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removed from him at once； and he summoned them home under fiercer
threats than ever； threatening the officer as well if he failed to
deliver the message in full force。
＇13＇ So the emissary set off with his troopers； about one hundred
strong； fervently regretting that he had not gone with Cyrus himself。
On the way they took a turning which led them wrong； and they did not
reach the Persians until they had chanced upon some of the Assyrians
in retreat and forced them to be their guides； and so at last arrived；
sighting the watch…fires about midnight。 ＇14＇ But though they had got
to the camp； the pickets； acting on the orders of Cyrus； would not let
them in till dawn。 With the first faint gleam of morning Cyrus
summoned the Persian Priests； who are called Magians； and bade them
choose the offerings due to the gods for the blessings they had
vouchsafed。 ＇15＇ And while they were about this； Cyrus called the
Peers together and said to them：
〃Gentlemen； God has put before us many blessings； but at present we
Persians are but a scant company to keep them。 If we fail to guard
what we have toiled for； it will soon fall back into other hands； and
if we leave some of our number to watch our gains； it will soon be
seen that we have no strength in us。 ＇16＇ I propose therefore that one
of you should go home to Persia without loss of time； and explain what
I need and bid them despatch an army forthwith； if they desire Persia
to win the empire of Asia and the fruits thereof。 ＇17＇ Do you；〃 said
he； turning to one of the Peers； 〃do you； who are the eldest； go and
repeat these words； and tell them that it shall be my care to provide
for the soldiers they send me as soon as they are here。 And as to what
we have wonyou have seen it yourselfkeep nothing back； and ask my
father how much I ought to send home for an offering to the gods； if I
wish to act in honour and according to the law； and ask the
magistrates how much is due to the commonwealth。 And let them send
commissioners to watch all that we do and answer all that we ask。 So；
sir；〃 he ended； 〃you will get your baggage together； and take your
company with you as an escort。 Fare you well。〃
＇18＇ With that message he turned to the Medes and at the same moment
the messenger from Cyaxares presented himself； and in the midst of the
whole assembly announced the anger of the king against Cyrus； and his
threats against the Medes； and so bade the latter return home at once；
even if Cyrus wished them to stay。 ＇19＇ The Medes listened； but were
silent； for they were sore bested； they could hardly disobey the
summons； and yet they were afraid to go back after his threats； being
all too well acquainted with the savage temper of their lord。 ＇20＇ But
Cyrus spoke：
〃Herald；〃 said he； 〃and sons of the Medes； I am not surprised that
Cyaxares； who saw the host of the enemy so lately； and knows so little
of what we have done now； should tremble for us and for himself。 But
when he learns how many have fallen； and that all have been dispersed；
his fears will vanish； and he will recognise that he is not deserted
on this day of all days when his friends are destroying his foes。 ＇21＇
Can we deserve blame for doing him a service？ And that not even
without his own consent？ I am acting as I am； only after having gained
his leave to take you out； it is not as though you had come to me in
your own eagerness； and begged me to let you go； and so were here now；
he himself ordered you out； those of you who did not find it a
burthen。 Therefore； I feel sure； his anger will melt in the sunshine
of success； and； when his fears are gone； it will vanish too。 ＇22＇ For
the moment then；〃 he added； turning to the messenger； 〃you must
recruit yourself； you have had a heavy task； and for ourselves；〃 said
he； turning to the Persians； 〃since we are waiting for an enemy who
will either offer us battle or render us submission； we must draw up
in our finest style； the spectacle； perhaps； will bring us more than
we could dare to hope。 And do you；〃 he said； taking the Hyrcanian
chieftain aside； 〃after you have told your officers to arm their men；
come back and wait with me a moment。〃
＇23＇ So the Hyrcanian went and returned。 Then Cyrus said to him； 〃Son
of Hyrcania； it gives me pleasure to see that you show not only
friendliness； but sagacity。 It is clear that our interests are the
same； the Assyrians are my foes as well as yours； only they hate you
now even more bitterly than they hate me。 ＇24＇ We must consult
together and see that not one of our present allies turns his back on
