chains and some wounded。 But Cyrus when he saw their plight ordered
the chains to be struck off； and sent for surgeons to dress their
wounds； and then he told them that he came neither to destroy them nor
to war against them； but to make peace between them and the Armenians。
〃I know；〃 he said； 〃before your pass was taken you did not wish for
peace。 Your own land was in safety and you could harry the Armenians：
but you can see for yourselves how things stand to…day。 ＇13＇
Accordingly I will let you all go back to your homes in freedom； and I
will allow you and your fellows to take counsel together and choose
whether you will have us for your enemies or your friends。 If you
decide on war； you had better not come here again without your
weapons； but if you choose peace； come unarmed and welcome： it shall
be my care to see that all is well with you； if you are my friends。〃
＇14＇ And when the Chaldaeans heard that； they poured out praises and
thanks； and then they turned homewards and departed。
Meanwhile the king； receiving the call of Cyrus； and hearing the
business that was at hand； had gathered his workmen together and took
what he thought necessary and came with all speed。 ＇15＇ And when he
caught sight of Cyrus； he cried： 〃Ah； my lord； blind mortals that we
are！ How little can we see of the future； and how much we take in hand
to do！ I set myself to win freedom and I made myself a slave； and now；
when we were captured and said to ourselves that we were utterly
undone； suddenly we find a safety we never had before。 Those who
troubled us are taken now； even as I would have them。 ＇16＇ Be well
assured； Cyrus；〃 he added； 〃that I would have paid the sum you had
from me over and over again simply to dislodge the Chaldaeans from
these heights。 The things of worth you promised me when you took the
money have been paid in full already； and we discover that we are not
your creditors； but deep in your debt for many kindnesses； and we
shall be ashamed not to return them； or we should be base indeed； for
try as we may； we shall never be able to requite in full so great a
benefactor。〃
＇17＇ Such thanks the Armenian gave。
Then the Chaldaeans came back； begging Cyrus to make peace with them。
And Cyrus asked them： 〃Am I right in thinking that you desire peace
to…day because you believe it will be safer for you than war； now that
we hold these heights？〃
And the Chaldaeans said that so it was。 ＇18＇ 〃Well and good；〃 said he。
〃And what if other benefits were gained by peace？〃 〃We should be all
the better pleased；〃 said they。 〃Is there any other reason；〃 he asked；
〃for your present poverty； except your lack of fertile soil？〃 They
said that there was none。 〃Well then；〃 Cyrus went on； 〃would you be
willing to pay the same dues as the Armenians； if you were allowed to
cultivate as much of their land as you desired？〃 And the Chaldaeans
said they would； if only they could rely on being fairly treated。 ＇19＇
〃Now；〃 said Cyrus； turning to the Armenian king； 〃would you like that
land of yours which is now lying idle to be tilled and made
productive； supposing the workers paid you the customary dues？〃 〃I
would； indeed；〃 said the king； 〃so much so that I am ready to pay a
large sum for it。 It would mean a great increase to my revenue。〃 ＇20＇
〃And you； Chaldaeans；〃 said Cyrus； 〃with your splendid mountains；
would you let the Armenians use them for pasture if the graziers paid
you what was fair？〃 〃Surely yes；〃 said the Chaldaeans； 〃it would mean
much profit and no pains。〃
〃Son of Armenia；〃 said Cyrus； 〃would you take this land for grazing；
if by paying a small sum to the Chaldaeans you got a far greater
return yourself？〃
〃Right willingly；〃 said he； 〃if I thought my flocks could feed in
safety。〃
〃And would they not be safe enough；〃 suggested Cyrus； 〃if this pass
were held for you？〃 To which the king agreed。 ＇21＇ But the Chaldaeans
cried； 〃Heaven help us！ We could not till our own fields in safety；
not to speak of theirs； if the Armenians held the pass。〃 〃True；〃
answered Cyrus； 〃but how would it be if the pass were held for you？〃
〃Ah； then；〃 said they； 〃all would be well enough。〃 〃Heaven help us！〃
cried the Armenian in his turn； 〃all might be well enough for them；
but it would be ill for us if these neighbours of ours recovered the
post； especially now that it is fortified。〃 ＇22＇ Then Cyrus said；
〃See； then； this is what I will do： I will hand over the pass to
neither of you： we Persians will guard it ourselves； and if either of
you injure the other； we will step in and side with the sufferers。〃
＇23＇ Then both parties applauded the decision； and said that only thus
could they establish a lasting peace； and on these terms they
exchanged pledges； and a covenant was made that both nations alike
were to be free and independent； but with common rights of marriage；
and tillage； and pasturage； and help in time of war if either were
attacked。 ＇24＇ Thus the matter was concluded； and to this day the
treaty holds between the Chaldaeans and Armenia。
Peace was no sooner made than both parties began building what they
