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 threw--oh, 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 time--no unusual
thing for him, I imagine--but 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 murderer--I 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