the common people。 In the end it was agreed by all the company that
the question should be raised； and that every one who claimed to call
himself a man was bound to argue in its favour。
＇22＇ And on that one of the brigadiers smiled to himself and said： 〃I
know at least one son of the soil who will be ready to agree that the
principle of share and share alike should not be followed everywhere。〃
〃And who is he？〃 another asked。
〃Well；〃 said the first； 〃he is a member of our quarters； I can tell
you that； and he is always hunting after the lion's share of every
single thing。〃
〃What？ Of everything？〃 said a third。 〃Of work as well？〃 〃Oh； no！〃 said
the first； 〃you have caught me there。 I was wrong to say so much； I
must confess。 When it comes to work； I must admit； he is quite ready
to go short： he will give up his own share of that； without a murmur；
to any man whatever。〃
＇23＇ 〃For my part； gentlemen；〃 said Cyrus； 〃I hold that all such
idlers ought to be turned out of the army； that is； if we are ever to
cultivate obedience and energy in our men。 The bulk of our soldiers； I
take it； are of the type to follow a given lead： they will seek after
nobleness and valour if their leaders are valiant and noble； but after
baseness if these are base。 ＇24＇ And we know that only too often the
worthless will find more friends than the good。 Vice； passing lightly
along her path of pleasure； wins the hearts of thousands with her
gifts； but Virtue； toiling up the steep ascent； has little skill to
snare the souls of men and draw them after her； when all the while
their comrades are calling to them on the easy downward way。 ＇25＇ It
is true there are degrees； and where the evil springs only from sloth
and lethargy； I look on the creatures as mere drones； only injuring
the hive by what they cost： but there are others； backward in toil and
forward in greed； and these are the captains in villainy： for not
seldom can they show that rascality has its advantages。 Such as they
must be removed； cut out from among us； root and branch。 ＇26＇ And I
would not have you fill their places from our fellow…citizens alone；
but； just as you choose your horses from the best stocks； wherever you
find them； not limiting yourselves to the national breed； so you have
all mankind before you； and you should choose those； and those only；
who will increase your power and add to your honour。 Let me clinch my
argument by examples： no chariot can travel fast if the horses in the
team are slow； or run straight if they will not be ruled； no house can
stand firm if the household is evil： better empty walls than traitors
who will bring it to the ground。
＇27＇ 〃And be sure； my friends；〃 he added； 〃the removal of the bad
means a benefit beyond the sheer relief that they are taken away and
will trouble us no more： those who are left and were ripe for
contagion are purified； and those who were worthy will cleave to
virtue all the closer when they see the dishonour that falls on
wickedness。〃
＇28＇ So Cyrus spoke； and his words won the praise of all his friends；
and they set themselves to do as he advised。
But after that Cyrus began to jest again。 His eye fell on a certain
captain who had chosen for his comrade at the feast a great hairy lad；
a veritable monster of ugliness； and Cyrus called to the captain by
name： 〃How now； Sambulas？ Have you adopted the Hellenic fashion too？
And will you roam the world together； you and the lad who sits beside
you； because there is none so fair as he？〃 〃By heaven；〃 answered
Sambulas； 〃you are not far wrong。 It is bliss to me to feast my eyes
upon him。〃 ＇29＇ At that all the guests turned and looked on the young
man's face； but when they saw how ugly it was； they could not help
laughing outright。 〃Heavens； Sambulas； tell us the valiant deed that
knit your souls together！ How has he drawn you to himself？〃 ＇30＇
〃Listen then；〃 he answered； 〃and I will tell you the whole truth。
Every time I call him； morning； noon； or night； he comes to me； never
yet has he excused himself； never been too busy to attend； and he
comes at a run； he does not walk。 Whatever I have bidden him do； he
has always done it； and at the top of his speed。 He has made all the
petty captains under him the very models of industry； he shows them；
not by word but deed； what they ought to be。〃 ＇31＇ 〃And so；〃 said
another； 〃for all these virtues you give him； I take it； the kiss of
kinship？〃 But the ugly lad broke out： 〃Not he！ He has no great love
for work。 And to kiss me； if it came to that； would mean more effort
than all his exercises。〃
＇C。3＇ So the hours passed in the general's tent； from grave to gay；
until at last the third libation was poured out； and the company bent
in prayer to the gods〃Grant us all that is good〃and so broke up；
and went away to sleep。
But the next day Cyrus assembled the soldiers in full conclave； and
spoke to them： ＇2＇ 〃My men；〃 he said； 〃my friends； the day of struggle
is at hand； and the enemy are near。 The prizes of victory； if victory
is to be oursand we must believe it will be ours； we must make it
