d 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