HISTORY OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE |
Cyropaedia
The Life of Kurosh The Great
Wrote by Xenophon
BOOK 5
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[5.1.1] Such were their words and deeds. Then Cyrus ordered
the men whom he knew to be Cyaxares's most intimate friends to divide among
themselves the keeping of the king's portion of the booty. "And what you
offer me," he added, "I accept with pleasure; but it shall always be
at the service of any one of you who at any time is most in need of
it.""If you please, then, Cyrus," said one of the Medes who was
fond of music, "when I listened last evening to the music-girls whom you
now have, I was entranced; and if you will give me one of them, I should, I
think, be more happy to go to war with you than to stay at
home.""Well," said Cyrus, "I will not only give her to you,
but I believe that I am under greater obligation to you for your asking than you
to me for receiving her; so thirsty am I to do you favours."So he that
asked received her.
[5.1.2]
Then Cyrus called to him Araspas, a Mede, who had been his friend from
boyhood--the same one to whom he had given his Median robe when he laid it off
as he was returning from Astyages's court to Persia--and bade him keep for him
both the lady and the tent. [5.1.3] Now this woman was the wife of Abradatas of
Susa; and when the Assyrian camp was taken, her husband happened not to be
there, having gone on an embassy to the king of Bactria; for the Assyrian king
had sent him thither to negotiate an alliance, because he chanced to be a
guest-friend of the Bactrian king. This, then, was the lady that Cyrus placed in
the charge of Araspas, until such a time as he himself should take her. [5.1.4]
And when he received this commission Araspas asked: "And have you seen the
lady, Cyrus, whom you give into my keeping?" said he."No, by
Zeus," said Cyrus; "not I.""But I have," said the
other. "I saw her when we selected her for you. And when we went into her
tent, upon my word, we did not at first distinguish her from the rest; for she
sat upon the ground and all her handmaids sat around her. And she was dressed
withal just like her servants; but when we looked round upon them all in our
desire to make out which one was the mistress, at once her superiority to all
the rest was evident, even though she sat veiled, with her head bowed to the
earth. [5.1.5] But when we bade her rise, all her attendants stood up with her,
and then was she conspicuous among them both for her stature and for her
nobility and her grace, even though she stood there in lowly garb. And she could
not hide her tears as they fell, some down her dress, some even to her feet.
[5.1.6] Then, when the oldest man in our company said: `Have no fear, lady; for
though we understand that your husband also is a noble man, yet we are choosing
you out for a man who, be assured, is not his inferior either in comeliness or
intelligence or power, but, as we at least think, if there is any man in the
world who deserves admiration, that man is Cyrus; and his you shall henceforth
be.' Now when the lady heard that, she rent her outer garment from top to bottom
and wept aloud; and her servants also cried aloud with her.
[5.1.7]
"And then we had vision of most of her face and vision of her neck and
arms. And let me tell you, Cyrus," said he, "it seemed to me, as it
did to all the rest who saw her, that there never was so beautiful a woman of
mortal birth in Asia. But," he added, "you must by all means see her
for yourself."
[5.1.8]
"No, by Zeus," said Cyrus; "and all the less, if she is as
beautiful as you say.""Why so?" asked the young
man."Because," said he, "if now I have heard from you that she is
beautiful and am inclined just by your account of her to go and gaze on her,
when I have no time to spare, I am afraid that she will herself much more
readily persuade me to come again to gaze on her. And in consequence of that I
might sit there, in neglect of my duties, idly gazing upon her."
[5.1.9]
"Why Cyrus," said the young man breaking into a laugh, "you do
not think, do you, that human beauty is able to compel a man againshis will to
act contrary to his own best interests? Why," said he, "if that were a
law of nature, it would compel us all alike. [5.1.10] Do you observe," said
he, "how fire burns all alike? That is its nature. But of beautiful things
we love some and some we do not; and one loves one, another another; for it is a
matter of free will, and each one loves what he pleases. For example, a brother
does not fall in love with his sister, but somebody else falls in love with her;
neither does a father fall in love with his daughter, but somebody else does;
for fear of God and the law of the land are sufficient to prevent such love.
[5.1.11] But," he went on, "if a law should be passed forbidding those
who did not eat to be hungry, those who did not drink to be thirsty, forbidding
people to be cold in winter or hot in summer, no such law could ever bring men
to obey its provisions, for they are so constituted by nature as to be subject
to the control of such circumstances. But love is a matter of free will; at any
rate, every one loves what suits his taste, as he does his clothes or
shoes."
[5.1.12]
"How then, pray," said Cyrus, "if falling in love is a matter of
free will, is it not possible for any one to stop whenever he pleases? But I
have seen people in tears of sorrow because of love and in slavery to the
objects of their love, even though they believed before they fell in love that
slavery is a great evil; I have seen them give those objects of their love many
things that they could ill afford to part with; and I have seen people praying
to be delivered from love just as from any other disease, and, for all that,
unable to be delivered from it, but fettered by a stronger necessity than if
they had been fettered with shackles of iron. At any rate, they surrender
themselves to those they love to perform for them many services blindly. And
yet, in spite of all their misery, they do not attempt to run away, but even
watch their darlings to keep them from running away."
[5.1.13]
"Yes," the young man answered; "there are some who do so; but
such are wretched weaklings, and because of their slavery, I think, they
constantly pray that they may die, because they are so unhappy; but, though
there are ten thousand possible ways of getting rid of life, they do not get rid
of it. And this very same sort attempt also to steal and do not keep their hands
off other people's property; but when they commit robbery or theft, you see that
you are the first to accuse the thief and the robber, because it was not
necessary to steal, and you do not pardon him, but you punish him. [5.1.14] Now
in this same way, the beautiful do not compel people to fall in love with them
nor to desire that which they should not, but there are some miserable apologies
for men who are slaves to all sorts of passions, I think, and then they blame
love. But the high-minded and the good, though they also have a desire for money
and good horses and beautiful women, have the power to let all that alone so as
not to touch anything beyond the limit of what is right. [5.1.15] At any
rate," he added, "I have seen this lady and though she seemed to me
surpassingly beautiful, still I am here with you, I practise horsemanship, and I
do everything else that it is my duty to do."
[5.1.16]
"Aye, by Zeus," said Cyrus; "for you came away perhaps in less
time than love takes, as its nature is, to get a man ensnared. For, you know, it
is possible for a man to put his finger in the fire and not be burned at once,
and wood does not burst at once into flame; still, for my part, I neither put my
hand into the fire nor look upon the beautiful, if I can help it. And I advise
you, too, Araspas," said he, "not to let your eyes linger upon the
fair; for fire, to be sure, burns only those who touch it, but beauty
insidiously kindles a fire even in those who gaze upon it from afar, so that
they are inflamed with passion."
[5.1.17]
"Never fear, Cyrus," said he, "even if I never cease to look upon
her, I shall never be so overcome as to do anything that I ought
not.""Your professions," said he, "are most excellent. Keep
her then, as I bid you, and take good care of her; for this lady may perhaps be
of very great service to us when the time comes."
[5.1.18]
After this conversation, then, they separated. And as the young man found the
lady so beautiful and at the same time came to know her goodness and nobility of
character, as he attended her and thought he pleased her, and then also as he
saw that she was not ungrateful but always took care by the hands of her own
servants not only that he should find whatever he needed when he came in, but
that, if he ever fell sick, he should suffer no lack of attention--in
consequence of all this, he fell desperately in love with her; and what happened
to him was perhaps not at all surprising. Thus matters began to take this turn.
[5.1.19]
Cyrus, however, wishing to have his Medes and allies stay with him voluntarily,
called a meeting of all his staff-officers, and when they were come together he
spoke as follows: [5.1.20] "Men of Media and all here present, I am very
sure that you came out with me, not because you desired to get money by it nor
because you thought that in this you were doing Cyaxares a service; but it was
to me that you wished to do this favour, and it was out of regard for me that
you were willing to make the night-march and to brave dangers with me. [5.1.21]
For this also I thank you--I should be in the wrong not to do so; but I do not
think that I am as yet in a position to make you an adequate return, and this I
am not ashamed to say. But let me assure you," said he, "that I should
be ashamed to say `if you will stay with me, I will make you a proper return;'
for I think it would look as if I were saying it merely to make you more willing
to stay with me. Instead of that, this is what I mean: even though you go back
now in obedience to Cyaxares, still, if I achieve any success, I shall try so to
act that you also will praise me. [5.1.22] For as to myself, I certainly am not
going back, but I will be true to the oaths and the pledges which I gave the
Hyrcanians, and I will never be caught playing them false; and I will also
endeavour so to conduct myself that Gobryas, who is now offering us both his
castle and his country and his forces, shall not repent his coming to us.
[5.1.23] And above all, now that the gods are so manifestly blessing our
efforts, I should fear to offend them, and I should be ashamed in their sight to
go away without good reason and leave what they have bestowed. Thus, therefore,
I propose to act," said he; "and do you also do as you judge to be
best, and tell me what your decision is."
