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ceased listening to petitioners； and to…day you see this crowd before
us； larger still than yesterday's； ready with business for me。 ＇44＇ If
this must be submitted to； I calculate that what you will get of me
and I of you will be little enough； and what I shall get of myself
will simply be nothing at all。 Further；〃 he added； 〃I foresee another
absurd consequence。 ＇45＇ I； personally； have a feeling towards you
which I need not state； but； of that audience yonder； scarcely one of
them do I know at all； and yet they are all prepared to thrust
themselves in front of you； transact their business； and get what they
want out of me before any of you have a chance。 I should have thought
it more suitable myself that men of that class； if they wanted
anything from me； should pay some court to you； my friends； in the
hopes of an introduction。 ＇46＇ Perhaps you will ask why I did not so
arrange matters from the first； instead of always appearing in public。
Because in war it is the first business of a commander not to be
behindhand in knowing what ought to be done and seeing that it is
done； and the general who is seldom seen is apt to let things slip。
＇47＇ But to…day； when war with its insatiable demands is over； I feel
as if I had some claim myself to rest and refreshment。 I am in some
perplexity； however； as to how I can arrange matters so that all goes
well； not only with you and me； but also with those whom we are bound
to care for。 Therefore I seek your advice and counsel； and I would be
glad to learn from any of you the happiest solution。〃
＇48＇ Cyrus paused； and up rose Artabazus the Mede； who had claimed to
be his kinsman； and said：
〃You did well； Cyrus； to open this matter。 Years ago； when you were
still a boy； from the very first I longed to be your friend； but I saw
you did not need me； and so I shrank from approaching you。 ＇49＇ Then
came a lucky moment when you did have need of me to be your good
messenger among the Medes with the order from Cyaxares； and I said to
myself that if I did the work well； if I really helped you； I might
become your comrade and have the right to talk with you as often as I
wished。 ＇50＇ Well； the work was done； and done so as to win your
praise。 After that the Hyrcanians joined us； the first friends we
made； when we were hungry and thirsty for allies； and we loved them so
much we almost carried them about with us in our arms wherever we
went。 Then the enemy's camp was taken； and I scarcely think you had
the leisure to trouble your head with meoh； I quite forgave you。
＇51＇ The next thing was that Gobryas became your friend； and I had to
take my leave； and after him Gadatas； and by that time it was a real
task to get hold of you。 Then came the alliances with the Sakians； and
the Cadousians； and no doubt you had to pay them court； if they danced
attendance on you； you must dance attendance on them。 ＇52＇ So that
there I was； back again at my starting…point； and yet all the while；
as I saw you busy with horses and chariots and artillery； I consoled
myself by thinking； 'when he is done with this he will have a little
leisure for me。' And then came the terrible news that the whole world
was gathering in arms against us； I could not deny that these were
important matters； but still I felt certain； if all went well； a time
would come at last when you need not grudge me your company； and we
should be together to my heart's content； you and I。 ＇53＇ Now； the day
has come； we have conquered in the great battle； we have taken Sardis
and Babylon； the world is at our feet； and yesterday； by Mithras！
unless I had used my fists a hundred times； I swear I could never have
got near you at all。 Well； you grasped my hand and gave me greeting；
and bade me wait beside you； and there I waited； the cynosure of every
eye； the envy of every man； standing there all day long； without a
scrap to eat or a drop to drink。 ＇54＇ So now； if any way can be found
by which we who have served you longest can get the most of you； well
and good： but； if not； pray send me as your messenger once more； and
this time I will tell them they can all leave you； except those who
were your friends of old。〃
＇55＇ This appeal set them all laughing； Cyrus with the rest。 Then
Chrysantas the Persian stood up and spoke as follows：
〃Formerly； Cyrus； it was natural and right that you should appear in
public； for the reasons you have given us yourself； and also because
we were not the folk you had to pay your court to。 We did not need
inviting： we were with you for our own sakes。 It was necessary to win
over the masses by every means； if they were to share our toils and
our dangers willingly。 ＇56＇ But now you have won them； and not them
alone； you have it in your power to gain others； and the moment has
come when you ought to have a house to yourself。 What would your
empire profit you if you alone were left without hearth or home？ Man
has nothing more sacred than his home； nothing sweeter； nothing more
truly his。 And do you not think；〃 he added； 〃that we ourselves would
be ashamed if we saw you bearing the hardships of the camp while we
sat at home by our own firesides？ Should we not feel we had done you
wrong； and taken advantage of you？〃
＇57＇ When Chrysantas had spoken thus； many others followed him； and
all to the same effect。 And so it came about that Cyrus entered the
palace； and those in charge brought the treasures from Sardis thither；
and handed them over。 And Cyrus when he entered sacrificed to Hestia；
the goddess of the Hearth； and to Zeus the Lord； and to any other gods
named by the Persian priests。
＇58＇ This done； he set himself to regulate the matters that remained。
Thinking over his position； and the attempt he was making to govern an
enormous multitude； preparing at the same time to take up his abode in
the greatest of all famous cities； but yet a city that was as hostile
to him as a city could be； pondering all this； he concluded that he
could not dispense with a bodyguard for himself。 ＇59＇ He knew well
enough that a man can most easily be assassinated at his meals； or in
his bath； or in bed； or when he is asleep； and he asked himself who
were most to be trusted of those he had about him。 A man； he believed；
can never be loyal or trustworthy who is likely to love another more
than the one who requires his guardianship。 ＇60＇ He knew that men with
children； or wives； or favourites in whom they delight； must needs
love them most： while eunuchs； who are deprived of all such dear ones；
would surely make most account of him who could enrich them； or help
them if they were injured； or crown them with honour。 And in the
conferring of such benefits he was disposed to think he could outbid
the world。 ＇61＇ Moreover the eunuch； being degraded in the eyes of
other men； is driven to seek the assistance of some lord and master。
Without some such protection there is not a man in the world who would
not think he had the right to over…reach a eunuch： while there was
every reason to suppose that the eunuch would be the most faithful of
all servants。 ＇62＇ As for the customary notion that the eunuch must be
weak and cowardly； Cyrus was not disposed to accept