on every side,
and for my part I fail to see any possibility of taking by assault walls
so lofty and so strong: on the other hand, the greater the population
the more quickly must they yield to hunger, unless they come out to
fight. If none of you have any other scheme to suggest, I propose that
we reduce them by blockade."

[8] Then Chrysantas spoke:

"Does not the river flow through the middle of the city, and it is not
at least a quarter of a mile in width?"

"To be sure it is," answered Gobryas, "and so deep that the water would
cover two men, one standing on the other's shoulders; in fact the city
is even better protected by its river than by its walls."

[9] At which Cyrus said, "Well, Chrysantas, we must forego what is
beyond our power: but let us measure off at once the work for each of
us, set to, and dig a trench as wide and as deep as we can, that we may
need as few guards as possible."

[10] Thereupon Cyrus took his measurements all round the city, and,
leaving a space on either bank of the river large enough for a lofty
tower, he had a gigantic trench dug from end to end of the wall, his
men heaping up the earth on their own side. [11] Then he set to work
to build his towers by the river. The foundations were of palm-trees, a
hundred feet long and more--the palm-tree grows to a greater height than
that, and under pressure it will curve upwards like the spine of an
ass beneath a load. [12] He laid these foundations in order to give the
impression that he meant to besiege the town, and was taking precautions
so that the river, even if it found its way into his trench, should not
carry off his towers. Then he had other towers built along the mound,
so as to have as many guard-posts as possible. [13] Thus his army was
employed, but the men within the walls laughed at his preparations,
knowing they had supplies to last them more than twenty years. When
Cyrus heard that, he divided his army into twelve, each division to keep
guard for one month in the year. [14] At this the Babylonians laughed
louder still, greatly pleased at the idea of being guarded by Phrygians
and Lydians and Arabians and Cappadocians, all of whom, they thought,
would be more friendly to themselves than to the Persians.

[15] However by this time the trenches were dug. And Cyrus heard that it
was a time of high festival in Babylon when the citizens drink and make
merry the whole night long. As soon as the darkness fell, he set his
men