[35] Such were the dispositions made by Cyrus; but Abradatas, the lord
of Susa, cried:
"Cyrus, let me, I pray you, volunteer for the post in front."
[36] And Cyrus, struck with admiration for the man, took him by the
hand, and turning to the Persians in command of the other centuries
said:
"Perhaps, gentlemen, you will allow this?"
But they answered that it was hard to resign the post of honour, and so
they all drew lots, and the lot fell on Abradatas, and his post was
face to face with the Egyptians. Then the officers left the council and
carried out the orders given, and took their evening meal and posted the
pickets and went to rest.
[C.4] But early on the morrow Cyrus offered sacrifice, and meanwhile the
rest of the army took their breakfast, and after the libation they armed
themselves, a great and goodly company in bright tunics and splendid
breastplates and shining helmets. All the horses had frontlets and
chest-plates, the chargers had armour on their shoulders, and the
chariot-horses on their flanks; so that the whole army flashed with
bronze, and shone like a flower with scarlet. [2] The eight-horse
chariot of Abradatas was a marvel of beauty and richness; and just as he
was about to put on the linen corslet of his native land, Pantheia came,
bringing him a golden breastplate and a helmet of gold, and armlets and
broad bracelets for his wrists, and a full flowing purple tunic, and
a hyacinth-coloured helmet-plume. All these she had made for him in
secret, taking the measure of his armour without his knowledge. [3] And
when he saw them, he gazed in wonder and said:
"Dear wife, and did you destroy your own jewels to make this armour for
me?"
But she said, "No, my lord, at least not the richest of them all, for
you shall be my loveliest jewel, when others see you as I see you now."
As she spoke, she put the armour on him, but then, though she tried to
hide it, the tears rolled down her cheeks.
[4] And truly, when Abradatas was arrayed in the new panoply, he, who
had been fair enough to look upon before, was now a sight of splendour,
noble and beautiful and free, as indeed his nature was. [5] He took the
reins from the charioteer, and was about to set foot on the car, when
Pantheia bade the bystanders withdraw, and said to him, "My own lord,
little need to tell you what you know already, yet this I say, if any
woman loved her husband more than her own soul, I am of her company. Why
should I try to speak? Our lives say more than any words of mine. [6]
And yet, feeling for you what you know, I swear to you by the love
between us that I would rather go down to the grave beside you after a
hero's death than live on with you in shame. I have thought you worthy
of the highest, and believed myself worthy to follow you. [7] And I
bear in mind the great gratitude we owe to Cyrus, who, when I was his
captive, chosen for his spoil, was too high-minded to treat me as a
slave, or dishonour me as a free woman; he took me and saved me for
you, as though I had been his brother's wife. [8] And when Araspas, my
warder, turned from him, I promised, if he would let me send for you,
I would bring him a friend in the other's place, far nobler and more
faithful."
[9] And as Pantheia spoke, Abradatas listened with rapture to her words,
and when she ended, he laid his hand upon her head, and looking up to
heaven he prayed aloud:
"O most mighty Zeus, make me worthy to be Pantheia's husband, and the
friend of Cyrus who showed us honour!"
[10] Then he opened the driver's seat and mounted the car, and the
driver shut the door, and Pantheia could not take him in her arms again,
so she bent and kissed the chariot-box. Then the car rolled forward and
she followed unseen till Abradatas turned and saw her and cried, "Be
strong, Pantheia, be of a good heart! Farewell, and hie thee home!"
[11] Thereupon her chamberlains and her maidens took her and brought her
back to her own carriage, and laid her down and drew the awning. But
no man, of all who was there that day, splendid as Abradatas was in his
chariot, had eyes to look on him until Pantheia had gone.
