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were in each other's arms once more。 And then Pantheia spoke of Cyrus；
his nobleness； his honour； and the compassion he had shown her； and
Abradatas cried：
〃Tell me； tell me； how can I repay him all I owe him in your name and
mine！〃 And she answered：
〃So deal with him； my husband； as he has dealt with you。〃
＇48＇ And thus Abradatas went to Cyrus； and took him by the hand； and
said：
〃Cyrus； in return for the kindness you have shown us； I can say no
more than this： I give myself to you； I will be your friend； your
servant； and your ally： whatever you desire； I will help you to win；
your fellow…worker always； so far as in me lies。〃
＇49＇ Then Cyrus answered：
〃And I will take your gift： but for the moment you must leave me； and
sup with your wife： another day you will let me play the host； and
give you lodging with your friends and mine。〃
＇50＇ Afterwards Abradatas perceived how much Cyrus had at heart the
scythe…bearing chariots and the cavalry and the war…horses with their
armour； and he resolved to equip a hundred chariots for him out of his
own cavalry force。 ＇51＇ These he proposed to lead himself in a chariot
of his own； four…poled and drawn by eight horses； all the eight
protected by chest…plates of bronze。 ＇52＇ So Abradatas set to work；
and this four…poled chariot of his gave Cyrus the idea of making a car
with eight poles； drawn by eight yoke of oxen； to carry the lowest
compartment of the battering engines； which stood； with its wheels；
about twenty…seven feet from the ground。 ＇53＇ Cyrus felt that he had a
series of such towers brought into the field at a fair pace they would
be of immense service to him； and inflict as much damage on the enemy。
The towers were built with galleries and parapets； and each of them
could carry twenty men。 ＇54＇ When the whole was put together he tested
it and found that the eight yoke of oxen could draw the whole tower
with the men more easily than one yoke by itself could manage the
ordinary weight of baggage； which came to about five…and…twenty
talents apiece； whereas the tower； build of planks about as thick as
the boards for a stage； weighed less than fifteen for each yoke。 ＇55＇
Thus； having satisfied himself that the attempt was perfectly
possible； he arranged to take the towers into action； believing that
in war selfishness meant salvation； justice； and happiness。
＇C。2＇ About this time ambassadors came to Cyrus from India with gifts
of courtesy and a message from their king； saying：
〃I send you greeting； Cyrus； and I rejoice that you told me of your
needs。 I desire to be your friend and I offer you gifts； and if you
have need of anything more； I bid you say the word； and it shall be
yours。 I have told my men to do whatever you command。〃
＇2＇ Then Cyrus answered：
〃This； then； is my bidding： the rest of you shall stay where you have
pitched your tents； you shall guard your treasures and live as you
choose： but three of you shall go to the enemy and make believe that
you have come to him about an alliance with your king； and thus you
shall learn how matters stand； and all they say and all they do； and
so bring me word again with speed。 And if you serve me well in this； I
shall owe you even more than I could owe you for these gifts。 There
are some spies who are no better than slaves； and have no skill to
find out anything more than is known already； but there are men of
another sort； men of your stamp； who can discover plans that are not
yet disclosed。〃
＇3＇ The Indians listened gladly； and for the moment made themselves at
home as the guests of Cyrus： but the next day they got ready and set
off on their journey； promising to find out as much as they could of
the enemy's secrets and bring him word again with all possible speed。
＇4＇ Meanwhile Cyrus continued his preparations for the war on a
magnificent scale； like one who meant to accomplish no small
achievement。 Not only did he carry out all the resolutions of the
allies； but he breathed a spirit of emulation into his own friends and
followers； till each strove to outshine his fellows in arms and
accoutrements； in horsemanship and spearmanship and archery； in
endurance of toil and danger。 ＇5＇ Cyrus would lead them out to the
chase； and show especial honour to those who distinguished themselves
in any way： he would whet the ambition of the officers by praising all
who did their best to improve their men； and by gratifying them in
every way he could。 ＇6＇ At every sacrifice and festival he instituted
games and contests in all martial exercises； and lavished prizes on
the victors； till the whole army was filled with enthusiasm and
confidence。 ＇7＇ By this time Cyrus had almost everything in readiness
for the campaign； except the battering…machines。 The Persian cavalry
was made up to its full number of ten thousand men； and the scythed
chariots were complete； a hundred of his own； and a hundred that
Abradatas of Susa had provided。 ＇8＇ Beside these there were a hundred
of the old Median chariots which Cyrus had persuaded Cyaxares to
remodel on his own type； giving up the Trojan and Lydian style。 The
camels were ready also； each animal carrying a couple of mounted
archers。
The bulk of the great army felt almost as though they had already
conquered； and the enemy's power was held of no account。
＇9＇ While matters were thus； the Indians whom Cyrus had sent out
returned with their report。 Croesus had been chosen leader and
general…in…chief； a resolution had been passed； calling on all the
allied kings to bring up their entire forces； raise enormous sums for
the war； and spend them in hiring mercenaries where they could and
making presents where they must。 ＇10＇ Large numbers of Thracians；
armed with the short sword； had already been enrolled； and a body of
Egyptians were coming by sea； amountingso said the Indiansto
120；000 men； armed with long shields reaching to their feet； huge
spears （such as they carry to this day）； and sabres。 Beside these； an
army was expected from Cyprus； and there were already on the spot all
the Cilicians； the men of both the Phrygias； of Lycaonia； Paphlagonia；
and Cappadocia； the Arabians； the Phoenicians； and all the Assyrians
under the king of Babylon。 Moreover； the Ionians； and Aeolians； and
indeed nearly all the Hellenic colonists on the coast were compelled
to follow in the train of Croesus。 ＇11＇ Croesus himself had already
sent to Lacedaemon to propose an alliance with the Spartans。 The
armament was mustering on the banks of the Pactolus； and they were to
push forward presently to Thymbrara （the place which is still the
mustering…ground for all the Asiatic subjects of the Great King west
of Syria）； and orders had been issued to open a market there。 This
report agreed with the accounts given by the prisoners； for Cyrus was
always at pains to gave men captured from whom he could get some
information； and he would also send out spies disguised as runaway
slaves。
＇12＇ Such were the tidings； and when the army heard the news there was
much anxiety and concern； as one may well suppose。 The men went about
their work with an unusual quietness； their faces clouded over； or
gathered in knots and c