cyropaedia-第7章

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fear：　none　can　say　we　covet　another　man's　goods　unlawfully。　Our　enemy
strikes　the　first　blow　in　an　unrighteous　cause；　and　our　friends　call
us　to　protect　them。　What　is　more　lawful　than　self…defence？　What　is
nobler　than　to　succour　those　we　love？　＇14＇　And　you　have　another　ground
of　confidencein　opening　this　campaign　I　have　not　been　forgetful　of
the　gods：　you　have　gone　in　and　out　with　me；　and　you　know　how　in　all
things；　great　and　small；　I　strive　to　win　their　blessing。　And　now；〃　he
added；　〃what　need　of　further　words？　I　will　leave　you　now　to　choose
your　own　men；　and　when　all　is　ready　you　will　march　into　Media　at　their
head。　Meanwhile　I　will　return　to　my　father　and　start　before　you；　so
that　I　may　learn　what　I　can　about　the　enemy　as　soon　as　may　be；　and
thus　make　all　needful　preparations；　so　that　by　God's　help　we　may　win
glory　on　the　field。〃

＇C。6＇　Such　were　his　orders　and　they　set　about　them　at　once。　But　Cyrus
himself　went　home　and　prayed　to　the　gods　of　his　father's　house；　to
Hestia　and　Zeus；　and　to　all　who　had　watched　over　his　race。　And　when　he
had　done　so；　he　set　out　for　the　war；　and　his　father　went　with　him　on
the　road。　They　were　no　sooner　clear　of　the　city；　so　says　the　story；
than　they　met　with　favourable　omens　of　thunder　and　lightning；　and
after　that　they　went　forward　without　further　divination；　for　they　felt
that　no　man　could　mistake　the　signs　from　the　Ruler　of　the　gods。　＇2＇
And　as　they　went　on　their　way　Cyrus'　father　said　to　him；　〃My　son；　the
gods　are　gracious　to　us；　and　look　with　favour　on　your　journeythey
have　shown　it　in　the　sacrifices；　and　by　their　signs　from　heaven。　You
do　not　need　another　man　to　tell　you　so；　for　I　was　careful　to　have　you
taught　this　art；　so　that　you　might　understand　the　counsels　of　the　gods
yourself　and　have　no　need　of　an　interpreter；　seeing　with　your　own　eyes
and　hearing　with　your　own　ears　and　taking　the　heavenly　meaning　for
yourself。　Thus　you　need　not　be　at　the　mercy　of　any　soothsayers　who
might　have　a　mind　to　deceive　you；　speaking　contrary　to　the　omens
vouchsafed　from　heaven；　nor　yet；　should　you　chance　to　be　without　a
seer；　drift　in　perplexity　and　know　not　how　to　profit　by　the　heavenly
signs：　you　yourself　through　your　own　learning　can　understand　the
warnings　of　the　gods　and　follow　them。〃

＇3＇　〃Yes；　father；〃　answered　Cyrus；　〃so　far　as　in　me　lies；　I　bear　your
words　in　mind；　and　pray　to　the　gods　continually　that　they　may　show　us
favour　and　vouchsafe　to　counsel　us。　I　remember；〃　he　went　on；　〃how　once
I　heard　you　say　that；　as　with　men；　so　with　the　gods；　it　was　but
natural　if　the　prayer　of　him　should　prevail　who　did　not　turn　to
flatter　them　only　in　time　of　need；　but　was　mindful　of　them　above　all
in　the　heyday　of　his　happiness。　It　was　thus　indeed；　you　said；　that　we
ought　to　deal　with　our　earthly　friends。〃　＇4＇　〃True；　my　son；〃　said　his
father；　〃and　because　of　all　my　teaching；　you　can　now　approach　the　gods
in　prayer　with　a　lighter　heart　and　a　more　confident　hope　that　they
will　grant　you　what　you　ask；　because　your　conscience　bears　you　witness
that　you　have　never　forgotten　them。〃　〃Even　so；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃and　in
truth　I　feel　towards　them　as　though　they　were　my　friends。〃　＇5＇　〃And　do
you　remember；〃　asked　his　father；　〃certain　other　conclusions　on　which
we　were　agreed？　How　we　felt　there　were　certain　things　that　the　gods
had　permitted　us　to　attain　through　learning　and　study　and　training？
The　accomplishment　of　these　is　the　reward　of　effort；　not　of　idleness；
in　these　it　is　only　when　we　have　done　all　that　it　is　our　duty　to　do
that　we　are　justified　in　asking　for　blessings　from　the　gods。〃　＇6＇　〃I
remember　very　well；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃that　you　used　to　talk　to　me　in　that
way：　and　indeed　I　could　not　but　agree　with　the　arguments　you　gave。　You
used　to　say　that　a　man　had　no　right　to　pray　he　might　win　a　cavalry
charge　if　he　had　never　learnt　how　to　ride；　or　triumph　over　master…
bowmen　if　he　could　not　draw　a　bow；　or　bring　a　ship　safe　home　to
harbour　if　he　did　not　know　how　to　steer；　or　be　rewarded　with　a
plenteous　harvest　if　he　had　not　so　much　as　sown　grain　into　the　ground；
or　come　home　safe　from　battle　if　he　took　no　precautions　whatsoever。
All　such　prayers　as　these；　you　said；　were　contrary　to　the　very
ordinances　of　heaven；　and　those　who　asked　for　things　forbidden　could
not　be　surprised　if　they　failed　to　win　them　from　the　gods。　Even　as　a
petition　in　the　face　of　law　on　earth　would　have　no　success　with　men。〃

