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will not be disturbed in the outlying parts： he will scarcely neglect
the danger at his door to attack you out in the distance。〃
＇19＇ At this the whole assembly rose to express their eagerness and
assent； and Cyaxares stood up with them。 And both Gadatas and Gobryas
offered to fortify a post if the allies wished； and thus provide two
cities of refuge to start with。
＇20＇ Finally Cyrus； thus assured of the general consent to his
proposals； said； 〃If we really wish to carry out what we have set
ourselves； we must prepare battering…rams and siege engines； and get
together mechanics and builders for our own castles。〃 ＇21＇ Thereupon
Cyaxares at once undertook to provide an engine at his own expense；
Gadatas and Gobryas made themselves responsible for a second； Tigranes
for a third； and Cyrus himself promised he would try to furnish two。
＇22＇ That done； every one set to work to find engineers and artisans
and to collect material for the machines； and superintendents were
appointed from those best qualified for the work。
＇23＇ Now Cyrus was aware that all this would take some time； and
therefore he encamped his troops in the healthiest spot he could find
and the easiest to supply； strengthening； wherever necessary； the
natural defences of the place； so that the detachment left in charge
for the time should always be in complete security； even though he
might be absent himself with the main body of his force。 ＇24＇ Nor was
this all； he questioned those who knew the country best； and； learning
where he would be rewarded for his pains； he would lead his men out to
forage； and thus procure as large supplies as possible； keep his
soldiers in the best of health and strength； and fix their drill in
their minds。
＇25＇ So Cyrus spent his days； and meanwhile the deserters from Babylon
and the prisoners who were captured all told the same story： they said
that the king had gone off to Lydia； taking with him store of gold and
silver； and riches and treasures of every kind。 ＇26＇ The mass of the
soldiers were convinced that he was storing his goods away from fear；
but Cyrus knew that he must have gone to raise； if possible； an
opponent who could face them； and therefore he pushed his preparations
forward vigorously； feeling that another battle must be fought。 He
filled up the Persian cavalry to its full complement； getting the
horses partly from the prisoners； partly from his own friends。 There
were two gifts he would never refuse； horses and good weapons。 ＇27＇ He
also procured chariots； taking them from the enemy or wherever he
could find them。 The old Trojan type of charioteering； still in use to
this day among the Cyrenaeans； he abolished； before his time the
Medes； the Syrians； the Arabians； and all Asiatics generally； used
their chariots in the same way as the Cyrenaeans do now。 ＇28＇ The
fault of the system to his mind was that the very flower of the army；
if the picked men were in the chariots； could only act at long range
and so contribute little after all to the victory。 Three hundred
chariots meant twelve hundred horses and three hundred fighting…men；
besides the charioteers； who would naturally be men above the common；
in whom the warriors could place confidence： and that meant another
three hundred debarred from injuring the enemy in any kind of way。
＇29＇ Such was the system he abolished in favour of the war…chariot
proper； with strong wheels to resist the shock of collision； and long
axles； on the principle that a broad base is the firmer； while the
driver's seat was changed into what might be called a turret； stoutly
built of timber and reaching up to the elbow； leaving the driver room
to manage the horses above the rim。 The drivers themselves were all
fully armed； only their eyes uncovered。 ＇30＇ He had iron scythes about
two feet long attached to the axles on either side； and others； under
the tree； pointing to the ground； for use in a charge。 Such was the
type of chariot invented by Cyrus； and it is still in use to…day among
the subjects of the Great King。 Beside the chariots he had a large
number of camels； collected from his friends or captured from the
enemy。 ＇31＇ Moreover； he decided to send a spy into Lydia to ascertain
the movements of the king； and he thought that the right man for this
purpose was Araspas； the officer in charge of the fair lady from Susa。
Matters had gone ill with Araspas： he had fallen passionately in love
with his prisoner； and been led to entreat her to be his paramour。
＇32＇ She had refused； faithful to her husband who was far away； for
