Kitap 5
3.6
Accordingly, Gobryas rode to a place where he could safely give his message; and the king sent out a messenger to deliver to Gobryas this reply: This is your sovereign’s response to you, Gobryas: I do not regret that I killed your son, but only that I did not kill you, too. And if you and your men wish to fight, come back a month from now. Just at present we have no time to fight, for we are still busy with our preparations.
3.7
I only hope that this regret of yours may never cease, Gobryas replied; for it is evident that I have been something of a thorn in your flesh, ever since you began to feel it.
3.8
Gobryas returned with the Assyrian king’s reply, and when Cyrus heard it he drew off his army; then summoning Gobryas he said to him: Tell me, you were saying, were you not, that you thought that the prince who was castrated by the Assyrian would be on our side? Why, of course; he replied, I feel perfectly sure of it; for he and I have often talked together freely.
3.9
Well then, when you think best, go to him;Cyrus plans to gain the secret support of Gadatas but first of all be sure that you meet him alone and in secret; and when you have conferred with him, if you see that he wishes to be our friend, you must manage to keep his friendship a secret. For in time of war one could not in any way do more good to one’s friends than by seeming to be their enemy, nor more harm to enemies than by seeming to be their friend.
3.10
Now mark my word, said Gobryas; I am sure that Gadatas would even pay for the opportunity of doing the present Assyrian king some serious harm. But what harm he could do it is for us on our part to consider.
