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！
reach their fortresses？ We look on it as a great misfortune；〃 he
added； 〃that they ever slipped through our fingers and escaped。〃 （This
he said； wishing to give his hearers as high an opinion as possible of
himself and his friends。） ＇6＇ 〃You should certainly catch them；〃 they
answered； 〃and that to…morrow； ere the day is old； if you gird up your
loins： they move heavily because of their numbers and their train of
waggons； and to…day； since they did not sleep last night； they have
only gone a little way ahead； and are now encamped for the evening。〃
＇7＇ 〃Can you give us any guarantee；〃 said Cyrus； 〃that what you say is
true？〃
〃We will give you hostages；〃 they said； 〃we will ride off at once and
bring them back this very night。 Only do you on your side call the
gods to witness and give us the pledge of your own right hand； that we
may give our people the assurance we have received from you
ourselves。〃
＇8＇ Thereupon Cyrus gave them his pledge that if they would make good
what they promised he would treat them as his true friends and
faithful followers； of no less account than the Persians and the
Medes。 And to this day one may see Hyrcanians treated with trust and
holding office on an equal footing with Persians and Medes of high
distinction。
＇9＇ Now Cyrus and his men took their supper and then while it was
still daylight he led his army out； having made the two Hyrcanians
wait so that they might go with them。 The Persians； of course； were
with him to a man； and Tigranes was there； with his own contingent；
and the Median volunteers； who had joined for various reasons。 ＇10＇
Some had been friends of Cyrus in boyhood； others had hunted with him
and learnt to admire his character； others were grateful； feeling he
had lifted a load of fear from them； others were flushed with hope；
nothing doubting that great things were reserved for the man who had
proved so brave and so fortunate already。 Others remembered the time
when he was brought up in Media； and were glad to return the
kindnesses that he had shown them； many could recall the favours the
boy had won for them from his grandfather through his sheer goodness
of heart； and many； now that they had seen the Hyrcanians and heard
say they were leading them to untold treasures； went out from simple
love of gain。 ＇11＇ So they sallied forth； the entire body of the
Persians and all the Medes； except those who were quartered with
Cyaxares： these stayed behind； and their men with them。 But all the
rest went out with radiant faces and eager hearts； not following him
from constraint； but offering willing service in their gratitude。 ＇12＇
So； as soon as they were well afield； Cyrus went to the Medes and
thanked them； praying that the gods in their mercy might guide them
all； and that he himself might have power given him to reward their
zeal。 He ended by saying that the infantry would lead the van； while
they would follow with the cavalry； and whenever the column halted on
the march they were to send him gallopers to receive his orders。 ＇13＇
Then he bade the Hyrcanians lead the way； but they exclaimed； 〃What？
Are you not going to wait until we bring the hostages？ Then you could
begin the march with pledges from us in return for yours。〃
But he answered； as the story says； 〃If I am not mistaken； we hold the
pledges now； in our own hearts and our own right hands。 We believe
that if you are true to us we can do you service； and if you play us
false； you will not have us at your mercy； God willing； we shall hold
you at ours。 Nevertheless；〃 he added； 〃since you tell us your own folk
follow in the Assyrian rear； point them out to us as soon as you set
eyes upon them； that we may spare their lives。〃
＇14＇ When the Hyrcanians heard this they led the way as he ordered；
marvelling at his strength of soul。 Their own fear of the Assyrians；
the Lydians； and their allies； had altogether gone； their dread now
was lest Cyrus should regard themselves as mere dust in the balance；
and count it of no importance whether they stayed with him or not。
＇15＇ As night closed in on their march； the legend runs that a strange
light shone out； far off in the sky； upon Cyrus and his host； filling
them with awe of the heavenly powers and courage to meet the foe。
Marching as they did； their loins girt and their pace swift； they
covered a long stretch of road in little time； and with the half light
of the morning they were close to the Hyrcanian rear…guard。 ＇16＇ As
soon as the guides saw it； they told Cyrus that these were their own
men： they knew this； they added； from the number of their fires； and
the fact that they were in the rear。 ＇17＇ Therefore Cyrus sent one of
the guides to them； bidding them come out at once； if they were
friendly； with their right hands raised。 And he sent one of his own
men also to say； 〃According as you make your approach； so shall we
Persians comport ourselves。〃
Thus one of the two messengers stayed with Cyrus while the other rode
up to his fellows。 ＇18＇ Cyrus halted his army to watch what the tribe
would do； and Tigranes and the Median officers rode along the ranks to
ask for orders。 Cyrus explained that the troops nearest to them were
the Hyrcanians； and that one of the ambassadors had gone； and a
Persian with him； to bid them come out at once； if they were friendly；
with their right hands raised。 〃If they do so；〃 he added； 〃you must
welcome them as they come； each of you at your post； and take them by
the hand and encourage them； but if they draw sword or try to escape；
you must make an example of them： not a man of them must be left。〃
Such were his orders。 ＇19＇ However； as soon as the Hyrcanians heard
the message； they were overjoyed： springing to their steeds they
galloped up to Cyrus； holding out their right hands as he had bidden。
Then the Medes and Persians gave them the right hand of fellowship in
return； and bade them be of courage。 ＇20＇ And Cyrus spoke：
〃Sons of the Hyrcanians； we have shown our trust in you already； and
you must trust us in return。 And now tell me； how far from here do the
Assyrian headquarters lie； and their main body？〃 〃About four miles
hence；〃 they answered。
＇21＇ 〃Forward then； my men；〃 said Cyrus； 〃Persians； Medes； and
Hyrcanians。 I have learnt already； you see； to call you friends and
comrades。 All of you must remember that the moment has come when； if
hand falters or heart fails； we meet with utter disaster： our enemies
know why we are here。 But if we summon our strength and charge home；
you shall see them caught like a pack of runaway slaves； some on their
knees； others in full flight； and the rest unable to do even so much
for themselves。 They are beaten already； and they will see their
conquerors fall on them before they dream of an approach； before their
ranks are formed or their preparations made； and the sight will
paralyse them。 ＇22＇ If we wish to sleep and eat and live in peace and
happiness from this time forth； let us not give them leisure to take
counsel or arrange defence； or so much as see that we are men； and not
a storm of shields and battle…axes and flashing swords； sweeping on
them in one rain of blows。 ＇23＇ You Hyrcanians must