(1) After they departed, Cyrus said, “Medes and Armenians, it is the hour for us all to have dinner. We have prepared what you need in the best way we could. But go and send to us half of the bread that has been made, for it is sufficient for us both. Send neither relish nor anything to drink, for we have a sufficient amount prepared for ourselves. (2) Conduct them to the tents, Hyrcanians: the rulers to the largest, for you know them, and the others in whatever way seems finest. And you yourselves may also dine wherever is most pleasant for you, for your tents are safe and intact; preparations have been made for you here, as also for the others. (3) Let this too be known to you both: We will stand guard for you at night against what is outside, but you yourselves must see to what is inside your tents, and dispose your weapons well, for those in the tents are not yet our friends.”
(4) Now the Medes and Tigranes’ Armenians bathed and, since such preparations had been made, changed their clothes and had dinner; their horses also had what they required. They sent half their bread to the Persians, but they sent neither relish nor wine, for they thought that Cyrus and his troops had these things left in abundance. Yet Cyrus had meant that hunger was their relish and that their drink was from the river flowing by. (5) So after giving the Persians their dinner, Cyrus sent many of them out after dark in fives and tens, and he ordered them to hide in a circle around the camp. He believed that they would guard against anyone trying to enter from outside, and at the same time that they would capture anyone who might try to take money and run away from the inside. And so it was, for many sought to run away, and many were captured. (6) Cyrus allowed those who caught them to keep the money, but the human beings he ordered them to kill. In the future, consequently, you could not easily find anyone traveling at night, even if you wished to. (7) So the Persians conducted themselves like this, but the Medes were drinking, feasting, having flutes played, and sating themselves with every delight, for many such things had been captured, so those awake were not at a loss for something to do.11
(8) Cyaxares, the king of the Medes, on the night Cyrus left, both got drunk with those partying in his tent (on the occasion of their presumed good fortune) and also thought the other Medes were still present in the camp, except for a few, for he heard a great commotion. Since their masters had gone away, the Medes’ servants were drinking without restraint and making a commotion, especially since they had taken both wine and many other things from the Assyrian army. (9) When it was day, and no one but those who had dined with him came to his doors, and he heard that the camp was empty of Medes and knights, and he saw, when he went out, that it was so, then of course he fell into a rage at both Cyrus and the Medes for having departed and left him alone. And, as he is said to have been savage and without judgment, he immediately ordered one of those who were present to take his own knights and travel as quickly as possible to Cyrus and the army with him, and say the following: (10) “I did not think that you, Cyrus, would deliberate about me in a way so lacking in foresight,12 or, if Cyrus is of this judgment, that you Medes would be willing to leave me so alone. Now, whether Cyrus wishes it or not, be here as quickly as possible.” (11) So he commanded these things. The one assigned to go said, “And how, master, shall I find them?”
“How did Cyrus,” he said, “and those with him get to those [they attacked]?”
“Because, by Zeus,” he said, “I hear that some of the Hyrcanians revolted from the enemy and, after coming here, left again and guided him.”
(12) After hearing this, Cyaxares became even much more angry at Cyrus for not having told him this, and he sent for the Medes with much more zeal, intending to strip [Cyrus of the Median cavalry]. Threatening still more strongly than before, he called the Medes back, and he threatened the envoy as well, if he should not report his message with severity.
(13) So the envoy went out with his own knights, about one hundred in number, distressed that he had not himself gone before with Cyrus. As they traveled on their journey they got separated at a certain path, and wandered around. They did not reach the friendly army until they chanced upon some retreating Assyrians and compelled them to be their guides. After thus coming to see the fires, they arrived somewhat around the middle of the night. (14) When they were at the camp, the guards, just as Cyrus had ordered, did not let them in before day. When day appeared, Cyrus first called the Magi and commanded that they select what was customary for the gods on the occasion of such successes.13
(15) So while they were busy with this, he called the Peers together and said, “Men, god is showing forth many good things, but we Persians are presently too few to remain in control of them. If, on the one hand, we do not guard what our work is producing for us, it will again belong to others. If, on the other hand, we leave behind some of ourselves as guards over what has come to us, we will at once come to light as having no strength. (16) It thus seems to me that one of you should go to Persia as quickly as possible both to teach what I am saying and to urge that they send an army as quickly as possible, if at least the Persians desire that the rule of Asia and its fruits be theirs. (17) So come then, you who are the eldest, go and say these things, and say also that I will take care of the upkeep for the soldiers whom they send, after they have arrived. You see the very things we have; hide nothing of this from them. As for what I should send to Persia from what we have, in order that I perform nobly and lawfully what pertains to the gods, ask my father; regarding what pertains to the community;14 ask the magistrates. Let them send overseers of what we are doing and others to respond to our questions. So get ready, and take your platoon as an escort.”
