to work. [16] The mouths of the trenches were opened, and during the
night the water poured in, so that the river-bed formed a highway into
the heart of the town.

[17] When the great stream had taken to its new channel, Cyrus ordered
his Persian officers to bring up their thousands, horse and foot alike,
each detachment drawn up two deep, the allies to follow in their old
order. [18] They lined up immediately, and Cyrus made his own bodyguard
descend into the dry channel first, to see if the bottom was firm enough
for marching. [19] When they said it was, he called a council of all his
generals and spoke as follows:

[20] "My friends, the river has stepped aside for us; he offers us a
passage by his own high-road into Babylon. We must take heart and enter
fearlessly, remembering that those against whom we are to march this
night are the very men we have conquered before, and that too when they
had their allies to help them, when they were awake, alert, and sober,
armed to the teeth, and in their battle order. [21] To-night we go
against them when some are asleep and some are drunk, and all are
unprepared: and when they learn that we are within the walls, sheer
astonishment will make them still more helpless than before. [22] If any
of you are troubled by the thought of volleys from the roofs when the
army enters the city, I bid you lay these fears aside: if our enemies
do climb their roofs we have a god to help us, the god of Fire. Their
porches are easily set aflame, for the doors are made of palm-wood and
varnished with bitumen, the very food of fire. [23] And we shall come
with the pine-torch to kindle it, and with pitch and tow to feed it.
They will be forced to flee from their homes or be burnt to death. [24]
Come, take your swords in your hand: God helping me, I will lead you on.
Do you," he said, turning to Gadatas and Gobryas, "show us the streets,
you know them; and once we are inside, lead us straight to the palace."

[25] "So we will," said Gobryas and his men, "and it would not surprise
us to find the palace-gates unbarred, for this night the whole city is
given over to revelry. Still, we are sure to find a guard, for one is
always stationed there."

"Then," said Cyrus, "there is no time for lingering; we must be off at
once and take them unprepared."

[26] Thereupon they entered: and of those they met some were struck down
and slain, and others fled into their houses, and some raised the hue
and cry,