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HISTORY OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE |
Cyropaedia
The Life of Kurosh The Great
Wrote by Xenophon
BOOK
2
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[2.1.1] In such conversation they arrived at the Persian
frontier. And when an eagle appeared upon their right and flew on ahead of them,
they prayed to the gods and heroes who watch over the land of Persia to conduct
them on with grace and favour, and then proceeded to cross the frontier. And
when they had crossed, they prayed again to the tutelary gods of the Median land
to receive them with grace and favour; and when they had finished their
devotions, they embraced one another, as was natural, and the father went back
again to Persia, while Cyrus went on to Cyaxares in Media.
[2.1.2]
And when he arrived there, first they embraced one another, as was natural, and
then Cyaxares asked Cyrus how large the army was that he was
bringing."Thirty thousand," he answered, "of such as have come to
you before as mercenaries; but others also, of the peers, who have never before
left their country, are coming.""About how many?" asked Cyaxares.
[2.1.3]
"The number," said Cyrus, "would give you no pleasure, if you
were to hear it; but bear this in mind, that though the so-called peers are few,
they easily rule the rest of the Persians, many though they be. But," he
added, "are you in any need of them, or was it a false alarm, and are the
enemy not coming?""Yes, by Zeus," said he, "they are coming
and in great numbers, too."
[2.1.4]
"How is this so certain?""Because," said he, "many have
come from there, and though one tells the story one way and another another,
they all say the same thing.""We shall have to fight those men,
then?""Aye," said he; "we must of necessity.""Well
then," said Cyrus, "won't you please tell me, if you know, how great
the forces are that are coming against us; and tell me of our own as well, so
that with full information about both we may lay our plans accordingly, how best
to enter the conflict.""Listen then," said Cyaxares.
[2.1.5]
"Croesus, the king of Lydia, is said to be coming at the head of 10,000
horsemen and more than 40,000 peltasts and bowmen. And they say that Artacamas,
the king of Greater Phrygia, is coming at the head of 8000 horse and not fewer
than 40,000 lancers and peltasts; and Aribaeus, the king of Cappadocia, has 6000
horse and not fewer than 30,000 bowmen and peltasts; while the Arabian, Aragdus,
has about 10,000 horsemen, about 100 chariots of war, and a great host of
slingers. As for the Greeks who dwell in Asia, however, no definite information
is as yet received whether they are in the coalition or not. But the contingent
from Phrygia on the Hellespont, under Gabaedus, has arrived at Cay+stru-Pedium,
it is said, to the number of 6000 horse and 10,000 peltasts.The Carians,
however, and Cilicians and Paphlagonians, they say, have not joined the
expedition, although they have been invited to do so. But the Assyrians, both
those from Babylon and those from the rest of Assyria, will bring, I think, not
fewer than 20,000 horse and not fewer, I am sure, than 200 war-chariots, and a
vast number of infantry, I suppose; at any rate, they used to have as many as
that whenever they invaded our country."
[2.1.6]
"You mean to say," said Cyrus, "that the enemy have 60,000 horse
and more than 200,000 peltasts and bowmen. And at how many, pray, do you
estimate the number of your own forces?""There are," said he,
"of the Medes more than 10,000 horse; and the peltasts and bowmen might be,
from a country like ours, some 60,000; while from our neighbours, the Armenians,
we shall get 4000 horse and 20,000 foot.""That is to say," said
Cyrus, "we have less than one-fourth as many horsemen as the enemy and
about half as many foot-soldiers."
[2.1.7]
"Tell me, then," said Cyaxares, "do you not consider the Persian
force small which you say you are bringing?""Yes," said Cyrus;
"but we will consider later whether we need more men or not. Now tell
me," he went on, "what each party's method of fighting
is.""About the same with all," said Cyaxares; "for there are
bowmen and spearmen both on their side and on ours.""Well then,"
said Cyrus, "as their arms are of that sort, we must fight at long
range."
