(1) On the next day Cyrus instructed his messenger in what he had said, and sent him off, and the Armenian and the Chaldaeans sent along those whom they believed to be most competent both to act as fellow workers and to say what was appropriate about Cyrus. After this Cyrus provided the guardhouse with competent guards and with everything required; and after leaving them a ruler, a Median whom he thought would be especially gratifying to Cyaxares, he assembled his army—now consisting of the one he came with, together with the one he added from the Armenians and the troops from the Chaldaeans, who numbered about four thousand and thought that they were superior to all the others—and went away. (2) When he went down into the inhabited country, none of the Armenians remained inside, neither man nor woman, but in their pleasure at the peace all went out to meet him, and they carried or drove in herds whatever they had that was of value. And the Armenian was not annoyed with them, for he believed that Cyrus would be more pleased like this, with an honor bestowed by all. Finally, the Armenian’s wife with her daughters and her younger son also went out to meet him, and along with other gifts she brought the gold that Cyrus previously had not been willing to take.
(3) On seeing it Cyrus said, “You will not make me go around and do good deeds for a wage. But go, woman, and take with you the valuables that you have carried here; and no longer let the Armenian bury them, but use them to equip your son for the campaign and send him off as nobly as possible. From what is left, acquire for yourself, your husband, your daughters, and your sons those possessions with which you will both adorn yourselves more beautifully and live out your lives more pleasantly. But let it suffice to hide bodies in the earth, whenever each may meet his end.” (4) Having said this, he rode past them, but the Armenian escorted him, as did all other people, repeatedly calling him “benefactor,” “good man.” This they did even until they had escorted him out of their country. And on the grounds that there was peace at home, the Armenian sent along with him an even greater army. (5) Thus Cyrus not only went back enriched with the valuables he took, but had also by his manner made ready much more than this for future use, so that he could take it when it might be needed.13 He then camped upon the borders. On the next day he sent the army and the money to Cyaxares. He was nearby, as he had said he would be. He himself went hunting with Tigranes and the best of the Persians wherever they happened upon game, and they enjoyed themselves.
(6) When he arrived back in Media, he gave to each of his own captains as much of the money as seemed to be sufficient, in order that they too could bestow honors if they admired any of those beneath themselves, for he believed that if each could make his own part worthy of praise, the whole would be in fine condition for him. And he himself used to acquire whatever he saw that was beautiful for an army and use it for gifts to the most deserving, for he believed that he was himself adorned by whatever noble and good things the army had.
(7) When he gave them what he had taken, he spoke somewhat as follows into the midst of the captains, lieutenants, and all those he honored: “Men, friends, it seems that a certain satisfaction now attends us, both because an abundance has come to us and because we have the wherewithal by which we will be able to honor whomever we wish and be honored in whatever way each deserves. (8) But let us by all means remember what sort of deeds are the causes of these good things. You will find, on examination, that they are to go without sleep wherever one must, to work hard, to make haste, and not to yield to enemies. We must thus be good men also in the future, knowing that obedience, steadfastness, and, at the opportune moment, hard work and facing dangers provide great pleasures and great goods.”
(9) Now Cyrus was aware of how good for him his soldiers’ bodies were at being able to bear up to military labors, and how good their souls were at holding the enemy in disdain; they each understood what was appropriate for their own sort of weaponry; and he saw that all were well prepared for obeying their rulers. From all this, then, he desired to take some action against the enemy now, knowing that rulers’ noble preparations often are made otherwise by their hesitation. (10) He saw, moreover, that since they were ambitious in those things in which they competed, many of the soldiers were also envious of each other. He wished also for these [reasons] to lead them out into enemy territory as quickly as possible, knowing that common risks make allies friendly-minded toward each other, and in this situation they no longer envy either those who adorn themselves in their arms or those who desire reputation. Further, troops of this sort even praise and applaud those like themselves, believing them to be fellow workers for the common good. (11) Therefore, first he armed his army completely and arranged it as beautifully and as well as he was able; he next called together his brigadier generals, colonels, captains, and lieutenants. (These were exempted from being enrolled among the marshaled troops, and not even when they might have to attend their commander or pass along a command was anything left without rule, but everything left behind was kept in order by the sergeants and corporals.) (12) When these chief aides came together, he took them around, and he both showed them that things were in fine condition and taught them the strength of each of the allies.14 After he had made also this group desirous of doing something right away, he told them to go back to their units, to teach each his own troops what he had himself taught them, and to try to implant into all a desire for beginning the campaign, so that they all might set out in highest spirits.15 He also told them to report at Cyaxares’ doors in early morning. (13) They then went away, and all acted accordingly.