[5.1.24]
Thus he spoke. And the first one to reply was the man who had once upon a time
claimed to be a kinsman of Cyrus. "For my part, O my king," said
he--"for to me you seem to be a born king no less than is the sovereign of
the bees in a hive. For as the bees always willingly obey the queen-bee and not
one of them deserts the place where she stays; and as not one fails to follow
her if she goes anywhere else--so marvellous a yearning to be ruled by her is
innate to them; [5.1.25] so also do men seem to me to be drawn by something like
the same sort of instinct toward you. And of that we have proof; for when you
started to return from our country to Persia, what man of the Medes either young
or old failed to follow you, until Astyages made us turn back? And when you
hastened to our aid from Persia, we saw that almost all your friends followed
with you of their own free will. Again, when you wished to come out on this
expedition, all the Medes volunteered to follow you. [5.1.26] And now, too, this
is our feeling, so that with you we are not afraid even in the enemy's land,
while without you we are afraid even to return home. Now the rest may tell for
themselves what they mean to do. But as for me, Cyru, I, with the men whom I
command, will remain with you and endure the sight of you and tolerate your
goodness to us."
[5.1.27]
Following him, Tigranes spoke as follows: "Cyrus," said he, "you
need never be surprised when I fail to speak. For my mind has been disciplined
not to offer counsel but to do what you command."
[5.1.28]
"Well, Medes," said the Hyrcanian king, "if you should go away
now, I should say that it was the plot of the evil one to prevent your becoming
exceedingly blest. For, in all common sense, who would turn away from the enemy
when they are in flight, or refuse to take their arms when they surrender them,
or their persons and property when they offer them--especially under such a
leader as we have? For, I swear to you by all the gods, he seems to me happier
in doing us kindnesses than in enriching himself."
[5.1.29]
Following him, all the Medes spoke to this effect: "It is you, Cyrus, that
have brought us out here, and when you think the time to return has come, lead
us back with you."And when Cyrus heard that, he uttered this prayer:
"Hear me, I beseech thee, O Zeus almighty, and grant that in service to
them I may surpass the honour they show to me."
[5.1.30] Thereupon he commanded the rest to station guards
and after that to do for themselves whatever they pleased; and the Persians he
bade divide the tents among themselves--to the cavalry the ones appropriate to
their use and to the infantry such as sufficed for their needs--and to arrange
matters so that the commissaries in the tents should do all that was required of
them, prepare everything necessary, and carry it to the quarters of the
Persians, and have their horses groomed and fed, and that the Persians should
have no duty other than to practise the arts of war.Thus they spent that day.
[5.2.1]
Rising early the next morning they started-- Cyrus, on horseback, with those of
the Persians who had been transformed into cavalrymen, to the number of about
two thousand--to visit Gobryas. And those who carried the horsemen's shields and
sabres followed behind them, to the same number; the rest of the army also
proceeded in its proper divisions. He ordered the horsemen, each one, to inform
their new squires that if any one of them should be seen behind the rear-guard
or get in front of the van or be found on the flanks outside the line of march,
he should be punished.
[5.2.2]
Toward evening of the second day they arrived at Gobryas's castle; and they saw
that the fortress was exceedingly strong and that everything was ready on the
walls so that there might be most effective fighting from them. And they saw
many cattle also and a great many sheep driven up under protection of the
fortifications.
[5.2.3]
Then Gobryas sent to Cyrus and bade him ride around and see where access was
most easy and send in some of his trusted officers to examine what was inside
and report back to him what they saw. [5.2.4] So Cyrus, wishing, as a matter of
fact, to see for himself whether the fort could be stormed in case Gobryas
should prove false, rode round on every side and saw that it was everywhere too
strong for any one to approach. And those whom he had sent in to Gobryas brought
back the report that there were provisions enough inside to last the garrison,
as it seemed to them, for a whole generation.
[5.2.5]
Now Cyrus was pondering what all this meant, when Gobryas himself came out
bringing with him all his followers; and some of them brought out with them wine
and flour and barley-meal; others brought cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and all
kinds of provisions--a plenty of everything for a dinner for Cyrus's whole army.
[5.2.6] And they whose business it was apportioned it and set about preparing
the meal. And when all his men were outside, Gobryas bade Cyrus enter, in
whatever way he thought he might enter most safely. So Cyrus sent in ahead of
him some scouts and a part of his forces, and then with this precaution he went
in himself. And when he had gone in, keeping the gates wide open, he called to
him all his friends and the officers of the troops with him. [5.2.7] And when
they were inside, Gobryas brought out golden goblets, pitchers, and vases, all
sorts of ornaments, an almost countless pile of darics, and all sorts of
treasure in great quantities; and finally he brought out his daughter, a marvel
of beauty and stature, but in mourning for her brother who was dead; and he
said: "These treasures, Cyrus, I present to you, and this my daughter I
entrust to you to make what disposal of her you may see fit. But we make our
prayer to you, I, as I have done already, that you avenge my son, and she that
you be the avenger of her brother."
[5.2.8]
"Well," said Cyrus in reply to this, "I promised you even then
that, assuming that you did not speak me false, I should do all in my power to
avenge you; and now, when I see that you are truthful, my promise is already
due; and I promise her likewise that with heaven's help I will fulfil my promise
to the letter."Now as to these treasures," said he, "I accept
them, but I give them again to your daughter here and the man who shall marry
her. But one gift of yours will I take as I leave you, in place of which not
even all the wealth of Babylon (and that is enormous)--no, not even all the
wealth of all the world would send me away more happy than with this gift from
you."
[5.2.9]
And Gobryas, wondering what he meant and suspecting that he meant his daughter,
asked: "And what might that gift be, Cyrus?""Gobryas," he
replied, "it is this: I believe that there are many men who would not
consent to be wicked or unjust or false, but they die before it is ever
discovered what sort of men they are, simply because no one has ever seen fit to
entrust them with great wealth or kingly power or mighty fortresses or lovely
children; [5.2.10] but you have now placed in my hands your fortress and all
sorts of wealth, your forces and your precious child, and have thus given me an
opportunity of showing to all the world that I would not do an act of wickedness
against a friend or do a wrong for the sake of gain or willingly prove false to
a covenant. [5.2.11] And so long as I am an honest man and receive men's
approbation as bearing this reputation, I assure you that I shall never forget
this proof of your confidence but shall try to show you all fair honour in
return.
[5.2.12]
"And as for your daughter," he continued, "do not fear that you
shall fail to find a husband worthy of her; for I have many noble friends; some
one of them will marry her. But whether he will have as much money as you are
ready to give me or even many times as much, I could not say. Let me tell you,
however, that there are some of them who do not admire you one whit the more for
the money you have to offer; but with me they are vying now and praying to all
the gods that it may be granted them one day to prove that they are not less
faithful to their friends than I, and that so long as they live they would never
yield to their enemies, unless some god should cross them. But their virtue and
their good name they would not barter for all your wealth and the wealth of the
Assyrians and Syrians to boot. Such men, let me tell you, are sitting
here."
[5.2.13]
"By the gods, Cyrus," said Gobryas with a laugh, "please show me
where they are, that I may ask you for one of them to be my
son-in-law.""There will be no need of your getting that information
from me," answered Cyrus; "but, if you will go with us, you will be
able yourself to point each one of them out to somebody else."
[5.2.14]
When he had thus spoken, he clasped Gobryas's right hand in his and rose to
depart, taking with him all his followers. And though Gobryas urged him to dine
in the castle, he declined, but dined in camp and took Gobryas with him as his
guest. [5.2.15] And as he reclined upon a mat of straw he asked this question:
"Tell me, Gobryas, do you think you have more coverlets than each one of
us?""I am perfectly sure, by Zeus," the other answered,
"that you have more coverlets and more couches,1 and that your dwelling is
much larger than mine; for you take heaven and earth for your dwelling, and you
have as many couches as you can find resting-places on the ground, while you
regard as your proper coverlets not wool that sheep produce, but whatever the
mountains and plains bring forth."
[5.2.16]
Thus, as Gobryas dined with them for the first time and saw the simplicity of
the food set before them, he thought his own people more refined than they.
[5.2.17] But he soon perceived the temperance of the soldiers who sat at meat
with him; for no Persian of the educated class would allow it to appear that he
was captivated with any kind of food or drink, either with his eyes gloating
over it, or with his hands greedy to get it, or with his thoughts so engrossed
by it as to fail to observe things that would attract his attention if he were
not at meat; but just as good horsemen do not lose their self-command when on
horseback but can ride along and at the same time see and hear and say whatever
they should, so also the educated Persians think that at their meals they ought
to show themselves sensible and temperate; and to become excited over food or
drink seems to them altogether swinish and bestial.
[5.2.18]
He noticed further about them that they asked one another such questions as
people are more pleased to be asked than not, that they indulged in such banter
as is more agreeable to hear than not; he observed how far their jests were
removed from insult, how far they were from doing anything unbecoming, and how
far from offending one another. [5.2.19] But what seemed to him most
extraordinary of all was that when on active service they did not think they
ought to be served with a larger share than any one else of those who were going
into the same dangers, but that they considered it the most sumptuous feast to
make those who were to be their comrades in arms as efficient as possible.
[5.2.20]
When Gobryas rose to go home, he is reported to have said: "I am no longer
surprised, Cyrus, that while we possess more cups and clothing and gold than
you, we ourselves are worth less than you are. For our whole thought is to have
as much of those things as possible, while your whole thought seems to me to be
that you may be yourselves as capable as possible."
