按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
him who chooses take them up and write his name with the brigadier in
the same roll as ours。 And if a man prefers to remain a mercenary； let
him do so； he carries the arms of a servant。〃
＇19＇ Thus spoke Cyrus； and the Persians； every man of them； felt they
would be ashamed for the rest of their days； and deservedly； if they
drew back now； when they were offered equal honour in return for equal
toil。 One and all they inscribed their names and took up the new arms。
＇20＇ And now in the interval； before the enemy were actually at hand；
but while rumour said they were advancing； Cyrus took on himself a
three…fold task： to bring the physical strength of his men to the
highest pitch； to teach them tactics； and to rouse their spirit for
martial deeds。 ＇21＇ He asked Cyaxares for a body of assistants whose
duty it should be to provide each of his soldiers with all they could
possibly need； thus leaving the men themselves free for the art of
war。 He had learnt； he thought； that success； in whatever sphere； was
only to be won by refusing to attempt a multitude of tasks and
concentrating the mind on one。
Thus in the military training itself he gave up the practice with bow
and javelin； leaving his men to perfect themselves in the use of
sabre； shield； and corslet； accustoming them from the very first to
the thought that they must close with the enemy； or confess themselves
worthless as fellow…combatants； a harsh conclusion for those who knew
that they were only protected in order to fight on behalf of their
protectors。 ＇22＇ And further； being convinced that wherever the
feeling of emulation can be roused； there the eagerness to excel is
greatest； he instituted competitions for everything in which he
thought his soldiers should be trained。 The private soldier was
challenged to prove himself prompt to obey； anxious to work； eager for
danger； and yet ever mindful of discipline； an expert in the science
of war； an artist in the conduct of his arms； and a lover of honour in
all things。 The petty officer commanding a squad of five was not only
to equal the leading private； he must also do what he could to bring
his men to the same perfection； the captain of ten must do the same
for his ten； and the company's captain for the company； while the
commander of the whole regiment； himself above reproach； must take the
utmost care with the officers under him so that they in their turn
should see that their subordinates were perfect in all their duties。
＇23＇ For prizes； Cyrus announced that the brigadier in command of the
finest regiment should be raised to the rank of general； the captain
of the finest company should be made a brigadier； the captain of the
finest squad of ten captain of a company； and the captain of the best
five a captain of ten； while the best soldiers from the ranks should
become captains of five themselves。 Every one of these officers had
the privilege of being served by those beneath him； and various other
honours also； suited to their several grades； while ampler hopes were
offered for any nobler exploits。 ＇24＇ Finally prizes were announced to
be won by a regiment or a company or a squad taken as a whole； by
those who proved themselves most loyal to their leaders and most
zealous in the practice of their duty。 These prizes； of course； were
such as to be suitable for men taken in the mass。
Such were the orders of the Persian leader； and such the exercises of
the Persian troops。 ＇25＇ For their quarters； he arranged that a
separate shelter should be assigned to every brigadier； and that it
should be large enough for the whole regiment he commanded； a regiment
consisting of 100 men。 Thus they were encamped by regiments； and in
the mere fact of common quarters there was this advantage； Cyrus
thought； for the coming struggle； that the men saw they were all
treated alike； and therefore no one could pretend that he was
slighted； and no one sink to the confession that he was a worse man
than his neighbours when it came to facing the foe。 Moreover the life
in common would help the men to know each other； and it is only by
such knowledge； as a rule； that a common conscience is engendered；
those who live apart； unknowing and unknown； seem far more apt for
mischief； like those who skulk in the dark。 ＇26＇ Cyrus thought the
common life would lead to the happiest results in the discipline of
the regiments。 By this system all the officersbrigadiers； company…
captains； captains of the squadscould keep their men in as perfect
order as if they were marching before them in single file。 ＇27＇ Such
precision in the ranks would do most to guard against disorder and
re…establish order if ever it were broken； just as when timbers and
stones have to be fitted together it is easy enough to put them into
place； wherever they chance to lie； provided only that they are marked
so as to leave no doubt where each belongs。 ＇28＇ And finally； he felt；
there was the fact that those who live together are the less likely to
desert one another； even the wild animals； Cyrus knew； who are reared
together suffer terribly from loneliness when they are severed from
each other。
＇29＇ There was a further matter； to which he gave much care； he wished
no man to take his meal at morning or at night till he had sweated for
it。 He would lead the men out to hunt； or invent games for them； or if
there was work to be done； he would so conduct it that they did not
leave it without sweat。 He believed this regimen gave them zest for
their food； was good for their health； and increased their powers of
toil； and the toil itself was a blessed means for making the men more
gentle towards each other； just as horses that work together grow
gentle； and will stand quietly side by side。 Moreover the knowledge of
having gone through a common training would increase tenfold the
courage with which they met the foe。
＇30＇ Cyrus had his own quarters built to hold all the guests he might
think it well to entertain； and； as a rule； he would invite such of
the brigadiers as the occasion seemed to call for； but sometimes he
would send for the company…captains and the officers in command of the
smaller squads； and even the private soldiers were summoned to his
board； and from time to time a squad of five； or of ten； or an entire
company； or even a whole regiment； or he would give a special
invitation by way of honour to any one whom he knew had undertaken
some work he had at heart himself。 In every case there was no
distinction whatever between the meats for himself and for his guests。
＇31＇ Further he always insisted that the army servants should share
and share alike with the soldiers in everything； for he held that
those who did such service for the army were as much to be honoured as
heralds or ambassadors。 They were bound； he said； to be loyal and
intelligent； alive to all a soldier's needs； active； swift；
unhesitating； and withal cool and imperturbable。 Nor was that all； he
was convinced that they ought also to possess those qualities which
are thought to be peculiar to what we call 〃the better classes；〃 and
yet never despise their work； but feel that everything their commander
laid upon the