Biographical fiction; Cyrus, King of Persia, -529 B.C. -- Fiction; Education of princes -- Fiction
first line, their targeteers on the right, and their bowmen on the left
of their own squares: this is the order in which they will be of most
use. [40] All the baggage-bearers are to follow in the rear: and their
officers must see that they get everything together before they sleep,
and present themselves betimes in the morning, with all their gear,
and always keep good order on the march. [41] In support of the
baggage-train," he added, "there will be, first, Madatas the Persian
with the Persian cavalry, and he too must put his brigadiers in the
front, each regiment following in single file, as with the infantry.
[42] Behind them Rambacas the Mede and his cavalry, in the same order,
and then you, Tigranes, and yours, and after you the other cavalry
leaders with the men they brought. The Sakians will follow you, and last
of all will come the Cadousians, who were the last to join us, and
you, Alkeunas, who are to command them, for the present you will take
complete control of the rear, and allow no one to fall behind your men.
[43] All of you alike, officers, and all who respect yourselves, must be
most careful to march in silence. At night the ears, and not the eyes,
are the channels of information and the guides for action, and at night
any confusion is a far more serious matter than by day, and far more
difficult to put right. For this reason silence must be studied and
order absolutely maintained. [44] Whenever you mean to rise before
daybreak, you must make the night-watches as short and as numerous as
possible, so that no one may suffer on the march because of his long
vigil before it; and when the hour for the start arrives the horn must
be blown. [45] Gentlemen, I expect you all to present yourselves on
the road to Babylon with everything you require, and as each detachment
starts, let them pass down the word for those in the rear to follow."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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