ong them. They discharge themselves into the Euphrates, are
distant from each other one parasang, and there are bridges over them.
Near the Euphrates was a narrow passage between the river and the
trench, about twenty feet in breadth. 16. This trench the Great King had
made to serve as a defence, when he heard that Cyrus was marching
against him. By this passage Cyrus and his army made their way, and got
within the trench.

17. On this day the king did not come to an engagement, but there were
to be seen many traces of men and horses in retreat.

18. Cyrus sent for Silanus, the Ambracian soothsayer, and gave him three
thousand darics,[58] because, on the eleventh day previous, while
sacrificing, he had told Cyrus that the king would not fight for ten
days; when Cyrus exclaimed, "He will not then fight at all, if he does
not fight within that time; but if you shall prove to have spoken truly,
I promise to give you ten talents." This money, therefore, he now paid
him, the ten days having elapsed.

19. As the king made no attempt, at the trench, to prevent the passage
of Cyrus's army, it was thought both by Cyrus and the rest that he had
given up the intention of fighting; so that on the day following Cyrus
proceeded on his march with less caution. 20. On the day succeeding
that, he pursued his journey seated in his chariot, and having but a
small body of troops in line before him; while the far greater part of
the army observed no order on their march, and many of the soldiers'
arms were carried on the waggons and beasts of burden.

[Footnote 53: [Greek: Ou memnesthai].] This is the reading in all books
and manuscripts. But a future seems to be wanted rather than a perfect.
Hutchinson and others render it "te non fore memorem." Should we read
[Greek: memnesesthai]?]

[Footnote 54: [Greek: Esan archontes kai strategoi kai hegemones
tettares].] Weiske considers the words [Greek: kai strategoi kai
hegemones] spurious; and Schneider and some others are of his opinion.
Kuehner thinks that they are genuine, and explicative of the more general
term [Greek: archontes].]

[Footnote 55: [Greek: Orgyiai].] The [Greek: orgyia] was equal to 6.0675
English feet. See Hussey on Ancient Weights, &c., Append. sect. 10.]

[Footnote 56: [Greek: Tou Medias teichous].] As many of the best
manuscripts have [Greek: Medeias], in this passage as well as in ii. 4.
12, ii. 4. 27, and vii. 8. 25, Kuehner adopts that reading, under the
notion