cyropaedia-第56章

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Or　where　is　reverence　so　beautiful？　And　remember；　Cambyses；　only　the
brother　who　holds　pre…eminence　in　a　brother's　heart　can　be　safe　from
the　jealousy　of　the　world。　＇17＇　I　implore　you　both；　my　sons；　by　the
gods　of　our　fathers；　hold　each　other　in　honour；　if　you　care　at　all　to
do　me　pleasure：　and　none　of　you　can　say　you　know　that　I　shall　cease　to
be　when　I　cease　to　live　this　life　of　ours。　With　your　bodily　eyes　you
have　never　seen　my　soul；　and　yet　you　have　discerned　its　presence
through　its　working。　＇18＇　And　have　you　never　marked　the　terrors　which
the　spirits　of　those　who　have　suffered　wrong　can　send　into　the　hearts
of　their　murderers；　and　the　avenging　furies　they　let　loose　upon　the
wicked？　Think　you　the　honours　of　the　dead　would　still　abide；　if　the
souls　of　the　departed　were　altogether　powerless？　＇19＇　Never　yet；　my
sons；　could　I　be　persuaded　that　the　soul　only　lives　so　long　as　she
dwells　within　this　mortal　body；　and　falls　dead　so　soon　as　she　is　quit
of　that。　Nay；　I　see　for　myself　that　it　is　the　soul　which　lends　life　to
it；　while　she　inhabits　there。　＇20＇　I　cannot　believe　that　she　must　lose
all　sense　on　her　separation　from　the　senseless　body；　but　rather　that
she　will　reach　her　highest　wisdom　when　she　is　set　free；　pure　and
untrammelled　at　last。　And　when　this　body　crumbles　in　dissolution；　we
see　the　several　parts　thereof　return　to　their　kindred　elements；　but　we
do　not　see　the　soul；　whether　she　stays　or　whether　she　departs。　＇21＇
Consider；〃　he　went　on；　〃how　these　two　resemble　one　another；　Death　and
his　twin…brother　Sleep；　and　it　is　in　sleep　that　the　soul　of　a　man
shows　her　nature　most　divine；　and　is　able　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　what
is　about　to　be；　for　it　is　then；　perhaps；　that　she　is　nearest　to　her
freedom。　＇22＇　Therefore；　if　these　things　are　as　I　believe；　and　the
spirit　leaves　the　body　behind　and　is　set　free；　reverence　my　soul；　O
sons　of　mine；　and　do　as　I　desire。　And　even　if　it　be　not　so；　if　the
spirit　must　stay　with　the　body　and　perish；　yet　the　everlasting　gods
abide；　who　behold　all　things；　with　whom　is　all　power；　who　uphold　the
order　of　this　universe；　unmarred；　unaging；　unerring；　unfathomable　in
beauty　and　in　splendour。　Fear　them；　my　sons；　and　never　yield　to　sin　or
wickedness；　in　thought　or　word　or　deed。　＇23＇　And　after　the　gods；　I
would　have　you　reverence　the　whole　race　of　man；　as　it　renews　itself
for　ever；　for　the　gods　have　not　hidden　you　in　the　darkness；　but　your
deeds　will　be　manifest　in　the　eyes　of　all　mankind；　and　if　they　be
righteous　deeds　and　pure　from　iniquity；　they　will　blazon　forth　your
power：　but　if　you　meditate　evil　against　each　other；　you　will　forfeit
the　confidence　of　every　man。　For　no　man　can　trust　you；　even　though　he
should　desire　it；　if　he　sees　you　wrong　him　whom　above　all　you　are
bound　to　love。　＇24＇　Therefore；　if　my　words　are　strong　enough　to　teach
you　your　duty　to　one　another；　it　is　well。　But；　if　not；　let　history
teach　you；　and　there　is　no　better　teacher。　For　the　most　part；　parents
have　shown　kindness　to　their　children　and　brothers　to　their　brothers；
but　it　has　been　otherwise　with　some。　Look；　then；　and　see　which　conduct
has　brought　success；　choose　to　follow　that；　and　your　choice　will　be
wise。　＇25＇　And　now　maybe　I　have　said　enough　of　this。　As　for　my　body；
when　I　am　dead；　I　would　not　have　you　lay　it　up　in　gold　or　silver　or
any　coffin　whatsoever；　but　give　it　back　to　the　earth　with　all　speed。
What　could　be　more　blessed　than　to　lie　in　the　lap　of　Earth；　the　mother
of　all　things　beautiful；　the　nurse　of　all　things　good？　I　have　been　a
lover　of　men　all　my　life；　and　methinks　I　would　fain　become　a　part　of
that　which　does　good　to　man。　＇26＇　And　now；〃　he　added；　〃now　it　seems　to
me　that　my　life　begins　to　ebb；　I　feel　my　spirit　slipping　away　from
those　parts　she　leaves　the　first。　If　you　would　take　my　hand　once　more；
or　look　into　my　eyes　while　life　is　there；　draw　near　me　now；　but　when　I
have　covered　my　face；　let　no　man　look　on　me　again；　not　even　you；　my
sons。　＇27＇　But　you　shall　bid　the　Persians　come；　and　all　our　allies；　to
my　sepulchre；　and　you　shall　rejoice　with　me　and　congratulate　me　that　I
am　safe　at　last；　free　from　suffering　or　sorrow；　whether　I　am　with　God
or　whether　I　have　ceased　to　be。　Give　all　who　come　the　entertainment
that　is　fitting　in　honour　of　a　man　whose　life　on　earth　was　happy；　and
so　send　them　away。　＇28＇　Remember　my　last　saying：　show　kindness　to　your
friends；　and　then　shall　you　have　it　in　your　power　to　chastise　your
enemies。　Good…bye；　my　dear　sons；　bid　your　mother　good…bye　for　me。　And
all　my　friends；　who　are　here　or　far　away；　good…bye。〃

