stays they stay also； not one of them departs； and where he goes； not
one of them fails to follow； so deep a desire is in them to be ruled
by him。 ＇25＇ Even thus； I believe； do our men feel towards you。 Do you
remember the day you left us to go home to Persia？ Was there one of
us； young or old； who did not follow you until Astyages turned us
back？ And later； when you returned to bring us aid； did we not see for
ourselves how your friends poured after you？ And again； when you had
set your heart on this expedition； we know that the Medes flocked to
your standard with one consent。 ＇26＇ To…day we have learnt to feel
that even in an enemy's country we may be of good heart if you are
with us； but； without you； we should be afraid even to return to our
homes。 The rest may speak for themselves； and tell you how they will
act； but for myself； Cyrus； and for those under me； I say we will
stand by you； we shall not grow weary of gazing at you； and we will
continue to endure your benefits。〃
＇27＇ Thereupon Tigranes spoke：
〃Do not wonder； Cyrus； if I am silent now。 The soul within me is
ready； not to offer counsel； but to do your bidding。〃 ＇28＇ And the
Hyrcanian chieftain said； 〃For my part； if you Medes turn back to…day
I shall say it was the work of some evil genius； who could not brook
the fulfilment of your happiness。 For no human heart could think of
retiring when the foe is in flight； refusing to receive his sword when
he surrenders it； rejecting him when he offers himself and all that he
calls his own； above all； when we have a prince of men for our leader；
one who； I swear it by the holy gods； takes delight to do us service；
not to enrich himself。〃
＇29＇ Thereupon the Medes cried with one consent：
〃It was you； Cyrus； who led us out； and it is you who must lead us
home again； when the right moment comes。〃
And when Cyrus heard that； he prayed aloud：
〃O most mighty Zeus； I supplicate thee； suffer me to outdo these
friends of mine in courtesy and kindly dealing。〃
＇30＇ Upon that he gave his orders。 The rest of the army were to place
their outposts and see to their own concerns； while the Persians took
the tents allotted to them； and divided them among their cavalry and
infantry； to suit the needs of either arm。 Then they arranged for the
stewards to wait on them in future； bring them all they needed； and
keep their horses groomed； so that they themselves might be free for
the work of war。 Thus they spent that day。
＇C。2＇ But on the morrow they set out for their march to Gobryas。 Cyrus
rode on horseback at the head of his new Persian cavalry； two thousand
strong； with as many more behind them； carrying their shields and
swords； and the rest of the army followed in due order。 The cavalry
were told to make their new attendants understand that they would be
punished if they were caught falling behind the rear…guard； or riding
in advance of the column； or straggling on either flank。 ＇2＇ Towards
evening of the second day the army found themselves before the castle
of Gobryas； and they saw that the place was exceedingly strong and
that all preparations had been made for the stoutest possible defence。
They noticed also that great herds of cattle and endless flocks of
sheep and goats had been driven up under the shelter of the castle
walls。 ＇3＇ Then Gobryas sent word to Cyrus； bidding him ride round and
see where the place was easiest of approach； and meanwhile send his
trustiest Persians to enter the fortress and bring him word what they
found within。 ＇4＇ Cyrus； who really wished to see if the citadel
admitted of attack in case Gobryas proved false； rode all round the
walls； and found they were too strong at every point。 Presently the
messengers who had gone in brought back word that there were supplies
enough to last a whole generation and still not fail the garrison。 ＇5＇
While Cyrus was wondering what this could mean； Gobryas himself came
out； and all his men behind him； carrying wine and corn and barley；
and driving oxen and goats and swine； enough to feast the entire host。
＇6＇ And his stewards fell to distributing the stores at once； and
serving up a banquet。 Then Gobryas invited Cyrus to enter the castle
now that all the garrison had left it； using every precaution he might
think wise； and Cyrus took him at his word； and sent in scouts and a
strong detachment before he entered the palace himself。 Once within；
he had the gates thrown open and sent for all his own friends and
officers。 ＇7＇ And when they joined him； Gobryas had beakers of gold
brought out； and pitchers； and goblets； and costly ornaments； and
golden coins without end； and all manner of beautiful things； and last
of all he sent for his own daughter； tall and fair； a marvel of beauty
and stateliness； still wearing mourning for her brother。 And her
father said to Cyrus； 〃All these riches I bestow on you for a gift；
and I put my daughter in your hands； to deal with as you think best。
We are your suppliants； I but three days gone for my son； and she this
day for her brother； we beseech you to avenge him。〃
＇8＇ And Cyrus made answer：
