Chapter 4

(1) Early on the next day, Cyrus was offering sacrifices, and the rest of the army, after having a meal and pouring libations, were putting on their armor, donning many beautiful tunics and many beautiful breastplates and helmets. They also put armor on the horses, both pieces for their foreheads and others for their chests. On the single horses they put thigh pieces; on those that pulled the chariots, side pieces.28 Consequently, the entire army flashed with bronze and was brilliant with purple. (2) Abradatas’ chariot with four poles and eight horses had been very beautifully adorned. When he was about to put on the linen breastplate that was worn in his country,29 Panthea brought him a golden helmet, armlets, broad bracelets for his wrists, a purple tunic that reached down to his feet and whose lower parts had deep folds, and a plume dyed dark red. Having measured his armor, she had had these things made in secret from her husband. (3) He was amazed when he saw them, and he asked Panthea, “Surely, my wife, you did not have this armor made for me by breaking up your own jewels, did you?”30

“No, by Zeus,” Panthea said, “at least not my most precious one, for you will be my greatest jewel, if you appear also to others as you do to me.” As she said this, she put his armor on him, and although she tried to avoid being noticed, her tears poured down her cheeks.

(4) Since Abradatas was a sight worth looking at even before he was clad in this armor, he appeared most handsome and most free, since his nature was already such. Taking the reins from the groom, he was already prepared to go up onto the chariot. (5) Then Panthea bade all those present withdraw and said, “Abradatas, if any other woman ever honored her husband more than her own life, I think you know that I too am one of these. Now why should I need to state each point one by one, since I think I have provided you with deeds more persuasive than the words I say now? (6) Being disposed to you as you know me to be, I nevertheless swear to you on my friendship and yours that I would wish to be put under the earth in common with you, when you have been a good man, rather than live on, a woman in shame with a man in shame, so worthy of what is most noble have I deemed both you and myself. (7) And I think we owe Cyrus a great favor, because when I was a captive and had been selected for him, he did not think it worthy to possess me either as a slave or as a free woman under a dishonorable name, but he guarded me for you as if he had taken his brother’s wife. (8) In addition, when Araspas, the one who was watching over me, defected, I promised him that if he would allow me to send to you, a man much more loyal and better than Araspas would come to him.”

(9) So she said this; and Abradatas, admiring her words and laying his hand on her head, looked up to heaven and swore this oath: “Greatest Zeus, grant that I may come to light as a husband worthy of Panthea, and a friend worthy of Cyrus, who has honored us.” Having said this at the doors of the chariot box, he went on up into the chariot. (10) When he had gone up and the groom closed up the chariot box, Panthea, having no other way to take her leave of him, kissed the chariot. His chariot was already advancing, but she followed along behind, unnoticed, until, turning and seeing her, Abradatas said, “Take heart, Panthea, farewell, and now go back.” (11) After this her eunuchs and servant women took her and led her back to the carriage, and laying her down, they concealed her behind the carriage cover. Although the sight of Abradatas and his chariot was a beautiful one, people were not able to look at him until Panthea went away.

(12) When the omens from Cyrus’ sacrifices were favorable and the army had been drawn up in order for him just as he directed, and while he was taking possession of one lookout post after another, he called his leaders together and said the following: (13) “Men, friends, allies: As for our sacrifices, the gods show us signs of the same sort as when they granted the previous victory. As for you, I wish to remind you of such things as I think, if you bear them in mind, would enable you to enter the contest in much better spirits. (14) You have practiced what pertains to war much more than have our enemies, you have taken your meals together and have been formed into order together in the same place and for a much longer time than have our enemies, and you have been victorious together with each other. Of our enemies, the majority have been defeated together with each other. Of those on each side who have not yet been in battle, our enemies’ [new allies] know that they have traitors for partners, while you who are with us know that you will fight alongside troops who are willing to give aid to their allies. (15) It is to be expected that those who trust each other will stand their ground and fight with one mind, while it is necessary that those who distrust each other will each deliberate about how most quickly to get out of harm’s way. (16) So let us go, men, against our enemy—with armed chariots against the enemy’s unarmed, just as also with armed cavalry and horses against their unarmed—to do battle at close quarters. (17) You will fight against infantry troops, most of whom you have fought before, and the others, the Egyptians, are as poorly armed as they are deployed, for they have shields too big for them to do or see anything, and since they are deployed to a depth of one hundred, it is clear that they will prevent each other from fighting, except for a very few. (18) If they trust that they will drive us out by pushing, it will first be necessary that they hold out against horses and iron made even stronger by [charging] horses; and even if some one of them does persevere, how will he at the same time be able to fight a cavalry battle, to fight an infantry phalanx, and to fight against our towers? Those on the towers will aid us further, and striking our enemies from above they will lead them not to fight but put them in an insoluble position. (19) If you think you are still in need of anything, talk to me. For with the gods’ [help], we will not be at a loss for anything. And if any one wishes to say anything, let him speak. If not, after you have gone to the sacrifices and prayed to the gods to whom we sacrificed, then go to your companies. (20) And let each of you remind his troops of what I reminded you, and let one show himself to the ruled to be worthy of rule, showing himself fearless in bearing, countenance, and words.”

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