You are wroth, but I can bear your angry gaze and yet repeat my declaration." "And my answer," cried Cambyses, "is this: Ye have but one choice: either to submit to my sceptre, become united to the kingdom of Persia under the name of the Massagetan province, and receive a satrap as my representative with due reverence, or to look upon yourselves as my enemies, in which case you will be forced by arms to conform to those conditions which I now offer you in good part.

To-day you could secure a ruler well-affected to your cause, later you will find in me only a conqueror and avenger.

Consider well before you answer." "We have already weighed and considered all," answered the warrior, "and, as free sons of the desert, prefer death to bondage.

Hear what the council of our old men has sent me to declare to you:--The Massageta; have become too weak to oppose the Persians, not through their own fault, but through the heavy visitation of our god, the sun.

We know that you have armed a vast host against us, and we are ready to buy peace and liberty by a yearly tribute.