cyropaedia-第53章

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allies　to　know　but　could　not　bring　myself　to　utter；　since　it　was　about
myself；　and　he　would　say　it　for　me　as　though　it　were　his　own　opinion；
in　fact；　for　everything　of　the　kind　he　was　nothing　less　to　me　than　a
second　and　a　better　self。　And　now　he　is　always　insisting　that　what　he
has　already　got　is　quite　enough　for　himself；　and　always　trying　to
discover　something　more　for　me：　he　takes　a　greater　pride　and　joy　in
all　my　triumphs　than　I　do　myself。〃

＇12＇　〃By　Hera；〃　said　Hystaspas；　〃I　am　right　glad　I　asked　you。　Only　one
thing　puzzles　me：　how　am　I　to　show　my　joy　at　your　success？　Shall　I
clap　my　hands　and　laugh；　or　what　shall　I　do？〃

〃Dance　the　Persian　dance；　of　course；〃　said　Artabazus。　And　all　the
company　laughed。

＇13＇　And　as　the　drinking　deepened　Cyrus　put　a　question　to　Gobryas。

〃Tell　me；　Gobryas；　would　you　be　better　pleased　to　give　your　daughter
to　one　of　our　company　to…day　than　the　day　when　you　met　us　first？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Gobryas；　〃am　I　also　to　tell　the　truth？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃no　question　looks　for　a　lie。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Gobryas；　〃I　assure　you；　I　would　far　rather　give　her　in
marriage　to…day。〃

〃Can　you　tell　us　why？〃　said　Cyrus。

〃That　I　can；〃　said　he。

＇14＇　〃Say　on；　then。〃

〃At　that　time；　I　saw；　it　is　true；　the　gallant　manner　in　which　your　men
endured　toil　and　danger；　but　to…day　I　see　the　modesty　with　which　they
bear　success。　And　I　believe；　Cyrus；　that　the　man　who　takes　good…
fortune　well　is　further　to　seek　than　he　who　can　endure　adversity；　for
success　engenders　insolence　in　many　hearts；　while　suffering　teaches
sobriety　and　fortitude。〃

＇15＇　And　Cyrus　said；　〃Hystaspas；　did　you　hear　the　saying　of　Gobryas？〃

〃I　did　indeed；〃　he　answered；　〃and　if　he　has　many　more　as　good；　he　will
find　me　a　suitor　for　his　daughter；　a　far　more　eager　one　than　if　he　had
shown　me　all　his　goblets。〃

＇16＇　〃Well；〃　said　Gobryas；　〃I　have　many　such　written　down　at　home；　and
you　may　have　them　all　if　you　take　my　daughter　to　wife。　And　as　for
goblets；〃　he　added；　〃since　it　seems　you　cannot　away　with　them；　perhaps
I　might　give　them　to　Chrysantas　to　punish　him　for　having　filled　your
seat。〃

＇17＇　〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃Hystaspas；　and　all　of　you。　If　you
will　but　tell　me；　any　of　you；　when　you　propose　to　marry；　you　would
soon　discover　what　a　clever　advocate　you　had　in　me。〃

＇18＇　But　Gobryas　interposed；　〃And　if　one　of　us　wants　to　give　his
daughter　in　marriage；　to　whom　should　he　apply？〃

〃To　me　also；〃　answered　Cyrus；　〃I　assure　you；　I　am　adept　in　the　art。〃

〃What　art　is　that？〃　Chrysantas　inquired。

＇19＇　〃The　art　of　discerning　the　wife　to　suit　each　man。〃

〃Then　by　all　the　gods；〃　said　Chrysantas；　〃tell　me　what　sort　of　wife
would　do　for　me？〃

＇20＇　〃In　the　first　place；〃　he　answered；　〃she　must　be　short；　for　you
are　not　tall　yourself；　and　if　you　married　a　tall　maiden　and　wanted　to
give　her　a　kiss　when　she　stood　up　straight；　you　would　have　to　jump　to
reach　her　like　a　little　dog。〃

〃Your　advice　is　straight　enough；〃　said　Chrysantas；　〃and　I　am　but　a
sorry　jumper　at　the　best。〃

＇21＇　〃In　the　next　place；〃　Cyrus　went　on；　〃a　flat　nose　would　suit　you
very　well。〃

〃A　flat　nose？〃　said　the　other；　〃why？〃

〃Because　your　own　is　high　enough；　and　flatness；　you　may　be　sure；　will
go　best　with　height。〃

〃You　might　as　well　say；〃　retorted　Chrysantas；　〃that　one　who　has　dined
well；　like　myself；　is　best　matched　with　the　dinnerless。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　answered　Cyrus；　〃a　full　stomach　is　high　and　an　empty
paunch　is　flat。〃

＇22＇　〃And　now；〃　said　Chrysantas；　〃in　heaven's　name；　tell　us　the　bride
for　a　flat　king？〃

