cyropaedia-第52节

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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；