Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/33

Rh men that the omens of sacrifice were quite favourable. Just then a noise was heard in the ranks, and on the Prince asking what it was, Xenophon told him that the Greeks were passing the watchword of the day, "Jupiter the Preserver and Victory." On hearing this, Cyrus said, "I accept it with all my heart," and rode away to his own station.

The Greeks now sang the pæan, and began to advance against the enemy. As they advanced, their line fluctuated a little, and those who were thrown out began to run, and gradually all took to running, at the same time raising their well-known shout to Mars, and rattling their spears against their shields. The moral effect of this astounding charge was too much for their native opponents. Before the Greeks had got within a bow-shot of them they turned and fled, and even the drivers of the scythed chariots leapt down and ran away, leaving their horses to run wildly among friends and foes alike. The entire left wing of the King's army was routed, and the Greeks pursued them on and on, without losing a man,—but uselessly, because the centre, with Artaxerxes in the midst, was still untouched.

Cyrus observed with satisfaction the victorious course of the Greeks; and those about him, with Oriental flattery, prematurely saluted him as king. But he was not carried away. He kept his bodyguard of 600 horsemen drawn up in close rank, and steadily watched the movements of Artaxerxes. Presently the Great King, as no one attacked him in front, showed signs of wheeling round, as if to take the