第 45 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 14:15      字数:9322
  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