grinding： these are the lightest machines for the purpose。 ＇32＇ Nor
must we forget to supply ourselves with medicinesthey are small in
bulk and； if need arises； invaluable。 And we ought to have a large
supply of strapsI wonder what is not fastened by a strap to man or
horse？ But straps wear out and get broken and then things are at a
standstill unless there are spare ones to be had。 ＇33＇ Some of you
have learnt to shave spears； so that it would be as well not to forget
a plane； and also to carry a rasp； for the man who sharpens a
spearhead will sharpen his spirit too。 He will feel ashamed to whet
the edge and be a coward。 And we must take plenty of timber for
chariots and waggons； there is bound to be many a breakdown on the
road。 ＇34＇ Also we shall need the most necessary tools for repairs；
since smiths and carpenters are not to be found at every turn； but
there are few who cannot patch up a makeshift for the time。 Then there
should be a mattock and a shovel apiece for every waggon； and on every
beast of burden a billhook and an axe； always useful to the owner and
sometimes a boon to all。 ＇35＇ The provisions must be seen to by the
officers of the fighting…line； they must inspect the men under their
command and see that nothing is omitted which any man requires； the
omission would be felt by us all。 Those of you who are in command of
the baggage…train will inspect what I have ordered for the animals and
insist upon every man being provided who is not already supplied。 ＇36＇
You； gentlemen； who are in command of the road…makers； you have the
lists of the soldiers I have disqualified from serving as javelin…men；
bowmen； or slingers； and you will make the old javelin men march with
axes for felling timber； the bowmen with mattocks； and the slingers
with shovels。 They will advance by squads in front of the waggons so
that if there is any road…making to be done you may set to work at
once； and in case of need I may know where to get the men I want。 ＇37＇
I mean also to take a corps of smiths； carpenters； and cobblers； men
of military age； provided with the proper tools； to supply any
possible need。 These men will not be in the fighting…line； but they
will have a place assigned to them where they can be hired by any one
who likes。 ＇38＇ If any huckster wishes to follow the army with his
wares； he may do so； but if caught selling anything during the fifteen
days for which provisions have been ordered； he will be deprived of
all his goods： after the fifteen days are done he may sell what he
likes。 Any merchant who offers us a well…stocked market will receive
recompense and honour from the allies and myself。 ＇39＇ And if any one
needs an advance of money for trading； he must send me guarantors who
will undertake that he will march with the army； and then he can draw
on our funds。 These are the general orders： and I will ask any of you
who think that anything has been omitted to point it out to me。 ＇40＇
You will now go back to your quarters and make your preparations； and
while you do so I will offer sacrifice for our journey and when the
signs are favourable we will give the signal。 At that you must present
yourselves； with everything I have ordered； at the appointed place；
under your own officers。 ＇41＇ And you； gentlemen；〃 said he； turning to
the officers； 〃when your divisions are all in line； you will come to
me in a body to receive your final orders。〃
＇C。3＇ With these instructions the army went to make their preparations
while Cyrus offered sacrifice。
As soon as the victims were favourable； he set out with his force。
On the first day they encamped as near by as possible； so that
anything left behind could easily be fetched and any omission readily
supplied。 ＇2＇ Cyaxares stayed in Media with a third of the Median
troops in order not to leave their own country undefended。 Cyrus
himself pushed forward with all possible speed； keeping his cavalry in
the van and constantly sending explorers and scouts ahead to some
look…out。 Behind the cavalry came the baggage； and on the plains he
had long strings of waggons and beasts of burden； and the main army
behind them； so that if any of the baggage…train fell back； the
officers who caught them up would see that they did not lose their
places in the march。 ＇3＇ But where the road was narrower the fighting…
men marched on either side with the baggage in the middle； and in case
of any block it was the business of the soldiers on the spot to attend
to the matter。 As a rule； the different regiments would be marching
alongside their own baggage； orders having been given that all members
of the train should advance by regiments unless absolutely prevented。
＇4＇ To help matters the brigadier's own body…servant led the way with
an ensign known to his men； so that each regiment marched together；
the men doing their best to keep up with their comrades。 Thus there
was no need to search for each other； everything was to hand； there
was greater security； and the soldiers could get what they wanted more
quickly。
＇5＇ After some days the scouts ahead thought they could see people in