＇7＇　〃And　do　you　remember；〃　said　his　father；　〃how　we　thought　that　it
would　be　a　noble　work　enough　if　a　man　could　train　himself　really　and
truly　to　be　beautiful　and　brave　and　earn　all　he　needed　for　his
household　and　himself？　That；　we　said；　was　a　work　of　which　a　man　might
well　be　proud；　but　if　he　went　further　still；　if　he　had　the　skill　and
the　science　to　be　the　guide　and　governor　of　other　men；　supplying　all
their　wants　and　making　them　all　they　ought　to　be；　that；　it　seemed　to
us；　would　be　indeed　a　marvel。〃　＇8＇　〃Yes；　my　father；〃　answered　Cyrus；
〃I　remember　it　very　well。　I　agreed　with　you　that　to　rule　well　and
nobly　was　the　greatest　of　all　works；　and　I　am　of　the　same　mind　still；〃
he　went　on；　〃whenever　I　think　of　government　in　itself。　But　when　I　look
on　the　world　at　large；　when　I　see　of　what　poor　stuff　those　men　are
made　who　contrive　to　uphold　their　rule　and　what　sort　of　antagonists　we
are　likely　to　find　in　them；　then　I　can　only　feel　how　disgraceful　it
would　be　to　cringe　before　them　and　not　to　face　them　myself　and　try
conclusions　with　them　on　the　field。　All　of　them；　I　perceive；〃　he
added；　〃beginning　with　our　own　friends　here；　hold　to　it　that　the　ruler
should　only　differ　from　his　subjects　by　the　splendour　of　his　banquets；
the　wealth　of　gold　in　his　coffers；　the　length　and　depth　of　his
slumbers；　and　his　freedom　from　trouble　and　pain。　But　my　views　are
different：　I　hold　that　the　ruler　should　be　marked　out　from　other　men；
not　by　taking　life　easily；　but　by　his　forethought　and　his　wisdom　and
his　eagerness　for　work。〃　＇9＇　〃True；　my　son；〃　the　father　answered；　〃but
you　know　the　struggle　must　in　part　be　waged　not　against　flesh　and
blood　but　against　circumstances；　and　these　may　not　be　overcome　so
easily。　You　know；　I　take　it；　that　if　supplies　were　not　forthcoming；
farewell　to　this　government　of　yours。〃　〃Yes；〃　Cyrus　answered；　〃and
that　is　why　Cyaxares　is　undertaking　to　provide　for　all　of　us　who　join
him；　whatever　our　numbers　are。〃　〃So；〃　said　the　father；　〃and　you　really
mean；　my　son；　that　you　are　relying　only　on　these　supplies　of　Cyaxares
for　this　campaign　of　yours？〃　〃Yes；〃　answered　Cyrus。　〃And　do　you　know
what　they　amount　to？〃　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　cannot　say　that　I　do。〃　〃And
yet；〃　his　father　went　on；　〃you　are　prepared　to　rely　on　what　you　do　not
know？　Do　you　forget　that　the　needs　of　the　morrow　must　be　high；　not　to
speak　of　the　outlay　for　the　day？〃　〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃I　am　well
aware　of　that。〃　〃Well；〃　said　the　father；　〃suppose　the　cost　is　more
than　Cyaxares　can　bear；　or　suppose　he　actually　meant　to　deceive　you；
how　would　your　soldiers　fare？〃　〃Ill　enough；　no　doubt；〃　answered　he。
〃And　now　tell　me；　father；　while　we　are　still　in　friendly　country；　if
you　know　of　any　resources　that　I　could　make　my　own？〃　＇10＇　〃You　want　to
know　where　you　could　find　resources　of　your　own？〃　repeated　his　father。
〃And　who　is　to　find　that　out；　if　not　he　who　holds　the　keys　of　power？
We　have　given　you　a　force　of　infantry　that　you　would　not　exchange；　I
feel　sure；　for　one　that　was　more　than　twice　its　size；　and　you　will
have　the　cavalry　of　Media　to　support　you；　the　finest　in　the　world。　I
conceive　there　are　none　of　the　nations　round　about　who　will　not　be
ready　to　serve　you；　whether　to　win　your　favour　or　because　they　fear
disaster。　These　are　matters　you　must　look　into　carefully；　in　concert
with　Cyaxares；　so　that　nothing　should　ever　fail　you　of　what　you　need；
and；　if　only　for　habit's　sake；　you　should　devise　some　means　for
supplying　your　revenue。　Bear　this　maxim　in　mind　before　all　others
never　put　off　the　collecting　of　supplies　until　the　day　of　need；　make
the　season　of　your　abundance　provide　against　the　time　of　dearth。　You
will　gain　better　terms　from　those　on　whom　you　must　depend　if　you　are
not　thought　to　be　in　straits；　and；　what　is　more；　you　will　be　free　from
blame　in　the　eyes　of　your　soldiers。　That　in　itself　will　make　you　more
respected；　wherever　you　desire　to　help　or　to　hurt；　your　troops　will
follow　you　with　greater　readiness；　so　long　as　they　have　all　they　need；
and　your　words；　you　may　be　sure；　will　carry　the　greater　weight　the
fuller　your　display　of　power　for　weal　or　woe。〃

