cyropaedia-第34章

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do　attack　us　anywhere；　we　shall　be　able　to　foresee　their　advance　a
long　way　off　and　be　quite　prepared　to　give　them　welcome。　But　it　is　far
more　likely；　gentlemen；〃　he　added；　〃that　they　will　not　make　the
attempt；　with　all　that　ground　to　cover　from　the　walls；　unless　they
imagine　that　their　whole　force　is　superior　to　the　whole　of　ours：　they
know　that　retreat　will　be　difficult　and　dangerous。〃

＇50＇　So　Cyrus　spoke；　and　his　listeners　felt　that　he　was　right；　and
Gobryas　led　the　army　by　the　way　that　he　advised。　And　as　one　detachment
after　another　passed　the　city；　Cyrus　strengthened　the　protection　for
the　rear　and　so　withdrew　in　safety。

＇51＇　Marching　in　this　order；　he　came　back　at　last　to　his　first
starting…point；　on　the　frontier　between　Assyria　and　Media。　Here　he
dealt　with　three　Assyrian　fortresses：　one；　the　weakest；　he　attacked
and　took　by　force；　while　the　garrisons　of　the　other　two；　what　with　the
eloquence　of　Gadatas　and　the　terror　inspired　by　Cyrus；　were　persuaded
to　surrender。

＇C。5＇　And　now　that　his　expedition　was　completed；　Cyrus　sent　to
Cyaxares　and　urged　him　to　come　to　the　camp　in　order　that　they　might
decide　best　how　to　use　the　forts　which　they　had　taken；　and　perhaps
Cyaxares；　after　reviewing　the　army；　would　advise　him　what　the　next
move　ought　to　be；　or；　Cyrus　added　to　the　messenger；　〃if　he　bids　me；
say　I　will　come　to　him　and　take　up　my　encampment　there。〃　＇2＇　So　the
emissary　went　off　with　the　message；　and　meanwhile　Cyrus　gave　orders
that　the　Assyrian　tent　chosen　for　Cyaxares　should　be　furnished　as
splendidly　as　possible；　and　the　woman　brought　to　her　apartment　there；
and　the　two　singing…girls　also；　whom　they　had　set　aside　for　him。

＇3＇　And　while　they　were　busied　with　these　things　the　envoy　went　to
Cyaxares　and　delivered　his　message；　and　Cyaxares　listened　and　decided
it　was　best　for　Cyrus　and　his　men　to　stay　on　the　frontier。　The
Persians　whom　Cyrus　had　sent　for　had　already　arrived；　forty　thousand
bowmen　and　targeteers。　＇4＇　To　watch　these　eating　up　the　land　was　bad
enough；　and　Cyaxares　thought　he　would　rather　be　quit　of　one　horde
before　he　received　another。　On　his　side　the　officer　in　command　of　the
Persian　levy；　following　the　instructions　from　Cyrus；　asked　Cyaxares　if
he　had　any　need　of　the　men；　and　Cyaxares　said　he　had　not。　Thereupon；
and　hearing　that　Cyrus　had　arrived；　the　Persian　put　himself　at　the
head　of　his　troops　and　went　off　at　once　to　join　him。　＇5＇　Cyaxares
himself　waited　till　the　next　day　and　then　set　out　with　the　Median
troopers　who　had　stayed　behind。　And　when　Cyrus　knew　of　his　approach　he
took　his　Persian　cavalry；　who　were　now　a　large　body　of　men；　and　all
the　Medes；　Hyrcanians；　and　Armenians；　and　the　best…mounted　and　best…
armed　among　the　rest；　and　so　went　out　to　meet　Cyaxares　and　show　the
power　he　had　won。　＇6＇　But　when　Cyaxares　saw　so　large　a　following　of
gallant　gentlemen　with　Cyrus；　and　with　himself　so　small　and　mean　a
retinue；　it　seemed　to　him　an　insult；　and　mortification　filled　his
heart。　And　when　Cyrus　sprang　from　his　horse　and　came　up　to　give　him
the　kiss　of　greeting；　Cyaxares；　though　he　dismounted；　turned　away　his
head　and　gave　him　no　kiss；　while　the　tears　came　into　his　eyes。　＇7＇
Whereupon　Cyrus　told　the　others　to　stand　aside　and　rest；　and　then　he
took　Cyaxares　by　the　hand　and　led　him　apart　under　a　grove　of　palm…
trees；　and　bade　the　attendants　spread　Median　carpets　for　them；　and
made　Cyaxares　sit　down；　and　then；　seating　himself　beside　him；　he　said：

＇8＇　〃Uncle　of　mine；　tell　me；　in　heaven's　name；　I　implore　you；　why　are
you　angry　with　me？　What　bitter　sight　have　you　seen　to　make　you　feel
such　bitterness？〃

