And when the king learnt what had happened, scarcely knowing where to turn, he fled to the summit of a certain hill.

[5] Cyrus, when he saw it, surrounded the spot with his troops and sent word to Chrysantas, bidding him leave a force to guard the mountains and come down to him.

So the mass of the army was collected under Cyrus, and then he sent a herald to the king with this enquiry: "Son of Armenia, will you wait here and fight with hunger and thirst, or will you come down into the plain and fight it out with us ?" But the Armenian answered that he wished to fight with neither.

[6] Cyrus sent again and asked, "Why do you sit there, then, and refuse to come down ?" "Because I know not what to do," answered the other.

"It is simple enough," said Cyrus, "come down and take your trial." "And who shall try me ?" asked the king.