to whom Cyrus gave the Median cloak he was wearing when he went back to
Persia from his grandfather's court. Now he summoned him, and asked him
to take care of the tent and the lady from Susa. [3] She was the wife of
Abradatas, a Susian, and when the Assyrian army was captured it happened
that her husband was away: his master had sent him on an embassy to
Bactria to conclude an alliance there, for he was the friend and host of
the Bactrian king. And now Cyrus asked Araspas to guard the captive
lady until her husband could take her back himself. [4] To that Araspas
replied, "Have you seen the lady whom you bid me guard?"

"No, indeed," said Cyrus, "certainly I have not."

"But I have," rejoined the other, "I saw here when we chose her for you.
When we came into the tent, we did not make her out at first, for she
was seated on the ground with all her maidens round her, and she was
clad in the same attire as her slaves, but when we looked at them all
to discover the mistress, we soon saw that one outshone the others,
although she was veiled and kept her eyes on the ground. [5] And when we
bade her rise, all her women rose with her, and then we saw that she was
marked out from them all by her height, and her noble bearing, and her
grace, and the beauty that shone through her mean apparel. And, under
her veil, we could see the big tear-drops trickling down her garments to
her feet. [6] At that sight the eldest of us said, 'Take comfort, lady,
we know that your husband was beautiful and brave, but we have chosen
you a man to-day who is no whit inferior to him in face or form or mind
or power; Cyrus, we believe, is more to be admired than any soul on
earth, and you shall be his from this day forward.' But when the lady
heard that, she rent the veil that covered her head and gave a pitiful
cry, while her maidens lifted up their voice and wept with their
mistress. [7] And thus we could see her face, and her neck, and her
arms, and I tell you, Cyrus," he added, "I myself, and all who looked
on her, felt that there never was, and never had been, in broad Asia
a mortal woman half so fair as she. Nay, but you must see her for
yourself."

[8] "Say, rather, I must not," answered Cyrus, "if she be such as you
describe."

"And why not?" asked the young man.

"Because," said he, "if the mere report of her beauty could persuade me
to go and gaze on her to-day, when I have not a moment to spare, I fear
she would win me back again and