[5.2.21]
Thus he spoke; and Cyrus answered: "Please see to it, Gobryas, that you are
here early in the morning with your cavalry under arms, so that we may see your
forces, and then you shall lead us through your country so that we may know what
we have to consider as belonging to our friends and what as belonging to our
enemies."
[5.2.22]
When they had thus spoken, they went away, each to his own proper task.When day
dawned, Gobryas came with his cavalry and led the way. But Cyrus, as became a
general, turned his thoughts not only upon the march, but at the same time, as
he proceeded, he kept studying the situation to see whether it might be in any
way possible to make the enemy weaker or his own side stronger. [5.2.23] So he
called Gobryas and the Hyrcanian king to him, for he supposed that they must
know best what he thought he needed to learn, and said: "My dear friends, I
think that I should be making no mistake to consult with you in regard to this
war and to rely upon your trustworthiness. For I observe that you have greater
need than I to see to it that the Assyrian shall not get the upper hand of us:
if I am unsuccessful in this, I shall, perhaps, find some other place of refuge;
whereas in your case, I see that if he gains the upper hand, all that you have
passes into other hands. [5.2.24] For, as for me, he is my enemy, not because he
hates me, but because he imagines that it would be inimical to his interests for
our nation to become great, and for that reason he is making war upon us; but
you he actually hates, for he thinks that you have done him wrong."To this
they both answered in the same way, that he should proceed with what he had to
say, for they recognized the truth of what he had said and knew that it was a
matter of vital concern to them how things turned out in the future. [5.2.25]
Then he began as follows: "Tell me, then," said he, "does the
Assyrian king believe that you are the only ones who are hostile to him, or do
you know of any one else who is his enemy?""Yes, by Zeus," said
the Hyrcanian; "the Cadusians, a large and powerful nation, are most bitter
enemies of his; and so are our neighbours, the Sacians, for they have suffered
very severely at his hands; for he attempted to subjugate them just as he did
us."
[5.2.26]
"Well then," said he, "do you think that these two nations would
like to join us in an attack upon the Assyrian?""Yes," they
answered, "and right eagerly, if they could find a way to combine their
forces with ours.""And what is to hinder such a union of forces?"
asked Cyrus."The Assyrians," they answered, "the same nation,
through whose country you are now marching."
[5.2.27]
"But, Gobryas," said Cyrus, when he heard this, "do you not
accuse this young fellow who has just come to the throne of cruel insolence of
character?""That judgment, I think," said Gobryas," is
warranted by my experience with him.""Pray, are you the only man
towards whom he has acted in this way," Cyrus asked, "or are there
others also?"
[5.2.28]
"Aye, by Zeus," said Gobryas; "there are others also. But why
should I recount his acts of insolence toward the weak? For once when he and the
son of a man much more powerful than I were drinking together, a young man who,
like my son, was his comrade, he had him seized and castrated; and the occasion,
so some people said, was simply because his concubine had praised his friend,
remarking how handsome he was and felicitating the woman who should be his wife;
but the king himself now maintains that it was because the man had made advances
toward his concubine. And so now he is a eunuch, but he has come into the
kingdom, for his father is dead."
[5.2.29]
"Well then," said Cyrus, "do you think that he also would be glad
to see us, if he thought we could help him?""Think!" said
Gobryas, "I am sure of it. But, Cyrus, it would be difficult to see
him.""Why?" asked Cyrus."Because, to effect a union of
forces with him, one has to march along under the very walls of Babylon."
[5.2.30]
"Why, pray," said the other, "is that so
difficult?""Because, by Zeus," said Gobryas, "I know that
the forces that would come out of that city alone are many times as large as
your own at present; and let me tell you that the Assyrians are now less
inclined than heretofore to deliver up their arms and to bring in their horses
to you for the very reason that to those of them who have seen your army it
seemed a small one; and a rumour to this effect has now been widely spread
abroad. And," he added, "I think we should do better to proceed
cautiously."
[5.2.31]
"I think you are right, Gobryas, in admonishing us to march with the utmost
caution," Cyrus made answer upon hearing this suggestion from him.
"But when I think of it, I cannot conceive of any safer procedure for us
than to march directly upon Babylon, if that is where the main body of the
enemy's forces is. For they are, as you say, numerous; and if they take courage,
they will also, as I say, give us cause to fear them. [5.2.32] However, if they
do not see us and get the idea that we are keeping out of sight because we are
afraid of them, then, let me assure you, they will recover from the fear with
which we inspired them; and the longer we keep out of their sight, the greater
the courage that will spring up within them in place of that fear. But if we
march upon them at once, we shall find many of them still in tears over those
whom we hslain, many still wearing bandages on the wounds they received from us,
and all still mindful of the daring of this army of ours and of their own flight
and defeat. [5.2.33] And let me assure you, Gobryas," he continued,
"that your large bodies of men, when they are inspired with confidence,
display a spirit that is irresistible; but when once they are frightened, the
greater their numbers are, the greater and more overpowering the panic that
seizes them. [5.2.34] For it comes over them increased by the many faint-hearted
words they hear and magnified by the many wretched figures and the many dejected
and distorted countenances they see; and by reason of the large numbers it is
not easy with a speech to quell the panic, nor by a charge against the enemy to
inspire them with courage, nor by a retreat to rally their spirits; but the more
you try to encourage them to bravery, in so much the greater peril do they think
they are.
[5.2.35]
"Again, by Zeus," said he, "let us consider precisely how this
matter stands: if, in future, victory on the field of battle is to rest with
that side which counts the greater numbers, you have good reason to fear for us
and we really are in danger. If, however, battles are still to be decided by
good fighting as they have been before, it would not be at all amiss for you to
be bold and confident; for, please God, you will find far more men on our side
who are eager to fight, than on theirs. [5.2.36] And to give yourself still more
confidence, bethink you also of this: the enemy are much fewer now than they
were before we defeated them, much weaker than when they fled before us; while
we are bigger now since we have conquered and stronger since you have been added
to us. For you must no longer undervalue your own men, now that they are with
us; for be assured, Gobryas, that when they are with the victors, even those who
follow the camp go along without a fear.
[5.2.37]
"And do not forget this either, that the enemy may find us even now, if
they will. And, let me assure you, we could in no possible way strike more
terror into them when they do see us, than by marching upon them. As this,
therefore, is my conviction, lead us straight on to Babylon."
5,2,15,n1.
Costly coverlets and couches were a special feature of oriental luxury.
[5.3.1]
As they thus proceeded, they arrived on the fourth day at the boundaries of
Gobryas's domains. And as soon as Cyrus was in the enemy's country, he arranged
in regular order under his own command the infantry and as much of the cavalry
as seemed to him best. The rest of the cavalry he sent out to forage, with
orders to kill those who were under arms but to bring every one else to him, as
well as any cattle they might take. The Persians he ordered to join the foraging
party. And many of them were thrown from their horses and came back, but many of
them also came bringing a great quantity of plunder.
[5.3.2]
When all the booty was brought in, he called the peers and the officers of the
Medes and Hyrcanians together and addressed them as follows: "My friends,
Gobryas has entertained us all with great munificence. So, if we should set
apart the share of the spoil ordained for the gods and a portion sufficient for
the army and give the rest to him, should we not be doing the right thing? For
we should be giving immediate proof that we are trying to outdo those who do
good to us, in the good we do to them."
[5.3.3]
When they heard this they all signified their approval and applauded the
proposition; and one of them also spoke as follows: "By all means,
Cyrus," said he, "let us do that. And it would be a good stroke of
policy, too; for it seems to me that Gobryas regards us as no better than a lot
of beggars because we have not come here with our pockets full of darics and
because we do not drink from golden goblets. And if we do this, then he would
realize that it is possible for men to be gentlemen, even without gold."
[5.3.4]
"Come then," said Cyrus, "turn over to the magi what belongs to
the gods, set apart for the army its share, and then call Gobryas in and give
the rest to him."So they set aside what was required and gave the rest to
Gobryas.
[5.3.5]
After this Cyrus renewed his march upon Babylon, with his army in the same order
as when the battle was fought. But as the Assyrians did not march out to meet
them, Cyrus ordered Gobryas to ride up and say: "If the king wishes to come
out and fight for his country, I myself would join him and fight for him too;
but if the king will not protect his country, then I must needs submit to the
victors."
[5.3.6]
Accordingly, Gobryas rode to a place where he could safely give his message; and
the king sent out a messenger to deliver to Gobryas this reply: "This is
your sovereign's response to you, Gobryas: `I do not regret that I killed your
son, but only that I did not kill you, too. And if you and your men wish to
fight, come back a month from now. Just at present we have no time to fight, for
we are still busy with our preparations.'"
[5.3.7]
"I only hope that this regret of yours may never cease," Gobryas
replied; "for it is evident that I have been something of a thorn in your
flesh, ever since you began to feel it."
[5.3.8]
Gobryas returned with the Assyrian king's reply, and when Cyrus heard it he drew
off his army; then summoning Gobryas he said to him: "Tell me, you were
saying, were you not, that you thought that the prince who was castrated by the
Assyrian would be on our side?""Why, of course;" he replied,
"I feel perfectly sure of it; for he and I have often talked together
freely."
