C6.41, init. Colloquial exaggerated turn of phrase; almost "you could
wipe them off the earth."
BOOK II
[C.1] Thus they talked together, and thus they journeyed on until they
reached the frontier, and there a good omen met them: an eagle swept
into view on the right, and went before them as though to lead the way,
and they prayed the gods and heroes of the land to show them favour and
grant them safe entry, and then they crossed the boundary. And when they
were across, they prayed once more that the gods of Media might receive
them graciously, and when they had done this they embraced each other,
as father and son will, and Cambyses turned back to his own city, but
Cyrus went forward again, to his uncle Cyaxares in the land of Media.
[2] And when his journey was done and he was face to face with him and
they had greeted each other as kinsmen may, then Cyaxares asked
the prince how great an armament he had brought with him? And Cyrus
answered, "I have 30,000 with me, men who have served with you before as
mercenaries; and more are coming on behind, fresh troops, from the Peers
of Persia."
"How many of those?" asked Cyaxares. [3] And Cyrus answered, "Their
numbers will not please you, but remember these Peers of ours, though
they are few, find it easy to rule the rest of the Persians, who are
many. But now," he added, "have you any need of us at all? Perhaps
it was only a false alarm that troubled you, and the enemy are not
advancing?"
"Indeed they are," said the other, "and in full force."
[4] "How do you know?" asked Cyrus.
"Because," said he, "many deserters come to us, and all of them, in one
fashion or another, tell the same tale."
"Then we must give battle?" said Cyrus.
"Needs must," Cyaxares replied.
"Well," answered Cyrus, "but you have not told me yet how great their
power is, or our own either. I want to hear, if you can tell me, so that
we may make our plans."
"Listen, then," said Cyaxares. [5] "Croesus the Lydian is coming, we
hear, with 10,000 horse and more than 40,000 archers and targeteers.
Artamas the governor of Greater Phrygia is bringing, they say, 8000
horse, and lancers and targeteers also, 40,000 strong. Then there is
Aribaius the king of Cappadocia with 6000 horse and 30,000 archers
and targeteers. And Aragdus the Arabian with 10,000 horse, a hundred
chariots, and innumerable slingers. As for the Hellenes who dwell in
Asia, it is not clear as yet whether they will send a following or not.
But the Phrygians from the Hellespont, we are told, are mustering in the
Caystrian plain under Gabaidus, 6000 horse and 40,000 targeteers. Word
has been sent to the Carians, Cilicians, and Paphlagonians, but it is
said they will not rise; the Lord of Assyria and Babylon will himself,
I believe, bring not less than 20,000 horse, and I make no doubt as many
as 200 chariots, and thousands upon thousands of men on foot; such at
least has been his custom whenever he invaded us before."
[6] Cyrus answered: "Then you reckon the numbers of the enemy to be, in
all, something like 60,000 horse and 200,000 archers and targeteers. And
what do you take your own to be?"
"Well," he answered, "we ourselves can furnish over 10,000 horse and
perhaps, considering the state of the country, as many as 60,000 archers
and targeteers. And from our neighbours, the Armenians," he added, "we
look to get 4000 horse and 20,000 foot."
"I see," said Cyrus, "you reckon our cavalry at less than a third of the
enemy's, and our infantry at less than half."
[7] "Ah," said Cyaxares, "and perhaps you feel that the force you are
bringing from Persia is very small?"
"We will consider that later on," answered Cyrus, "and see then if we
require more men or not. Tell me first the methods of fighting that the
different troops adopt."
"They are much the same for all," answered Cyaxares, "that is to say,
their men and ours alike are armed with bows and javelins."
"Well," replied Cyrus, "if such arms are used, skirmishing at long range
must be the order of the day." "True," said the other. [8] "And in that
case," went on Cyrus, "the victory is in the hands of the larger force;
for even if the same numbers fall on either side, the few would be
exhausted long before the many." "If that be so," cried Cyaxares, "there
is nothing left for us but to send to Persia, and make them see that if
disaster falls on Media it will fall on Persia next, and beg them for
a larger force." "Ah, but," said Cyrus, "you must remember that even if
every single Persian were to come at once, we could not outnumber our
enemies." [9] "But," said the other, "can you see anything else to be
done?" "For my part," answered Cyrus, "if I could have my way, I would
arm every Persian who is coming here in precisely the same fashion as
our Peers at home, that is to say, with a corslet for the breast, a
shield for the left arm, and a sword or battle-axe for the right hand.
If you will give us these you will make it quite safe for us to close
with the enemy, and our foes will find that flight is far pleasanter
than defence. But we Persians," he added, "will deal with those who do
stand firm, leaving the fugitives to you and to your cavalry, who must
give them no time to rally and no time to escape."
[10] That was the counsel of Cyrus, and Cyaxares approved it. He thought
no more of sending for a larger force, but set about preparing the
equipment he had been asked for, and all was in readiness just about the
time when the Peers arrived from Persia at the head of their own troops.