At dawn of the next day, the chief aides were present at his doors. Along with them, then, Cyrus went in to Cyaxares and began a discussion like this: “I know, Cyaxares, that what I am about to say has been for a long time your thought no less than ours. But perhaps you are ashamed to speak of it, lest it be thought that you propose our marching out because you are annoyed at maintaining us. (14) Now since you are silent, I will speak on both your behalf and ours, for it seems [good] to us all, since we have made our preparations, neither to do battle at the time when the enemy thrusts into your country nor to sit and wait in friendly territory, but to go as quickly as possible into enemy territory, (15) for since we are now in your country, we involuntarily damage much of what is yours; if we go into enemy territory, we will with pleasure do harm to what is theirs. (16) Next, you now spend a great deal to maintain us; if we go out on campaign, we will maintain ourselves from the enemy’s territory. (17) Further, if the risk were greater there than here, perhaps the safest course would have to be chosen. But as it is, their numbers will be the same whether we wait for them here or go out to meet them by going into their territory; our numbers will be the same when we fight whether we receive an attack of theirs here or join battle by moving against them. (18) However, we will avail ourselves of much better and more robust souls in our soldiers if we move against our foes and do not seem unwilling to look upon our enemy. And they will fear us much more when they hear that we are not sitting at home, cowering in fear of them; that, when we perceive them advancing, we go to meet them in order to join battle with them as quickly as possible; and that we do not wait around until our country is harmed, but we get a head start on them and are already ravaging their country. (19) And if we make them at all more frightened and we ourselves more confident, I believe this to be a very great advantage for us, and I thus calculate the risk to be smaller for us and greater for our enemy. And my father always said, and you also say, and all others agree, that battles are decided more by souls than by the robustness of bodies.”
(20) Thus he spoke, and Cyaxares answered, “But Cyrus and the rest of you Persians, do not suspect that I am annoyed at maintaining you. However, as for going into enemy territory now, it seems to me too to be better than all alternatives.”
“Then since we agree,” said Cyrus, “let us prepare, and if the [signs] of the gods quickly favor us, let us go out as quickly as possible.”
(21) After this they told the soldiers to get ready. Cyrus sacrificed first to Zeus the king, and then to other gods; he asked that they, being propitious and well disposed, be leaders for the army, as well as good assistants, allies, and advisers of what is good. He also invoked the heroes of the Median soil, who were its inhabitants and protectors. (22) When he obtained favorable signs, and his army was collected at the borders, he then, after meeting with bird omens on the right, thrust into enemy territory. As soon as he had crossed the borders, he there again performed propitiatory rites both to Earth, with libations, and to gods, with sacrifices, and he also sought to propitiate the heroes of Assyria, who were its inhabitants. Having done these things, he again sacrificed to ancestral Zeus, and if any other of the gods came to his attention, he did not neglect it.16
(23) When things were fine in this regard, they at once led the infantry forward a short distance and made camp, and with the cavalry they made raids and captured vast and varied booty. And after this, while changing their camp, having what they required in abundance, and ravaging the country, they awaited the enemy. (24) Then, when in their approach they were said to be not ten days distant, Cyrus said, “Cyaxares, it is time to go to meet them, and not to seem either to the enemy or to our own troops to be afraid of going out in opposition. Let it be clear that we are not fighting unwillingly.” (25) When this seemed [good] to Cyaxares as well, they therefore advanced in battle order as far each day as seemed to them to be fine. They always made dinner by daylight, and they did not burn fires at night in the camp. They burned them in front of the camp, however, in order that they might by the fire see whether anyone approached at night, while not being seen by those approaching. Often they also burned fires behind the camp in order to deceive the enemy. There were consequently times when scouts fell upon their advance guard, for because of the fires at the rear they thought that they were still far from the camp.