But　at　this　Cyrus　laughed　outright；　and　all　the　others　with　him。　＇23＇
And　the　laughter　still　rang　loud　when　Hystaspas　said：

〃There　is　one　thing；　Cyrus；　that　I　envy　in　your　royal　state　more　than
all　the　rest。〃

〃And　what　is　that？〃　said　Cyrus。

〃That　though　you　are　flat；　you　can　raise　a　laugh。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃what　would　you　give　to　have　as　much　said　of　you？　To
have　it　reported　on　all　sides　and　wherever　you　wished　to　stand　well
that　you　were　a　man　of　wit？〃

Thus　they　bantered　each　other　and　gave　jest　for　jest。

＇24＇　Then　Cyrus　brought　out　a　woman's　attire　and　ornaments　of　price
and　gave　them　to　Tigranes　as　a　present　for　his　wife；　because　she　had
followed　her　husband　so　manfully　to　the　war；　and　he　gave　a　golden
goblet　to　Artabazus；　and　a　horse　to　the　Hyrcanian　leader；　and　many
another　splendid　gift　among　the　company。

〃And　to　you；　Gobryas；〃　said　he；　〃I　will　give　a　husband　for　your
daughter。〃

＇25＇　〃Let　me　be　the　gift；〃　said　Hystaspas；　〃and　then　I　shall　get　those
writings。〃

〃But　have　you　a　fortune　on　your　side；〃　asked　Cyrus；　〃to　match　the
bride's？〃

〃Certainly；　I　have；〃　he　answered；　〃I　may　say　twenty　times　as　great。〃

〃And　where；〃　asked　Cyrus；　〃may　those　treasures　be？〃

〃At　the　foot　of　your　throne；〃　he　answered；　〃my　gracious　lord。〃

〃I　ask　no　more；〃　said　Gobryas；　and　held　out　his　right　hand。　〃Give　him
to　me；　Cyrus；〃　he　said；　〃I　accept　him。〃

＇26＇　At　that　Cyrus　took　the　right　hand　of　Hystaspas　and　laid　it　in　the
hand　of　Gobryas；　and　the　pledge　was　given　and　received。　Then　Cyrus
gave　beautiful　gifts　to　Hystaspas　for　his　bride；　but　he　drew
Chrysantas　to　his　breast　and　kissed　him。　＇27＇　Thereupon　Artabazus
cried：

〃Heaven　help　us；　Cyrus！　The　goblet　you　gave　me　is　not　of　the　fine　gold
you　have　given　Chrysantas　now！〃

〃Well；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃you　shall　have　the　same　one　day。〃

〃When？〃　asked　the　other。

〃Thirty　years　hence；〃　said　Cyrus。

〃I　will　wait；〃　said　Artabazus：　〃I　will　not　die：　be　ready　for　me。〃

And　then　the　banquet　came　to　an　end：　the　guests　rose；　and　Cyrus　stood
up　with　them　and　conducted　them　to　the　door。

＇28＇　But　on　the　morrow　he　arranged　that　all　the　allies　and　all　who　had
volunteered　should　be　sent　back　to　their　homes；　all　except　those　who
wished　to　take　up　their　abode　with　him。　To　these　he　gave　grants　of
land　and　houses；　still　held　by　their　descendants；　Medes　for　the
greater　part；　and　Hyrcanians。　And　to　those　who　went　home　he　gave　many
gifts　and　sent　them　away　well　content；　both　officers　and　men。　＇29＇
After　this　he　distributed　among　his　own　soldiers　all　the　wealth　he　had
taken　at　Sardis；　choice　gifts　for　the　captains　of　ten　thousand　and　for
his　own　staff　in　proportion　to　their　deserts；　and　the　rest　in　equal
shares；　delivering　to　every　captain　one　share　with　orders　to　divide　it
among　their　subordinates　as　he　had　divided　the　whole　among　them。　＇30＇
Thereupon　each　officer　gave　to　the　officers　directly　under　him；
judging　the　worth　of　each；　until　it　came　to　the　captains　of　six；　who
considered　the　cases　of　the　privates　in　their　own　squads；　and　gave
each　man　what　he　deserved：　and　thus　every　soldier　in　the　army　received
an　equitable　share。　＇31＇　But　after　the　distribution　of　it　all　there
were　some　who　said：

〃How　rich　Cyrus　must　be；　to　have　given　us　all　so　much！〃

〃Rich？〃　cried　others；　〃what　do　you　mean？　Cyrus　is　no　money…maker：　he
is　more　glad　to　give　than　to　get。〃

＇32＇　When　Cyrus　heard　of　this　talk　and　the　opinions　held　about　him；　he
gathered　together　his　friends　and　the　chief　men　of　the　state　and　spoke
as　follows：