[12] Meanwhile Cyrus had found the victims favourable, and his army was
already drawn up in the order he had fixed. He had scouts posted ahead,
one behind the other, and then he called his officers together for his
final words:
[13] "Gentlemen, my friends and allies, the sacred signs from heaven are
as they were the day the gods gave us victory before, and I would call
to your minds thoughts to bring you gladness and confidence for the
fight. [14] You are far better trained than your enemies, you have
lived together and worked together far longer than they, you have won
victories together. What they have shared with one another has been
defeat, and those who have not fought as yet feel they have traitors to
right and left of them, while our recruits know that they enter battle
in company with men who help their allies. [15] Those who trust each
other will stand firm and fight without flinching, but when confidence
has gone no man thinks of anything but flight. [16] Forward then,
gentlemen, against the foe; drive our scythed chariots against their
defenceless cars, let our armed cavalry charge their unprotected horse,
and charge them home. [17] The mass of their infantry you have met
before; and as for the Egyptians, they are armed in much the same way as
they are marshalled; they carry shields too big to let them stir or see,
they are drawn up a hundred deep, which will prevent all but the merest
handful fighting. [18] If they count on forcing us back by their weigh,
they must first withstand our steel and the charge of our cavalry. And
if any of them do hold firm, how can they fight at once against cavalry,
infantry, and turrets of artillery? For our men on the towers will be
there to help us, they will smite the enemy until he flies instead of
fighting. [19] If you think there is anything wanting, tell me now; God
helping us, we will lack nothing. And if any man wishes to say anything,
let him speak now; if not, go to the altar and there pray to the gods to
whom we have sacrificed, and then fall in. [20] Let each man say to his
own men what I have said to him, let him show the men he rules that he
is fit to rule, let them see the fearlessness in his face, his bearing,
and his words."
NOTES
C1.9. Artabazus "the kinsman" named now for the first time, why?
C1.11. Cf. Anglice "his word": a delicate appeal to a man of honour. It
suits G.'s character.
C1.14-15. Speech full of metaphor: winter stalking on, with hunter and
frost attendant on either side; a stealthy, but august advance.
C1.16. A happy simile: _vide_ Book of Wisdom [c. 5, 10, "And as a ship
that passeth over the waves of the water," etc.].
C1.38. How a fault may be turned to account: Hellenic stool of
repentance.
C1.41. Theory of two souls, to account for the yielding to base desires.
It works, but is it not the theory of a man whose will is weak, as we
say, or whose sympathetic nature has been developed at the expense
of his self-regulative? There is another way of putting it in
_Memorabilia_, Bk. I. c. ii., §§ 19-28. Xenophon is not more a
philosopher than a "philanthropist." He is full of compassion for human
weaknesses.
C1.44. Exit Araspas, to be baptised under this cloud of ignominy into
the sunshine of recognised joyous serviceableness.
C1.45. We grow fonder than ever of Pantheia.
C1.50. Irony: the chariots that are to cost Abradatas his life
hereafter. Is this tale "historic" at all? I mean, did Xenophon find
or hear any such story current? What is the relation, if any, to it of
Xenophon Ephesius, Antheia, and Abrocomas? [_Xenophon Ephesius_, a late
writer of romances.] Had that writer any echo of the names in his head?
What language are "Pantheia" and "Abradatas"?
C1.52. All very well, but the author hasn't told us anything about the
construction of these {mekhanai}, these battering engines, before, to
prepare us for this. Is that a slip, or how explainable? I think he
is betrayed into the description by reason of his interest in such
strategic matters. The expression is intelligible enough to any one
who knows about engines, just as we might speak of the butt or the
stanchion, or whatever it be.
C2.1-3. The Medians bring back the bread that was cast upon the waters.
Cyrus turns this gain to new account. He sacrifices the present natural
gain, i.e. the wealth, to the harder spiritual gain, viz., their
positive as opposed to their merely negative alliance. Cyrus _is_ the
archic man.
C2.4. I have a sort of idea, or feeling that here the writer takes up
his pen afresh after a certain interval. C4-6 are a reduplication, not
unnatural indeed, but _pro tanto_ tautological.
C2.7. Semi-historical basis. Prototype, when Agesilaus meditated the
advance on Persia, just before his recall. [See _Hellenica_, III. iv.,
Works II. p. 29.]
