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！
can。〃
＇29＇ So Gadatas was gone； and Cyrus called together all the officers
of the allies； and a great and goodly company they seemed； noble
gentlemen； beautiful and brave。 And Cyrus stood up among them all and
said：
＇30＇ 〃My allies and my friends； Gadatas has done deeds that we all
feel worthy of high reward； and that too before ever he had received
any benefit from us。 The Assyrians； we hear； have now invaded his
territory； to take vengeance for the monstrous injury they consider he
has done them； and moreover； they doubtless argue that if those who
revolt to us escape scot…free； while those who stand by them are cut
to pieces； ere long they will not have a single supporter on their
side。 ＇31＇ To…day； gentlemen； we may do a gallant deed； if we rescue
Gadatas； our friend and benefactor； and truly it is only just and
right thus to repay gift for gift； and boon for boon。 Moreover； as it
seems to me； what we accomplish will be much to our own interest。 ＇32＇
If all men see that we are ready to give blow for blow and sting for
sting； while we outdo our benefactors in generous deeds； it is only
natural that multitudes will long to be our friends； and no man care
to be our foe。 ＇33＇ Whereas； if it be thought that we left Gadatas in
the lurch； how in heaven's name shall we persuade another to show us
any kindness？ How shall we dare to think well of ourselves again？ How
shall one of us look Gadatas in the face； when all of us； so many and
so strong； showed ourselves less generous than he； one single man and
in so sore a plight？〃
＇34＇ Thus Cyrus spoke； and all of them assented right willingly； and
said it must be done。
〃Come then；〃 concluded Cyrus； 〃since you are all of one mind with me；
let each of us choose an escort for our waggons and beasts of burden。
＇35＇ Let us leave them behind us； and put Gobryas at their head。 He is
acquainted with the roads； and for the rest he is a man of skill。 But
we ourselves will push on with our stoutest men and our strongest
horses； taking provision for three days and no more： the lighter and
cheaper our gear the more gaily shall we break our fast and take our
supper and sleep on the road。 ＇36＇ And now；〃 said he； 〃let us arrange
the order of the march。 You； Chrysantas； must lead the van with your
cuirassiers； since the road is broad and smooth； and you must put your
brigadiers in the first line； each regiment marching in file； for if
we keep close order we shall travel all the quicker and be all the
safer。 ＇37＇ I put the cuirassiers in the front；〃 he added； 〃because
they are our heaviest troops； and if the heaviest are leading； the
lighter cannot find it hard to follow： whereas where the swiftest lead
and the march is at night； it is no wonder if the column fall to
pieces： the vanguard is always running away。 ＇38＇ And behind the
cuirassiers；〃 he went on； 〃Artabazas is to follow with the Persian
targeteers and the bowmen； and behind them Andamyas the Mede with the
Median infantry； and then Embas and the Armenian infantry； and then
Artouchas with the Hyrcanians； and then Thambradas with the Sakian
foot； and finally Datamas with the Cadousians。 ＇39＇ All these officers
will put their brigadiers in the first line； their targeteers on the
right； and their bowmen on the left of their own squares： this is the
order in which they will be of most use。 ＇40＇ All the baggage…bearers
are to follow in the rear： and their officers must see that they get
everything together before they sleep； and present themselves betimes
in the morning； with all their gear； and always keep good order on the
march。 ＇41＇ In support of the baggage…train；〃 he added； 〃there will
be； first； Madatas the Persian with the Persian cavalry； and he too
must put his brigadiers in the front； each regiment following in
single file； as with the infantry。 ＇42＇ Behind them Rambacas the Mede
and his cavalry； in the same order； and then you； Tigranes； and yours；
and after you the other cavalry leaders with the men they brought。 The
Sakians will follow you； and last of all will come the Cadousians； who
were the last to join us； and you； Alkeunas； who are to command them；
for the present you will take complete control of the rear； and allow
no one to fall behind your men。 ＇43＇ All of you alike； officers； and
all who respect yourselves； must be most careful to march in silence。
At night the ears； and not the eyes； are the channels of information
and the guides for action； and at night any confusion is a far more
serious matter than by day； and far more difficult to put right。 For
this reason silence must be studied and order absolutely maintained。
＇44＇ Whenever you mean to rise before daybreak； you must make the
night…watches as short and as numerous as possible； so that no one may
suffer on the march because of his long vigil before it； and when the
hour for the start arrives the horn must be blown。 ＇45＇ Gentlemen； I
expect you all to present yourselves on the road to Babylon with
everything you require； and as each detachment starts； let them pass
down the word for those in the rear to follow。〃
＇46＇ So the officers went to their quarters； and as they went they
talked of Cyrus； and what a marvellous memory he had； always naming
each officer as he assigned him his post。 ＇47＇ The fact was Cyrus took
special pains over this： it struck him as odd that a mere mechanic
could know the names of all his tools； and a physician the names of
all his instruments； but a general be such a simpleton that he could
not name his own officers； the very tools he had to depend on each
time he wanted to seize a point or fortify a post or infuse courage or
inspire terror。 Moreover it seemed to him only courteous to address a
man by name when he wished to honour him。 ＇48＇ And he was sure that
the man who feels he is personally known to his commander is more
eager to be seen performing some noble feat of arms； and more careful
to refrain from all that is unseemly and base。 ＇49＇ Cyrus thought it
would be quite foolish for him to give his orders in the style of
certain householders： 〃Somebody fetch the water； some one split the
wood。〃 ＇50＇ After a command of that kind； every one looks at every one
else； and no one carries it out； every one is to blame； and no one is
ashamed or afraid； because there are so many beside himself。 Therefore
Cyrus always named the officers whenever he gave an order。
＇51＇ That； then； was his view of the matter。 The army now took supper
and posted their guards and got their necessaries together and went to
rest。 ＇52＇ And at midnight the horn was blown。 Cyrus had told
Chrysantas he would wait for him at a point on the road in advance of
the troops； and therefore he went on in front himself with his own
staff； and waited till Chrysantas appeared shortly afterwards at the
head of his cuirassiers。 ＇53＇ Then Cyrus put the guides under his
command； and told him to march on； but to go slowly until he received
a message； for all the troops were not yet on the road。 This done；
Cyrus took his stand on the line of march； and as each division came
up； hurried it forward to its place； sending messengers meanwhile to
summon those who were still behind。 ＇54＇