[4] They told him what good cause they had to hate the Assyrians, and how if he was willing to attack them now, they themselves would be his allies and show him the way.

At the same time they gave a full account of the enemy's doings, being eager to get Cyrus on the road.

[5] "Do you think," said Cyrus, "we should overtake the Assyrians before they reach their fortresses?
We look on it as a great misfortune," he added, "that they ever slipped through our fingers and escaped." (This he said, wishing to give his hearers as high an opinion as possible of himself and his friends.) [6] "You should certainly catch them," they answered, "and that to-morrow, ere the day is old, if you gird up your loins: they move heavily because of their numbers and their train of waggons, and to-day, since they did not sleep last night, they have only gone a little way ahead, and are now encamped for the evening." [7] "Can you give us any guarantee," said Cyrus, "that what you say is true ?" "We will give you hostages," they said; "we will ride off at once and bring them back this very night.

Only do you on your side call the gods to witness and give us the pledge of your own right hand, that we may give our people the assurance we have received from you ourselves." [8] Thereupon Cyrus gave them his pledge that if they would make good what they promised he would treat them as his true friends and faithful followers, of no less account than the Persians and the Medes.

And to this day one may see Hyrcanians treated with trust and holding office on an equal footing with Persians and Medes of high distinction.
[9] Now Cyrus and his men took their supper and then while it was still daylight he led his army out, having made the two Hyrcanians wait so that they might go with them.