C2.13 foll. The archic man can by a word of his mouth still the flutter
and incipient heave of terror-stricken hearts.
C2.15-18. A review of the improvements amounting to a complete
revolution in arms and attack effected by Cyrus. This is imagined as an
ideal accompaniment to the archic man and conqueror. Xenophon nowadays
on the relative advantages of the bayonet and the sword, cavalry and
infantry, etc., would have been very interesting. Cf. a writer like
Forbes.
[C2.19. "Syrians." The word is used loosely, including the Assyrians
and their kindred. See below C.22. "Syria" = Assyria and the adjacent
country.]
C2.21, fin. Xenophon has more than once witnessed this clouding of the
brow, the scowl or sulk of the less stalwart moral-fibred men (notably
in _Hellenica_).
C2.26 ff. How to give up wine: the art in it. Now listen, all you
blue-ribbonists! Xenophon, Hygienist.
C2.37. One would like to know how the price was regulated. Does any
learned German know? Note the orderliness and economy of it all. Is it,
as far as the army goes, novel in any respect, do you suppose, or only
idealised Hellenic? Spartan?
C3.14. A slight (intentional?) aposiopesis. Did H. have to drive back
the great cavalry division of the enemy?
C3.17. How quickly the archic man passes on! Cf. J. P.
C3.19. Notice the part given to the Egyptians to play. Why? (Agesilaus
died on his last campaign in Egypt.)
C3.25. Is it dramatic to make Cyrus speak in this way as if he were
lecturing a class on strategics?
C3.30. The advantage even of sutlers and women. This
several-times-repeated remark surprises me. But no doubt the arrangement
would give the enemy pause, and waste his time in out-flanking
movements: viola tout, hgd. At Cunaxa, however, the Persian did get
behind the Greek camp. No prototype there, then. [Xenophon, _Anabasis_,
Bk. I. c. 10.]
C4.2. We are more and more enamoured of Pantheia.
C4.7. As delicate as any modern in the respect for wedded womanhood.
C4.13 ff. Notice how in this stirring and inspiriting speech Cyrus by
dealing with the Egyptians (the only unknown quantity) strikes a new
note and sets up a new motive, as it were, preparing us for the tragic
struggle which is to come, which will cost Abradatas and other good
men dear, not to speak of the brave Egyptians themselves (cf. Sudanese
Arabs). Also note Xenophon's enthusiasm in reference to the new arming
and the odds of encounter between cavalry and infantry (cf. Napier,
Forbes, etc.).
BOOK VII
[C.1] So they prayed to the gods and went to their place, and the
squires brought food and drink to Cyrus and his staff as they stood
round the sacrifice. And he took his breakfast where he stood, after
making the due offering, sharing what he had with all who needed it, and
he poured out the libation and prayed, and then drank, and his men with
him.
Then he supplicated Zeus, the god of his fathers, to be his leader and
helper in the fight, and so he mounted his horse and bade those about
him follow. [2] All his squires were equipped as he was, with scarlet
tunics, breastplates of bronze, and brazen helmets plumed with white,
short swords, and a lance of cornel-wood apiece. Their horses had
frontlets, chest-plates, and armour for their shoulders, all of bronze,
and the shoulder-pieces served as leg-guards for the riders. In one
thing only the arms of Cyrus differed from the rest: theirs was covered
with a golden varnish and his flashed like a mirror. [3] As he sat on
his steed, gazing into the distance, where he meant to go, a peal of
thunder rang out on the right, and he cried, "We will follow thee, O
Zeus most high!"
So he set forth with Chrysantas on his right at the head of cavalry and
Arsamas on his left with infantry. [4] And the word went down the lines,
"Eyes on the standard and steady marching."
The standard was a golden eagle, with outspread wings, borne aloft on
a long spear-shaft, and to this day such is the standard of the Persian
king.