＇11＇　〃Yes；　father；〃　Cyrus　said；　〃I　feel　all　you　say　is　true；　and　the
more　because　as　things　now　stand　none　of　my　soldiers　will　thank　me　for
the　pay　that　is　promised　them。　They　are　well　aware　of　the　terms
Cyaxares　has　offered　for　their　help：　but　whatever　they　get　over　and
above　the　covenanted　amount　they　will　look　upon　as　a　free　gift；　and
for　that　they　will；　in　all　likelihood；　feel　most　gratitude　to　the
giver。〃　〃True；〃　said　the　father；　〃and　really　for　a　man　to　have　a　force
with　which　he　could　serve　his　friends　and　take　vengeance　on　his　foes；
and　yet　neglect　the　supplies　for　it；　would　be　as　disgraceful；　would　it
not？　as　for　a　farmer　to　hold　lands　and　labourers　and　yet　allow　fields
to　lie　barren　for　lack　of　tillage。〃

〃No　such　neglect；〃　answered　the　son；　〃shall　ever　be　laid　at　my　door。
Through　friendly　lands　or　hostile；　trust　me；　in　this　business　of
supplying　my　troops　with　all　they　need　I　will　always　play　my　part。〃

＇12＇　〃Well；　my　son；〃　the　father　resumed；　〃and　do　you　remember　certain
other　points　which　we　agreed　must　never　be　overlooked？〃　〃Could　I
forget　them？〃　answered　Cyrus。　〃I　remember　how　I　came　to　you　for　money
to　pay　the　teacher　who　professed　to　have　taught　me　generalship；　and
you　gave　it　me；　but　you　asked　me　many　questions。　'Now；　my　boy；'　you
said；　'did　this　teacher　you　want　to　pay　ever　mention　economy　among　the
things　a　general　ought　to　understand？　Soldiers；　no　less　than　servants
in　a　house；　are　dependent　on　supplies。'　And　I　was　forced　to　tell　the
truth　and　admit　that　not　a　syllable　had　been　mentioned　on　that　score。
Then　you　asked　me　if　anything　had　been　taught　about　health　and
strength；　since　a　true　general　is　bound　to　think　of　these　matters　no
less　than　of　tactics　and　strategy。　And　when　I　was　forced　to　say　no；
you　asked　me　if　he　had　taught　me　any　of　the　arts　which　give　the　best
aid　in　war。　Once　again　I　had　to　say　no　and　then　you　asked　whether　he
had　ever　taught　me　how　to　kindle　enthusiasm　in　my　men。　For　in　every
undertaking；　you　said；　there　was　all　the　difference　in　the　world
between　energy　and　lack　of　spirit。　I　shook　my　head　and　your
examination　went　on：Had　this　teacher　laid　no　stress　on　the　need　for
obedience　in　an　army；　or　on　the　best　means　of　securing　discipline？
＇14＇　And　finally；　when　it　was　plain　that　even　this　had　been　utterly
ignored；　you　exclaimed；　'What　in　the　world；　then；　does　your　professor
claim　to　have　taught　you　under　the　name　of　generalship？'　To　that　I
could　at　last　give　a　positive　answer：　'He　taught　me　tactics。'　And　then
you　gave　a　little　laugh　and　ran　through　your　list　point　by　point：
'And　pray　what　will　be　the　use　of　tactics　to　an　army　without　supplies；
without　health；　without　discipline；　without　knowledge　of　those　arts
and　inventions　that　are　of　use　i