“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.
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.
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