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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 branches of war。 Let him
propose competitions of every kind and offer prizes； the standard of
skill will rise； and he will soon have a body of troops ready to his
hand for any service he requires。〃 〃Nothing could be better；〃 answered
the father。 〃Do this； and you may be sure you will watch your
regiments at their man？uvres with as much delight as if they were a
chorus in the dance。〃
＇19＇ 〃And then；〃 continued Cyrus； 〃to rouse enthusiasm in the men；
there can be nothing； I take it； like the power of kindling hope？〃
〃True；〃 answered his father； 〃but that alone would be as though a
huntsman were for ever rousing his pack with the view…halloo。 At
first； of course； the hounds will answer eagerly enough； but after
they have been cheated once or twice they will end by refusing the
call even when the quarry is really in sight。 And so it is with hope。
Let a man rouse false expectations often enough； and in the end； even
when hope is at the door； he may cry the good news in vain。 Rather
ought he to refrain from speaking positively himself when he cannot
know precisely； his agents may step in and do it in his place； but he
should reserve his own appeal for the supreme crises of supreme
danger； and not dissipate his credit。〃
〃By heaven； a most admirable suggestion！〃 cried Cyrus； 〃and one much
more to my mind！ ＇20＇ As for enforcing obedience； I hope I have had
some training in that already； you began my education yourself when I
was a child by teaching me to obey you； and then you handed me over to
masters who did as you had done； and afterwards； when we were lads； my
fellows and myself； there was nothing on which the governors laid more
stress。 Our laws themselves； I think； enforce this double lesson：
'Rule thou and be thou ruled。' And when I come to study the secret of
it all； I seem to see that the real incentive to obedience lies in the
praise and honour that it wins against the discredit and the
chastisement which fall on the disobedient。〃 ＇21＇ 〃That； my son；〃 said
the father； 〃is the road to the obedience of compulsion。 But there is
a shorter way to a nobler goal； the obedience of the will。 When the
interests of mankind are at stake； they will obey with joy the man
whom they believe to be wiser than themselves。 You may prove this on
all sides： you may see how the sick man will beg the doctor to tell
him what he ought to do； how a whole ship's company will listen to the
pilot； how travellers will cling to the one who knows the way better；
as they believe； than they do themselves。 But if men think that
obedience will lead them to disaster； then nothing； neither penalties；
nor persuasion； nor gifts； will avail to rouse them。 For no man
accepts a bribe to his own destruction。〃 ＇22＇ 〃You would have me
understand；〃 said Cyrus； 〃that the best way to secure obedience is to
be thought wiser than those we rule？〃 〃Yes；〃 said Cambyses； 〃that is
my belief。〃
〃And what is the quickest way；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃to win that reputation？〃
〃None quicker； my lad； than this： wherever you wish to seem wise； be
wise。 Examine as many cases as you like； and you will find that what I
say is true。 If you wished to be thought a good farmer； a good
horseman； a good physician； a good flute…player； or anything else
whatever； without really being so； just imagine what a world of
devices you would need to invent； merely to keep up the outward show！
And suppose you did get a following to praise you and cry you up；
suppose you did burden yourself with all kinds of paraphernalia for
your profession； what would come of it all？ You succeed at first in a
very pretty piece of deception； and then by and by the test comes； and
the impostor stands revealed。〃
＇23＇ 〃But；〃 said Cyrus； 〃how can a man really and truly attain to the
wisdom that will serve his turn？〃
〃Well； my son； it is plain that where learning is the road to wisdom；
learn you must； as you learnt your battalion…drill； but when it comes
to matters which are not to be learnt by mortal men； nor foreseen by
mortal minds； there you can only become wiser than others by
communicating with the gods through the art o