Book 5
5.1
When this had been accomplished, he sent toCyrus requests Cyaxares to come Cyaxares and requested him to come to camp to hold a council of war concerning the disposition to be made of the forts which they had captured, and, after reviewing the army, to advise what steps he thought they ought to take next for the future conduct of the war. But if he bids me, said he, tell him that I would come and join camps with him.
5.2
Accordingly, the messenger went away to deliver this message. Meanwhile Cyrus had given orders to bring out the tent of the Assyrian king which the Medes had selected for Cyaxares, to make it ready with all kinds of furnishings, and to conduct into the women’s apartments of the tent the woman and with her the music-girls, who had been selected for Cyaxares. And this was done.
5.3
When the envoy to Cyaxares had delivered hisReinforcements arrive from Persia message, Cyaxares gave it his attention and decided that it was better for the army to stay at the frontier. And there was the more reason, for the Persians whom Cyrus had sent for had come—forty thousand bowmen and peltasts.
5.4
And as he saw that these were a severe drain on the Median land, it seemed to him more desirable to get rid of the present army than to admit another host. So when the officer in command of the reinforcements from Persia inquired of Cyaxares, in accordance with the instructionsIV. v. 31 he had from Cyrus, whether he had any need of his army, he said No; and so this general went that same day at the head of his forces to Cyrus, for he heard that Cyrus was in that neighbourhood.
