Book 5
3.2
When all the booty was brought in, he called the peers and the officers of the Medes and Hyrcanians together and addressed them as follows: My friends, Gobryas has entertained us all with great munificence. So, if we should set apart the share of the spoil ordained for the gods and a portion sufficient for the army and give the rest to him, should we not be doing the right thing? For we should be giving immediate proof that we are trying to outdo those who do good to us, in the good we do to them.
3.3
When they heard this they all signified their approval and applauded the proposition; and one of them also spoke as follows: By all means, Cyrus, said he, let us do that. And it would be a good stroke of policy, too; for it seems to me that Gobryas regards us as no better than a lot of beggars because we have not come here with our pockets full of darics and because we do not drink from golden goblets. And if we do this, then he would realize that it is possible for men to be gentlemen, even without gold.
3.4
Come then, said Cyrus, turn over to the magi what belongs to the gods, set apart for the army its share, and then call Gobryas in and give the rest to him. So they set aside what was required and gave the rest to Gobryas.
3.5
After this Cyrus renewed his march uponThe Assyrian refuses battle Babylon, with his army in the same order as when the battle was fought. But as the Assyrians did not march out to meet them, Cyrus ordered Gobryas to ride up and say: If the king wishes to come out and fight for his country, I myself would join him and fight for him too; but if the king will not protect his country, then I must needs submit to the victors.
