With regard to the camp…market； proclamation must be made at once；
forbidding any injustice； the hucksters must be allowed to sell the
goods they have brought； and when these are disposed of they may bring
more； so that the camp may be duly supplied。〃
＇43＇ So the proclamations were issued forthwith。 But the Medes and the
Hyrcanians asked Cyrus：
〃How are we to distribute the spoil alone； without your men and
yourself？〃
＇44＇ But Cyrus met question by question： 〃Do you really think；
gentlemen； that we must all preside over every detail； each and all of
us together？ Can I never act for you； and you for me？ I could scarcely
conceive a surer way of creating trouble； or of reducing results。
See；〃 said he； 〃I will take a case in point。 ＇45＇ We Persians guarded
this booty for you； and you believe that we guarded it well： now it is
for you to distribute it； and we will trust you to be fair。 ＇46＇ And
there is another benefit that I should be glad to obtain for us all。
You see what a number of horses we have got already； and more are
being brought in。 If they are left riderless we shall get no profit
out of them； we shall only have the burden of looking after them。 But
if we set riders on them； we shall be quit of the trouble and add to
our strength。 ＇47＇ Now if you have other men in view； men whom you
would choose before us to share the brunt of danger with you； by all
means give these horses to them。 But if you would rather have us fight
at your side than any others； bestow them upon us。 ＇48＇ To…day when
you dashed ahead to meet danger all alone； great was our fear lest you
might come to harm； and bitter our shame to think that where you were
we were not。 But if once we have horses； we can follow at your heels。
＇49＇ And if it is clear that we do more good so mounted； shoulder to
shoulder with yourselves； we shall not fail in zeal； or if it appears
better to support you on foot； why； to dismount is but the work of a
moment； and you will have your infantry marching by your side at once；
and we will find men to hold our horses for us。〃
＇50＇ To which they answered：
〃In truth； Cyrus； we have not men for these horses ourselves； and even
if we had them； we should not do anything against your wish。 Take
them； we beg you； and use them as you think best。〃
＇51＇ 〃I will；〃 said he； 〃and gladly； and may good fortune bless us
all； you in your division of the spoil and us in our horsemanship。 In
the first place；〃 he added； 〃you will set apart for the gods whatever
our priests prescribe； and after that you must select for Cyaxares
what you think will please him most。〃
＇52＇ At that they laughed； and said they must choose him a bevy of
fair women。 〃So let it be；〃 said Cyrus； 〃fair women； and anything else
you please。 And when you have chosen his share； the Hyrcanians must
see to it that our friends among the Medes who followed us of their
own free will shall have no cause to find fault with their own
portion。 ＇53＇ And the Medes on their side must show honour to the
first allies we have won； and make them feel their decision was wise
when they chose us for their friends。 And be sure to give a share of
everything to the messenger who came from Cyaxares and to his retinue；
persuade him to stay on with us； say that I would like it； and that he
could tell Cyaxares all the better how matters stood。 ＇54＇ As for my
Persians；〃 he added； 〃we shall be quite content with what is left
over； after you are all provided for； we are not used to luxury； we
were brought up in a very simple fashion； and I think you would laugh
at us if you saw us tricked out in grand attire； just as I am sure you
will when you see us seated on our horses； or； rather； rolling off
them。〃
＇55＇ So they dispersed to make the distribution； in great mirth over
the thought of the riding； and then Cyrus called his own officers and
bade them take the horses and their gear； and the grooms with them；
number them all； and then distribute them by lot in equal shares for
each division。 ＇56＇ Finally he sent out another proclamation； saying
that if there was any slave among the Syrians； Assyrians； or Arabians
who was a Mede； a Persian； a Bactrian； a Carian； a Cilician； or a
Hellene； or a member of any other nation； and who had been forcibly
enrolled； he was to come forward and declare himself。 ＇57＇ And when
they heard the herald； many came forward gladly； and out of their
number Cyrus selected the strongest and fairest； and told them they
were now free； and would be required to bear arms； with which he would
furnish them； and as to necessaries； he would see himself that they
were not stinted。 ＇58＇ With that he brought them to the officers and
had them enrolled forthwith； saying they were to be armed with shields
and light swords； so as to follow the troopers； and were to receive
supplies exactly as if they were his own Persians。 The Persian
officers themselves； wearing corslets and carrying lances； were for
the future to appear on horseback； he himself setting the example； and
each one was to appoint another of the Peers to lead the infantry for
him。
