indeed to hearken unto you and yours in this； tell me； how large an
army would you send me and how much money for the war？〃
＇32＇ And the king replied； 〃The simplest answer I can make and the
most straightforward is to tell you what my power is； and then you may
take the men you choose； and leave the rest to garrison the country。
And so with the money： it is only fair that you should know the whole
of our wealth； and with that knowledge to guide you； you will take
what you like and leave what you like。〃 ＇33＇ And Cyrus said； 〃Tell me
then； and tell me true： how great is your power and your wealth？〃
Whereupon the Armenian replied： 〃Our cavalry is 8000 strong and our
infantry 40；000； and our wealth；〃 said he； 〃if I include the treasures
which my father left； amounts in silver to more than 3000 talents。〃
＇34＇ And Cyrus； without more ado； said at once； 〃Of your whole
armament you shall give me half； not more； since your neighbours the
Chaldaeans are at war with you： but for the tribute； instead of the
fifty talents which you paid before； you shall hand over twice as much
to Cyaxares because you made default； and you will lend me another
hundred for myself； and I hereby promise you； if God be bountiful； I
will requite you for the loan with things of higher worth； or I will
pay the money back in full； if I can； and if I cannot； you may blame
me for want of ability； but not for want of will。〃 ＇35＇ But the
Armenian cried； 〃By all the gods； Cyrus； speak not so； or you will put
me out of heart。 I beg you to look on all I have as yours； what you
leave behind as well as what you take away。〃
〃So be it then；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃and to ransom your wife； how much
money would you give？〃 〃All that I have；〃 said he。 〃And for your
sons？〃 〃For them too； all that I have。〃 〃Good；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃but
is not that already twice as much as you possess？ ＇36＇ And you；
Tigranes；〃 said he； 〃at what price would you redeem your bride？〃 Now
the youth was but newly wedded； and his wife was beyond all things
dear to him。 〃I would give my life；〃 said he； 〃to save her from
slavery。〃 ＇37＇ 〃Take her then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃she is yours。 For I hold
that she has never yet been made a prisoner； seeing that her husband
never deserted us。 And you； son of Armenia；〃 said he； turning to the
king； 〃you shall take home your wife and children； and pay no ransom
for them； so that they shall not feel they come to you from slavery。
But now；〃 he added； 〃you shall stay and sup with us； and afterwards
you shall go wherever you wish。〃
And so the Armenians stayed。 ＇38＇ But when the company broke up after
the evening meal； Cyrus asked Tigranes； 〃Tell me； where is that friend
of yours who used to hunt with us； and whom； as it seemed to me； you
admired so much？〃 〃Do you not know；〃 he said； 〃that my father put him
to death？〃 〃And why？〃 said Cyrus； 〃what fault did he find in him？〃 〃He
thought he corrupted me；〃 said the youth； 〃and yet； I tell you； Cyrus；
he was so gentle and so brave； so beautiful in soul； that when he came
to die； he called me to him and said； 'Do not be angry with your
father； Tigranes； for putting me to death。 What he does is not done
from malice； but from ignorance； and the sins of ignorance； I hold；
are unintentional。'〃
＇39＇ And at that Cyrus could not but say： 〃Poor soul！ I grieve for
him。〃 But the king spoke in his own defence： 〃Remember this； Cyrus；
that the man who finds another with his wife kills him not simply
because he believes that he has turned the woman to folly； but because
he has robbed him of her love。 Even so I was jealous of that man who
seemed to put himself between my son and me and steal away his
reverence。〃 ＇40＇ 〃May the gods be merciful to us！〃 said Cyrus； 〃you
did wrong； but your fault was human。 And you； Tigranes；〃 said he；
turning to the son； 〃you must forgive your father。〃
And so they talked in all friendliness and kindliness； as befitted
that time of reconciliation； and then the father and son mounted their
carriages； with their dear ones beside them； and drove away rejoicing。
＇41＇ But when they were home again； they all spoke of Cyrus； one
praising his wisdom； another his endurance； a third the gentleness of
his nature； and a fourth his stature and his beauty。 Then Tigranes
turned to his wife and asked； 〃Did Cyrus seem so beautiful in your
eyes？〃 But she answered； 〃Ah； my lord； he was not the man I saw。〃 〃Who
was it then？〃 asked Tigranes。 〃He；〃 she answered； 〃who offered his own
life to free me from slavery。〃
And so they took their delight together； as lovers will； after all
their sufferings。
＇42＇ But on the morrow the king of Armenia sent gifts of hospitality
to Cyrus and all his army； and bade his own contingent make ready to
march on the third day； and himself brought Cyrus twice the sum which
he had named。 But Cyrus would take no more than he had fixed； and gave
the rest back to the king； only asking whether he or his son was to
lead the force。 And the father answered that it should be as Cyrus
chose； but the son said； 〃I will not leave you； Cyrus； if I must carry
