for me?"

[20] "In the first place," he answered, "she must be short, for you are
not tall yourself, and if you married a tall maiden and wanted to give
her a kiss when she stood up straight, you would have to jump to reach
her like a little dog."

"Your advice is straight enough," said Chrysantas; "and I am but a sorry
jumper at the best."

[21] "In the next place," Cyrus went on, "a flat nose would suit you
very well."

"A flat nose?" said the other, "why?"

"Because your own is high enough, and flatness, you may be sure, will go
best with height."

"You might as well say," retorted Chrysantas, "that one who has dined
well, like myself, is best matched with the dinnerless."

"Quite so," answered Cyrus, "a full stomach is high and an empty paunch
is flat."

[22] "And now," said Chrysantas, "in heaven's name, tell us the bride
for a flat king?"

But at this Cyrus laughed outright, and all the others with him. [23]
And the laughter still rang loud when Hystaspas said:

"There is one thing, Cyrus, that I envy in your royal state more than
all the rest."

"And what is that?" said Cyrus.

"That though you are flat, you can raise a laugh."

"Ah," said Cyrus, "what would you give to have as much said of you? To
have it reported on all sides and wherever you wished to stand well that
you were a man of wit?"

Thus they bantered each other and gave jest for jest.

[24] Then Cyrus brought out a woman's attire and ornaments of price
and gave them to Tigranes as a present for his wife, because she had
followed her husband so manfully to the war, and he gave a golden goblet
to Artabazus, and a horse to the Hyrcanian leader, and many another
splendid gift among the company.

"And to you, Gobryas," said he, "I will give a husband for your
daughter."

[25] "Let me be the gift," said Hystaspas, "and then I shall get those
writings."

"But have you a fortune on your side," asked Cyrus, "to match the
bride's?"

"Certainly, I have," he answered, "I may say twenty times as great."

"And where," asked Cyrus, "may those treasures be?"

"At the foot of your throne," he answered, "my gracious lord."

"I ask no more," said Gobryas, and held out his right hand. "Give him to
me, Cyrus," he said; "I accept him."

[26] At that Cyrus took the right hand of Hystaspas and laid it in the
hand of Gobryas, and the pledge was given and received. Then Cyrus gave
beautiful gifts to Hystaspas for his bride, but he drew Chrysan