upper leathers； and a fourth will do nothing but fit the parts
together。 Necessarily the man who spends all his time and trouble on
the smallest task will do that task the best。 ＇6＇ The arts of the
household must follow the same law。 If one and the same servant makes
the bed； spreads the table； kneads the dough； and cooks the various
dishes； the master must take things as they come； there is no help for
it。 But when there is work enough for one man to boil the pot； and
another to roast the meat； and a third to stew the fish； and a fourth
to fry it； while some one else must bake the bread； and not all of it
either； for the loaves must be of different kinds； and it will be
quite enough if the baker can serve up one kind to perfectionit is
obvious； I think； that in this way a far higher standard of excellence
will be attained in every branch of the work。
＇7＇ Thus it is easy to see how Cyrus could outdo all competitors in
the grace of hospitality； and I will now explain how he came to
triumph in all other services。 Far as he excelled mankind in the scale
of his revenues； he excelled them even more in the grandeur of his
gifts。 It was Cyrus who set the fashion； and we are familiar to this
day with the open…handedness of Oriental kings。 ＇8＇ There is no one；
indeed； in all the world whose friends are seen to be as wealthy as
the friends of the Persian monarch： no one adorns his followers in
such splendour of rich attire； no gifts are so well known as his； the
bracelets； and the necklaces； and the chargers with the golden
bridles。 For in that country no one can have such treasures unless the
king has given them。 ＇9＇ And of whom but the Great King could it be
said that through the splendour of his presents he could steal the
hearts of men and turn them to himself； away from brothers； fathers；
sons？ Who but he could stretch out an arm and take vengeance on his
enemies when yet they were months and months away？ Who but Cyrus ever
won an empire in war； and when he died was called father by the people
he overcame？a title that proclaims the benefactor and not the
robber。 ＇10＇ Indeed； we are led to think that the offices called 〃the
king's eyes〃 and 〃the king's ears〃 came into being through this system
of gifts and honours。 Cyrus' munificence toward all who told him what
it was well for him to know set countless people listening with all
their ears and watching with all their eyes for news that might be of
service to him。 ＇11＇ Thus there sprang up a host of 〃king's eyes〃 and
〃king's ears；〃 as they were called； known and reputed to be such。 But
it is a mistake to suppose that the king has one chosen 〃eye。〃 It is
little that one man can see or one man hear； and to hand over the
office to one single person would be to bid all others go to sleep。
Moreover； his subjects would feel they must be on their guard before
the man they knew was 〃the king's eye。〃 The contrary is the case； the
king will listen to any man who asserts that he has heard or seen
anything that needs attention。 ＇12＇ Hence the saying that the king has
a thousand eyes and a thousand ears； and hence the fear of uttering
anything against his interest since 〃he is sure to hear；〃 or doing
anything that might injure him 〃since he may be there to see。〃 So far；
therefore； from venturing to breathe a syllable against Cyrus； every
man felt that he was under the eye and within the hearing of a king
who was always present。 For this universal feeling towards him I can
give no other reason than his resolve to be a benefactor on a most
mighty scale。
＇13＇ It is not surprising； no doubt； that being the wealthiest of men；
he could outdo the world in the splendour of his gifts。 The remarkable
thing was to find a king outstrip his courtiers in courtesy and
kindness。 There was nothing； so the story runs； that could ever shame
him more than to be outdone in courtesy。 ＇14＇ Indeed； a saying of his
is handed down comparing a good king to a good shepherdthe shepherd
must manage his flock by giving them all they need； and the king must
satisfy the needs of his cities and his subjects if he is to manage
them。 We need not wonder； then； that with such opinions his ambition
was to excel mankind in courtesy and care。 ＇15＇ There was a noble
illustration of his philosophy in the answer we are told he gave to
Croesus； who had taken him to task； saying his lavish gifts would
bring him to beggary； although he could lay by more treasures for
himself than any man had ever had before。 Cyrus； it is said； asked him
in return； 〃How much wealth do you suppose I could have amassed
already； had I collected gold； as you bid me； ever since I came into
my empire？〃
＇16＇ And Croesus named an enormous sum。 Then Cyrus said； 〃Listen；
Croesus； here is my friend； Hystaspas； and you must send with him a
man that you can trust。〃 Then； turning to Hystaspas； 〃Do you；〃 he
said； 〃go round to my friends and tell them that I need money for a
certain enterpriseand that is true； I do need it。 Bid each of them
write down the amount he can give me； seal the letter； and hand it to
