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eloquence。〃
＇21＇ He paused； but Cyaxares still kept silence。 〃Nay；〃 said Cyrus；
〃if you will not answer that either； tell me at least if my offence
lay in what followed； when you said that you did not care to stop your
Medes in their merry…making and drive them out into danger； do you
think it was wrong in me； without waiting to quarrel on that score； to
ask you for what I knew was the lightest boon you could grant and the
lightest command you could lay on your soldiers？ For I only asked that
he who wished it might be allowed to follow me。 ＇22＇ And thus； when I
had won your permission； I had won nothing； unless I could win them
too。 Therefore I went and tried persuasion； and some listened to me；
and with these I set off on my march； holding my commission from your
own self。 So that； if you look on this act as blameworthy； it would
seem that not even the acceptance of your own gifts can be free from
blame。 ＇23＇ It was thus we started； and after we had gone； was there；
I ask you； a single deed of mine that was not done in the light of
day？ Has not the enemy's camp been taken？ Have not hundreds of your
assailants fallen？ And hundreds been deprived of their horses and
their arms？ Is not the spoiler spoiled？ The cattle and the goods of
those who harried your land are now in the hands of your friends； they
are brought to you； or to your subjects。 ＇24＇ And； above all and
beyond all； you see your own country growing great and powerful and
the land of your enemy brought low。 Strongholds of his are in your
power； and your own that were torn from you in other days by the
Syrian domination are now restored to you again。 I cannot say I should
be glad to learn that any of these things can be bad for you； or short
of good； but I am ready to listen； if so it is。 ＇25＇ Speak； tell me
your judgment of it all。〃
Then Cyrus paused； and Cyaxares made answer：
〃To call what you have done evil； Cyrus； is impossible。 But your
benefits are of such a kind that the more they multiply upon me； the
heavier burden do they bring。 ＇26＇ I would far rather；〃 he went on；
〃have made your country great by own power than see mine exalted in
this way by you。 These deeds of yours are a crown of glory to you； but
they bring dishonour to me。 ＇27＇ And for the wealth； I would rather
have made largess of it to yourself than receive it at your hands in
the way you give it now。 Goods so gotten only leave me the poorer。 And
for my subjectsI think I would have suffered less if you had injured
them a little than I suffer now when I see how much they owe you。 ＇28＇
Perhaps；〃 he added； 〃you find it inhuman of me to feel thus； but I
would ask you to forget me and imagine that you are in my place and
see how it would appear to you then。 Suppose a friend of yours were to
take care of your dogs； dogs that you bred up to guard yourself and
your house； such care that he made them fonder of him than of
yourself； would you be pleased with him for his attention？ ＇29＇ Or
take another instance； if that one seems too slight： suppose a friend
of yours were to do so much for your own followers； men you kept to
guard you and to fight for you； that they would rather serve in his
train than yours； would you be grateful to him for his kindness？ ＇30＇
Or let me take the tenderest of human ties： suppose a friend of yours
paid court to the wife of your bosom so that in the end he made her
love him more than yourself； would he rejoice your heart by his
courtesy？ Far from it； I trow； he who did this； you would say； did you
the greatest wrong in all the world。 ＇31＇ And now； to come nearest to
my own case； suppose some one paid such attention to your Persians
that they learnt to follow him instead of you； would you reckon that
man your friend？ No； but a worse enemy than if he had slain a
thousand。 ＇32＇ Or again； say you spoke in all friendship to a friend
and bade him take what he wished； and straightway he took all he could
lay hands on and carried it off； and so grew rich with your wealth；
and you were left in utter poverty； could you say that friend was
altogether blameless？ ＇33＇ And I； Cyrus； I feel that you have treated
me； if not in that way； yet in a way exactly like it。 What you say is
true enough： I did allow you to take what you liked and go； and you
took the whole of my power and went； leaving me desolate； and to…day
you bring the spoil you have won with my forces； and lay it so grandly
at my feetmagnificent！ And you make my country great through the
help of my own might； while I have no part or lot in the performance；
but must step in at the end； like a woman； to receive your favours；
while in the eyes of all men； not least my faithful subjects yonder；
you are the man； and II am not fit to wear a crown。 ＇34＇ Are these；
I ask you； Cyrus； are these the deeds of a benefactor？ Nay； had you
been kind as you are kin； above all else you would have been careful
not to rob me of my dignity and honour。 What advantage is it to me for
my lands to be made broad if I myself am dishonoured？ When I ruled the
Medes； I ruled them not because I was stronger than all of them； but
because they themselves thought that our race was in all things better
than theirs。〃
＇35＇ But while he was still speaking Cyrus broke in on his words；
crying：
〃Uncle of mine； by the heaven above us； if I have ever shown you any
kindness； be kind to me now。 Do not find fault with me any more； wait；
and put me to the test； and learn how I feel towards you； and if you
see that what I have done has really brought you good； then； when I
embrace you； embrace me in return and call me your benefactor； and if
not； you may blame me as you please。〃
＇36＇ 〃Perhaps；〃 answered Cyaxares； 〃you are right。 I will do as you
wish。〃
〃Then I may kiss you？〃 said Cyrus。
〃Yes； if it pleases you。 〃And you will not turn aside as you did just
now？〃 〃No； I will not turn aside。〃 And he kissed him。
＇37＇ And when the Medes saw it and the Persians and all the allies
for all were watching to see how matters would shapejoy came into
their hearts and gladness lit up their faces。 Then Cyrus and Cyaxares
mounted their horses and rode back； and the Medes fell in behind
Cyaxares； at a nod from Cyrus； and behind Cyrus the Persians； and the
others behind them。 ＇38＇ And when they reached the camp and brought
Cyaxares to the splendid tent； those who were appointed made
everything ready for him； and while he was waiting for the banquet his
Medes presented themselves； some of their own accord； it is true； but
most were sent by Cyrus。 ＇39＇ And they brought him gifts； one came
with a beautiful cup…bearer； another with an admirable cook； a third
with a baker； a fourth with a musician； while others brought cups and
goblets and beautiful apparel； almost every one gave something out of
the spoils they had won。 ＇40＇ So that the mood of Cyaxares changed；
and he seemed to see that Cyrus had not stolen his subjects from him；
and that they made no less account of him than they used to do。
＇41＇ Now when the hour came for the banquet； Cyaxares sent to Cyrus
and begged him to share it： it was so long； he said； since they had
met。 But Cyrus answered； 〃Bid me not to the feast； g