第 54 节
作者:
这就是结局 更新:2021-02-20 14:16 字数:9322
Pantheia bade her chamberlains stand aside 〃until;〃 she said; 〃I have
wept over him as I would。〃 But she made her nurse stay with her and
she said:
〃Nurse; when I am dead; cover us with the same cloak。〃 And the nurse
entreated and besought her; but she could not move her; and when she
saw that she did but vex her mistress; she sat down and wept in
silence。 Then Pantheia took the scimitar; that had been ready for her
so long; and drew it across her throat; and dropped her head upon her
husband's breast and died。 And the nurse cried bitterly; but she
covered the two with one cloak as her mistress had bidden her。
'15' And when Cyrus heard what Pantheia had done he rushed out in
horror to see if he could save her。 And when the three chamberlains
saw what had happened they drew their own scimitars and killed
themselves; there where she had bidden them stand。 '16; 17' And when
Cyrus came to that place of sorrow; he looked with wonder and
reverence on the woman; and wept for her and went his way and saw that
all due honour was paid to those who lay there dead; and a mighty
sepulchre was raised above them; mightier; men say; than had been seen
in all the world before。
'C。4' After this the Carians; who were always at war and strife with
one another; because their dwellings were fortified; sent to Cyrus and
asked for aid。 Cyrus himself was unwilling to leave Sardis; where he
was having engines of artillery made and battering…rams to overthrow
the walls of those who would not listen to him。 But he sent Adousius;
a Persian; in his place; a man of sound judgment and a stout soldier
and withal a person of winning presence。 He gave him an army; and the
Cilicians and Cypriotes were very ready to serve under him。 '2' That
was why Cyrus never sent a Persian satrap to govern either Cilicia or
Cyprus; he was always satisfied with the native kings; only he exacted
tribute and levied troops whenever he needed them。
'3' So Adousius took his army and marched into Caria; where he was met
by the men of both parties; ready to receive him inside their walls to
the detriment of their opponents。 Adousius treated each in exactly the
same way; he told whichever side was pleading that he thought their
case was just; but it was essential that the others should not realise
he was their friend; 〃for thus; you perceive; I will take them
unprepared whenever I attack。〃
He insisted they should give him pledges of good faith; and the
Carians had to swear they would receive him without fraud or guile
within their walls and for the welfare of Cyrus and the Persians; and
on his side he was willing to swear that he would enter without fraud
or guile himself and for the welfare of those who received him。 '4'
Having imposed these terms on either party without the knowledge of
the other; he fixed on the same night with both; entered the walls;
and had the strongholds of both parties in his hands。 At break of day
he took his place in the midst with his army; and sent for the leading
men on either side。 Thus confronted with each other they were more
than a little vexed; and both imagined they had been cheated。 '5'
However; Adousius began:
〃Gentlemen; I took an oath to you that I would enter your walls
without fraud or guile and for the welfare of those who received me。
Now if I am forced to destroy either of you; I am persuaded I shall
have entered to the detriment of the Carians。 But if I give you peace;
so that you can till your lands in safety; I imagine I shall have come
for your welfare。 Therefore from this day forwards you must meet on
friendly terms; cultivate your fields without fear; give your children
to each other; and if any one offends against these laws; Cyrus and
ourselves will be his enemies。〃
'6' At that the city gates were flung wide open; the roads were filled
with folk hurrying to one another; the fields were thronged with
labourers。 They held high festival together; and the land was full of
peace and joyfulness。
'7' Meanwhile messengers came from Cyrus inquiring whether there was
need for more troops or siege…engines; but Adousius answered; on the
contrary his present force was at Cyrus' service to employ elsewhere
if he wished; and so drew off his army; only leaving a garrison in the
citadels。 Thereupon the Carians implored him to remain; and when he
would not; they sent to Cyrus begging him to make Adousius their
satrap。
'8' Meanwhile Cyrus had sent Hystaspas with an army into Phrygia on
the Hellespont; and when Adousius came back he bade him follow; for
