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Croesus laid the blame of his ill success on the number of his troops,
which fell very short of the enemy; and as on the next day Cyrus did
not repeat the attack, he set off on his return to Sardis, intending
to collect his allies and renew the contest in the spring. He meant to
call on the Egyptians to send him aid, according to the terms of the
alliance which he had concluded with Amasis, previously to his league
with the Lacedaemonians. He intended also to summon to his assistance
the Babylonians, under their king Labynetus, for they too were bound
to him by treaty: and further, he meant to send word to Sparta, and
appoint a day for the coming of their succours. Having got together
these forces in addition to his own, he would, as soon as the winter
was past and springtime come, march once more against the Persians.
With these intentions Croesus, immediately on his return, despatched
heralds to his various allies, with a request that they would join him
at Sardis in the course of the fifth month from the time of the
departure of his messengers. He then disbanded the army consisting of
mercenary troops - which had been engaged with the Persians and had
since accompanied him to his capital, and let them depart to their
homes, never imagining that Cyrus, after a battle in which victory
had been so evenly balanced, would venture to march upon Sardis.
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