[11] Then, so says the story, Cyrus called the Peers together and spoke
to them as follows: "Men of Persia, my friends and comrades, when I
looked at you first and saw the arms you bore and how you were all on
fire to meet the enemy, hand to hand, and when I remembered that your
squires are only equipped for fighting on the outskirts of the field,
I confess my mind misgave me. Few and forlorn they will be, I said to
myself, swallowed up in a host of enemies; no good can come of it. But
to-day you are here, and your men behind you, stalwart and stout of
limb, and to-morrow they shall have armour like our own. None could find
fault with their thews and sinews, and as for their spirit, it is for
us to see it does not fail. A leader must not only have a stout heart
himself; he must see to it that his followers are as valiant as he."
[12] Thus Cyrus spoke, and the Peers were well satisfied at his words,
feeling that on the day of battle they would have more to help them in
the struggle. [13] And one of them said, "Perhaps it will seem strange
if I ask Cyrus to speak in our stead to our fellow-combatants when they
receive their arms, and yet I know well that the words of him who has
the greatest power for weal or woe sink deepest into the listener's
heart. His very gifts, though they should be less than the gifts of
equals, are valued more. These new comrades of ours," he went on, "would
rather be addressed by Cyrus himself than by us, and now that they are
to take their place among the Peers their title will seem to them
far more secure if it is given them by the king's own son and our
general-in-chief. Not that we have not still our own duties left. We are
bound to do our best in every way to rouse the spirit of our men. Shall
we not gain ourselves by all they gain in valour?"
[14] So it came about that Cyrus had the new armour placed before him
and summoned a general meeting of the Persian soldiery, and spoke to
them as follows:
[15] "Men of Persia, born and bred in the same land as ourselves, whose
limbs are as stout and as strong as our own, your hearts should be as
brave. I know they are; and yet at home in the land of our fathers you
did not share our rights; not that we drove you out ourselves, but
you were banished by the compulsion that lay upon you to find your
livelihood for yourselves. Now from this day forward, with heaven's
help, it shall be my care to provide it for you; and now, if so
you will, you have it in your power to take the armour that we wear
ourselves, face the same perils and win the same honours, if so be you
make any glorious deed your own. [16] In former days you were trained,
like ourselves, in the use of bow and javelin, and if you were at all
inferior to us in skill, that was not to be wondered at; you had not
the same leisure for practice as we; but now in this new accoutrement we
shall have no pre-eminence at all. Each of us will wear a corslet fitted
to his breast and carry a shield on his left arm of the type to which we
are all accustomed, and in his right hand a sabre or a battle-axe. With
these we shall smite the enemy before us, and need have no fear that we
shall miss the mark. [17] How can we differ from one another with these
arms? There can be no difference except in daring. And daring you may
foster in your hearts as much as we in ours. What greater right have we
than you to love victory and follow after her, victory who wins for us
and preserves to us all things that are beautiful and good? Why should
you, any more than we, be found lacking in that power which takes the
goods of weaklings and bestows them on the strong?"
[18] He ended: "Now you have heard all. There lie your weapons; let him
who chooses take them up and write his name with the brigadier in the
same roll as ours. And if a man prefers to remain a mercenary, let him
do so; he carries the arms of a servant."
[19] Thus spoke Cyrus; and the Persians, every man of them, felt they
would be ashamed for the rest of their days, and deservedly, if they
drew back now, when they were offered equal honour in return for equal
toil. One and all they inscribed their names and took up the new arms.
[20] And now in the interval, before the enemy were actually at hand,
but while rumour said they were advancing, Cyrus took on himself a
three-fold task: to bring the physical strength of his men to the
highest pitch, to teach them tactics, and to rouse their spirit for
martial deeds. [21] He asked Cyaxares for a body of assistants whose
duty it should be to provide each of his soldiers with all they could
possibly need, thus leaving the men themselves free for the art of war.
He had learnt, he thought, that success, in whatever sphere, was only to
be won by refusing to attempt a multitude of tasks and concentrating the
mind on one.
Thus in the military training itself he gave up the practice with bow
and javelin, leaving his men to perfect themselves in the use of sabre,
shield, and corslet, accustoming them from the very first to the thought
that they must close with the enemy, or confess themselves worthless as
fellow-combatants; a harsh conclusion for those who knew that they were
only protected in order to fight on behalf of their protectors. [22] And
further, being convinced that wherever the feeling of emulation can
be roused, there the eagerness to excel is greatest, he instituted
competitions for everything in which he thought his soldiers should be
trained. The private soldier was challenged to prove himself prompt
to obey, anxious to work, eager for danger, and yet ever mindful of
discipline, an expert in the science of war, an artist in the conduct
of his arms, and a lover of honour in all things. The petty officer
commanding a squad of five was not only to equal the leading private, he
must also do what he could to bring his men to the same perfection; the
captain of ten must do the same for his ten, and the company's captain
for the company, while the commander of the whole regiment, himself
above reproach, must take the utmost care with the officers under him so
that they in their turn should see that their subordinates were perfect
in all their duties. [23] For prizes, Cyrus announced that the brigadier
in command of the finest regiment should be raised to the rank of
general, the captain of the finest company should be made a brigadier,
the captain of the finest squad of ten captain of a company, and the
captain of the best five a captain of ten, while the best soldiers from
the ranks should become captains of five themselves. Every one of these
officers had the privilege of being served by those beneath him, and
various other honours also, suited to their several grades, while ampler
hopes were offered for any nobler exploits. [24] Finally prizes were
announced to be won by a regiment or a company or a squad taken as a
whole, by those who proved themselves most loyal to their leaders and
most zealous in the practice of their duty. These prizes, of course,
were such as to be suitable for men taken in the mass.