the Phrygians would be more willing to obey Hystaspas if they heard
that another army was advancing。
'9' Now the Hellenes on the seaboard offered many gifts and bargained
not to receive the Asiatics within their walls; but only to pay
tribute and serve wherever Cyrus commanded。 '10' But the king of
Phrygia made preparations to hold his fortresses and not yield; and
sent out orders to that effect。 However; when his lieutenants deserted
him and he found himself all alone; he had to put himself in the hands
of Hystaspas; and leave his fate to the judgment of Cyrus。 Then
Hystaspas stationed strong Persian garrisons in all the citadels; and
departed; taking with him not only his own troops but many mounted men
and targeteers from Phrygia。 '11' And Cyrus sent word to Adousius to
join Hystaspas; put himself at the head of those who had submitted and
allow them to retain their arms; while those who showed a disposition
to resist were to be deprived of their horses and their weapons and
made to follow the army as slingers。
'12' While his lieutenants were thus employed; Cyrus set out from
Sardis; leaving a large force of infantry to garrison the place; and
taking Croesus with him; and a long train of waggons laden with riches
of every kind。 Croesus presented an accurate inventory of everything
in each waggon; and said; as he delivered the scrolls:
〃With these in your possession; Cyrus; you can tell whether your
officers are handing over their freights in full or not。〃
'13' And Cyrus answered:
〃It was kindly done; Croesus; on your part; to take thought for this:
but I have arranged that the freights should be in charge of those who
are entitled to them; so that if the men steal; they steal their own
property。〃
With these words he handed the documents to his friends and officers
to serve as checks on their own stewards。
'14' Cyrus also took Lydians in his train; allowing some to carry
arms; those; namely; who were at pains to keep their weapons in good
order; and their horses and chariots; and who did their best to please
him; but if they gave themselves ungracious airs; he took away their
horses and bestowed them on the Persians who had served him from the
beginning of the campaign; burnt their weapons; and forced them to
follow the army as slingers。 '15' Indeed; as a rule; he compelled all
the subject population who had been disarmed to practise the use of
the sling: it was; he considered; a weapon for slaves。 No doubt there
are occasions when a body of slingers; working with other detachments;
can do excellent service; but; taken alone; not all the slingers in
the world could face a mere handful armed with steel。
'16' Cyrus was marching to Babylon; but on his way he subdued the
Phrygians of Greater Phrygia and the Cappadocians; and reduced the
Arabians to subjection。 These successes enabled him to increase his
Persian cavalry till it was not far short of forty thousand men; and
he had still horses left over to distribute among his allies at large。
At length he came before Babylon with an immense body of cavalry;
archers; and javelin…men; beside slingers innumerable。
'C。5' When Cyrus reached the city he surrounded it entirely with his
forces; and then rode round the walls himself; attended by his friends
and the leading officers of the allies。 '2' Having surveyed the
fortifications; he prepared to lead off his troops; and at that moment
a deserter came to inform him that the Assyrians intended to attack as
soon as he began to withdraw; for they had inspected his forces from
the walls and considered them very weak。 This was not surprising; for
the circuit of the city was so enormous that it was impossible to
surround it without seriously thinning the lines。 '3' When Cyrus heard
of their intention; he took up his post in the centre of his troops
with his own staff round him and sent orders to the infantry for the
wings to double back on either side; marching past the stationary
centre of the line; until they met in the rear exactly opposite
himself。 '4' Thus the men in front were immediately encouraged by the
doubling of their depth; and those who retired were equally cheered;
for they saw that the others would encounter the enemy first。 The two
wings being united; the power of the whole force was strengthened;
those behind being protected by those in front and those in front
supported by those behind。 '5' When the phalanx was thus folded back
on itself; both the front and the rear ranks were formed of picked
men; a disposition that seemed calculated to encourage valour and
check flight。 On the flanks; the cavalry and the light infantry were
drawn ne