the messenger of Croesus； who will bring it here。〃 ＇17＇ Thereupon
Cyrus wrote his wishes and put his seal on the letter； and gave it to
Hystaspas to carry round； only he added a request that they should all
welcome Hystaspas as a friend of his。 And when the messengers came
back； the officer of Croesus carrying the answers； Hystaspas cried；
〃Cyrus； my lord； you must know I am a rich man now！ I have made my
fortune； thanks to your letter！ They have loaded me with gifts。〃 ＇18＇
And Cyrus said； 〃There； Croesus； that is treasure number one； and now
run through the rest； and count what sums I have in hand； in case I
need them。〃 And Croesus counted； and found； so the story tells us；
that the sum was far larger than the amount he had said would have
been lying in the treasury if only Cyrus had made a hoard。 ＇19＇ At
this discovery Cyrus said； so we are told； 〃You see； Croesus； I have
my treasures too。 Only you advise me to collect them and hide them；
and be envied and hated because of them； and set mercenaries to guard
them； putting my trust in hirelings。 But I hold to it that if I make
my friends rich they will be my treasures themselves； and far better
guards too； for me and all we have； than if I set hired watchmen over
my wealth。 ＇20＇ And I have somewhat else to say； I tell you； Croesus；
there is something the gods have implanted in our souls； and there
they have made us all beggars alike； something I can never overcome。
＇21＇ I too； like all the rest； am insatiate of riches； only in one
respect I fancy I am different。 Most men when they have more wealth
than they require bury some of it underground； and let some of it rot；
and some they count and measure； and they guard it and they air it；
and give themselves a world of trouble； and yet for all their wealth
they cannot eat more than they have stomach forthey would burst
asunder if they didnor wear more clothes than they can carrythey
would die of suffocationand so their extra wealth means nothing but
extra work。 ＇22＇ For my part； I serve the gods； and I stretch out my
hands for more and more； only when I have got what is beyond my own
requirements I piece out the wants of my friends； and so； helping my
fellows； I purchase their love and their goodwill； and out of these I
garner security and renown； fruits that can never rot； rich meats that
can work no mischief； for glory； the more it grows； the grander it
becomes； and the fairer； and the lighter to be borne； it even gives a
lighter step to those who bear it。 ＇23＇ One thing more； Croesus； I
would have you know； the happiest men； in my judgment； are not the
holders of vast riches and the masters who have the most to guard；
else the sentinels of our citadels would be the happiest of mortals；
seeing they guard the whole wealth of the state。 He； I hold； has won
the crown of happiness who has had the skill to gain wealth by the
paths of righteousness and use it for all that is honourable and
fair。〃
＇24＇ That was the doctrine Cyrus preached； and all men could see that
his practice matched his words。
Moreover； he observed that the majority of mankind； if they live in
good health for long； will only lay by such stores and requisites as
may be used by a healthy man； and hardly care at all to have
appliances at hand in case of sickness。 But Cyrus was at the pains to
provide these； he encouraged the ablest physicians of the day by his
liberal payments； and if ever they recommended an instrument or a drug
or a special kind of food or drink； he never failed to procure it and
have it stored in the palace。
＇25＇ And whenever any one fell sick among those who had peculiar
claims on his attentions； he would visit them and bring them all they
needed； and he showed especial gratitude to the doctors if they cured
their patients by the help of his own stores。 ＇26＇ These measures； and
others like them； he adopted to win the first place in the hearts of
those whose friendship he desired。 Moreover； the contests he
proclaimed and the prizes he offered to awaken ambition and desire for
gallant deeds all redounded to his own glory as a man who had the
pursuit of nobleness at heart； while they bred strife and bitter
rivalry among the champions themselves。 ＇27＇ Further； he laid it down
that in every matter needing arbitration； whether it were a suit…at…
law or a trial of skill； the parties should concur in their choice of
a judge。 Each would try to secure the most powerful man he knew and
the one most friendly to himself； and if he lost he envied his
successful rival and hated the judge who had declared against him；
while the man who won claimed to win because his case was just and
felt he owed no gratitude to anybody。 ＇28＇ Thus all who wished to be
first in the affections of Cyrus； just as others in democratic states；
were full of rancour against each other； in fact most of them would
sooner have seen their rivals exterminated than join with them for any
common good。 Such are some of the devices by which he made the ablest
of his subjects more attached to himself than to one another。
＇C。3＇ I will now describe the first public progress that Cyrus made。
For t