[2.1.8]
"Yes," said Cyaxares, "that will be necessary.""In that
case, then, the victory will be with the side that has the greater numbers; for
the few would be wounded and killed off by the many sooner than the many by the
few.""If that is so, Cyrus, then what better plan could any one think
of than to send to Persia to inform them that if anything happens to the Medes,
the danger will extend to the Persians, and at the same time to ask for a larger
army?""Why," said Cyrus, "let me assure you that even though
all the Persians were to come, we should not surpass the enemy in point of
numbers."
[2.1.9]
"What better plan do you see than this?""If I were you,"
said Cyrus, "I should as quickly as possible have armour made for all the
Persians who are coming here just like that of the so-called peers who are
coming from our country--that is, a corselet to wear about the breast, a small
shield upon the left arm, and a scimitar or sabre in the right hand. And if you
provide these weapons, you will make it the safest procedure for us to fight at
close quarters with the enemy, while for the enemy flight will prove preferable
to standing their ground. And it is for us," he continued, "to range
ourselves against those who hold their ground, while those of them who run away
we propose to leave to you and the cavalry, that they may have no chance to
stand their ground or to turn back."
[2.1.10] Thus Cyrus spoke. And to Cyaxares it seemed that
he spoke to the point; and he no longer talked of sending for reinforcements,
but he set about procuring the arms as suggested. And they were almost ready
when the Persian peers came with the army from Persia.
[2.1.11]
Thereupon Cyrus is said to have called the peers together and said: "My
friends: When I saw you thus equipped and ready in heart to grapple with the
enemy in a hand-to-hand encounter, and when I observed that those Persians who
follow you are so armed as to do their fighting standing as far off as possible,
I wafraid lest, few in number and unaccompanied by others to support you, you
might fall in with a large division of the enemy and come to some harm. Now
then," said he, "you have brought with you men blameless in bodily
strength; and they are to have arms like ours; but to steel their hearts is our
task; for it is not the whole duty of an officer to show himself valiant, but he
must also take care that his men be as valiant as possible."
[2.1.12]
Thus he spoke. And they were all delighted, for they thought they were going
into battle with more to support them. And one of them also spoke as follows:
[2.1.13] "Now," he began, "it will perhaps sound strange if I
advise Cyrus to say something on our behalf, when those who are to fight along
with us receive their arms. But I venture the suggestion, for I know that when
men have most power to do both good and ill, then their words also are the most
likely to sink deep into the hearts of the hearers. And if such persons give
presents, even though the gifts be of less worth than those given by equals,
still the recipients value them more highly. And now," said he, "our
Persian comrades will be more highly pleased to be exhorted by Cyrus than by us;
and when they have taken their place among the peers they will feel that they
hold this honour with more security because conferred by their prince and their
general than if the same honour were bestowed by us. However, our co-operation
must not be wanting, but in every way and by all means we must steel the hearts
of our men. For the braver these men are, the more to our advantage it will
be."
[2.1.14]
Accordingly, Cyrus had the arms brought in and arranged to view, and calling all
the Persian soldiers together he spoke as follows: [2.1.15]
"Fellow-citizens of Persia, you were born and bred upon the same soil as
we; the bodies you have are no whit inferior to ours, and it is not likely that
you have hearts in the least less brave than our own. In spite of this, in our
own country you did not enjoy equal privileges with us, but because you were
obliged to earn your own livelihood. Now, however, with the help of the gods, I
shall see to it that you are provided with the necessaries of life; and you are
permitted, if you wish, to receive arms like ours, to face the same danger as
we, and, if any fair success crowns our enterprise, to be counted worthy of an
equal share with us.
[2.1.16]
"Now, up to this time you have been bowmen and lancers, and so have we; and
if you were not quite our equals in the use of these arms, there is nothing
surprising about that; for you had not the leisure to practise with them that we
had. But with this equipment we shall have no advantage over you. In any case,
every man will have a corselet fitted to his breast, upon his left arm a shield,
such as we have all been accustomed to carry, and in his right hand a sabre or
scimitar with which, you see, we must strike those opposed to us at such close
range that we need not fear to miss our aim when we strike. [2.1.17] In this
armour, then, how could any one of us have the advantage over another except in
courage? And this it is proper for you to cherish in your hearts no less than
we. For why is it more proper for us than for you to desire victory, which gains
and keeps safe all things beautiful and all things good? And what reason is
there that we, any more than you, should desire that superiority in arms which
gives to the victors all the belongings of the vanquished?