[5.3.9]
"Well then, when you think best, go to him; but first of all be sure that
you meet him alone and in secret; and when you have conferred with him, if you
see that he wishes to be our friend, you must manage to keep his friendship a
secret. For in time of war one could not in any way do more good to one's
friends than by seeming to be their enemy, nor more harm to enemies than by
seeming to be their friend."
[5.3.10]
"Now mark my word," said Gobryas; "I am sure that Gadatas would
even pay for the opportunity of doing the present Assyrian king some serious
harm. But what harm he could do it is for us on our part to consider."
[5.3.11]
"Now tell me this," said Cyrus, "in regard to the fort which
stands upon the frontier of the country and which you say was built to serve as
a base of operations against the Hyrcanians and the Sacians and an outwork to
protect this country in time of war--do you think that the eunuch, if he went
there with his army, would be admitted by the commandant?""Yes;
certainly he would," said Gobryas, "if he came to him as unsuspected
as he now is."
[5.3.12]
"Then," answered Cyrus, "if I should make an attack on his
fortifications as if I wished to gain possession of them, while he defended
himself with all his might; and if I should take something of his and he in turn
should capture either some of our other men or some of the messengers I send to
those who, you say, are enemies of the Assyrian king; and if these captives
should say that they had come out to get an army and ladders to use against the
fortress; and if then the eunuch, on hearing this, should pretend that he had
come to give warning; under these conditions, he would be unsuspected."
[5.3.13]
"Under such circumstances," answered Gobryas, "the commandant
would certainly admit him--aye, and would beg him to remain there until you went
away.""Well then," said Cyrus, "if he could but once get in,
he would be in a position to put the fort in our hands?"
[5.3.14]
"That is at all events probable," answered Gobryas, "if he were
within, helping with the preparations, while you on the outside made a vigorous
attack.""In that case," Cyrus replied, "go and try to
explain these plans to him and win his coo+peration and then return. And no
better assurance of our good faith could you give him in word or deed than to
show hiwhat you happen to have received at our hands."
[5.3.15]
Thereupon Gobryas went away; and when the eunuch saw him, he gladly concurred in
all the plans and settled with him the things they were to do.So, when Gobryas
reported back that all the proposals were heartily accepted by the eunuch, on
the day following Cyrus made his attack and Gadatas his defence. And there was
also a fort which Cyrus took, as Gadatas had indicated; [5.3.16] while of the
messengers whom Cyrus sent with instructions which way to go, some Gadatas
allowed to escape to bring the troops and fetch the ladders; but some he took
and straitly examined in the presence of many witnesses, and when he heard from
them the purpose of their journey, he made ready at once and set out in the
night as if to give the alarm. [5.3.17] And the end was that he was trusted and
entered the fort as an ally to defend it; and for a while he helped the
commandant to the extent of his ability in making preparations; but when Cyrus
came, he made himself master of the place, employing also as his assistants in
seizing it those men of Cyrus's whom he had taken prisoners.
[5.3.18]
When this was accomplished, the eunuch, after setting things in order within the
fort, came out and did him obeisance according to the custom and said: "Joy
be with you, Cyrus!"
[5.3.19]
"So it is," said he; "for by the favour of the gods you not only
bid me joy but even compel me to be joyful. For believe me, I consider it a
great advantage to leave this place friendly to my allies in this country. From
you, Gadatas," Cyrus went on, "the Assyrian has, it seems, taken away
the power of begetting children, but at any rate he has not deprived you of the
ability of acquiring friends. Let me assure you that by this deed you have made
of us friends who will try, if we can, to stand by you and aid you no less
efficiently than if we were your own children."
[5.3.20]
Thus he spoke; and at this juncture the Hyrcanian king, who had just heard what
had happened, ran up to Cyrus and taking his right hand said to him: "O
what a blessing you are to your friends, Cyrus, and what a debt of gratitude to
the gods you lay upon me, because they have brought me into association with
you!"
[5.3.21]
"Go then," said Cyrus, "take this fortress on account of which
you congratulate me and so dispose of it that it may be of the most service to
your people and to the rest of the allies, and especially," he added,
"to Gadatas here, who gained possession of it and delivered it to us."
[5.3.22]
"What then?" said the Hyrcanian. "When the Cadusians come and the
Sacians and my people, are we to call in some of them also, that all of us who
are concerned may consult together how we may use the fortress to the best
advantage?"
[5.3.23]
To this plan Cyrus gave assent. And when all those who were interested in the
fort were gathered together, they decided that it should be occupied in common
by those to whose advantage it was to have it in the hands of friends, so that
it might be an outwork for them in time of war and a base of operations against
the Assyrians.
[5.3.24]
Because of this incident the Cadusians, Sacians, and Hyrcanians joined the
expedition in greater numbers and with greatly increased zeal. And thereafter a
new division was added to the army, consisting of Cadusians, about twenty
thousand targeteers and about four thousand horsemen; of Sacians, about ten
thousand bowmen and about two thousand mounted archers; while the Hyrcanians
also sent as many more foot-soldiers as they could and filled up the ranks of
their cavalry to the number of two thousand; for up to this time most of their
cavalry had been left at home, because the Cadusians and the Sacians were
enemies of the Assyrians.
[5.3.25]
Now during the time that Cyrus was busy with the arrangements about the
fortress, many of the Assyrians of the country round about surrendered their
horses and many laid down their arms, because now they were afraid of all their
neighbours.
[5.3.26]
And after this, Gadatas came to Cyrus and said that messengers had come to him
with the information that when the Assyrian king heard the facts about the
fortress, he was exceedingly wroth and was preparing to invade his country.
"If, then, you will permit me to go, Cyrus, I should try to save the
fortified places; the rest is of less account."
[5.3.27]
"If you start now," said Cyrus, "when shall you reach
home?""The day after to-morrow," answered Gadatas, "I shall
dine in my own land.""But you do not think, do you, that you will find
the Assyrian already there?" said Cyrus."Nay, I am sure of it,"
he replied; "for he will make haste while he thinks you are still far
away."
[5.3.28]
"How many days," asked Cyrus, "do you think it would take me with
my army to get there?""Sire," Gadatas made reply, "your army
now is large and you could not reach my residence in less than six or seven
days.""Well," said Cyrus, "do you go as quickly as possible,
and I will follow as best I can."
[5.3.29]
So Gadatas went away, and Cyrus summoned all the officers of the allies, and
there seemed to be there now many noble men and brave. In this assembly, then,
Cyrus spoke as follows:
[5.3.30]
"Friends and allies, Gadatas has done what seems a very valuable service to
us all, and that, too, before receiving any favour whatsoever at our hands. And
now comes the report that the Assyrian is going to invade his country, partly,
as it seems plain, from a wish to punish him because he thinks Gadatas has done
him a great wrong; and perhaps also he understands that if those who desert him
for us do not suffer any harm at his hands, while those who follow him are
destroyed by us, the chances are that very soon no one will be willing to stay
with him. [5.3.31] So now, my men, it seems to me that we should be doing what
is fair, if we gave Gadatas, our benefactor, our heartiest assistance; and at
the same time we should be doing only what is right in paying a debt of
gratitude. But apart from that, it seems to me that we should be gaining an
advantage for ourselves.
[5.3.32]
For if we should show every one that we try to surpass in doing harm those who
do us harm, and that we surpass in well-doing those who do well by us, the
consequences of such conduct would be that many would wish to become our friends
and not one would desire to be our enemy.
[5.3.33]
"But should we decide to abandon Gadatas, with what arguments under heaven
could we ever persuade any one else to do us a favour? How could we have the
effrontery to approve our own conduct? And how could any one of us look Gadatas
in the face, if, as numerous as we are, we should be surpassed in well-doing by
one man and that one a man in such a plight as Gadatas is?"
[5.3.34]
Thus he spoke, and all heartily agreed to do as he said."Come then,"
he continued, "since you agree with these suggestions, and first, let us
leave men in charge of the beasts of burden and the wagons, each division
appointing such of their number as are best suited to go with them; and let
Gobryas have command of them in our place and be their guide;
[5.3.35]
For he is acquainted with the roads and in other ways is qualified for that
task. As for us, let us proceed with the most able-bodied men and horses, taking
with us three days' provisions. For the more lightly and simply equipped we go,
the more we shall enjoy our luncheon and dinner and sleep in the days to follow.
[5.3.36] And now let us march in the following order: Chrysantas, do you lead in
the van the men armed with breastplates, for the road is smooth and wide. Have
all your captains in front, each company following in single file; for, massed
together, we can march with the greatest speed and the greatest safety. [5.3.37]
And the reason why I direct the men armed with breastplates to lead the marchis
that they are the slowest portion of the army; and when the slowest lead, then
all the more quickly moving troops can follow easily, as a matter of course. But
when at night the light forces lead, it is not at all a strange thing for the
line to be broken and a gap formed, for the vanguard outstrips the rear.
[5.3.38]
"Next let Artabazus follow at the head of the Persian targeteers and
bowmen; following him, Andamyas, the Mede, in command of the Median infantry;
next, Embas with the Armenian infantry; then, Artuchas with the Hyrcanians; he
will be followed by Thambradas at the head of the Sacian infantry force and
Datamas with that of the Cadusians. [5.3.39] Let these all lead the way with
their captains in front, the targeteers on the right and the archers on the left
of their own squares; for, marching thus, they are more easily handled. [5.3.40]
Next to these the camp-followers of all the army are to follow; their officers
should see to it that they have everything ready packed up before they sleep,
and early in the morning let them be present with the baggage at the appointed
place, ready to follow the march in proper order.
