cyropaedia-第25节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
enough。 Let us not wait until they outnumber us； but charge at once
while we are satisfied we can master them easily。〃
＇47＇ But Cyrus answered him； 〃Unless those we conquer are more than
half their number； they are sure to say that we attacked when they
were few； because we were afraid of their full force； and in their
hearts they will not feel that they are beaten； and we shall have to
fight another battle； when perhaps they will make a better plan than
they have made to…day； delivering themselves into our hands one by
one； to fight with as we choose。〃
＇48＇ So the messengers took back his reply； but meanwhile Chrysantas
and certain other Peers came to Cyrus bringing Assyrian deserters with
them； and Cyrus； as a general would； questioned the fugitives about
the enemy's doings； and they told him that the Assyrians were marching
out in force and that the king himself had crossed the trenches and
was marshalling his troops； addressing them in stirring words； as all
the listeners said。 ＇49＇ Then Chrysantas turned to Cyrus：
〃What if you also were to summon our men； while there is yet time； and
inspire them with your words？〃
＇50＇ But Cyrus answered：
〃Do not be disturbed by the thought of the Assyrian's exhortations；
there are no words so fine that they can turn cowards into brave men
on the day of hearing； nor make good archers out of bad； nor doughty
spearmen； nor skilful riders； no； nor even teach men to use their arms
and legs if they have not learnt before。〃
＇51＇ 〃But；〃 replied Chrysantas； 〃could you not make the brave men
braver still； and the good better？〃
〃What！〃 cried Cyrus； 〃can one solitary speech fill the hearer's soul
on the selfsame day with honour and uprightness； guard him from all
that is base； spur him to undergo； as he ought； for the sake of glory
every toil and every danger； implant in him the faith that it is
better to die sword in hand than to escape by flight？ ＇52＇ If such
thoughts are ever to be engraved in the hearts of men and there abide；
we must begin with the laws； and frame them so that the righteous can
count on a life of honour and liberty； while the bad have to face
humiliation； suffering； and pain； and a life that is no life at all。
＇53＇ And then we ought to have tutors and governors to instruct and
teach and train our citizens until the belief is engendered in their
souls that the righteous and the honourable are the happiest of all
men born； and the bad and the infamous the most miserable。 This is
what our men must feel if they are to show that their schooling can
triumph over their terror of the foe。 ＇54＇ Surely； if in the moment of
onset； amid the clash of arms； at a time when lessons long learnt seem
suddenly wiped away； it were possible for any speaker； by stringing a
few fine sentiments together； to manufacture warriors out of hand；
why； it would be the easiest thing in all the world to teach men the
highest virtue man can know。 ＇55＇ For my own part；〃 he added； 〃I would
not trust our new comrades yonder； whom we have trained ourselves； to
stand firm this day unless they saw you at their side； to be examples
unto them and to remind them if they forget。 As for men who are
utterly undisciplined； I should be astonished if any speech； however
splendid； did one whit more to encourage valour in their hearts than a
song well sung could do to make a musician of a man who had no music
in his soul。〃
＇56＇ But while they were speaking； Cyaxares sent again； saying that
Cyrus did ill to loiter instead of advancing against the enemy with
all speed。 And Cyrus sent back word there and then by the messengers：
〃Tell Cyaxares once more； that even now there are not as many before
us as we need。 And tell him this so that all may hear。 But add that；
if it so please him； I will advance at once。〃
＇57＇ So saying and with one prayer to the gods； he led his troops into
battle。
Once the advance began he quickened the pace； and his men followed in
perfect order； steadily； swiftly； joyously； brimful of emulation；
hardened by toil； trained by their long discipline； every man in the
front a leader； and all of them alert。 They had laid to heart the
lesson of many a day that it was always safest and easiest to meet
enemies at close quarters； especially archers； javelin…men； and
cavalry。 ＇58＇ While they were still out of range； Cyrus sent the
watchword along the lines； 〃Zeus our help and Zeus our leader。〃 And as
soon as it was returned to him； he sounded the first notes of the
battle…paean； and the men took up the hymn devoutly； in one mighty