Such were the orders of the Persian leader, and such the exercises of
the Persian troops. [25] For their quarters, he arranged that a separate
shelter should be assigned to every brigadier, and that it should be
large enough for the whole regiment he commanded; a regiment consisting
of 100 men. Thus they were encamped by regiments, and in the mere fact
of common quarters there was this advantage, Cyrus thought, for the
coming struggle, that the men saw they were all treated alike, and
therefore no one could pretend that he was slighted, and no one sink to
the confession that he was a worse man than his neighbours when it came
to facing the foe. Moreover the life in common would help the men to
know each other, and it is only by such knowledge, as a rule, that a
common conscience is engendered; those who live apart, unknowing and
unknown, seem far more apt for mischief, like those who skulk in the
dark. [26] Cyrus thought the common life would lead to the happiest
results in the discipline of the regiments. By this system all the
officers--brigadiers, company-captains, captains of the squads--could
keep their men in as perfect order as if they were marching before them
in single file. [27] Such precision in the ranks would do most to guard
against disorder and re-establish order if ever it were broken; just as
when timbers and stones have to be fitted together it is easy enough
to put them into place, wherever they chance to lie, provided only that
they are marked so as to leave no doubt where each belongs. [28] And
finally, he felt, there was the fact that those who live together are
the less likely to desert one another; even the wild animals, Cyrus
knew, who are reared together suffer terribly from loneliness when they
are severed from each other.
[29] There was a further matter, to which he gave much care; he wished
no man to take his meal at morning or at night till he had sweated for
it. He would lead the men out to hunt, or invent games for them, or
if there was work to be done, he would so conduct it that they did not
leave it without sweat. He believed this regimen gave them zest for
their food, was good for their health, and increased their powers of
toil; and the toil itself was a blessed means for making the men more
gentle towards each other; just as horses that work together grow
gentle, and will stand quietly side by side. Moreover the knowledge of
having gone through a common training would increase tenfold the courage
with which they met the foe.
[30] Cyrus had his own quarters built to hold all the guests he might
think it well to entertain, and, as a rule, he would invite such of the
brigadiers as the occasion seemed to call for, but sometimes he would
send for the company-captains and the officers in command of the smaller
squads, and even the private soldiers were summoned to his board, and
from time to time a squad of five, or of ten, or an entire company, or
even a whole regiment, or he would give a special invitation by way of
honour to any one whom he knew had undertaken some work he had at heart
himself. In every case there was no distinction whatever between the
meats for himself and for his guests. [31] Further he always insisted
that the army servants should share and share alike with the soldiers
in everything, for he held that those who did such service for the army
were as much to be honoured as heralds or ambassadors. They were bound,
he said, to be loyal and intelligent, alive to all a soldier's needs,
active, swift, unhesitating, and withal cool and imperturbable. Nor
was that all; he was convinced that they ought also to possess those
qualities which are thought to be peculiar to what we call "the better
classes," and yet never despise their work, but feel that everything
their commander laid upon them must be fit for them to do.
[C.2] It was the constant aim of Cyrus whenever he and his soldiers
messed together, that the talk should be lively and full of grace, and
at the same time do the listeners good. Thus one day he brought the
conversation round to the following theme:--
"Do you think, gentlemen," said he, "that our new comrades appear
somewhat deficient in certain respects simply because they have not been
educated in the same fashion as ourselves? Or will they show themselves
our equals in daily life and on the field of battle when the time comes
to meet the foe?"
[2] Hystaspas took up the challenge:--"What sort of warriors they will
prove I do not pretend to know, but this I do say, in private life some
of them are cross-grained fellows enough. Only the other day," he went
on, "Cyaxares sent a present of sacrificial meat to every regiment.
There was flesh enough for three courses apiece or more, and the
attendant had handed round the first, beginning with myself. So when he
came in again, I told him to begin at the other end of the board, and
serve the company in that order. [3] But I was greeted by a yell from
the centre: one of these men who was sitting there bawled out, 'Equality
indeed! There's not much of it here, if we who sit in the middle
are never served first at all!' It nettled me that they should fancy
themselves treated worse than we, so I called him up at once and made
him sit beside me. And I am bound to say he obeyed that order with the
most exemplary alacrity. But when the dish came round to us, we found,
not unnaturally, since we were the last to be served, that only a few
scraps were left. At this my man fell into the deepest dudgeon, and made
no attempt to conceal it, muttering to himself, 'Just like my ill-luck!
To be invited here just now and never before!' [4] I tried to comfort
him. 'Never mind,' I said, 'presently the servant will begin again with
us, and then you will help yourself first and you can take the biggest
piece.' Just then the third course, and, as it proved, the last, came
round, and so the poor fellow took his helping, but as he did so it
struck him that the piece he had chosen first was too small, and he put
it back, meaning to pick out another. But the carver, thinking he had
changed his mind and did not want any more, passed on to the next man
before he had time to secure his second slice. [5] At this our friend
took his loss so hard that he only made matters worse: his third course
was clean gone, and now in his rage and his bad luck he somehow managed
to overset the gravy, which was all that remained to him. The captain
next to us seeing how matters stood rubbed his hands with glee and went
into peals of laughter. And," said Hystaspas, "I took refuge in a fit
of coughing myself, for really I could not have controlled my laughter.
