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were anything but glad； they were miserable。〃 ＇11＇ 〃And what are they
doing now？〃 asked Cyrus。 〃Forming their line of battle；〃 answered
they； 〃yesterday and the day before they did the same。〃
〃And their commander？〃 said Cyrus； 〃who is he？〃 〃Croesus himself；〃
said they； 〃and with him a Greek； and also another man； a Mede； who is
said to be a deserter from you。〃
〃Ah；〃 cried Cyrus； 〃is that so？ Most mighty Zeus； may I deal with him
as I wish！〃
＇12＇ Then he had the prisoners led away and turned to speak to his
officers； but at this moment another scout appeared； saying that a
large force of cavalry was in the plain。 〃We think；〃 he added； 〃that
they are trying to get a sight of our army。 For about thirty of them
are riding ahead at a good round pace and they seem to be coming
straight for our little company； perhaps to capture our look…out if
they can； for there are only ten of us there。〃
＇13＇ At that Cyrus sent off a detachment from his own bodyguard；
bidding them gallop up to the place； unseen by the enemy； and stay
there motionless。 〃Wait；〃 he said； 〃until our own ten must leave the
spot and then dash out on the thirty as they come up the hill。 And to
prevent any injury from the larger body； do you； Hystaspas；〃 said he；
turning to the latter； 〃ride out with a thousand horse； and let them
see you suddenly； face to face。 But remember not to pursue them out of
sight； come back as soon as you have secured our post。 And if any of
your opponents ride up with their right hands raised； welcome them as
friends。〃
＇14＇ Accordingly Hystaspas went off and got under arms； while the
bodyguard galloped to the spot。 But before they reached the scouts；
some one met them with his squires； the man who had been sent out as a
spy； the guardian of the lady from Susa； Araspas himself。 ＇15＇ When
the news reached Cyrus； he sprang up from his seat； went to meet him
himself； and clasped his hand； but the others； who of course knew
nothing； were utterly dumbfounded； until Cyrus said：
〃Gentlemen； the best of our friends has come back to us。 It is high
time that all men should know what he has done。 It was not through any
baseness； or any weakness； or any fear of me； that he left us； it was
because I sent him to be my messenger； to learn the enemy's doings and
bring us word。 ＇16＇ Araspas； I have not forgotten what I promised you；
I will repay you； we will all repay you。 For； gentlemen； it is only
just that all of you should pay him honour。 Good and true I call him
who risked himself for our good； and took upon himself a reproach that
was heavy to bear。〃
＇17＇ At that all crowded round Araspas and took him by the hand and
made him welcome。 Then Cyrus spoke again：
〃Enough； my friends； Araspas has news for us； and it is time to hear
it。 Tell us your tale； Araspas； keep back nothing of the truth； and do
not make out the power of the enemy less than it really is。 It is far
better that we should find it smaller than we looked for rather than
strong beyond our expectations。〃 ＇18＇ 〃Well；〃 began Araspas； 〃in order
to learn their numbers； I managed to be present at the marshalling of
their troops。〃 〃Then you can tell us；〃 said Cyrus； 〃not only their
numbers but their disposition in the field。〃 〃That I can；〃 answered
Araspas； 〃and also how they propose to fight。〃 〃Good；〃 said Cyrus；
〃but first let us hear their numbers in brief。〃 ＇19＇ 〃Well；〃 he
answered； 〃they are drawn up thirty deep； infantry and cavalry alike；
all except the Egyptians； and they cover about five miles； for I was
at great pains；〃 he added； 〃to find out how much ground they
occupied。〃
＇20＇ 〃And the Egyptians？〃 Cyrus said； 〃how are they drawn up？ I
noticed you said； 'all except the Egyptians。'〃
〃The Egyptians；〃 he answered； 〃are drawn up in companies of ten
thousand； under their own officers； a hundred deep； and a hundred
broad： that； they insisted； was their usual formation at home。
Croesus； however； was very loth to let them have their own way in
this： he wished to outflank you as much as possible。〃 〃Why？〃 Cyrus
asked； 〃what was his object？〃 〃To encircle you； I imagine； with his
wings。〃 〃He had better take care；〃 said Cyrus； 〃or his circle may find
itself in the centre。 ＇21＇ But now you have told us what we most
needed to know； and you； gentlemen；〃 said he to the officers； 〃on
leaving this meeting； you will look to your weapons and your harness。
It often happens that the lack of some little thing makes man or horse
or chariot useless。 To…morrow morning early； while I am offering
sacrifice； do you take your breakfast and give your steeds their
provender； so that when the moment comes to strike you may not be
found wanting。 And then you； Araspas； must hold the right wing in the
position it has now； and the rest of you who command a thousand men
must do the same with your divisions： it is no time to be changing
horses when the race is being run； and you will send word to the
brigadiers and captains under you to draw up the phalanx with each
company two deep。〃 （Now a company consisted of four…and…twenty men。）
＇22＇ Then one of the officers； a captain of ten thousand； said：
〃Do you think； Cyrus； that with so shallow a depth we can stand
against their tremendous phalanx？〃
〃But do you suppose；〃 rejoined he； 〃that any phalanx so deep that the
rear…ranks cannot close with the enemy could do much either for friend
or foe？ ＇23＇ I myself；〃 he added； 〃would rather this heavy infantry of
theirs were drawn up； not a hundred； but ten thousand deep： we should
have all the fewer to fight。 Whereas with the depth that I propose； I
believe we shall not waste a man： every part of our army will work
with every other。 ＇24＇ I will post the javelin…men behind the
cuirassiers； and the archers behind them： it would be absurd to place
in the van troops who admit that they are not made for hand…to…hand
fighting； but with the cuirassiers thrown in front of them they will
stand firm enough； and harass the enemy over the heads of our own men
with their arrows and their darts。 And every stroke that falls on the
enemy means so much relief to our friends。 ＇25＇ In the very rear of
all I will post our reserve。 A house is useless without a foundation
as well as a roof； and our phalanx will be no use unless it has a
rear…guard and a van； and both of them good。 ＇26＇ You；〃 he added；
〃will draw up the ranks to suit these orders； and you who command the
targeteers will follow with your companies in the same depth； and you
who command the archers will follow the targeteers。 ＇27＇ Gentlemen of
the reserve； you will hold your men in the rear； and pass the word
down to your own subordinates to watch the men in front； cheer on
those who do their duty； threaten him who plays the coward； and if any
man show signs of treachery； see that he dies the death。 It is for
those in the van to hearten those behind them by word and deed； it is
for you； the reserve； to make the cowards dread you more than the foe。
＇28＇ You know your work； and you will do it。 Euphratus；〃 he added；
turning to the officer in command of the artillery； 〃see that the
waggons with the towers keep as close to the phalanx as possible。 ＇29＇
And you； Daouchus； bri