ut Croesus and his army fled in haste to
Sardis, and the other tribes hurried away homewards under cover of
night as fast and as far as they could. [2] When day broke Cyrus marched
straight for Sardis, and when he came before the citadel he set up
his engines as though for the assault and got out his ladders. But the
following night he sent a scaling party of Persians and Chaldaeans to
climb the fortifications at the steepest point. The guide was a Persian
who had served as a slave to one of the garrison in the citadel, and who
knew a way down to the river by which one could get up. [4] As soon as
it became clear that the heights had been taken, all the Lydians without
exception fled from the walls and hid wherever they could. At daybreak
Cyrus entered the city and gave orders that not a man was to leave the
ranks. [5] Croesus, who had shut himself up inside his palace, cried
out on Cyrus, and Cyrus left a guard round the building while he himself
went to inspect the captured citadel. Here he found the Persians keeping
guard in perfect order, but the Chaldaean quarters were deserted, for
the men had rushed down to pillage the town. Immediately he summoned
their officers, and bade them leave his army at once. [6] "I could never
endure," he said, "to have undisciplined fellows seizing the best of
everything. You know well enough," he added, "all that was in store for
you. I meant to make all who served with me the envy of their fellows;
but now," he said, "you cannot be surprised if you encounter some one
stronger than yourselves on your way home."

[7] Fear fell on the Chaldaeans at this, and they intreated him to lay
aside his anger and vowed they would give back all the booty they had
taken. He answered that he had no need of it himself. "But if," he
added, "you wish to appease me, you will hand it over to those who
stayed and guarded the citadel. For if my soldiers see that discipline
means reward, all will be well with us."

[8] So the Chaldaeans did as he bade them, and the faithful and obedient
received all manner of good things.

Then Cyrus made his troops encamp in the most convenient quarter of
the town, and told them to stay at their posts and take their breakfast
there. [9] That done, he gave orders that Croesus should be brought to
him, and when he came into his presence, Croesus cried:

"Hail, Cyrus, my lord and master! Fate has given you that title from now
henceforward, and thus must I salute you."

[