And　with　these　words　he　gave　his　hand　to　them；　and　then　he　covered　his
face　and　died。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　EPILOGUE

＇C。8＇　Of　all　the　powers　in　Asia；　the　kingdom　of　Cyrus　showed　itself　to
be　the　greatest　and　most　glorious。　On　the　east　it　was　bounded　by　the
Red　Sea；　on　the　north　by　the　Euxine；　on　the　west　by　Cyprus　and　Egypt；
and　on　the　south　by　Ethiopia。　And　yet　the　whole　of　this　enormous
empire　was　governed　by　the　mind　and　will　of　a　single　man；　Cyrus：　his
subjects　he　cared　for　and　cherished　as　a　father　might　care　for　his
children；　and　they　who　came　beneath　his　rule　reverenced　him　like　a
father。

＇2＇　But　no　sooner　was　he　dead　than　his　sons　were　at　strife；　cities　and
nations　revolted；　and　all　things　began　to　decay。　I　can　show　that　what
I　say　is　true；　and　first　I　will　speak　of　their　impiety。　In　the　early
days；　I　am　aware；　the　king　and　those　beneath　him　never　failed　to　keep
the　oaths　they　had　sworn　and　fulfil　the　promises　they　had　given；　even
to　the　worst　of　criminals。　＇3＇　In　fact；　if　such　had　not　been　their
character　and　such　their　reputation；　none　of　the　Hellenic　generals　who
marched　up　with　the　younger　Cyrus　could　have　felt　the　confidence　they
did：　they　would　not　have　trusted　a　Persian　any　more　than　one　trusts
them　to…day；　now　that　their　perfidy　is　known。　As　it　was；　they　relied
on　their　old　reputation　and　put　themselves　in　their　power；　and　many
were　taken　up　to　the　king　and　there　beheaded。　And　many　of　the　Asiatics
who　served　in　the　same　war　perished　as　they　did；　deluded　by　one
promise　or　another。

＇4＇　In　other　ways　also　the　Persians　have　degenerated。　Noble
achievement　in　the　old　days　was　the　avenue　to　fame：　the　man　was
honoured　who　risked　his　life　for　the　king；　or　brought　a　city　or　nation
beneath　his　sway。　But　now；　if　some　Mithridates　has　betrayed　his　father
Ariobarzanes；　or　some　Reomithres　has　left　his　wife　and　children　and
the　sons　of　his　friend　as　hostages　at　the　court　of　Egypt；　and　then　has
broken　the　most　solemn　of　all　pledgesit　is　they　and　their　like　who
are　loaded　with　the　highest　honours；　if　only　they　are　thought　to　have
gained　some　advantage　for　the　king。　＇5＇　With　such　examples　before
them；　all　the　Asiatics　have　turned　to　injustice　and　impiety。　For　what
the　leaders　are；　that；　as　a　rule；　will　the　men　below　them　be。　Thus　has
lawlessness　increased　and　grown　among　them。　＇6＇　And　injustice　has
grown；　and　thieving。　Not　only　criminals；　but　men　who　are　absolutely
innocent　are　arrested　and　forced　to　pay　fines　for　no　reason
whatsoever：　to　be　known　to　have　wealth　is　more　dangerous　than　guilt；
so　that　the　rich　do　not　care　to　have　any　dealings　with　the　powerful；
and　dare　not　even　risk　appearing　at　the　muster　of　the　royal　troops。
＇7＇　Therefore；　when　any　man　makes　war　on　Persia；　whoever　he　may　be；　he
can　roam　up　and　down　the　country　to　his　heart's　content　without
striking　a　blow；　because　they　have　forgotten　the　gods　and　are　unjust
to　their　fellow…men。　In　every　way　their　hearts　and　minds　are　lower
than　in　days　gone　by。

