The Persian officers who were appointed to receive the weapons bade them hand over their lances and have them burnt with the rest, but Gobryas said he wished to see Cyrus first.

At that the adjutants led him in, but they made his escort stay where they were.

[2] When the old man came before Cyrus, he addressed him at once, saying: "My lord, I am an Assyrian by birth; I have a strong fortress in my territory, and I rule over a wide domain; I have cavalry at my command, two thousand three hundred of them, all of which I offered to the king of Assyria; and if ever he had a friend, that friend was I.But he has fallen at your hands, the gallant heart, and his son, who is my bitterest foe, reigns in his stead.

Therefore I have come to you, a suppliant at your feet.

I am ready to be your slave and your ally, and I implore you to be my avenger.