the baggage to follow you。〃 ＇43＇ And Cyrus laughed and said； 〃What
will you take to let us tell your wife that you have become a baggage…
bearer？〃 〃She will not need to be told；〃 he answered； 〃I mean to bring
her with me； and she can see for herself all that her husband does。〃
〃Then it is high time；〃 said Cyrus； 〃that you got your own baggage
together now。〃 〃We will come；〃 said he； 〃be sure of that； in good
time； with whatever baggage my father gives。〃
So the soldiers were the guests of Armenia for the day； and rested for
that night。
＇C。2＇ But on the day following Cyrus took Tigranes and the best of the
Median cavalry； with chosen followers of his own； and scoured the
whole country to decide where he should build a fort。 He halted on the
top of a mountain…pass and asked Tigranes where the heights lay down
which the Chaldaeans swept when they came to plunder。 Tigranes showed
him。 Then Cyrus asked him if the mountains were quite uninhabited。
〃No； indeed；〃 said the prince； 〃there are always men on the look…out；
who signal to the others if they catch sight of anything。〃 〃And what
do they do；〃 he asked； 〃when they see the signal？〃 〃They rush to the
rescue；〃 he said； 〃as quickly as they can。〃 ＇2＇ Cyrus listened and
looked； and he could see that large tracts lay desolate and untilled
because of the war。 That day they came back to camp and took their
supper and slept。 ＇3＇ But the next morning Tigranes presented himself
with all his baggage in order and ready for the march； 4000 cavalry at
his back； 10；000 bowmen； and as many targeteers。 While they were
marching up； Cyrus offered sacrifice； and finding that the victims
were favourable； he called the leaders of the Persians together and
the chief captains of the Medes and spoke to them thus：
＇4＇ 〃My friends； there lie the Chaldaean hills。 If we could seize them
and set a garrison to hold the pass； we should compel them both；
Chaldaeans and Armenians alike； to behave themselves discreetly。 The
victims are favourable； and to help a man in such a work as this there
is no ally half so good as speed。 If we scale the heights before the
enemy have time to gather； we may take the position out of hand
without a blow； and at most we shall only find a handful of weak and
scattered forces to oppose us。 ＇5＇ Steady speed is all I ask for； and
surely I could ask for nothing easier or less dangerous。 To arms then！
The Medes will march on our left； half the Armenians on our right； and
the rest in the van to lead the way； the cavalry in our rear； to cheer
us on and push us forward and let none of us give way。〃
＇6＇ With that Cyrus led the advance； the army in column behind him。 As
soon as the Chaldaeans saw them sweeping up from the plain； they
signalled to their fellows till the heights re…echoed with answering
shouts； and the tribesmen gathered on every side。 Then Cyrus sent word
along his lines； 〃Soldiers of Persia； they are signalling to us to
make haste。 If only we reach the top before them； all they can do will
be in vain。〃
＇7＇ Now the Chaldaeans were said to be the most warlike of all the
tribes in that country； and each of them was armed with a shield and a
brace of javelins。 They fight for pay wherever they are needed； partly
because they are warriors born； but partly through poverty； for their
country is mountainous； and the fertile part of it small。 ＇8＇ As Cyrus
and his force drew near the head of the pass； Tigranes； who was
marching at his side； said：
〃Do you know； Cyrus； that before long we shall be in the thick of the
fight ourselves？ Our Armenians will never stand the charge。〃 Cyrus
answered that he was well aware of that； and immediately sent word
that the Persians should be ready to give chase at once； 〃as soon as
we see the Armenians decoying the enemy by feigning flight and drawing
them within our reach。〃
＇9＇ Thus they marched up with the Armenians in the van： and the
Chaldaeans who had collected waited till they were almost on them； and
then charged with a tremendous shout； as their custom was； and the
Armenians； as was ever theirs； turned and ran。 ＇10＇ But in the midst
of the pursuit the Chaldaeans met new opponents streaming up the pass；
armed with short swords； and some of them were cut to pieces at once
before they could withdraw； while others were taken prisoners and the
rest fled； and in a few moments the heights were won。 From the top of
the pass Cyrus and his staff looked down and saw below them the
Chaldaean villages with fugitives pouring from the nearest houses。
＇11＇ Soon the rest of the army came up； and Cyrus ordered them all to
take the morning meal。 When it was over； and he had ascertained that
the look…out was really in a strong position； and well supplied with
water； he set about fortifying a post without more ado； and he bade
Tigranes send to his father and bid him come at once with all the
carpenters and stonemasons he could fetch； and while a messenger went
off to the king Cyrus did all he could with what he had at hand。
＇12＇ Meanwhile they brought up the prisoners； all of them bound in
chains and some wounded。 But Cyrus when he saw their plight ordered