[5.3.41]
"After the camp-followers let Madatas, the Persian, bring up the Persian
cavalry; let him also arrange the cavalry captains in front, and let each
captain lead his company in single file, just like the infantry officers.
[5.3.42] After them will come Rhambacas, the Mede, with his cavalry in the same
order; after them you, Tigranes, with yours, and the rest of the cavalry
officers, each with the forces with which he joined us. After them you Sacians
are to fall in line; and last of all, just as they came, the Cadusians will
bring up the rear; and you, Alceunas, who are their commander, for the present
look out for all in the rear and do not allow any one to fall behind your
horsemen.
[5.3.43]
"Take care to march in silence, both officers and all who are wise; for in
the night there is more need to use ears than eyes to secure information and to
have things done. And to be thrown into confusion in the night is a much more
serious matter than in the daytime and one more difficult to remedy. [5.3.44]
Therefore let silence be maintained, and let the prescribed order be
preserved."And the night watches, whenever you are to start off before
daylight, must be made as short and as numerous as possible, so that want of
sleep on account of doing sentinel duty may not be serious and exhaust the men
for the march. And when the hour for starting comes, let the signal be given on
the horn. [5.3.45] And then do you all, with whatever is necessary, step out
into the road to Babylon; and let each commander, as he gets his division in
motion, pass the word to the man behind him to come on."
[5.3.46]
Hereupon they went to their tents, and, as they went, they remarked to one
another what a good memory Cyrus had and how he called every one by name as he
assigned them their places and gave them their instructions. [5.3.47] Now Cyrus
made a study of this; for he thought it passing strange that, while every
mechanic knows the names of the tools of his trade and the physician knows the
names of all the instruments and medicines he uses, the general should be so
foolish as not to know the names of the officers under him; and yet he must
employ them as his instruments not only whenever he wishes to capture a place or
defend one, but also whenever he wishes to inspire courage or fear. And whenever
Cyrus wished to honour any one, it seemed to him proper to address him by name.
[5.3.48] Furthermore, it seemed to him that those who were conscious of being
personally known to their general exerted themselves more to be seen doing
something good and were more ready to abstain from doing anything bad. [5.3.49]
And when he wanted a thing done, he thought it foolish to give orders as do some
masters in their homes: "Some one go get water!" "Some one split
wood!" [5.3.50] For when orders are given in that way, all, he thought,
looked at one another and no one carried out the order; all were to blame, but
no one felt shame or fear as he should, because he shared the blame with many.
It was for this reason, therefore, that he himself spoke to every one by name to
whom he had any command to give. [5.3.51] Such, at least, was Cyrus's opinion
about this matter.The soldiers, however, then went to dinner, stationed
sentinels, packed up everything they needed, and went to bed. [5.3.52] At
midnight the signal horn sounded. Cyrus informed Chrysantas that he would wait
for him on the road ahead of the army, took with him his aides-de-camp, and went
on; and a short time afterward Chrysantas came up at the head of his heavy-armed
soldiers. [5.3.53] To him Cyrus turned over the guides and bade him advance
leisurely, for the troops were not yet all on the way. He himself took his stand
by the roadside, and as the troops came on he sent them forward in their order,
and to those who were late he sent a messenger to bid them hasten. [5.3.54] And
when they were all on the road, he sent some horsemen to Chrysantas to say that
they were now all on the way; "Now then, double quick!" [5.3.55] He
himself riding his horse leisurely along to the front inspected the ranks; and
to those whom he saw marching along in silence and in good order he would ride
up and inquire who they were, and when he was informed he would praise them. But
if he saw any in confusion, he would inquire into the cause of it and try to
quiet the disorder.
[5.3.56]
Only one of his measures of precaution that night has been left
unmentioned--namely, that he sent out in front of the main body of the army a
few light-armed infantrymen to keep Chrysantas in sight and be kept in sight by
him, to listen and gather information in whatever way they could, and report to
Chrysantas what it seemed expedient that he should know. There was also an
officer in command of them who kept them in order, and what was of importance he
communicated to Chrysantas, but he did not trouble him by reporting what was
immaterial.
[5.3.57]
In this manner, therefore, they proceeded all night long; but when it became
day, he left the cavalry of the Cadusians with their infantry (for these also
were in the extreme rear), so that the latter might not be without the
protection of cavalry; but the rest he ordered to ride up to the front, because
the enemy were in front. He adopted this plan, in order that, if he happened to
find any opposition, he might have his forces in fighting order to meet it, and
that, if anything should be seen anywhere in flight, he might give chase with
the utmost readiness. [5.3.58] He always kept drawn up in order one body of
troops who were to pursue and another who were to stay with him; but he never
suffered his main line to be broken.
[5.3.59]
Thus, then, Cyrus led his army; but he himself did not keep to the same
position, but riding about, now here, now there, kept watch, and if they needed
anything, he provided for it.Thus, then, Cyrus and his army were proceeding.
[5.4.1]
Now there was a certain man among the officers of Gadatas's cavalry who, when he
saw that his prince had revolted from the Assyrian, concluded that if some
misfortune were to overtake Gadatas, he might himself obtain from the Assyrian
all his chief's wealth and power. With this in view, he sent one of his trusted
friends to the Assyrian, instructing his messenger, in case he found the
Assyrian army already in Gadatas's country, to tell their king that if he would
lay an ambuscade, he would take Gadatas and his followers prisoners. [5.4.2] He
furthermore commissioned him to explain how small an army Gadatas had and to
make it clear that Cyrus was not with him; he also pointed out the road by which
Gadatas was likely to return; and, that he might find fuller credence, he
instructed his own subordinates to surrender to the Assyrian king, together with
all that was in it, the fortress which he himself happened to be holding in
Gadatas's country. He promised besides that he would come himself when hehad
slain Gadatas, if he could, but that, if he failed in the attempt, at least he
would in future be on the king's side.
[5.4.3]
And the man who had been given this commission rode as fast as his horse could
carry him; he came into the presence of the Assyrian king and made known the
purpose of his coming. When the king heard it, he at once took possession of the
fortress and with a large force of horse and chariots laid his ambuscade in a
cluster of villages.
[5.4.4]
When Gadatas was not far from these villages, he sent some scouts on in advance
to make a thorough search. And when the Assyrian was informed of the scouts'
approach, he ordered two or three chariots and several horsemen to start up and
gallop off as if they were affrighted and only a few in number. When the scouts
saw that, they started in pursuit themselves and beckoned to Gadatas to come on.
He, too, was deceived and started at full speed in pursuit. The Assyrians, in
turn, when they thought Gadatas near enough to be taken, issued from their
ambuscade. [5.4.5] And when Gadatas and his men saw this, they began to flee, as
was natural; and the enemy, as was also natural, started in pursuit. At this
juncture, the man who was plotting against Gadatas struck a blow at him but
failed to inflict a mortal wound; still he smote him on the shoulder and wounded
him.When he had done this, he darted off to join the pursuing Assyrians; and
when they recognized who he was, he took his place with them and urging his
horse at full speed he joined with the king in the pursuit. [5.4.6] Then those
who had the slowest horses were evidently being overtaken by those who had the
fleetest; and just as Gadatas's men were becoming quite exhausted, because they
were already jaded and worn out by their march, they saw Cyrus coming up with
his army, and one may imagine that they rushed up to them with delight, like men
putting into port out of a storm. [5.4.7] At first Cyrus was surprised; but when
he comprehended the situation, he continued, while the enemy were all riding
against him, to lead his army in battle order against them. But the enemy,
recognizing the real state of affairs, turned and fled. Thereupon Cyrus ordered
those who had been detailed for that purpose to start in pursuit, while he
himself followed as he thought expedient. [5.4.8] Here chariots also were
captured, some because the charioteers were thrown out, a part of them from
wheeling around too sharply, others for other reasons, while some were
intercepted by the cavalry and taken. And many men were slain, and among them
the man who had wounded Gadatas. [5.4.9] Of the Assyrian infantry, however, who
happened to be besieging Gadatas's fortress, some fled to that fort which had
been lost to Gadatas by betrayal, others had time to reach a large city of
Assyria, in which the king himself with his horsemen and chariots also took
refuge.
[5.4.10]
Now when Cyrus finished his pursuit of the enemy, he returned to Gadatas's
country; and after he had given instructions to those whose duty it was to take
care of the spoil, he went at once to visit Gadatas and see how his wound was.
But as he was going, he was met by Gadatas with his wound already bandaged. And
Cyrus was delighted at seeing him and said: "Why, I was coming to see how
you were."
[5.4.11]
"And I, by the gods," said Gadatas, "was coming to gaze upon you
again and see what you may look like, you who possess such a soul. For though I
do not see what need you now have of my assistance, and though you made no
promise to do this for me and have been put under no obligation whatever to me,
at least no personal obligation, yet because you fancied that I had given some
assistance to your friends, you have come so gallantly to my relief that at this
moment, whereas by myself I am a lost man, by your goodness I am saved. [5.4.12]
By the gods, Cyrus, if I were such a man as once I was and had children, I doubt
if I could have had a child as kind to me as you have been; for I know that this
present king of Assyria, like many another son that I have known, has caused his
own father much more trouble than he can now cause you."
