Cyrupædia The institution and life of Cyrus, the first of that name, King of Persians. Eight bookes. Treating of noble education, of princely exercises, military discipline, vvarlike stratagems, preparations and expeditions: as appeareth by the contents before the beginning of the first booke. Written in Greeke by the sage Xenophon. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine and French translations, by Philemon Holland of the city of Coventry Doctor in Physick. Dedicated to his most excellent Maiesty.

CHAP. VII.

How Cyrus went to encampe neere unto the Assyrians, and pre∣pared to give them battaile.

WHEN all these things were accomplished in good sort, the Infantery forthwith marched on and made no great journey but soone pitched their tents. Howbeit, having put forth the Cavallery to make incur∣sions and to raunge abroad, they gate great pillage of all things. Then remoo∣ved they, and being now furnished with all provision necessary, and forraging the country still, they encamped and waited the enemies comming. Now, when noised it was that their army was on foot and within ten daies journey, Cyrus said, It is now high time ô Cyaxares to put on, and to meet with them: And let us give no cause to be thought, either of our enemies or our owne men, to shrinke backe, and not to abide them, but rather shew our selves not unwil∣ling to fight. When Cyaxares allowed well hereof, they marched on alwaies after, in battaile ray, going forward every day as farre as they thought good. As for their suppers they never tooke them but by day-light: and in the night they made no fires within the campe. Howbeit, before the campe they burnt fire, to the end that by the light thereof, they might see if any came by night towards them, and yet not be seene themselves. Many times also, to deceive the enemie they did set fires aburning behind the campe: whereby otherwhiles the enemies spies fell into the hands of their formost escont-watch: For, by reason that the said fires were behind, they thought themselves had beene yet farre from the campe. Now the Assyrians with their Confederates and Al∣lies, after that the Armies approched one the other, entrenched themselves, A thing that the Barbarian Kings use to do even at this day. For, when they pitch their tents, an easie matter it is for them to cast a trench about their campe, so many hands have they to set on worke. And, they know that a power of horse∣men in the night is soone disordered, and so of little or no service, especially if it consist of Barbarians: For, such use to have their horses tied by the feet at their mangers: And if any man should charge upon them, a labour it wer•• by night to unloose the horses, a trouble to bridle them, a paine to saddle and trap them, much adoe also to bard them and doe on their harnois. Yea and when they are mounted on horsebacke, impossible it is by any meanes to ride them

through the campe. For all these causes, they also like as all other Barbarians enclosed these within certeine fortifications, thought they might being thus within the safegard of a sensed place, fight when they list themselves, and not otherwise. Whiles they were thus busied, they approched one the other, and being about a* 1.1 Parasang off, the Assyrians encamped thus as I said, in a place entrenched round about, howbeit open and exposed to the eye. But Cyrus pit∣ched his tents, as much out of sight as possibly he could, as having of purpose sought out certeine villages, to••ts and mounts, afront his campe, thinking that all his warlike equipage sodainly presented, would be more terrible to his ad∣versaries. And verily that night, after the Sentinels set, as requisite it was, they betooke themselves on either side to rest. The day ensuing, the Assyrian King and Croesus, with all the other Commaunders, kept their forces quiet within their Strength and rested still: But Cyrus and Cyaxares stood embattailed, ready to fight if the enemies came forward. But when it was for certeine knowne, that they would not that day issue forth without their rampier, nor intended to fight, Cyaxares calling for Cyrus and all the gallants and men of Action, spake unto them in this wise. My friends, I am of this minde, that thus well appoin∣ted as we are, we ought to march unto the assault of our enemies rampier, there∣by to shew that we for our parts are willing to fight. For, if by this bravado, they will not come forth against us, our men shall be the better encouraged in giving the attempt: and our enemies upon the sight of our boldnesse and reso∣lution more daunted. This was the advise of Cyaxares. But Cyrus, For the love of God, quoth he, ô Cyaxares, let us not doe so. For, if according to your minde wee shew our selves, and goe forward; our enemies will looke upon us now, with no feare at all, as we come upon them knowing themselves, as they doe, to be in a place of securitie so as they can receive no hurt: and more than that, when as we retire without effect, they eft-soones seeing our forces far inferiour to theirs, will despise the same, and to morrow sally forth with much more cou∣rage and resolution. Now for this present, knowing us as they doe, to be here, and yet not seeing us, beleeve me verily, they set not light by us, but must they doe and marvaile what we meane, neither ceasse they, I dare well say, to talke and discourse of us. But when they shall come forth first, then will it behoove us both to appeare in sight and at once to encounter and buckle with them; as having found them where heretofore we long desired. When Cyrus had thus said, both Cyaxares and the rest also agreed thereunto. Then therefore, having taken their suppers, set the watch and made fires accordingly before the same, they went to bed and slept.

Notes

• * 1.1

  About three miles and three quarters Eng∣lish.