There, Cyrus," said he, "that is a specimen of our new comrades, as
nearly as I can draw his portrait."
[6] The description, as may be guessed, was greeted with shouts of
laughter, and then another brigadier took up the word: "Well, Cyrus,"
said he, "our friend here has certainly met with an absolute boor: my
own experience is somewhat different. You remember the admonitions you
gave us when you dismissed the regiments, and how you bade each of us
instruct his own men in the lessons we had learnt from you. Well, I,
like the rest of us, went off at once and set about instructing one of
the companies under me. I posted the captain in front with a fine young
fellow behind him, and after them the others in the order I thought
best; I took my stand facing them all, and waited, with my eyes fixed on
the captain, until I thought the right moment had come, and then I gave
the order to advance. [7] And what must my fine fellow do but get in
front of the captain and march off ahead of the whole troop. I cried
out, 'You, sir, what are you doing?' 'Advancing as you ordered.' 'I
never ordered you to advance alone,' I retorted, 'the order was given
to the whole company.' At which he turned right round and addressed the
ranks: 'Don't you hear the officer abusing you? The orders are for all
to advance!' Whereupon the rest of them marched right past their captain
and up to me. [8] Of course the captain called them back, and they began
to grumble and growl: 'Which of the two are we to obey? One tells us to
advance, the other won't let us move.'
"Well, I had to take the whole matter very quietly and begin again from
the beginning, posting the company as they were, and explaining that no
one in the rear was to move until the front rank man led off: all they
had to do was to follow the man in front. [9] As I was speaking, up came
a friend of mine; he was going off to Persia, and had come to ask me for
a letter I had written home. So I turned to the captain who happened to
know where I had left the letter lying, and bade him fetch it for me.
Off he ran, and off ran my young fellow at his heels, breast-plate,
battle-axe, and all. The rest of the company thought they were bound to
follow suit, joined in the race, and brought my letter back in style.
That is how my company, you see, carries out your instructions to the
full."
[10] He paused, and the listeners laughed to their hearts' content, as
well as they might, over the triumphant entry of the letter under its
armed escort. Then Cyrus spoke:
"Now heaven be praised! A fine set they are, these new friends of ours,
a most rare race! So grateful are they for any little act of courtesy,
you may win a hundred hearts by a dish of meat! And so docile, some of
them must needs obey an order before they have understood it! For my
part I can only pray to be blest with an army like them all."
[11] Thus he joined in the mirth, but he turned the laughter to the
praise of his new recruits.
Then one of the company, a brigadier called Aglaitadas, a somewhat
sour-tempered man, turned to him and said:
"Cyrus, do you really think the tales they tell are true?"
"Certainly," he answered, "why should they say what is false?"
"Why," repeated the other, "simply to raise a laugh, and make a brag
like the impostors that they are." [12] But Cyrus cut him short, "Hush!
hush! You must not use such ugly names. Let me tell you what an impostor
is. He is a man who claims to be wealthier or braver than he is in fact,
and who undertakes what he can never carry out, and all this for the
sake of gain. But he who contrives mirth for his friends, not for his
own profit, or his hearers' loss, or to injure any man, surely, if we
must needs give him a name, we ought to call him a man of taste and
breeding and a messenger of wit."
[13] Such was the defence of Cyrus in behalf of the merrymakers. And the
officer who had begun the jest turned to Aglaitadas and said:
"Just think, my dear sir, if we had tried to make you weep! What
fault you would have found with us! Suppose we had been like the
ballad-singers and story-tellers who put in lamentable tales in the hope
of reducing their audience to tears! What would you have said about us
then? Why, even now, when you know we only wish to amuse you, not to
make you suffer, you must needs hold us up to shame."
[14] "And is not the shame justified?" Aglaitadas replied. "The man who
sets himself to make his fellows laugh does far less for them than he
who makes them weep. If you will but think, you will admit that what
I say is true. It is through tears our fathers teach self-control unto
their sons, and our tutors sound learning to their scholars, and the
laws themselves lead the grown man to righteousness by putting him to
sit in the place of penitence. But your mirth-makers, can you say they
benefit the body or edify the soul? Can smiles make a man a better
master or a better citizen? Can he learn economy or statesmanship from a
grin?"
[15] But Hystaspas answered back:
"Take my advice, Aglaitadas, pluck up heart and spend this precious gift
of yours on your enemies: make them sit in the seat of the sorrowful,
and fling away on us, your friends, that vile and worthless laughter.
You must have an ample store of it in reserve: it cannot be said you
have squandered it on yourself, or ever wasted a smile on friend or
foreigner if you could help it. So you have no excuse to be niggardly
now, and cannot refuse us a smile."
"I see," said Aglaitadas, "you are trying to get a laugh out of me, are
you not?"