Before they came in full sight of the Assyrians Cyrus halted the army
thrice. [5] And when they had gone about two miles or more, they began
to see the enemy advancing. As soon as both armies were in full view
of each other, and the Assyrians could see how much they outflanked
the Persians on either side, Croesus halted, in order to prepare an
encircling movement, and pushed out a column on the right wing and the
left, so that the Persian forces might be attacked on every side at
once.
[6] Cyrus saw it, but gave no sign of stopping; he led straight on as
before. Meanwhile he noticed that the turning-point where the Assyrians
had pushed out on either flank was an immense distance from their
centre, and he said to Chrysantas:
"Do you see where they have fixed their angle?" "Yes, I do," answered
Chrysantas, "and I am surprised at it: it seems to me they are drawing
their wings too far away from their centre." "Just so," said Cyrus,
"and from ours too." [7] "Why are they doing that?" asked the other.
"Clearly," said Cyrus, "they are afraid we shall attack, if their wings
are in touch with us while their centre is still some way off."
"But," went on Chrysantas, "how can they support each other at such a
distance?" "Doubtless," said Cyrus, "as soon as their wings are opposite
our flanks, they will wheel round, and then advance at once on every
side and so set us fighting everywhere at once." [8] "Well," said
Chrysantas, "do you think the movement wise?" "Yes," said Cyrus, "it
is good enough in view of what they can see, but, in view of what they
cannot, it is worse for them than if they had advanced in a single
column. Do you," he said, turning to Arsamas, "advance with your
infantry, slowly, taking your pace from me, and do you, Chrysantas,
march beside him with your cavalry, step for step. I will make for their
angle myself, where I propose to join battle, first riding round the
army to see how things are with all our men. [9] When I reach the point,
and we are on the verge of action, I will raise the paean and then
you must quicken your pace. You will know when we have closed with the
enemy, the din will be loud enough. At the same moment Abradatas will
dash out upon them: such will be his orders; your duty is to follow,
keeping as close to the chariots as possible. Thus we shall fall on the
enemy at the height of his confusion. And, God helping me, I shall be
with you also, cutting my way through the rout by the quickest road I
can.
[10] So he spoke, and sent the watchword down the lines, "Zeus our
saviour, and Zeus our leader," and went forward. As he passed between
the chariots and the cuirassiers, he would say to some, "My men, the
look on your faces rejoices my heart," and to others, "You understand,
gentlemen, that this battle is not for the victory of a day, but for all
that we have won ere now, and for all our happiness to come." [11] And
to others, "My friends, we can never reproach the gods again: to-day
they have put all blessings in our hands. [12] Let us show ourselves
good men and true." Or else, "Gentlemen, can we invite each other to a
more glorious feast than this? This day all gallant hearts are bidden;
this day they may feast their friends." [13] Or again, "You know, I
think, the prizes in this game: the victors pursue and smite and slay,
and win wealth and fame and freedom and empire: the cowards lose them
all. He who loves his own soul let him fight beside me: for I will have
no disgrace." [14] But if he met soldiers who had fought for him before,
he only said, "To you, gentlemen, what need I say? You know the brave
man's part in battle, and the craven's." [15] And when he came to
Abradatas, he halted, and Abradatas gave the reins to his charioteer
and came up to him, and others gathered round from the infantry and the
chariots, and Cyrus said:
"God has rewarded you, Abradatas, according to your prayer, you and
yours. You hold the first rank among our friends. And you will not
forget, when the moment for action comes, that those who watch you will
be Persians, and those who follow you, and they will not let you bear
the brunt alone."
[16] And Abradatas answered:
"Even so, Cyrus; and with us here, methinks, all looks well enough: but
the state of our flanks troubles me: the enemy's wings are strong and
stretch far: he has chariots there, and every kind of arm as well, while
we have nothing else with which to oppose him. So that for myself," said
he, "if I had not won by lot the post I hold, I should feel ashamed to
be here in the safest place of all."
