ere, and the two singing-girls also,
whom they had set aside for him.

[3] And while they were busied with these things the envoy went to
Cyaxares and delivered his message, and Cyaxares listened and decided
it was best for Cyrus and his men to stay on the frontier. The Persians
whom Cyrus had sent for had already arrived, forty thousand bowmen and
targeteers. [4] To watch these eating up the land was bad enough, and
Cyaxares thought he would rather be quit of one horde before he received
another. On his side the officer in command of the Persian levy,
following the instructions from Cyrus, asked Cyaxares if he had any need
of the men, and Cyaxares said he had not. Thereupon, and hearing that
Cyrus had arrived, the Persian put himself at the head of his troops and
went off at once to join him. [5] Cyaxares himself waited till the next
day and then set out with the Median troopers who had stayed behind. And
when Cyrus knew of his approach he took his Persian cavalry, who were
now a large body of men, and all the Medes, Hyrcanians, and Armenians,
and the best-mounted and best-armed among the rest, and so went out to
meet Cyaxares and show the power he had won. [6] But when Cyaxares saw
so large a following of gallant gentlemen with Cyrus, and with
himself so small and mean a retinue, it seemed to him an insult, and
mortification filled his heart. And when Cyrus sprang from his horse
and came up to give him the kiss of greeting, Cyaxares, though he
dismounted, turned away his head and gave him no kiss, while the tears
came into his eyes. [7] Whereupon Cyrus told the others to stand aside
and rest, and then he took Cyaxares by the hand and led him apart under
a grove of palm-trees, and bade the attendants spread Median carpets for
them, and made Cyaxares sit down, and then, seating himself beside him,
he said:

[8] "Uncle of mine, tell me, in heaven's name, I implore you, why are
you angry with me? What bitter sight have you seen to make you feel such
bitterness?"

And then Cyaxares answered:

"Listen, Cyrus; I have been reputed royal and of royal lineage as far
back as the memory of man can go; my father was a king and a king I
myself was thought to be; and now I see myself riding here, meanly
and miserably attended, while you come before me in splendour and
magnificence, followed by the retinue that once was mine and all your
other forces. [9] That would be bitter enough, methinks, from the hand
of an enemy, but--O g