But the brigadier interposed, "Then he is a fool for his pains, my
friend: one might strike fire out of you, perhaps, but not a laugh, not
a laugh."
[16] At this sally all the others shouted with glee, and even Aglaitadas
could not help himself: he smiled.
And Cyrus, seeing the sombre face light up said:
"Brigadier, you are very wrong to corrupt so virtuous a man, luring him
to laughter, and that too when he is the sworn foe of gaiety."
So they talked and jested. [17] And then Chrysantas began on another
theme.
[18] "Cyrus," he said, "and gentlemen all, I cannot help seeing that
within our ranks are men of every kind, some better and some worse, and
yet if anything is won every man will claim an equal share. Now to my
mind nothing is more unfair than that the base man and the good should
be held of equal account."
"Perhaps it would be best, gentlemen," said Cyrus in answer, "to bring
the matter before the army in council and put it to them, whether,
if God grant us success, we should let all share and share alike, or
distribute the rewards and honours in proportion to the deserts of
each."
[19] "But why," asked Chrysantas, "why discuss the point? Why not simply
issue a general order that you intend to do this? Was not that enough in
the case of the competitions?"
"Doubtless," Cyrus answered, "but this case is different. The troops, I
take it, will feel that all they win by their services on the campaign
should belong to them in common: but they hold that the actual command
of the expedition was mine by right even before we left home, so that I
was fully entitled, on their view, to appoint umpires and judges at my
own will."
[20] "And do you really expect," asked Chrysantas, "that the mass of the
army will pass a resolution giving up the right of all to an equal share
in order that the best men should receive the most?"
"Yes, I do," said Cyrus, "partly because we shall be there to argue for
that course, but chiefly because it would seem too base to deny that
he who works the hardest and does most for the common good deserves
the highest recompense. Even the worst of men must admit that the brave
should gain the most."
[21] It was, however, as much for the sake of the Peers themselves as
for any other reason that Cyrus wished the resolution to be passed.
They would prove all the better men, he thought, if they too were to be
judged by their deeds and rewarded accordingly. And this was the right
moment, he felt, to raise the question and put it to the vote, now when
the Peers were disposed to resent being put on a level with the common
people. In the end it was agreed by all the company that the question
should be raised, and that every one who claimed to call himself a man
was bound to argue in its favour.
[22] And on that one of the brigadiers smiled to himself and said: "I
know at least one son of the soil who will be ready to agree that the
principle of share and share alike should not be followed everywhere."
"And who is he?" another asked.
"Well," said the first, "he is a member of our quarters, I can tell you
that, and he is always hunting after the lion's share of every single
thing."
"What? Of everything?" said a third. "Of work as well?" "Oh, no!" said
the first, "you have caught me there. I was wrong to say so much, I must
confess. When it comes to work, I must admit, he is quite ready to go
short: he will give up his own share of that, without a murmur, to any
man whatever."
[23] "For my part, gentlemen," said Cyrus, "I hold that all such idlers
ought to be turned out of the army, that is, if we are ever to cultivate
obedience and energy in our men. The bulk of our soldiers, I take it,
are of the type to follow a given lead: they will seek after nobleness
and valour if their leaders are valiant and noble, but after baseness if
these are base. [24] And we know that only too often the worthless will
find more friends than the good. Vice, passing lightly along her path
of pleasure, wins the hearts of thousands with her gifts; but Virtue,
toiling up the steep ascent, has little skill to snare the souls of men
and draw them after her, when all the while their comrades are calling
to them on the easy downward way. [25] It is true there are degrees,
and where the evil springs only from sloth and lethargy, I look on the
creatures as mere drones, only injuring the hive by what they cost: but
there are others, backward in toil and forward in greed, and these are
the captains in villainy: for not seldom can they show that rascality
has its advantages. Such as they must be removed, cut out from among us,
root and branch. [26] And I would not have you fill their places from
our fellow-citizens alone, but, just as you choose your horses from
the best stocks, wherever you find them, not limiting yourselves to
the national breed, so you have all mankind before you, and you should
choose those, and those only, who will increase your power and add
to your honour. Let me clinch my argument by examples: no chariot can
travel fast if the horses in the team are slow, or run straight if they
will not be ruled; no house can stand firm if the household is evil:
better empty walls than traitors who will bring it to the ground.
[27] "And be sure, my friends," he added, "the removal of the bad means
a benefit beyond the sheer relief that they are taken away and will
trouble us no more: those who are left and were ripe for contagion are
purified, and those who were worthy will cleave to virtue all the closer
when they see the dishonour that falls on wickedness."
[28] So Cyrus spoke, and his words won the praise of all his friends,
and they set themselves to do as he advised.
But after that Cyrus began to jest again. His eye fell on a certain
captain who had chosen for his comrade at the feast a great hairy lad, a
veritable monster of ugliness, and Cyrus called to the captain by name:
"How now, Sambulas? Have you adopted the Hellenic fashion too? And
will you roam the world together, you and the lad who sits beside you,
because there is none so fair as he?" "By heaven," answered Sambulas,
"you are not far wrong. It is bliss to me to feast my eyes upon him."