＇C。6＇ While they were concerned with these matters； an old Assyrian
prince； Gobryas by name； presented himself before Cyrus； mounted on
horseback and with a mounted retinue behind him； all of them armed as
cavalry。 The Persian officers who were appointed to receive the
weapons bade them hand over their lances and have them burnt with the
rest； but Gobryas said he wished to see Cyrus first。 At that the
adjutants led him in； but they made his escort stay where they were。
＇2＇ When the old man came before Cyrus； he addressed him at once；
saying：
〃My lord； I am an Assyrian by birth； I have a strong fortress in my
territory； and I rule over a wide domain； I have cavalry at my
command； two thousand three hundred of them； all of which I offered to
the king of Assyria； and if ever he had a friend； that friend was I。
But he has fallen at your hands； the gallant heart； and his son； who
is my bitterest foe； reigns in his stead。 Therefore I have come to
you； a suppliant at your feet。 I am ready to be your slave and your
ally； and I implore you to be my avenger。 You yourself will be a son
to me； for I have no male children now。 ＇3＇ He whom I had； my only
son； he was beautiful and brave； my lord； and loved me and honoured me
as a father rejoices to be loved。 And this vile kinghis father； my
old master； had sent for my son； meaning to give him his own daughter
in marriage； and I let my boy go； with high hopes and a proud heart；
thinking that when I saw him again the king's daughter would be his
bride。 And the prince； who is now king； invited him to the chase； and
bade him do his best； for he thought himself far the finer horseman of
the two。 So they hunted together； side by side； as though they were
friends； and suddenly a bear appeared； and the two of them gave chase；
and the king's son let fly his javelin； but alas！ he missed his aim；
and then my son threwoh； that he never had！and laid the creature
low。 ＇4＇ The prince was stung to the quick； though for the moment he
kept his rancour hidden。 But； soon after that； they roused a lion； and
then he missed a second timeno unusual thing for him； I imaginebut
my son's spear went home； and he brought the beast down； and cried；
'See； I have shot but twice； and killed each time！' And at this the
monster could not contain his jealousy； he snatched a spear from one
of his followers and ran my son through the body； my only son； my
darling； and took his life。 ＇5＇ And I； unhappy that I am； I； who
thought to welcome a bride…groom； carried home a corpse。 I； who am
old； buried my boy with the first down on his chin； my brave boy； my
well…beloved。 And his assassin acted as though it were an enemy that
he had done to death。 He never showed one sign of remorse； he never
paid one tribute of honour to the dead； in atonement for his cruel
deed。 Yet his own father pitied me； and showed that he could share the
burden of my grief。 ＇6＇ Had he lived； my old master； I would never
have come to you to do him harm； many a kindness have I received from
him； and many a service have I done him。 But now that his kingdom has
descended to my boy's murdererI could never be loyal to that man；
and he； I know； could never regard me as a friend。 He knows too well
how I feel towards him； and how； after my former splendour； I pass my
days in mourning； growing old in loneliness and grief。 ＇7＇ If you can
receive me； if you can give me some hope of vengeance for my dear son；
I think I should grow young again； I should not feel ashamed to live；
and when I came to die I should not die in utter wretchedness。〃
＇8＇ So he spoke； and Cyrus answered：
〃Gobryas； if your heart be set towards us as you say； I receive you as
my suppliant； and I promise； God helping me； to avenge your son。 But
tell me；〃 he added； 〃if we do this for you； and if we suffer you to
keep your stronghold； your land； your arms； and the power which you
had； how will you serve us in return？〃
＇9＇ And the old man answered：
〃My stronghold shall be yours； to live in as often as you come to me；
the tribute which I used to pay to Assyria shall be paid to you； and
whenever you march out to war； I will march at your side with the men
from my own land。 Moreover； I have a daughter； a well…beloved maiden；
ripe for marriage； once I thought of bringing her up to be the bride
of the man who is now king； but she besought me herself； with tears；
not to give her to her brother's murderer； and I have no mind to
oppose her。 And now I will put her in your hands； to deal with as I
shall deal with you。〃
＇10＇ So it came to pass that Cyrus said； 〃On the faith that you have
spoken truly and with true intent； I take your hand and I give you
mine； let the gods be witness。〃
And when this was done； Cyrus bade the old man depart in peace；
without surrendering his arms； and then he asked him how far away he
lived； 〃Since；〃 said he； 〃I am minded to visit you。〃 And Gobryas
answered； 〃If you set off early to…morrow； the next day you may lodge
with us。〃 ＇11＇ With that he took his own departure； leaving a guide
for Cyrus。
Then the Medes presented themselves； they had set apart f