she loved him dearly； but she forbore to accuse Araspas to Cyrus；
being unwilling to set friend at strife with friend。 ＇33＇ But when at
length Araspas； thinking it would help him in his desires； began to
threaten her； saying that if she would not yield he would have his
will of her by force； then in her dread of violence she could keep the
matter hid no longer； and she sent her eunuch to Cyrus with orders to
tell him everything。 ＇34＇ And when Cyrus heard it he smiled over the
man who had boasted that he was superior to love； and sent Artabazus
back with the eunuch to tell Araspas that he must use no violence
against such a woman； but if he could persuade her； he might do so。
＇35＇ But Artabazus； when he saw Araspas； rebuked him sternly； saying
that the woman was a sacred trust； and his conduct disgraceful；
impious； and wicked； till Araspas burst into tears of misery and
shame； and was half dead at the thought of what Cyrus would do。 ＇36＇
Learning this； Cyrus sent for him； saw him alone； and said to him face
to face：
〃Araspas； I know that you are afraid of me and in an agony of shame。
Be comforted； we are told that the gods themselves are made subject to
desire； and I could tell you what love has forced some men to undergo；
men who seemed most lofty and most wise。 Did I not pass sentence on
myself； when I confessed I was too weak to consort with loveliness and
remain unmoved？ Indeed it is I who am most to blame in the matter； for
I shut you up myself with this irresistible power。〃
＇37＇ But Araspas broke in on his words：
〃Ah； Cyrus； you are ever the same； gentle and compassionate to human
weaknesses。 But all the rest of the world has no pity on me； they
drown me in wretchedness。 As soon as the tattlers got wind of my
misfortune； all my enemies exulted； and my friends came to me；
advising me to make away with myself for fear of you； because my
iniquity was so great。〃
＇38＇ Then Cyrus said； 〃Now listen： this opinion about you may be the
means by which you can do me a great kindness and your comrades a
great service。〃 〃Oh； that it were possible！〃 said Araspas； 〃for me
ever to be of service to you！〃 ＇39＇ 〃Well；〃 said the other； 〃if you
went to the enemy； feigning that you had fled from me； I think they
would believe you。〃 〃I am sure they would；〃 said Araspas； 〃I know even
my own friends would think that of course I ran away。〃 ＇40＇ 〃Then you
will come back to us；〃 Cyrus went on； 〃with full information about the
enemy's affairs； for； if I am right in my expectation； they will trust
you and let you see all their plans； so that you need miss nothing of
what we wish to know。〃 〃I will be off this moment；〃 said Araspas； 〃it
will be my best credential to have it thought I was just in time to
escape punishment from you。〃
＇41＇ 〃Then you can really bring yourself to leave the beautiful
Pantheia？〃
〃Yes； Cyrus；〃 he answered； 〃I can； for I see now that we have two
souls。 This is the lesson of philosophy that I have learnt from the
wicked sophist Love。 If we had but a single soul； how could she be at
once evil and good？ How could she be enamoured at once of nobleness
and baseness； or at once desire and not desire one deed and the same？
No； it is clear that we have two souls； and when the beautiful soul
prevails； all fair things are wrought； and when the evil soul has the
mastery； she lays her hand to shame and wickedness。 But to…day my good
soul conquers； because she has you to help her。〃
＇42＇ 〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃if you have decided on going； it is thus you
had better go。 Thus you will win their confidence； and then you must
tell them what we are doing； but in such a way as to hinder their own
designs。 It would hinder them； for example； if you said that we were
preparing an attack on their territory at a point not yet decided； for
this would check the concentration of their forces； each leader being
most concerned for the safety of his own home。 ＇43＇ Stay with them；〃
he added； 〃till the last moment possible： what they do when they are
close at hand is just what is most important for us to know。 Advise
them how to dispose their forces in the way that really seems the
best； for then； after you are gone and although it may be known that
you are aware of their order； they will be forced to keep to it； they
will not dare to change it； and should they do so at the last moment
they will be thrown into confusion。〃
＇44＇ Thereupon Araspas took his leave； called together his trustiest
attendants； said what he thought necessary for the occasion； and
departed。
＇45＇ Now Pantheia； when she heard that Araspas had fled； sent a
messenger to Cyrus； saying：
〃Griev