cyropaedia-第24章

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a　far　more　enduring　gain。　＇45＇　Was　it　not；〃　he　continued；　〃for　this
very　reason　that　we　trained　ourselves　at　home　to　master　the　belly　and
its　appetites；　so　that；　if　ever　the　need　arose；　we　might　turn　our
education　to　account？　And　where；　I　ask；　shall　we　find　a　nobler
opportunity　than　this；　to　show　what　we　have　learnt？〃

＇46＇　Such　were　his　words　and　Hystaspas　the　Persian　rose　to　support
him；　saying：

〃Truly；　Cyrus；　it　would　be　a　monstrous　thing　if　we　could　go　fasting
when　we　hunt；　and　keep　from　food　so　often　and　so　long　merely　to　lay
some　poor　beast　low；　worth　next　to　nothing；　maybe；　and　yet；　when　a
world　of　wealth　is　our　quarry；　let　ourselves　be　baulked　by　one　of
those　temptations　which　flee　before　the　noble　and　rule　the　bad。　Such
conduct；　methinks；　would　be　little　worthy　of　our　race。〃

＇47＇　So　Hystaspas　spoke；　and　the　rest　approved　him；　one　and　all。　Then
Cyrus　said：

〃Come　now；　since　we　are　all　of　one　mind；　each　of　you　give　me　five　of
the　trustiest　fellows　in　his　company；　and　let　them　go　the　rounds；　and
see　how　the　supplies　are　furnished；　let　them　praise　the　active
servants；　and　where　they　see　neglect；　chastise　them　more　severely　than
their　own　masters　could。〃

Thus　they　dealt　with　these　matters。

＇C。3＇　But　it　was　not　long　before　some　of　the　Medes　returned：　one　set
had　overtaken　the　waggons　that　had　gone　ahead；　seized　them　and　turned
them　back；　and　were　now　driving　them　to　the　camp；　laden　with　all　that
an　army　could　require；　and　others　had　captured　the　covered　carriages
in　which　the　women　rode；　the　wives　of　the　Assyrian　grandees　or　their
concubines；　whom　they　had　taken　with　them　because　of　their　beauty。　＇2＇
Indeed；　to　this　day　the　tribes　of　Asia　never　go　on　a　campaign　without
their　most　precious　property：　they　say　they　can　fight　better　in　the
presence　of　their　beloved；　feeling　they　must　defend　their　treasures；
heart　and　soul。　It　may　be　so；　but　it　may　also　be　that　the　desire　for
pleasure　is　the　cause。

＇3＇　And　when　Cyrus　saw　the　feats　of　arms　that　the　Medes　and　the
Hyrcanians　had　performed；　he　came　near　reproaching　himself　and　those
that　were　with　him；　the　others；　he　felt；　had　risen　with　the　time；　had
shown　their　strength　and　won　their　prizes；　while　he　and　his　had　stayed
behind　like　sluggards。　Indeed　it　was　a　sight　to　watch　the　victors
riding　home；　driving　their　spoil　before　them；　pointing　it　out　with
some　display　to　Cyrus；　and　then　dashing　off　again　at　once　in　search　of
more；　according　to　the　instructions　they　had　received。

But　though　he　ate　out　his　heart　with　envy　Cyrus　was　careful　to　set　all
their　booty　apart；　and　then　he　summoned　his　own　officers　again；　and
standing　where　they　could　all　hear　what　he　had　to　propose；　he　spoke　as
follows：