[17] "Nay," answered Cyrus, "if it is well with you, have no concern for
the rest. God willing, I mean to relieve our flanks. But you yourself,
I conjure you, do not attack until you see the rout of those detachments
that you fear."
So much of boasting did Cyrus allow himself on the eve of action, though
he was the last man to boast at other times.
"When you see them routed," he said, "you may take it that I am there,
and then make your rush, for that is the moment when you will find the
enemy weakest and your own men strongest. [18] And while there is time,
Abradatas, be sure to drive along your front and prepare your men for
the charge, kindle their courage by your looks, lift up their hearts by
your hopes. Breathe a spirit of emulation into them, to make them prove
themselves the flower of the chariot-force. Be assured if things go well
with us all men will say nothing is so profitable as valour."
[19] Accordingly Abradatas mounted his chariot and drove along the lines
to do as Cyrus bade.
Meanwhile Cyrus went on to the left where Hystaspas was posted with half
the Persian cavalry, and he called to him and said:
"Hystaspas, here is work to test your pace! If we are quick enough in
cutting off their heads, none of us will be slaughtered first."
[20] And Hystaspas answered with a laugh:
"Leave it to us! We'll see to the men opposite. But set some one to deal
with the fellows on our flank: it would be a pity for them to be idle."
And Cyrus answered, "I am going to them myself. But remember, Hystaspas,
to which ever of us God grants the victory, so long as a single foeman
is on the field, attack we must, again and again, until the last has
yielded."
[21] With that he passed on, and as he came to the flank he went up to
the officer in command of the chariots and said to him:
"Good, I intend to support you myself. And when you hear me fall on
the wing, at that instant do your best to charge straight through your
opponents; you will be far safer once outside their ranks than if you
are caught half-way."
[22] Then he went on to the rear and the carriages, where the two
detachments were stationed, a thousand horse and a thousand foot, and
told Artagersas and Pharnouchus, their leaders, to keep the men where
they were.
"But when," he added, "you see me close with the enemy on our right,
then set upon those in front of you: take them in flank, where they are
weakest, while you advance in line, at your full strength. Their lines,
as you see, are closed by cavalry; hurl your camels at these, and you
may be sure, even before the fighting begins, they will cut a comic
figure."
[23] Thus, with all his dispositions made, Cyrus rode round the head
of his right. By this time Croesus, believing that the centre, where he
himself was marching, must be nearer the enemy than the distant wings,
had the signal raised for them to stop their advance, halt, and wheel
round where they were. When they were in position opposite the Persian
force, he signalled for them to charge, and thus three columns came at
once against Cyrus, one facing his front and one on either flank. [24]
A tremor ran through the whole army; it was completely enclosed, like a
little brick laid within a large, with the forces of the enemy all
round it, on every side except the rear, cavalry and heavy infantry,
targeteers, archers, and chariots. [25] None the 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 scythe-bearing chariots, and this engine of war is still employed
by the reigning king. [48] As for the camels, all they did was to scare
the horses; their riders could take no part in the slaughter, and were
never touched themselves by the enemy's cavalry. For not a horse would
come near the camels. [49] It was a useful arm, certainly, but no
gallant gentleman would dream of breeding camels for his own use or
learning to fight on camel-back. And so they returned to their old
position among the baggage-train.
[C.2] Then Cyrus and his men took their evening meal and posted their
pickets and went to rest. But Croesus and his army fled in haste to
Sardis, and the other tribes hurried away homewards under cover of
night as fast and as far as they could. [2] When day broke Cyrus marched
straight for Sardis, and when he came before the citadel he set up
his engines as though for the assault and got out his ladders. But the
following night he sent a scaling party of Persians and Chaldaeans to
climb the fortifications at the steepest point. The guide was a Persian
who had served as a slave to one of the garrison in the citadel, and who
knew a way down to the river by which one could get up. [4] As soon as
it became clear that the heights had been taken, all the Lydians without
exception fled from the walls and hid wherever they could. At daybreak
Cyrus entered the city and gave orders that not a man was to leave the
ranks. [5] Croesus, who had shut himself up inside his palace, cried
out on Cyrus, and Cyrus left a guard round the building while he himself
went to inspect the captured citadel. Here he found the Persians keeping
guard in perfect order, but the Chaldaean quarters were deserted, for
the men had rushed down to pillage the town. Immediately he summoned
their officers, and bade them leave his army at once. [6] "I could never
endure," he said, "to have undisciplined fellows seizing the best of
everything. You know well enough," he added, "all that was in store for
you. I meant to make all who served with me the envy of their fellows;
but now," he said, "you cannot be surprised if you encounter some one
stronger than yourselves on your way home."
