　themselves　into　a　circle　behind　a
ring　of　steel；　and　sat　down　under　cover　of　their　enormous　shields。
They　no　longer　attempted　to　act；　but　they　suffered；　and　suffered
heavily。　＇41＇　Cyrus；　in　admiration　and　pity；　unwilling　that　men　so
brave　should　be　done　to　death；　drew　off　his　soldiers　who　were　fighting
round　them；　and　would　not　let　another　man　lift　sword。

Then　he　sent　them　a　herald　asking　if　they　wished　to　be　cut　to　pieces
for　the　sake　of　those　who　had　betrayed　them；　or　save　their　lives　and
keep　their　reputation　for　gallantry？　And　they　answered；　〃Is　it
possible　that　we　can　be　saved　and　yet　keep　our　reputation
untarnished？〃　＇42＇　And　Cyrus　said；　〃Surely　yes；　for　we　ourselves　have
seen　that　you　alone　have　held　your　ground　and　been　ready　to　fight。〃
〃But　even　so；〃　said　the　Egyptians；　〃how　can　we　act　in　honour　if　we
save　ourselves？〃

〃By　betraying　none　of　those　at　whose　side　you　fought；〃　answered　Cyrus：
〃only　surrender　your　arms　to　us；　and　become　our　friends；　the　friends
of　men　who　chose　to　save　you　when　they　might　have　destroyed　you。〃　＇43＇
〃And　if　we　become　your　friends；〃　said　they；　〃how　will　you　treat　us？〃
〃As　you　treat　us；〃　answered　he；　〃and　the　treatment　shall　be　good。〃

〃And　what　will　that　good　treatment　be？〃　they　asked　once　more。　〃This；〃
said　Cyrus：　〃better　pay　than　you　have　had；　so　long　as　the　war　lasts；
and　when　peace　comes；　if　you　choose　to　stay　with　me；　lands　and　cities
and　women　and　servants。〃　＇44＇　Then　they　asked　him　if　he　would　excuse
them　from　one　duty；　service　against　Croesus。　Croesus；　they　said；　was
the　only　leader　who　knew　them；　for　the　rest；　they　were　content　to
agree。　And　so　they　came　to　terms；　and　took　and　gave　pledges　of　good
faith。　＇45＇　Thus　it　came　about　that　their　descendants　are　to　this　day
faithful　subjects　of　the　king；　and　Cyrus　gave　them　cities；　some　in　the
interior；　which　are　still　called　the　cities　of　the　Egyptians；　beside
Larissa　and　Kyllene　and　Kyme　on　the　coast；　still　held　by　their
descendants。

When　this　matter　was　arranged　darkness　had　already　fallen；　and　Cyrus
drew　off　his　army　and　encamped　at　Thymbrara。

＇46＇　In　this　engagement　the　Egyptians　alone　among　the　enemy　won
themselves　renown；　and　of　the　troops　under　Cyrus　the　Persian　cavalry
was　held　to　have　done　the　best；　so　much　so　that　to　this　day　they　are
still　armed　in　the　manner　that　Cyrus　devised。　＇47＇　High　praise　also
was　given　to　the　scyth