＇4＇　〃My　friends；　you　would　all　agree；　I　take　it；　that　if　the　spoils
displayed　to　us　now　were　our　own　to　keep；　wealth　would　be　showered　on
every　Persian　in　the　land；　and　we　ourselves；　no　doubt；　through　whom　it
was　won；　would　receive　the　most。　But　what　I　do　not　see　is　how　we　are
to　get　possession　of　such　prizes　unless　we　have　cavalry　of　our　own。
＇5＇　Consider　the　facts；〃　he　continued；　〃we　Persians　have　weapons　with
which；　we　hope；　we　can　rout　the　enemy　at　close　quarters：　but　when　we
do　rout　them；　what　sort　of　horsemen　or　archers　or　light…armed　troops
could　ever　be　caught　and　killed；　if　we　can　only　pursue　them　on　foot？
Why　should　they　ever　be　afraid　to　dash　up　and　harry　us；　when　they　know
full　well　that　they　run　no　greater　risk　at　our　hands　than　if　we　were
stumps　in　their　orchards？　＇6＇　And　if　this　be　so；　it　is　plain　that　the
cavalry　now　with　us　consider　every　gain　to　be　as　much　theirs　as　ours；
and　possibly　even　more；　God　wot！　＇7＇　At　present　things　must　be　so：
there　is　no　help　for　it。　But　suppose　we　were　to　provide　ourselves　with
as　good　a　force　as　our　friends；　it　must　be　pretty　evident　to　all　of
us；　I　think；　that　we　could　then　deal　with　the　enemy　by　ourselves
precisely　as　we　do　now　with　their　help；　and　then　perhaps　we　should
find　that　they　would　carry　their　heads　less　high。　It　would　be　of　less
importance　to　us　whether　they　chose　to　stay　or　go；　we　should　be
sufficient　for　ourselves　without　them。　＇8＇　So　far　then　I　expect　that
no　one　will　disagree：　if　we　could　get　a　body　of　Persian　cavalry　it
would　make　all　the　difference　to　us；　but　no　doubt　you　feel　the
question　is；　how　are　we　to　get　it？　Well；　let　us　consider　first；
suppose　we　decide　to　raise　the　force；　exactly　what　we　have　to　start
with　and　what　we　need。　＇9＇　We　certainly　have　hundreds　of　horses　now
captured　in　this　camp；　with　their　bridles　and　all　their　gear。　Besides
these；　we　have　all　the　accoutrements　for　a　mounted　force；　breast…
plates　to　protect　the　trunk；　and　light　spears　to　be　flung　or　wielded
at　close　quarters。　What　else　do　we　need？　It　is　plain　we　need　men。　＇10＇
But　that　is　just　what　we　have　already　at　our　own　command。　For　nothing
is　so　much　ours　as　our　own　selves。　Only；　some　will　say；　we　have　not
the　necessary　skill。　No；　of　course　not；　and　none　of　those　who　have　it
now　had　it　either　before　they　learnt　to　get　it。　Ah；　you　object；　but
they　learnt　when　they　were　boys。　＇11＇　Maybe；　but　are　boys　more　capable
of　learning　what　they　are　taught　then　grown　men？　Which　are　the　better
at　heavy　physical　tasks；　boys　or　men？　＇12＇　Besides；　we；　of　all　pupils；
have　advantages　that　neither　boys　nor　other　men　possess：　we　have　not
to　be　taught　the　use　of　the　bow　as　boys　have；　we　are　skilled　in　that
already；　nor　yet　the　use　of　the　javelin；　we　are　versed　in　that；　our
time　has　not　been　taken　up　like　other　men's　with　toiling　on　the　land
or　labouring　at　some　craft　or　managing　household　matters；　we　have　not
only　had　leisure　for　war；　it　has　been　our　life。　＇13＇　Moreover；　one
cannot　say　of　riding　as　of　so　many　warlike　exercises　that　it　is　useful
but　disagreeable。　To　ride　a…horseback　is　surely　pleasanter　than　to
trudge　a…foot？　And　as　for　speedhow　pleasant　to　join　a　friend　betimes
whenever　you　wish；　or　come　up　with　your　quarry　be　it　man　or　beast！　And
then；　the　ease　and　satisfaction　of　it！　Whatever　weapon　the　rider
carries　his　horse　must　help　to　bear　the　load：　'wear　arms'　and　'bear
arms；'they　are　the　same　thing　on　horseback。　＇14＇　But　now；　to　meet
the　worst　we　can　apprehend：　suppose；　before　we　are　adepts；　we　are
called　upon　to　run　some　risk；　and　then　find　that　we　are　neither
infantry　nor　thoroughgoing　cavalry？　This　may　be　a　danger；　but　we　can
guard　against　it。　We　have　it　always　in　our　power　to　turn　into　infantry
again　at　a　moment's　notice。　I　do　not　propose　that　by　learning　to　ride
we　should　unlearn　the　arts　of　men　on　foot。〃

