cyropaedia- 第31部分

C6。11。　The　first　flutings　of　this　tale。　The　lady　of　Susa；　quasi…
historic；　or　wholly　imaginative；　or　mixed？



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　V

＇C。1＇　Such　were　the　deeds　they　did　and　such　the　words　they　spoke。　Then
Cyrus　bade　them　set　a　guard　over　the　share　chosen　for　Cyaxares；
selecting　those　whom　he　knew　were　most　attached　to　their　lord；　〃And
what　you　have　given　me；〃　he　added；　〃I　accept　with　pleasure；　but　I　hold
it　at　the　service　of　those　among　you　who　would　enjoy　it　the　most。〃

At　that　one　of　the　Medes　who　was　passionately　fond　of　music　said；　〃In
truth；　Cyrus；　yesterday　evening　I　listened　to　the　singing…girls　who
are　yours　to…day；　and　if　you　could　give　me　one　of　them；　I　would　far
rather　be　serving　on　this　campaign　than　sitting　at　home。〃

And　Cyrus　said；　〃Most　gladly　I　will　give　her；　she　is　yours。　And　I
believe　I　am　more　grateful　to　you　for　asking　than　you　can　be　to　me　for
giving；　I　am　so　thirsty　to　gratify　you　all。〃

So　this　suitor　carried　off　his　prize。　＇2＇　And　then　Cyrus　called　to　his
side　Araspas　the　Mede；　who　had　been　his　comrade　in　boyhood。　It　was　he
to　whom　Cyrus　gave　the　Median　cloak　he　was　wearing　when　he　went　back
to　Persia　from　his　grandfather's　court。　Now　he　summoned　him；　and　asked
him　to　take　care　of　the　tent　and　the　lady　from　Susa。　＇3＇　She　was　the
wife　of　Abradatas；　a　Susian；　and　when　the　Assyrian　army　was　captured
it　happened　that　her　husband　was　away：　his　master　had　sent　him　on　an
embassy　to　Bactria　to　conclude　an　alliance　there；　for　he　was　the
friend　and　host　of　the　Bactrian　king。　And　now　Cyrus　asked　Araspas　to
guard　the　captive　lady　until　her　husband　could　take　her　back　himself。
＇4＇　To　that　Araspas　replied；　〃Have　you　seen　the　lady　whom　you　bid　me
guard？〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃certainly　I　have　not。〃

〃But　I　have；〃　rejoined　the　other；　〃I　saw　here　when　we　chose　her　for
you。　When　we　came　into　the　tent；　we　did　not　make　her　out　at　first；　for
she　was　seated　on　the　ground　with　all　her　maidens　round　her；　and　she
was　clad　in　the　same　attire　as　her　slaves；　but　when　we　looked　at　them
all　to　discover　the　mistress；　we　soon　saw　that　one　outshone　the
others；　although　she　was　veiled　and　kept　her　eyes　on　the　ground。　＇5＇
And　when　we　bade　her　rise；　all　her　women　rose　with　her；　and　then　we
saw　that　she　was　marked　out　from　them　all　by　her　height；　and　her　noble
bearing；　and　her　grace；　and　the　beauty　that　shone　through　her　mean
apparel。　And；　under　her　veil；　we　could　see　the　big　tear…drops
trickling　down　her　garments　to　her　feet。　＇6＇　At　that　sight　the　eldest
of　us　said；　'Take　comfort；　lady；　we　know　that　your　husband　was
beautiful　and　brave；　but　we　have　chosen　you　a　man　to…day　who　is　no
whit　inferior　to　him　in　face　or　form　or　mind　or　power；　Cyrus；　we
believe；　is　more　to　be　admired　than　any　soul　on　earth；　and　you　shall
be　his　from　this　day　forward。'　But　when　the　lady　heard　that；　she　rent
the　veil　that　covered　her　head　and　gave　a　pitiful　cry；　while　her
maidens　lifted　up　their　voice　and　wept　with　their　mistress。　＇7＇　And
thus　we　could　see　her　face；　and　her　neck；　and　her　arms；　and　I　tell
you；　Cyrus；〃　he　added；　〃I　myself；　and　all　who　looked　on　her；　felt　that
there　never　was；　and　never　had　been；　in　broad　Asia　a　mortal　woman　half
so　fair　as　she。　Nay；　but　you　must　see　her　for　yourself。〃