[5.4.13]
"You fail to notice a much greater wonder, Gadatas, when you now express
your wonder at me," Cyrus made reply."And what is that, pray?"
asked Gadatas."That so many Persians have shown their interest in
you," he answered, "and so many Medes and Hyrcanians, and all the
Armenians, Sacians, and Cadusians here present."
[5.4.14]
"O Zeus," said Gadatas in prayer, "I pray that the gods may grant
many blessings to them and most of all to him who is responsible for their being
so generous toward me. But, Cyrus, in order that we may entertain handsomely
these men whom you have been praising, accept as gifts of friendship these
trifles, such as I can give."At the same time he had a great many things
brought out, so that any one who wished might sacrifice and that the whole army
might be entertained in a manner worthy of their deeds of glory and the glorious
issue.
[5.4.15]
The Cadusian prince had been guarding the rear and had no share in the pursuit;
so, wishing to do something brilliant on his own account, he went off, without
consulting Cyrus or saying anything to him, to make a foray into the country
toward Babylon. And as the Cadusian cavalry were scattered, the Assyrian,
returning from his city in which he had taken refuge, came suddenly upon them
with his own army in battle array. [5.4.16] And when he discovered that the
Cadusians were alone, he made an attack, slew the commander of the Cadusians and
many others, took some of their horses, and recovered the spoil which they
happened to be carrying off. He also pursued them as far as he thought was safe
and then turned back. So the survivors of the Cadusians arrived at the camp, the
first of them towards evening.
[5.4.17]
When Cyrus found out what had happened, he went out to meet them, and if he saw
any one that was wounded he received him kindly and sent him on to Gadatas, that
he might receive attention; the rest he helped into their tents and saw to it
that they should have provisions, taking some of the Persian peers along to help
him in looking after them. For under such circumstances, the good are ready to
undertake extra labour. [5.4.18] Still Cyrus was evidently very much distressed,
so that, when the rest went to dinner at the usual hour, he with his aides and
the surgeons did not go; for he would not wittingly leave any uncared for, but
either looked after them in person, or, if he did not succeed in doing that, he
showed his personal interest by sending some one to attend to them.
[5.4.19]
Thus they went to sleep that evening. At daybreak he made proclamation for all
the Cadusians and the officers of the rest to assemble; and he addressed them as
follows:"Friends and allies, that which has happened might happen to any
man; for it is not at all strange, I think, for mortal man to err. Still it is
worth our while to reap some benefit from this occurrence, the lesson never to
detach from our main body a force weaker than the forces of the enemy. [5.4.20]
I do not mean by that that we should never go off, if circumstances require it,
with a still smaller detachment than that with which the Cadusian prince went.
But if an officer, when he starts on an expedition, communicates his intention
to one that is able to bring help, he may possibly fall into a trap, but then it
is equally possible for the one who remains behind to entrap the enemy and turn
them away from the detached corps; or he may annoy the enemy in some other way
and so secure safety for his friends; and thus even those who are at a distance
will not be out of reach but will keep in touch with the main body. But the man
who goes off without communicating his purpose is in the same situation, no
matter where he is, as if he were carrying on a campaign alone.
[5.4.21]
"But in return for this, we shall ere long, God willing, have ourrevenge on
the enemy. So, as soon as you have had luncheon, I shall lead you to the place
where this befell. There we shall not only bury the dead, but, God willing, on
the very spot where the enemy think they have won a victory we will show them
others better than they are. We shall at least let them have no satisfaction in
looking even on the place where they slaughtered our allies. If they do not come
out to meet us, we shall burn their villages and ravage their country, so that
they may have no joy in viewing what they did to us but may be distressed at
contemplating there their own misfortunes.
[5.4.22]
"The rest of you, therefore, go to luncheon. But you, Cadusians, go first
and elect from your own number according to your custom a new general, who shall
look out for your interests with the help of the gods and of us, if you have any
need of our help as well; and when you have made your choice, send the man you
have elected to me."
[5.4.23]
So they did as he bade. And when Cyrus led the army out, he assigned the man
elected by the Cadusians his position and bade him lead his contingent near to
himself, "in order," he said, "that we may, if we can, put new
courage into your men." Thus, then, they proceeded; and when they came to
the place, they buried the Cadusians and ravaged the country. And when they had
done so they returned again into the land of Gadatas, bringing their supplies
from the enemy's country.
[5.4.24]
And when he reflected that those who had gone over to him would suffer severely,
as they were in the vicinity of Babylon, if he were not always at hand, he
ordered those of the enemy whom he released to tell the Assyrian king (he also
sent a herald to bear the same message) that he was ready to leave in peace the
labourers tilling the land and to do them no harm, provided the king, on his
part, would be willing to allow those farmers who had transferred their
allegiance to him to work their farms. [5.4.25] "And yet," he had them
say, "even if you are able to hinder them, you will hinder but few; for the
country of those who have come over to me is small; while the land under your
dominion that I should allow to be cultivated is extensive. Then, as to the
harvesting of the crops, if there is war, the victor, I suppose, will do the
reaping; but if there is peace, it is evident that you will do it. If, however,
any of my adherents take up arms against you, or any of yours against me, upon
such we will both execute vengeance according to our ability."
[5.4.26]
This message he entrusted to the herald and sent him away. And when the
Assyrians heard it, they did everything they could to persuade the king to
accept the proposal, and to leave as little of the war as possible. [5.4.27] The
Assyrian king, moreover, whether because he was persuaded by his countrymen or
whether he himself also wished it so, agreed to the proposal; so a covenant was
made to the effect that the farmers should have peace, but the men under arms
war.
[5.4.28]
This concession Cyrus obtained for the farming classes. But as for the herds out
grazing, he ordered his friends, if they wished, to drive them in and keep them
in the territory under their own control; but the enemy's cattle they brought in
as their legitimate prey from whatever quarter they could, so that the allies
might be better pleased with the expedition. For the dangers were the same, even
if they did not go foraging for provisions, while the burdens of war seemed
lighter, if the army was to be fed at the enemy's cost.
[5.4.29]
When Cyrus was making preparations to depart, Gadatas came to him and brought
many gifts of every sort, as might be expected from a wealthy house, and, most
important of all, he brought many horses that he had taken from horsemen of his
own whom he had come to distrust on account of the conspiracy against him.
[5.4.30] When he came into Cyrus's presence he spoke as follows: "These
gifts, Cyrus, I beg to offer you for the present; and do you accept them, if you
have any use for them. But pray consider that everything else of mine is yours;
for there is not and never can be a child of my own to whom I can leave my
estates, but with my death our race and name must be altogether blotted out.
[5.4.31] And by the gods, who see all things and hear all things, I swear to
you, Cyrus, that it is not for anything wrong or base that I have said or done
that I have suffered this affliction."As he uttered these words he burst
into tears over his lot and could say no more.
[5.4.32]
And Cyrus, as he listened, pitied him for his misfortune and answered him thus:
"Your horses I accept; for I shall do you a service by giving them to men
who are more loyal to you, it seems, than your own men who had them but now; and
for myself, I shall the sooner increase my Persian cavalry to full ten thousand
horse, as I have been eager this long time to do. But do you take these other
things away and keep them until you see me in possession of wealth enough so
that I shall not be outdone in requiting you. For if, as we part, you should
give me larger gifts than you receive from me, by the gods, I do not see how I
could possibly help being ashamed."
[5.4.33]
"Well," said Gadatas in reply, "I can trust you for that; for I
know your ways. Still, bethink you whether I am in a position to keep these
things safe for you. [5.4.34] For while we were friends to the Assyrian king, my
father's estate seemed to me the finest in the world; for it was so near to the
mighty city of Babylon that we enjoyed all the advantages of a great city but
could come back home and be rid of all its rush and worry. But now that we are
his enemies, it is obvious that with your departure we ourselves and our whole
house shall be the victims of plots; and I think we shall lead an utterly
miserable life, for we shall have our enemies close at hand and see them
stronger than ourselves.
[5.4.35]
"Perhaps, then, some one might say: `And why, pray, did you not think of
that before you revolted?' Because, Cyrus, on account of the outrage I had
suffered and my consequent resentment, my soul was not looking out consistently
for the safest course but was pregnant with this thought, whether it would ever
be in my power to get revenge upon that enemy of gods and men, who cherishes an
implacable hatred not so much toward the man who does him wrong as toward the
one whom he suspects of being better than himself. [5.4.36] Therefore, since he
is such a scoundrel himself, he will find no supporters but those who are worse
scoundrels than himself. But if some one of them by any chance be found better
than he, never fear, Cyrus, that you will have to fight that good man; but he
will take care of him, scheming unceasingly until he has got rid of that man who
is better than himself. But as for me, he will, I think, even with worthless
fellows easily be strong enough to harass me.
[5.4.37]
As Cyrus heard this, it seemed to him that Gadatas said something worthy of
consideration; so he answered at once: "Pray then, Gadatas," said he,
"let us make the fortifications strong with garrisons and safe, that you
may have confidence in their security, whenever you go into them; and then do
you take the field with us yourself so that, if the gods continue on our side as
they now are, he may be afraid of you, not you of him. And bring with you
whatsoever of yours you like to look at or to have with you, and come. It seems
to me, too, that you would be very useful to me, and I shall try to be the same
to you, as far as I can."
