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say good…bye to all joy for evermoreno； this self…control is a
training； so that we may reap the fruits of a larger joy in the time
to come。 A man will toil day and night to make himself an orator； yet
oratory is not the one aim of his existence： his hope is to influence
men by his eloquence and thus achieve some noble end。 So too with us；
and those like us； who are drilled in the arts of war： we do not give
our labours in order to fight for ever； endlessly and hopelessly； we
hope that we too one day； when we have proved our mettle； may win and
wear for ourselves and for our city the threefold ornament of wealth；
of happiness； of honour。 ＇10＇ And if there should be some who have
worked hard all their lives and suddenly old…age； they find； has
stolen on them unawares； and taken away their powers before they have
gathered in the fruit of all their toil； such men seem to me like
those who desire to be thrifty husbandmen； and who sow well and plant
wisely； but when the time of harvest comes let the fruit drop back
ungarnered into the soil whence it sprang。 Or as if an athlete should
train himself and reach the heights where victory may be won and at
the last forbear to enter the listssuch an one； I take it； would but
meet his deserts if all men cried out upon him for a fool。 ＇11＇ Let
not such be our fate； my friends。 Our own hearts bear us witness that
we； too； from our boyhood up； have been trained in the school of
beauty and nobleness and honour； and now let us go forward to meet our
foes。 They； I know right well； when matched with us； will prove but
novices in war。 He is no true warrior； though he be skilled with the
javelin and the bow and ride on horseback with the best； who； when the
call for endurance comes； is found to fail： toil finds him but a
novice。 Nor are they warriors who； when they should wake and watch；
give way to slumber： sleep finds them novices。 Even endurance will not
avail； if a man has not learnt to deal as a man should by friends and
foes： such an one is unschooled in the highest part of his calling。
＇12＇ But with you it is not so： to you the night will be as the day；
toil； your school has taught you； is the guide to happiness； hunger
has been your daily condiment； and water you take to quench your
thirst as the lion laps the stream。 And you have that within your
hearts which is the rarest of all treasures and the most akin to war：
of all sweet sounds the sweetest sound for you is the voice of fame。
You are fair Honour's suitors； and you must needs win your title to
her favour。 Therefore you undergo toil and danger gladly。
＇13＇ 〃Now if I said all this of you； and my heart were not in my
words； I should but cheat myself。 For in so far as you should fail to
fulfil my hopes of you； it is on me that the shame would fall。 But I
have faith in you； bred of experience： I trust in your goodwill
towards me； and in our enemy's lack of wit； you will not belie my
hopes。 Let us go forth with a light heart； we have no ill…fame to
fear： none can say we covet another man's goods unlawfully。 Our enemy
strikes the first blow in an unrighteous cause； and our friends call
us to protect them。 What is more lawful than self…defence？ What is
nobler than to succour those we love？ ＇14＇ And you have another ground
of confidencein opening this campaign I have not been forgetful of
the gods： you have gone in and out with me； and you know how in all
things； great and small； I strive to win their blessing。 And now；〃 he
added； 〃what need of further words？ I will leave you now to choose
your own men； and when all is ready you will march into Media at their
head。 Meanwhile I will return to my father and start before you； so
that I may learn what I can about the enemy as soon as may be； and
thus make all needful preparations； so that by God's help we may win
glory on the field。〃
＇C。6＇ Such were his orders and they set about them at once。 But Cyrus
himself went home and prayed to the gods of his father's house； to
Hestia and Zeus； and to all who had watched over his race。 And when he
had done so； he set out for the war； and his father went with him on
the road。 They were no sooner clear of the city； so says the story；
than they met with favourable omens of thunder and lightning； and
after that they went forward without further divination； for they felt
that no man could mistake the signs from the Ruler of the gods。 ＇2＇
And as they went on their way Cyrus' father said to him； 〃My son； the
gods are gracious to us； and look with favour on your journeythey
have shown it in the sacrifices； and by their signs from heaven。 You
do not need another man to tell you so； for I was careful to have you
taught this art； so that you might understand the counsels of the gods
yourself and have no need of an interpreter； seeing with your own eyes
and hearing with your own ears and taking the heavenly meaning for
yourself。 Thus you need not be at the mercy of any soothsayers who
might have a mind to deceive you； speaking contrary to the omens
vouchsafed from heaven； nor yet； should you chance to be without a
seer； drift in perplexity and know not how to profit by the heavenly
signs： you yourself through your own learning can understand the
warnings of the gods and follow them。〃
＇3＇ 〃Yes； father；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃so far as in me lies； I bear your
words in mind； and pray to the gods continually that they may show us
favour and vouchsafe to counsel us。 I remember；〃 he went on； 〃how once
I heard you say that； as with men； so with the gods； it was but
natural if the prayer of him should prevail who did not turn to
flatter them only in time of need； but was mindful of them above all
in the heyday of his happiness。 It was thus indeed； you said； that we
ought to deal with our earthly friends。〃 ＇4＇ 〃True； my son；〃 said his
father； 〃and because of all my teaching； you can now approach the gods
in prayer with a lighter heart and a more confident hope that they
will grant you what you ask； because your conscience bears you witness
that you have never forgotten them。〃 〃Even so；〃 said Cyrus； 〃and in
truth I feel towards them as though they were my friends。〃 ＇5＇ 〃And do
you remember；〃 asked his father； 〃certain other conclusions on which
we were agreed？ How we felt there were certain things that the gods
had permitted us to attain through learning and study and training？
The accomplishment of these is the reward of effort； not of idleness；
in these it is only when we have done all that it is our duty to do
that we are justified in asking for blessings from the gods。〃 ＇6＇ 〃I
remember very well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃that you used to talk to me in that
way： and indeed I could not but agree with the arguments you gave。 You
used to say that a man had no right to pray he might win a cavalry
charge if he had never learnt how to ride； or triumph over master…
bowmen if he could not draw a bow； or bring a ship safe home to
harbour if he did not know how to steer； or be rewarded with a
plenteous harvest if he had not so much as sown grain into the ground；
or come home safe from battle if he took no precautions whatsoever。
All such prayers as these； you said； were contrary to the very
ord