[7] Fear fell on the Chaldaeans at this, and they intreated him to lay
aside his anger and vowed they would give back all the booty they had
taken. He answered that he had no need of it himself. "But if," he
added, "you wish to appease me, you will hand it over to those who
stayed and guarded the citadel. For if my soldiers see that discipline
means reward, all will be well with us."
[8] So the Chaldaeans did as he bade them, and the faithful and obedient
received all manner of good things.
Then Cyrus made his troops encamp in the most convenient quarter of
the town, and told them to stay at their posts and take their breakfast
there. [9] That done, he gave orders that Croesus should be brought to
him, and when he came into his presence, Croesus cried:
"Hail, Cyrus, my lord and master! Fate has given you that title from now
henceforward, and thus must I salute you."
[20] "All hail to you likewise," answered Cyrus: "we are both of us men.
And tell me now," he continued, "would you be more willing to advise me
as a friend?" "I should be more than glad," said Croesus, "to do you
any good. It would mean good for myself, I know." [11] "Listen, then,"
answered Cyrus: "I see that my soldiers have endured much toil and
encountered many dangers, and now they are persuaded that they have
taken the wealthiest city in all Asia, after Babylon. I would not have
them cheated of their recompense, seeing that if they win nothing by
their labour, I know not how I can keep them obedient to me for long.
Yet I am unwilling to give them this city over to plunder. I believe
it would be utterly destroyed, and moreover I know full well that in
plunder the worst villains win the most."
[12] To this Croesus answered, "Suffer me then to tell what Lydians I
please that I have won your promise that the city shall not be sacked,
nor their women and children made away with. [13] I promise you in
return that my men will bring you willingly everything that is costly
and beautiful in Sardis. If I can announce such terms, I am certain
there is not one treasure belonging to man or woman that will not be
yours to-morrow. Further, on this day year, the city will overflow once
more with wealth and beauty. But if you sack it, you will destroy
the crafts in its ruin, and they, we know, are the well-spring of all
loveliness. [14] Howbeit, you need not decide at once, wait and see what
is brought to you. Send first," he added, "to my own treasuries, and let
your guards take some of my own men with them."
To all this Cyrus consented, and then he said:
[15] "And now, O Croesus, tell me one thing more. How did matters go
between you and the oracle at Delphi? It is said that you did much
reverence to Apollo and obeyed him in all things."
[16] "I could wish it had been so," said Croesus, "but, truth to say,
from the beginning I have acted in all things against him." "How can
that be?" said Cyrus. "Explain it to me: for your words seem strange
indeed." [17] "Because," he answered, "in the first place, instead of
asking the god for all I wanted I must needs put him to the test, to see
if he could speak the truth. This," he added, "no man of honour could
endure, let be the godhead. Those who are doubted cannot love their
doubters. [18] And yet he stood the test; for though the things I did
were strange, and I was many leagues from Delphi, he knew them all. And
so I resolved to consult him about my children. [19] At first he would
not so much as answer me, but I sent him many an offering, some of gold
and some of silver, and I propitiated him, as I deemed, by countless
sacrifices, and at last he answered me when I asked him what I must do
that sons might be born to me. He said they should be born. [20] And so
they were; in that he uttered no lie, but they brought me no joy. One
of them was dumb his whole life long, and the noblest perished in the
flower of his youth. And I, crushed by these sorrows, sent again to the
god and asked him how I could live in happiness for the rest of my days,
and he answered:
"'Know thyself, O Croesus, and happiness shall be thine.'