[2.1.18]
"You have heard all," he said in conclusion. "You see your arms;
whosoever will, let him take them and have his name enrolled with the captain in
the same companies with us. But whosoever is satisfied to be in the position of
a mercenary, let him remain in the armour of the hired soldiery."Thus he
spoke. [2.1.19] And when the Persians heard it, they thought that if they were unwilling to
accept, when invited to share the same toils and enjoy the same rewards, they
should deserve to live in want through all time. And so they were all enrolled
and all took up the arms.
[2.1.20]
And while the enemy were said to be approaching but had not yet come, Cyrus
tried to develop the physical strength of his men, to teach them tactics, and to
steel their hearts for war.
[2.1.21]
And first of all he received quartermasters from Cyaxares and commanded them to
furnish ready made for each of the soldiers a liberal supply of everything that
he needed. And when he had provided for this, he had left them nothing to do but
to practise the arts of war, for he thought he had observed that those became
best in any given thing who gave up paying attention to many things and devoted
themselves to that alone. So, in the drill itself he relieved them of even the
practice with bow and spear and left them only the drill with sword and shield
and breastplate. And so he at once brought home to them the conviction that they
must go into a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy or else admit that as
allies they were good for nothing. But such an admission is hard for those who
know that they are being maintained for no other purpose than to fight for those
who maintain them.
[2.1.22]
And as, in addition to this, he had further observed that people are much more
willing to practise those things in which they have rivalry among themselves, he
appointed contests for them in everything that he knew it was important for
soldiers to practise. What he proposed was as follows: to the private soldier,
that he show himself obedient to the officers, ready for hardship, eager for
danger but subject to good discipline, familiar with the duties required of a
soldier, neat in the care of his equipment, and ambitious about all such
matters; to the corporal, that, besides being himself like the good private, he
make his squad of five a model, as far as possible; to the sergeant, that he do
likewise with his squad of ten, and the lieutenant with his platoon2; and to the
captain, that he be unexceptionable himself and see to it that the officers
under him get those whom they command to do their duty.
[2.1.23]
As rewards, moreover, he offered the following: in the case of captains, those
who were thought to have got their companies into the best condition should be
made colonels; of the lieutenants, those who were thought to have put their
platoons into the best condition should be advanced to the rank of captains; of
the sergeants, those who were the most meritorious should be promoted to the
rank of lieutenant; in the same way, the best of the corporals should be
promoted to the rank of sergeants; and finally of the privates, the best should
be advanced to the rank of corporal. Moreover, all these officers not only had a
right to claim the respect of their subordinates, but other distinctions also
appropriate to each office followed in course. And to those who should deserve
praise still greater hopes were held out, in case in time to come any greater
good fortune should befall. [2.1.24] Besides, he offered prizes of victory to
whole companies and to whole platoons and to squads of ten and of five likewise,
if they showed themselves implicitly obedient to the officers and very ready in
performing the afore mentioned duties. And the prizes of victory for these
divisions were just such as were appropriate to groups of men.Such, then, were
the competitions appointed, and the army began to train for them.
[2.1.25]
Then, he had tents made for them--in number, as many as there were captains; in
size, large enough to accommodate each a company. A company, moreover, was
composed of a hundred men. Accordingly, they lived in tents each company by
itself; for Cyrus thought that in occupying tents together they had the
following advantages for the coming conflict: They saw one another provided for
in the same way, and there could be no possible pretext of unjust discrimination
that could lead any one to allow himself to prove less brave than another in the
face of the enemy. Andhe thought that if they tented together it would help them
to get acquainted with one another. And in getting acquainted with one another,
he thought, a feeling of considerateness was more likely to be engendered in
them all, while those who are unacquainted seem somehow more indifferent--like
people when they are in the dark.
