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lines； 〃Eyes on the standard and steady marching。〃
The standard was a golden eagle； with outspread wings； borne aloft on
a long spear…shaft； and to this day such is the standard of the
Persian king。
Before they came in full sight of the Assyrians Cyrus halted the army
thrice。 ＇5＇ And when they had gone about two miles or more； they began
to see the enemy advancing。 As soon as both armies were in full view
of each other； and the Assyrians could see how much they outflanked
the Persians on either side； Croesus halted； in order to prepare an
encircling movement； and pushed out a column on the right wing and the
left； so that the Persian forces might be attacked on every side at
once。
＇6＇ Cyrus saw it； but gave no sign of stopping； he led straight on as
before。 Meanwhile he noticed that the turning…point where the
Assyrians had pushed out on either flank was an immense distance from
their centre； and he said to Chrysantas：
〃Do you see where they have fixed their angle？〃 〃Yes； I do；〃 answered
Chrysantas； 〃and I am surprised at it： it seems to me they are drawing
their wings too far away from their centre。〃 〃Just so；〃 said Cyrus；
〃and from ours too。〃 ＇7＇ 〃Why are they doing that？〃 asked the other。
〃Clearly；〃 said Cyrus； 〃they are afraid we shall attack； if their
wings are in touch with us while their centre is still some way off。〃
〃But；〃 went on Chrysantas； 〃how can they support each other at such a
distance？〃 〃Doubtless；〃 said Cyrus； 〃as soon as their wings are
opposite our flanks； they will wheel round； and then advance at once
on every side and so set us fighting everywhere at once。〃 ＇8＇ 〃Well；〃
said Chrysantas； 〃do you think the movement wise？〃 〃Yes；〃 said Cyrus；
〃it is good enough in view of what they can see； but； in view of what
they cannot； it is worse for them than if they had advanced in a
single column。 Do you；〃 he said； turning to Arsamas； 〃advance with
your infantry； slowly； taking your pace from me； and do you；
Chrysantas； march beside him with your cavalry； step for step。 I will
make for their angle myself； where I propose to join battle； first
riding round the army to see how things are with all our men。 ＇9＇ When
I reach the point； and we are on the verge of action； I will raise the
paean and then you must quicken your pace。 You will know when we have
closed with the enemy； the din will be loud enough。 At the same moment
Abradatas will dash out upon them： such will be his orders； your duty
is to follow； keeping as close to the chariots as possible。 Thus we
shall fall on the enemy at the height of his confusion。 And； God
helping me； I shall be with you also； cutting my way through the rout
by the quickest road I can。
＇10＇ So he spoke； and sent the watchword down the lines； 〃Zeus our
saviour； and Zeus our leader；〃 and went forward。 As he passed between
the chariots and the cuirassiers； he would say to some； 〃My men； the
look on your faces rejoices my heart；〃 and to others； 〃You understand；
gentlemen； that this battle is not for the victory of a day； but for
all that we have won ere now； and for all our happiness to come。〃 ＇11＇
And to others； 〃My friends； we can never reproach the gods again：
to…day they have put all blessings in our hands。 ＇12＇ Let us show
ourselves good men and true。〃 Or else； 〃Gentlemen； can we invite each
other to a more glorious feast than this？ This day all gallant hearts
are bidden； this day they may feast their friends。〃 ＇13＇ Or again；
〃You know； I think； the prizes in this game： the victors pursue and
smite and slay； and win wealth and fame and freedom and empire： the
cowards lose them all。 He who loves his own soul let him fight beside
me： for I will have no disgrace。〃 ＇14＇ But if he met soldiers who had
fought for him before； he only said； 〃To you； gentlemen； what need I
say？ You know the brave man's part in battle； and the craven's。〃 ＇15＇
And when he came to Abradatas； he halted； and Abradatas gave the reins
to his charioteer and came up to him； and others gathered round from
the infantry and the chariots； and Cyrus said：
〃God has rewarded you； Abradatas； according to your prayer； you and
yours。 You hold the first rank among our friends。 And you will not
forget； when the moment for action comes； that those who watch you
will be Persians； and those who follow you； and they will not let you
bear the brunt alone。〃
＇16＇ And Abradatas answered：
〃Even so； Cyrus； and with us here； methinks； all looks well enough：
but the state of our flanks troubles me： the enemy's wings are strong
and stretch far： he has chariots there； and every kind of arm as well；
while we have nothing else with which to oppose him。 So that for
myself；〃 said he； 〃if I had not won by lot the post I hold； I should
feel ashamed to be here in the safest place of all。〃
＇17＇ 〃Nay；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃if it is well with you； have no concern
for the rest。 God willing； I mean to relieve our flanks。 But you
yourself； I conjure you； do not attack until you see the rout of those
detachments that you fear。〃
So much of boasting did Cyrus allow himself on the eve of action；
though he was the last man to boast at other times。
〃When you see them routed；〃 he said； 〃you may take it that I am there；
and then make your rush； for that is the moment when you will find the
enemy weakest and your own men strongest。 ＇18＇ And while there is
time； Abradatas； be sure to drive along your front and prepare your
men for the charge； kindle their courage by your looks； lift up their
hearts by your hopes。 Breathe a spirit of emulation into them； to make
them prove themselves the flower of the chariot…force。 Be assured if
things go well with us all men will say nothing is so profitable as
valour。〃
＇19＇ Accordingly Abradatas mounted his chariot and drove along the
lines to do as Cyrus bade。
Meanwhile Cyrus went on to the left where Hystaspas was posted with
half the Persian cavalry； and he called to him and said：
〃Hystaspas； here is work to test your pace！ If we are quick enough in
cutting off their heads； none of us will be slaughtered first。〃
＇20＇ And Hystaspas answered with a laugh：
〃Leave it to us！ We'll see to the men opposite。 But set some one to
deal with the fellows on our flank： it would be a pity for them to be
idle。〃
And Cyrus answered； 〃I am going to them myself。 But remember；
Hystaspas； to which ever of us God grants the victory； so long as a
single foeman is on the field； attack we must； again and again； until
the last has yielded。〃
＇21＇ With that he passed on； and as he came to the flank he went up to
the officer in command of the chariots and said to him：
〃Good； I intend to support you myself。 And when you hear me fall on
the wing； at that instant do your best to charge straight through your
opponents； you will be far safer once outside their ranks than if you
are caught half…way。〃
＇22＇ Then he went on to the rear and the carriages； where the two
detachments were stationed； a thousand horse and a thousand foot； and
told Artagersas and Pharnouchus； their leaders； to keep the men where
they were。
〃But when；〃 he added； 〃you see me close with the enemy on our right；
then set upon those in front of you： ta