"And when I heard the oracle, I was comforted. [21] I said to myself,
the god has laid the lightest of tasks upon me, and promised me
happiness in return. Some of his neighbours a man may know and others
not: but every one can know himself. [22] So I thought, and in truth so
long as I was at peace I had no fault to find with my lot after my
son's death; but when the Assyrian persuaded me to march against you
I encountered every danger. Yet I was saved, I came to no harm. Once
again, therefore, I have no charge to bring against the god: when I
_knew myself_ incapable of warring against you, he came to my help
and saved mine and me. [23] But afterwards, intoxicated by my wealth,
cajoled by those who begged me to be their leader, tempted by the gifts
they showered on me, flattered by all who said that if I would but lead
them they would obey me to a man, and that I would be the greatest ruler
in all the world, and that all their kings had met together and chosen
me for their champion in the war, I undertook the generalship as though
I were born to be the monarch of the world, for I did not _know myself_.
[24] I thought myself able to fight against you, you who are sprung from
the seed of the gods, born of a royal line, trained in valour and virtue
from your youth, while I--I believe that the first of my ancestors to
reign won his freedom and his crown on the self-same day. For this dull
ignorance of mine I see I am justly punished. [25] But now at last, O
Cyrus," he cried, "now I _know myself_. And tell me, do you think the
god will still speak truth? Do you think that, knowing myself, I can be
happy now? I ask you, because you of all men have it in your power to
answer best. Happiness is yours to give."
[26] Cyrus answered, "Give me time to deliberate, Croesus. I bear in
mind your former happiness and I pity you. I give you back at once your
wife and your daughters (for they tell me you have daughters), and your
friends and your attendants; they are yours once more. And yours it is
to sit at your own table as you used to live. But battles and wars I
must put out of your power."
[27] "Now by the gods above us," cried Croesus, "you need take no
further thought about your answer: if you will do for me what you say,
I shall live the life that all men called the happiest of lives, and I
knew that they were right." [28] "And who," said Cyrus, "who was it that
lived that life of happiness?" "My own wife," said Croesus; "she shared
all my good things with me, my luxuries, my softest joys; but in the
cares on which those joys were based, in war and battle and strife, she
had no part or lot. Methinks, you will provide for me as I provided for
her whom I loved beyond all others in the world, and I must needs send
to Apollo again, and send thank-offerings."
[29] And as Cyrus listened he marvelled at the man's contentedness of
soul, and for the future wherever he went he took Croesus with him,
either because he thought he might be useful or perhaps because he felt
it was safer so.
[C.3] So for that night they rested. But the next day Cyrus called his
friends and generals together and told some to make an inventory of
their treasures and others to receive all the wealth that Croesus
brought in. First they were to set aside for the gods all that the
Persian priests thought fit, and then store the rest in coffers, weight
them, and pack them on waggons, distributing the waggons by lot to take
with them on the march, so that they could receive their proper share at
any convenient time. [2] So they set about the work.
Then Cyrus called some of his squires and said:
"Tell me, have any of you seen Abradatas? I wonder that he who used to
come to me so often is nowhere to be found."
[3] Then one of the squires made answer, "My lord, he is dead: he fell
in the battle, charging straight into the Egyptian ranks: the rest, all
but his own companions, swerved before their close array. [4] And now,"
he added, "we hear that his wife has found his body and laid it in her
own car, and has brought it here to the banks of the Pactolus. [5] Her
chamberlains and her attendants are digging a grave for the dead man
upon a hill, and she, they say, has put her fairest raiment on him
and her jewels, and she is seated on the ground with his head upon her
knees."
[6] Then Cyrus smote his hand upon his thigh and leapt up and sprang to
horse, galloping to the place of sorrow, with a thousand troopers at his
back. [7] He bade Gadatas and Gobryas take what jewels they could find
to honour the dear friend and brave warrior who had fallen, and follow
with all speed: and he bade the keepers of the herds, the cattle, and
the horses drive up their flocks wherever they heard he was, that he
might sacrifice on the grave.
