第 51 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 14:16      字数:9322
  make for their angle myself; where I propose to join battle; first
  riding round the army to see how things are with all our men。 '9' When
  I reach the point; and we are on the verge of action; I will raise the
  paean and then you must quicken your pace。 You will know when we have
  closed with the enemy; the din will be loud enough。 At the same moment
  Abradatas will dash out upon them: such will be his orders; your duty
  is to follow; keeping as close to the chariots as possible。 Thus we
  shall fall on the enemy at the height of his confusion。 And; God
  helping me; I shall be with you also; cutting my way through the rout
  by the quickest road I can。
  '10' So he spoke; and sent the watchword down the lines; 〃Zeus our
  saviour; and Zeus our leader;〃 and went forward。 As he passed between
  the chariots and the cuirassiers; he would say to some; 〃My men; the
  look on your faces rejoices my heart;〃 and to others; 〃You understand;
  gentlemen; that this battle is not for the victory of a day; but for
  all that we have won ere now; and for all our happiness to come。〃 '11'
  And to others; 〃My friends; we can never reproach the gods again:
  to…day they have put all blessings in our hands。 '12' Let us show
  ourselves good men and true。〃 Or else; 〃Gentlemen; can we invite each
  other to a more glorious feast than this? This day all gallant hearts
  are bidden; this day they may feast their friends。〃 '13' Or again;
  〃You know; I think; the prizes in this game: the victors pursue and
  smite and slay; and win wealth and fame and freedom and empire: the
  cowards lose them all。 He who loves his own soul let him fight beside
  me: for I will have no disgrace。〃 '14' But if he met soldiers who had
  fought for him before; he only said; 〃To you; gentlemen; what need I
  say? You know the brave man's part in battle; and the craven's。〃 '15'
  And when he came to Abradatas; he halted; and Abradatas gave the reins
  to his charioteer and came up to him; and others gathered round from
  the infantry and the chariots; and Cyrus said:
  〃God has rewarded you; Abradatas; according to your prayer; you and
  yours。 You hold the first rank among our friends。 And you will not
  forget; when the moment for action comes; that those who watch you
  will be Persians; and those who follow you; and they will not let you
  bear the brunt alone。〃
  '16' And Abradatas answered:
  〃Even so; Cyrus; and with us here; methinks; all looks well enough:
  but the state of our flanks troubles me: the enemy's wings are strong
  and stretch far: he has chariots there; and every kind of arm as well;
  while we have nothing else with which to oppose him。 So that for
  myself;〃 said he; 〃if I had not won by lot the post I hold; I should
  feel ashamed to be here in the safest place of all。〃
  '17' 〃Nay;〃 answered Cyrus; 〃if it is well with you; have no concern
  for the rest。 God willing; I mean to relieve our flanks。 But you
  yourself; I conjure you; do not attack until you see the rout of those
  detachments that you fear。〃
  So much of boasting did Cyrus allow himself on the eve of action;
  though he was the last man to boast at other times。
  〃When you see them routed;〃 he said; 〃you may take it that I am there;
  and then make your rush; for that is the moment when you will find the
  enemy weakest and your own men strongest。 '18' And while there is
  time; Abradatas; be sure to drive along your front and prepare your
  men for the charge; kindle their courage by your looks; lift up their
  hearts by your hopes。 Breathe a spirit of emulation into them; to make
  them prove themselves the flower of the chariot…force。 Be assured if
  things go well with us all men will say nothing is so profitable as
  valour。〃
  '19' Accordingly Abradatas mounted his chariot and drove along the
  lines to do as Cyrus bade。
  Meanwhile Cyrus went on to the left where Hystaspas was posted with
  half the Persian cavalry; and he called to him and said:
  〃Hystaspas; here is work to test your pace! If we are quick enough in
  cutting off their heads; none of us will be slaughtered first。〃
  '20' And Hystaspas answered with a laugh:
  〃Leave it to us! We'll see to the men opposite。 But set some one to
  deal with the fellows on our flank: it would be a pity for them to be
  idle。〃
  And Cyrus answered; 〃I am going to them myself。 But remember;
  Hystaspas; to which ever of us God grants the victory; so long as a
  single foeman is on the field; attack we must; again and again; until
  the last has yielded。〃
  '21' With that he passed on; and as he came to the flank he went up to
  the officer in command of the chariots and said to him:
