Chapter 2

(1) While Cyrus was doing these things, messengers from the Hyrcanians arrived somehow divinely. The Hyrcanians are the Assyrians’ neighbors, but they are not a great nation, so they were also the Assyrians’ subjects. They were then reputed to be good riders and are still so reputed now, so the Assyrians used them just as the Lacedaemonians use the Sciritae, sparing them neither labors nor risks. And thus on this occasion they commanded them, being about a thousand cavalry, to guard the rear, so that if anything terrible should come from that direction, they would get it first. (2) Since the Hyrcanians were going to march in the back, they also had their own wagons and families in the back, for many of those who dwell in Asia take along the members of their households when they go on campaign, and this was how the Hyrcanians were then campaigning. (3) Reflecting that they suffered so at the hands of the Assyrians, that these had just been defeated and their ruler killed, that there was fear in their army, and that their allies were despondent and were deserting, it seemed to them, as they took these things to heart, that it was now a noble thing to revolt, if Cyrus and those with him should be willing to join the attack. They sent messengers to Cyrus, for his name had been greatly elevated because of the battle. (4) Those sent said to Cyrus that it was just for them to hate the Assyrians and that now, if he wished to attack them, they would be his allies and guides. At the same time they also described the condition of the enemies’ affairs, wishing above all to incite him to go on campaign.

(5) And Cyrus asked them, “Do you think that we could still catch them before they are in their forts? For we hold it to be a great misfortune that they got a head start on us in running away.” He said this wishing them to think as highly as possible of himself and his troops.

(6) They answered that if they started out at dawn without heavy gear, they would catch them even on the next day. “Since they are a mob with many wagons, they are scarcely marching. Further,” they said, “they have now made camp after only a short advance, for they went without sleep on the previous night.”

(7) And Cyrus said, “Do you have any assurance of what you say, then, to teach us that you are telling the truth?”

“We are willing to ride at once and bring hostages during the night,” they said. “Only perform for us the assurances of the gods and give us your right hand, so that we may take to the others the very signs we ourselves receive from you.”

(8) He then swore and gave them assurances that if they remained firm in what they said, he would treat them as friends and trusted troops, so that they would receive no less from him than either Persians or Medes. Even now it is still possible to see Hyrcanians who are trusted and hold office, just as do those of the Persians and Medes who seem to be deserving.

(9) After they had dinner, he led the army out while it was still light, and he ordered the Hyrcanians to wait, in order that they might go together. Now as was to be expected, all the Persians immediately came out, as did Tigranes with his own army. (10) Of the Medes, some came out because when they were boys, they had been friends with Cyrus when he was a boy; others because when they had been with him on hunts, they admired his manner; others because they felt grateful to him, since he seemed to have warded off a major threat for them; others also had hopes that because he appeared to be a good and fortunate man, he would one day be exceedingly great; others, if he did anything good for anyone when he was growing up among the Medes, wished to gratify him in retarn (and because of his benevolence he had done through his grandfather many good things for many people).3 But when they saw the Hyrcanians, and the argument circulated that they would guide them to many good things, many came out also in order to get something. (11) Thus nearly all the Medes came out, except those who happened to be at Cyaxares’ tent party; they and their subordinates stayed back. Yet all the others set out radiantly and enthusiastically, since they were going out not by necessity but willingly and for gratitude.4 (12) When they were outside, Cyrus went first to the Medes, and praised them and prayed especially that the gods be propitious in guiding them and the Persians, and next that he himself have the power to pay back the favor of their enthusiasm. He said in conclusion that the infantry would guide them, and he ordered them to follow with their horses. And wherever they rested or stopped their march, he commanded some of them to ride up to him, so they might know what the occasion demanded.

(13) After this he ordered the Hyrcanians to lead the way. And they asked, “What! Are you not waiting until we bring back the hostages, so that you may have guarantees from us as you march?”

And he is said to have answered, “No, for I consider that we have guarantees in all our souls and in all our hands. As it is, we think we have prepared ourselves, if you are telling the truth, to be competent to bestow benefits; but if you are deceiving us, we believe things to be such that we will not be in your hands, but rather, if the gods are willing, you will be in ours. And, Hyrcanians, since you say that your people are marching last, signal to us that they are yours as soon as you see them, in order that we may spare them.” (14) After hearing this, the Hyrcanians led the way, as he had ordered, while they also wondered at the strength of his soul. They no longer feared either Assyrians or Lydians or their allies, but they were frightened entirely that Cyrus might think it of little moment whether they came or left.

