Xenophon, Cyropaedia, Walter Miller (Translator), 8.4.12

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[12]
By Hera, said Hystaspas in reply, I am glad at any rate that I asked you this question, Cyrus.
Why so, pray? asked Cyrus.
Because I too shall try to do as he does, said he. Only I am not sure about one thing—I do not know how I could show that I rejoice at your good fortune. Am I to clap my hands or laugh or what must I do?
You must dance the Persian dance,¹ suggested Artabazus.
At this, of course, there was a laugh.

Cyropaedia. Xenophon. Walter Miller (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1914.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Cyropaedia (English) (Xenophon in Seven Volumes, Vol 5-6. Miller, Walter,editor, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1914.)

Editions (1)

Κύρου παιδεία Perseus (Xenophon. Opera omnia, Vol. 4. Marchant, Edgar Cardew, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910.) — 8.4.12 focus

[12] πρὸς ταῦτα ὁ Ὑστάσπας εἶπε· νὴ τὴν Ἥραν, ὦ Κῦρε, ἥδομαί γε ταῦτά σε ἐρωτήσας. τί μάλιστα; ἔφη ὁ Κῦρος. ὅτι κἀγὼ πειράσομαι ταῦτα ποιεῖν· ἓν μόνον, ἔφη, ἀγνοῶ, πῶς ἂν εἴην δῆλος χαίρων ἐπὶ τοῖς σοῖς ἀγαθοῖς· πότερον κροτεῖν δεῖ τὼ χεῖρε ἢ γελᾶν ἢ τί ποιεῖν. καὶ ὁ Ἀρτάβαζος εἶπεν· ὀρχεῖσθαι δεῖ τὸ Περσικόν. ἐπὶ τούτοις μὲν δὴ γέλως ἐγένετο.

Notes on the current edition

Cyropaedia

1. What the Persian dance was is not known; hence we miss the whole point of the joke. Obviously, however it was a dance with many gesticulations. At all events, Artabazus introduces his jest about the dance only to cut short the maudlin talk of Hystaspas.

Xenophon Cyropaedia 8.4.12

Walter Miller (Translator)

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