oursthe prizes of victory will be nothing short of the enemy himself
and all that he possesses。 And if the victory should be his； then； in
like manner； all the goods of the vanquished must lie at the victor's
feet。 ＇3＇ Therefore I would have you take this to your hearts：
wherever those who have joined together for war remember that unless
each and every one of them play his part with zeal nothing good can
follow； there we may look for glorious success。 For there nothing that
ought to be done will be left undone。 But if each man thinks 'My
neighbour will toil and fight； even though my own heart should fail
and my own arm fall slack；' then； believe me； disaster is at the door
for each and all alike； and no man shall escape。 ＇4＇ Such is the
ordinance of God： those who will not work out their own salvation he
gives into the hands of other men to bear rule over them。 And now I
call on any man here；〃 he added； 〃to stand up and say whether he
believes that virtue will best be nourished among us if he who bears
the greatest toil and takes the heaviest risk shall receive the
highest honours。 Or whether we should hold that cowardice makes no
difference in the end； seeing that we all must share alike？〃
＇5＇ Thereupon Chrysantas of the Peers rose up。 He was a man of
understanding； but his bodily presence was weak。 And now he spoke
thus：
〃I do not imagine； Cyrus； that you put this question with any belief
that cowards ought really to receive the same share as the brave。 No；
you wished to make trial of us and see whether any man would dare to
claim an equal part in all that his fellows win by their nobleness；
though he never struck a single valiant stroke himself。 ＇6＇ I myself；〃
he continued； 〃am neither fleet of foot nor stout of limb； and for
aught I can do with my body； I perceive that on the day of trial
neither the first place nor the second can be mine； no； nor yet the
hundredth； nor even； it may be； the thousandth。 But this I know right
well； that if our mighty men put forth all their strength； I too shall
receive such portion of our blessings as I may deserve。 But if the
cowards sit at ease and the good and brave are out of heart； then I
fear that I shall get a portion； a larger than I care to think； of
something that is no blessing but a curse。〃
＇7＇ And so spoke Chrysantas； and then Pheraulas stood up。 He was a man
of the people； but well known to Cyrus in the old days at home and
well…beloved by him： no mean figure to look at； and in soul like a man
of noble birth。 Now he spoke as follows：
＇8＇ 〃Cyrus； friends； and Persians； I hold to the belief that on this
day we all start equal in that race where valour is the goal。 I speak
of what I see： we are trained on the same fare； we are held worthy of
the same comradeship； we contend for the same rewards。 All of us alike
are told to obey our leaders； and he who obeys most frankly never
fails to meet with honour at the hands of Cyrus。 Valour is no longer
the privilege of one class alone： it has become the fairest prize that
can fall to the lot of any man。 ＇9＇ And to…day a battle is before us
where no man need teach us how to fight： we have the trick of it by
nature； as a bull knows how to use his horns； or a horse his hoofs； or
a dog his teeth； or a wild boar his tusks。 The animals know well
enough；〃 he added； 〃when and where to guard themselves： they need no
master to tell them that。 ＇10＇ I myself； when I was a little lad； I
knew by instinct how to shield myself from the blow I saw descending：
if I had nothing else； I had my two fists； and used them with all my
force against my foe： no one taught me how to do it； on the contrary
they beat me if they saw me clench my fists。 And a knife； I remember；
I never could resist： I clutched the thing whenever I caught sight of
it： not a soul showed me how to hold it； only nature herself； I do
aver。 I did it； not because I was taught to do it； but in spite of
being forbidden； like many another thing to which nature drove me； in
spite of my father and mother both。 Yes； and I was never tired of
hacking and hewing with my knife whenever I got the chance： it did not
seem merely natural； like walking or running； it was positive joy。
＇11＇ Well； to…day we are to fight in this same simple fashion： energy；
rather than skill； is called for； and glorious it will be to match
ourselves against our friends； the Peers of Persia。 And let us
remember that the same prizes are offered to us all； but the stakes
differ： our friends give up a life of honour； the sweetest life there
can be； but we escape from years of toil and ignominy； and there can
be no life worse than that。 ＇12＇ And what fires me most of all； my
friends； and sends me into the lists most gladly； is the thought that
Cyrus will be our judge： one who will give no partial verdict。 I call
the gods to witness when I say that he loves a valiant man as he loves
his own soul： I have seen him give such an one more than he ever keeps
for himself。 ＇13＇ And now；〃 he added； 〃I know that our friends here
pride themselves upon their breeding and what it has done for them。
They have been brought up to e