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！
weak and cowardly； Cyrus was not disposed to accept it。 He studied the
indications to be observed in animals： a vicious horse； if gelded；
will cease to bite and be restive； but he will charge as gallantly as
ever； a bull that has been cut will become less fierce and less
intractable； but he will not lose his strength； he will be as good as
ever for work； castration may cure a dog of deserting his master； but
it will not ruin him as a watch…dog or spoil him for the chase。 ＇63＇
So； too； with men； when cut off from this passion； they become
gentler； no doubt； but not less quick to obey； not less daring as
horsemen； not less skilful with the javelin； not less eager for
honour。 ＇64＇ In war and in the chase they show plainly enough that the
fire of ambition is still burning in their hearts。 And they have stood
the last test of loyalty in the downfall of their masters。 No men have
shown more faithfulness than eunuchs when ruin has fallen on their
lords。 ＇65＇ In bodily strength； perhaps； the eunuchs seem to be
lacking； but steel is a great leveller； and makes the weak man equal
to the strong in war。 Holding this in mind； Cyrus resolved that his
personal attendants； from his doorkeepers onwards； should be eunuchs
one and all。
＇66＇ This guard； however； he felt was hardly sufficient against the
multitude of enemies； and he asked himself whom he could choose among
the rest。 ＇67＇ He remembered how his Persians led the sorriest of
lives at home owing to their poverty； working long and hard on the
niggard soil； and he felt sure they were the men who would most value
the life at his court。 ＇68＇ Accordingly he selected ten thousand
lancers from among them； to keep guard round the palace； night and
day； whenever he was at home； and to march beside him whenever he went
abroad。 ＇69＇ Moreover； he felt that Babylon must always have an
adequate garrison； whether he was in the country or not； and therefore
he stationed a considerable body of troops in the city； and he bade
the Babylonians provide their pay； his object being to make the
citizens helpless； and therefore humble and submissive。 ＇70＇ This
royal guard that he established there； and the city guard for Babylon；
survive to this day unaltered。
Lastly； as he pondered how the whole empire was to be kept together；
and possibly another added to it； he felt convinced that his
mercenaries did not make up for the smallness of their numbers by
their superiority to the subject peoples。 Therefore he must keep
together those brave warriors； to whom with heaven's help the victory
was due； and he must take all care that they did not lose their
valour； hardihood； and skill。 ＇71＇ To avoid the appearance of
dictating to them and to bring it about that they should see for
themselves it was best to stay with him and remember their valour and
their training； he called a council of the Peers and of the leading
men who seemed to him most worthy of sharing their dangers and their
rewards。 ＇72＇ And when they were met he began：
〃Gentlemen； my friends and allies； we owe the utmost thanks to the
gods because they have given us what we believed that we deserved。 We
are masters to…day of a great country and a good； and those who till
it will support us； we have houses of our own； and all the furniture
that is in them is ours。 ＇73＇ For you need not think that what you
hold belongs to others。 It is an eternal law the wide world over； that
when a city is taken in war； the citizens； their persons； and all
their property fall into the hands of the conquerors。 It is not by
injustice； therefore； that you hold what you have taken； rather it is
through your own human kindness that the citizens are allowed to keep
whatever they do retain。
＇74＇ 〃Yet I foresee that if we betake ourselves to the life of
indolence and luxury； the life of the degenerate who think that labour
is the worst of evils and freedom from toil the height of happiness；
the day will come； and speedily； when we shall be unworthy of
ourselves； and with the loss of honour will come the loss of wealth。
＇75＇ Once to have been valiant is not enough； no man can keep his
valour unless he watch over it to the end。 As the arts decay through
neglect； as the body； once healthy and alert； will grow weak through
sloth and indolence； even so the powers of the spirit； temperance；
self…control； and courage； if we grow slack in training； fall back
once more to rottenness and death。 ＇76＇ We must watch ourselves； we
must not surrender to the sweetness of the day。 It is a great work；
methinks； to found an empire； but a far greater to keep it safe。 To
seize it may be the fruit of daring and daring only； but to hold it is
impossible without self…restraint and self…command and endless care。
＇77＇ We must not forget this； we must train ourselves in virtue from
now henceforward with even greater diligence than before we won this
glory； remembering that the more a man possesses； the more there are
to envy him； to plot against him； and be his enemies； above all when
the wealth he wins and the services he receives are yielded by
reluctant hands。 But the gods； we need not doubt； will be upon our
side； we have not triumphed through injustice； we were not the
aggressors； it was we who were attacked and we avenged ourselves。 ＇78＇
The gods are with us； I say； but next to that supreme support there is
a defence we must provide out of our own powers alone； and that is the
righteous claim to rule our subjects because we are better men than
they。 Needs must that we share with our slaves in heat and cold and
food and drink and toil and slumber； and we must strive to prove our
superiority even in such things as these； and first in these。 ＇79＇ But
in the science of war and the art of it we can admit no share； those
whom we mean to make our labourers and our tributaries can have no
part in that； we will set ourselves to defraud them there； we know
that such exercises are the very tools of freedom and happiness； given
by the gods to mortal men。 We have taken their arms away from our
slaves； and we must never lay our own aside； knowing well that the
nearer the sword…hilt the closer the heart's desire。 So。 Does any man
ask himself what profit he has gained from the fulfilment of his
dreams； if he must still endure； still undergo hunger and thirst and
toil and trouble and care？ Let him learn the lesson that a man's
enjoyment of all good things is in exact proportion to the pains he
has undergone to gain them。 Toil is the seasoning of delight； without
desire and longing； no dish； however costly； could be sweet。 ＇81＇ Yes；
if some spirit were to set before us what men desire most； and we were
left to add for ourselves that final touch of sweetness； I say that we
could only gain above the poorest of the poor in so far as we could
bring hunger for the most delicious foods； and thirst for the richest
wines； and weariness to make us woo the deepest slumber。 ＇82＇
Therefore； we must strain every nerve to win and to keep manhood and
nobleness； so that we may gain that satisfaction which is the sweetest
and the best； and be saved from the bitterest of sorrows； since to
fail of good altogether is not so hard as