(15) They were marching when night came on, and it is said that a light from heaven became plainly apparent to Cyrus and the army, so that there arose in all a shuddering toward the divine, but boldness toward the enemy. As they were marching without heavy gear and quickly, they are likely to have traveled a long way, and at dawn they were near the army of the Hyrcanians. (16) When the messengers recognized them, they said to Cyrus that these people were their own, for they said they recognized them both by their being last and by the number of their fires. (17) After this he sent one of the Hyrcanians to them, enjoining him to tell them, if they were friends, to come to meet them as quickly as possible with their right hands raised. He sent along also one of his own group, and he ordered him to say to the Hyrcanians that Cyrus’ troops would conduct themselves in whatever manner they saw them use in their approach. Thus one of the messengers remained with Cyrus, and the other rode to the Hyrcanians. (18) While he was examining the Hyrcanians to see what they would do, Cyrus brought his army to a halt. Tigranes and the foremost of the Medes rode to him and asked what was to be done. He said to them, “This nearby army is that of the Hyrcanians. The other of their messengers has gone to them, and with him one of ours, in order to ask that if they are friends, they all come to meet us with their right hands raised. Now if they do this, greet them with your right hands, each the person opposite him, and offer them encouragement at the same time. But if they raise their weapons or attempt to flee, we must try to be sure that not even a single one of them is left.”

(19) So he gave commands of this sort. The Hyrcanians were pleased when they heard the messengers and, leaping upon their horses, they went up to them, stretching out their right hands as had been announced. The Medes and Persians held out their right hands to them in return and offered encouragement. (20) After this Cyrus said, “We plainly trust you already, Hyrcanians, and you too must be so disposed to us. First tell us how far away from here are the headquarters of our enemies and their main body.” They answered that it was little more than a parasang.5

(21) Cyrus then said, “Come, men of Persia and Media, and you too, Hyrcanians, for I am already conversing with you too as with allies and partners. We must now know well that we are in a situation such that if we should go soft, we would obtain all the harshest things, since our enemies know what we have come for. If we go against our enemies with strength and spirit, and attack them steadfastly, you will at once see that, just like runaway slaves who have been discovered, some of them beg, others take flight, and others are not capable of thinking even of these things, for they will see us just after their defeat; and they will have been caught without expecting that we would arrive, without having put themselves in order, and without having prepared themselves to fight. (22) Soifit is with pleasure that we wish to eat, to spend our nights, and to pass our lives in the future, let us not grant them leisure either to deliberate or to prepare anything good for themselves, nor even to know that we are human beings at all, but let them believe that shields, swords, and scimitars have come against them and that beatings have arrived. (23) And you, Hyrcanians, spread yourselves out and march in front of us, in order that since your arms will be seen, we may escape notice for the longest time possible. When I reach the enemy’s army, let each of you leave a cavalry unit with me so that I, staying at the camp, may use them if there be any need. (24) Ride massed together in close order, you rulers and elders, if you are moderate, so that you not be harmed if you should chance upon another massed group, but release the younger troops to give chase. And have them kill, since it is now safest to leave as few of the enemies as possible. (25) If we conquer, we must guard against turning to plunder, which has overturned the fortune of many who have conquered. He who does this is no longer a man but a camp follower, and whoever wishes to use him as a slave has license to do so. (26) One must know that nothing leads to gain more than does conquest, since he who conquers also plunders everything all at once—men, women, valuables, and the entire country. Therefore, look only to this, that we preserve our conquest, for if he is overcome, the plunderer is himself taken. Remember this too in your pursuit: Come back to me while it is still light. We will no longer admit anyone after it is dark.”

(27) After saying these things, he dismissed each to his unit, and he ordered each to signal these same instructions to his own sergeants during the march (for the sergeants were in front so they could hear instructions) and to command each of his sergeants to pass it along to his squad of ten. After this the Hyrcanians began leading the advance, and he himself marched with the Persians at the center.

(28) As for their enemies, when it became light, some were wondering at what they saw, some already knew, some were spreading the news, some were shouting, some were freeing horses, some were packing up, some were throwing down arms from the pack animals, some were arming themselves, some were leaping up on their horses, some were putting bridles on, some were getting women up into carts, some were taking the things of greatest value intending to save them, some were caught while trying to bury such things, but most were beginning to flee. One must suppose that they also did many and varied other things, except that no one was fighting, and they were perishing without a battle.

(29) Since it was summer, Croesus the king of the Lydians had sent the women forward in carriages during the night, so they might travel more easily when it was cool, and he himself followed with the cavalry. (30) They say that the Phrygian [king], the one who ruled the Phrygia by the Hellespont, did the same thing. When they perceived that they were being overtaken by people in flight, they inquired what had happened and themselves took flight at a breakneck pace. (31) But as for the kings of the Cappadocians and the Arabians, who were still nearby and offered resistance even unarmed, the Hyrcanians killed them. But most of those killed were Assyrians and Arabians, for since they were in their own land, they were least intent on flight.