(26) Now when they were near each other, the Assyrians and those with them surrounded themselves with a trench, which the barbarian kings still do even now. Wherever they encamp, they easily surround themselves with a trench because they have many hands at work, for they know that at night a cavalry army is full of confusion and hard to use, especially a barbarian one, (27) for they keep their horses fettered at their mangers, and if anyone comes against them, it is a difficult task to free the horses, a difficult task to bridle the horses, a difficult task to saddle the horses, a difficult task to put on their breastplates, and altogether impossible to mount their horses and ride through the camp. On account of all these problems, both they and the other barbarians surround themselves with defenses, and it also seems to them that being in a secure area grants them the liberty of fighting whenever they wish.
(28) So they were doing such things as they drew near to each other. When in their approach they were a parasang apart, the Assyrians made camp in the manner just said, in an entrenched spot, but one exposed to view.17 Cyrus, however, by keeping villages and hills in front of him, camped in a spot as little visible as possible, for he believed that everything pertaining to war is more fearful to the opposition when seen suddenly. And after setting their advance guards for that night, as was fitting, each side went to rest.
(29) On the next day the Assyrian, Croesus, and the other leaders rested their armies inside the secure area, and Cyrus and Cyaxares waited in battle order, intending to fight if the enemy advanced. When it was clear that the enemy was not coming out of the fortification, and that they would not do battle that day, Cyaxares called Cyrus and the other chief aides and spoke as follows: (30) “It seems to me, men, that marshaled for battle just as we now happen to be, we should advance up to the fortification of these men and make it clear that we are willing to fight, for in this way, if they do not come out against us, our troops will go away more confident, and the enemy, having seen our daring, will be more afraid.” So this is how it seemed to him.
(31) But Cyrus said, “No, by the gods, let us not do it at all like this, for if we march up while exposed to view, as you order, the enemy will gaze upon us as we approach but will not be afraid, knowing that they are safely protected against suffering any harm. Further, when we go away without having done anything and they see that our numbers fall much short of their own, they will hold us in contempt and will come out tomorrow much more robust in their judgments. (32) But now, knowing that we are present and yet not seeing us, do understand that they do not hold us in contempt, but they are wondering, ‘Whatever is going on?’18 and I am sure that they do not stop conversing about us. When they come out, then we must at once both show ourselves to them and go immediately to close quarters, having caught them where long ago we wished we would.”
(33) After Cyrus had spoken like this, it was so resolved by Cyaxares and the others. And after they had dinner made, stationed guards, and lit many fires in front of the guards, they went to bed. (34) Early on the next day Cyrus put on a wreath and sacrificed, and he passed the word also to the other Peers to put on wreaths and attend the sacrifices. When the sacrificing came to an end, he called them together and said, “Men, as the prophets say and as it seems to me as well, the gods foretell that there will be a battle, they grant victory, and they promise safety. This they do through the sacrifices.19 (35) I would be ashamed to recite for you how you must act in a situation such as this, for I am sure that you understand this, that it has been a care of yours, and that you have heard and hear continually the same things as I, so it is likely you could teach others as well. Yet if you happen not to have considered the following, listen. (36) In regard to those whom we have recently taken as allies and whom we are trying to make like unto ourselves, these we must remind of the terms on which we are maintained by Cyaxares, of what we practiced, of why we called them to our side, and of that for which they said they would gladly become our rivals. (37) Remind them also that this day will show what each is worth. Concerning those things in which human beings are late learners, it is not remarkable if some of them should require someone to give reminders; rather, one should be content if they would be able to be good men even from mere prompts. (38) And at the same time as you do this, moreover, you will be taking a test also of yourselves, for whoever is capable of making others better on such an occasion would properly be conscious in himself of being a completely good man; but he who keeps the admonition to these [good deeds] in himself alone, and is content with this, would properly believe himself to be only half complete. (39) Why I am not speaking to them, but am ordering you to do so, is so that they may try to gratify you, for you are near to them, each in his own part. Understand well that if you display yourselves to them as being confident, you will not by word but by deed teach them and many others to be confident as well.” (40) In conclusion, he told them to withdraw, to put on wreaths and have breakfast, to make their libations, and to enter into their battle orders with their wreaths still on. After they went away, he next called the leaders of the rear guard, and he enjoined them like this: (41) “Persian men, you too are among the Peers and have been selected [for the rear guard] because you seem to be like the best in other respects, and you are also more prudent owing to your age. You therefore have a place no less honored than those in the front, for you who are in the back, by overseeing and encouraging the good, could make them still better, and, if anyone should be slack and you should see it, you would not allow it. (42) Victory is advantageous for you, if for anyone, both because of your age and because of the weight of your equipment. So if those in front call upon you and command you to follow, heed them; and so that you are not surpassed by them in this, do so while commanding in return that they lead more swiftly against the enemy. Withdraw, have breakfast, and enter with the others into your battle orders with your wreaths on.”