＇8＇　〃Say；　rather；　I　must　not；〃　answered　Cyrus；　〃if　she　be　such　as　you
describe。〃

〃And　why　not？〃　asked　the　young　man。

〃Because；〃　said　he；　〃if　the　mere　report　of　her　beauty　could　persuade
me　to　go　and　gaze　on　her　to…day；　when　I　have　not　a　moment　to　spare；　I
fear　she　would　win　me　back　again　and　perhaps　I　should　neglect　all　I
have　to　do；　and　sit　and　gaze　at　her　for　ever。〃

＇9＇　At　that　the　young　man　laughed　outright　and　said：

〃So　you　think；　Cyrus；　that　the　beauty　of　any　human　creature　can　compel
a　man　to　do　wrong　against　his　will？　Surely　if　that　were　the　nature　of
beauty；　all　men　would　feel　its　force　alike。　＇10＇　See　how　fire　burns
all　men　equally；　it　is　the　nature　of　it　so　to　do；　but　these　flowers　of
beauty；　one　man　loves　them；　and　another　loves　them　not；　nor　does　every
man　love　the　same。　For　love　is　voluntary；　and　each　man　loves　what　he
chooses　to　love。　The　brother　is　not　enamoured　of　his　own　sister；　nor
the　father　of　his　own　daughter；　some　other　man　must　be　the　lover。
Reverence　and　law　are　strong　enough　to　break　the　heart　of　passion。
＇11＇　But　if　a　law　were　passed　saying；　'Eat　not；　and　thou　shalt　not
starve；　Drink　not；　and　thou　shalt　not　thirst；　Let　not　cold　bite　thee
in　winter　nor　heat　inflame　thee　in　summer；'　I　say　there　is　no　law　that
could　compel　us　to　obey；　for　it　is　our　nature　to　be　swayed　by　these
forces。　But　love　is　voluntary；　each　man　loves　to　himself　alone；　and
according　as　he　chooses；　just　as　he　chooses　his　cloak　or　his　sandals。〃

＇12＇　〃Then；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃if　love　be　voluntary；　why　cannot　a　man　cease
to　love　when　he　wishes？　I　have　seen　men　in　love；〃　said　he；　〃who　have
wept　for　very　agony；　who　were　the　very　slaves　of　those　they　loved；
though　before　the　fever　took　them　they　thought　slavery　the　worst　of
evils。　I　have　seen　them　make　gifts　of　what　they　ill　could　spare；　I
have　seen　them　praying；　yes；　praying；　to　be　rid　of　their　passion；　as
though　it　were　any　other　malady；　and　yet　unable　to　shake　it　off；　they
were　bound　hand　and　foot　by　a　chain　of　something　stronger　than　iron。
There　they　stood　at　the　beck　and　call　of　their　idols；　and　that　without
rhyme　or　reason；　and　yet；　poor　slaves；　they　make　no　attempt　to　run
away；　in　spite　of　all　they　suffer；　on　the　contrary；　they　mount　guard
over　their　tyrants；　for　fear　these　should　escape。〃

＇13＇　But　the　young　man　spoke　in　answer：　〃True；〃　he　said；　〃there　are
such　men；　but　they　are　worthless　scamps；　and　that　is　why；　though　they
are　always　praying　to　die　and　be　put　out　of　their　misery　and　though
ten　thousand　avenues　lie　open　by　which　to　escape　from　life；　they　never
take　one　of　them。　These　are　the　very　men　who　are　prepared　to　steal　and
purloin　the　goods　of　others；　and　yet　you　know　yourself；　when　they　do
it；　you　are　the　first　to　say　stealing　is　not　done　under　compulsion；
and　you　blame　the　thief　and　the　robber；　you　do　not　pity　him；　you
punish　him。　＇14＇　In　the　same　way；　beautiful　creatures　do　not　compel
others　to　love　them　or　pursue　them　when　it　is　wrong；　but　these　good…
for…nothing　scoundrels　have　no　self…control；　and　then　they　lay　the
blame　on　love。　But　the　nobler　type　of　man；　the　true　gentleman；
beautiful　and　brave；　though　he　desire　gold　and　splendid　horses　and
lovely　women；　can　still　abstain　from　each　and　all　alike；　and　lay　no
finger　on　them　against　the　law　of　honour。　＇15＇　Take　my　own　case；〃　he
added；　〃I　have　seen　this　lady　myself；　and　passing　fair　I　found　her；
and　yet　here　I　stand　before　you；　and　am　still　your　trooper　and　can
still　perform　my　duty。〃

