Then there are the Sakians, our neighbours, who have suffered severely at his hands, for he tried to subdue them as he subdued us." [26] "Then you think," said Cyrus, "that they would be glad to attack him in our company ?" "Much more than glad," answered they; "if they could manage to join us." "And what stands in their way ?" asked he.

"The Assyrians themselves," said they, "the very people among whom you are marching now." [27] At that Cyrus turned to Gobryas: "And what of this lad who is now on the throne?
Did you not charge him with unbridled insolence ?" "Even so," replied Gobryas, "and I think he gave me cause." "Tell me," said Cyrus, "were you the only man he treated thus, or did others suffer too ?" [28] "Many others," said Gobryas, "but some of them were weak, and why should I weary you with the insults they endured?
I will tell you of a young man whose father was a much greater personage than I, and who was himself, like my own son, a friend and comrade of the prince.

One day at a drinking-bout this monster had the youth seized and mutilated, and why?
Some say simply because a paramour of his own had praised the boy's beauty and said his bride was a woman to be envied.

The king himself now asserts it was because he had tried to seduce his paramour.

That young man, eunuch as he is, is now at the head of his province, for his father is dead." [29] "Well," rejoined Cyrus, "I take it, you believe he would welcome us, if he thought we came to help him ?" "I am more than sure of that," said Gobryas, "but it is not so easy to set eyes on him." "And why ?" asked Cyrus.