chorus。 For at such times those who fear the gods have less fear of
their fellow…men。 ＇59＇ And when the chant was over； the Peers of
Persia went forward side by side； radiant； high…bred； disciplined； a
band of gallant comrades； they looked into each other's eyes； they
called each other by name； with many a cheery cry； 〃Forward； friends；
forward； gallant gentlemen！〃 And the rear…ranks heard the call； and
sent back a ringing cheer； bidding the van lead on。 The whole army of
Cyrus was brimming with courage and zeal and strength and hardihood
and comradeship and self…control； more terrible； I imagine； to an
opponent than aught else could be。 ＇60＇ On the Assyrian side； those in
the van who fought from the chariots； as soon as the mass of the
Persian force drew near； leapt back and drove to their own main body；
but the archers； javelin…men； and slingers； let fly long before they
were in range。 ＇61＇ And as the Persians steadily advanced； stepping
over the spent missiles； Cyrus called to his men：
〃Forward now； bravest of the brave！ Show us what your pace can be！〃
They caught the word and passed it on； and in their eagerness and
passion for the fray some of the leaders broke into a run； and the
whole phalanx followed at their heels。 ＇62＇ Cyrus himself gave up the
regular march and dashed forward at their head； shouting：
〃Brave men to the front！ Who follows me？ Who will lay the first
Assyrian low？〃
At this the men behind took up the shout till it rang through the
field like a battle…cry： 〃Who follows？ Brave men to the front！〃 ＇63＇
Thus the Persians closed。 But the enemy could not hold their ground；
they turned and fled to their entrenchments。 ＇64＇ The Persians swept
after them； many a warrior falling as they crowded in at the gates or
tumbled into the trenches。 For in the rout some of the chariots were
carried into the fosse； and the Persians sprang down after them and
slew man and horse where they fell。 ＇65＇ Then the Median troopers；
seeing how matters stood； charged the Assyrian cavalry； who swerved
and broke before them； chased and slaughtered； horse and rider； by
their conquerors。 ＇66＇ Meanwhile the Assyrians within the camp； though
they stood upon the breastworks； had neither wit nor power to draw bow
or fling spear against the destroyers； dazed as they were by their
panic and the horror of the sight。 Then came the tidings that the
Persians had cut their way through to the gates； and at that they fled
from the breastworks。 ＇67＇ The women； seeing the rout in the camp；
fell to wailing and lamentations； running hither and thither in utter
dismay； young maidens； and mothers with children in their arms；
rending their garments and tearing their cheeks and crying on all they
met； 〃Leave us not； save us； save your children and yourselves！〃 ＇68＇
Then the princes gathered the trustiest men and stood at the gates；
fighting on the breastworks themselves； and urging their troops to
make a stand。 ＇69＇ Cyrus； seeing this； and fearing that if his handful
of Persians forced their way into the camp they would be overborne by
numbers； gave the order to fall back out of range。 ＇70＇ Then was shown
the perfect discipline of the Peers； at once they obeyed the order and
passed it on at once。 And when they were all out of range they halted
and reformed their ranks； better than any chorus could have done；
every man of them knowing exactly where he ought to be。
NOTES
C1。6。 Oriental in feeling； situation well realised。 Hellenic =
Oriental； also in part perhaps。 Also； we know the Oriental through the
medium of Greek to a great extent （cf。 Greek Testament； and earlier
still LXX。）。
C1。8； init。 Cf。 Joseph and his brethren for this hardening of his
heart。
C1。11。 Hellenic political ethics = modern in this matter； apart from
modern theory of nationalism； i。e。 right of nations to exist free。
C1。12。 Quite after the manner of an advocate in a Greek law…court； but
also Oriental （cf。 David and Nathan the seer）。
C1。24。 Fear of exile； autobiographical touch？ Is anything passing
through the mind of Xenophon？ I dare say there is。 ＇Xenophon was
banished from his native city of Athens because of his friendship with
Sparta and with Cyrus the Younger。 See Works； Vol。 I。 p。 xcix。＇
C1。33； fin。 3000 talents。 Something under ￡750；000。
C1。35。 Cyrus drives home the conscience of indebtedness /à la/ Portia
v。 Shylock。 N。B。Humorous also and an Oriental tinge。
C1。38。 One can't help thinking of Socrates and the people of Athens
here。 If so； this is a quasi…apology for the Athenian /bons pères de
famille/ who condemned Socrates。 Beautiful stor
