§1.120.1Ἁρπάγῳ μὲν Ἀστυάγης δίκην ταύτην ἐπέθηκε, Κύρου δὲ πέρι βουλεύων ἐκάλεε τοὺς αὐτοὺς τῶν Μάγων οἳ τὸ ἐνύπνιὸν οἱ ταύτῃ ἔκριναν.
Astyages inflicted this punishment on Harpagus, but reflecting on Cyrus, he summoned the same Magi who had interpreted his dream in that way.
ἀπικομένους δὲ εἴρετο ὁ Ἁστυάγης τῇ ἔκρινάν οἱ τὴν ὄψιν.
When they arrived, Astyages asked them how they had interpreted his vision.
οἳ δὲ κατὰ ταὐτὰ εἶπαν λέγοντες ὡς βασιλεῦσαι χρῆν τὸν παῖδα, εἰ ἐπέζωσε καὶ μὴ ἀπέθανε πρότερον.
They spoke to the same effect, saying that the boy was bound to be king if he had survived and had not died beforehand.
§1.120.2ὁ δὲ ἀμείβεται αὐτοὺς τοῖσιδε. ἔστι τε ὁ παῖς καὶ περίεστι, καί μιν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ διαιτώμενον οἱ ἐκ τῆς κώμης παῖδες ἐστήσαντο βασιλέα.
He answered them with these words: "The boy is alive and survives, and while he was living in the countryside, the boys of the village made him king.
ὁ δὲ πάντα ὅσα περ οἱ ἀληθέι λόγῳ βασιλέες ἐτελέωσε ποιήσας· καὶ γὰρ δορυφόρους καὶ θυρωροὺς καὶ ἀγγελιηφόρους καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ πάντα διατάξας ἦρχε.
He accomplished all the very things that real kings do; for he ruled after appointing bodyguards, gatekeepers, messengers, and all the other positions.
§1.120.3καὶ νῦν ἐς τί ὑμῖν ταῦτα φαίνεται φέρειν; εἶπαν οἱ Μάγοι
εἰ μὲν περίεστί τε καὶ ἐβασίλευσε ὁ παῖς μὴ ἐκ προνοίης τινός, θάρσεέ τε τούτου εἵνεκα καὶ θυμὸν ἔχε ἀγαθόν· οὐ γὰρ ἔτι τὸ δεύτερον ἄρχει.
And now, to what do you think these things lead?" The Magi said: "If the boy survives and became king without any premeditated plan, be of good courage on this account and have a good heart; for he will not rule a second time.
παρὰ σμικρὰ γὰρ καὶ τῶν λογίων ἡμῖν ἔνια κεχώρηκε, καὶ τά γε τῶν ὀνειράτων ἐχόμενα τελέως ἐς ἀσθενὲς ἔρχεται.
For even some of our oracles have turned out to be of small importance, and things concerning dreams, at any rate, end up completely powerless.
§1.120.4ἀμείβεται ὁ Ἀστυάγης τοῖσιδε. καὶ αὐτὸς ὦ Μάγοι ταύτῃ πλεῖστος γνώμην εἰμί, βασιλέος ὀνομασθέντος τοῦ παιδὸς ἐξήκειν τε τὸν ὄνειρον καί μοι τὸν παῖδα τοῦτον εἶναι δεινὸν ἔτι οὐδέν.
Astyages answered with these words: "I myself, O Magi, am very much of this opinion, that since the boy was named king, the dream has been fulfilled, and that this boy is no longer any danger to me.
ὅμως μέν γέ τοι συμβουλεύσατέ μοι εὖ περισκεψάμενοι τὰ μέλλει ἀσφαλέστατα εἶναι οἴκῳ τε τῷ ἐμῷ καὶ ὑμῖν. §1.120.5εἶπαν πρὸς ταῦτα οἱ Μάγοι
ὦ βασιλεῦ, καὶ αὐτοῖσι ἡμῖν περὶ πολλοῦ ἐστι κατορθοῦσθαι ἀρχὴν τὴν σήν.
Nevertheless, consider well and advise me what will be the safest course for both my house and yourselves." To this the Magi said: "O king, it is of great importance to us ourselves that your rule be kept straight.
κείνως μὲν γὰρ ἀλλοτριοῦται ἐς τὸν παῖδα τοῦτον περιιοῦσα ἐόντα Πέρσην, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐόντες Μῆδοι δουλούμεθά τε καὶ λόγου οὐδενὸς γινόμεθα πρὸς Περσέων, ἐόντες ξεῖνοι· σέο δʼ ἐνεστεῶτος βασιλέος, ἐόντος πολιήτεω, καὶ ἄρχομεν τὸ μέρος καὶ τιμὰς πρὸς σέο μεγάλας ἔχομεν.
For in the other case, the rule is alienated by passing to this boy, who is a Persian, and we, being Medes, are enslaved and become of no account to the Persians, since we are strangers; but while you are established as king, being our fellow-citizen, we both rule in our turn and hold great honors from you.
§1.120.6οὕτω ὦν πάντως ἡμῖν σέο καὶ τῆς σῆς ἀρχῆς προοπτέον ἐστί.
Thus, by all means, we must look out for you and your rule.
καὶ νῦν εἰ φοβερόν τι ἐνωρῶμεν, πᾶν ἂν σοὶ προεφράζομεν.
And now, if we saw anything fearful, we would declare it all to you beforehand.
νῦν δὲ ἀποσκήψαντος τοῦ ἐνυπνίου ἐς φαῦλον, αὐτοί τε θαρσέομεν καὶ σοὶ ἕτερα τοιαῦτα παρακελευόμεθα.
But now, since the dream has passed off into a triviality, we ourselves are of good courage and we exhort you to be likewise.
τὸν δὲ παῖδα τοῦτον ἐξ ὀφθαλμῶν ἀπόπεμψαι ἐς Πέρσας τε καὶ τοὺς γειναμένους.
Send this boy away from your eyes to Persia and to his parents."