[2.1.26]
He thought also that their tenting together helped them not a little to gain a
perfect acquaintance with their positions. For the captains had the companies
under them in as perfect order as when a company was marching single file, and
the lieutenants their platoons, and the sergeants and corporals their squads in
the same way. [2.1.27] He thought, moreover, that such perfect acquaintance with
their places in the line was exceedingly helpful both to prevent their being
thrown into confusion and to restore order sooner in case they should be thrown
into confusion; just as in the case of stones and timbers which must be fitted
together, it is possible to fit them together readily, no matter in how great
confusion they may chance to have been thrown down, if they have the guide-marks
to make it plain in what place each of them belongs. [2.1.28] And finally, he
thought that comradeship would be encouraged by their messing together and that
they would be less likely to desert one another; for he had often observed that
even animals that were fed together had a marvellous yearning for one another,
if any one separated them.
[2.1.29]
Cyrus also took care that they should never come to luncheon or to dinner unless
they had had a sweat. For he would get them into a sweat by taking them out
hunting; or he would contrive such sports as would make them sweat; or again, if
he happened to have some business or other to attend to, he so conducted it that
they should not come back without having had a sweat. For this he considered
conducive to their enjoying their meals, to their health, and to their being
able to endure hardships, and he thought that hardships conduced to their being
more reasonable toward one another, for even horses that work together stand
more quietly together. At any rate, those who are conscious that they have been
well drilled are certainly more courageous in the face of the enemy.
[2.1.30]
And for himself Cyrus had a tent made big enough to accommodate all whom he
might invite to dinner. Now he usually invited as many of the captains as he
thought proper, and sometimes also some of the lieutenants and sergeants and
corporals; and occasionally he invited some of the privates, sometimes a squad
of five together, or a squad of ten, or a platoon, or a whole company in a body.
And he also used to invite individuals as a mark of honour, whenever he saw that
they had done what he himself wished everybody to do. And the same dishes were
always placed before those whom he invited to dinner as before himself.
[2.1.31]
The quartermasters in the army he always allowed an equal share of everything;
for he thought that it was fair to show no less regard for the purveyors of the
army stores than for heralds or ambassadors. And that was reasonable, for he
held that they must be trustworthy, familiar with military affairs, and
intelligent, and, in addition to that, energetic, quick, resolute, steady. And
still further, Cyrus knew that the quartermasters also must have the qualities
which those have who are considered most efficient and that they must train
themselves not to refuse any service but to consider that it is their duty to
perform whatever the general might require of them.
2,1,22,n2.
The divisions of Cyrus's army were as follows: 5 men to a corporal's squad
pempas); officer: corporal (pempadarchos); total men: 5. 2 corporals' squads to
a 1 sergeant's squad dekas; officer: sergeant dekadarchos; total men: 10. 5
sergeants' squads to a platoon lochos; officer: lieutenant lochagos; total men:
50. 2 platoons to a company taxis; officer: captain taxiarchos; total men: 100.
10 companies to a 1 regiment chiliostus; officer: colonel chiliarchos; total
men: 1,000. 10 regiments to a brigade muriostus; officer: general muriarchos);
total men: 10,000.
[2.2.1]
Whenever Cyrus entertained company at dinner, he always took pains that the
conversation introduced should be as entertaining as possible and that it should
incite to good. On one occasion he opened the conversation as follows:"Tell
me, men," said he, "do our new comrades seem to be any worse off than
we because they have not been educated in the same way as we, or pray do you
think that there will be no difference between us either in social intercourse
or when we shall have to contend with the enemy?"
