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they were。
〃But when；〃 he added； 〃you see me close with the enemy on our right；
then set upon those in front of you： take them in flank； where they
are weakest； while you advance in line； at your full strength。 Their
lines； as you see； are closed by cavalry； hurl your camels at these；
and you may be sure； even before the fighting begins； they will cut a
comic figure。〃
＇23＇ Thus； with all his dispositions made； Cyrus rode round the head
of his right。 By this time Croesus； believing that the centre； where
he himself was marching； must be nearer the enemy than the distant
wings； had the signal raised for them to stop their advance； halt； and
wheel round where they were。 When they were in position opposite the
Persian force； he signalled for them to charge； and thus three columns
came at once against Cyrus； one facing his front and one on either
flank。 ＇24＇ A tremor ran through the whole army； it was completely
enclosed； like a little brick laid within a large； with the forces of
the enemy all round it； on every side except the rear； cavalry and
heavy infantry； targeteers； archers； and chariots。 ＇25＇ None the less；
the instant Cyrus gave the word they swung round to confront the foe。
There was deep silence through the ranks as they realised what they
had to face； and then Cyrus； when the moment came； began the battle…
hymn and it thundered through the host。 ＇26＇ And as it died away the
war…cry rang out unto the God of Battles； and Cyrus swooped forward at
the head of his cavalry； straight for the enemy's flank； and closed
with them then and there； while the infantry behind him followed；
swift and steady； wave on wave； sweeping out on either side； far out…
flanking their opponents； for they attacked in line and the foe were
in column； to the great gain of Cyrus。 A short struggle； and the ranks
broke and fled before him headlong。 ＇27＇ Artagersas； seeing that Cyrus
had got to work； made his own charge on the left； hurling his camels
forward as Cyrus had advised。 Even at a distance the horses could not
face the camels： they seemed to go mad with fear； and galloped off in
terror； rearing and falling foul of one another： such is the strange
effect of camels upon horses。 ＇28＇ So that Artagersas； his own troops
well in hand； had easy work with the enemy's bewildered masses。 At the
same moment the war…chariots dashed in； right and left； so that many；
flying from the chariots； were cut down by the troopers； and many；
flying from these； were caught by the chariots。 ＇29＇ And now Abradatas
could wait no longer。 〃Follow me； my friends；〃 he shouted； and drove
straight at the enemy； lashing his good steeds forward till their
flanks were bloody with the goad； the other charioteers racing hard
behind him。 The enemy's chariots fled before them instantly； some not
even waiting to take up their fighting…men。 ＇30＇ But Abradatas drove
on through them； straight into the main body of the Egyptians； his
rush shared by his comrades on either hand。 And then； what has often
been shown elsewhere was shown here； namely； that of all strong
formations the strongest is a band of friends。 His brothers…in…arms
and his mess…mates charged with him； but the others； when they saw
that the solid ranks of the Egyptians stood firm； swung round and
pursued the flying chariots。 ＇31＇ Meanwhile Abradatas and his
companions could make no further way： there was not a gap through the
Egyptian lines on either hand； and they could but charge the single
soldiers where they stood； overthrow them by the sheer weight of horse
and car； and crush them and their arms beneath the hoofs and wheels。
And where the scythes caught them； men and weapons were cut to shreds。
＇32＇ In the midst of indescribable confusion； the chariots rocking
among the weltering mounds； Abradatas was thrown out and some of his
comrades with him。 There they stood； and fought like men； and there
they were cut down and died。 The Persians； pouring in after them；
dealt slaughter and destruction where Abradatas and his men had
charged and shaken the ranks； but elsewhere the Egyptians； who were
still unscathed； and they were many； moved steadily on to meet them。
＇33＇ There followed a desperate struggle with lance and spear and
sword； and still the Egyptians had the advantage； because of their
numbers and their weapons。 Their spears were immensely stout and long；
such as they carry to this day； and the huge shield not only gave more
protection than corslet and buckler； but aided the thrust of the
fighter； slung as it was from the shoulder。
＇34＇ Shield locked into shield； they thrust their way forward； and the
Persians could not drive them back； with their light bucklers borne on
the forearm only。 Step by step they gave ground； dealing blow for
blow； till they came under cover of their own artillery。 Then at last
a second shower of blows fell on the Egyptians； while the reserves
would allow no flight of the archers or the javelin…men： at the
sword's point they made them do their duty。 ＇35＇ Thick was the
slaughter； and loud the din of clashing weapons and whirring darts；
and shouting warriors； cheering each other and calling on the gods。
＇36＇ At this moment Cyrus appeared； cutting his way through his own
opponents。 To see the Persians thrust from their position was misery
to him； but he knew he could check the enemy's advance most quickly by
galloping round to their rear； and thither he dashed； bidding his
troops follow； and there they fell upon them and smote them as they
were gazing ahead； and there they mowed them down。
＇37＇ The Egyptians； seeing what had happened； cried out that the enemy
had taken them in the rear； and wheeled round under a storm of blows。
At this the confusion reached its height； cavalry and infantry
struggling all together。 An Egyptian fell under Cyrus' horse； and as
the hoofs struck him he stabbed the creature in the belly。 The charger
reared at the blow and Cyrus was thrown。 ＇38＇ Then was seen what it is
for a leader to be loved by his men。 With a terrible cry the men
dashed forward； conquering thrust with thrust and blow with blow。 One
of his squires leapt down and set Cyrus on his own charger。 ＇39＇ And
as Cyrus sprang on the horse he saw the Egyptians worsted everywhere。
For by now Hystaspas was on the ground with his cavalry； and
Chrysantas also。 Still Cyrus would not allow them to charge the
Egyptian phalanx： the archers and javelin…men were to play on them
from outside。 Then he made his way along the lines to the artillery；
and there he mounted one of the towers to take a survey of the field；
and see if any of the foe still held their ground and kept up the
fight。 ＇40＇ But he saw the plain one chaos of flying horses and men
and chariots； pursuers and pursued； conquerors and conquered； and
nowhere any who still stood firm； save only the Egyptians。 These； in
sore straits as they were； formed themselves into a circle behind a
ring of steel； and sat down under cover of their enormous shields。
They no longer attempted to act； but they suffered； and suffered
heavily。 ＇41＇ Cyrus； in admiration and pity； unwilling that men so
brave should be done to death； drew off his soldiers who were figh