the plain collecting fodder and timber； and then they made out beasts
of burden； some grazing and others already laden； and as they scanned
the distance they felt sure they could distinguish something that was
either smoke rising or clouds of dust； and from all this they
concluded that the enemy's army was not far off。 ＇6＇ Whereupon their
commander despatched a messenger with the news to Cyrus； who sent back
word that the scouts should stay where they were； on their look…out；
and tell him if they saw anything more； while he ordered a squadron of
cavalry to ride forward； and intercept； if they could； some of the men
on the plain and so discover the actual state of affairs。 ＇7＇ While
the detachment carried out this order Cyrus halted the rest of his
army to make such dispositions as he thought necessary before coming
to close quarters。 His first order was for the troops to take their
breakfast： after breakfast they were to fall in and wait for the word
of command。 ＇8＇ When breakfast was over he sent for all the officers
from the cavalry； the infantry； and the chariot brigade； and for the
commanders of the battering engines and the baggage train； and they
came to him。 ＇9＇ Meanwhile the troop of horse had dashed into the
plain； cut off some of the men； and now brought them in captive。 The
prisoners； on being questioned by Cyrus； said they belonged to the
camp and had gone out to forage or cut wood and so had passed beyond
their own pickets； for； owing to the size of their army； everything
was scarce。
＇10＇ 〃How far is your army from here？〃 asked Cyrus。 〃About seven
miles；〃 said they。 〃Was there any talk about us down there？〃 said he。
〃We should think there was；〃 they answered； 〃it was all over the camp
that you were coming。〃 〃Ah；〃 said Cyrus； 〃I suppose they were glad to
hear we were coming so soon？〃 （putting this question for his officers
to hear the answer）。 〃That they were not；〃 said the prisoners； 〃they
were anything but glad； they were miserable。〃 ＇11＇ 〃And what are they
doing now？〃 asked Cyrus。 〃Forming their line of battle；〃 answered
they； 〃yesterday and the day before they did the same。〃
〃And their commander？〃 said Cyrus； 〃who is he？〃 〃Croesus himself；〃
said they； 〃and with him a Greek； and also another man； a Mede； who is
said to be a deserter from you。〃
〃Ah；〃 cried Cyrus； 〃is that so？ Most mighty Zeus； may I deal with him
as I wish！〃
＇12＇ Then he had the prisoners led away and turned to speak to his
officers； but at this moment another scout appeared； saying that a
large force of cavalry was in the plain。 〃We think；〃 he added； 〃that
they are trying to get a sight of our army。 For about thirty of them
are riding ahead at a good round pace and they seem to be coming
straight for our little company； perhaps to capture our look…out if
they can； for there are only ten of us there。〃
＇13＇ At that Cyrus sent off a detachment from his own bodyguard；
bidding them gallop up to the place； unseen by the enemy； and stay
there motionless。 〃Wait；〃 he said； 〃until our own ten must leave the
spot and then dash out on the thirty as they come up the hill。 And to
prevent any injury from the larger body； do you； Hystaspas；〃 said he；
turning to the latter； 〃ride out with a thousand horse； and let them
see you suddenly； face to face。 But remember not to pursue them out of
sight； come back as soon as you have secured our post。 And if any of
your opponents ride up with their right hands raised； welcome them as
friends。〃
＇14＇ Accordingly Hystaspas went off and got under arms； while the
bodyguard galloped to the spot。 But before they reached the scouts；
some one met them with his squires； the man who had been sent out as a
spy； the guardian of the lady from Susa； Araspas himself。 ＇15＇ When
the news reached Cyrus； he sprang up from his seat； went to meet him
himself； and clasped his hand； but the others； who of course knew
nothing； were utterly dumbfounded； until Cyrus said：
〃Gentlemen； the best of our friends has come back to us。 It is high
time that all men should know what he has done。 It was not through any
baseness； or any weakness； or any fear of me； that he left us； it was
because I sent him to be my messenger； to learn the enemy's doings and
bring us word。 ＇16＇ Araspas； I have not forgotten what I promised you；
I will repay you； we will all repay you。 For； gentlemen； it is only
just that all of you should pay him honour。 Good and true I call him
who risked himself for our good； and took upon himself a reproach that
was heavy to bear。〃
＇17＇ At that all crowded round Araspas and took him by the hand and
made him welcome。 Then Cyrus spoke again：
〃Enough； my friends； Araspas has news for us； and it is time to hear
it。 Tell us your tale； Araspas； keep back nothing of the truth； and do
not make out the power of the enemy less than it really is。 It is far
better that we should find it smaller than we looked for rather than
strong beyond our expectations。〃 ＇18＇ 〃Well；〃 began Araspas； 〃in order
to learn their numbers； I managed to be present at the marshalling of
their troops。〃 〃Then you can tell us；〃 s