Picking up on the story again, Cyrus
and his enemy, Croesus (who is a man of such fascinating and
legendary status that I shall have to write another letter on him in
the future), had drawn their two armies into close proximity, the
battle now very near. Cyrus has ordered his men to intercept a
cavalry scouting party from the enemy, but that if any of them should
raise their hands as they approach, to not engage them in battle, for
Cyrus was now expecting the return of Araspes:
[14] Accordingly Hystaspas went off
and got under arms, while the bodyguard galloped to the spot. But
before they reached the scouts, some one met them with his squires,
the man who had been sent out as a spy, the guardian of the lady from
Susa, Araspas himself. [15] When the news reached Cyrus, he sprang up
from his seat, went to meet him himself, and clasped his hand, but
the others, who of course knew nothing, were utterly dumbfounded,
until Cyrus said:
"Gentlemen, the best of our
friends has come back to us. It is high time that all men should know
what he has done. It was not through any baseness, or any weakness,
or any fear of me, that he left us; it was because I sent him to be
my messenger, to learn the enemy's doings and bring us word. [16]
Araspas, I have not forgotten what I promised you, I will repay you,
we will all repay you. For, gentlemen, it is only just that all of
you should pay him honour. Good and true I call him who
risked himself for our good, and
took upon himself a reproach that was heavy to bear."
[17] At that all crowded round
Araspas and took him by the hand and made him welcome. Then Cyrus
spoke again:
"Enough, my friends, Araspas
has news for us, and it is time to hear it. Tell us your tale,
Araspas, keep back nothing of the truth, and do not make out the
power of the enemy less than it really is. It is far better that we
should find it smaller than we looked for rather than strong beyond
our expectations."
[18] "Well," began
Araspas, "in order to learn their numbers, I managed to be
present at the marshalling of their troops." "Then you can
tell us," said Cyrus, "not only their numbers but their
disposition in the field." "That I can," answered
Araspas, "and also how they propose to fight."
*
Araspes then tells all that he knows of
the enemy, including a lot of very interesting military minutiae
about the Egyptian forces, but which does not relate to the
story of Pantheia. It seemed important in this re-telling, to
acknowledge the return of Araspes, and of his reclaimed honour,
having risked his life to serve his king.
The story of Pantheia and Abradatus
continues as the battle lines are being drawn up and the senior
officers are vying for their positions. Cyrus begins by speaking to
them all:
*
[34] “Officers of the
war-chariots, you will draw lots among yourselves, and he on whom the
lot falls will bring his hundred
chariots in front of the fighting-line, while the other two centuries
will support our flanks on the right and left."
[35] Such were the dispositions made
by Cyrus; but Abradatas, the lord of Susa, cried:
"Cyrus, let me, I pray you,
volunteer for the post in front."
[36] And Cyrus, struck with
admiration for the man, took him by the hand, and turning to the
Persians in command of the other centuries said:
"Perhaps, gentlemen, you will
allow this?"
But they answered that it was hard
to resign the post of honour, and so they all drew lots, and the lot
fell on Abradatas, and his post was face to face with the Egyptians.
Then the officers left the council and carried out the orders given,
and took their evening meal and posted the pickets and went to rest.
[C.4] But early on the morrow Cyrus
offered sacrifice, and meanwhile the rest of the army took their
breakfast, and after the libation they armed themselves, a great and
goodly company in bright tunics and splendid breastplates and shining
helmets. All the horses had frontlets and chest-plates, the chargers
had armour on their shoulders, and the chariot-horses on their
flanks; so that the whole army flashed with bronze, and shone like a
flower with scarlet. [2] The eight-horse chariot of Abradatas was a
marvel of beauty and richness; and just as he was about to put on the
linen corslet of his native land, Pantheia came, bringing him a
golden breastplate and a helmet of gold, and armlets and broad
bracelets for his wrists, and a full flowing purple tunic, and a
hyacinth-coloured helmet-plume. All these she had made for him in
secret, taking the measure of his armour without his knowledge. [3]
And when he saw them, he gazed in wonder and said:
"Dear wife, and did you destroy
your own jewels to make this armour for me?"
But she said, "No, my lord, at
least not the richest of them all, for you shall be my loveliest
jewel, when others see you as I see you now."
As she spoke, she put the armour on
him, but then, though she tried to hide it, the tears rolled down her
cheeks.
[4] And truly, when Abradatas was
arrayed in the new panoply, he, who had been fair enough to look upon
before, was now a sight of splendour, noble and beautiful and free,
as indeed his nature was. [5] He took the reins from the charioteer,
and was about to set foot on the car, when Pantheia bade the
bystanders withdraw, and said to him, "My own lord, little need
to tell you what you know already, yet this I say, if any woman loved
her husband more than her own soul, I am of her company. Why should I
try to speak? Our lives say more than any words of mine. [6] And yet,
feeling for you what you know, I swear to you by the love between us
that I would rather go down to the grave beside you after a hero's
death than live on with you in shame. I have thought you worthy of
the highest, and believed myself worthy to follow you. [7] And I bear
in mind the great gratitude we owe to Cyrus, who, when I was his
captive, chosen for his spoil, was too high-minded to treat me as a
slave, or dishonour me as a free woman; he took me and saved me for
you, as though I had been his brother's wife. [8] And when Araspas,
my warder, turned from him, I promised, if he would let me send for
you, I would bring him a friend in the other's place, far nobler and
more faithful."
[9] And as Pantheia spoke, Abradatas
listened with rapture to her words, and when she ended, he laid his
hand upon her head, and looking up to heaven he prayed aloud:
"O most mighty Zeus, make me
worthy to be Pantheia's husband, and the friend of Cyrus who showed
us honour!"
[10] Then he opened the driver's
seat and mounted the car, and the driver shut the door, and Pantheia
could not take him in her arms again, so she bent and kissed the
chariot-box. Then the car rolled forward and she followed unseen till
Abradatas turned and saw her and cried, "Be strong, Pantheia, be
of a good heart! Farewell, and hie thee home!"
[11] Thereupon her chamberlains and
her maidens took her and brought her back to her own carriage, and
laid her down and drew the awning. But no man, of all who was there
that day, splendid as Abradatas was in his chariot, had eyes to look
on him until Pantheia had gone.
No comments:
Post a Comment