r me, I say we will stand by you; we shall not grow weary
of gazing at you, and we will continue to endure your benefits."

[27] Thereupon Tigranes spoke:

"Do not wonder, Cyrus, if I am silent now. The soul within me is ready,
not to offer counsel, but to do your bidding." [28] And the Hyrcanian
chieftain said, "For my part, if you Medes turn back to-day I shall say
it was the work of some evil genius, who could not brook the fulfilment
of your happiness. For no human heart could think of retiring when the
foe is in flight, refusing to receive his sword when he surrenders it,
rejecting him when he offers himself and all that he calls his own;
above all, when we have a prince of men for our leader, one who, I
swear it by the holy gods, takes delight to do us service, not to enrich
himself."

[29] Thereupon the Medes cried with one consent:

"It was you, Cyrus, who led us out, and it is you who must lead us home
again, when the right moment comes."

And when Cyrus heard that, he prayed aloud:

"O most mighty Zeus, I supplicate thee, suffer me to outdo these friends
of mine in courtesy and kindly dealing."

[30] Upon that he gave his orders. The rest of the army were to place
their outposts and see to their own concerns, while the Persians took
the tents allotted to them, and divided them among their cavalry and
infantry, to suit the needs of either arm. Then they arranged for the
stewards to wait on them in future, bring them all they needed, and keep
their horses groomed, so that they themselves might be free for the work
of war. Thus they spent that day.

[C.2] But on the morrow they set out for their march to Gobryas. Cyrus
rode on horseback at the head of his new Persian cavalry, two thousand
strong, with as many more behind them, carrying their shields and
swords, and the rest of the army followed in due order. The cavalry were
told to make their new attendants understand that they would be punished
if they were caught falling behind the rear-guard, or riding in advance
of the column, or straggling on either flank. [2] Towards evening of the
second day the army found themselves before the castle of Gobryas, and
they saw that the place was exceedingly strong and that all preparations
had been made for the stoutest possible defence. They noticed also that
great herds of cattle and endless flocks of sheep and goats had been
driven up under the shelter of the castle walls. [3] Then Gobryas
sent word to Cyrus, b