And　then　Cyaxares　answered：

〃Listen；　Cyrus；　I　have　been　reputed　royal　and　of　royal　lineage　as　far
back　as　the　memory　of　man　can　go；　my　father　was　a　king　and　a　king　I
myself　was　thought　to　be；　and　now　I　see　myself　riding　here；　meanly　and
miserably　attended；　while　you　come　before　me　in　splendour　and
magnificence；　followed　by　the　retinue　that　once　was　mine　and　all　your
other　forces。　＇9＇　That　would　be　bitter　enough；　methinks；　from　the　hand
of　an　enemy；　butO　gods　above　us！how　much　more　bitter　at　the　hands
of　those　from　whom　we　least　deserve　it！　Far　rather　would　I　be
swallowed　in　the　earth　than　live　to　be　seen　so　low；　aye；　and　to　see　my
own　kinsfolk　turn　against　me　and　make　a　mock　of　me。　And　well　I　know；〃
said　he；　〃that　not　only　you　but　my　own　slaves　are　now　stronger　and
greater　than　myself：　they　come　out　equipt　to　do　me　far　more　mischief
than　ever　I　could　repay。〃

＇10＇　But　here　he　stopped；　overcome　by　a　passion　of　weeping；　so　much　so
that　for　very　pity　Cyrus'　own　eyes　filled　with　tears。　There　was
silence　between　them　for　a　while；　and　then　Cyrus　said：

〃Nay；　Cyaxares；　what　you　say　is　not　true；　and　what　you　think　is　not
right；　if　you　imagine　that　because　I　am　here；　your　Medes　have　been
equipt　to　do　you　any　harm。　＇11＇　I　do　not　wonder　that　you　are　pained；
and　I　will　not　ask　if　you　have　cause　or　not　for　your　anger　against
them：　you　will　ill　brook　apologies　for　them　from　me。　Only　it　seems　to
me　a　grievous　error　in　a　ruler　to　quarrel　with　all　his　subjects　at
once。　Widespread　terror　must　needs　be　followed　by　widespread　hate：
anger　with　all　creates　unity　among　all。　＇12＇　It　was　for　this　reason；
take　my　word　for　it；　that　I　would　not　send　them　back　to　you　without
myself；　fearing　that　your　wrath　might　be　the　cause　of　what　would
injure　all　of　us。　Through　my　presence　here　and　by　the　blessing　of
heaven；　all　is　safe　for　you：　but　that　you　should　regard　yourself　as
wronged　by　me；I　cannot　but　feel　it　bitter；　when　I　am　doing　all　in　my
power　to　help　my　friends；　to　be　accused　of　plotting　against　them。　＇13＇
However；〃　he　continued；　〃let　us　not　accuse　each　other　in　this　useless
way；　if　possible；　let　us　see　exactly　in　what　I　have　offended。　And　as
between　friend　and　friend；　I　will　lay　down　the　only　rule　that　is　just
and　fair：　if　I　can　be　shown　to　have　done　you　harm；　I　will　confess　I　am
to　blame；　but　if　it　appears　that　I　have　never　injured　you；　not　even　in
thought；　will　you　not　acquit　me　of　all　injustice　towards　you？〃

〃Needs　must　I；〃　answered　Cyaxares。

＇14＇　〃And　if　I　can　show　that　I　have　done　you　service；　and　been　zealous
in　your　cause　to　the　utmost　of　my　power；　may　I　not　claim；　instead　of
rebuke；　some　little　meed　of　praise？〃

〃That　were　only　fair；〃　said　Cyaxares。

＇15＇　〃Then；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃let　us　go　through　all　I　have　done；　point　by
point；　and　see　what　is　good　in　it　and　what　is　evil。　＇16＇　Let　us　begin
from　the　time　when　I　assumed　my　generalship；　if　that　is　early　enough。
I　think　I　am　right　in　saying　that　it　was　because　you　saw　your　enemies
gathering　together　against　you；　and　ready　to　sweep　over　your　land　and
you；　that　you　sent　to　Persia　asking　for　help；　and　to　me　in　private；
praying　me　to　come；　if　I　could；　myself；　at　the　head　of　any　forces　they
might　send。　Was　I　not　obedient　to　your　word？　Did　I　not　come　myself
with　the　best　and　bravest　I　could　bring？〃

＇17＇　〃You　did　indeed；〃　answered　Cyaxares。

〃Tell　me；　then；　before　we　go　further；　did　you　see　any　wrong　in　this？
Was　it　not　rather　a　service　and　a　kindly　act？〃　〃Certainly；〃　said
Cyaxares；　〃so　far　as　that　went；　I　saw　nothing　but　kindliness。〃　＇18＇
〃Well；　after　the　enemy　had　come；　and　we　had　to　fight　the　matter　out；
did　you　ever　see　me　shrink　from　toil　or　try　to　escape　from　danger？〃
〃That　I　never　did；〃　said　Cyaxares；　〃quite　the　contrary。〃

