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javelin at him。 But his coat of mail stoutly repelled it； and Cyrus
was not wounded； yet the stroke falling heavy upon him； he reeled
under it。 Then Artagerses turning his horse； Cyrus threw his weapon；
and sent the head of it through his neck near the shoulder bone。 So
that it is almost universally agreed to by all the authors that
Artagerses was slain by him。
But as to the death of Cyrus； since Xenophon； as being himself no
eyewitness of it； has stated it simply and in few words； it may not be
amiss perhaps to run over on the one hand what Dinon； and on the
other； what Ctesias has said of it。
Dinon then affirms that； after the death of Artagerses； Cyrus；
furiously attacking the guard of Artaxerxes； wounded the king's horse；
and so dismounted him； and when Teribazus had quickly lifted him up
upon another； and said to him； 〃O king； remember this day； which is
not one to be forgotten；〃 Cyrus； again spurring up his horse； struck
down Artaxerxes。 But at the third assault the king being enraged；
and saying to those near him that death was more eligible； made up
to Cyrus； who furiously and blindly rushed in the face of the
weapons opposed to him。 So the king struck him with a javelin； as
likewise did those that were about him。 And thus Cyrus falls； as
some say； by the hand of the king； as others by the dart of a
Carian； to whom Artaxerxes for a reward of his achievement gave the
privilege of carrying ever after a golden cock upon his spear before
the first ranks of the army in all expeditions。 For the Persians
call the men of Caria cocks； because of the crests with which they
adorn their helmets。
But the account of Ctesias； to put it shortly； omitting many
details； is as follows： Cyrus； after the death of Artagerses； rode
up against the king； as he did against him； neither exchanging a
word with the other。 But Ariaeus； Cyrus's friend； was beforehand
with him； and darted first at the king； yet wounded him not。 Then
the king cast his lance at his brother； but missed him； though he both
hit and slew Satiphernes； a noble man and a faithful friend to
Cyrus。 Then Cyrus directed his lance against the king； and pierced his
breast with it quite through his armour； two inches deep； so that he
fell from his horse with the stroke。 At which those that attended
him being put to flight and disorder； he； rising with a few； among
whom was Ctesias； and making his way to a little hill not far off；
rested himself。 But Cyrus； who was in the thick enemy； was carried off
a great way by the wildness of his horse； the darkness which was now
coming on making it hard for them to know him； and for his followers
to find him。 However； being made elate with victory； and full of
confidence and force； he passed through them； crying out； and that
more than once； in the Persian language； 〃Clear the way； villains；
clear the way；〃 which they indeed did； throwing themselves down at his
feet。 But his tiara dropped off his head； and a young Persian； by name
Mithridates； running by； struck a dart into one of his temples near
his eye； not knowing who he was； out of which wound much blood gushed；
so that Cyrus； swooning and senseless； fell off his horse。 The horse
escaped； and ran about the field； but the companion of Mithridates
took the trappings which fell off； soaked with blood。 And as Cyrus
slowly began to come to himself； some eunuchs who were there tried
to put him on another horse； and so convey him safe away。 And when
he was not able to ride； and desired to walk on his feet； they led and
supported him； being indeed dizzy in the head and reeling； but
convinced of his being victorious； hearing； as he went； the
fugitives saluting Cyrus as king； and praying for grace and mercy。
In the meantime； some wretched； poverty…stricken Caunians； who in some
pitiful employment as camp followers had accompanied the king's
army； by chance joined these attendants of Cyrus； supposing them to be
of their own party。 But when； after a while； they made out that
their coats over their breastplates were red； whereas all the king's
people wore white ones； they knew that they were enemies。 One of them；
therefore； not dreaming that it was Cyrus； ventured to strike him
behind with a dart。 The vein under the knee was cut open； and Cyrus
fell； and at the same time struck his wounded temple against a
stone； and so died。 Thus runs Ctesias's account； tardily； with the
slowness of a blunt weapon effecting the victim's death。
When he was now dead； Artasyras； the king's eye； passed by on
horseback； and； having observed the eunuchs lamenting； he asked the
most trusty of them； 〃Who is this； Pariscas； whom you sit here
deploring？〃 He replied； 〃Do not you see； O Artasyras； that it is my
master； Cyrus？〃 Then Artasyras wondering； bade the eunuch be of good
cheer； and keep the dead body safe。 And going in all haste to
Artaxerxes； who had now given up all hope of his affairs； and was in
great suffering also with his thirst and his wound； he with much joy
assured him that he had seen Cyrus dead。 Upon this； at first； he set
out to go in person to the place； and commanded Artasyras to conduct
him where he lay。 But when there was a great noise made about the
Greeks； who were said to be in full pursuit； conquering and carrying
all before them； he thought it best to send a number of persons to
see； and accordingly thirty men went with torches in their hands。
Meantime； as he seemed to be almost at the point of dying from thirst；
his eunuch Satibarzanes ran about seeking drink for him； for the place
had no water in it and he was at a good distance from his camp。
After a long search he at last met one of those poor Caunian
camp…followers； who had in a wretched skin about four pints of foul
and stinking water； which he took and gave to the king； and when he
had drunk all off； he asked him if he did not dislike the water； but
he declared by all the gods that he never so much relished either
wine； or water out of the lightest or purest stream。 〃And
therefore；〃 said he； 〃if I fail myself to discover and reward him
who gave it to you； I beg of heaven to make him rich and prosperous。〃
Just after this； came back the thirty messengers； with joy and
triumph in their looks； bringing him the tidings of his unexpected
fortune。 And now he was also encouraged by the number of soldiers that
again began to flock in and gather about him； so that he presently
descended into the plain with many lights and flambeaux round about
him。 And when he had come near the dead body； and； according to a
certain law of the Persians； the right hand and head had been lopped
off from the trunk； he gave orders that the latter should be brought
to him； and； grasping the hair of it； which was long and bushy； he
showed it to those who were still uncertain and disposed to fly。
They were amazed at it； and did him homage； so that there were
presently seventy thousand of them got about him； and entered the camp
again with him。 He had led out to the fight； as Ctesias affirms；
four hundred thousand men。 But Dinon and Xenophon aver that there were
many more than forty myriads actually engaged。 As to the number of the
slain； as the catalogue of them was given up to Artaxerxes； Ctesias
says； they were nine thousand； but that they appeared to him no
fewer than twenty thousand。 Thus far there is something to be said
on both sides。 But it is a flagrant untruth on the part of Ctesias
to say that he was sent along with Phalinus the Zacynthian and some
others to the Grecians。 For Xenophon knew well enough that Ctesias was
resident at court； for he makes mention of him； and had evidently
met with his writings。 And； therefore； had he come； and been deputed
the interpreter of such momentous words； Xenophon surely would not
have struck his name out of the embassy to mention only Phalinus。
But Ctesias； as is evident； being excessively vainglorious and no less
a favourer of the Lacedaemonians and Clearchus； never fails to
assume to himself some province in his narrative； taking
opportunity； in these situations； to introduce abundant high praise of
Clearchus and Sparta。
When the battle was over； Artaxerxes sent goodly and magnificent
gifts to the son o