and make inquiry of him, if you are so
minded, and see what answer he will give."

Then Cyrus, who was standing by, asked Cyaxares, "May I too say what
is in my mind?" "Say on," answered Cyaxares. Then Cyrus turned to the
ambassadors: "Tell your master," he said, "unless Cyaxares is otherwise
minded, that we are ready to do this: if the Assyrian lays any injustice
to our charge we choose the king of the Indians himself to be our judge,
and he shall decide between us."

[9] With that the embassy departed. And when they had gone out Cyrus
turned to his uncle and began, "Cyaxares, when I came to you I had scant
wealth of my own and of the little I brought with me only a fragment is
left. I have spent it all on my soldiers. You may wonder at this," he
added, "when it is you who have supported them, but, believe me, the
money has not been wasted: it has all been spent on gifts and rewards
to the soldiers who deserved it. [10] And I am sure," he added, "if
we require good workers and good comrades in any task whatever, it is
better and pleasanter to encourage them by kind speeches and kindly acts
than to drive them by pains and penalties. And if it is for war that we
need such trusty helpers, we can only win the men we want by every charm
of word and grace of deed. For our true ally must be a friend and not a
foe, one who can never envy the prosperity of his leader nor betray him
in the day of disaster. [11] Such is my conviction, and such being so,
I do not hide from myself the need of money. But to look to you for
everything, when I know that you spend so much already, would be
monstrous in my eyes. I only ask that we should take counsel together so
as to prevent the failure of your funds. I am well aware that if you won
great wealth, I should be able to help myself at need, especially if I
used it for your own advantage. [12] Now I think you told me the other
day that the king of Armenia has begun to despise you, because he hears
we have an enemy, and therefore he will neither send you troops nor pay
the tribute which is due." [13] "Yes," answered Cyaxares, "such are his
tricks. And I cannot decide whether to march on him at once and try
to subdue him by force, or let the matter be for the time, for fear of
adding to the enemies we have." Then Cyrus asked, "Are his dwellings
strongly fortified, or could they be attacked?" And Cyaxares answered,
"The actual fortifications are not very strong: I took good care of
that. But