Croesus, however, was very loth to let them have their own way in this: he wished to outflank you as much as possible." "Why ?" Cyrus asked, "what was his object ?" "To encircle you, I imagine, with his wings." "He had better take care," said Cyrus, "or his circle may find itself in the centre.
[21] But now you have told us what we most needed to know, and you, gentlemen," said he to the officers, "on leaving this meeting, you will look to your weapons and your harness.

It often happens that the lack of some little thing makes man or horse or chariot useless.

To-morrow morning early, while I am offering sacrifice, do you take your breakfast and give your steeds their provender, so that when the moment comes to strike you may not be found wanting.

And then you, Araspas, must hold the right wing in the position it has now, and the rest of you who command a thousand men must do the same with your divisions: it is no time to be changing horses when the race is being run; and you will send word to the brigadiers and captains under you to draw up the phalanx with each company two deep." (Now a company consisted of four-and-twenty men.) [22] Then one of the officers, a captain of ten thousand, said: "Do you think, Cyrus, that with so shallow a depth we can stand against their tremendous phalanx ?" "But do you suppose," rejoined he, "that any phalanx so deep that the rear-ranks cannot close with the enemy could do much either for friend or foe?
[23] I myself," he added, "would rather this heavy infantry of theirs were drawn up, not a hundred, but ten thousand deep: we should have all the fewer to fight.

Whereas with the depth that I propose, I believe we shall not waste a man: every part of our army will work with every other.