〃I gave you my promise before that if you kept faith with me I would
avenge you； so far as in me lay； and to…day I see the debt is due； and
the promise I made to you I repeat to your daughter； God helping me； I
will perform it。 As for these costly gifts；〃 he added； 〃I accept them；
and I give them for a dowry to your daughter； and to him who may win
her hand in marriage。 One gift only I will take with me when I go； but
that is a thing so precious that if I changed it for all the wealth of
Babylon or the whole world itself I could not go on my way with half
so blithe a heart。〃
＇9＇ And Gobryas wondered what this rare thing could be； half
suspecting it might be his daughter。 〃What is it； my lord？〃 said he。
And Cyrus answered； 〃I will tell you。 A man may hate injustice and
impiety and lies； but if no one offers him vast wealth or unbridled
power or impregnable fortresses or lovely children； he dies before he
can show what manner of man he is。 ＇10＇ But you have placed everything
in my hands to…day； this mighty fortress； treasures of every kind；
your own power； and a daughter most worthy to be won。 And thus you
have shown all men that I could not sin against my friend and my host；
nor act unrighteously for the sake of wealth； nor break my plighted
word of my own free will。 ＇11＇ This is your gift； and； so long as I am
a just man and known to be such； receiving the praise of my fellow…
men； I will never forget it； I will strive to repay you with every
honour I can give。 ＇12＇ Doubt not；〃 he added； 〃but that you will find
a husband worthy of your daughter。 I have many a good man and true
among my friends； and one of them will win her hand； but I could not
say whether he will have less wealth； or more； than what you offer me。
Only of one thing you may be certain； there are those among them who
will not admire you one whit the more because of the splendour of your
gifts； they will only envy me and supplicate the gods that one day it
will be given to them to show that they too are loyal to their
friends； that they too will never yield to their foes while life is in
them； unless some god strike them down； that they too would never
sacrifice virtue and fair renown for all the wealth you proffer and
all the treasure of Syria and Assyria to boot。 Such is the nature；
believe me； of some who are seated here。〃
＇13＇ And Gobryas smiled。 〃By heaven； I wish you would point them out
to me； and I would beg you to give me one of them to be my son…in…
law。〃 And Cyrus said； 〃You will not need to learn their names from me；
follow us； and you will be able to point them out yourself。〃
＇14＇ With these words he rose； clasped the hand of Gobryas； and went
out； all his men behind him。 And though Gobryas pressed him to stay
and sup in the citadel； he would not； but took his supper in the camp
and constrained Gobryas to take his meal with them。 ＇15＇ And there；
lying on a couch of leaves； he put this question to him； 'Tell me；
Gobryas； who has the largest store of coverlets； yourself； or each of
us？〃 And the Assyrian answered； 〃You； I know； have more than I； more
coverlets； more couches； and a far larger dwelling…place； for your
home is earth and heaven； and every nook may be a couch； and for your
coverlets you need not count the fleeces of your flocks； but the
brushwood； and the herbage of hill and plain。〃
＇16＇ Nevertheless； when the meal began； it must be said that Gobryas；
seeing the poverty of what was set before him； thought at first that
his own men were far more open…handed than the Persians。 ＇17＇ But his
mood changed as he watched the grace and decorum of the company； and
saw that not a single Persian who had been schooled would ever gape；
or snatch at the viands； or let himself be so absorbed in eating that
he could attend to nothing else； these men prided themselves on
showing their good sense and their intelligence while they took their
food； just as a perfect rider sits his horse with absolute composure；
and can look and listen and talk to some purpose while he puts him
through his paces。 To be excited or flustered by meat and drink was in
their eyes something altogether swinish and bestial。 ＇18＇ Nor did
Gobryas fail to notice that they only asked questions which were
pleasant to answer； and only jested in a manner to please； all their
mirth was as far from impertinence and malice as it was from vulgarity
and unseemliness。 ＇19＇ And what struck him most was their evident
feeling that on a campaign； since the danger was the same for all； no
one was entitled to a larger share than any of his comrades； on the
contrary； it was thought the perfection of the feast to perfect the
condition of those who were to share the fighting。 ＇20＇ And thus when
he rose to return home； the story runs that he said：
〃I begin to understand； Cyrus； how it is that while we have more
goblets and more gold； more apparel and more wealth than you； yet we
ourselves are not worth as much。 We are always trying to increase what
we possess； but you seem to set your hearts on perfecting your own
souls。〃
＇21＇ But Cyrus only answered：
〃My friend； be her