cyropaedia-第26章

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And　when　you　have　done　this；　come　back　again　and　tell　me。〃

＇26＇　So　the　chieftain　took　the　Mede　away　to　his　own　quarters；　and
meanwhile　the　messenger　from　Persia　presented　himself　equipped　for　the
journey；　and　Cyrus　bade　him　tell　the　Persians　all　that　had　happened；
as　it　has　been　set　out　in　this　story；　and　then　he　gave　him　a　letter　to
Cyaxares。　〃I　would　like　to　read　you　the　very　words；〃　he　added；　〃so
that　what　you　say　yourself　may　agree　with　it；　in　case　you　have
questions　asked　you。〃

＇27＇　The　letter　ran　as　follows：〃Cyrus　to　Cyaxares；　greeting。　We　do
not　admit　that　we　have　deserted　you；　for　no　one　is　deserted　when　he　is
being　made　the　master　of　his　enemies。　Nor　do　we　consider　that　we　put
you　in　jeopardy　by　our　departure；　on　the　contrary；　the　greater　the
distance　between　us　the　greater　the　security　we　claim　to　have　won　for
you。　＇28＇　It　is　not　the　friend　at　a　man's　elbow　who　serves　him　and
puts　him　out　of　danger；　but　he　who　drives　his　enemies　farthest　and
furthest　away。　＇29＇　And　I　pray　you　to　remember　what　I　have　done　for
you；　and　you　for　me；　before　you　blame　me。　I　brought　you　allies；　not
limiting　myself　to　those　you　asked　for；　but　pressing　in　every　man　that
I　could　find；　you　allowed　me　while　we　were　on　friendly　soil　only　to
take　those　whom　I　could　persuade　to　follow　me；　and　now　that　I　am　in
hostile　territory　you　insist　that　they　must　all　return；　you　do　not
leave　it　to　their　own　choice。　＇30＇　Yesterday　I　felt　that　I　owed　both
you　and　them　a　debt　of　gratitude；　but　to…day　you　drive　me　to　forget
your　share；　you　make　me　wish　to　repay　those；　and　those　only；　who
followed　me。　＇31＇　Not　that　I　could　bring　myself　to　return　you　like　for
like；　even　now　I　am　sending　to　Persia　for　more　troops；　and　instructing
all　the　men　who　come　that；　if　you　need　them　before　we　return；　they
must　hold　themselves　at　your　service　absolutely；　to　act　not　as　they
wish；　but　as　you　may　care　to　use　them。　＇32＇　In　conclusion；　I　would
advise　you；　though　I　am　younger　than　yourself；　not　to　take　back　with
one　hand　what　you　give　with　the　other；　or　else　you　will　win　hatred
instead　of　gratitude；　nor　to　use　threats　if　you　wish　men　to　come　to
you　speedily；　nor　to　speak　of　being　deserted　when　you　threaten　an
army；　unless　you　would　teach　them　to　despise　you。　＇33＇　For　ourselves；
we　will　do　our　best　to　rejoin　you　as　soon　as　we　have　concluded　certain
matters　which　we　believe　will　prove　a　common　blessing　to　yourself　and
us。　Farewell。〃

＇34＇　〃Deliver　this；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃to　Cyaxares；　and　whatever　questions
he　puts　to　you；　answer　in　accordance　with　it。　My　injunctions　to　you
about　the　Persians　agree　exactly　with　what　is　written　here。〃　With　that
he　gave　him　the　letter　and　sent　him　off；　bidding　him　remember　that
speed　was　of　importance。

＇35＇　Then　he　turned　to　review　his　troops；　who　were　already　fully
armed；　Medes；　Hyrcanians；　the　men　Tigranes　had　brought；　and　the　whole
body　of　the　Persians。　And　already　some　of　the　neighbouring　folk　were
coming　up；　to　bring　in　their　horses　or　hand　over　their　arms。　＇36＇　The
javelins　were　then　piled　in　a　heap　as　before　and　burnt　at　his　command；
after　his　troops　had　taken　what　they　needed　for　themselves；　but　he
bade　the　owners　stay　with　their　horses　until　they　received　fresh
orders。　This　done；　Cyrus　called　together　the　officers　of　the
Hyrcanians　and　of　the　cavalry；　and　spoke　as　follows：

