Persians to sacrifice
and hold high festival. And he brought special gifts for his father and
his mother and his friends of old, and for the high officers of state,
the elders, and all the Persian Peers; and he gave every Persian man and
every Persian woman such bounties as the king confers to-day whenever he
visits Persia. [22] After this Cambyses gathered together the elders
of the land and the chief officers, who have authority in the highest
matters, and spoke as follows:

"Men of Persia, and Cyrus, my son, both of you are dear to me and must
needs be dear; I am the king of my people and the father of my son;
therefore I am bound to lay before you openly all that I believe to be
for the good of both. [23] In the past the nation has done great things
for Cyrus by giving him an army and appointing him the leader, and
Cyrus, God helping him, has made my Persians famous in all the world by
his leadership, and crowned you with glory in Asia. Of those who served
with him he has made the bravest wealthy for life, and given sustenance
and full pay to numbers. By founding the cavalry he has won the plains
for Persia. [24] If your hearts are still the same in future, all of you
will bless each other: but if you, my son, would be puffed up by your
present fortune and attempt to rule the Persians for your own advantage
as you rule the rest of the world, or if you, my people, should envy
this man's power and try to drive him from his throne, I tell you, you
will cut each other off from many precious things. [25] Therefore, that
this should never be, and only good be yours, I counsel you to offer
sacrifice together, and call the gods to witness and make a covenant.
You, Cyrus, shall vow to resist with all your strength any man who
attacks our land of Persia or tries to overthrow our laws; and you, my
people, must promise that if rebels attempt to depose Cyrus or if
his subjects revolt, you will render aid to him and to yourselves in
whatever way he wishes. [26] Now, so long as I live, the kingdom of
Persia is and continues mine, but when I die it passes to Cyrus if he
is still alive, and whenever he visits Persia it should be a holy custom
for him to offer sacrifice on your behalf, even as I do now; and when he
is abroad, it will be well for you, I think, if the member of our family
whom you count the noblest fulfils the sacred rites."

[27] Cambyses ended, and Cyrus and the officers of Persia agreed to all
he said. They made t