Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

Croesus was not content with the size of his force, for his army that had engaged was far smaller than that of Cyrus; therefore, when on the day after the battle Cyrus did not try attacking again, he marched away to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, intending to summon the Egyptians in accordance with their treaty

(for before making an alliance with the Lacedaemonians he had made one also with Amasis king of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt), and to send for the Babylonians also (for with these too he had made an alliance, Labynetus at this time being their sovereign),

and to summon the Lacedaemonians to join him at a fixed time. He had in mind to muster all these forces and assemble his own army, then to wait until the winter was over and march against the Persians at the beginning of spring.

With such an intention, as soon as he returned to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he sent heralds to all his allies, summoning them to assemble at Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis in five months' time; and as for the soldiers whom he had with him, who had fought with the Persians, all of them who were mercenaries he discharged, never thinking that after a contest so equal Cyrus would march against Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis.