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being not a bad； but a lightheaded； thoughtless man； immediately the
king took it off； put it on； and bedecked himself further with royal
golden necklaces and women's ornaments； to the great scandal of
everybody； the thing being quite unlawful。 But the king laughed and
told him； 〃You have my leave to wear the trinkets as a woman； and
the robe of state as a fool。〃 And whereas none usually sat down to eat
with the king besides his mother and his wedded wife； the former being
placed above； the other below him； Artaxerxes invited also to his
table his two younger brothers； Ostanes and Oxathres。 But what was the
most popular thing of all among the Persians was the sight of his wife
Statira's chariot； which always appeared with its curtains down；
allowing her country…women to salute and approach her； which made
the queen a great favourite with the people。
Yet busy； factious men； that delighted in change； professed it to be
their opinion that the times needed Cyrus； a man of great spirit； an
excellent warrior； and a lover of his friends； and that the
largeness of their empire absolutely required a bold and
enterprising prince。 Cyrus； then； not only relying upon those of his
own province near the sea； but upon many of those in the upper
countries near the king； commenced the war against him。 He wrote to
the Lacedaemonians； bidding them come to his assistance and supply him
with men； assuring them that to those who came to him on foot he would
give horses； and to the horsemen chariots； that upon those who had
farms he would bestow villages； and those who were lords of villages
he would make so of cities； and that those who would be his soldiers
should receive their pay； not by count； but by weight。 And among
many other high praises of himself； he said he had the stronger
soul； was more a philosopher and a better Magian； and could drink
and bear more wine than his brother； who； as he averred； was such a
coward and so little like a man； that he could neither sit his horse
in hunting nor his throne in time of danger。 The Lacedaemonians； his
letter being read； sent a staff to Clearchus； commanding him to obey
Cyrus in all things。 So Cyrus marched towards the king； having under
his conduct a numerous host of barbarians； and but little less than
thirteen thousand stipendiary Grecians； alleging first one cause； then
another； for his expedition。 Yet the true reason lay not long
concealed； but Tisaphernes went to the king in person to declare it。
Thereupon； the court was all in an uproar and tumult； the queen…mother
bearing almost the whole blame of the enterprise； and her retainers
being suspected and accused。 Above all； Statira angered her by
bewailing the war and passionately demanding where were now the
pledges and the intercession which saved the life of him that
conspired against his brother； 〃to the end；〃 she said； 〃that he
might plunge us all into war and trouble。〃 For which words Parysatis
hating Statira； and being naturally implacable and savage in her anger
and revenge； consulted how she might destroy her。 But since Dinon
tells us that her purpose took effect in the time of the war； and
Ctesias says it was after it； I shall keep the story for the place
to which the latter assigns it； as it is very unlikely that he； who
was actually present； should not know the time when it happened； and
there was no motive to induce him designedly to misplace its date in
his narrative of it； though it is not infrequent with him in his
history to make excursions from truth into mere fiction and romance。
As Cyrus was upon the march； rumours and reports were brought him；
as though the king still deliberated； and were not minded to fight and
presently to join battle with him； but to wait in the heart of his
kingdom until his forces should have come in thither from all parts of
his dominions。 He had cut a trench through the plain ten fathoms in
breadth； and as many in depth the length of it being no less than four
hundred furlongs； he be allowed Cyrus to pass across it； and to
advance almost to the city of Babylon。 Then Teribazus； as the report
goes； was the first that had the boldness to tell the king that he
ought not to avoid the conflict； nor to abandon Media； Babylon； and
even Susa； and hide himself in Persis； when all the while he had an
army many times over more numerous than his enemies； and an infinite
company of governors and captains that were better soldiers and
politicians than Cyrus。 So at last he resolved to fight； as soon as it
was possible for him。 Making； therefore； his first appearance； all
on a sudden； at the head of nine hundred thousand well…marshalled men；
he so startled and surprised the enemy； who with the confidence of
contempt were marching on their way in no order； and with their arms
not ready for use； that Cyrus； in the midst of such noise and
tumult； was scarcely able to form them for battle。 Moreover； the
very manner in which he led on his men； silently and slowly； made
the Grecians stand amazed at his good discipline； who had expected
irregular shouting and leaping； much confusion and separation
between one body of men and another； in so vast a multitude of troops。
He also placed the choicest of his armed chariots in the front of
his own phalanx over against the Grecian troops； that a violent charge
with these might cut open their ranks before they closed with them。
But as this battle is described by many historians； and Xenophon
in particular as good as shows it us by eyesight； not as a past event；
but as a present action； and by his vivid account makes his hearers
feel all the passions and join in all the dangers of it； it would be
folly in me to give any larger account of it than barely to mention
any things omitted by him which yet deserve to be recorded。 The place；
then； in which the two armies were drawn out is called Cunaxa； being
about five hundred furlongs distant from Babylon。 And here Clearchus
beseeching Cyrus before the fight to retire behind the combatants； and
not expose himself to hazard； they say he replied； 〃What is this；
Clearchus？ Would you have me； who aspire to empire； show myself
unworthy of it？〃 But if Cyrus committed a great fault in entering
headlong into the midst of danger； and not paying any regard to his
own safety； Clearchus was as much to blame； if not more； in refusing
to lead the Greeks against the main body of the enemy； where the
king stood； and in keeping his right wing close to the river； for fear
of being surrounded。 For if he wanted； above all other things； to be
safe； and considered it his first object to sleep in a whole skin；
it had been his best way not to have stirred from home。 But； after
marching in arms ten thousand furlongs from the sea…coast； simply on
his choosing； for the purpose of placing Cyrus on the throne； to
look about and select a position which would enable him； not to
preserve him under whose pay and conduct he was； but himself to engage
with more ease and security； seemed much like one that through fear of
present dangers had abandoned the purpose of his actions； and been
false to the design of his expedition。 For it is evident from the very
event of the b