Book 5
3.27
If you start now, said Cyrus, when shall you reach home?The day after to-morrow, answered Gadatas, I shall dine in my own land. But you do not think, do you, that you will find the Assyrian already there? said Cyrus. Nay, I am sure of it, he replied; for he will make haste while he thinks you are still far away.
3.28
How many days, asked Cyrus, do you think it would take me with my army to get there? Sire, Gadatas made reply, your army now is large and you could not reach my residence in less than six or seven days. Well said Cyrus, do you go as quickly as possible, and I will follow as best I can.
3.29
So Gadatas went away, and Cyrus summoned all the officers of the allies, and there seemed to be there now many noble men and brave. In this assembly, then, Cyrus spoke as follows:
3.30
Friends and allies, Gadatas has done whatCyrus proposes that the whole army go to the relief of Gadatas seems a very valuable service to us all, and that, too, before receiving any favour whatsoever at our hands. And now comes the report that the Assyrian is going to invade his country, partly, as it seems plain, from a wish to punish him because he thinks Gadatas has done him a great wrong; and perhaps also he understands that if those who desert him for us do not suffer any harm at his hands, while those who follow him are destroyed by us, the chances are that very soon no one will be willing to stay with him.