[29] At that all the guests turned and looked on the young man's
face, but when they saw how ugly it was, they could not help laughing
outright. "Heavens, Sambulas, tell us the valiant deed that knit your
souls together! How has he drawn you to himself?" [30] "Listen then," he
answered, "and I will tell you the whole truth. Every time I call
him, morning, noon, or night, he comes to me; never yet has he excused
himself, never been too busy to attend; and he comes at a run, he does
not walk. Whatever I have bidden him do, he has always done it, and at
the top of his speed. He has made all the petty captains under him the
very models of industry; he shows them, not by word but deed, what they
ought to be." [31] "And so," said another, "for all these virtues you
give him, I take it, the kiss of kinship?" But the ugly lad broke out:
"Not he! He has no great love for work. And to kiss me, if it came to
that, would mean more effort than all his exercises."
[C.3] So the hours passed in the general's tent, from grave to gay,
until at last the third libation was poured out, and the company bent
in prayer to the gods--"Grant us all that is good"--and so broke up, and
went away to sleep.
But the next day Cyrus assembled the soldiers in full conclave, and
spoke to them: [2] "My men," he said, "my friends, the day of struggle
is at hand, and the enemy are near. The prizes of victory, if victory
is to be ours--and we must believe it will be ours, we must make it
ours--the prizes of victory will be nothing short of the enemy himself
and all that he possesses. And if the victory should be his, then, in
like manner, all the goods of the vanquished must lie at the victor's
feet. [3] Therefore I would have you take this to your hearts: wherever
those who have joined together for war remember that unless each and
every one of them play his part with zeal nothing good can follow; there
we may look for glorious success. For there nothing that ought to be
done will be left undone. But if each man thinks 'My neighbour will
toil and fight, even though my own heart should fail and my own arm
fall slack,' then, believe me, disaster is at the door for each and all
alike, and no man shall escape. [4] Such is the ordinance of God: those
who will not work out their own salvation he gives into the hands of
other men to bear rule over them. And now I call on any man here," he
added, "to stand up and say whether he believes that virtue will best
be nourished among us if he who bears the greatest toil and takes the
heaviest risk shall receive the highest honours. Or whether we should
hold that cowardice makes no difference in the end, seeing that we all
must share alike?"
[5] Thereupon Chrysantas of the Peers rose up. He was a man of
understanding, but his bodily presence was weak. And now he spoke thus:
"I do not imagine, Cyrus, that you put this question with any belief
that cowards ought really to receive the same share as the brave. No,
you wished to make trial of us and see whether any man would dare to
claim an equal part in all that his fellows win by their nobleness,
though he never struck a single valiant stroke himself. [6] I myself,"
he continued, "am neither fleet of foot nor stout of limb, and for aught
I can do with my body, I perceive that on the day of trial neither the
first place nor the second can be mine, no, nor yet the hundredth, nor
even, it may be, the thousandth. But this I know right well, that if
our mighty men put forth all their strength, I too shall receive such
portion of our blessings as I may deserve. But if the cowards sit at
ease and the good and brave are out of heart, then I fear that I shall
get a portion, a larger than I care to think, of something that is no
blessing but a curse."
[7] And so spoke Chrysantas, and then Pheraulas stood up. He was a
man of the people, but well known to Cyrus in the old days at home and
well-beloved by him: no mean figure to look at, and in soul like a man
of noble birth. Now he spoke as follows:
[8] "Cyrus, friends, and Persians, I hold to the belief that on this
day we all start equal in that race where valour is the goal. I speak of
what I see: we are trained on the same fare; we are held worthy of the
same comradeship; we contend for the same rewards. All of us alike are
told to obey our leaders, and he who obeys most frankly never fails
to meet with honour at the hands of Cyrus. Valour is no longer the
privilege of one class alone: it has become the fairest prize that can
fall to the lot of any man. [9] And to-day a battle is before us where
no man need teach us how to fight: we have the trick of it by nature,
as a bull knows how to use his horns, or a horse his hoofs, or a dog
his teeth, or a wild boar his tusks. The animals know well enough," he
added, "when and where to guard themselves: they need no master to tell
them that. [10] I myself, when I was a little lad, I knew by instinct
how to shield myself from the blow I saw descending: if I had nothing
else, I had my two fists, and used them with all my force against my
foe: no one taught me how to do it, on the contrary they beat me if they
saw me clench my fists. And a knife, I remember, I never could resist:
I clutched the thing whenever I caught sight of it: not a soul showed me
how to hold it, only nature herself, I do aver. I did it, not because I
was taught to do it, but in spite of being forbidden, like many another
thing to which nature drove me, in spite of my father and mother both.
