Biographical fiction; Cyrus, King of Persia, -529 B.C. -- Fiction; Education of princes -- Fiction
[6] But Cyrus made answer: "Should I have done you more honour if I had
put on a purple robe, and bracelets for my arms, and a necklace about my
neck, and so presented myself at your call after long delay? Or as now,
when to show you respect I obey you with this despatch and bring you
so large and fine a force, although I wear no ornament but the dust and
sweat of speed, and make no display unless it be to show you these
men who are as obedient to you as I am myself." Such were the words of
Cyrus, and Cyaxares felt that they were just, and so sent for the
Indian ambassadors forthwith. [7] And when they entered they gave this
message:--The king of the Indians bade them ask what was the cause of
strife between the Assyrians and the Medes, "And when we have heard
you," they said, "our king bids us betake ourselves to the Assyrian and
put the same question to him, and in the end we are to tell you both
that the king of the Indians, when he has enquired into the justice of
the case, will uphold the cause of him who has been wronged."
[8] To this Cyaxares replied:
"Then take from me this answer: we do the Assyrian no wrong nor any
injustice whatsoever. And now go and make inquiry of him, if you are so
minded, and see what answer he will give."
Then Cyrus, who was standing by, asked Cyaxares, "May I too say what
is in my mind?" "Say on," answered Cyaxares. Then Cyrus turned to the
ambassadors: "Tell your master," he said, "unless Cyaxares is otherwise
minded, that we are ready to do this: if the Assyrian lays any injustice
to our charge we choose the king of the Indians himself to be our judge,
and he shall decide between us."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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