Once they were in our power, everything could be done as we desire." "Then," said Cyrus, "this plan of ours had better be kept secret, had it not ?" "No doubt," answered Cyaxares.

"In that way they would be more likely to fall into our hands, and if we attack them they would be taken unprepared." [16] "Listen then," said Cyrus, "and see what you think of this.

I have often hunted the marches between your country and Armenia with all my men, and sometimes I have taken horsemen with me from our comrades here." "I see," said Cyaxares, "and if you chose to do the like again it would seem only natural, but if your force was obviously larger than usual, suspicion would arise at once." [17] "But it is possible," said Cyrus, "to frame a pretext which would find credit with us and with them too, if any rumour reached them.

We might give out that I intend to hold a splendid hunt and I might ask you openly for a troop of horse." "Admirable!" said Cyaxares.

"And I shall refuse to give you more than a certain number, my reason being that I wish to visit the outposts on the Syrian side.