us； and we must do what we can to acquire more。 You heard the Mede
summon the cavalry to return； and if they go； we shall be left with
nothing but infantry。 ＇25＇ This is what we must do； you and I； we must
make this messenger； who is sent to recall them； desirous to stay here
himself。 You must find him quarters where he will have a merry time
and everything heart can wish； and I will offer him work which he will
like far better than going back。 And do you talk to him yourself； and
dilate on all the wonders we expect for our friends if things go well。
And when you have done this； come back again and tell me。〃
＇26＇ So the chieftain took the Mede away to his own quarters； and
meanwhile the messenger from Persia presented himself equipped for the
journey； and Cyrus bade him tell the Persians all that had happened；
as it has been set out in this story； and then he gave him a letter to
Cyaxares。 〃I would like to read you the very words；〃 he added； 〃so
that what you say yourself may agree with it； in case you have
questions asked you。〃
＇27＇ The letter ran as follows：〃Cyrus to Cyaxares； greeting。 We do
not admit that we have deserted you； for no one is deserted when he is
being made the master of his enemies。 Nor do we consider that we put
you in jeopardy by our departure； on the contrary； the greater the
distance between us the greater the security we claim to have won for
you。 ＇28＇ It is not the friend at a man's elbow who serves him and
puts him out of danger； but he who drives his enemies farthest and
furthest away。 ＇29＇ And I pray you to remember what I have done for
you； and you for me； before you blame me。 I brought you allies； not
limiting myself to those you asked for； but pressing in every man that
I could find； you allowed me while we were on friendly soil only to
take those whom I could persuade to follow me； and now that I am in
hostile territory you insist that they must all return； you do not
leave it to their own choice。 ＇30＇ Yesterday I felt that I owed both
you and them a debt of gratitude； but to…day you drive me to forget
your share； you make me wish to repay those； and those only； who
followed me。 ＇31＇ Not that I could bring myself to return you like for
like； even now I am sending to Persia for more troops； and instructing
all the men who come that； if you need them before we return； they
must hold themselves at your service absolutely； to act not as they
wish； but as you may care to use them。 ＇32＇ In conclusion； I would
advise you； though I am younger than yourself； not to take back with
one hand what you give with the other； or else you will win hatred
instead of gratitude； nor to use threats if you wish men to come to
you speedily； nor to speak of being deserted when you threaten an
army； unless you would teach them to despise you。 ＇33＇ For ourselves；
we will do our best to rejoin you as soon as we have concluded certain
matters which we believe will prove a common blessing to yourself and
us。 Farewell。〃
＇34＇ 〃Deliver this；〃 said Cyrus； 〃to Cyaxares； and whatever questions
he puts to you； answer in accordance with it。 My injunctions to you
about the Persians agree exactly with what is written here。〃 With that
he gave him the letter and sent him off； bidding him remember that
speed was of importance。
＇35＇ Then he turned to review his troops； who were already fully
armed； Medes； Hyrcanians； the men Tigranes had brought； and the whole
body of the Persians。 And already some of the neighbouring folk were
coming up； to bring in their horses or hand over their arms。 ＇36＇ The
javelins were then piled in a heap as before and burnt at his command；
after his troops had taken what they needed for themselves； but he
bade the owners stay with their horses until they received fresh
orders。 This done； Cyrus called together the officers of the
Hyrcanians and of the cavalry； and spoke as follows：
＇37＇ 〃My friends and allies； you must not be surprised that I summon
you so often。 Our circumstances are so novel that much still needs
adjustment； and we must expect difficulty until everything has found
its place。 ＇38＇ At present we have a mass of spoil； and prisoners set
to guard it。 But we do not ourselves know what belongs to each of us；
nor could the guards say who the owners are： and thus it is impossible
for them to be exact in their duties； since scarcely any of them know
what these duties may be。 ＇39＇ To amend this； you must divide the
spoil。 There will be no difficulty where a man has won a tent that is
fully supplied with meat and drink； and servants to boot； bedding；
apparel； and everything to make it a comfortable home； he ha