CHAPTER 201
دیرنج مین ائللی
CHAPTER 201
When Cyrus had achieved the conquest of the Babylonians, he
conceived the desire of bringing the Massagetae under his
dominion. Now the Massagetae are said to be a great and warlike
nation, dwelling eastward, toward the rising of the sun, beyond the
river Araxes, and opposite the Issedonians. By many they are
regarded as a Scythian race.
CHAPTER 205
At this time the Massagetae were ruled by a queen, named Tomyris,
who at the death of her husband, the late king, had mounted the
throne. To her Cyrus sent ambassadors, with instructions to court
her on his part, pretending that he wished to take her to wife.
Tomyris, however, aware that it was her kingdom, and not herself,
that he courted, forbade the men to approach. Cyrus, therefore,
finding that he did not advance
that he courted, forbade the men to approach. Cyrus, therefore,advance his designs by this deceit, marched
towards the Araxes, and openly displaying his hostile intentions; set
to work to construct a bridge on which his army might cross the
river, and began building towers upon the boats which were to be
used in the passage
CHAPTER 206
While the Persian leader was occupied in these labours, Tomyris
sent a herald to him, who said, "King of the Medes, cease to press
this enterprise, for thou canst not know if what thou art doing will be
of real advantage to thee. Be content to rule in peace thy own
kingdom, and bear to see us reign over the countries that are ours to
govern. As, however, I know thou wilt not choose to hearken to this
counsel, since there is nothing thou less desirest than peace and
quietness, come now, if thou art so mightily desirous of meeting the
Massagetae in arms, leave thy useless toil of bridge-making; let us
retire three days' march from the river bank, and do thou come
across with thy soldiers; or, if thou likest better to give us battle on
thy side the stream, retire thyself an equal distance." Cyrus, on this
offer, called together the chiefs of the Persians, and laid the matter
before them, requesting them to advise him what he should do. All
the votes were in favour of his letting Tomyris cross the stream, and
giving battle on Persian ground.
CHAPTER 212
When Tomyris heard what had befallen her son and her army, she
sent a herald to Cyrus, who thus addressed the conqueror: "Thou
bloodthirsty Cyrus, pride not thyself on this poor success: it was the
grape-juice - which, when ye drink it, makes you so mad, and as ye
swallow it down brings up to your lips such bold and wicked words -
it was this poison wherewith thou didst ensnare my child, and so
overcamest him, not in fair open fight. Now hearken what I advise,
and be sure I advise thee for thy good. Restore my son to me and get
thee from the land unharmed, triumphant over a third part of the host
of the Massagetae. Refuse, and I swear by the sun, the sovereign
lord of the Massagetae, bloodthirsty as thou art, I will give thee thy
fill of blood."
CHAPTER 214
Tomyris, when she found that Cyrus paid no heed to her advice,
collected all the forces of her kingdom, and gave him battle. Of all
the combats in which the barbarians have engaged among
themselves, I reckon this to have been the fiercest. The following, as
I understand, was the manner of it: First, the two armies stood apart
and shot their arrows at each other; then, when their quivers were
empty, they closed and fought hand-to-hand with lances and
daggers; and thus they continued fighting for a length of time,
neither choosing to give ground. At length the Massagetae prevailed.
The greater part of the army of the Persians was destroyed and
Cyrus himself fell, after reigning nine and twenty years. Search was
made among the slain by order of the queen for the body of Cyrus,
and when it was found she took a skin, and, filling it full of human
blood, she dipped the head of Cyrus in the gore, saying, as she thus
insulted the corse, "I live and have conquered thee i