now considered their common fortress； working side by side and
bringing up all that was needed。 ＇25＇ And when evening fell； Cyrus
summoned them all as fellow…guests to his board； saying that they were
friends already。 At the supper as they sat together； one of the
Chaldaeans said to Cyrus that the mass of his nation would feel they
had received all they could desire； 〃But there are men among us；〃 he
added； 〃who live as freebooters： they do not know how to labour in the
field； and they could not learn； accustomed as they are from youth up
to get their livelihood either by plundering for themselves or serving
as mercenaries； often under the king of India； for he is a man of much
wealth； but sometimes under Astyages。〃 ＇26＇ Then Cyrus said： 〃Why
should they not take service with me？ I undertake to give them at
least as much as they ever got elsewhere。〃 The Chaldaeans readily
agreed with him and prophesied that he would have many volunteers。
＇27＇ So this matter was settled to the mind of all。 But Cyrus； on
hearing that the Chaldaeans were in the habit of going to India；
remembered how Indian ambassadors had come to the Medes to spy out
their affairs； and how they had gone on to their enemiesdoubtless to
do the same thereand he felt a wish that they should hear something
of what he had achieved himself。 ＇28＇ So he said to the company： 〃Son
of Armenia； and men of the Chaldaeans； I have something to ask you。
Tell me； if I were to send ambassadors to India； would you send some
of your own folk with them to show them the way； and support them in
gaining for us all that I desire？ I still need more money if I am to
pay all the wages； as I wish； in full； and give rewards and make
presents to such of my soldiers as deserve them。 It is for such things
I need all the money I can get； for I believe them to be essential。 It
would be pleasanter for me not to draw on you； because I look on you
already as my friends； but I should be glad to take from the Indian as
much as he will give me。 My messengerthe one for whom I ask guides
and coadjutorswill go to the king and say： 'Son of India； my master
has sent me to you； bidding me say that he has need of more money。 He
is expecting another army from Persia；' and indeed I do expect one；〃
Cyrus added。 〃Then my messenger will proceed； 'If you can send my
master all that you have at hand he will do his best； if God grant him
success； that you should feel your kindness has not been ill…advised。'
＇30＇ That is what my emissary will say： and you must give such
instructions to yours as you think fit yourselves。 If I get money from
the king； I shall have abundance at my disposal： if I fail； at least
we shall owe him no gratitude； and as far as he is concerned we may
look to our own interests alone。〃
＇31＇ So Cyrus spoke； convinced that the ambassadors from Armenia and
Chaldaea would speak of him as he desired all men might do。 And then；
as the hour was come； they broke up the meeting and took their rest。
＇C。3＇ But on the next day Cyrus despatched his messenger with the
instructions； and the Armenians and Chaldaeans sent their own
ambassadors； choosing the men they thought would help Cyrus most and
speak of his exploits in the most fitting terms。 Cyrus put a strong
garrison in the fort and stored it with supplies； and left an officer
in command； a Mede； whose appointment； he thought； would gratify
Cyaxares； and then he turned homewards； taking with him not only the
troops he had brought； but the force the Armenians had furnished； and
a picked body of Chaldaeans who considered themselves stronger than
all the rest together。 ＇2＇ And as he come down from the hills into the
cultivated land； not one of the Armenians； man or woman； stayed
indoors： with one accord they all went out to meet him； rejoicing that
peace was made； and bringing him offerings from their best； driving
before them the animals they valued most。 The king himself was not
ill…pleased at this； for he thought that Cyrus would take delight in
the honour the people showed him。 Last of all came the queen herself；
with her daughters and her younger son； bearing many gifts； and among
them the golden treasure that Cyrus had refused before。 ＇3＇ But when
he saw it he said： 〃Nay； you must not make me a mercenary and a
benefactor for pay； take this treasure back and hie you home； but do
not give it to your lord that he may bury it again； spend it on your
son； and send him forth gloriously equipped for war； and with the
residue buy yourself and for your husband and your children such
precious things as shall endure； and bring joy and beauty into all
your days。 As for burying； let us only bury our bodies on the day when
each must die。〃
＇4＇ With that he rode away； the king and all his people escorting him；
like a guard of honour； calling him their saviour； their benefactor；
and their hero； and heaping praises on him until he had left the land。
And the king sent with him a larger army than ever he had sent before；
seeing that now he had peace at home。 ＇5＇ Thus Cyrus took his
departure； having gained not only the actual money he took away with
h