pride themselves upon their breeding and what it has done for them。
They have been brought up to endure hunger and thirst； cold and
nakedness； and yet they are aware that we too have been trained in the
self…same school and by a better master than they： we were taught by
Necessity； and there is no teacher so good； and none so strict。 ＇14＇
How did our friends here learn their endurance？ By bearing arms；
weapons of war； tools that the wit of the whole human race has made as
light as well could be： but Necessity drove us； my fellows and myself；
to stagger under burdens so heavy that to…day； if I may speak for
myself； these weapons of mine seem rather wings to lift me than
weights to bear。 ＇15＇ I for one am ready； Cyrus； to enter the lists；
and； however I prove； I will ask from you no more than I deserve： I
would have you believe this。 And you；〃 he added； turning to his
fellows； 〃you； men of the people； I would have you plunge into the
battle and match yourselves with these gentlemen…warriors： the fine
fellows must meet us now； for this is the people's day。〃
＇16＇ That is what Pheraulas said； and many rose to follow him and
support his views。 And it was resolved that each man should be
honoured according to his deserts and that Cyrus should be the judge。
So the matter ended； and all was well。
＇17＇ Now Cyrus gave a banquet and a certain brigadier was the chief
guest； and his regiment with him。 Cyrus had marked the officer one day
when he was drilling his men； he had drawn up the ranks in two
divisions； opposite each other； ready for the charge。 They were all
wearing corslets and carrying light shields； but half were equipped
with stout staves of fennel； and half were ordered to snatch up clods
of earth and do what they could with these。 ＇18＇ When all were ready；
the officer gave the signal and the artillery began； not without
effect： the missiles fell fast on shields and corslets； on thighs and
greaves。 But when they came to close quarters the men of the staves
had their turn： they struck at thighs and hands and legs； or； if the
adversary stooped and twisted； they belaboured back and shoulders；
till they put the foe to utter rout； delivering their blows with
shouts of laughter and the glee of boys。 Then there was an exchange of
weapons； and the other side had their revenge： they took the staves in
their turn； and once more the staff triumphed over the clod。 ＇19＇
Cyrus was full of admiration； partly at the inventiveness of the
commander； partly at the discipline of the men； it was good to see the
active exercise； and the gaiety of heart； and good to know that the
upshot of the battle favoured those who fought in the Persian style。
In every way he was pleased； and then and there he bade them all to
dinner。 But at the feast many of the guests wore bandages； some on
their hands； others on their legs； and Cyrus saw it and asked what had
befallen them。 They told him they had been bruised by the clods。 ＇20＇
〃At close quarters？〃 said he； 〃or at long range？〃 〃At long range；〃
they answered； and all the club…bearers agreed that when it came to
close quarters； they had the finest sport。 But here those who had been
carbonaded by that weapon broke in and protested loudly that it was
anything but sport to be clubbed at short range； and in proof thereof
they showed the weals on hand and neck and face。 Thus they laughed at
one another as soldiers will； and on the next day the whole plain was
studded with combats of this type； and whenever the army had nothing
more serious in hand； this sport was their delight。
＇21＇ Another day Cyrus noticed a brigadier who was marching his
regiment up from the river back to their quarters。 They were advancing
in single file on his left； and at the proper moment he ordered the
second company to wheel round and draw up to the front alongside the
first； and then the third； and then the fourth； and when the company…
captains were all abreast； he passed the word along； 〃Companies in
twos；〃 and the captains…of…ten came into line； and then at the right
moment he gave the order； 〃Companies in fours；〃 and the captains of
five wheeled round and came abreast； and when they reached the tent
doors he called a halt； made them fall into single file once more； and
marched the first company in first； and then the second at its heels；
and the third and fourth behind them； and as he introduced them； he
seated them at the table； keeping the order of their entry。 What Cyrus
commended was the quiet method of instruction and the care the officer
showed； and it was for that he invited him and all his regiment to
dinner in the royal tent。
＇22＇ Now it chanced that another brigadier was among the guests； and
he spoke up and said to Cyrus： 〃But will you never ask my men to
dinner too？ Day after day； morning and evening； whenever we come in
for a meal we do just the same as they； and when the meal is over the
hindmost man of the last company leads out his men with their
fighting…order reversed； and the next company follows； led by their
hindmost man； and then the third； and then the fourth： so that all of
