[16] Araspas, I have not forgotten what I promised you, I will repay you, we will all repay you.

For, gentlemen, it is only just that all of you should pay him honour.

Good and true I call him who risked himself for our good, and took upon himself a reproach that was heavy to bear." [17] At that all crowded round Araspas and took him by the hand and made him welcome.

Then Cyrus spoke again: "Enough, my friends, Araspas has news for us, and it is time to hear it.
Tell us your tale, Araspas, keep back nothing of the truth, and do not make out the power of the enemy less than it really is.

It is far better that we should find it smaller than we looked for rather than strong beyond our expectations." [18] "Well," began Araspas, "in order to learn their numbers, I managed to be present at the marshalling of their troops." "Then you can tell us," said Cyrus, "not only their numbers but their disposition in the field." "That I can," answered Araspas, "and also how they propose to fight." "Good," said Cyrus, "but first let us hear their numbers in brief." [19] "Well," he answered, "they are drawn up thirty deep, infantry and cavalry alike, all except the Egyptians, and they cover about five miles; for I was at great pains," he added, "to find out how much ground they occupied." [20] "And the Egyptians ?" Cyrus said, "how are they drawn up?
I noticed you said, 'all except the Egyptians.'" "The Egyptians," he answered, "are drawn up in companies of ten thousand, under their own officers, a hundred deep, and a hundred broad: that, they insisted, was their usual formation at home.