The histories of Herodotus;

207-209] CYRUS CROSSES THE ARAXES 8
danger in so doing, if you are defeated, you will lose, besides,
your whole empire; for it is plain that if the Massagetae are
victorious, they will not flee home again, but will march upon
your territories : and if you are victorious, your victory is not
so complete as if, having crossed over into their territory, you
should conquer the Massagetae, and pursue them in their
flight ; for I will carry the comparison throughout, it is plain,
that if you are victorious over your adversaries you will march
directly into the dominions of Tomyris. In addition to what
has been now stated, it were a disgrace and intolerable that
Cyrus, the son of Cambyses, should give way and retreat before
a woman. My opinion therefore is that you should pass
over and advance as far as they retire ; and then by the fol-
lowing stratagem endeavour to get the better of them: as
I hear, the Massagetae are unacquainted with the Persian luxuries,
and are unused to the comforts of life. My opinion then
is that, having cut up and dressed abundance of cattle, you
should lay out a feast in our camp for these men; and, besides,
bowls of unmixed wine without stint, and all other provisions
; and that having done this, and having left the weakest
part of your army behind, the rest should return again
toward the river; for the Massagetae, if I mistake not, when
they see so much excellent fare, will turn to immediately, and
after that there remains for us the display of mighty achievements."
Now these two contrary opinions were given. Cyrus, rejecting
the former, and approving that of Croesus, bade Tomyris
retire, for that he would cross over to her. She accordingly
retired, as she had promised at first. But Cyrus having
placed Croesus in the hands of his son Cambyses, to whom
he also intrusted the kingdom, and having strictly charged
him to honour Croesus, and treat him well, in case his inroad
on the Massagetae should fail ; having given these injunctions,
and sent them back to Persia, he himself crossed the river
with his army. When he had passed the Araxes, and night
came on, he saw the following vision, as he was sleeping in
the country of the Massagetae : Cyrus fancied in his sleep that
he saw the eldest son of Hystaspes with wings on his shoulders
;
and that with one of these he overshadowed Asia, and
with the other Europe. Now Darius, who was then about
twenty years of age, was the eldest son of Hystaspes, son of
Arsames, one of the Achaemenides ; and he had been left in
Persia, for he had not yet attained the age of military service.
When, therefore, Cyrus awoke, he considered his dream with
attention ; and as it seemed to him of great moment, he sum-
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