＇8＇　Nor　do　they　care　for　their　bodies　as　they　did　of　old。　It　was
always　their　custom　neither　to　spit　nor　blow　the　nose；　only　it　is
clear　this　was　instituted　not　from　concern　for　the　humours　of　the
body；　but　in　order　to　strengthen　themselves　by　toil　and　sweat。　But
nowadays；　though　this　habit　is　still　in　vogue；　to　harden　the　body　by
exercise　has　quite　gone　out　of　fashion。　＇9＇　Again；　from　the　first　it
was　their　rule　only　to　take　a　single　meal　in　the　day；　which　left　them
free　to　give　their　time　to　business　and　exercise。　The　single　meal　is
still　the　rule；　but　it　commences　at　the　earliest　hour　ever　chosen　for
breakfast；　and　the　eating　and　drinking　goes　on　till　the　last　moment
which　the　latest　reveller　would　choose　for　bed。　＇10＇　It　was　always
forbidden　to　bring　chamber…pots　into　the　banquet…hall；　but　the　reason
lay　in　their　belief　that　the　right　way　to　keep　body　and　brain　from
weakness　was　to　avoid　drinking　in　excess。　But　to…day；　though　as　in　the
old　time　no　such　vessels　may　be　carried　in；　they　drink　so　deep　that
they　themselves　are　carried　out；　too　weak　to　stand　on　their　own　legs。
＇11＇　It　was　a　national　custom　from　the　first　not　to　eat　and　drink　on
the　march　nor　be　seen　satisfying　the　wants　of　nature；　but　nowadays；
though　they　still　abstain；　they　make　each　march　so　short　that　no　man
need　wonder　at　their　abstinence。

＇12＇　In　the　old　time　they　went　out　to　hunt　so　often　that　the　chase
gave　enough　exercise　and　training　for　man　and　horse　alike。　But　when
the　day　came　that　Artaxerxes　and　all　his　court　were　the　worse　for
wine；　the　old　custom　of　the　king　leading　the　hunt　in　person　began　to
pass　away。　And　if　any　eager　spirits　hunted　with　their　own　followers　it
was　easy　to　see　the　jealousy；　and　even　the　hatred；　aroused　by　such
superiority。

＇13＇　It　is　still　the　habit　to　bring　up　the　boys　at　the　palace…gates；
but　fine　horsemanship　has　disappeared；　for　there　is　no　place　where　the
lads　can　win　applause　by　their　skill。　The　old　belief　that　the　children
of　Persia　would　learn　justice　by　hearing　the　judges　decide　the　cases
has　been　turned　upside　down：　the　children　have　only　to　use　their　eyes
and　they　see　that　the　verdict　goes　to　the　man　with　the　longest　purse。
＇14＇　Children　in　former　times　were　taught　the　properties　of　plants　in
order　to　use　the　wholesome　and　avoid　the　harmful；　but　now　they　seem　to
learn　it　for　the　mere　sake　of　doing　harm：　at　any　rate；　there　is　no
country　where　deaths　from　poison　are　so　common。　＇15＇　And　the　Persian
to…day　is　far　more　luxurious　than　he　was　in　the　time　of　Cyrus。　Then
they　still　clung　to　the　Persian　style　of　education　and　the　Persian
self…restraint；　merely　adopting　the　Median　dress　and　a　certain　grace
of　life。　But　now　the　old　Persian　hardihood　may　perish　for　all　they
care；　if　only　they　preserve　the　softness　of　the　Mede。　＇16＇　I　might
give　instances　of　their　luxury。　They　are　not　content　with　soft　sheets
and　rugs　for　their　beds；　they　must　have　carpets　laid　under　the　bed…
posts　to　prevent　any　jarring　from　the　floor。　They　have　given　up　none
of　the　cooked　dishes　invented　in　former　days；　on　the　contrary；　they
are　always　devising　new　ones；　and　condiments　to　boot：　in　fact；　they
keep　men　for　the　very　purpose。　＇17＇　In　the　winter　it　is　not　enough　to
have　the　body　covered；　and　the　head　and　the　feet；　they　must　have　warm
sleeves　as　well　and　gloves　for　the　hands：　and　in　the　summer　they　are
not　content　with　the　shade　from　the　trees　or　the　rocks；　they　must　have
servants　standing　beside　them　with　artificial　screens。　＇18＇　To　have　an
endless　array　of　cups　and　goblets　is　their　special　pride：　and　if　these
are　come　by　unjustly；　and　all　the　world　knows　it；　why；　there　is
nothing　to　blush　for　in　that：　injustice　has　grown　too　common