[8] But when he saw Pantheia seated on the ground and the dead man lying
there, the tears ran down his cheeks and he cried:
"O noble and loyal spirit, have you gone from us?"
Then he took the dead man by the hand, but the hand came away with his
own: it had been hacked by an Egyptian blade. [9] And when he saw that,
his sorrow grew, and Pantheia sobbed aloud and took the hand from Cyrus
and kissed it and laid it in its place, as best she could, and said:
[10] "It is all like that, Cyrus. But why should you see it?" And
presently she said, "All this, I know, he suffered for my sake, and for
yours too, Cyrus, perhaps as much. I was a fool: I urged him so to bear
himself as became a faithful friend of yours, and he, I know, he never
thought once of his own safety, but only of what he might do to show his
gratitude. Now he has fallen, without a stain upon his valour: and I,
who urged him, I live on to sit beside his grave."
[11] And Cyrus wept silently for a while, and then he said:
"Lady, his end was the noblest and the fairest that could be: he died
in the hour of victory. Take these gifts that I have brought and adorn
him."
For now Gobryas and Gadatas appeared with store of jewels and rich
apparel. "He shall not lack for honour," Cyrus said; "many hands will
raise his monument: it shall be a royal one; and we will offer such
sacrifice as befits a hero. [12] And you, lady," he added, "you shall
not be left desolate. I reverence your chastity and your nobleness, and
I will give you a guardian to lead you withersoever you choose, if you
will but tell me to whom you wish to go."
[13] And Pantheia answered:
"Be at rest, Cyrus, I will not hide from you to whom I long to go."
[14] Therewith Cyrus took his leave of her and went, pitying from his
heart the woman who had lost so brave a husband, and the dead man in his
grave, taken from so sweet a wife, never to see her more. Then Pantheia
bade her chamberlains stand aside "until," she said, "I have wept over
him as I would." But she made her nurse stay with her and she said:
"Nurse, when I am dead, cover us with the same cloak." And the nurse
entreated and besought her, but she could not move her, and when she
saw that she did but vex her mistress, she sat down and wept in silence.
Then Pantheia took the scimitar, that had been ready for her so long,
and drew it across her throat, and dropped her head upon her husband's
breast and died. And the nurse cried bitterly, but she covered the two
with one cloak as her mistress had bidden her.
[15] And when Cyrus heard what Pantheia had done he rushed out in horror
to see if he could save her. And when the three chamberlains saw what
had happened they drew their own scimitars and killed themselves, there
where she had bidden them stand. [16, 17] And when Cyrus came to that
place of sorrow, he looked with wonder and reverence on the woman, and
wept for her and went his way and saw that all due honour was paid to
those who lay there dead, and a mighty sepulchre was raised above them,
mightier, men say, than had been seen in all the world before.
[C.4] After this the Carians, who were always at war and strife with one
another, because their dwellings were fortified, sent to Cyrus and
asked for aid. Cyrus himself was unwilling to leave Sardis, where he
was having engines of artillery made and battering-rams to overthrow
the walls of those who would not listen to him. But he sent Adousius, a
Persian, in his place, a man of sound judgment and a stout soldier
and withal a person of winning presence. He gave him an army; and the
Cilicians and Cypriotes were very ready to serve under him. [2] That
was why Cyrus never sent a Persian satrap to govern either Cilicia or
Cyprus; he was always satisfied with the native kings; only he exacted
tribute and levied troops whenever he needed them.
[3] So Adousius took his army and marched into Caria, where he was met
by the men of both parties, ready to receive him inside their walls to
the detriment of their opponents. Adousius treated each in exactly the
same way, he told whichever side was pleading that he thought their case
was just, but it was essential that the others should not realise he
was their friend, "for thus, you perceive, I will take them unprepared whenever I attack." |
|
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기