ers or the javelin-men: at the sword's point they made
them do their duty. [35] Thick was the slaughter, and loud the din of
clashing weapons and whirring darts, and shouting warriors, cheering
each other and calling on the gods.

[36] At this moment Cyrus appeared, cutting his way through his own
opponents. To see the Persians thrust from their position was misery
to him, but he knew he could check the enemy's advance most quickly by
galloping round to their rear, and thither he dashed, bidding his troops
follow, and there they fell upon them and smote them as they were gazing
ahead, and there they mowed them down.

[37] The Egyptians, seeing what had happened, cried out that the enemy
had taken them in the rear, and wheeled round under a storm of blows. At
this the confusion reached its height, cavalry and infantry struggling
all together. An Egyptian fell under Cyrus' horse, and as the hoofs
struck him he stabbed the creature in the belly. The charger reared
at the blow and Cyrus was thrown. [38] Then was seen what it is for
a leader to be loved by his men. With a terrible cry the men dashed
forward, conquering thrust with thrust and blow with blow. One of his
squires leapt down and set Cyrus on his own charger. [39] And as Cyrus
sprang on the horse he saw the Egyptians worsted everywhere. For by now
Hystaspas was on the ground with his cavalry, and Chrysantas also. Still
Cyrus would not allow them to charge the Egyptian phalanx: the archers
and javelin-men were to play on them from outside. Then he made his way
along the lines to the artillery, and there he mounted one of the towers
to take a survey of the field, and see if any of the foe still held
their ground and kept up the fight. [40] But he saw the plain one chaos
of flying horses and men and chariots, pursuers and pursued, conquerors
and conquered, and nowhere any who still stood firm, save only the
Egyptians. These, in sore straits as they were, formed themselves into
a circle behind a ring of steel, and sat down under cover of their
enormous shields. They no longer attempted to act, but they suffered,
and suffered heavily. [41] Cyrus, in admiration and pity, unwilling that
men so brave should be done to death, drew off his soldiers who were
fighting round them, and would not let another man lift sword.

Then he sent them a herald asking if they wished to be cut to pieces for
the sake of those who had betrayed them, or save their lives and keep
their reput