Yes, and I was never tired of hacking and hewing with my knife whenever
I got the chance: it did not seem merely natural, like walking or
running, it was positive joy. [11] Well, to-day we are to fight in
this same simple fashion: energy, rather than skill, is called for, and
glorious it will be to match ourselves against our friends, the Peers of
Persia. And let us remember that the same prizes are offered to us
all, but the stakes differ: our friends give up a life of honour,
the sweetest life there can be, but we escape from years of toil and
ignominy, and there can be no life worse than that. [12] And what fires
me most of all, my friends, and sends me into the lists most gladly, is
the thought that Cyrus will be our judge: one who will give no partial
verdict. I call the gods to witness when I say that he loves a valiant
man as he loves his own soul: I have seen him give such an one more than
he ever keeps for himself. [13] And now," he added, "I know that our
friends here pride themselves upon their breeding and what it has done
for them. They have been brought up to endure hunger and thirst, cold
and nakedness, and yet they are aware that we too have been trained in
the self-same school and by a better master than they: we were taught by
Necessity, and there is no teacher so good, and none so strict. [14] How
did our friends here learn their endurance? By bearing arms, weapons
of war, tools that the wit of the whole human race has made as light as
well could be: but Necessity drove us, my fellows and myself, to stagger
under burdens so heavy that to-day, if I may speak for myself, these
weapons of mine seem rather wings to lift me than weights to bear. [15]
I for one am ready, Cyrus, to enter the lists, and, however I prove, I
will ask from you no more than I deserve: I would have you believe this.
And you," he added, turning to his fellows, "you, men of the people, I
would have you plunge into the battle and match yourselves with these
gentlemen-warriors: the fine fellows must meet us now, for this is the
people's day."
[16] That is what Pheraulas said, and many rose to follow him and
support his views. And it was resolved that each man should be honoured
according to his deserts and that Cyrus should be the judge. So the
matter ended, and all was well.
[17] Now Cyrus gave a banquet and a certain brigadier was the chief
guest, and his regiment with him. Cyrus had marked the officer one
day when he was drilling his men; he had drawn up the ranks in two
divisions, opposite each other, ready for the charge. They were all
wearing corslets and carrying light shields, but half were equipped
with stout staves of fennel, and half were ordered to snatch up clods of
earth and do what they could with these. [18] When all were ready, the
officer gave the signal and the artillery began, not without effect: the
missiles fell fast on shields and corslets, on thighs and greaves. But
when they came to close quarters the men of the staves had their turn:
they struck at thighs and hands and legs, or, if the adversary stooped
and twisted, they belaboured back and shoulders, till they put the foe
to utter rout, delivering their blows with shouts of laughter and the
glee of boys. Then there was an exchange of weapons, and the other side
had their revenge: they took the staves in their turn, and once more the
staff triumphed over the clod. [19] Cyrus was full of admiration, partly
at the inventiveness of the commander, partly at the discipline of the
men; it was good to see the active exercise, and the gaiety of heart,
and good to know that the upshot of the battle favoured those who fought
in the Persian style. In every way he was pleased, and then and there
he bade them all to dinner. But at the feast many of the guests wore
bandages, some on their hands, others on their legs, and Cyrus saw it
and asked what had befallen them. They told him they had been bruised
by the clods. [20] "At close quarters?" said he, "or at long range?" "At
long range," they answered, and all the club-bearers agreed that when
it came to close quarters, they had the finest sport. But here those who
had been carbonaded by that weapon broke in and protested loudly that
it was anything but sport to be clubbed at short range, and in proof
thereof they showed the weals on hand and neck and face. Thus they
laughed at one another as soldiers will; and on the next day the whole
plain was studded with combats of this type, and whenever the army had
nothing more serious in hand, this sport was their delight.
[21] Another day Cyrus noticed a brigadier who was marching his regiment
up from the river back to their quarters. They were advancing in single
file on his left, and at the proper moment he ordered the second company
to wheel round and draw up to the front alongside the first, and then
the third, and then the fourth; and when the company-captains were
all abreast, he passed the word along, "Companies in twos," and the
captains-of-ten came into line; and then at the right moment he gave the
order, "Companies in fours," and the captains of five wheeled round and
came abreast, and when they reached the tent doors he called a halt,
made them fall into single file once more, and marched the first company
in first, and then the second at its heels, and the third and fourth
behind them, and as he introduced them, he seated them at the table,
keeping the order of their entry. What Cyrus commended was the quiet
method of instruction and the care the officer showed, and it was for
that he invited him and all his regiment to dinner in the royal tent.
[22] Now it chanced that another brigadier was among the guests, and
he spoke up and said to Cyrus: "But will you never ask my men to dinner
too? Day after day, morning and evening, whenever we come in for a meal
we do just the same as they, and when the meal is over the hindmost
man of the last company leads out his men with their fighting-order
reversed, and the next company follows, led by their hindmost man, and
then the third, and then the fourth: so that all of them, if they have
to retire before an enemy, will know how to fall back in good order.
And as soon as we are drawn up on the parade-ground we set off marching
east, and I lead off with all my divisions behind me, in their regular
order, waiting for my word. By-and-by we march west, and then the
hindmost man of the last division leads the way, but they must still
look to me for commands, though I am marching last: and thus they learn
to obey with equal promptitude whether I am at the head or in the rear."
[23] "Do you mean to tell me," said Cyrus, "that this is a regular rule
of yours?"
"Truly yes," he answered, "as regular as our meals, heaven help us!"
"Then I hereby invite you all to dinner, and for three good reasons; you
practice your drill in both forms, you do this morning and evening both,
and by your marching and counter-marching you train your bodies and
benefit your souls. And since you do it all twice over every day, it is
only fair to give you dinner twice."
[24] "Not twice in one day, I beg you!" said the officer, "unless you
can furnish us with a second stomach apiece."
