they added, from the number of their fires, and the fact
that they were in the rear. [17] Therefore Cyrus sent one of the guides
to them, bidding them come out at once, if they were friendly, with
their right hands raised. And he sent one of his own men also to say,
"According as you make your approach, so shall we Persians comport
ourselves."

Thus one of the two messengers stayed with Cyrus while the other rode up
to his fellows. [18] Cyrus halted his army to watch what the tribe would
do, and Tigranes and the Median officers rode along the ranks to ask
for orders. Cyrus explained that the troops nearest to them were the
Hyrcanians, and that one of the ambassadors had gone, and a Persian with
him, to bid them come out at once, if they were friendly, with their
right hands raised. "If they do so," he added, "you must welcome them
as they come, each of you at your post, and take them by the hand and
encourage them, but if they draw sword or try to escape, you must make
an example of them: not a man of them must be left."

Such were his orders. [19] However, as soon as the Hyrcanians heard the
message, they were overjoyed: springing to their steeds they galloped up
to Cyrus, holding out their right hands as he had bidden. Then the Medes
and Persians gave them the right hand of fellowship in return, and bade
them be of courage. [20] And Cyrus spoke:

"Sons of the Hyrcanians, we have shown our trust in you already, and
you must trust us in return. And now tell me, how far from here do
the Assyrian headquarters lie, and their main body?" "About four miles
hence," they answered.

[21] "Forward then, my men," said Cyrus, "Persians, Medes, and
Hyrcanians. I have learnt already, you see, to call you friends and
comrades. All of you must remember that the moment has come when, if
hand falters or heart fails, we meet with utter disaster: our enemies
know why we are here. But if we summon our strength and charge home,
you shall see them caught like a pack of runaway slaves, some on their
knees, others in full flight, and the rest unable to do even so much for
themselves. They are beaten already, and they will see their conquerors
fall on them before they dream of an approach, before their ranks are
formed or their preparations made, and the sight will paralyse them.
[22] If we wish to sleep and eat and live in peace and happiness from
this time forth, let us not give them leisure to take counsel or arrange
defence, or so much