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stand together we give our enemy more trouble than we get： but when we
stood alone it was they who dealt with us as they liked best and we
liked least。〃
＇8＇ Then the Cadousian followed。
〃The less we talk；〃 said he； 〃about breaking…up and going home
separately the better； separation has done us anything but good； it
seems to me； even on the march。 My men and I； at any rate； very soon
paid the penalty for private excursions； as I dare say you have not
forgotten。〃
＇9＇ Upon that Artabazus rode； the Mede who had claimed kinship with
Cyrus in the old days。
〃Cyaxares；〃 said he； 〃in one respect I differ from those who have
spoken before me： they think we should stay here in order to go on
with the campaign； but I think I am always on campaign at home。 ＇10＇ I
was for ever out on some expedition or other； because our people were
being harried； or our fortresses threatened； and a world of trouble I
had； what with fears within and fighting without； and all too at my
own expense。 As it is now； I occupy the enemy's forts； my fear of them
is gone； I make good cheer on their own good things； and I drink their
own good wine。 Since home means fighting and service here means
feasting； I am not in favour myself；〃 said he； 〃of breaking up the
company。〃
＇11＇ Then Gobryas spoke。
〃Friends；〃 said he； 〃I have trusted Cyrus' word and had no fault to
find with him： what he promises that he performs： but if he leaves the
country now； the Assyrian will be reprieved； he will never be punished
for the wrongs he tried to inflict on you and did inflict on me： I
shall be punished instead； because I have been your friend。〃
＇12＇ At that Cyrus rose at last and said：
〃Gentlemen； I am well aware that the disbanding of our forces must
mean the decrease of our power and the increase of theirs。 If some of
them have given up their weapons； they will soon procure others； if
some have lost their horses； the loss will soon be made good； if some
have fallen in battle； others； younger and stronger； will take their
place。 We need not be surprised if they are soon in a condition to
cause us trouble again。 ＇13＇ Why； then； did I ask Cyaxares to put the
question to debate？ Because； I answer； I am afraid of the future。 I
see opponents against us whom we cannot fight； if we conduct the
campaign as we are doing now。 ＇14＇ Winter is advancing against us； and
though we may have shelter for ourselves we have nothing； heaven
knows； for our horses and our servants and the great mass of our
soldiery； without whom we cannot even think of a campaign。 As to
provisions； up to the limits of our advance and because of that
advance they have been exhausted； and beyond that line； owing to the
terror we inspire； the inhabitants will have stowed their supplies
away in strong places where they can enjoy them and we cannot get
them。 ＇15＇ Where is the warrior； stout of heart and strong of will；
who can wage war with cold and hunger？ If our style of soldiering is
to be only what it has been； I say we ought to disband at once of our
own accord； and not wait to be driven from the field against our will
by sheer lack of means。 If we do wish to go forward； this is what we
must do： we must detach from the enemy all the fortresses we can and
secure all we can for our own： if this is done； the larger supply will
be in the hands of those who can stow away the larger store； and the
weaker will suffer siege。 ＇16＇ At present we are like mariners on the
ocean： they may sail on for ever； but the seas they have crossed are
no more theirs than those that are still unsailed。 But if we hold the
fortresses； the enemy will find they are living in a hostile land；
while we have halcyon weather。 ＇17＇ Some of you may dread the thought
of garrison duty far from home； if so； dispel your doubts。 We
Persians； who must； as it is； be exiles for the time； will undertake
the positions that are nearest to the foe； while it will be for you to
occupy the land on the marches between Assyria and yourselves and put
it under tillage。 ＇18＇ For； if we can hold his inner line； your peace
will not be disturbed in the outlying parts： he will scarcely neglect
the danger at his door to attack you out in the distance。〃
＇19＇ At this the whole assembly rose to express their eagerness and
assent； and Cyaxares stood up with them。 And both Gadatas and Gobryas
offered to fortify a post if the allies wished； and thus provide two
cities of refuge to start with。
＇20＇ Finally Cyrus； thus assured of the general consent to his
proposals； said； 〃If we really wish to carry out what we have set
ourselves； we must prepare battering…rams and siege engines； and get
together mechanics and builders for our own castles。〃 ＇21＇ Thereupon
Cyaxares at once undertook to provide an engine at his own expense；
Gadatas and Gobryas made themselves responsible for a second； Tigranes
for a third； and Cyrus himself promised he would try to furnish two。
＇22＇ That done； every one set to work to find engineers and artisans
and to collect material for the machines； and superintendents were
appointed from those best qualified for the work。
＇23＇ Now Cyrus was aware that all this would take some time； and
therefore he encamped his troops in the healthiest spot he could find
and the easiest to supply； strengthening； wherever necessary； the
natural defences of the place； so that the detachment left in charge
for the time should always be in complete security； even though he
might be absent himself with the main body of his force。 ＇24＇ Nor was
this all； he questioned those who knew the country best； and； learning
where he would be rewarded for his pains； he would lead his men out to
forage； and thus procure as large supplies as possible； keep his
soldiers in the best of health and strength； and fix their drill in
their minds。
＇25＇ So Cyrus spent his days； and meanwhile the deserters from Babylon
and the prisoners who were captured all told the same story： they said
that the king had gone off to Lydia； taking with him store of gold and
silver； and riches and treasures of every kind。 ＇26＇ The mass of the
soldiers were convinced that he was storing his goods away from fear；
but Cyrus knew that he must have gone to raise； if possible； an
opponent who could face them； and therefore he pushed his preparations
forward vigorously； feeling that another battle must be fought。 He
filled up the Persian cavalry to its full complement； getting the
horses partly from the prisoners； partly from his own friends。 There
were two gifts he would never refuse； horses and good weapons。 ＇27＇ He
also procured chariots； taking them from the enemy or wherever he
could find them。 The old Trojan type of charioteering； still in use to
this day among the Cyrenaeans； he abolished； before his time the
Medes； the Syrians； the Arabians； and all Asiatics generally； used
their chariots in the same way as the Cyrenaeans do now。 ＇28＇ The
fault of the system to his mind was that the very flower of the army；
if the picked men were in the chariots； could only act at long range
and so contribute little after all to the victory。 Three hundred
chariots meant twelve hundred horses and three hundred fighting…m