[2.2.2]
"Well," said Hystaspas in reply, "for my part, I cannot tell yet
how they will appear in the face of the enemy. But in social intercourse, by the
gods, some of them seem ill-mannered enough. The other day, at any rate,"
he explained, "Cyaxares had meat sent in to each company, and as it was
passed around each one of us got three pieces or even more. And the first time
round the cook began with me as he passed it around; but when he came in the
second time to pass it, I bade him begin with the last and pass it arkund the
other way. [2.2.3] Then one of the men sitting in the middle of the circle
called out and said, `By Zeus, this is not fair at all--at any rate, if they are
never going to begin with us here in the middle.' And when I heard that, I was
vexed that any one should think that he had less than another and I called him
to me at once. He obeyed, showing good discipline in this at least. But when
that which was being passed came to us, only the smallest pieces were left, as
one might expect, for we were the last to be served. Thereupon he was greatly
vexed and said to himself: `Such luck! that I should happen to have been called
here just now!' [2.2.4] `Well, never mind,' said I. `They will begin with us
next time, and you, being first, will get the biggest piece.' And at that moment
the cook began to pass around the third time what was left of the course; and
the man helped himself; and then he thought the piece he had taken too small; so
he put back the piece he had, with the intention of taking another. And the
cook, thinking that he did not want any more to eat, went on passing it before
he got his other piece. [2.2.5] Thereupon he took his mishap so to heart that he
lost not only the meat he had taken but also what was still left of his sauce;
for this last he upset somehow or other in the confusion of his vexation and
anger over his hard luck. The lieutenant nearest us saw it and laughed and
clapped his hands in amusement. And I," he added, "pretended to cough;
for even I could not keep from laughing. Such is one man, Cyrus, that I present
to you as one of our comrades."At this they laughed, of course.
[2.2.6]
But another of the captains said: "Our friend here, it seems, Cyrus, has
fallen in with a very ill-mannered fellow. But as for me, when you had
instructed us about the arrangement of the lines and dismissed us with orders
each to teach his own company what we had learned from you, why then I went and
proceeded to drill one platoon, just as the others also did. I assigned the
lieutenant his place first and arranged next after him a young recruit, and the
rest, as I thought proper. Then I took my stand out in front of them facing the
platoon, and when it seemed to me to be the proper time, I gave the command to
go ahead. [2.2.7] And that young recruit, mark you, stepped ahead--of the
lieutenant and marched in front of him! And when I saw it, I said: `Fellow, what
are you doing?' `I am going ahead, as you ordered,' said he. `Well,' said I, `I
ordered not only you, but all to go ahead.' When he heard this, he turned about
to his comrades and said: `Don't you hear him scolding? He orders us all to go
ahead.' Then the men all ran past their lieutenant and came toward me. [2.2.8]
But when the lieutenant ordered them back to their , they were indignant and
said: `Pray, which one are we to obey? For now the one orders us to go ahead,
and the other will not let us.' I took this good-naturedly, however, and when I
had got them in position again, I gave instructions that no one of those behind
should stir before the one in front led off, but that all should have their
attention on this only--to follow the man in front. [2.2.9] But when a certain
man who was about to start for Persia came up and asked me for the letter which
I had written home, I bade the lieutenant run and fetch it, for he knew where it
had been placed. So he started off on a run, and that young recruit followed, as
he was, breastplate and sword; and then the whole fifty, seeing him run, ran
after. And the men came back bringing the letter. So exactly, you see, does my
company, at least, carry out all your orders."
[2.2.10]
The rest, of course, laughed over the military escort of the letter, and Cyrus
said: "O Zeus and all the gods! What sort of men we have then as our
comrades; they are so easily won by kindness that we can make many of them our
firm friends with even a little piece of meat; and they are so obedient that
they obey even before the orders are given. I, for my part, do not know what
sort of soldiers one could ask to have in preference to these!"
[2.2.11]
Thus Cyrus praised his soldiers, laughing at the same time. But one of his
captains, Aglai+tadas by name, one of the most austere of men, happened to be in
Cyrus's tent at the same time and he spoke somewhat as follows: "You don't
mean to say, Cyrus, that you think what these fellows have been telling is
true?""Well," said Cyrus, "what object could they have,
pray, in telling a lie?""What object, indeed," said the other,
"except that they wanted to raise a laugh; and so they tell these stories
and try to humbug us."
[2.2.12]
"Hush!" said Cyrus. "Don't call these men humbugs. For to me, the
name `humbug' seems to apply to those who pretend that they are richer than they
are or braver than they are, and to those who promise to do what they cannot do,
and that, too, when it is evident that they do this only for the sake of getting
something or making some gain. But those who invent stories to amuse their
companions and not for their own gain nor at the expense of their hearers nor to
the injury of any one, why should these men not be called `witty' and
`entertaining' rather than `humbugs'?"
