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could manage to join us。〃 〃And what stands in their way？〃 asked he。
〃The Assyrians themselves；〃 said they； 〃the very people among whom you
are marching now。〃 ＇27＇ At that Cyrus turned to Gobryas：
〃And what of this lad who is now on the throne？ Did you not charge him
with unbridled insolence？〃
〃Even so；〃 replied Gobryas； 〃and I think he gave me cause。〃 〃Tell me；〃
said Cyrus； 〃were you the only man he treated thus； or did others
suffer too？〃
＇28＇ 〃Many others；〃 said Gobryas； 〃but some of them were weak； and why
should I weary you with the insults they endured？ I will tell you of a
young man whose father was a much greater personage than I； and who
was himself； like my own son； a friend and comrade of the prince。 One
day at a drinking…bout this monster had the youth seized and
mutilated； and why？ Some say simply because a paramour of his own had
praised the boy's beauty and said his bride was a woman to be envied。
The king himself now asserts it was because he had tried to seduce his
paramour。 That young man； eunuch as he is； is now at the head of his
province； for his father is dead。〃
＇29＇ 〃Well；〃 rejoined Cyrus； 〃I take it； you believe he would welcome
us； if he thought we came to help him？〃 〃I am more than sure of that；〃
said Gobryas； 〃but it is not so easy to set eyes on him。〃 〃And why？〃
asked Cyrus。 〃Because if we are to join him at all； we must march
right past Babylon itself。〃 ＇30＇ 〃And where is the difficulty in
that？〃 said Cyrus。 〃Heaven help us！〃 cried Gobryas。 〃The city has only
to open her gates； and she can send out an army ten thousand times as
large as yours。 That is why；〃 he added； 〃the Assyrians are less prompt
than they were at bringing in their weapons and their horses； because
those who have seen your army think it so very small； and their report
has got about。 So that in my opinion it would be better to advance
with the utmost care。〃
＇31＇ Cyrus listened and replied。
〃You do well； Gobryas； my friend； in urging as much care as possible。
But I cannot myself see a safer route for us than the direct advance
on Babylon； if Babylon is the centre of the enemy's strength。 They are
numerous； you say； and if they are in good heart； we shall soon know
it。 ＇32＇ Now； if they cannot find us and imagine that we have
disappeared from fear of them； you may take it as certain that they
will be quit of the terror we have inspired。 Courage will spring up in
its place； and grow the greater the longer we lie hid。 But if we march
straight on then； we shall find them still mourning for the dead whom
we have slain； still nursing the wounds we have inflicted； still
trembling at the daring of our troops； still mindful of their own
discomfiture and flight。 ＇33＇ Gobryas；〃 he added； 〃be assured of this；
men in the mass； when aflame with courage； are irresistible； and when
their hearts fail them； the more numerous they are the worse the panic
that seizes them。 ＇34＇ It comes upon them magnified by a thousand
lies； blanched by a thousand pallors； it gathers head from a thousand
terror…stricken looks； until it grows so great that no orator can
allay it by his words； no general arouse the old courage by a charge；
or revive the old confidence by retreat； the more their leader cheers
them on； the worse do the soldiers take their case to be。 ＇35＇ Now by
all means let us see exactly how things stand with us。 If from
henceforward victory must fall to those who can reckon the largest
numbers； your fears for us are justified； and we are indeed in fearful
danger； but if the old rule still holds； and battles are decided by
the qualities of those who fight； then； I say； take heart and you will
never fail。 You will find far more stomach for the fight among our
ranks than theirs。 ＇36＇ And to hearten you the more； take note of
this： our enemies are far fewer now than when we worsted them； far
weaker than when they fled from us； while we are stronger because we
are conquerors； and greater because fortune has been ours； yes； and
actually more numerous because you and yours have joined us； for I
would not have you hold your men too low； now that they are side by
side with us。 In the company of conquerors； Gobryas； the hearts of the
followers beat high。 ＇37＇ Nor should you forget；〃 he added； 〃that the
enemy is well able to see us as it is； and the sight of us will
certainly not be more alarming if we wait for him where we are than if
we advance against him。 That is my opinion； and now you must lead us
straight for Babylon。〃
＇C。3＇ And so the march continued； and on the fourth day they found
themselves at the limit of the territory over which Gobryas ruled。
Since they were now in the enemy's country Cyrus changed the
disposition of his men； taking the infantry immediately under his own
command； with sufficient cavalry to support them； and sending the rest
of the mounted troops to scour the land。 Their orders were to cut down
every one with arms in his hands； and drive in the rest； with all the
cattle they could find。 The Persians were ordered to take part in this
raid； and though many came home with nothing for their trouble but a
toss from their horses； others brought back a goodly store of booty。
＇2＇ When the spoil was all brought in； Cyrus summoned the officers of
the Medes and the Hyrcanians； as well as his own peers； and spoke as
follows：
〃My friends； Gobryas has entertained us nobly； he has showered good
things upon us。 What say you then？ After we have set aside the
customary portion for the gods and a fair share for the army； shall we
not give all the rest of the spoil to him？ Would it not be a noble
thing； a sign and symbol at the outset that we desire to outdo in
well…doing those who do good to us？〃
＇3＇ At that all his hearers with one consent applauded； and a certain
officer rose and said：
〃By all means； Cyrus； let us do so。 I myself cannot but feel that
Gobryas must have thought us almost beggars because we were not laden
with coins of gold and did not drink from golden goblets。 But if we do
this； he will understand that men may be free and liberal without the
help of gold。〃
＇4＇ 〃Come then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃let us pay the priests our debt to
heaven； select what the army requires； and then summon Gobryas and
give the rest to him。〃
So they took what they needed and gave all the rest to Gobryas。
＇5＇ Forthwith Cyrus pressed on towards Babylon； his troops in battle
order。 But as the Assyrians did not come out to meet them； he bade
Gobryas ride forward and deliver this message：
〃If the king will come out to fight for his land； I； Gobryas； will
fight for him； but； if he will not defend his own country； we must
yield to the conquerors。〃
＇6＇ So Gobryas rode forward； just far enough to deliver the message in
safety。 And the king sent a messenger to answer him：
〃Thy master says to thee： 'It repents me； Gobryas； not that I slew thy
son； but that I stayed my hand from slaying thee。 And now if ye will
do battle； come again on the thirtieth day from hence。 We have no
leisure now； our preparations are still on foot。'〃
＇7＇ And Gobryas made answer：
〃It repents thee： may that repentance never cease！ I have begun to
make thee suff