(32) Now as the Medes and the Hyrcanians gave chase they did such things as it is likely that conquerors do. Cyrus ordered the cavalry that had been left with him to ride about the camp and, if they should see any coming out with weapons, to kill them. To those who submitted he announced that enemy soldiers, whether knights, targeteers, or archers, should tie their weapons together and carry them away, but leave their horses at the tents; and that whoever did not do this would at once be deprived of his head. Holding their swords stretched out, his troops stood round in order. (33) Now those with weapons brought them to the one place he ordered and threw them down, and those to whom he gave the command burned them.

(34) Cyrus reflected that they had come without food or drink, and without these it is impossible either to campaign or to do anything else. Considering how these things might be procured as nobly and as quickly as possible, he realized that for all those who go on a military campaign, there must of necessity be someone who takes care of their tent and sees to it that whatever is required has been prepared for the soldiers when they come in. (35) He realized moreover that of all those who were in the camp, it was especially likely that it was such servants who had just now been caught because they were busy with the baggage. He thus called.for all the stewards to report, and if there was a tent without a steward, for the oldest from that tent to report. He proclaimed all things harsh for whoever disobeyed. Seeing that even their masters were obeying, they obeyed quickly. (36) After they were present, he ordered all who had more than two months’ provisions in their tents to sit down. After he saw them, he next ordered those who had a month’s to sit down. Then nearly all were sitting. (37) After he learned this, he spoke to them as follows: “Come now, men, all of you who hate what is evil and would wish to obtain something good from us, take zealous care that there be prepared in each tent twice the food and drink you used to make each day for your masters and the members of their households.6 Also make ready all the other things that will provide for a noble feast, for whichever side conquers will very soon be present, and they will think they deserve to have an abundance of all provisions. So be assured that it would be advantageous for you to receive the men in a way that cannot be faulted.”

(38) So having heard these things, they were doing with great zeal what he ordered, while he called the captains together and spoke as follows: “Men, friends, we know that it is possible for us to have lunch now, sooner than our allies who are absent, and to put to good use this food and drink that has been so earnestly prepared. But it does not seem to me that this lunch would benefit us more than to be visibly concerned for our allies, or that this banquet would make us stronger by as much as if we should be able to make our allies enthusiastic. (39) If—while they are now giving chase, killing our enemies, and fighting if anyone offers opposition—we will seem to neglect them to the point that even before knowing how they are faring we openly have our lunch, beware that we not appear shameful and, at a loss for allies, become weak. To take care that those who are running risks and laboring will have what is required when they come back—this is a feast that would delight us more, as I say, than to gratify our stomachs immediately. (40) Bear in mind that even if there were no need for us to feel ashamed in their presence, neither satiety nor drink befits us now, for what we wish has not yet been accomplished, but these very things are now all in need of the utmost care, for we have enemies in the camp who are many times more numerous than are we ourselves, and they are on the loose. It is still fitting that we both be on guard against them and also guard over them, so that they will do for us what is required. Moreover, our cavalry is absent, making us worry about where they are, and if they return, about whether they will stay with us. (41) Consequently, men, it now seems to me that we ought to take such food and drink as one would suppose to be especially advantageous for not being satiated with either sleep or immoderation.

(42) “Moreover, there is still a lot of money in the camp, and I am not ignorant of the fact that it is possible for us to appropriate as much as we wish, even though it belongs in common to those who joined in taking it. But it does not seem to me to be a greater gain to take it than, by appearing to be just to them, to try to make them delight in us still more than they do now.7 (43) It seems to me that we should commit even the distribution of the money to the Medes, Hyrcanians, and Tigranes, when they come back. And if they allocate somewhat less to us, to hold it a gain, for because of these gains, they will be more pleased to stay with us, (44) for seizing the advantage now would provide us wealth that is short-lived, but letting this go and acquiring instead that from which wealth naturally springs, this, as it seems to me, would have the power of providing ageless riches to us and ours. (45) I think that even at home we practiced being superior to our stomachs and untimely gains so that we would be able to make advantageous use of this restraint if ever it should be needed. I do not see that we could display our education on an occasion greater than that now present.” (46) Thus he spoke.

Hystaspas, a man who was one of the Persian Peers, spoke in support as follows: “It would be a terrible thing, Cyrus, if when we hunt we often persist without food in order to take some wild animal in hand, and perhaps one of very little worth; but if, in trying to hunt riches in their entirety, we should make an obstacle to ourselves of such [desires] as rule over bad human beings but obey the good, I think we would do what is not befitting us.”

(47) Thus spoke Hystaspas, and all the others approved. Cyrus said, “Come; since we are of like minds on this, let each send five of the most serious troops from his platoon; let these go around and praise whomever they see preparing what is required; but let them punish more unsparingly than as masters whomever they see being negligent.” So they set about doing this.

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