or come home safe from battle if he took no precautions whatsoever。
All such prayers as these； you said； were contrary to the very
ordinances of heaven； and those who asked for things forbidden could
not be surprised if they failed to win them from the gods。 Even as a
petition in the face of law on earth would have no success with men。〃
＇7＇ 〃And do you remember；〃 said his father； 〃how we thought that it
would be a noble work enough if a man could train himself really and
truly to be beautiful and brave and earn all he needed for his
household and himself？ That； we said； was a work of which a man might
well be proud； but if he went further still； if he had the skill and
the science to be the guide and governor of other men； supplying all
their wants and making them all they ought to be； that； it seemed to
us； would be indeed a marvel。〃 ＇8＇ 〃Yes； my father；〃 answered Cyrus；
〃I remember it very well。 I agreed with you that to rule well and
nobly was the greatest of all works； and I am of the same mind still；〃
he went on； 〃whenever I think of government in itself。 But when I look
on the world at large； when I see of what poor stuff those men are
made who contrive to uphold their rule and what sort of antagonists we
are likely to find in them； then I can only feel how disgraceful it
would be to cringe before them and not to face them myself and try
conclusions with them on the field。 All of them； I perceive；〃 he
added； 〃beginning with our own friends here； hold to it that the ruler
should only differ from his subjects by the splendour of his banquets；
the wealth of gold in his coffers； the length and depth of his
slumbers； and his freedom from trouble and pain。 But my views are
different： I hold that the ruler should be marked out from other men；
not by taking life easily； but by his forethought and his wisdom and
his eagerness for work。〃 ＇9＇ 〃True； my son；〃 the father answered； 〃but
you know the struggle must in part be waged not against flesh and
blood but against circumstances； and these may not be overcome so
easily。 You know； I take it； that if supplies were not forthcoming；
farewell to this government of yours。〃 〃Yes；〃 Cyrus answered； 〃and
that is why Cyaxares is undertaking to provide for all of us who join
him； whatever our numbers are。〃 〃So；〃 said the father； 〃and you really
mean； my son； that you are relying only on these supplies of Cyaxares
for this campaign of yours？〃 〃Yes；〃 answered Cyrus。 〃And do you know
what they amount to？〃 〃No；〃 he said； 〃I cannot say that I do。〃 〃And
yet；〃 his father went on； 〃you are prepared to rely on what you do not
know？ Do you forget that the needs of the morrow must be high； not to
speak of the outlay for the day？〃 〃Oh； no；〃 said Cyrus； 〃I am well
aware of that。〃 〃Well；〃 said the father； 〃suppose the cost is more
than Cyaxares can bear； or suppose he actually meant to deceive you；
how would your soldiers fare？〃 〃Ill enough； no doubt；〃 answered he。
〃And now tell me； father； while we are still in friendly country； if
you know of any resources that I could make my own？〃 ＇10＇ 〃You want to
know where you could find resources of your own？〃 repeated his father。
〃And who is to find that out； if not he who holds the keys of power？
We have given you a force of infantry that you would not exchange； I
feel sure； for one that was more than twice its size； and you will
have the cavalry of Media to support you； the finest in the world。 I
conceive there are none of the nations round about who will not be
ready to serve you； whether to win your favour or because they fear
disaster。 These are matters you must look into carefully； in concert
with Cyaxares； so that nothing should ever fail you of what you need；
and； if only for habit's sake； you should devise some means for
supplying your revenue。 Bear this maxim in mind before all others
never put off the collecting of supplies until the day of need； make
the season of your abundance provide against the time of dearth。 You
will gain better terms from those on whom you must depend if you are
not thought to be in straits； and； what is more； you will be free from
blame in the eyes of your soldiers。 That in itself will make you more
respected； wherever you desire to help or to hurt； your troops will
follow you with greater readiness； so long as they have all they need；
and your words； you may be sure； will carry the greater weight the
fuller your display of power for weal or woe。〃
＇11＇ 〃Yes； father；〃 Cyrus said； 〃I feel all you say is true； and the
more because as things now stand none of my soldiers will thank me for
the pay that is promised them。 They are well aware of the terms
Cyaxares has offered for their help： but whatever they get over and
above the covenanted amount they will look upon as a free gift； and
for that they will； in all likelihood； feel most gratitude to the
giver。〃 〃True；〃 said the father； 〃and really for a man to have a force
with which he could serve his friends and take vengeance on his foes；
and yet neglect the supplies for it； would be as disgraceful； would it
not？ as for a farmer to hold lands and labourers and yet allow fields
