myself by thinking； 'when he is done with this he will have a little
leisure for me。' And then came the terrible news that the whole world
was gathering in arms against us； I could not deny that these were
important matters； but still I felt certain； if all went well； a time
would come at last when you need not grudge me your company； and we
should be together to my heart's content； you and I。 ＇53＇ Now； the day
has come； we have conquered in the great battle； we have taken Sardis
and Babylon； the world is at our feet； and yesterday； by Mithras！
unless I had used my fists a hundred times； I swear I could never have
got near you at all。 Well； you grasped my hand and gave me greeting；
and bade me wait beside you； and there I waited； the cynosure of every
eye； the envy of every man； standing there all day long； without a
scrap to eat or a drop to drink。 ＇54＇ So now； if any way can be found
by which we who have served you longest can get the most of you； well
and good： but； if not； pray send me as your messenger once more； and
this time I will tell them they can all leave you； except those who
were your friends of old。〃
＇55＇ This appeal set them all laughing； Cyrus with the rest。 Then
Chrysantas the Persian stood up and spoke as follows：
〃Formerly； Cyrus； it was natural and right that you should appear in
public； for the reasons you have given us yourself； and also because
we were not the folk you had to pay your court to。 We did not need
inviting： we were with you for our own sakes。 It was necessary to win
over the masses by every means； if they were to share our toils and
our dangers willingly。 ＇56＇ But now you have won them； and not them
alone； you have it in your power to gain others； and the moment has
come when you ought to have a house to yourself。 What would your
empire profit you if you alone were left without hearth or home？ Man
has nothing more sacred than his home； nothing sweeter； nothing more
truly his。 And do you not think；〃 he added； 〃that we ourselves would
be ashamed if we saw you bearing the hardships of the camp while we
sat at home by our own firesides？ Should we not feel we had done you
wrong； and taken advantage of you？〃
＇57＇ When Chrysantas had spoken thus； many others followed him； and
all to the same effect。 And so it came about that Cyrus entered the
palace； and those in charge brought the treasures from Sardis thither；
and handed them over。 And Cyrus when he entered sacrificed to Hestia；
the goddess of the Hearth； and to Zeus the Lord； and to any other gods
named by the Persian priests。
＇58＇ This done； he set himself to regulate the matters that remained。
Thinking over his position； and the attempt he was making to govern an
enormous multitude； preparing at the same time to take up his abode in
the greatest of all famous cities； but yet a city that was as hostile
to him as a city could be； pondering all this； he concluded that he
could not dispense with a bodyguard for himself。 ＇59＇ He knew well
enough that a man can most easily be assassinated at his meals； or in
his bath； or in bed； or when he is asleep； and he asked himself who
were most to be trusted of those he had about him。 A man； he believed；
can never be loyal or trustworthy who is likely to love another more
than the one who requires his guardianship。 ＇60＇ He knew that men with
children； or wives； or favourites in whom they delight； must needs
love them most： while eunuchs； who are deprived of all such dear ones；
would surely make most account of him who could enrich them； or help
them if they were injured； or crown them with honour。 And in the
conferring of such benefits he was disposed to think he could outbid
the world。 ＇61＇ Moreover the eunuch； being degraded in the eyes of
other men； is driven to seek the assistance of some lord and master。
Without some such protection there is not a man in the world who would
not think he had the right to over…reach a eunuch： while there was
every reason to suppose that the eunuch would be the most faithful of
all servants。 ＇62＇ As for the customary notion that the eunuch must be
weak and cowardly； Cyrus was not disposed to accept it。 He studied the
indications to be observed in animals： a vicious horse； if gelded；
will cease to bite and be restive； but he will charge as gallantly as
ever； a bull that has been cut will become less fierce and less
intractable； but he will not lose his strength； he will be as good as
ever for work； castration may cure a dog of deserting his master； but
it will not ruin him as a watch…dog or spoil him for the chase。 ＇63＇
So； too； with men； when cut off from this passion； they become
gentler； no doubt； but not less quick to obey； not less daring as
horsemen； not less skilful with the javelin； not less eager for
honour。 ＇64＇ In war and in the chase they show plainly enough that the
fire of ambition is still burning in their hearts。 And they have stood
the last test of loyalty in the downfall of their masters。 No men have
shown more faithfulness than eunuchs when ruin has fallen on their
lords。 ＇65＇ In bodily strength； perhaps； the eunuchs seem to be
