blessing to himself； reckoning as they do who prefer to sail in the
company of pious men rather than with those who are suspected of
wicked deeds； and he reckoned further that if all his partners were
god…fearing； they would be the less prone to crime against each other
or against himself； for he knew he was the benefactor of his fellows。
＇26＇ And by showing plainly his own deep desire never to be unfair to
friend or fellow…combatant or ally； but always to fix his eyes on
justice and rectitude； he believed he could induce others to keep from
base actions and walk in the paths of righteousness。 ＇27＇ And he would
bring more modesty； he hoped； into the hearts of all men if it were
plain that he himself reverenced all the world and would never say a
shameful word to any man or woman or do a shameful deed。 ＇28＇ He
looked for this because he saw that； apart from kings and governors
who may be supposed to inspire fear； men will reverence the modest and
not the shameless； and modesty in women will inspire modesty in the
men who behold them。 ＇29＇ And his people； he thought； would learn to
obey if it were plain that he honoured frank and prompt obedience even
above virtues that made a grander show and were harder to attain。 ＇30＇
Such was his belief； and his practice went with it to the end。 His own
temperance and the knowledge of it made others more temperate。 When
they saw moderation and self…control in the man who above all others
had licence to be insolent； lesser men were the more ready to abjure
all insolence of their own。 ＇31＇ But there was this difference； Cyrus
held； between modesty and self…control： the modest man will do nothing
shameful in the light of day； but the man of self…control nothing
base； not even in secret。 ＇32＇ Self…restrain； he believed； would best
be cultivated if he made men see in himself one who could not be
dragged from the pursuit of virtue by the pleasure of the moment； one
who chose to toil first for the happy…hearted joys that go hand…in…
hand with beauty and nobleness。 ＇33＇ Thus； being the man he was； he
established at his gates a stately company； where the lower gave place
to the higher； and they in their turn showed reverence to each other；
and courtesy； and perfect harmony。 Among them all there was never a
cry of anger to be heard； nor a burst of insolent laughter； to look at
them was to know that they lived for honour and loveliness。
＇34＇ Such was the life at the palace…gates； and to practise his nobles
in martial exercises he would lead them out to the hunt whenever he
thought it well； holding the chase to be the best training for war and
the surest way to excellence in horsemanship。 ＇35＇ A man learns to
keep his seat； no matter what the ground may be； as he follows the
flying quarry； learns to hurl and strike on horseback in his eagerness
to bring down the game and win applause。 ＇36＇ And here； above all； was
the field in which to inure his colleagues to toil and hardship and
cold and heat and hunger and thirst。 Thus to this day the Persian
monarch and his court spend their leisure in the chase。 ＇37＇ From all
that has been said； it is clear Cyrus was convinced that no one has a
right to rule who is not superior to his subjects； and he held that by
imposing such exercises as these on those about him； he would lead
them to self…control and bring to perfection the art and discipline of
war。 ＇38＇ Accordingly he would put himself at the head of the hunting…
parties and take them out himself unless he was bound to stay at home；
and； if he was； he would hunt in his parks among the wild creatures he
had reared。 He would never touch the evening meal himself until he had
sweated for it； nor give his horses their corn until they had been
exercised； and he would invite his own mace…bearers to join him in the
chase。 ＇39＇ Therefore he excelled in all knightly accomplishments； he
and those about him； because of their constant practice。 Such was the
example he set before his friends。 But he also kept his eye on others；
and would single out those who worshipped noble deeds； and reward them
with gifts； and high commands； and seats at festivals； and every kind
of honour。 And thus their hearts were filled with ambition； and every
man longed to outdo his fellows in the eyes of Cyrus。
＇40＇ But we seem to learn also that Cyrus thought it necessary for the
ruler not only to surpass his subjects by his own native worth； but
also to charm them through deception and artifice。 At any rate he
adopted the Median dress； and persuaded his comrades to do likewise；
he thought it concealed any bodily defect； enhancing the beauty and
stature of the wearer。 ＇41＇ The shoe； for instance； was so devised
that a sole could be added without notice； and the man would seem
taller than he really was。 So also Cyrus encouraged the use of
ointments to make the eyes more brilliant and pigments to make the
skin look fairer。 ＇42＇ And he trained his courtiers never to spit or
blow the nose in public or turn aside to stare at anything； they were
to keep the stately air of persons whom nothing can surprise。 These