＇37＇　〃My　friends　and　allies；　you　must　not　be　surprised　that　I　summon
you　so　often。　Our　circumstances　are　so　novel　that　much　still　needs
adjustment；　and　we　must　expect　difficulty　until　everything　has　found
its　place。　＇38＇　At　present　we　have　a　mass　of　spoil；　and　prisoners　set
to　guard　it。　But　we　do　not　ourselves　know　what　belongs　to　each　of　us；
nor　could　the　guards　say　who　the　owners　are：　and　thus　it　is　impossible
for　them　to　be　exact　in　their　duties；　since　scarcely　any　of　them　know
what　these　duties　may　be。　＇39＇　To　amend　this；　you　must　divide　the
spoil。　There　will　be　no　difficulty　where　a　man　has　won　a　tent　that　is
fully　supplied　with　meat　and　drink；　and　servants　to　boot；　bedding；
apparel；　and　everything　to　make　it　a　comfortable　home；　he　has　only　to
understand　that　this　is　now　his　private　property；　and　he　must　look
after　it　himself。　But　where　the　quarters　are　not　furnished　so　well；
there　you　must　make　it　your　business　to　supply　what　is　lacking。　＇40＇
There　will　be　more　than　enough　for　this；　of　that　I　am　sure；　the　enemy
had　a　stock　of　everything　quite　out　of　proportion　to　our　scanty
numbers。　Moreover；　certain　treasurers　have　come　to　me；　men　who　were　in
the　service　of　the　king　of　Assyria　and　other　potentates；　and　according
to　what　they　tell　me；　they　have　a　supply　of　gold　coin；　the　produce　of
certain　tributes　they　can　name。　＇41＇　You　will　send　out　a　proclamation
that　this　deposit　must　be　delivered　up　to　you　in　your　quarters；　you
must　terrify　those　who　fail　to　execute　the　order；　and　then　you　must
distribute　the　money；　the　mounted　men　should　have　two　shares　apiece
for　the　foot…soldier's　one；　and　you　should　keep　the　surplus；　so　that
in　case　of　need　you　may　have　wherewith　to　make　your　purchases。　＇42＇
With　regard　to　the　camp…market；　proclamation　must　be　made　at　once；
forbidding　any　injustice；　the　hucksters　must　be　allowed　to　sell　the
goods　they　have　brought；　and　when　these　are　disposed　of　they　may　bring
more；　so　that　the　camp　may　be　duly　supplied。〃

＇43＇　So　the　proclamations　were　issued　forthwith。　But　the　Medes　and　the
Hyrcanians　asked　Cyrus：

〃How　are　we　to　distribute　the　spoil　alone；　without　your　men　and
yourself？〃

＇44＇　But　Cyrus　met　question　by　question：　〃Do　you　really　think；
gentlemen；　that　we　must　all　preside　over　every　detail；　each　and　all　of
us　together？　Can　I　never　act　for　you；　and　you　for　me？　I　could　scarcely
conceive　a　surer　way　of　creating　trouble；　or　of　reducing　results。
See；〃　said　he；　〃I　will　take　a　case　in　point。　＇45＇　We　Persians　guarded
this　booty　for　you；　and　you　believe　that　we　guarded　it　well：　now　it　is
for　you　to　distribute　it；　and　we　will　trust　you　to　be　fair。　＇46＇　And
there　is　another　benefit　that　I　should　be　glad　to　obtain　for　us　all。
You　see　what　a　number　of　horses　we　have　got　already；　and　more　are
being　brought　in。　If　they　are　left　riderless　we　shall　get　no　profit
out　of　them；　we　shall　only　have　the　burden　of　looking　after　them。　But
if　we　set　riders　on　them；　we　shall　be　quit　of　the　trouble　and　add　to
our　strength。　＇47＇　Now　if　you　have　other　men　in　view；　men　whom　you
would　choose　before　us　to　share　the　brunt　of　danger　with　you；　by　all
means　give　these　horses　to　them。　But　if　you　would　rather　have　us　fight
at　your　side　than　any　others；　bestow　them　upon　us。　＇48＇　To…day　when
you　dashed　ahead　to　meet　danger　all　alone；　great　was　our　fear　lest　you
might　come　to　harm；　and　bitter　our　shame　to　think　that　where　you　were
we　were　not。　But　if　once　we　have　horses；　we　can　follow　at　your　heels。
＇49＇　And　if　it　is　clear　that　we　do　more　good　so　mounted；　shoulder　to
shoulder　with　yourselves；　we　shall　not　fail　in　zeal；　or　if　it　appears
better　to　support　you　on　foot；　why；　to　dismount　is　but　the　work　of　a
moment；　and　you　will　have　your　infantry　marching　by　your　side　at　once；
and　we　will　find　men　to　hold　our　horses　for　us。〃

＇50＇　To　which　they　answered：

〃In　truth；　Cyrus；　we　have　not　men　for　these　horses　ourselves；　and　even
if　we　had　them；　we　should　not　do　anything　against　your　wish。　Take
them；　we　beg　you；　and　use　them　as　you　think　best。〃

