Histories

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.

Whether someone advised him in his difficulty, or whether he perceived for himself what to do, I do not know, but he did the following.