Histories

When Cyrus reached the Gyndes river on his march to Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon,[*](Modern Diala.) which rises in the mountains of the Matieni and flows through the Dardanean country into another river, the Tigris [47.416,31] (river), AsiaTigris, that again passes the city of Opis and empties into the Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea—when, I say, Cyrus tried to cross the Gyndes, which was navigable there, one of his sacred white horses dashed recklessly into the river trying to get through it, but the current overwhelmed him and swept him under and away.

At this violence of the river Cyrus was very angry, and he threatened to make it so feeble that women could ever after cross it easily without wetting their knees.

After uttering this threat, he paused in his march against Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon, and, dividing his army into two parts, drew lines planning out a hundred and eighty canals running every way from either bank of the Gyndes; then he organized his army along the lines and made them dig.

Since a great multitude was at work, it went quickly; but they spent the whole summer there before it was finished.

Then at the beginning of the following spring, when Cyrus had punished the Gyndes by dividing it among the three hundred and sixty canals, he marched against Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon at last. The Babylonians sallied out and awaited him; and when he came near their city in his march, they engaged him, but they were beaten and driven inside the city.

There they had stored provisions enough for very many years, because they knew already that Cyrus was not a man of no ambitition, and saw that he attacked all nations alike; so now they were indifferent to the siege; and Cyrus did not know what to do, being so long delayed and gaining no advantage.