were all means to one end； to make it impossible for the subjects to
despise their rulers。
＇43＇ Thus he moulded the men he considered worthy of command by his
own example； by the training he gave them； and by the dignity of his
own leadership。 But the treatment of those he prepared for slavery was
widely different。 Not one of them would he incite to any noble toil；
he would not even let them carry arms； and he was careful that they
should never lack food or drink in any manly sort。 ＇44＇ When the
beaters drove the wild creatures into the plain he would allow food to
be brought for the servants； but not for the free men； on a march he
would lead the slaves to the water…springs as he led the beasts of
burden。 Or when it was the hour of breakfast he would wait himself
till they had taken a snatch of food and stayed their wolfish hunger；
and the end of it was they called him their father even as the nobles
did； because he cared for them； but the object of his care was to keep
them slaves for ever。
＇45＇ Thus he secured the safety of the Persian empire。 He himself； he
felt sure； ran no danger from the massages of the conquered people； he
saw they had no courage； no unity； and no discipline； and； moreover；
not one of them could ever come near him； day or night。 ＇46＇ But there
were others whom he knew to be true warriors； who carried arms； and
who held by one another； commanders of horse and foot； many of them
men of spirit； confident； as he could plainly see； of their own power
to rule； men who were in close touch with his own guards； and many
of them in constant intercourse with himself； as indeed was essential
if he was to make any use of them at all。 It was from them that danger
was to be feared； and that in a thousand ways。 ＇47＇ How was he to
guard against it？ He rejected the idea of disarming them； he thought
this unjust； and that it would lead to the dissolution of the empire。
To refuse them admission into his presence； to show them his distrust；
would be； he considered； a declaration of war。 ＇48＇ But there was one
method； he felt； worth all the rest； an honourable method and one that
would secure his safety absolutely； to win their friendship if he
could； and make them more devoted to himself than to each other。 I
will now endeavour to set forth the methods； so far as I conceive
them； by which he gained their love。
＇C。2＇ In the first place he never lost an opportunity of showing
kindliness wherever he could； convinced that just as it is not easy to
love those who hate us； so it is scarcely possible to feel enmity for
those who love us and wish us well。 ＇2＇ So long as he had lacked the
power to confer benefits by wealth； all he could do then was to show
his personal care for his comrades and his soldiers； to labour in
their behalf； manifest his joy in their good fortune and his sympathy
in their sorrows； and try to win them in that way。 But when the time
came for the gifts of wealth； he realised that of all the kindnesses
between man and man none come with a more natural grace than the gifts
of meat and drink。 ＇3＇ Accordingly he arranged that his table should
be spread every day for many guests in exactly the same way as for
himself； and all that was set before him； after he and his guests had
dined； he would send out to his absent friends； in token of affection
and remembrance。 He would include those who had won his approval by
their work on guard； or in attendance on himself； or in any other
service； letting them see that no desire to please him could ever
escape his eyes。 ＇4＇ He would show the same honour to any servant he
wished to praise； and he had all the food for them placed at his own
board； believing this would win their fidelity； as it would a dog's。
Or； if he wished some friend of his to be courted by the people； he
would single him out for such gifts； even to this day the world will
pay court to those who have dishes sent them from the Great King's
table； thinking they must be in high favour at the palace and can get
things done for others。 But no doubt there was another reason for the
pleasure in such gifts； and that was the sheer delicious taste of the
royal meats。 ＇5＇ Nor should that surprise us； for if we remember to
what a pitch of perfection the other crafts are brought in great
communities； we ought to expect the royal dishes to be wonders of
finished art。 In a small city the same man must make beds and chairs
and ploughs and tables； and often build houses as well； and indeed he
will be only too glad if he can find enough employers in all trades to
keep him。 Now it is impossible that a single man working at a dozen
crafts can do them all well； but in the great cities； owing to the
wide demand for each particular thing； a single craft will suffice for
a means of livelihood； and often enough even a single department of
that； there are shoe…makers who will only make sandals for men and
others only for women。 Or one artisan will get his living merely by
stitching shoes； another by cutting them out； a third by shaping the
upper leathers； and a fourth will do nothing but fit the parts
toget