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〃It repents thee： may that repentance never cease！ I have begun to
make thee suffer； since the day repentance took hold on thee。〃
＇8＇ Then Gobryas brought back the words of the king to Cyrus； and
Cyrus led his army off； and then he summoned Gobryas and said to him：
〃Surely you told me that you thought the man who was made an eunuch by
the king would be upon our side？〃
〃And I am sure he will；〃 answered Gobryas； 〃for we have spoken freely
to each other many a time； he and I。〃 ＇9＇ 〃Then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃you
must go to him when you think the right moment has come： and you must
so act at first that only he and you may know what he intends； and
when you are closeted with him； if you find he really wishes to be a
friend； you must contrive that his friendship remain a secret： for in
war a man can scarcely do his friends more good than by a semblance of
hostility； or his enemies more harm than under the guise of
friendship。〃 ＇10＇ 〃Aye；〃 answered Gobryas； 〃and I know that Gadatas
would pay a great price to punish the king of Assyria。 But it is for
us to consider what he can best do。〃 ＇11＇ 〃Tell me now；〃 rejoined
Cyrus； 〃you spoke of an outpost； built against the Hyrcanians and the
Sakians； which was to protect Assyria in time of war；could the
eunuch be admitted there by the commandant if he came with a force at
his back？〃 〃Certainly he could；〃 said Gobryas； 〃if he were as free
from suspicion as he is to…day。〃 ＇12＇ 〃And free he would be；〃 Cyrus
went on； 〃if I were to attack his strongholds as though in earnest；
and he were to repel me in force。 I might capture some of his men； and
he some of my soldiers； or some messengers sent by me to those you say
are the enemies of Assyria； and these prisoners would let it be known
that they were on their way to fetch an army with scaling…ladders to
attack this fortress； and the eunuch； hearing their story； would
pretend that he came to warn the commandant in time。〃 ＇13＇
〃Undoubtedly；〃 said Gobryas； 〃if things went thus； the commandant
would admit him； he would even beg him to stay there until you
withdrew。〃
〃And then；〃 Cyrus continued； 〃once inside the walls； he could put the
place into our hands？〃 ＇14＇ 〃We may suppose so；〃 said Gobryas。 〃He
would be there to settle matters within； and you would be redoubling
the pressure from without。〃
〃Then be off at once；〃 said Cyrus； 〃and do your best to teach him his
part； and when you have arranged affairs； come back to me； and as for
pledges of good faith； you could offer him none better than those you
received from us yourself。〃
＇15＇ Then Gobryas made haste and was gone； and the eunuch welcomed him
gladly； he agreed to everything and helped to arrange all that was
needed。 Presently Gobryas brought back word that he thought the eunuch
had everything in readiness； and so； without more ado； Cyrus made his
feigned attack on the following day； and was beaten off。 ＇16＇ But on
the other hand there was a fortress； indicated by Gadatas himself；
that Cyrus took。 The messengers Cyrus had sent out； telling them
exactly where to go； fell into the hands of Gadatas： some were allowed
to escapetheir business was to fetch the troops and carry the
scaling…laddersbut the rest were narrowly examined in the presence
of many witnesses； and when Gadatas heard the object of their journey
he got his equipment together and set out in the night at full speed
to take the news。 ＇17＇ In the end he made his way into the fortress；
trusted and welcomed as a deliverer； and for a time he helped the
commandant to the best of his ability。 But as soon as Cyrus appeared
he seized the place； aided by the Persian prisoners he had taken。 ＇18＇
This done； and having set things in order within the fortress； Gadatas
went out to Cyrus； bowed before him according to the custom of his
land； and said； 〃Cyrus； may joy be yours！〃
＇19＇ 〃Joy is mine already；〃 answered he； 〃for you； God helping you；
have brought it to me。 You must know；〃 he added； 〃that I set great
store by this fortress； and rejoice to leave it in the hands of my
allies here。 And for yourself； Gadatas；〃 he added； 〃if the Assyrian
has robbed you of the ability to beget children； remember he has not
stolen your power to win friends； you have made us yours； I tell you；
by this deed； and we will stand by as faithfully as sons and grandsons
of your own。〃
＇20＇ So Cyrus spoke。 And at that instant the Hyrcanian chief； who had
only just learnt what had happened； came running up to him； and
seizing him by the hand cried out：
〃O Cyrus； you godsend to your friends！ How often you make me thank the
gods for bringing me to you！〃
＇21＇ 〃Off with you； then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃and occupy this fortress for
which you bless me so。 Take it and make the best use of it you can；
for your own nation； and for all our allies； and above all for
Gadatas； our friend； who won it and surrenders it to us。〃
＇22＇ 〃Then；〃 said the chieftain； 〃as soon as the Cadousians arrive and
the Sakians and my countrymen； we must； must we not？ call a council of
them all； so that we may consult together； and see how best to turn it
to account。〃
＇23＇ Cyrus thought the proposal good； and when they met together it
was decided to garrison the post with a common force； chosen from all
who were concerned that it should remain friendly and be an outer
balwark to overawe the Assyrians。 ＇24＇ This heightened the enthusiasm
of them all； Cadousians； Sakians； and Hyrcanians； and their levies
rose high； until the Cadousians sent in 20；000 light infantry and 4000
cavalry； and the Sakians 11；000 bowmen； 10；000 on foot and 1000
mounted； while the Hyrcanians were free to despatch all their reserves
of infantry and make up their horsemen to a couple of thousand strong；
whereas previously the larger portion of their cavalry had been left
at home to support the Cadousians and Sakians against Assyria。
＇25＇ And while Cyrus was kept in the fortress； organising and
arranging everything； many of the Assyrians from the country round
brought in their horses and handed over their arms； being by this time
in great dread of their neighbours。
＇26＇ Soon after this Gadatas came to Cyrus and told him that
messengers had come to say that the king of Assyria； learning what had
happened to the fortress； was beside himself with anger； and was
preparing to attack his territory。 〃If you； Cyrus；〃 said he； 〃will let
me go now； I will try to save my fortresses： the rest is of less
account。〃 ＇27＇ Cyrus said； 〃If you go now； when will you reach home？〃
And Gadatas answered； 〃On the third day from this I can sup in my own
house。〃 〃Do you think；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃that you will find the Assyrian
already there？〃 〃I am sure of it；〃 he answered； 〃for he will make
haste while he thinks you are still far off。〃 ＇28＇ 〃And I；〃 said
Cyrus； 〃when could I be there with my army？〃 But to this Gadatas made
answer； 〃The army you have now； my lord； is very large； and you could
not reach my home in less than six days or seven。〃 〃Well；〃 Cyrus
replied； 〃be off yourself： make all speed； and I will follow as best I
can。〃
＇29＇ So Gadatas was gone； and Cyrus called together all the officers
of the allies； and a great and goodly company they