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Aribaius the king of Cappadocia with 6000 horse and 30；000 archers and
targeteers。 And Aragdus the Arabian with 10；000 horse； a hundred
chariots； and innumerable slingers。 As for the Hellenes who dwell in
Asia； it is not clear as yet whether they will send a following or
not。 But the Phrygians from the Hellespont； we are told； are mustering
in the Caystrian plain under Gabaidus； 6000 horse and 40；000
targeteers。 Word has been sent to the Carians； Cilicians； and
Paphlagonians； but it is said they will not rise； the Lord of Assyria
and Babylon will himself； I believe； bring not less than 20；000 horse；
and I make no doubt as many as 200 chariots； and thousands upon
thousands of men on foot； such at least has been his custom whenever
he invaded us before。〃
＇6＇ Cyrus answered： 〃Then you reckon the numbers of the enemy to be；
in all； something like 60；000 horse and 200；000 archers and
targeteers。 And what do you take your own to be？〃
〃Well；〃 he answered； 〃we ourselves can furnish over 10；000 horse and
perhaps； considering the state of the country； as many as 60；000
archers and targeteers。 And from our neighbours； the Armenians；〃 he
added； 〃we look to get 4000 horse and 20；000 foot。〃
〃I see；〃 said Cyrus； 〃you reckon our cavalry at less than a third of
the enemy's； and our infantry at less than half。〃
＇7＇ 〃Ah；〃 said Cyaxares； 〃and perhaps you feel that the force you are
bringing from Persia is very small？〃
〃We will consider that later on；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃and see then if we
require more men or not。 Tell me first the methods of fighting that
the different troops adopt。〃
〃They are much the same for all；〃 answered Cyaxares； 〃that is to say；
their men and ours alike are armed with bows and javelins。〃
〃Well；〃 replied Cyrus； 〃if such arms are used； skirmishing at long
range must be the order of the day。〃 〃True；〃 said the other。 ＇8＇ 〃And
in that case；〃 went on Cyrus； 〃the victory is in the hands of the
larger force； for even if the same numbers fall on either side； the
few would be exhausted long before the many。〃 〃If that be so；〃 cried
Cyaxares； 〃there is nothing left for us but to send to Persia； and
make them see that if disaster falls on Media it will fall on Persia
next； and beg them for a larger force。〃 〃Ah； but；〃 said Cyrus； 〃you
must remember that even if every single Persian were to come at once；
we could not outnumber our enemies。〃 ＇9＇ 〃But；〃 said the other； 〃can
you see anything else to be done？〃 〃For my part；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃if
I could have my way； I would arm every Persian who is coming here in
precisely the same fashion as our Peers at home； that is to say； with
a corslet for the breast； a shield for the left arm； and a sword or
battle…axe for the right hand。 If you will give us these you will make
it quite safe for us to close with the enemy； and our foes will find
that flight is far pleasanter than defence。 But we Persians；〃 he
added； 〃will deal with those who do stand firm； leaving the fugitives
to you and to your cavalry； who must give them no time to rally and no
time to escape。〃
＇10＇ That was the counsel of Cyrus； and Cyaxares approved it。 He
thought no more of sending for a larger force； but set about preparing
the equipment he had been asked for； and all was in readiness just
about the time when the Peers arrived from Persia at the head of their
own troops。 ＇11＇ Then； so says the story； Cyrus called the Peers
together and spoke to them as follows： 〃Men of Persia； my friends and
comrades； when I looked at you first and saw the arms you bore and how
you were all on fire to meet the enemy； hand to hand； and when I
remembered that your squires are only equipped for fighting on the
outskirts of the field； I confess my mind misgave me。 Few and forlorn
they will be； I said to myself； swallowed up in a host of enemies； no
good can come of it。 But to…day you are here； and your men behind you；
stalwart and stout of limb； and to…morrow they shall have armour like
our own。 None could find fault with their thews and sinews； and as for
their spirit； it is for us to see it does not fail。 A leader must not
only have a stout heart himself； he must see to it that his followers
are as valiant as he。〃
＇12＇ Thus Cyrus spoke； and the Peers were well satisfied at his words；
feeling that on the day of battle they would have more to help them in
the struggle。 ＇13＇ And one of them said； 〃Perhaps it will seem strange
if I ask Cyrus to speak in our stead to our fellow…combatants when
they receive their arms； and yet I know well that the words of him who
has the greatest power for weal or woe sink deepest into the
listener's heart。 His very gifts； though they should be less than the
gifts of equals； are valued more。 These new comrades of ours；〃 he went
on； 〃would rather be addressed by Cyrus himself than by us； and now
that they are to take their place among the Peers their title will
seem to them far more secure if it is given them by the king's own son
and our general…in…chief。 Not that we have not still our own duties
left。 We are bound to do our best in every way to rouse the spirit of
our men。 Shall we not gain ourselves by all they gain in valour？〃
＇14＇ So it came about that Cyrus had the new armour placed before him
and summoned a general meeting of the Persian soldiery； and spoke to
them as follows：
＇15＇ 〃Men of Persia； born and bred in the same land as ourselves；
whose limbs are as stout and as strong as our own； your hearts should
be as brave。 I know they are； and yet at home in the land of our
fathers you did not share our rights； not that we drove you out
ourselves； but you were banished by the compulsion that lay upon you
to find your livelihood for yourselves。 Now from this day forward；
with heaven's help； it shall be my care to provide it for you； and
now； if so you will； you have it in your power to take the armour that
we wear ourselves； face the same perils and win the same honours； if
so be you make any glorious deed your own。 ＇16＇ In former days you
were trained； like ourselves； in the use of bow and javelin； and if
you were at all inferior to us in skill； that was not to be wondered
at； you had not the same leisure for practice as we； but now in this
new accoutrement we shall have no pre…eminence at all。 Each of us will
wear a corslet fitted to his breast and carry a shield on his left arm
of the type to which we are all accustomed； and in his right hand a
sabre or a battle…axe。 With these we shall smite the enemy before us；
and need have no fear that we shall miss the mark。 ＇17＇ How can we
differ from one another with these arms？ There can be no difference
except in daring。 And daring you may foster in your hearts as much as
we in ours。 What greater right have we than you to love victory and
follow after her； victory who wins for us and preserves to us all
things that are beautiful and good？ Why should you； any more than we；
be found lacking in that power which takes the goods of weaklings and
bestows them on the strong？〃
＇18＇ He ended： 〃Now you have heard all。 There lie your weapons； let
him who chooses take them up and write his name with the brigadier in
the same roll as ours。 And if a man pref