ly fell in with the advance-guard,
having fancied from the distance of the fires that they were still some
way from the encampment.

[26] Meanwhile the Assyrians and their allies, as the two armies came
into touch, halted, and threw up an entrenchment, just as all barbarian
leaders do to-day, whenever they encamp, finding no difficulty in the
work because of the vast numbers at their command, and knowing that
cavalry may easily be thrown into confusion and become unmanageable,
especially if they are barbarians. [27] The horses must be tethered
at their stalls, and in case of attack a dozen difficulties arise: the
soldier must loose his steed in the dark, bridle and saddle him, put on
his own armour, mount, and then gallop through the camp, and this
last it is quite impossible to do. Therefore the Assyrians, like all
barbarians, throw up entrenchments round their position, and the mere
fact of being inside a fastness leaves them, they consider, the choice
of fighting at any moment they think fit. [28] So the two armies drew
nearer and nearer, and when they were about four miles apart, the
Assyrians proceeded to encamp in the manner described: their position
was completely surrounded by a trench, but also perfectly visible,
while Cyrus took all the cover he could find, screening himself behind
villages and hillocks, in the conviction that the more sudden the
disclosure of a hostile force the greater will be the enemy's alarm.

[29] During the first night neither army did more than post the
customary guards before they went to sleep, and on the next day the
king of Assyria, and Croesus, and their officers, still kept the troops
within their lines. But Cyrus and Cyaxares drew up their men, prepared
to fight if the enemy advanced.

Ere long it was plain that they would not venture out that day, and
Cyaxares summoned Cyrus and his staff and said:

[30] "I think, gentlemen, it would be well for us to march up to the
breastworks in our present order, and show them that we wish to fight.
If we do so," he added, "and they refuse our challenge, it will increase
the confidence of our own men, and the mere sight of our boldness will
add to the enemy's alarm."

[31] So it seemed to Cyaxares, but Cyrus protested: "In the name of
heaven, Cyaxares, let us do no such thing. By such an advance we should
only reveal our numbers to them: they would watch us at their ease,
conscious that they are safe from any danger, and when we retire