＇51＇　〃I　will；〃　said　he；　〃and　gladly；　and　may　good　fortune　bless　us
all；　you　in　your　division　of　the　spoil　and　us　in　our　horsemanship。　In
the　first　place；〃　he　added；　〃you　will　set　apart　for　the　gods　whatever
our　priests　prescribe；　and　after　that　you　must　select　for　Cyaxares
what　you　think　will　please　him　most。〃

＇52＇　At　that　they　laughed；　and　said　they　must　choose　him　a　bevy　of
fair　women。　〃So　let　it　be；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃fair　women；　and　anything　else
you　please。　And　when　you　have　chosen　his　share；　the　Hyrcanians　must
see　to　it　that　our　friends　among　the　Medes　who　followed　us　of　their
own　free　will　shall　have　no　cause　to　find　fault　with　their　own
portion。　＇53＇　And　the　Medes　on　their　side　must　show　honour　to　the
first　allies　we　have　won；　and　make　them　feel　their　decision　was　wise
when　they　chose　us　for　their　friends。　And　be　sure　to　give　a　share　of
everything　to　the　messenger　who　came　from　Cyaxares　and　to　his　retinue；
persuade　him　to　stay　on　with　us；　say　that　I　would　like　it；　and　that　he
could　tell　Cyaxares　all　the　better　how　matters　stood。　＇54＇　As　for　my
Persians；〃　he　added；　〃we　shall　be　quite　content　with　what　is　left
over；　after　you　are　all　provided　for；　we　are　not　used　to　luxury；　we
were　brought　up　in　a　very　simple　fashion；　and　I　think　you　would　laugh
at　us　if　you　saw　us　tricked　out　in　grand　attire；　just　as　I　am　sure　you
will　when　you　see　us　seated　on　our　horses；　or；　rather；　rolling　off
them。〃

＇55＇　So　they　dispersed　to　make　the　distribution；　in　great　mirth　over
the　thought　of　the　riding；　and　then　Cyrus　called　his　own　officers　and
bade　them　take　the　horses　and　their　gear；　and　the　grooms　with　them；
number　them　all；　and　then　distribute　them　by　lot　in　equal　shares　for
each　division。　＇56＇　Finally　he　sent　out　another　proclamation；　saying
that　if　there　was　any　slave　among　the　Syrians；　Assyrians；　or　Arabians
who　was　a　Mede；　a　Persian；　a　Bactrian；　a　Carian；　a　Cilician；　or　a
Hellene；　or　a　member　of　any　other　nation；　and　who　had　been　forcibly
enrolled；　he　was　to　come　forward　and　declare　himself。　＇57＇　And　when
they　heard　the　herald；　many　came　forward　gladly；　and　out　of　their
number　Cyrus　selected　the　strongest　and　fairest；　and　told　them　they
were　now　free；　and　would　be　required　to　bear　arms；　with　which　he　would
furnish　them；　and　as　to　necessaries；　he　would　see　himself　that　they
were　not　stinted。　＇58＇　With　that　he　brought　them　to　the　officers　and
had　them　enrolled　forthwith；　saying　they　were　to　be　armed　with　shields
and　light　swords；　so　as　to　follow　the　troopers；　and　were　to　receive
supplies　exactly　as　if　they　were　his　own　Persians。　The　Persian
officers　themselves；　wearing　corslets　and　carrying　lances；　were　for
the　future　to　appear　on　horseback；　he　himself　setting　the　example；　and
each　one　was　to　appoint　another　of　the　Peers　to　lead　the　infantry　for
him。

＇C。6＇　While　they　were　concerned　with　these　matters；　an　old　Assyrian
prince；　Gobryas　by　name；　presented　himself　before　Cyrus；　mounted　on
horseback　and　with　a　mounted　retinue　behind　him；　all　of　them　armed　as
cavalry。　The　Persian　officers　who　were　appointed　to　receive　the
weapons　bade　them　hand　over　their　lances　and　have　them　burnt　with　the
rest；　but　Gobryas　said　he　wished　to　see　Cyrus　first。　At　that　the
adjutants　led　him　in；　but　they　made　his　escort　stay　where　they　were。
＇2＇　When　the　old　man　came　before　Cyrus；　he　addressed　him　at　once；
saying：

〃My　lord；　I　am　an　Assyrian　by　birth；　I　have　a　strong　fortress　in　my
territory；　and　I　rule　over　a　wide　domain；　I　have　cavalry　at　my
command；　two　thousand　three　hundred　of　them；　all　of　which　I　offered　to
the　king　of　Assyria；　and　if　ever　he　had　a　friend；　that　friend　was　I。
But　he　has　fallen　at　your　hands；　the　gallant　heart；　and　his　son；　who
is　my　bitterest　foe；　reigns　in　his　stead。　Therefore　I　have　come　to
you；　a　suppliant　at　your　feet。　I　am　ready　to　be　your　slave　and　your
ally；　and　I　implore　you　to　be　my　avenger。　You