(43) Now Cyrus and his men were occupied like this, but the Assyrians had their breakfast, went out boldly, and were resolutely positioning themselves for battle. While driving around on his chariot, the king himself was getting them into battle order and exhorting them like this: (44) “Assyrian men, now you must be good men, for now the contest is over your lives, over the land in which you were born, over the houses in which you were raised, over your women and children, and over all the good things that you possess, for if you conquer, you will be lords over all these things just as before. If you are defeated, surely you will surrender all this to the enemy. (45) So inasmuch as you love victory, stand and fight: It is foolish if those who wish to conquer run away and thereby assign the blind, unarmed, and helpless parts of their bodies to face the enemy. If anyone who wishes to live should undertake to run away, knowing that the victors save themselves, while those who run away are killed more often than those who stand fast, he is a fool. If someone who desires money embraces defeat, he is a fool. For who does not know that victors both save what belongs to themselves and take in addition what belongs to the defeated, while the defeated at the same time throw away themselves and everything that belongs to themselves?” So the Assyrian was involved in things like this.
(46) But Cyaxares, sending to Cyrus, said that it was now opportune to lead on against the enemy. “For if those outside of the fortification are now still few,” he said, “by the time we arrive, there will be many of them. Let us not wait until they become more numerous than we. Let us go while we still think we will overcome them easily.”
(47) Cyrus answered, “Cyaxares, unless more than half of them are defeated, they will surely say that we set upon a few out of fear of their numbers. They will not believe themselves defeated, and you will still need to fight another battle, one in which they would perhaps deliberate better than they have deliberated now, since they are surrendering themselves to us to be counted out so that we may fight with as many of them as we wish.” (48) After hearing this, the messengers departed.
Chrysantas the Persian then arrived along with some other Peers who were leading in captives. And Cyrus, as was to be expected, asked the captives about the enemy. They said that they were already going out with their weapons, that the king himself was outside getting them into order, and that he was exhorting them in many strong terms, as they had been told by those who had heard directly.
(49) Then Chrysantas asked, “Cyrus, what if you should call the troops together and exhort them while it is still possible, if perhaps you too could make the soldiers better?”
(50) And Cyrus said, “Chrysantas, do not be distressed by the Assyrian’s exhortations, for there is no exhortation so noble that it will in a single day make good those who are not good when they hear it. If could not make good bowmen, unless they had previously practiced with care, nor spearmen, nor knights, nor even those competent to labor with their bodies, unless they had previously exercised.”
(51) And Chrysantas said, “But Cyrus, it is sufficient if in your exhortation you make their souls better.”
“And could a single spoken word on a single day,” said Cyrus, “have the power to fill with respect the souls of those who hear it, or avert them from what is shameful; could it turn them to the view that they must embrace every labor and every risk for the sake of praise; could it bring it securely into their judgment that one must choose to die in battle rather than to be safe in flight? (52) If such thoughts are going to be inscribed in human beings and remain abiding, must not there first be such laws as will provide an honored and free life for the good and impose a lifetime wretched, grievous, and not worth living upon the bad? (53) Next, there must surely be teachers and rulers over them who will correctly show, teach, and habituate them to do these things until it is inbred in them to really believe that the good and famous are most happy, and to hold that the bad and infamous are most wretched of all, for those who are going to give evidence that their learning is stronger than the fear of enemies must be disposed like this. (54) If it should be in someone’s power, as troops with their arms are going off into battle, on which occasion many people abandon even what they learned long ago, to make men warlike by some instant recitations, then it would be the easiest of all things both to learn and to teach the greatest virtue for human beings. (55) Regarding these whom we have now taken on and had exercise next to ourselves, I, at least, would not trust them to persevere if I did not also see that you are present, you who will be a model to them of how they ought to be and will be able to prompt them if they forget something. Regarding those completely uneducated in virtue, I would be amazed, Chrysantas, if a word nobly spoken would benefit them any more in the goodness of a man than a song beautifully sung would benefit in music those uneducated in music.”
