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〃Think what blessings we are flinging away now； spurning； as it were；
the very gifts of heaven！ So at least it seems to me。 The enemy have
given us the slip； as you see with your own eyes。 Is it likely that
men who forsook the shelter of their own fortress will ever face us in
fair field on level ground？ Will those who shrink from us before they
put our prowess to the test ever withstand us now when we have
overthrown and shattered them？ They have lost their best and bravest；
and will the cowards dare to give us battle？〃
＇11＇ At that one of his officers cried； 〃Why not pursue at once； if
such triumphs are before us？〃
And Cyrus answered； 〃Because we have not the horses。 The stoutest of
our enemies； those whom we must seize or slay； are mounted on steeds
that could sweep past us like the wind。 God helping us； we can put
them to flight； but we cannot overtake them。〃
＇12＇ 〃Then；〃 said they； 〃why not go and lay the matter before
Cyaxares？〃
And he answered； 〃If so； you must all go with me； that Cyaxares may
see it is the wish of all。〃
So they all went together and spoke as they thought best。 ＇13＇ Now
Cyaxares felt； no doubt； a certain jealousy that the Persians should
be the first to broach the matter； but he may also have felt that it
was really wiser to run no further risks for the present； he had；
moreover； abandoned himself to feasting and merrymaking； and he saw
that most of his Medes were in like case。 Whatever the reason； this
was the answer he gave：
＇14＇ 〃My good nephew； I have always heard and always seen that you
Persians of all men think it your duty never to be insatiate in the
pursuit of any pleasure； and I myself believe that the greater the joy
the more important is self…restraint。 Now what greater joy could there
be than the good fortune which waits on us to…day？ ＇15＇ When fortune
comes to us； if we guard her with discretion； we may live to grow old
in peace； but if we are insatiate； if we use and abuse our pleasures；
chasing first one and then another； we may well fear lest that fate be
ours which； the proverb tells us； falls on those mariners who cannot
forgo their voyages in the pursuit of wealth； and one day the deep sea
swallows them。 Thus has many a warrior achieved one victory only to
clutch at another and lose the first。 ＇16＇ If indeed； our enemies who
have fled were weaker than we； it might be safe enough to pursue them。
But now； bethink you； how small a portion of them we have fought and
conquered； the mass have had no part in the battle； and they； if we do
not force them to fight； will take themselves off through sheer
cowardice and sloth。 As yet they know nothing of our powers or their
own； but if they learn that to fly is as dangerous as to hold their
ground； we run the risk of driving them to be brave in spite of
themselves。 ＇17＇ You may be sure they are just as anxious to save
their wives and children as you can be to capture them。 Take a lesson
from hunting： the wild sow when she is sighted will scamper away with
her young； though she be feeding with the herd； but if you attack her
little ones she will never fly； even if she is all alone； she will
turn on the hunters。 ＇18＇ Yesterday the enemy shut themselves up in a
fort； and then handed themselves over to us to choose how many we
cared to fight。 But if we meet them in open country； and they learn
how to divide their forces and take us in front and flank and rear； I
wonder how many pairs of eyes and hands each man of us would need！
Finally；〃 he added； 〃I have no great wish myself to disturb my Medes
in their enjoyment； and drive them out to further dangers。〃
＇19＇ Then Cyrus took him up： 〃Nay； I would not have you put pressure
on any man； only let those who are willing follow me； and perhaps we
shall come back with something for all of you to enjoy。 The mass of
the enemy we should not think of pursuing； indeed； how could we
overtake them？ But if we cut off any stragglers； we could clap hands
on them and bring them back to you。 ＇20＇ Remember；〃 he added； 〃when
you sent for us； we came a long way to do you service； is it not fair
that you should do us a kindness in return； and let us have something
to take back with us for ourselves； and not stand here agape at all
your treasures？〃
＇21＇ At that Cyaxares answered； 〃Ah； if any will follow you of their
own free will； I can but be most grateful。〃
〃Send some one with me then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃from these trusty men of
yours； to carry your commands。〃
〃Take whomever you like；〃 he answered； 〃and begone。〃
＇22＇ Now； as it chanced； among the officers present was the Mede who
had claimed kinship with Cyrus long ago and won a kiss thereby。 Cyrus
pointed to him and said； 〃That man will do for me。〃 〃He shall go with
you then；〃 Cyaxares replied。 And turning to the officer； 〃Tell your
fellows；〃 he said； 〃that he who lists may follow Cyrus。〃 ＇23＇ Thus
Cyrus chose his man and went forth。 And when they were outside he
said； 〃To…day you can show me if you spoke truth long ago when you
told me that the sight of me was your joy。〃
〃If you say that；〃 said the Mede； 〃I will never leave you。〃
〃And will you not do your best；〃 added Cyrus； 〃to bring me others
too？〃 〃By the gods in heaven；〃 cried the Mede； 〃that I will； until you
say in your turn that to see me is your joy。〃 Thereupon； with the
authority of Cyaxares to support him； the officer went to the Medes
and delivered with message with all diligence； adding that he for one
would never forsake Cyrus； the bravest； noblest； and best of men； and
a hero whose lineage was divine。
＇C。2＇ While Cyrus was busied with these matters； by some strange
chance two ambassadors arrived from the Hyrcanians。 These people are
neighbours of the Assyrians； and being few in number； they were held
in subjection。 But they seemed then； as they seem now； to live on
horseback。 Hence the Assyrians used them as the Lacedaemonians employ
the Skirites； for every toil and every danger； without sparing them。
In fact； at that very moment they had ordered them to furnish a rear…
guard of a thousand men and more； so as to bear the brunt of any rear
attack。 ＇2＇ The Hyrcanians； as they were to be the hindmost； had put
their waggons and families in the rear； for； like most of the tribes
in Asia； they take their entire households with them on the march。 ＇3＇
But when they thought of the sorry treatment they got from the
Assyrians and when they saw the king fallen； the army worsted and a
prey to panic； the allies disheartened and ready to desert； they
judged it a fine moment to revolt themselves； if only the Medes and
Persians would make common cause with them。 So they sent an embassy to
Cyrus； for after the late battle there was no name like his。 ＇4＇ They
told him what good cause they had to hate the Assyrians； and how if he
was willing to attack them now； they themselves would be his allies
and show him the way。 At the same time they gave a full account of the
enemy's doings； being eager to get Cyrus on the road。 ＇5＇ 〃Do you
think；〃 said Cyrus； 〃we should overtake the Assyrians before they
reach their fortresses？ We look on it as a great misfortune；〃 he
added； 〃that they ever slipped throu