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clean forgotten his jealousy； and fell to asking Pheraulas which he
had better choose。 And Pheraulas gave his advice； adding； 〃But if you
inform against me； and let out that I gave you the choice； the next
time I have to wait upon you you will find me a very different sort of
serving…man。〃
Thus he distributed the gifts he brought； and then he saw to the
arrangements for the procession so that everything should be as far as
possible。
＇9＇ On the morrow all things were ready before day…break； ranks lining
the road on either hand； as they do to this day when the king is
expected to ride abroadno one may pass within the lines unless he is
a man of markand constables were posted with whips； to use at any
sign of disturbance。
In front of the palace stood the imperial guard of lancers； four
thousand strong； drawn up four deep on either side of the gates。 ＇10＇
And all the cavalry were there； the men standing beside their horses；
with their hands wrapped in their cloaks； as is the custom to this day
for every subject when the king's eye is on him。 The Persians stood on
the right； and the allies on the left； and the chariots were posted in
the same way； half on one side and half on the other。 ＇11＇ Presently
the palace…gates were flung open； and at the head of the procession
were led out the bulls for sacrifice； beautiful creatures； four and
four together。 They were to be offered to Zeus and to any other gods
that the Persian priests might name。 For the Persians think it of more
importance to follow the guidance of the learned in matters pertaining
to the gods than in anything else whatever。
＇12＇ After the oxen came horses； an offering to the Sun； then a white
chariot with a golden yoke； hung with garlands and dedicated to Zeus；
and after that the white car of the Sun； wreathed like the one before
it； and then a third chariot； the horses of which were caparisoned
with scarlet trappings； and behind walked men carrying fire upon a
mighty hearth。 ＇13＇ And then at last Cyrus himself was seen； coming
forth from the gates in his chariot； wearing his tiara on his head；
and a purple tunic shot with white； such as none but the king may
wear； and trews of scarlet； and a cloak of purple。 Round his tiara he
wore a diadem； and his kinsmen wore the same； even as the custom is to
this day。 ＇14＇ And the king's hands hung free outside his cloak。
Beside him stood a charioteerhe was a tall man； but he seemed to be
dwarfed by Cyrus； whether it was really so； or whether there was some
artifice at work； Cyrus towered above him。 At the sight of the king；
the whole company fell on their faces。 Perhaps some had been ordered
to do this and so set the fashion； or perhaps the multitude were
really overcome by the splendour of the pageant and the sight of Cyrus
himself； stately and tall and fair。 ＇15＇ For hitherto none of the
Persians had done obeisance to Cyrus。
And now； as the chariot moved onwards； the four thousand lancers went
before it； two thousand on either side； and close behind came the
mace…bearers； mounted on horseback； with javelins in their hands；
three hundred strong。 ＇16＇ Then the royal steeds were led past； with
golden bridles and striped housings； two hundred and more； and then
followed two thousand spearmen and after them the squadron of cavalry
first formed； ten thousand men； a hundred deep and a hundred riding
abreast； with Chrysantas at their head。 ＇17＇ And behind them the
second body of the Persian horse； ten thousand more； in the same
order； under Hystaspas； and then again ten thousand under Datamas； and
others behind them under Gadatas。 ＇18＇ And after them the Median
cavalry； and then the Armenians； the Hyrcanians； the Cadousians； and
the Sakians in their order； and after the cavalry a squadron of war…
chariots； drawn up four deep； with Artabatas the Persian in command。
＇19＇ All along the route thousands of men followed； outside the
barriers； with petitions to Cyrus。 Accordingly he sent his mace…
bearers； who rode beside him for the purpose； three on either side of
his chariot； bidding them tell the crowd of suitors； if they had need
of anything； to acquaint one of the cavalry officers and he would
speak for them。 So the petitioners withdrew； and fell to marching
along the lines of the cavalry； considering whom they should address。
＇20＇ Cyrus meanwhile would send messengers to the friends he wished to
be courted； saying to them； 〃If any man appeals to you and you think
nothing of what he says； pay no heed to him； but if his request seems
just； report it to me； and we will discuss it together and arrange
matters for him。〃 ＇21＇ As a rule the officers so summoned did not
loiter； but dashed up at full speed； glad to enhance the authority of
Cyrus and to show their own allegiance。 But there was a certain
Da？pharnes； a person of somewhat boorish manners； who fancied that he
would make a show of greater independence if he did not hurry himself。
＇22＇ Cyrus noted this； and quietly； before the man could reach him；
sent another messenger to say he had no further need of him； and that
was the last time Da？pharnes was ever summoned。 ＇23＇ And when the next
officer rode up； in front of Da？pharnes though sent for after him；
Cyrus presented him with a horse from his train and bade one of the
mace…bearers lead it wherever he wished。 The people saw in this a high
mark of honour； and a greater crowd than ever paid their court to the
favoured man。
＇24＇ When the procession reached the sacred precincts； sacrifice was
offered to Zeus； a whole burnt…offering of bulls； and a whole burnt…
offering of horses to the Sun； and then they sacrificed to the Earth；
slaying the victims as the Persian priests prescribed； and then to the
heroes who hold the Syrian land。 ＇25＇ And when the rites were done；
Cyrus； seeing that the ground was suitable for racing； marked out a
goal； and a course half…a…mile in length； and bade the cavalry and the
chariots match their horses against each other； tribe by tribe。 He
himself raced among his Persians； and won with ease； for he was far
the best horseman there。 The winner among the Medes was Artabazus； the
horse he rode being a gift from Cyrus。 The Syrian race was won by
their chieftain； the Armenian by Tigranes； the Hyrcanian by the
general's son； and the Sakian by a private soldier who left all his
rivals half the course behind him。
＇26＇ Cyrus； so the story says； asked the young man if he would take a
kingdom for his horse。
〃No kingdom for me；〃 answered the soldier； 〃but I would take the
thanks of a gallant fellow。〃
＇27＇ 〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃I would like to show you where you could
hardly fail to hit one； even if you shut your eyes。〃
〃Be so good as to show me now；〃 said the Sakian； 〃and I will take aim
with this clod；〃 picking up one from the ground。
＇28＇ Then Cyrus pointed to a group of his best friends； and the other
shut his eyes and flung the clod； and it struck Pheraulas as he
galloped by； bearing some message from Cyrus。 But he never so much as
turned； flashing past on his errand。 ＇29＇ Then the Sakian opened his
eyes and asked whom he had hit？
〃Nobody； I assure you；〃 said Cyrus； 〃who is here。〃
〃And nobo