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was held to have done the best； so much so that to this day they are
still armed in the manner that Cyrus devised。 ＇47＇ High praise also
was given to the scythe…bearing chariots； and this engine of war is
still employed by the reigning king。 ＇48＇ As for the camels； all they
did was to scare the horses； their riders could take no part in the
slaughter； and were never touched themselves by the enemy's cavalry。
For not a horse would come near the camels。 ＇49＇ It was a useful arm；
certainly； but no gallant gentleman would dream of breeding camels for
his own use or learning to fight on camel…back。 And so they returned
to their old position among the baggage…train。
＇C。2＇ Then Cyrus and his men took their evening meal and posted their
pickets and went to rest。 But Croesus and his army fled in haste to
Sardis； and the other tribes hurried away homewards under cover of
night as fast and as far as they could。 ＇2＇ When day broke Cyrus
marched straight for Sardis； and when he came before the citadel he
set up his engines as though for the assault and got out his ladders。
But the following night he sent a scaling party of Persians and
Chaldaeans to climb the fortifications at the steepest point。 The
guide was a Persian who had served as a slave to one of the garrison
in the citadel； and who knew a way down to the river by which one
could get up。 ＇4＇ As soon as it became clear that the heights had been
taken； all the Lydians without exception fled from the walls and hid
wherever they could。 At daybreak Cyrus entered the city and gave
orders that not a man was to leave the ranks。 ＇5＇ Croesus； who had
shut himself up inside his palace； cried out on Cyrus； and Cyrus left
a guard round the building while he himself went to inspect the
captured citadel。 Here he found the Persians keeping guard in perfect
order； but the Chaldaean quarters were deserted； for the men had
rushed down to pillage the town。 Immediately he summoned their
officers； and bade them leave his army at once。 ＇6＇ 〃I could never
endure；〃 he said； 〃to have undisciplined fellows seizing the best of
everything。 You know well enough；〃 he added； 〃all that was in store
for you。 I meant to make all who served with me the envy of their
fellows； but now；〃 he said； 〃you cannot be surprised if you encounter
some one stronger than yourselves on your way home。〃
＇7＇ Fear fell on the Chaldaeans at this； and they intreated him to lay
aside his anger and vowed they would give back all the booty they had
taken。 He answered that he had no need of it himself。 〃But if；〃 he
added； 〃you wish to appease me； you will hand it over to those who
stayed and guarded the citadel。 For if my soldiers see that discipline
means reward； all will be well with us。〃
＇8＇ So the Chaldaeans did as he bade them； and the faithful and
obedient received all manner of good things。
Then Cyrus made his troops encamp in the most convenient quarter of
the town； and told them to stay at their posts and take their
breakfast there。 ＇9＇ That done； he gave orders that Croesus should be
brought to him； and when he came into his presence； Croesus cried：
〃Hail； Cyrus； my lord and master！ Fate has given you that title from
now henceforward； and thus must I salute you。〃
＇20＇ 〃All hail to you likewise；〃 answered Cyrus： 〃we are both of us
men。 And tell me now；〃 he continued； 〃would you be more willing to
advise me as a friend？〃 〃I should be more than glad；〃 said Croesus；
〃to do you any good。 It would mean good for myself； I know。〃 ＇11＇
〃Listen； then；〃 answered Cyrus： 〃I see that my soldiers have endured
much toil and encountered many dangers； and now they are persuaded
that they have taken the wealthiest city in all Asia； after Babylon。 I
would not have them cheated of their recompense； seeing that if they
win nothing by their labour； I know not how I can keep them obedient
to me for long。 Yet I am unwilling to give them this city over to
plunder。 I believe it would be utterly destroyed； and moreover I know
full well that in plunder the worst villains win the most。〃
＇12＇ To this Croesus answered； 〃Suffer me then to tell what Lydians I
please that I have won your promise that the city shall not be sacked；
nor their women and children made away with。 ＇13＇ I promise you in
return that my men will bring you willingly everything that is costly
and beautiful in Sardis。 If I can announce such terms； I am certain
there is not one treasure belonging to man or woman that will not be
yours to…morrow。 Further； on this day year； the city will overflow
once more with wealth and beauty。 But if you sack it； you will destroy
the crafts in its ruin； and they； we know； are the well…spring of all
loveliness。 ＇14＇ Howbeit； you need not decide at once； wait and see
what is brought to you。 Send first；〃 he added； 〃to my own treasuries；
and let your guards take some of my own men with them。〃
To all this Cyrus consented； and then he said：
＇15＇ 〃And now； O Croesus； tell me one thing more。 How did matters go
between you and the oracle at Delphi？ It is said that you did much
reverence to Apollo and obeyed him in all things。〃
＇16＇ 〃I could wish it had been so；〃 said Croesus； 〃but； truth to say；
from the beginning I have acted in all things against him。〃 〃How can
that be？〃 said Cyrus。 〃Explain it to me： for your words seem strange
indeed。〃 ＇17＇ 〃Because；〃 he answered； 〃in the first place； instead of
asking the god for all I wanted I must needs put him to the test； to
see if he could speak the truth。 This；〃 he added； 〃no man of honour
could endure； let be the godhead。 Those who are doubted cannot love
their doubters。 ＇18＇ And yet he stood the test； for though the things
I did were strange； and I was many leagues from Delphi； he knew them
all。 And so I resolved to consult him about my children。 ＇19＇ At first
he would not so much as answer me； but I sent him many an offering；
some of gold and some of silver； and I propitiated him； as I deemed；
by countless sacrifices； and at last he answered me when I asked him
what I must do that sons might be born to me。 He said they should be
born。 ＇20＇ And so they were； in that he uttered no lie； but they
brought me no joy。 One of them was dumb his whole life long； and the
noblest perished in the flower of his youth。 And I； crushed by these
sorrows； sent again to the god and asked him how I could live in
happiness for the rest of my days； and he answered：
〃'Know thyself； O Croesus； and happiness shall be thine。'
〃And when I heard the oracle； I was comforted。 ＇21＇ I said to myself；
the god has laid the lightest of tasks upon me； and promised me
happiness in return。 Some of his neighbours a man may know and others
not： but every one can know himself。 ＇22＇ So I thought； and in truth
so long as I was at peace I had no fault to find with my lot after my
son's death； but when the Assyrian persuaded me to march against you I
encountered every danger。 Yet I was saved； I came to no harm。 Once
again； therefore； I have no charge to bring against the god： when I
/knew myself/ incapable of warring against you； he came to my help and
saved mine and me。 ＇23＇ But afterwards； intoxicated by my wealth；
cajoled by those who begged me to be their leader； tempted by the
gifts they showered on me； flattered by all who said that if I would
but lead them they would obey me to a man； and that I would be the
greatest ruler in all the world； and that all their kings had met
together and chosen me for their champion in the war； I undertook the
generalship as though I were born to be the monarch of the world； for
I did not /know myself/。 ＇24＇ I thought myself able to fight against
you； you who are sprung from the seed of the gods； born of a royal
line； trained in valour and virtue from your youth； while II believe
that the first of my ancestors to reign won his freedom and his crown
on the self…same day。 For this dull ignorance of mine I see I am
justly punished。 ＇25＇ But now at last； O Cyrus；〃 he cried； 〃now I
/know myself/。 And tell me； do you think the god will still speak
truth？ Do you think that； knowing myself； I can be happy now？ I ask
you； because you of all men have it in your power to answer best。
Happiness is yours