＇19＇　〃And　afterwards；　when；　through　the　help　of　heaven；　victory　was
ours；　and　the　enemy　retreated；　and　I　implored　you　to　let　us　pursue
them　together；　take　vengeance　on　them　together；　win　together　the
fruits　of　any　gallant　exploit　we　might　achieve；　can　you　accuse　me　then
of　self…seeking　or　self…aggrandisement？〃

＇20＇　But　at　that　Cyaxares　was　silent。　Then　Cyrus　spoke　again。　〃If　you
would　rather　not　reply　to　that；　tell　me　if　you　thought　yourself
injured　because；　when　you　considered　pursuit　unsafe；　I　relieved　you　of
the　risk；　and　only　begged　you　to　lend　me　some　of　your　cavalry？　If　my
offence　lay　in　asking　for　that；　when　I　had　already　offered　to　work
with　you；　side　by　side；　you　must　prove　it　to　me；　and　it　will　need　some
eloquence。〃

＇21＇　He　paused；　but　Cyaxares　still　kept　silence。　〃Nay；〃　said　Cyrus；
〃if　you　will　not　answer　that　either；　tell　me　at　least　if　my　offence
lay　in　what　followed；　when　you　said　that　you　did　not　care　to　stop　your
Medes　in　their　merry…making　and　drive　them　out　into　danger；　do　you
think　it　was　wrong　in　me；　without　waiting　to　quarrel　on　that　score；　to
ask　you　for　what　I　knew　was　the　lightest　boon　you　could　grant　and　the
lightest　command　you　could　lay　on　your　soldiers？　For　I　only　asked　that
he　who　wished　it　might　be　allowed　to　follow　me。　＇22＇　And　thus；　when　I
had　won　your　permission；　I　had　won　nothing；　unless　I　could　win　them
too。　Therefore　I　went　and　tried　persuasion；　and　some　listened　to　me；
and　with　these　I　set　off　on　my　march；　holding　my　commission　from　your
own　self。　So　that；　if　you　look　on　this　act　as　blameworthy；　it　would
seem　that　not　even　the　acceptance　of　your　own　gifts　can　be　free　from
blame。　＇23＇　It　was　thus　we　started；　and　after　we　had　gone；　was　there；
I　ask　you；　a　single　deed　of　mine　that　was　not　done　in　the　light　of
day？　Has　not　the　enemy's　camp　been　taken？　Have　not　hundreds　of　your
assailants　fallen？　And　hundreds　been　deprived　of　their　horses　and
their　arms？　Is　not　the　spoiler　spoiled？　The　cattle　and　the　goods　of
those　who　harried　your　land　are　now　in　the　hands　of　your　friends；　they
are　brought　to　you；　or　to　your　subjects。　＇24＇　And；　above　all　and
beyond　all；　you　see　your　own　country　growing　great　and　powerful　and
the　land　of　your　enemy　brought　low。　Strongholds　of　his　are　in　your
power；　and　your　own　that　were　torn　from　you　in　other　days　by　the
Syrian　domination　are　now　restored　to　you　again。　I　cannot　say　I　should
be　glad　to　learn　that　any　of　these　things　can　be　bad　for　you；　or　short
of　good；　but　I　am　ready　to　listen；　if　so　it　is。　＇25＇　Speak；　tell　me
your　judgment　of　it　all。〃

Then　Cyrus　paused；　and　Cyaxares　made　answer：

〃To　call　what　you　have　done　evil；　Cyrus；　is　impossible。　But　your
benefits　are　of　such　a　kind　that　the　more　they　multiply　upon　me；　the
heavier　burden　do　they　bring。　＇26＇　I　would　far　rather；〃　he　went　on；
〃have　made　your　country　great　by　own　power　than　see　mine　exalted　in
this　way　by　you。　These　deeds　of　yours　are　a　crown　of　glory　to　you；　but
they　bring　dishonour　to　me。　＇27＇　And　for　the　wealth；　I　would　rather
have　made　largess　of　it　to　yourself　than　receive　it　at　your　hands　in
the　way　you　give　it　now。　Goods　so　gotten　only　leave　me　the　poorer。　And
for　my　subjectsI　think　I　would　have　suffered　less　if　you　had　injured
them　a　little　than　I　suffer　now　when　I　see　how　much　they　owe　you。　＇28＇
Perhaps；〃　he　added；　〃you　find　it　inhuman　of　me　to　feel　thus；　but　I
would　ask　you　to　forget　me　and　imagine　that　you　are　in　my　place　and
see　how　it　would　appear　to　you　then。　Suppose　a　friend　of　yours　were　to
take　care　of　your　dogs；　dogs　that　you　bred　up　to　guard　yourself　and
your　house；　such　care　that　he　made　them　fonder　of　him　than　of
yourself；　would　you　be　pleased　with　him　for　his　attention？　＇29＇　Or
take　another　instance；　if　that　one　seems　too　slight：　suppose　a　friend
of　yours　were　to　do　so　much　for　your　own　followers；　men　you　kept　to
guard　you　and　to　fight　for　you；　that