[5.4.38]
On hearing this, Gadatas breathed more freely and said: "Could I get things
ready before you go? For, you see, I should like to take my mother with
me.""Yes, by Zeus," he answered, "you will have plenty of
time; for I will hold back until you say it is all right."
[5.4.39]
Accordingly, Gadatas went away in company with Cyrus and strengthened the forts
with garrisons and then packed up everything that a great house might need for
comfort. And he brwith him many of his own loved and trusted friends and many
also of those whom he distrusted, compelling some to bring along their wives,
others their brothers and sisters, in order that he might keep them under
control, when bound by such ties.
[5.4.40]
And from the first Cyrus kept Gadatas among those about him as he marched, to
give him information in regard to roads and water, fodder and provisions, so
that they might be able to camp where things were most abundant.
[5.4.41]
And when, as he proceeded, he came in sight of the city of Babylon and it seemed
to him that the road which he was following led close by the walls, he called
Gobryas and Gadatas to him and asked if there were not another road, so that
they need not march right by the wall.
[5.4.42]
"Yes, sire," answered Gobryas; "in fact, there are many roads;
but I supposed that you would surely wish to march as near to the city as
possible, in order to show him that your army is now large and imposing; for
even when you had a smaller force, you came right up to the very walls and he
saw that we had no great numbers. So now, even if he really is to some extent
prepared (for he sent word to you that he was making preparations to fight you),
I am sure that, when he sees your forces, his own will again seem to him
extremely ill-prepared."
[5.4.43]
"You seem to be surprised, Gobryas," said Cyrus in answer, "that
I marched right up to the walls when I came with a much smaller army, whereas
now with a larger force I am unwilling to march close up under the walls.
[5.4.44] But do not be surprised; for marching up to and marching by are not the
same thing. For every one leads up in the order best for fighting [and the wise
also retreat in the safest possible way, and not in the quickest], [5.4.45] but
an army must needs march by with the wagons in an extended line and with the
rest of the baggage vans in a long train. And these must all be covered by
soldiers, and the enemy must never see the baggage wagons unprotected by arms.
[5.4.46] When people march in this way, therefore, they necessarily have the
fighting men drawn out in a thin, weak line. If, then, the enemy should ever
decide to sally out in a compact body from their walls, on whichever part they
came to close quarters they would close with much greater force than those have
who are marching by. [5.4.47] Then, too, those who are marching in a long column
must be a long distance from their supports, while the townspeople have but a
short way to go to make a dash on a force near them and again retire.
[5.4.48]
"On the other hand, if we march by at a distance from the walls not less
than that at which we are now proceeding with our long extended line, they will
have a view of our full numbers, to be sure, but behind the fringe of arms the
whole host will look terrible. [5.4.49] Be that as it may, if they should really
make a sally at any point, we should see them a long way off and not be caught
unprepared; or rather, I should say, friends, they will not so much as make the
attempt when they have to go far from their walls, unless they judge that the
whole of their force is superior to the whole of ours; for a retreat is a
perilous thing for them."
[5.4.50]
When he said this, those present agreed that what he said was right, and Gobryas
led the way as he had directed. And as the army marched by the city, he
constantly kept the part just passing the city the strongest, and so moved on.
[5.4.51]
Thus he continued his march and came in the usual number of days to the place on
the boundaries between Media and Syria from which he had originally started. Of
the three forts of the Syrians there, Cyrus in person assaulted one, the
weakest, and took it by storm; of the other two, Cyrus, by intimidation, brought
the garrison of the one to surrender, and Gadatas, by persuasion, that of the
other.
[5.5.1]
When this had been accomplished, he sent to Cyaxares and requested him to come
to camp to hold a council of war concerning the disposition to be made of the
forts which they had captured, and, after reviewing the army, to advise what
steps he thought they ought to take next for the future conduct of the war.
"But if he bids me," said he, "tell him that I would come and
join camps with him."
[5.5.2]
Accordingly, the messenger went away to deliver this message. Meanwhile Cyrus
had given orders to bring out the tent of the Assyrian king which the Medes had
selected for Cyaxares, to make it ready with all kinds of furnishings, and to
conduct into the women's apartments of the tent the woman and with her the
music-girls, who had been selected for Cyaxares. And this was done.
[5.5.3]
When the envoy to Cyaxares had delivered his message, Cyaxares gave it his
attention and decided that it was better for the army to stay at the frontier.
And there was the more reason, for the Persians whom Cyrus had sent for had
come--forty thousand bowmen and peltasts. [5.5.4] And as he saw that these were
a severe drain on the Median land, it seemed to him more desirable to get rid of
the present army than to admit another host. So when the officer in command of
the reinforcements from Persia inquired of Cyaxares, in accordance with the
instructions he had from Cyrus, whether he had any need of his army, he said
"No"; and so this general went that same day at the head of his forces
to Cyrus, for he heard that Cyrus was in that neighbourhood.
[5.5.5]
On the following day Cyaxares set out with the Median cavalry who had stayed
with him, and when Cyrus learned that he was approaching, he went out to meet
him with the Persian cavalry, which was now a large body; he took with him also
all the Median, Armenian, and Hyrcanian horse, and those of the rest of the
allies who were the best mounted and best armed; all these he took with him by
way of displaying his forces to Cyaxares. [5.5.6] But when Cyaxares saw many
fine, valiant men in the company of Cyrus, while his own escort was small and of
little worth, he thought it a thing dishonourable, and grief gat hold on him. So
when Cyrus dismounted from his horse and came up to him, intending to kiss him
according to custom, Cyaxares dismounted from his horse but turned away. He
refused to kiss him and could not conceal his tears.
[5.5.7]
Thereupon Cyrus bade all the rest withdraw and wait. And he himself caught
Cyaxares by the hand, led him to the shade of some palm-trees away from the
road, ordered some Median rugs to be spread for him, and begged him to be
seated; then sitting down beside him, he spoke as follows:
[5.5.8]
"In the name of all the gods, uncle," said he, "tell me why you
are angry with me; and what do you find wrong that you take it so
amiss?""Because, Cyrus," Cyaxares then made answer, "while I
am supposed to be the scion of a royal father and of a line of ancestors who
were kings of old as far back as the memory of man extends, and while I am
called a king myself, still I see myself riding along with a mean and unworthy
equipage, while you come before me great and magnificent in the eyes of my own
retinue as well as the rest of your forces. [5.5.9] And this I think it a hard
thing to suffer even at the enemy's hands and much harder, O Zeus, at the hands
of those from whom I should least of all expect such treatment. For I think I
should rather ten times sink into the earth than be seen so humiliated and see
my own men disregarding me and laughing at me; for I am not ignorant of the fact
not only that you are greater than I, but also that even my vassals come to meet
me more powerful than I am myself and well enough equipped to do more harm to me
than I can do to them."
[5.5.10]
And as he said this he was still more violently overcome with weeping, so that
he affected Cyrus, too, till his eyes filled with tears. But after pausing for a
moment Cyrus answered him as follows:"Well, Cyaxares, in this you do not
speak truly nor do you judge correctly, if you think that by my presence the
Medes have been put in a position to do you harm; [5.5.11] but that you are
angered and threaten them gives me no surprise. However, whether your anger
against them is just or unjust, I will not stop to inquire; for I know that you
would be offended to hear me speak in their defence. To me, however, it seems a
serious error for a ruler to be angry with all his subjects at the same time;
for, as a matter of course, threatening many makes many enemies, and being angry
with all at the same time inspires them all with a common sense of wrong.
[5.5.12]
It was for this reason, let me assure you, that I did not let them come back
without me, for I was afraid that in consequence of your anger something might
happen for which we should all be sorry. With the help of the gods, therefore,
you are secured against that by my presence."As to your supposition that
you have been wronged by me--I am exceedingly sorry, if, while I have been
striving to the utmost of my ability to do as much good as possible to my
friends, I seem after all to be accomplishing just the opposite.
[5.5.13]
"But enough of this; let us not thus idly accuse one another; but, if
possible, let us examine what sort of wrong it is that has come from me. I am
ready to make you a proposal, the fairest that can be made between friends: if
it appear that I have done you harm, I confess that I am in the wrong; but if it
turn out that I have done you no harm and intended none, will you then on your
part confess that you have suffered no wrong at my hands?"
[5.5.14]
"Nay, I must," said he."And if it is demonstrated that I have
done you good and have been eager to do as much for you as I could, pray should
I not deserve your praise rather than your blame?""That is only
fair," said he.
[5.5.15]
"Come, then," said Cyrus, "and let us consider all that I have
done, all my acts one by one; for so it will be most clearly seen what is good
and what is bad. [5.5.16] And let us begin, if you think it far enough back,
with my assuming this command. Now, you remember, when you learned that the
enemy had gathered in great numbers and that they were starting against you and
your country, you at once sent to the Persian state to ask for help and to me
personally to ask me to try to come myself at the head of the forces, if any of
the Persians should come. Did I not comply with your request, and did I not come
to you leading for your service as many and as valiant men as I
could?""Yes," said he; "you certainly came."
[5.5.17]
"Well then," he answered, "tell me first whether in this you
impute to me any wrong against you or do you not rather count it a benefit
towards you?""Obviously," Cyaxares replied, "in that I see a
benefit."
