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this night are the very men we have conquered before； and that too
when they had their allies to help them； when they were awake； alert；
and sober； armed to the teeth； and in their battle order。 ＇21＇
To…night we go against them when some are asleep and some are drunk；
and all are unprepared： and when they learn that we are within the
walls； sheer astonishment will make them still more helpless than
before。 ＇22＇ If any of you are troubled by the thought of volleys from
the roofs when the army enters the city； I bid you lay these fears
aside： if our enemies do climb their roofs we have a god to help us；
the god of Fire。 Their porches are easily set aflame； for the doors
are made of palm…wood and varnished with bitumen； the very food of
fire。 ＇23＇ And we shall come with the pine…torch to kindle it； and
with pitch and tow to feed it。 They will be forced to flee from their
homes or be burnt to death。 ＇24＇ Come； take your swords in your hand：
God helping me； I will lead you on。 Do you；〃 he said； turning to
Gadatas and Gobryas； 〃show us the streets； you know them； and once we
are inside； lead us straight to the palace。〃
＇25＇ 〃So we will；〃 said Gobryas and his men； 〃and it would not
surprise us to find the palace…gates unbarred； for this night the
whole city is given over to revelry。 Still； we are sure to find a
guard； for one is always stationed there。〃
〃Then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃there is no time for lingering； we must be off at
once and take them unprepared。〃
＇26＇ Thereupon they entered： and of those they met some were struck
down and slain； and others fled into their houses； and some raised the
hue and cry； but Gobryas and his friends covered the cry with their
shouts； as though they were revellers themselves。 And thus； making
their way by the quickest route； they soon found themselves before the
king's palace。 ＇27＇ Here the detachment under Gobryas and Gadatas
found the gates closed； but the men appointed to attack the guards
rushed on them as they lay drinking round a blazing fire； and closed
with them then and there。 ＇28＇ As the din grew louder and louder；
those within became aware of the tumult； till； the king bidding them
see what it meant； some of them opened the gates and ran out。 ＇29＇
Gadatas and his men； seeing the gates swing wide； darted in； hard on
the heels of the others who fled back again； and they chased them at
the sword's point into the presence of the king。
＇30＇ They found him on his feet； with his drawn scimitar in his hand。
By sheer weight of numbers they overwhelmed him： and not one of his
retinue escaped； they were all cut down； some flying； others snatching
up anything to serve as a shield and defending themselves as best they
could。 ＇31＇ Cyrus sent squadrons of cavalry down the different roads
with orders to kill all they found in the street； while those who knew
Assyrian were to warn the inhabitants to stay indoors under pain of
death。 ＇32＇ While they carried out these orders； Gobryas and Gadatas
returned； and first they gave thanks to the gods and did obeisance
because they had been suffered to take vengeance on their unrighteous
king； and then they fell to kissing the hands and feet of Cyrus；
shedding tears of joy and gratitude。 ＇33＇ And when it was day and
those who held the heights knew that the city was taken and the king
slain； they were persuaded to surrender the citadel themselves。 ＇34＇
Cyrus took it over forthwith； and sent in a commandant and a garrison；
while he delivered the bodies of the fallen to their kinsfolk for
burial； and bade his heralds make proclamation that all the citizens
must deliver up their arms： wherever weapons were discovered in any
house all the inmates would be put to death。 So the arms were
surrendered； and Cyrus had them placed in the citadel for use in case
of need。 ＇35＇ When all was done he summoned the Persian priests and
told them the city was the captive of his spear and bade them set
aside the first…fruits of the booty as an offering to the gods and
mark out land for sacred demesnes。 Then he distributed the houses and
the public buildings to those whom he counted his partners in the
exploit； and the distribution was on the principle accepted； the best
prizes to the bravest men： and if any thought they had not received
their deserts they were invited to come and tell him。 ＇36＇ At the same
time he issued a proclamation to the Babylonians； bidding them till
the soil and pay the dues and render willing service to those under
whose rule they were placed。 As for his partners the Persians； and
such of his allies as elected to remain with him； he gave them to
understand they were to treat as subjects the captives they received。
＇37＇ After this Cyrus felt that the time was come to assume the style
and manner that became a king： and he wished this to be done with the
goodwill and concurrence of his friends and in such a way that；
without seeming ungracious； he might appear but seldom in public and
always with a certain majesty。 Therefore he devised the following
scheme。 At break of day he took his station at some convenient place；
and received all who desired speech with him； and then dismissed them。
＇38＇ The people； when they heard that he gave audience； thronged to
him in multitudes； and in the struggle to gain access there was much
jostling and scheming and no little fighting。 ＇39＇ His attendants did
their best to divide the suitors； and introduce them in some order；
and whenever any of his personal friends appeared； thrusting their way
through the crowd； Cyrus would stretch out his hand and draw them to
his side and say； 〃Wait； my friends； until we have finished with this
crowd； and then we can talk at our ease。〃 So his friends would wait；
but the multitude would pour on； growing greater and greater； until
the evening would fall before there had been a moment's leisure for
his friends。 ＇40＇ All that Cyrus could do then was to say； 〃Perhaps；
gentlemen； it is a little late this evening and time that we broke up。
Be sure to come early to…morrow。 I am very anxious myself to speak
with you。〃 With that his friends were only too glad to be dismissed；
and made off without more ado。 They had done penance enough； fasting
and waiting and standing all day long。 ＇41＇ So they would get to rest
at last； but the next morning Cyrus was at the same spot and a much
greater concourse of suitors round him than before； already assembled
long before his friends arrived。 Accordingly Cyrus had a cordon of
Persian lancers stationed round him； and gave out that no one except
his personal friends and the generals were to be allowed access； and
as soon as they were admitted he said：
＇42＇ 〃My friends； we cannot exclaim against the gods as though they
had failed to fulfil our prayers。 They have granted all we asked。 But
if success means that a man must forfeit his own leisure and the good
company of all his friends； why； to that kind of happiness I would
rather bid farewell。 ＇43＇ Yesterday；〃 he added； 〃I make no doubt you
observed yourselves that from early dawn till late evening I never
ceased listening to petitioners； and to…day you see this crowd before
us； larger still than yesterday's； ready