And now tell me, how far from here do the Assyrian headquarters lie, and their main body ?" "About four miles hence," they answered.
[21] "Forward then, my men," said Cyrus, "Persians, Medes, and Hyrcanians.

I have learnt already, you see, to call you friends and comrades.

All of you must remember that the moment has come when, if hand falters or heart fails, we meet with utter disaster: our enemies know why we are here.

But if we summon our strength and charge home, you shall see them caught like a pack of runaway slaves, some on their knees, others in full flight, and the rest unable to do even so much for themselves.

They are beaten already, and they will see their conquerors fall on them before they dream of an approach, before their ranks are formed or their preparations made, and the sight will paralyse them.
[22] If we wish to sleep and eat and live in peace and happiness from this time forth, let us not give them leisure to take counsel or arrange defence, or so much as see that we are men, and not a storm of shields and battle-axes and flashing swords, sweeping on them in one rain of blows.