And it was resolved that each man should be honoured according to his deserts and that Cyrus should be the judge.

So the matter ended, and all was well.
[17] Now Cyrus gave a banquet and a certain brigadier was the chief guest, and his regiment with him.

Cyrus had marked the officer one day when he was drilling his men; he had drawn up the ranks in two divisions, opposite each other, ready for the charge.

They were all wearing corslets and carrying light shields, but half were equipped with stout staves of fennel, and half were ordered to snatch up clods of earth and do what they could with these.

[18] When all were ready, the officer gave the signal and the artillery began, not without effect: the missiles fell fast on shields and corslets, on thighs and greaves.