[2.2.13]
Thus Cyrus defended those who had furnished the fun, and the captain himself who
had told the anecdote about his platoon said: "Verily, Aglai+tadas, you
might find serious fault with us, if we tried to make you weep, like some
authors who invent touching incidents in their poems and stories and try to move
us to tears; but now, although you yourself know that we wish to entertain you
and not to do you any harm at all, still you heap such reproaches upon us."
[2.2.14]
"Aye, by Zeus," said Aglai+tadas, "and justly, too, since he that
makes his friends laugh seems to me to do them much less service than he who
makes them weep; and if you will look at it rightly, you, too, will find that I
speak the truth. At any rate, fathers develop self-control in their sons by
making them weep, and teachers impress good lessons upon their pupils in the
same way, and the laws, too, turn the citizens to justice by making them weep.
But could you say that those who make us laugh either do good to our bodies or
make our minds any more fitted for the management of our private business or of
the affairs of state?"
[2.2.15]
Hereupon Hystaspas answered somewhat as follows: "If you will heed me,
Aglai+tadas, you will freely expend this very valuable commodity upon your
enemies and will try to set them to weeping; but upon us and your friends here
you will please to lavish this cheap article, laughter. And you can, for I know
you must have a great quantity of it stored up; for you have never spent it upon
yourself nor do you ever afford any laughter for your friends or for your
enemies if you can help it. So you have no excuse for begrudging us a
laugh.""What!" said Aglai+tadas; "do you really think,
Hystaspas, to get a laugh out of me?""Well, by Zeus," said the
other captain, "he is a very foolish fellow, let me tell you, if he does;
for I believe one might rub fire out of you more easily than provoke a laugh
from you."
[2.2.16]
At this, of course, the rest laughed; for they knew his character, and
Aglai+tadas himself smiled at the sally. And Cyrus seeing him brighten up said:
"It is not right, captain, for you to corrupt our most serious man by
persuading him to laugh, and that, too," said he, "when he is such a
foe to laughter."
[2.2.17]
With that, the subject was dropt. But at this point Chrysantas spoke as follows.
[2.2.18]
"Cyrus," said he, "and all you here present, I observe, for my
part, that some have come out with us who are of superior merit, others who are
less deserving than we. Now, if we meet with success, these will all expect to
have share and share alike. And yet I do not believe that anything in the world
is more unfair than for the bad and good to be awarded equal
shares.""Well, then, in the name of the gods, my men," Cyrus
replied to this, "will it not be a very good thing for us to suggest to the
army a debate on this question: shall we, in case God gives us any success to
reward our toils, give to all an equal share or shall we take into consideration
each man's services and bestow increased rewards upon him commensurate with
them?"
[2.2.19]
"And what is the use," said Chrysantas, "of starting a discussion
concerning this matter? Why not rather announce that you propose to do thus and
so? Pray, did you not announce the games and offer the prizes that
way?""Yes, by Zeus," said Cyrus; "but this is not a parallel
case. For what the men obtain by fighting, that, I suppose, they will consider
their own common property; but the command of the army they still consider
fairly to be mine, so that when I appoint the judges, I am sure they think I am
within my rights."
[2.2.20]
"And do you really believe," said Chrysantas, "that the mass
meeting would adopt a resolution that each one should not have an equal share,
but that the best should have the preference both in honours and
gifts?""Yes," said Cyrus, "I do, partly because we recommend
it, and partly because it is mean to oppose a proposition that the one who
suffers the most and does the most for the state should also receive the highest
rewards. And I think," said he, "that even to the worst it will seem
proper that the good should have the larger share."
[2.2.21]
Now Cyrus wished for the sake of the peers themselves that this measure should
pass; for he thought that even they themselves would be better, if they knew
that they also should be judged by their works and should receive according to
their deserts. And so it seemed to him to be the proper time to bring this
matter to a vote now, while the peers also were questioning the commoners'
claims to equality. Accordingly, those in the tenth agreed to submit the
question to a discussion and they said that whoever thought himself to be a man
ought to advocate it.
