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＇13＇ And Cyrus answered：
〃It was kindly done； Croesus； on your part； to take thought for this：
but I have arranged that the freights should be in charge of those who
are entitled to them； so that if the men steal； they steal their own
property。〃
With these words he handed the documents to his friends and officers
to serve as checks on their own stewards。
＇14＇ Cyrus also took Lydians in his train； allowing some to carry
arms； those； namely； who were at pains to keep their weapons in good
order； and their horses and chariots； and who did their best to please
him； but if they gave themselves ungracious airs； he took away their
horses and bestowed them on the Persians who had served him from the
beginning of the campaign； burnt their weapons； and forced them to
follow the army as slingers。 ＇15＇ Indeed； as a rule； he compelled all
the subject population who had been disarmed to practise the use of
the sling： it was； he considered； a weapon for slaves。 No doubt there
are occasions when a body of slingers； working with other detachments；
can do excellent service； but； taken alone； not all the slingers in
the world could face a mere handful armed with steel。
＇16＇ Cyrus was marching to Babylon； but on his way he subdued the
Phrygians of Greater Phrygia and the Cappadocians； and reduced the
Arabians to subjection。 These successes enabled him to increase his
Persian cavalry till it was not far short of forty thousand men； and
he had still horses left over to distribute among his allies at large。
At length he came before Babylon with an immense body of cavalry；
archers； and javelin…men； beside slingers innumerable。
＇C。5＇ When Cyrus reached the city he surrounded it entirely with his
forces； and then rode round the walls himself； attended by his friends
and the leading officers of the allies。 ＇2＇ Having surveyed the
fortifications； he prepared to lead off his troops； and at that moment
a deserter came to inform him that the Assyrians intended to attack as
soon as he began to withdraw； for they had inspected his forces from
the walls and considered them very weak。 This was not surprising； for
the circuit of the city was so enormous that it was impossible to
surround it without seriously thinning the lines。 ＇3＇ When Cyrus heard
of their intention； he took up his post in the centre of his troops
with his own staff round him and sent orders to the infantry for the
wings to double back on either side； marching past the stationary
centre of the line； until they met in the rear exactly opposite
himself。 ＇4＇ Thus the men in front were immediately encouraged by the
doubling of their depth； and those who retired were equally cheered；
for they saw that the others would encounter the enemy first。 The two
wings being united； the power of the whole force was strengthened；
those behind being protected by those in front and those in front
supported by those behind。 ＇5＇ When the phalanx was thus folded back
on itself； both the front and the rear ranks were formed of picked
men； a disposition that seemed calculated to encourage valour and
check flight。 On the flanks； the cavalry and the light infantry were
drawn nearer and nearer to the commander as the line contracted。 ＇6＇
When the whole phalanx was in close order； they fell back from the
walls； slowly； facing the foe； until they were out of range； then they
turned； marched a few paces； and then wheeled round again to the left；
and halted； facing the walls； but the further they got the less often
they paused； until； feeling themselves secure； they quickened their
pace and went off in an uninterrupted march until they reached their
quarters。
＇7＇ When they were encamped； Cyrus called a council of his officers
and said； 〃My friends and allies； we have surveyed the city on every
side； and for my part I fail to see any possibility of taking by
assault walls so lofty and so strong： on the other hand； the greater
the population the more quickly must they yield to hunger； unless they
come out to fight。 If none of you have any other scheme to suggest； I
propose that we reduce them by blockade。〃
＇8＇ Then Chrysantas spoke：
〃Does not the river flow through the middle of the city； and it is not
at least a quarter of a mile in width？〃
〃To be sure it is；〃 answered Gobryas； 〃and so deep that the water
would cover two men； one standing on the other's shoulders； in fact
the city is even better protected by its river than by its walls。〃
＇9＇ At which Cyrus said； 〃Well； Chrysantas； we must forego what is
beyond our power： but let us measure off at once the work for each of
us； set to； and dig a trench as wide and as deep as we can； that we
may need as few guards as possible。〃
＇10＇ Thereupon Cyrus took his measurements all round the city； and；
leaving a space on either bank of the river large enough for a lofty
tower； he had a gigantic trench dug from end to end of the wall； his
men heaping up the earth on their own side。 ＇11＇ Then he set to work
to build his towers by the river。 The foundations were of palm…trees；
a hundred feet long and morethe palm…tree grows to a greater height
than that； and under pressure it will curve upwards like the spine of
an ass beneath a load。 ＇12＇ He laid these foundations in order to give
the impression that he meant to besiege the town； and was taking
precautions so that the river； even if it found its way into his
trench； should not carry off his towers。 Then he had other towers
built along the mound； so as to have as many guard…posts as possible。
＇13＇ Thus his army was employed； but the men within the walls laughed
at his preparations； knowing they had supplies to last them more than
twenty years。 When Cyrus heard that； he divided his army into twelve；
each division to keep guard for one month in the year。 ＇14＇ At this
the Babylonians laughed louder still； greatly pleased at the idea of
being guarded by Phrygians and Lydians and Arabians and Cappadocians；
all of whom； they thought； would be more friendly to themselves than
to the Persians。
＇15＇ However by this time the trenches were dug。 And Cyrus heard that
it was a time of high festival in Babylon when the citizens drink and
make merry the whole night long。 As soon as the darkness fell； he set
his men to work。 ＇16＇ The mouths of the trenches were opened； and
during the night the water poured in； so that the river…bed formed a
highway into the heart of the town。
＇17＇ When the great stream had taken to its new channel； Cyrus ordered
his Persian officers to bring up their thousands； horse and foot
alike； each detachment drawn up two deep； the allies to follow in
their old order。 ＇18＇ They lined up immediately； and Cyrus made his
own bodyguard descend into the dry channel first； to see if the bottom
was firm enough for marching。 ＇19＇ When they said it was； he called a
council of all his generals and spoke as follows：
＇20＇ 〃My friends； the river has stepped aside for us； he offers us a
passage by his own high…road into Babylon。 We must take heart and
enter fearlessly； remembering that those against whom we are to march
this night are the very men we have conquered before； and that too
when they had their allies