〃Gentlemen　and　friends　of　mine；　I　have　known　men　who　were　anxious　to
have　it　thought　they　possessed　more　than　they　really　had；　thinking
this　would　give　them　an　air　of　freedom　and　nobility。　But　in　my　opinion
the　result　was　the　very　opposite　of　what　they　wished。　If　it　is　thought
that　a　man　has　great　riches　and　does　not　help　his　friends　in
proportion　to　his　wealth；　he　cannot　but　appear　ignoble　and　niggardly。
＇33＇　There　are　others；〃　he　went　on；　〃who　would　have　their　wealth
forgotten；　and　these　I　look　upon　as　traitors　to　their　friends：　for　it
must　often　happen　that　a　comrade　is　in　need　and　yet　hesitates　to　tell
them　because　he　does　not　know　how　much　they　have；　and　so　he　is　kept　in
the　dark　and　left　to　starve。　＇34＇　The　straightforward　course；　it　seems
to　me；　is　always　to　make　no　secret　of　our　own　resources；　but　to　use
them　all；　whatever　they　are；　in　our　efforts　to　win　the　crown　of
honour。　Accordingly　I　am　anxious　to　show　you　all　my　possessions　so　far
as　they　can　be　seen；　and　to　give　you　a　list　of　the　rest。〃

＇35＇　With　these　words　he　proceeded　to　point　out　his　visible　treasures；
and　he　gave　an　exact　account　of　those　that　could　not　be　shown。　He
ended　by　saying：

＇36＇　〃All　these　things；　gentlemen；　you　must　consider　yours　as　much　as
mine。　I　have　collected　them；　not　that　I　might　spend　them　on　myself　or
waste　them　in　my　own　use：　I　could　not　do　that　if　I　tried。　I　keep　them
to　reward　him　who　does　a　noble　deed；　and　to　help　any　of　you　who　may　be
in　want　of　anything；　so　that　you　may　come　to　me　and　take　what　ou
require。〃

Such　were　the　words　of　Cyrus。

＇C。5＇　But　now　that　all　was　well　in　Babylon　and　Cyrus　felt　he　might
leave　the　land；　he　began　to　prepare　for　a　march　to　Persia；　and　sent
out　orders　to　his　men。　And　when　he　had　all　he　needed；　the　steeds　were
yoked；　and　he　set　off。　＇2＇　And　here　we　will　explain　how　it　was　that　so
vast　a　host　could　unpack　and　pack　again　without　a　break　of　order；　and
take　up　a　position　with　such　speed　wherever　it　was　desired。　When　the
king　is　on　the　march　his　attendants；　of　course；　are　provided　with
tents　and　encamp　with　him；　winter　and　summer　alike。　＇3＇　From　the　first
the　Cyrus　made　it　a　custom　to　have　his　tent　pitched　facing　east；　and
later　on　he　fixed　the　space　to　be　left　between　himself　and　his
lancers；　and　then　he　stationed　his　bakers　on　the　right　and　his　cooks
on　the　left；　the　cavalry　on　the　right　again；　and　the　baggage…train　on
the　left。　Everything　else　was　so　arranged　that　each　man　knew　his　own
quarters；　their　position　and　their　size。　＇4＇　When　the　army　was　packing
up　after　a　halt；　each　man　put　together　the　baggage　he　used　himself；
and　others　placed　it　on　the　animals：　so　that　at　one　and　the　same
moment　all　his　bearers　came　to　the　baggage…train　and　each　man　laid　his
load　on　his　own　beasts。　Thus　all　the　tents　could　be　struck　in　the　same
time　as　one。　＇5＇　And　it　was　the　same　when　the　baggage　had　to　be
unpacked。　Again；　in　order　that　the　necessaries　should　be　prepared　in
time；　each　man　was　told　beforehand　what　he　had　to　do：　and　thus　all　the
divisions　could　be　provided　for　as　speedily　as　one。　＇6＇　And；　just　as
the　serving…men　had　their　appointed　places；　so　the　different　regiments
had　their　own　stations；　adapted　to　their　special　style　of　fighting；
and　each　detachment　knew　their　quarters　and　went　to　them　without
hesitation。　＇7＇　Even　in　a　private　house；　orderliness；　Cyrus　knew；　was
a　most　excellent　thing：　every　one；　if　he　needed　anything；　would　then
know　where　to　get　it；　but　he　held　it　still　more　desirable　for　the
arrangement　of　an　army；　seeing　that　the　moment　for　action　passes　far
more　quickly　in　war　and　the　evil　from　being　too　late　is　far　more
grave。　Therefore　he　gave　more　thought　and　care　to　order　and
arrangement　than　to　anything　else。

＇8＇　His　own　position；　to　begin　with；　must　be　at　the　centre　of　the
camp；　as　this　was　the　safest　place；　and　next　to　him　must　come　his　most
faithful　followers；　as　their　habit　was。　Beyond　these；　in　a　ring；　lay
the　cavalry　and　the　charioteers。　＇9＇　For　Cyrus　held　to　it　that　these
troops　also　needed　a　safe　position：　their　equipment　could　not　be　kept
at　hand　for　them；　and　if　they　were　to　be　of　any　use　at　all　they　needed
cons