them； if they have to retire before an enemy； will know how to fall
back in good order。 And as soon as we are drawn up on the parade…
ground we set off marching east； and I lead off with all my divisions
behind me； in their regular order； waiting for my word。 By…and…by we
march west； and then the hindmost man of the last division leads the
way； but they must still look to me for commands； though I am marching
last： and thus they learn to obey with equal promptitude whether I am
at the head or in the rear。〃
＇23＇ 〃Do you mean to tell me；〃 said Cyrus； 〃that this is a regular
rule of yours？〃
〃Truly yes；〃 he answered； 〃as regular as our meals； heaven help us！〃
〃Then I hereby invite you all to dinner； and for three good reasons；
you practice your drill in both forms； you do this morning and evening
both； and by your marching and counter…marching you train your bodies
and benefit your souls。 And since you do it all twice over every day；
it is only fair to give you dinner twice。〃
＇24＇ 〃Not twice in one day； I beg you！〃 said the officer； 〃unless you
can furnish us with a second stomach apiece。〃
And so the conversation ended for the time。 But the next day Cyrus was
as good as his word。 He had all the regiment to dinner； and the day
after he invited them again： and when the other regiments knew of it
they fell to doing as they did。
＇C。4＇ Now it chanced one day as Cyrus was holding a review； a
messenger came from Cyaxares to tell him that an embassy from India
had just arrived； and to bid him return with all despatch。
〃And I bring with me；〃 said the messenger； 〃a suit of splendid apparel
sent from Cyaxares himself： my lord wishes you to appear in all
possible splendour； for the Indians will be there to see you。〃
＇2＇ At that Cyrus commanded the brigadier of the first regiment to
draw up to the front with his men behind him on the left in single
file； and to pass the order on to the second； and so throughout the
army。 Officers and men were quick to obey； so that in a trice the
whole force on the field was drawn up； one hundred deep and three
hundred abreast； with their officers at the head。 ＇3＇ When they were
in position Cyrus bade them follow his lead and off they went at a
good round pace。 However the road leading to the royal quarters was
too narrow to let them pass with so wide a front and Cyrus sent word
along the line that the first detachment； one thousand strong； should
follow as they were； and then the second； and so on to the last； and
as he gave the command he led on without a pause and all the
detachments followed in due order； one behind the other。 ＇4＇ But to
prevent mistakes he sent two gallopers up to the entrance with orders
to explain what should be done in case the men were at a loss。 And
when they reached the gates； Cyrus told the leading brigadier to draw
up his regiment round the palace； twelve deep； the front rank facing
the building； and this command he was to pass on to the second； and
the second to the third； and so on till the last。 ＇5＇ And while they
saw to this he went in to Cyaxares himself； wearing his simple Persian
dress without a trace of pomp。 Cyaxares was well pleased at his
celerity； but troubled by the plainness of his attire； and said to
him； 〃What is the meaning of this； Cyrus？ How could you show yourself
in this guise to the Indians？ I wished you to appear in splendour： it
would have done me honour for my sister's son to be seen in great
magnificence。〃
＇6＇ But Cyrus made answer： 〃Should I have done you more honour if I
had put on a purple robe； and bracelets for my arms； and a necklace
about my neck； and so presented myself at your call after long delay？
Or as now； when to show you respect I obey you with this despatch and
bring you so large and fine a force； although I wear no ornament but
the dust and sweat of speed； and make no display unless it be to show
you these men who are as obedient to you as I am myself。〃 Such were
the words of Cyrus； and Cyaxares felt that they were just； and so sent
for the Indian ambassadors forthwith。 ＇7＇ And when they entered they
gave this message：The king of the Indians bade them ask what was the
cause of strife between the Assyrians and the Medes； 〃And when we have
heard you；〃 they said； 〃our king bids us betake ourselves to the
Assyrian and put the same question to him； and in the end we are to
tell you both that the king of the Indians； when he has enquired into
the justice of the case； will uphold the cause of him who has been
wronged。〃
＇8＇ To this Cyaxares replied：
〃Then take from me this answer： we do the Assyrian no wrong nor any
injustice whatsoever。 And now go and make inquiry of him； if you are
so minded； and see what answer he will give。〃
Then Cyrus； who was standing by； asked Cyaxares； 〃May I too say what
is in my mind？〃 〃Say on；〃 answered Cyaxares。 Then Cyrus turned to the
ambassadors： 〃Tell your master；〃 he said； 〃unless Cyaxares is
otherwise minded； that we are ready to do this： if the Assyrian lays
any injustice to our charge we choose the king of the Indians himself
to be our judge； and he shall dec