It was the king himself who marshalled them, driving past in his chariot and encouraging his troops.
[44] "Men of Assyria," he said, "to-day you must show your valour.
To-day you fight for your lives and your land, the land where you were born and the homes where you were bred, and for your wives and your children, and all the blessings that are yours.

If you win, you will possess them all in safety as before, but if you lose, you must surrender them into the hands of your enemies.

[45] Abide, therefore, and do battle as though you were enamoured of victory.

It would be folly for her lovers to turn their backs to the foe, sightless, handless, helpless, and a fool is he who flies because he longs to live, for he must know that safety comes to those who conquer, but death to those who flee; and fools are they whose hearts are set on riches, but whose spirits are ready to admit defeat.

It is the victor who preserves his own possessions and wins the property of those whom he overcomes: the conquered lose themselves and all they call their own." [46] Thus spoke the king of Assyria.
But meanwhile Cyaxares sent to Cyrus saying that the moment for attack had come.