Then the officers left the council and carried out the orders given, and took their evening meal and posted the pickets and went to rest.
[C.4] But early on the morrow Cyrus offered sacrifice, and meanwhile the rest of the army took their breakfast, and after the libation they armed themselves, a great and goodly company in bright tunics and splendid breastplates and shining helmets.

All the horses had frontlets and chest-plates, the chargers had armour on their shoulders, and the chariot-horses on their flanks; so that the whole army flashed with bronze, and shone like a flower with scarlet.

[2] The eight-horse chariot of Abradatas was a marvel of beauty and richness; and just as he was about to put on the linen corslet of his native land, Pantheia came, bringing him a golden breastplate and a helmet of gold, and armlets and broad bracelets for his wrists, and a full flowing purple tunic, and a hyacinth-coloured helmet-plume.

All these she had made for him in secret, taking the measure of his armour without his knowledge.

[3] And when he saw them, he gazed in wonder and said: "Dear wife, and did you destroy your own jewels to make this armour for me ?" But she said, "No, my lord, at least not the richest of them all, for you shall be my loveliest jewel, when others see you as I see you now." As she spoke, she put the armour on him, but then, though she tried to hide it, the tears rolled down her cheeks.
[4] And truly, when Abradatas was arrayed in the new panoply, he, who had been fair enough to look upon before, was now a sight of splendour, noble and beautiful and free, as indeed his nature was.