(18) After this he called in the Medes as well, and at the same time the messenger sent from Cyaxares presented himself, and in front of everyone he reported both his anger against Cyrus and his threats against the Medes. He said in conclusion that he commanded the Medes to come back, even if Cyrus wished to remain. (19) Now the Medes fell silent when they heard the messenger, being at a loss as to how—since he called—they could disobey; and fearing as to how—since he was threatening—they could comply with him, especially since they knew his savagery.
(20) Cyrus said, “But I do not wonder at all, messenger and Medes, if Cyaxares, having then seen many enemies and not knowing how we are faring, has misgivings both about us and about himself. Yet when he perceives that many of the enemy have been destroyed, and that all have been driven away, he will first of all stop being afraid, and then he will recognize that now he is not alone, since his friends have been destroying his enemies. (21) But how do we deserve blame, we who are benefiting him and are not even doing this on our own initiative? For I then persuaded him to allow me to take you and go off, and you, unlike men who might have desired this expedition, did not ask to depart and come here. Rather, you—whoever among you was not annoyed to do so—came only after having been so ordered by him. His anger, I know clearly, will have been assuaged by these successes and will vanish with the cessation of his fear.15 (22) So get some rest now, messenger, since you too have labored; and, Persians, since we are expecting enemies to be present, either to do battle or to obey, let us deploy ourselves as nobly as possible, for it is more likely, if we are seen like this, that we will accomplish what we want. You, ruler of the Hyrcanians, order the leaders of your soldiers to arm their troops and then wait here.”
(23) When he had done this, the Hyrcanian came back, and Cyrus said, “Hyrcanian, I am pleased when I perceive that you are here not only displaying your friendship, but you also seem to me to have acumen. And now it is clear that for us the very same things are advantageous, for the Assyrians are my enemies, and now they are even more hostile to you than to me. (24) Therefore, we must together make plans so that no one of the allies now with us leaves and, if we are able, so that we will take on others in addition. You heard the Mede recalling the cavalry. If they go away, we foot soldiers will be left alone. (25) You and I must therefore arrange things such that even the very one doing the recalling will wish to remain with us. So find and bestow upon him a tent where he will pass his time in the finest way with everything he needs, and I will in turn try to assign him some work that he will himself be more pleased to do than to depart. And converse with him about how many good things we hope will arise for all our friends, if things go well. After you do this, come back again to me.”
(26) So the Hyrcanian departed and led the Mede away to a tent, while the [messenger] who was to go to Persia reported, completely prepared for the trip. Cyrus enjoined him to say to the Persians what had even before been made clear in their discussion, and to deliver what he had written to Cyaxares. “I wish to read to you what I am sending,” he said, “so that knowing the contents you may speak in conformity with them if he asks you something in this regard.”
In the letter was the following: (27) “Cyrus to Cyaxares: Greetings. We did not leave you all alone, for no one is bereft of friends just when he is conquering his enemies. And we certainly do not think that by going away we put you at risk; but to the extent that we are farther away, we believe that we are making your safety that much greater, (28) for those friends who sit nearby do not most of all provide safety for their friends, but those who drive the enemy farthest away do more to put their friends in a condition free from risk.
(29) “Examine how I have acted toward you, and how you have acted toward me, when you then go on and blame me. I brought you allies, not merely as many as you persuaded to come, but fully as many as I was able to get, while you gave to me only as many as I was able to persuade to come, and at a time when I was in a friendly place. Now when I am in a hostile place, you recall not only whoever is willing to go, but everyone. (30) Thus it is that previously I thought I owed gratitude to both of you, but now you compel me to forget you and to try to repay all my gratitude to those who followed me. (31) I, however, am not able to be like you, but even now, in sending to Persia for an army, I am commanding that, if you have any need of them before they come to us, all those coming to me be put at your disposal, to use in whatever way you wish, not only in whatever way they are willing to be used.
(32) “Even though I am younger, I advise you not to take back what you give, lest enmity be owed you instead of gratitude; when you wish someone to come to you quickly, do not send for him with threats; and when you declare you are alone, do not deliver threats to large numbers, lest you teach them to think nothing of you. (33) We will try to be back with you as soon as we accomplish what we believe would, when done, be goods in common for both you and us.16 Farewell.”
(34) “Give this to him, and whatever he may ask you about it, answer in conformity with what has been written, for my commands to you about the Persians are indeed as has been written.” He spoke to him like this, and giving him the letter, dismissed him, enjoining him further to show the haste of one who knows that it is advantageous to be back quickly.
(35) After this he saw that the Medes, the Hyrcanians, and those with Tigranes were already all in arms; the Persians also were in arms. Some of [the locals] who were approaching were already leading in horses and carrying in weapons. (36) He ordered them to throw down the spears in the same place the others did earlier; they whose work it was were burning as many as they did not need themselves. As for the horses, he ordered those who brought them in to stay and guard them until some signal should be given to them.
