Cyropaedia

And when the Persians, charging on, set foot upon the missiles that had been discharged, Cyrus shouted, Bravest of men, now let each press on and distinguish himself and pass the word to the others to come on faster. And they passed it on; and under the impulse of their enthusiasm, courage, and eagerness to close with the enemy some broke into a run, and the whole phalanx also followed at a run.

And even Cyrus himself, forgetting to proceed at a walk, led them on at a run and shouted as he ran: Who will follow? Who is brave? Who will be the first to lay low his man? And those who heard him shouted with the same words, and the cry passed through all the ranks as he had started it: Who will follow? Who is brave?

In such spirit the Persians rushed to the[*](They flee into their entrenchments) encounter, and the enemy could not longer stand their ground but turned and fled back into their entrenchments.

And the Persians on their part, following them up to the gates, mowed many of them down as they were pushing and shoving one another; and upon some who fell into the ditches they leaped down and slew them, both men and horses; for some of the chariots were forced in their flight to plunge into the ditches.

And when the Median cavalry saw this, they also charged upon the enemy’s cavalry; but the latter gave way, like the rest. Then followed a pursuit of horses and men and slaughter of both.

And those of the Assyrians inside the fort who[*](The panic in the camp) stood upon the rampart of the breastworks neither had the presence of mind to shoot arrows or hurl spears at the enemy who were mowing down their ranks, nor had they the strength to do so because of the awful spectacle and their own panic fear. And presently, discovering that some of the Persians had cut their way through to the gates in the embankment, they turned away even from the inner rampart of the breastworks.

And the women of the Assyrians and their allies, seeing the men in flight even inside the camp, raised a cry and ran panic-stricken, both those who had children and the younger women as well, while they rent their garments, tore their cheeks, and begged all whom they met not to run away and leave them but to defend both them and their children and themselves as well.

Then even the kings themselves with their most trusty followers took their stand at the gates, mounted upon the ramparts, and both fought in person and encouraged the rest to fight.

But when Cyrus realized what was going on, he[*](Cyrus orders a retreat) feared lest his men, even if they did force their way in, might be worsted by superior numbers, for his own men were but few; so he gave orders to retreat still facing the foe, until they were out of range.

Then one might have seen the ideal discipline of the peers; for they themselves obeyed at once and at once passed on the word to the rest. And when they were out of range, they halted in their regular positions, for they knew much more accurately than a chorus, each the spot where he should stand.