(56) So they were discussing such things. Cyaxares sent again and said that Cyrus was making a mistake in letting time pass and not marching against the enemy as soon as possible. Cyrus then responded to the messengers, “But be assured that there are not yet as many of them out as there ought to be. Report this to him in front of everyone. Nevertheless, since it seems [good] to him, I shall now march.” (57) After saying this and praying to the gods, he led the army out. When he began to lead, he immediately led quite quickly, and they followed in good order, because they understood how and had carefully practiced marching in order; robustly, because they were competitive with each other, because they had done bodily labor, and because all their rulers were in the front ranks; with pleasure, because they were prudent, for they understood and had learned over a long time that going to close quarters with the enemy was safest and easiest, especially against archers, spearmen, and knights. (58) While they were still outside of the arrows’ range, Cyrus passed the watchword, “Zeus, ally and leader.” When the watchword was passed along and came back again, he began the customary paean to the Dioscuri; and they all devoutly joined the chant with a loud voice, for on such an occasion, those who fear divinities fear human beings less.20 (59) After the paean, the Peers marched along radiantly, educated, looking at each other, calling by name those who were beside and behind them. Often saying, “Come on, men, friends! Come on, good men!” they called on each other to follow. Those in the rear, on hearing them, in turn exhorted the front ranks to lead robustly. Cyrus’ army was full of zeal, ambition, strength, confidence, mutual exhortation, moderation, obedience; this, I think, is most terrible for the opposition.
(60) Of the Assyrians, the charioteers who were supposed to fight in the forefront got back up onto their chariots and withdrew to their own multitude as soon as the Persian multitude came near. Their archers, spearmen, and slingers shot their missiles much before they could reach their targets.
(61) When in their advance the Persians were marching over the shot missiles, Cyrus cried out, “Best men, let someone now make himself conspicuous by going more quickly; pass it on.” They passed it on, and out of zeal, strength, and haste to join with the enemy, some began to run, and the whole phalanx followed at a run. (62) Forgetting the walking pace, Cyrus himself led the run and at the same time cried out, “Who will follow? Who will be good? Who will be first to strike a man down?” On hearing him, they cried out these same things, and these words traveled through all the ranks in just the way Cyrus had urged, “Who will follow? Who will be good?”
(63) So this is how the Persians were as they brought themselves to close quarters; but the enemy was no longer able to stand fast, and they turned and began fleeing into their fortification. (64) The Persians, on the other hand, followed them to the gates where they were jostling with each other, and they slaughtered many. Those who fell into the trenches they leaped upon and killed, men and horses together—in their flight, some of the chariots were compelled to fall into the trenches. (65) When they saw all this, the Median cavalry attacked the enemy cavalry, and they too gave way. Then, of course, there was a great chase of horses as well as of men, and a slaughter of both. (66) There were those who stood upon the rampart of the trench inside the Assyrians’ fortification, but as for shooting their arrows or throwing their spears at those who were doing the killing, they neither thought of it nor had the power because of the terrible sights and their fear. Learning that some of the Persians had cut through to the entrances of the fortification, they quickly began to turn away even from the inside ramparts. (67) When the women of the Assyrians and their allies saw that people were already in flight even inside the camp, they began to cry out and run in terror, some with children, others even younger; and they ripped their garments and tore at their skin, begging whomever they happened upon not to flee and leave them but rather to defend them, their children, and themselves. (68) Then even the kings themselves stood with their most trusted troops at the entrances, and going up on the ramparts, they both did battle themselves and exhorted the others to do so. (69) When Cyrus recognized what was happening, he was afraid that, even if they should force their way inside, they might be overcome, since they were few against many, so he commanded them to obey and march backward in retreat until out of bowshot. (70) It was then indeed that one might have known that the Peers had been educated as they ought to have been, for they themselves obeyed quickly, and they quickly passed the word to others. When they were out of bowshot, they halted in their places, knowing much more accurately than a chorus where each of them had to be.