lacking； but steel is a great leveller； and makes the weak man equal
to the strong in war。 Holding this in mind； Cyrus resolved that his
personal attendants； from his doorkeepers onwards； should be eunuchs
one and all。
＇66＇ This guard； however； he felt was hardly sufficient against the
multitude of enemies； and he asked himself whom he could choose among
the rest。 ＇67＇ He remembered how his Persians led the sorriest of
lives at home owing to their poverty； working long and hard on the
niggard soil； and he felt sure they were the men who would most value
the life at his court。 ＇68＇ Accordingly he selected ten thousand
lancers from among them； to keep guard round the palace； night and
day； whenever he was at home； and to march beside him whenever he went
abroad。 ＇69＇ Moreover； he felt that Babylon must always have an
adequate garrison； whether he was in the country or not； and therefore
he stationed a considerable body of troops in the city； and he bade
the Babylonians provide their pay； his object being to make the
citizens helpless； and therefore humble and submissive。 ＇70＇ This
royal guard that he established there； and the city guard for Babylon；
survive to this day unaltered。
Lastly； as he pondered how the whole empire was to be kept together；
and possibly another added to it； he felt convinced that his
mercenaries did not make up for the smallness of their numbers by
their superiority to the subject peoples。 Therefore he must keep
together those brave warriors； to whom with heaven's help the victory
was due； and he must take all care that they did not lose their
valour； hardihood； and skill。 ＇71＇ To avoid the appearance of
dictating to them and to bring it about that they should see for
themselves it was best to stay with him and remember their valour and
their training； he called a council of the Peers and of the leading
men who seemed to him most worthy of sharing their dangers and their
rewards。 ＇72＇ And when they were met he began：
〃Gentlemen； my friends and allies； we owe the utmost thanks to the
gods because they have given us what we believed that we deserved。 We
are masters to…day of a great country and a good； and those who till
it will support us； we have houses of our own； and all the furniture
that is in them is ours。 ＇73＇ For you need not think that what you
hold belongs to others。 It is an eternal law the wide world over； that
when a city is taken in war； the citizens； their persons； and all
their property fall into the hands of the conquerors。 It is not by
injustice； therefore； that you hold what you have taken； rather it is
through your own human kindness that the citizens are allowed to keep
whatever they do retain。
＇74＇ 〃Yet I foresee that if we betake ourselves to the life of
indolence and luxury； the life of the degenerate who think that labour
is the worst of evils and freedom from toil the height of happiness；
the day will come； and speedily； when we shall be unworthy of
ourselves； and with the loss of honour will come the loss of wealth。
＇75＇ Once to have been valiant is not enough； no man can keep his
valour unless he watch over it to the end。 As the arts decay through
neglect； as the body； once healthy and alert； will grow weak through
sloth and indolence； even so the powers of the spirit； temperance；
self…control； and courage； if we grow slack in training； fall back
once more to rottenness and death。 ＇76＇ We must watch ourselves； we
must not surrender to the sweetness of the day。 It is a great work；
methinks； to found an empire； but a far greater to keep it safe。 To
seize it may be the fruit of daring and daring only； but to hold it is
impossible without self…restraint and self…command and endless care。
＇77＇ We must not forget this； we must train ourselves in virtue from
now henceforward with even greater diligence than before we won this
glory； remembering that the more a man possesses； the more there are
to envy him； to plot against him； and be his enemies； above all when
the wealth he wins and the services he receives are yielded by
reluctant hands。 But the gods； we need not doubt； will be upon our
side； we have not triumphed through injustice； we were not the
aggressors； it was we who were attacked and we avenged ourselves。 ＇78＇
The gods are with us； I say； but next to that supreme support there is
a defence we must provide out of our own powers alone； and that is the
righteous claim to rule our subjects because we are better men than
they。 Needs must that we share with our slaves in heat and cold and
food and drink and toil and slumber； and we must strive to prove our
superiority even in such things as these； and first in these。 ＇79＇ But
in the science of war and the art of it we can admit no share； those
whom we mean to make our labourers and our tributaries can have no
part in that； we will set ourselves to defraud them there； we know
that such exercises are the very tools of freedom and happiness； given
by the gods to mortal men。 We have taken their arms away from our
slaves； and we must never lay our own aside； knowing well that the
nearer the