[5.5.18]
"Good, then," answered Cyrus; "and when the enemy came and we had
to do battle with them, did you then see me ever shirking toil or avoiding
danger?""No, by Zeus," said he; "I certainly did not."
[5.5.19]
"Furthermore, when with the help of the gods the victory was ours and the
enemy retreated, when I urged you to come in order that we might together pursue
them, together take vengeance upon them, and together reap the fruits of victory
if any rich spoil should fall to our lot--can you charge me with any selfish
purpose in that?"
[5.5.20]
To this Cyaxares said nothing. So Cyrus went on again: "Well, seeing that
it suits you better to be silent than to reply to this question, tell me whether
you thought you were wronged in any way because, when you did not think it safe
to pursue, I excused you from a share in that peril and asked you to let some of
your cavalry go with me. For if I did wrong also in asking that, and that, too,
when I had previously given you my own services as an ally, that is yours to
prove."
[5.5.21]
And as Cyaxares again said nothing, Cyrus resumed: "Well, seeing that you
do not choose to answer that either, please tell me then if I did you wrong in
the next step I took: when you answered that you saw that the Medes were
enjoying themselves and that you would not be willing to disturb their pleasures
and oblige them to go off into dangers, then, far from being angry with you for
that, I asked you again for a favour than which, as I knew, nothing was less for
you to grant or easier for you to require of the Medes: I asked you, as you will
remember, to allow any one who would to follow me. Was there anything unfair,
think you, in that?
[5.5.22]
"Well then, when I had obtained this concession from you, it amounted to
nothing, unless I were to gain their consent. So I went to see if I could get
their consent; and those whom I persuaded I took with me, by your permission, on
my expedition. But if you think that deserving of blame, then, no matter what
you may offer, one may not, it seems, accept it from you without blame.
[5.5.23]
"Thus, then, we started; and does not every one know what we did when we
were gone? Did we not capture the enemy's camp? Are not many of those who came
against you slain? Aye, and of the enemy still alive many have been deprived of
their arms; many others of their horses; moreover, the belongings of those who
before were robbing you and carrying off your property you now see in the hands
of your friends and being brought in, some for you, some for those who are under
your dominion.
[5.5.24]
But what is most important and best of all, you see your own territory
increasing, that of the enemy diminishing; you see the enemy's fortresses in
your possession, and your own, which had before all fallen under the Assyrian's
power, now restored again to you. Now, I do not know that I can say that I
should like to learn whether any one of these results is a bad thing or whether
any one is not a good thing for you, but at any rate I have no objection to
listening to what you have to say. So tell me what your judgment on the question
is."
[5.5.25]
When he had thus spoken, Cyrus ceased, and Cyaxares answered as follows:
"Well, Cyrus, I do not see how any one could say that what you have done is
bad; but still, let me tell you, these services of yours are of such a nature
that the more numerous they appear to be, the more they burden me.
[5.5.26]
For as to territory, I should rather extend yours by my power than see mine thus
increased by you; for to you it brings glory to do this, but to me these same
things somehow bring disgrace. [5.5.27] And as for money, it would be more
agreeable for me to bestow it in this way upon you than to receive it from you
under such circumstances as those under which you now offer it. For in being
thus enriched by you, I feel even more wherein I am made poorer. And I think I
should be less displeased to see my subjects actually wronged a little by you
than to see, as I do, that they have received great benefits from you. [5.5.28]
But," he went on, "if it seems to you that it is unreasonable of me to
take these things to heart, put yourself in my place and see in what light they
appear to you. And tell me--if any one should pet your dogs, which you have been
training for the protection of yourself and yours, and make them more familiar
with himself than with you, would he please you with such petting? [5.5.29] Or
if that seems to you a belittling comparison, think on this: if any one were to
tamper with the attendants that you kept for your body-guard and for service in
war, and so dispose them that they would rather be his than yours, would you be
grateful to him for such kindness? [5.5.30] Again, let us take the object that
men love most and most dearly cherish--suppose some one were to court your wife
and make her love him more than yourself, would such kindness give you pleasure?
Far from it, I think; for I am sure that he who should be guilty of such conduct
would be doing you the greatest of all injuries.
[5.5.31]
"But to quote an example most nearly akin to my own case--if any one should
so treat the Persians whom you have brought here as to make them more glad to
follow him than you, would you conhim your friend? I trow not; but you would
consider him more of an enemy than if he were to slay many of them. [5.5.32] Or
again, if you in your kindness of heart were to tell one of your friends to take
whatever of yours he wanted, and if he, accepting your offer, should make off
with everything he could and enrich himself with what belonged to you, while you
had not even enough left for moderate use, could you consider such a one a
blameless friend?
[5.5.33]
"Well then, Cyrus, it seems to me that your treatment of me has been, if
not that, at least something like that; for what you say is true: I told you to
take those who wished to go with you, and off you went with my whole force and
left me deserted. And now what you have taken with my forces you bring to me,
forsooth, and with my own strength you increase my realm; and I, it seems,
having no share in securing this good fortune, must submit like a mere woman to
receive favours, and you are a hero in the eyes of all the world and especially
of my subjects here, while I am not considered worthy of my crown.
[5.5.34]
Do you think that these are deeds of kindness, Cyrus? Let me tell you that if
you had any regard for me, there is nothing of which you would be so careful not
to rob me as my reputation and my honour. For what do I gain, if I have my realm
extended wide and lose my own honour? For I was not made king of the Medes
because I was more powerful than they all, but rather because they themselves
accounted us to be in all things better than themselves."
[5.5.35]
"By the gods, uncle," said Cyrus, interrupting him before he had
finished speaking, "if I have ever done you any favour before, please do me
now the favour that I beg of you: desist from blaming me for the present, and
when you have proof from us how we feel toward you, if it then appears that what
I have done was done for your benefit, return my greeting when I greet you and
consider me your benefactor; but if it seems the other way, then blame me."
[5.5.36]
"Well," said Cyaxares, "perhaps you are right after all; I will
do so.""Say then," said Cyrus, "may I kiss you,
too?""If you please," said the other."And you will not turn
away from me, as you did a little while ago?""No," said he.So he
kissed him.
[5.5.37]
And when the Medes and the Persians and the rest saw that, for they were all
concerned to see what the outcome would be, they were satisfied and glad. Then
Cyrus and Cyaxares mounted their horses and led the way, and the Medes followed
after Cyaxares (for Cyrus gave them a nod so to do), the Persians fell in behind
Cyrus, and the rest behind them.
[5.5.38]
And when they came to the camp and had lodged Cyaxares in the tent that had been
made ready for him, they who had been detailed to do so supplied him with what
he needed; [5.5.39] and as long as he had leisure before dinner, Cyaxares
received calls from the Medes; some of them came of their own accord, but most
of them went at the suggestion of Cyrus, taking presents with them--the one a
handsome cup-bearer, another a fine cook, another a baker, another a musician,
another a cup, another fine raiment; and every one of them, as a rule, presented
him with at least one of the things that he had himself taken, [5.5.40] so that
Cyaxares changed his mind and realized that Cyrus was not alienating their
affections from him and that the Medes were no less attentive to him than
before.
[5.5.41]
And when the hour for dinner came, Cyaxares summoned Cyrus and asked him, as he
had not seen him for a long time, to dine with him. But Cyrus answered:
"Please, Cyaxares, do not ask me. Do you not see that all these who are
here are here at our instance? I should not be doing right, then, if I should
let them get the impression that I was neglecting them and pursuing my own
pleasure. For when soldiers think they are being neglected, the good ones become
much more despondent and the bad much more presuming. [5.5.42] But do you now go
to dinner, especially as you have come a long way; and if any come to pay their
respects to you, do you greet them kindly and entertain them well, so that they
may feel confidence toward you also. For my part, I must go and attend to those
matters of which I have been speaking to you. [5.5.43] And tomorrow morning my
staff-officers will come with me to your headquarters, in order that we may all
consult with you about what we should do next. Do you then and there lay before
us the question whether it seems best to continue the campaign or whether it is
now time to disband the armies."
[5.5.44] After this Cyaxares attended to his dinner, while Cyrus collected those of his friends who were most able to think and to co-operate with him when occasion demanded, and addressed them as follows:"My friends, with the help of the gods we have, you see, all that we prayed for at the first. For wherever we go, we are masters of the country. What is more, we see the enemy reduced, and ourselves increased in both numbers and strength.
[5.5.45]
Now, if the allies we have gained would only stay on with us, we should be able
to accomplish much more both by force, when occasion calls for it, and by
persuasion, when that is needed; and it is not my business a whit more than it
is yours to see to it that as many of the allies as possible agree to stay;
[5.5.46] but just as, when we are called upon to fight, the one who conquers the
greatest number has the glory of being considered the most valorous, so also
when we are called upon to use persuasion, he that converts the greatest number
to our opinion would justly be accounted at once the most eloquent and the most
efficient. [5.5.47] Do not, however, aim at displaying to us the arguments that
you will address to each one of them, but set to work with the feeling that
those who are persuaded by any one of you will show what they are by what they
do. [5.5.48] Do you, therefore, see to this. And I, for my part, will try to see
to it, as far as I can, that the soldiers are supplied with all that they need,
while they are deliberating about going on with the campaign."