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！
waggons with the towers keep as close to the phalanx as possible。 ＇29＇
And you； Daouchus； bring up the whole of your baggage…train under
cover of the towers and make your squires punish severely any man who
breaks the line。 ＇30＇ You； Carouchas； keep the women's carriages close
behind the baggage…train。 This long line of followers should give an
impression of vast numbers； allow our own men opportunity for
ambuscades； and force the enemy； if he try to surround us； to widen
his circuit； and the wider he makes it the weaker he will be。 ＇31＇
That； then； is your business； and you； gentlemen； Artaozus and
Artagersas； each of you take your thousand foot and guard the baggage。
＇32＇ And you； Pharnouchus and Asiadatas； neither of you must lead your
thousand horse into the fighting…line； you must get them under arms by
themselves behind the carriages： and then come to me with the other
officers as fully…equipt as if you were to be the first to fight。 ＇53＇
You； sir； who command the camel…corps will take up your post behind
the carriages and look for further orders to Artagersas。 ＇34＇ Officers
of the war…chariots； you will draw lots among yourselves； and he on
whom the lot falls will bring his hundred chariots in front of the
fighting…line； while the other two centuries will support our flanks
on the right and left。〃
＇35＇ Such were the dispositions made by Cyrus； but Abradatas； the lord
of Susa； cried：
〃Cyrus； let me； I pray you； volunteer for the post in front。〃
＇36＇ And Cyrus； struck with admiration for the man； took him by the
hand； and turning to the Persians in command of the other centuries
said：
〃Perhaps； gentlemen； you will allow this？〃
But they answered that it was hard to resign the post of honour； and
so they all drew lots； and the lot fell on Abradatas； and his post was
face to face with the Egyptians。 Then the officers left the council
and carried out the orders given； and took their evening meal and
posted the pickets and went to rest。
＇C。4＇ But early on the morrow Cyrus offered sacrifice； and meanwhile
the rest of the army took their breakfast； and after the libation they
armed themselves； a great and goodly company in bright tunics and
splendid breastplates and shining helmets。 All the horses had
frontlets and chest…plates； the chargers had armour on their
shoulders； and the chariot…horses on their flanks； so that the whole
army flashed with bronze； and shone like a flower with scarlet。 ＇2＇
The eight…horse chariot of Abradatas was a marvel of beauty and
richness； and just as he was about to put on the linen corslet of his
native land； Pantheia came； bringing him a golden breastplate and a
helmet of gold； and armlets and broad bracelets for his wrists； and a
full flowing purple tunic； and a hyacinth…coloured helmet…plume。 All
these she had made for him in secret； taking the measure of his armour
without his knowledge。 ＇3＇ And when he saw them； he gazed in wonder
and said：
〃Dear wife； and did you destroy your own jewels to make this armour
for me？〃
But she said； 〃No； my lord； at least not the richest of them all； for
you shall be my loveliest jewel； when others see you as I see you
now。〃
As she spoke； she put the armour on him； but then； though she tried to
hide it； the tears rolled down her cheeks。
＇4＇ And truly； when Abradatas was arrayed in the new panoply； he； who
had been fair enough to look upon before； was now a sight of
splendour； noble and beautiful and free； as indeed his nature was。 ＇5＇
He took the reins from the charioteer； and was about to set foot on
the car； when Pantheia bade the bystanders withdraw； and said to him；
〃My own lord； little need to tell you what you know already； yet this
I say； if any woman loved her husband more than her own soul； I am of
her company。 Why should I try to speak？ Our lives say more than any
words of mine。 ＇6＇ And yet； feeling for you what you know； I swear to
you by the love between us that I would rather go down to the grave
beside you after a hero's death than live on with you in shame。 I have
thought you worthy of the highest； and believed myself worthy to
follow you。 ＇7＇ And I bear in mind the great gratitude we owe to
Cyrus； who； when I was his captive； chosen for his spoil； was too
high…minded to treat me as a slave； or dishonour me as a free woman；
he took me and saved me for you； as though I had been his brother's
wife。 ＇8＇ And when Araspas； my warder； turned from him； I promised； if
he would let me send for you； I would bring him a friend in the
other's place； far nobler and more faithful。〃
＇9＇ And as Pantheia spoke； Abradatas listened with rapture to her
words； and when she ended； he laid his hand upon her head； and looking
up to heaven he prayed aloud：
〃O most mighty Zeus； make me worthy to be Pantheia's husband； and the
friend of Cyrus who showed us honour！〃
＇10＇ Then he opened the driver's seat and mounted the car； and the
driver shut the door； and Pantheia could not take him in her arms
again； so she bent and kissed the chariot…box。 Then the car rolled
forward and she followed unseen till Abradatas turned and saw her and
cried； 〃Be strong； Pantheia； be of a good heart！ Farewell； and hie
thee home！〃
＇11＇ Thereupon her chamberlains and her maidens took her and brought
her back to her own carriage； and laid her down and drew the awning。
But no man； of all who was there that day； splendid as Abradatas was
in his chariot； had eyes to look on him until Pantheia had gone。
＇12＇ Meanwhile Cyrus had found the victims favourable； and his army
was already drawn up in the order he had fixed。 He had scouts posted
ahead； one behind the other； and then he called his officers together
for his final words：
＇13＇ 〃Gentlemen； my friends and allies； the sacred signs from heaven
are as they were the day the gods gave us victory before； and I would
call to your minds thoughts to bring you gladness and confidence for
the fight。 ＇14＇ You are far better trained than your enemies； you have
lived together and worked together far longer than they； you have won
victories together。 What they have shared with one another has been
defeat； and those who have not fought as yet feel they have traitors
to right and left of them； while our recruits know that they enter
battle in company with men who help their allies。 ＇15＇ Those who trust
each other will stand firm and fight without flinching； but when
confidence has gone no man thinks of anything but flight。 ＇16＇ Forward
then； gentlemen； against the foe； drive our scythed chariots against
their defenceless cars； let our armed cavalry charge their unprotected
horse； and charge them home。 ＇17＇ The mass of their infantry you have
met before； and as for the Egyptians； they are armed in much the same
way as they are marshalled； they carry shields too big to let them
stir or see； they are drawn up a hundred deep； which will prevent all
but the merest handful fighting。 ＇18＇ If they count on forcing us back
by their weigh； they must first withstand our steel and the charge of
our cavalry。 And if any of them do hold firm； how can they fight at
once against cavalry； infantry； and turrets of artillery？ For our men
on the towe