to lie barren for lack of tillage。〃
〃No such neglect；〃 answered the son； 〃shall ever be laid at my door。
Through friendly lands or hostile； trust me； in this business of
supplying my troops with all they need I will always play my part。〃
＇12＇ 〃Well； my son；〃 the father resumed； 〃and do you remember certain
other points which we agreed must never be overlooked？〃 〃Could I
forget them？〃 answered Cyrus。 〃I remember how I came to you for money
to pay the teacher who professed to have taught me generalship； and
you gave it me； but you asked me many questions。 'Now； my boy；' you
said； 'did this teacher you want to pay ever mention economy among the
things a general ought to understand？ Soldiers； no less than servants
in a house； are dependent on supplies。' And I was forced to tell the
truth and admit that not a syllable had been mentioned on that score。
Then you asked me if anything had been taught about health and
strength； since a true general is bound to think of these matters no
less than of tactics and strategy。 And when I was forced to say no；
you asked me if he had taught me any of the arts which give the best
aid in war。 Once again I had to say no and then you asked whether he
had ever taught me how to kindle enthusiasm in my men。 For in every
undertaking； you said； there was all the difference in the world
between energy and lack of spirit。 I shook my head and your
examination went on：Had this teacher laid no stress on the need for
obedience in an army； or on the best means of securing discipline？
＇14＇ And finally； when it was plain that even this had been utterly
ignored； you exclaimed； 'What in the world； then； does your professor
claim to have taught you under the name of generalship？' To that I
could at last give a positive answer： 'He taught me tactics。' And then
you gave a little laugh and ran through your list point by point：
'And pray what will be the use of tactics to an army without supplies；
without health； without discipline； without knowledge of those arts
and inventions that are of use in war？' And so you made it clear to me
that tactics and man？uvres and drill were only a small part of all
that is implied in generalship； and when I asked you if you could
teach me the rest of it you bade me betake myself to those who stood
high in repute as great generals； and talk with them and learn from
their lips how each thing should be done。 ＇15＇ So I consorted with all
I thought to be of authority in these matters。 As regards our present
supplies I was persuaded that what Cyaxares intended to provide was
sufficient； and； as for the health of the troops； I was aware that the
cities where health was valued appointed medical officers； and the
generals who cared for their soldiers took out a medical staff； and so
when I found myself in this office I gave my mind to the matter at
once： and I flatter myself； father；〃 he added； 〃that I shall have with
me an excellent staff of surgeons and physicians。〃 ＇16＇ To which the
father made reply； 〃Well； my son； but these excellent men are； after
all； much the same as the tailors who patch torn garments。 When folk
are ill； your doctors can patch them up； but your own care for their
health ought to go far deeper than that： your prime object should be
to save your men from falling ill at all。〃 〃And pray； father；〃 asked
Cyrus； 〃how can I succeed in that？〃 〃Well；〃 answered Cambyses； 〃I
presume if you are to stay long in one place you will do your best to
discover a healthy spot for your camp； and if you give your mind to
the matter you can hardly fail to find it。 Men； we know； are forever
discussing what places are healthy and what are not； and their own
complexions and the state of their own bodies is the clearest
evidence。 But you will not content yourself with choosing a site； you
will remember the care you take yourself for your own health。〃 ＇17＇
〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃my first rule is to avoid over…feeding as most
oppressive to the system； and my next to work off all that enters the
body： that seems the best way to keep health and gain strength。〃 〃My
son；〃 Cambyses answered； 〃these are the principles you must apply to
others。〃 〃What！〃 said Cyrus； 〃do you think it will be possible for the
soldiers to diet and train themselves？〃 〃Not only possible；〃 said the
father； 〃but essential。 For surely an army； if it is to fulfil its
function at all； must always be engaged in hurting the foe or helping
itself。 A single man is hard enough to support in idleness； a
household is harder still； an army hardest of all。 There are more
mouths to be filled； less wealth to start with； and greater waste； and
therefore an army should never be unemployed。〃 ＇18＇ 〃If I take your
meaning；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃you think an idle general as useless as an
idle farmer。 And here and now I answer for the working general； and
promise on his behalf that with God's help he will show you that his
troops have all they need and their bodies are all they ought to be。
And I think；〃 he added； 〃I know a way by which an officer might do
much towards training his men in the various