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ordinary weight of baggage； which came to about five…and…twenty
talents apiece； whereas the tower； build of planks about as thick as
the boards for a stage； weighed less than fifteen for each yoke。 ＇55＇
Thus； having satisfied himself that the attempt was perfectly
possible； he arranged to take the towers into action； believing that
in war selfishness meant salvation； justice； and happiness。
＇C。2＇ About this time ambassadors came to Cyrus from India with gifts
of courtesy and a message from their king； saying：
〃I send you greeting； Cyrus； and I rejoice that you told me of your
needs。 I desire to be your friend and I offer you gifts； and if you
have need of anything more； I bid you say the word； and it shall be
yours。 I have told my men to do whatever you command。〃
＇2＇ Then Cyrus answered：
〃This； then； is my bidding： the rest of you shall stay where you have
pitched your tents； you shall guard your treasures and live as you
choose： but three of you shall go to the enemy and make believe that
you have come to him about an alliance with your king； and thus you
shall learn how matters stand； and all they say and all they do； and
so bring me word again with speed。 And if you serve me well in this； I
shall owe you even more than I could owe you for these gifts。 There
are some spies who are no better than slaves； and have no skill to
find out anything more than is known already； but there are men of
another sort； men of your stamp； who can discover plans that are not
yet disclosed。〃
＇3＇ The Indians listened gladly； and for the moment made themselves at
home as the guests of Cyrus： but the next day they got ready and set
off on their journey； promising to find out as much as they could of
the enemy's secrets and bring him word again with all possible speed。
＇4＇ Meanwhile Cyrus continued his preparations for the war on a
magnificent scale； like one who meant to accomplish no small
achievement。 Not only did he carry out all the resolutions of the
allies； but he breathed a spirit of emulation into his own friends and
followers； till each strove to outshine his fellows in arms and
accoutrements； in horsemanship and spearmanship and archery； in
endurance of toil and danger。 ＇5＇ Cyrus would lead them out to the
chase； and show especial honour to those who distinguished themselves
in any way： he would whet the ambition of the officers by praising all
who did their best to improve their men； and by gratifying them in
every way he could。 ＇6＇ At every sacrifice and festival he instituted
games and contests in all martial exercises； and lavished prizes on
the victors； till the whole army was filled with enthusiasm and
confidence。 ＇7＇ By this time Cyrus had almost everything in readiness
for the campaign； except the battering…machines。 The Persian cavalry
was made up to its full number of ten thousand men； and the scythed
chariots were complete； a hundred of his own； and a hundred that
Abradatas of Susa had provided。 ＇8＇ Beside these there were a hundred
of the old Median chariots which Cyrus had persuaded Cyaxares to
remodel on his own type； giving up the Trojan and Lydian style。 The
camels were ready also； each animal carrying a couple of mounted
archers。
The bulk of the great army felt almost as though they had already
conquered； and the enemy's power was held of no account。
＇9＇ While matters were thus； the Indians whom Cyrus had sent out
returned with their report。 Croesus had been chosen leader and
general…in…chief； a resolution had been passed； calling on all the
allied kings to bring up their entire forces； raise enormous sums for
the war； and spend them in hiring mercenaries where they could and
making presents where they must。 ＇10＇ Large numbers of Thracians；
armed with the short sword； had already been enrolled； and a body of
Egyptians were coming by sea； amountingso said the Indiansto
120；000 men； armed with long shields reaching to their feet； huge
spears （such as they carry to this day）； and sabres。 Beside these； an
army was expected from Cyprus； and there were already on the spot all
the Cilicians； the men of both the Phrygias； of Lycaonia； Paphlagonia；
and Cappadocia； the Arabians； the Phoenicians； and all the Assyrians
under the king of Babylon。 Moreover； the Ionians； and Aeolians； and
indeed nearly all the Hellenic colonists on the coast were compelled
to follow in the train of Croesus。 ＇11＇ Croesus himself had already
sent to Lacedaemon to propose an alliance with the Spartans。 The
armament was mustering on the banks of the Pactolus； and they were to
push forward presently to Thymbrara （the place which is still the
mustering…ground for all the Asiatic subjects of the Great King west
of Syria）； and orders had been issued to open a market there。 This
report agreed with the accounts given by the prisoners； for Cyrus was
always at pains to gave men captured from whom he could get some
information； and he would also send out spies disguised as runaway
slaves。
＇12＇ Such were the tidings； and when the army heard the news there was
much anxiety and concern； as one may well suppose。 The men went about
their work with an unusual quietness； their faces clouded over； or
gathered in knots and clusters everywhere； anxiously asking each other
the news and discussing the report。 ＇13＇ When Cyrus saw that fear was
in the camp； he called a meeting of his generals； and indeed of all
whose dejection might injure the cause and whose confidence assist it。
Moreover； he sent word that any of the attendants； or any of the rank
and file； who wished to hear what he had to say； would be allowed to
come and listen。 When they met； he spoke as follows：
＇14＇ 〃My friends and allies； I make no secret of the reason I have
called you here。 It was because I saw that some of you； when the
reports of the enemy reached us； looked like men who were panic…
stricken。 But I must say I am astonished that any of you should feel
alarm because the enemy is mustering his forces； and not be reassured
by remembering that our own is far larger than it was when we
conquered him before； and far better provided； under heaven； with all
we need。 ＇15＇ I ask you how you would have felt； you who are afraid
now； if you had been told that a force exactly like our own was
marching upon us； if you had heard that men who had conquered us
already were coming now； carrying in their hearts the victory they had
won； if you knew that those who made short work then of all our bows
and javelins were advancing again； and others with them； ten thousand
times as many？ ＇16＇ Suppose you heard that the very men who had routed
our infantry once were coming on now equipt as before； but this time
on horseback； scorning arms and javelins； each man armed with one
stout spear； ready to charge home？ ＇17＇ Suppose you heard of chariots；
made on a new pattern； not to be kept motionless； standing； as
hitherto； with their backs turned to the foe as if for flight； but
with the horses shielded by armour； and the drivers sheltered by
wooden walls and protected by breastplates and helmets； and the axles
fitted with iron scythes so that they can charge straight into the
ranks of the foe？ ＇18＇ And suppose you heard that they have camels to
ride on； each one of which would scare a hundred horses； and that they
will bring up towers from which to help their own friends； and
overwhelm us with volleys of darts so that we cannot fight them on
level ground？ ＇19＇ If this were what you had heard of the enemy； I as
you； once again； you who are now so fearful what would you have done？
You who turn pale when told that Croesus has been chosen commander…in…
chief； Croesus who proved himself so much more cowardly than the
Syrians； that when they were worsted in battle and fled； instead of
helping them； his own allies； he took to his heels himself。 ＇20＇ We
are told； moreover； that the enemy himself does not feel equal to
facing you alone； he is hiring others to fight for him better than he
could for himself。 I can only say； gentlemen； that if any individual
considers our position as I describe it alarming or unfavourable； he
had better leave us。 Let him join our opponents； he will do us far
more service the