And as they went on their way Cyrus' father said to him, "My son, the
gods are gracious to us, and look with favour on your journey--they
have shown it in the sacrifices, and by their signs from heaven. You
do not need another man to tell you so, for I was careful to have you
taught this art, so that you might understand the counsels of the gods
yourself and have no need of an interpreter, seeing with your own eyes
and hearing with your own ears and taking the heavenly meaning for
yourself. Thus you need not be at the mercy of any soothsayers who
might have a mind to deceive you, speaking contrary to the omens
vouchsafed from heaven, nor yet, should you chance to be without a
seer, drift in perplexity and know not how to profit by the heavenly
signs: you yourself through your own learning can understand the
warnings of the gods and follow them."

[3] "Yes, father," answered Cyrus, "so far as in me lies, I bear your
words in mind, and pray to the gods continually that they may show us
favour and vouchsafe to counsel us. I remember," he went on, "how once
I heard you say that, as with men, so with the gods, it was but
natural if the prayer of him should prevail who did not turn to
flatter them only in time of need, but was mindful of them above all
in the heyday of his happiness. It was thus indeed, you said, that we
ought to deal with our earthly friends." [4] "True, my son," said his
father, "and because of all my teaching, you can now approach the gods
in prayer with a lighter heart and a more confident hope that they
will grant you what you ask, because your conscience bears you witness
that you have never forgotten them." "Even so," said Cyrus, "and in
truth I feel towards them as though they were my friends." [5] "And do
you remember," asked his father, "certain other conclusions on which
we were agreed? How we felt there were certain things that the gods
had permitted us to attain through learning and study and training?