And so the conversation ended for the time. But the next day Cyrus was
as good as his word. He had all the regiment to dinner; and the day
after he invited them again: and when the other regiments knew of it
they fell to doing as they did.
[C.4] Now it chanced one day as Cyrus was holding a review, a messenger
came from Cyaxares to tell him that an embassy from India had just
arrived, and to bid him return with all despatch.
"And I bring with me," said the messenger, "a suit of splendid apparel
sent from Cyaxares himself: my lord wishes you to appear in all possible
splendour, for the Indians will be there to see you."
[2] At that Cyrus commanded the brigadier of the first regiment to draw
up to the front with his men behind him on the left in single file, and
to pass the order on to the second, and so throughout the army. Officers
and men were quick to obey; so that in a trice the whole force on the
field was drawn up, one hundred deep and three hundred abreast, with
their officers at the head. [3] When they were in position Cyrus bade
them follow his lead and off they went at a good round pace. However the
road leading to the royal quarters was too narrow to let them pass
with so wide a front and Cyrus sent word along the line that the first
detachment, one thousand strong, should follow as they were, and then
the second, and so on to the last, and as he gave the command he led
on without a pause and all the detachments followed in due order, one
behind the other. [4] But to prevent mistakes he sent two gallopers up
to the entrance with orders to explain what should be done in case the
men were at a loss. And when they reached the gates, Cyrus told the
leading brigadier to draw up his regiment round the palace, twelve deep,
the front rank facing the building, and this command he was to pass on
to the second, and the second to the third, and so on till the last. [5]
And while they saw to this he went in to Cyaxares himself, wearing his
simple Persian dress without a trace of pomp. Cyaxares was well pleased
at his celerity, but troubled by the plainness of his attire, and said
to him, "What is the meaning of this, Cyrus? How could you show yourself
in this guise to the Indians? I wished you to appear in splendour:
it would have done me honour for my sister's son to be seen in great
magnificence."
[6] But Cyrus made answer: "Should I have done you more honour if I had
put on a purple robe, and bracelets for my arms, and a necklace about my
neck, and so presented myself at your call after long delay? Or as now,
when to show you respect I obey you with this despatch and bring you
so large and fine a force, although I wear no ornament but the dust and
sweat of speed, and make no display unless it be to show you these
men who are as obedient to you as I am myself." Such were the words of
Cyrus, and Cyaxares felt that they were just, and so sent for the
Indian ambassadors forthwith. [7] And when they entered they gave this
message:--The king of the Indians bade them ask what was the cause of
strife between the Assyrians and the Medes, "And when we have heard
you," they said, "our king bids us betake ourselves to the Assyrian and
put the same question to him, and in the end we are to tell you both
that the king of the Indians, when he has enquired into the justice of
the case, will uphold the cause of him who has been wronged."
[8] To this Cyaxares replied:
"Then take from me this answer: we do the Assyrian no wrong nor any
injustice whatsoever. And now go and make inquiry of him, if you are so
minded, and see what answer he will give."
Then Cyrus, who was standing by, asked Cyaxares, "May I too say what
is in my mind?" "Say on," answered Cyaxares. Then Cyrus turned to the
ambassadors: "Tell your master," he said, "unless Cyaxares is otherwise
minded, that we are ready to do this: if the Assyrian lays any injustice
to our charge we choose the king of the Indians himself to be our judge,
and he shall decide between us."
[9] With that the embassy departed. And when they had gone out Cyrus
turned to his uncle and began, "Cyaxares, when I came to you I had scant
wealth of my own and of the little I brought with me only a fragment is
left. I have spent it all on my soldiers. You may wonder at this," he
added, "when it is you who have supported them, but, believe me, the
money has not been wasted: it has all been spent on gifts and rewards
to the soldiers who deserved it. [10] And I am sure," he added, "if
we require good workers and good comrades in any task whatever, it is
better and pleasanter to encourage them by kind speeches and kindly acts
than to drive them by pains and penalties. And if it is for war that we
need such trusty helpers, we can only win the men we want by every charm
of word and grace of deed. For our true ally must be a friend and not a
foe, one who can never envy the prosperity of his leader nor betray him
in the day of disaster. [11] Such is my conviction, and such being so,
I do not hide from myself the need of money. But to look to you for
everything, when I know that you spend so much already, would be
monstrous in my eyes. I only ask that we should take counsel together so
as to prevent the failure of your funds. I am well aware that if you won
great wealth, I should be able to help myself at need, especially if I
used it for your own advantage. [12] Now I think you told me the other
day that the king of Armenia has begun to despise you, because he hears
we have an enemy, and therefore he will neither send you troops nor pay
the tribute which is due." [13] "Yes," answered Cyaxares, "such are his
tricks. And I cannot decide whether to march on him at once and try
to subdue him by force, or let the matter be for the time, for fear of
adding to the enemies we have." Then Cyrus asked, "Are his dwellings
strongly fortified, or could they be attacked?" And Cyaxares answered,
"The actual fortifications are not very strong: I took good care of
that. But he has the hill-country to which he can retire, and there for
the moment lie secure, knowing that he himself is safely out of reach,
with everything that he can convoy thither; unless we are prepared to
carry on a siege, as my father actually did." |
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