＇16＇　〃I　do　not　deny　it；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃probably　you　came　away　in　time。
Love　takes　a　little　while　to　seize　and　carry　off　his　victim。　A　man　may
touch　fire　for　a　moment　and　not　be　burnt；　a　log　will　not　kindle　all　at
once；　and　yet　for　all　that；　I　am　not　disposed　to　play　with　fire　or
look　on　beauty。　You　yourself；　my　friend；　if　you　will　follow　my　advice；
will　not　let　your　own　eyes　linger　there　too　long；　burning　fuel　will
only　burn　those　who　touch　it；　but　beauty　can　fire　the　beholder　from
afar；　until　he　is　all　aflame　with　love。〃

＇17＇　〃Oh；　fear　me　not；　Cyrus；〃　answered　he；　〃if　I　looked　till　the　end
of　time　I　could　not　be　made　to　do　what　ill　befits　a　man。〃

〃A　fair　answer；〃　said　Cyrus。　〃Guard　her　then；　as　I　bid　you；　and　be
careful　of　her。　This　lady　may　be　of　service　to　us　all　one　day。〃

＇18＇　With　these　words　they　parted。　But　afterwards；　after　the　young　man
saw　from　day　to　day　how　marvellously　fair　the　woman　was；　and　how　noble
and　gracious　in　herself；　after　he　took　care　of　her；　and　fancied　that
she　was　not　insensible　to　what　he　did；　after　she　set　herself；　through
her　attendants；　to　care　for　his　wants　and　see　that　all　things　were
ready　for　him　when　he　came　in；　and　that　he　should　lack　for　nothing　if
ever　he　were　sick；　after　all　this；　love　entered　his　heart　and　took
possession；　and　it　may　be　there　was　nothing　surprising　in　his　fate。　So
at　least　it　was。

＇19＇　Meanwhile　Cyrus；　who　was　anxious　that　the　Medes　and　the　allies
should　stay　with　him　of　their　own　free　choice；　called　a　meeting　of
their　leading　men；　and　when　they　were　come　together　he　spoke　as
follows：

＇20＇　〃Sons　of　the　Medes　and　gentlemen　all；　I　am　well　aware　it　was　not
from　need　of　money　that　you　went　out　with　me；　nor　yet　in　order　to
serve　Cyaxares；　you　came　for　my　sake。　You　marched　with　me　by　night；
you　ran　into　danger　at　my　side；　simply　to　do　me　honour。　＇21＇　Unless　I
were　a　miscreant；　I　could　not　but　be　grateful　for　such　kindness。　But　I
must　confess　that　at　present　I　lack　the　ability　to　make　a　fit
requital。　This　I　am　not　ashamed　to　tell　you；　but　I　would　feel　ashamed
to　add；　'If　you　will　stay　with　me；　I　will　be　sure　to　repay　you；'　for
that　would　look　as　though　I　spoke　to　bribe　you　into　remaining。
Therefore　I　will　not　say　that；　I　will　say　instead；　'Even　if　you　listen
to　Cyaxares　and　go　back　to…day；　I　will　still　act　so　that　you　shall
praise　me；　I　will　not　forget　you　in　the　day　of　my　good　fortune。'　＇22＇
For　myself；　I　will　never　go　back；　I　cannot；　for　I　must　confirm　my　oath
to　the　Hyrcanians　and　the　pledge　I　gave　them；　they　are　my　friends　and
I　shall　never　be　found　a　traitor　to　them。　Moreover；　I　am　bound　to
Gobryas；　who　has　offered　us　the　use　of　his　castle；　his　territory；　and
his　power；　and　I　would　not　have　him　repent　that　he　came　to　me。　＇23＇
Last　of　all；　and　more　than　all；　when　the　great　gods　have　showered　such
blessings　on　us；　I　fear　them　and　I　reverence　them　too　much　to　turn　my
back　on　all　they　have　given　us。　This；　then；　is　what　I　myself　must　do；
it　is　for　you　to　decide　as　you　think　best；　and　you　will　acquaint　me
with　your　decision。〃

＇24＇　So　he　spoke；　and　the　first　to　answer　was　the　Mede　who　had　claimed
kinship　with　Cyrus　in　the　old　days。

〃Listen　to　me；〃　he　said；　〃O　king！　For　king　I　take　you　to　be　by　right
of　nature；　even　as　the　king　of　the　hive　among　the　bees；　whom　all　the
bees　obey　and　take　for　their　leader　of　their　own　free　will；　where　he
stays　they　stay　also；　not　one　of　them　departs；　and　where　he　goes；　not
one　of　them　fails　to　follow；　so　deep　a