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of Armenia； and said； 〃It is high time； gentlemen； that we should
dine； one and all of us； food and drink are prepared for you； the best
we had skill to find。 Send us； if you will； the half of the bread that
has been baked； there is ample； I know； for both of us； but do not
send any relish with it； nor any drink； we have quite enough at hand。
＇2＇ And do you；〃 he added； turning to the Hyrcanians； 〃conduct our
friends to their quarters； the officers to the largest tentsyou know
where they areand the rest where you think best。 For yourselves； you
may dine where you like； your quarters are intact； and you will find
everything there prepared for you exactly as it is for the others。 ＇3＇
All of you alike must understand that during the night we Persians
will guard the camp outside； but you must keep an eye over what goes
on within； and see that your arms are ready to hand； our messmates are
not our friends as yet。〃
＇4＇ So the Medes and Tigranes with his men washed away the stains of
battle； and put on the apparel that was laid out for them； and fell to
dinner； and the horses had their provender too。 They sent half the
bread to the Persians but no relish with it and no wine； thinking that
Cyrus and his men possessed a store； because he had said they had
enough and to spare。 But Cyrus meant the relish of hunger； and the
draught from the running river。 ＇5＇ Thus he regaled his Persians； and
when the darkness fell he sent them out by fives and tens and ordered
them to lie in ambush around the camp； so as to form a double guard；
against attack from without； and absconders from within； any one
attempting to make off with treasures would be caught in the act。 And
so it befell； for many tried to escape； and all of them were seized。
＇6＇ As for the treasures； Cyrus allowed the captors to keep them； but
he had the absconders beheaded out of hand； so that for the future a
thief by night was hardly to be found。 Thus the Persians passed their
time。 ＇7＇ But the Medes drank and feasted and made music and took
their fill of good cheer and all delights； there was plenty to serve
their purpose； and work enough for those who did not sleep。
＇8＇ Cyaxares； the king of the Medes； on the very night when Cyrus set
forth； drank himself drunk in company with the officers in his own
quarters to celebrate their good fortune。 Hearing uproar all about
him； he thought that the rest of the Medes must have stayed behind in
the camp； except perhaps a few； but the fact was that their domestics；
finding the masters gone； had fallen to drinking in fine style and
were making a din to their hearts' content； the more so that they had
procured wine and dainties from the Assyrian camp。 ＇9＇ But when it was
broad day and no one knocked at the palace gate except the guests of
last night's revel； and when Cyaxares heard that the camp was deserted
the Medes gone； the cavalry goneand when he went out and saw for
himself that it was so； then he fumed with indignation against Cyrus
and his own men； to think that they had gone off and left him in the
lurch。 It is said that without more ado； savage and mad with anger as
he was； he ordered one of his staff to take his troopers and ride at
once to Cyrus and his men； and there deliver this message：
＇10＇ 〃I should never have dreamed that Cyrus could have acted towards
me with such scant respect； or； if he could have thought of it； that
the Medes could have borne to desert me in this way。 And now； whether
Cyrus will or no； I command the Medes to present themselves before me
without delay。〃
＇11＇ Such was the message。 But he who was to take it said； 〃And how
shall I find them； my lord？〃
〃Why；〃 said Cyaxares； 〃as Cyrus and his men found those they went to
seek。〃
〃I only asked；〃 continued the messenger； 〃because I was told that some
Hyrcanians who had revolted from the enemy came here； and went off
with him to act as guides。〃
＇12＇ When Cyaxares heard that； he was the more enraged to think that
Cyrus had never told him； and the more urgent to have his Medes
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 destr