Calling the rulers of the knights and the Hyrcanians, he spoke as follows: (37) “Men, [you who are] both friends and allies, do not be amazed that I call you together often, for since our present circumstances are new to us, many things are without order. Such things as are without order must of necessity provide constant problems until they take their places. (38) Now we have many valuables that have been captured, and men in addition to them. On account of our not knowing what among these things belongs to each of us, and their not knowing who is the master of each of them, one can readily see that not very many of them are doing what is necessary, and that nearly all are at a loss as to what they ought to do. (39) That this not be so, then, divide things up. And whoever receives a tent that has sufficient food, drink, people to do service, bedding, clothes, and the other things with which a soldier’s tent is nobly furnished, then nothing else is needed further than that the recipient know that he needs to take care of these things as his own. Whoever gets a tent where something is needed, examine it and remedy the deficiency; I know that there will be many extra things, (40) for our enemies possessed more of everything than is required by our numbers. The treasurers came to me, both those of the king of the Assyrians and those of the other potentates, and referring to certain tributes, they said that they had coined gold. (41) Proclaim, then, that they carry it all in to you, wherever your make your seat, and put fear in whoever does not do what is announced. Take it and distribute a double share to each knight, a single share to each foot soldier, in order that if you need anything further, you may have something with which to buy it. (42) Let it be proclaimed that no one is to be unjust to the vendors in the market that is already in the camp, that the merchants are to sell what each has for sale, and that, as these things are dispensed, others are to be brought in, in order that our camp may be provided for.” They proclaimed these things right away.
(43) The Medes and Hyrcanians said the following: “And how could we distribute these things without you and yours?”
(44) Cyrus in turn addressed this argument as follows: “Is it your judgment, men, that we all need to be present for everything that needs to be done, and that I will not suffice to act on yourbehalfwhen something is needed, nor will you on ours? How else could we have more problems and accomplish less than like this? (45) But look: We guarded these things for you, and you trust us to have guarded them nobly. Distribute them in turn, and we will trust you to have distributed them nobly. (46) We will also try to do some other common good in turn. For you see first, of course, how many horses are now present for us, and others are being brought in. Now if we allow them to be without mounts, they will not benefit us, and they will provide us the problem of their care. If we put knights on them, we will at the same time ward off problems and attach further strength to ourselves. (47) So if you have others to whom you would give them, with whom you would be more pleased to run risks, if it should be needed, than with us, give them to them. If you especially wish to have us by your side, give them to us, (48) for when you just now were at risk after riding out without us, you gave us a great fright that you might suffer something, and you made us very ashamed that we were not on hand where you were. If we get these horses, we will follow you. (49) And if we seem to confer more benefits when we contend from them, we will in that case not be deficient in zeal. Yet if by becoming foot soldiers our presence should seem to present a greater opportunity, it is open to us to dismount and immediately stand by you as foot soldiers. As for the horses, we will manage to find some to whom we could hand them over.”
(50) He spoke like this, and they answered, “But Cyrus, we neither have men whom we could mount upon these horses, nor if we had them would we choose anything else in place of what you wish. Now take them and do as seems to you to be best.”
(51) “But I accept them,” he said, “and may good fortune accompany our becoming knights and your distributing the common things. Now first choose out for the gods whatever the Magi direct. Then select also for Cyaxares whatever you think would especially gratify him.” (52) And they laughed and said they had to choose women. “Then choose women,” he said, “as well as whatever else may seem [good] to you. When you have chosen forhim, Hyrcanians, make sure all these who have willingly followed me, as far as is in your power, have no cause to complain.17 (53) Honor in turn, you Medes, these who were our first allies, so that they will hold that they deliberated well when they became our friends. Distribute a share of all things also to the envoy who came from Cyaxares, both to him himself and to those with him. Summon him to stay with us, as something decided upon by me, in order that, after he learns about each particular, he may report how things are to Cyaxares.18 (54) As for the Persians with me, whatever is left over after you have been nobly provided for will suffice, for we have not been raised with very much delicacy but in rustic fashion, so that you would perhaps laugh at us, if we were draped in anything elegant, just as we will surely afford you a great laugh both when we are seated on our horses and, I think, when we fall down on the ground.”
(55) After this they proceeded to the distribution, laughing hard over the matter of the horses. He called the captains and ordered that they take the horses, the gear for the horses, and the grooms, and that they count them, draw lots, and take them into the companies, an equal amount for each. (56) Cyrus again ordered a proclamation, that if there was any slave in the army of the Assyrians, Syrians, or Arabians who had been taken by force from the Medes, Persians, Bactrians, Carians, Cilicians, Greeks, or any other place, he should show himself. (57) Many who heard the herald gladly showed themselves. So he chose those who looked best and said that they were free but would need to carry whatever weapons they gave them.19 He said that he would take care that they would have the provisions they required. (58) And leading them off right away, he assigned them to their captains. He ordered that they give them their shields and their light swords, so that they might follow with these behind the horses, and that each take provisions for them just as for his own Persians. He also ordered that they keep their breastplates and lances and that they always ride their horses (and he began doing this himself), and that each establish another ruler from the Peers, instead of himself, over the Peers’ infantry.