[2.2.22]
But one of the captains said with a laugh: "Well, I know a man of the
commoners, too, who will support the proposition not to have share and share
alike in that indiscriminate fashion."Another asked him whom he meant; and
he answered: "By Zeus, he is a messmate of ours, who in everything does his
best to get the largest share.""What! the largest share of hard work,
too?" asked another."No, by Zeus," said he; "not by any
means; but here I have been caught in a falsehood. For my observation is that he
very good-naturedly consents to have a smaller share of hard work and other
things of that sort than anybody else.
[2.2.23]
Well, men," said Cyrus, "I am convinced that such fellows as this one
of whom our friend has just been telling us must be weeded out of ranks, if we
are to keep our army industrious and obedient. For it seems to me that the
majority of the soldiers are the sort to follow wherever any one leads; and the
good and noble, I think, try to lead only to what is good and noble, and the
vicious to what is vicious. [2.2.24] And therefore the base oftentimes find a
larger following of congenial spirits than the noble. For since vice makes her
appeal through the pleasures of the moment, she has their assistance to persuade
many to accept her views; but virtue, leading up hill, is not at all clever at
attracting men at first sight and without reflection; and especially is this
true, when there are others who call in the opposite direction, to what is
downhill and easy.
[2.2.25]
And so, when people are bad only because of laziness and indolence, I believe
that they, like drones, damage their associates only by the cost of their
keeping. But those who are poor companions in toil, and also extravagant and
shameless in their desire for any advantage, these are likely also to lead
others to what is vicious; for they are often able to demonstrate that vice does
gain some advantage. And so we must weed out such men at any cost.
[2.2.26]
"Do not, however, endeavour to fill up their places in the ranks with your
own countrymen only; but, just as in selecting a team you seek out not horses
that are home-bred but those which are best, so also in the case of men, take
them from all sources--whoever you think will be most likely to contribute to
your strencth and to your honour. And I have the following illustrations to
prove the worth of my suggestion: a chariot would never go fast, I am sure, if
slow horses were attached to it, nor would it be serviceable if horses unfit for
service were harnessed to it; nor yet could a house be well managed if it
employed vicious servants, but it would suffer less from having no servants at
all than from being kept in confusion by incapable servants.
[2.2.27]
"Let me assure you of this, too, my friends," he added, "that the
weeding out of the vicious will bring not only this advantage, that the vicious
will be out of the way, but also among those who remain the ones that have
already been infected with vice will be purged of it, while the virtuous seeing
the vicious disgraced will cleave more eagerly to virtue."
[2.2.28]
With that he concluded; and all his friends agreed that what he said was true,
and they began to act upon that principle.After that Cyrus began again to jest
with them; for he had observed that one of the lieutenants had brought along as
a guest and companion at table an exceedingly hairy and exceedingly ill-favoured
man; and addressing the lieutenant by name he spoke as follows: "Well,
Sambaulas," said he, "so you also have adopted the Greek fashion, have
you, and take about with you everywhere this youngster who is now beside you,
because he is so handsome?""Yes, by Zeus," said Sambaulas;
"at all events I enjoy both his company and his looks."
[2.2.29]
When his messmates heard this, they looked at the man; and when they saw that
his countenance was exceedingly ugly, they all laughed. And one of them said:
"In the name of the gods, Sambaulas, what has this fellow done to make such
a hit with you?"
[2.2.30]
"By Zeus, fellows," he answered, "I will tell you. Every time
that I have called him, whether by day or by night, he has never made any excuse
saying that `he had not time,' nor has he answered my call slowly, but always on
a run. And as often as I have bidden him do anything, I have never seen him
perform it without sweat; and besides, by showing them not by precept but by
example what sort of men they ought to be, he has made his whole squad of ten
just like himself."
[2.2.31]
"And yet," said one of the men, "although he is such an excellent
fellow, you don't kiss him as you do your relatives?"And the homely man
answered this and said: "No, by Zeus, for he is not fond of hard work; for
if he wished to kiss me, that would be an ample substitute for all his
drill-work."