Book 7
5.1
When Cyrus appeared before Babylon heCyrus surrounds Babylon stationed his whole force about the city and then rode around it himself in company with his friends and the staff-officers of the allies;
5.2
but when he had taken a survey of the walls, he prepared to draw off his army from the city. But a deserter came out and told him that they were going to attack him as soon as he began to draw his army off. For, the man went on, your lines looked weak to those who observed them from the walls. And it was no wonder that they appeared so; for, encompassing walls of such extent,See Index, s.v. Babylon, note. the lines necessarily had but little depth.
5.3
On hearing this, therefore, Cyrus took his placeHe retires from the wall with his body-guard in the centre of his army and gave orders that the hoplites should fold back the phalanx from the extremity of either wing and move toward each other behind the main body, which had been halted, until each of the extreme wings should meet in a line with him, that is, in the centre.See Appendix I.
5.4
By this manoeuvre the men that remained standing in their places were at once given more courage, for the depth of the line was thus doubled; and those who had fallen back were likewise rendered more courageous, for thus those troops which had been kept standing had now come to face the enemy, and not they. But when, as they marched in from both sides, the ends came together, they stood thus mutually strengthened—those who had shifted their position were supported by those in front of them, those in front by the men behind them.
