BOOK II

[C.1] Thus they talked together, and thus they journeyed on until they
reached the frontier, and there a good omen met them: an eagle swept
into view on the right, and went before them as though to lead the
way, and they prayed the gods and heroes of the land to show them
favour and grant them safe entry, and then they crossed the boundary.
And when they were across, they prayed once more that the gods of
Media might receive them graciously, and when they had done this they
embraced each other, as father and son will, and Cambyses turned back
to his own city, but Cyrus went forward again, to his uncle Cyaxares
in the land of Media. [2] And when his journey was done and he was
face to face with him and they had greeted each other as kinsmen may,
then Cyaxares asked the prince how great an armament he had brought
with him? And Cyrus answered, "I have 30,000 with me, men who have
served with you before as mercenaries; and more are coming on behind,
fresh troops, from the Peers of Persia."

"How many of those?" asked Cyaxares. [3] And Cyrus answered, "Their
numbers will not please you, but remember these Peers of ours, though
they are few, find it easy to rule the rest of the Persians, who are
many. But now," he added, "have you any need of us at all? Perhaps it
was only a false alarm that troubled you, and the enemy are not
advancing?"

"Indeed they are," said the other, "and in full force."