＇15＇　Thus　spoke　Cyrus；　and　Chrysantas　rose　to　support　him；　saying：

〃For　my　part　I　cannot　say　I　so　much　desire　to　be　a　horseman　as　flatter
myself　that　once　I　can　ride　I　shall　be　a　sort　of　flying　man。　＇16＇　At
present　when　I　race　I　am　quiet　content　if；　with　a　fair　start；　I　can
beat　one　of　my　rivals　by　the　head；　or　when　I　sight　my　game　I　am　happy
if；　by　laying　legs　to　the　ground；　I　can　get　close　enough　to　let　fly
javelin　or　arrow　before　he　is　clean　out　of　range。　But　when　once　I　am　a
horseman　I　shall　be　able　to　overhaul　my　man　as　far　as　I　can　see　him；
or　come　up　with　the　beasts　I　chase　and　knock　them　over　myself　or　else
spear　them　as　though　they　stood　stock　still；　for　when　hunter　and
hunted　are　both　of　them　racing；　if　they　are　only　side　by　side；　it　is
as　good　as　though　neither　of　them　moved。　＇17＇　And　the　creature　I　have
always　envied；〃　he　continued；　〃the　centaurif　only　he　had　the
intelligence　and　forethought　of　a　man；　the　adroit　skill　and　the
cunning　hand；　with　the　swiftness　and　strength　of　a　horse；　so　as　to
overtake　all　that　fled　before　him；　and　overthrow　all　that　resisted
why；　all　these　powers　I　shall　collect　and　gather　in　my　own　person　when
once　I　am　a　rider。　＇18＇　Forethought　I　intend　to　keep　with　my　human
wits；　my　hands　can　wield　my　weapons；　and　my　horse's　legs　will　follow
up　the　foe；　and　my　horse's　rush　overthrow　him。　Only　I　shall　not　be
tied　and　fettered　to　my　steed；　flesh　of　his　flesh；　and　blood　of　his
blood；　like　the　old　centaur。　＇19＇　And　that　I　count　a　great　improvement
on　the　breed；　far　better　than　being　united　to　the　animal；　body　and
soul。　The　old　centaur；　I　imagine；　must　have　been　for　ever　in
difficulties；　as　a　horse；　he　could　not　use　the　wonderful　inventions　of
man；　and　as　a　man；　he　could　not　enjoy　the　proper　pleasures　of　a　horse。
＇20＇　But　I；　if　I　learn　to　ride；　once　set　me　astride　my　horse；　and　I
will　do　all　that　the　centaur　can；　and　yet；　when　I　dismount；　I　can
dress　myself　as　a　human　being；　and　dine；　and　sleep　in　my　bed；　like　the
rest　of　my　kind：　in　short；　I　shall　be　a　jointed　centaur　that　can　be
taken　to　pieces　and　put　together　again。　＇21＇　And　I　shall　gain　another
point　or　so　over　the　original　beast：　he；　we　know；　had　only　two　eyes　to
see　with　and　two　ears　to　hear　with；　but　I　shall　watch　with　four　eyes
and　with　four　ears　I　shall　listen。　You　know；　they　tell　us　a　horse　can
often　see　quicker　than　any　man；　and　hear　a　sound　before　his　master；
and　give　him　warning　in　some　way。　Have　the　goodness；　therefore；〃　he
added；　〃to　write　my　name　down　among　those　who　want　to　ride。〃

＇22＇　〃And　ours　too；〃　they　all　cried；　〃ours　too；　in　heaven's　name！〃

Then　Cyrus　spoke：　〃Gentlemen；　since　we　are　all　so　well　agreed；　suppose
we　make　it　a　rule　that　every　one　who　receives　a　horse　from　me　shall　be
considered　to　disgrace　himself　if　he　is　seen　trudging　afoot；　be　his
journey　long　or　short？〃

＇23＇　Thus　Cyrus　put　the　question；　and　one　and　all　assented；　and　hence
it　is　that　even　to　this　day　the　custom　is　retained；　and　no　Persian　of
the　gentle　class　would　willingly　be　seen　anywhere　on　foot。

＇C。4＇　In　this　debate　their　time　was　spent；　and　when　it　was　past　midday
the　Median　cavalry　and　the　Hyrcanians　came　galloping　home；　bringing　in
men　and　horses　from　the　enemy；　for　they　had　spared　all　who　surrendered
their　arms。　＇2＇　As　they　rode　up　the　first　inquiry　of　Cyrus　was　whether
all　of　them　were　safe；　and　when　they　answered　yes；　he　asked　what　they
had　achieved。　And　they　told　their　exploits　in　detail；　and　how　bravely
they　had　borne　themselves；　magnifying　it　all。　＇3＇　Cyrus　heard　their
story　through　with　a　pleasant　smile；　and　praised　them　for　their　work。
〃I　can　see　for　myself；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　have　done　gallant　deeds。
You　seem　to　have　grown　taller　and　fairer　and　more　terrible　to　look　on
than　when　we　saw　you　last。〃

＇4＇　Then　he　made　them　tell　him　how　far　they　had　gone；　and　whether　they
had　found　the　country　inhabited。　They　said　they　had　ridden　a　long　way；
and　that　the　whole　country　was　inhabited；　and　full　of　sheep　and　goats
and　cattle　and　horses；　and　rich　in　corn　and　every　good　thing。

＇5＇　〃Then　there　are　two　matters；〃　he　said；　〃to　which　we　must　attend；
first　we　must　become　masters　of　those　who　own　all　this；　and　next　we
must　ensure　that　they　do　not　run　away。　A　well…populated　country　is　a
rich　possession；　but　a　deserted　land　will　soon　become　a　desert。　＇6＇
You　have　put　the　defenders　to　the　sword；　I　know；　and　rightlyfor　that
is　the　only　safe　road　to　victory；　but　you　have　brought　in　as　prisoners
those　who　laid　down　their　arms。　Now　if　we　let　these　men　go；　I　maintain
we　should　do　the　very　best　thing　for　ourselves。　＇7＇　We　gain　two
points；　first；　we　need　neither　be　on　our　guard　against　them　nor　mount
guard　over　them　nor　find　them