And do you," he said, taking the Hyrcanian chieftain aside, "after you have told your officers to arm their men, come back and wait with me a moment." [23] So the Hyrcanian went and returned.

Then Cyrus said to him, "Son of Hyrcania, it gives me pleasure to see that you show not only friendliness, but sagacity.

It is clear that our interests are the same; the Assyrians are my foes as well as yours, only they hate you now even more bitterly than they hate me.

[24] We must consult together and see that not one of our present allies turns his back on us, and we must do what we can to acquire more.

You heard the Mede summon the cavalry to return, and if they go, we shall be left with nothing but infantry.