  〃Good; I intend to support you myself。 And when you hear me fall on
  the wing; at that instant do your best to charge straight through your
  opponents; you will be far safer once outside their ranks than if you
  are caught half…way。〃
  '22' Then he went on to the rear and the carriages; where the two
  detachments were stationed; a thousand horse and a thousand foot; and
  told Artagersas and Pharnouchus; their leaders; to keep the men where
  they were。
  〃But when;〃 he added; 〃you see me close with the enemy on our right;
  then set upon those in front of you: take them in flank; where they
  are weakest; while you advance in line; at your full strength。 Their
  lines; as you see; are closed by cavalry; hurl your camels at these;
  and you may be sure; even before the fighting begins; they will cut a
  comic figure。〃
  '23' Thus; with all his dispositions made; Cyrus rode round the head
  of his right。 By this time Croesus; believing that the centre; where
  he himself was marching; must be nearer the enemy than the distant
  wings; had the signal raised for them to stop their advance; halt; and
  wheel round where they were。 When they were in position opposite the
  Persian force; he signalled for them to charge; and thus three columns
  came at once against Cyrus; one facing his front and one on either
  flank。 '24' A tremor ran through the whole army; it was completely
  enclosed; like a little brick laid within a large; with the forces of
  the enemy all round it; on every side except the rear; cavalry and
  heavy infantry; targeteers; archers; and chariots。 '25' None the less;
  the instant Cyrus gave the word they swung round to confront the foe。
  There was deep silence through the ranks as they realised what they
  had to face; and then Cyrus; when the moment came; began the battle…
  hymn and it thundered through the host。 '26' And as it died away the
  war…cry rang out unto the God of Battles; and Cyrus swooped forward at
  the head of his cavalry; straight for the enemy's flank; and closed
  with them then and there; while the infantry behind him followed;
  swift and steady; wave on wave; sweeping out on either side; far out…
  flanking their opponents; for they attacked in line and the foe were
  in column; to the great gain of Cyrus。 A short struggle; and the ranks
  broke and fled before him headlong。 '27' Artagersas; seeing that Cyrus
  had got to work; made his own charge on the left; hurling his camels
  forward as Cyrus had advised。 Even at a distance the horses could not
  face the camels: they seemed to go mad with fear; and galloped off in
  terror; rearing and falling foul of one another: such is the strange
  effect of camels upon horses。 '28' So that Artagersas; his own troops
  well in hand; had easy work with the enemy's bewildered masses。 At the
  same moment the war…chariots dashed in; right and left; so that many;
  flying from the chariots; were cut down by the troopers; and many;
  flying from these; were caught by the chariots。 '29' And now Abradatas
  could wait no longer。 〃Follow me; my friends;〃 he shouted; and drove
  straight at the enemy; lashing his good steeds forward till their
  flanks were bloody with the goad; the other charioteers racing hard
  behind him。 The enemy's chariots fled before them instantly; some not
  even waiting to take up their fighting…men。 '30' But Abradatas drove
  on through them; straight into the main body of the Egyptians; his
  rush shared by his comrades on either hand。 And then; what has often
  been shown elsewhere was shown here; namely; that of all strong
  formations the strongest is a band of friends。 His brothers…in…arms
  and his mess…mates charged with him; but the others; when they saw
  that the solid ranks of the Egyptians stood firm; swung round and
  pursued the flying chariots。 '31' Meanwhile Abradatas and his
  companions could make no further way: there was not a gap through the
  Egyptian lines on either hand; and they could but charge the single
  soldiers where they stood; overthrow them by the sheer weight of horse
  and car; and crush them and their arms beneath the hoofs and wheels。
  And where the scythes caught them; men and weapons were cut to shreds。
  '32' In the midst of indescribable confusion; the chariots rocking
  among the weltering mounds; Abradatas was thrown out and some of his
  comrades with him。 There they stood; and fought like men; and there
  they were cut down and died。 The Persians; pouring in after them;
  dealt slaughter and destruction where Abradatas and his men had
  charged and shaken the ranks; but elsewhere the Egyptians; who were
  still unscathed; and they were many; moved steadily on to meet them。
  '33' There followed a d