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！
eyes and asked whom he had hit？
〃Nobody； I assure you；〃 said Cyrus； 〃who is here。〃
〃And nobody who is not； of course；〃 said the young man。
〃Oh yes； you did；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃you hit that officer over there
who is riding so swiftly paste the chariot…lines。〃
＇30＇ 〃And how is it；〃 asked the other； 〃that he does not even turn his
head？〃
〃Half…witted； probably；〃 said Cyrus。
Whereat the young man rode off to see who it was； and found Pheraulas；
with his chin and beard all begrimed and bloody； gore trickling from
his nostrils were the clod had struck him。 ＇31＇ The Sakian cried out
to know if he was hit。
〃As you see；〃 answered Pheraulas。
〃Then；〃 said the other； 〃let me give you my horse。〃
〃But why？〃 asked Pheraulas。
And so the Sakian had to tell him all about the matter； adding； 〃And
after all； you see； I did not miss a gallant fellow。〃
＇32＇ 〃Ah；〃 said Pheraulas； 〃if you had been wise； you would have
chosen a richer one； but I take your gift with all my thanks。 And I
pray the gods；〃 he added； 〃who let me be your target； to help me now
and see that you may never regret your gift。 For the present； mount my
horse yourself and ride back； I will be with you shortly。〃
So they exchanged steeds and parted。
The winner of the Cadousian race was Rathines。
＇33＇ Then followed chariot…races； tribe by tribe as before： and to all
the winners Cyrus gave goblets of price； and oxen； that they might
have the wherewithal for sacrifice and feasting。 He himself took an ox
for his own meed； but he gave all the goblets to Pheraulas to show his
approval of the arrangements for the march。 ＇34＇ And the manner of
that procession； then first established by Cyrus； continues to this
day； the same in all things； save that the victims are absent when
there is no sacrifice。 And when it was over； the soldiers went back to
the city； and took up their quarters for the night； some in houses and
some with their regiments。
＇35＇ Now Pheraulas had invited the Sakian who had given him the horse；
and he entertained him with the best he had； and set before him a full
board； and after they had dined he filled the goblets Cyrus had given
him； and drank to his guest； and offered them all to him。 ＇36＇ And the
Sakian looked round on the rich and costly rugs； and the beautiful
furniture； and the train of servants； and cried：
〃Tell me； Pheraulas； do you belong to wealthy folk at home？〃
＇37＇ 〃Wealthy folk indeed！〃 cried Pheraulas； 〃men who live by their
hands； you mean。 My father； I can tell you； had work enough to rear me
and get me a boy's schooling； he had to toil hard and live sparely；
and when I grew to be a lad he could not afford to keep me idle； he
took me to a farm in the country and set me there to work it。 ＇38＇
Then it was my turn； and I supported him while he lived； digging with
my own hands and sowing the seed in a ridiculous little plot of
ground； and yet it was not a bad bit of soil either； but as good and
as honest earth as ever you saw： whatever seed it got from me； it paid
me back again； and so prettily and carefully and duly； principal and
interest both； not that the interest was very much； I won't say it
was； though once or twice； out of pure generosity； that land gave me
twice was much as I put into it。 That's how I used to live at home； in
the old days： to…day it's different； and all that you see here I owe
to Cyrus。〃
＇39＇ Then the Sakian cried：
〃O lucky fellow！ Lucky in everything； and most of all in coming to
wealth from beggary！ I know your riches must taste the sweeter；
because you hungered for them first and now are full。〃
＇40＇ But Pheraulas answered：
〃Do you really think； my friend； that my joy in life has grown with
the growth of my wealth？ Do you not know；〃 he went on； 〃that I neither
eat nor drink nor sleep with any more zest than I did when I was poor？
What I get by all these goods is simply this： I have more to watch
over； more to distribute； and more trouble in looking after more。 ＇41＇
I have a host of servants now； one set asking me for food； another for
drink； another for clothing； and some must have the doctor； and then a
herdsman comes； carrying the carcase of some poor sheep mangled by the
wolves； or perhaps with an ox that has fallen down a precipice； or
maybe he has to tell me that a murrain has broken out among my flocks。
It seems to me；〃 Pheraulas ended； 〃that I suffer more to…day through
having much than ever I did before through having nothing。〃
＇42＇ 〃ButHeaven help us！〃 cried the Sakian； 〃surely； when it is all
safe； to see so much of your own must make you much happier than me？〃
〃I assure you； my friend；〃 said Pheraulas； 〃the possession of riches
is nothing like so sweet as the loss of them is painful。 And here is a
proof for you： no rich man lies awake from pure joy at his wealth； but
did you ever know a man who could close his eyes when he was losing？〃
＇43＇ 〃No；〃 said the Sakian； 〃nor yet one who could drop asleep when he
was winning。〃
＇44＇ 〃True enough；〃 answered the other； 〃and if having were as sweet
as getting； the rich would be a thousand times more happy than the
poor。 And remember； stranger；〃 he added； 〃a man who has much must
spend much on the gods and his friends and his guests； and if he takes
intense delight in his riches； spending will cause him intense
annoyance。〃
＇45＇ 〃Upon my word；〃 said the Sakian； 〃for myself； I am not that sort
of man at all： to have much and to spend much is just my idea of
perfect happiness。〃
＇46＇ 〃Heavens！〃 cried Pheraulas； 〃what a chance for us both！ You can
win perfect happiness now； this instant； and make me happy too！ Here；
take all these things for your own； make what use of them you please；
and as for me； you can keep me as your guest； only much more cheaply
if you like： it will be quite enough for me to share whatever you have
yourself。〃
〃You are jesting；〃 said the Sakian。
＇47＇ But Pheraulas swore with all solemnity that he spoke in earnest。
〃Yes； my friend；〃 he added； 〃and there are other matters that I can
arrange for you with Cyrus： freedom from military service or
attendance at the gates。 All you will have to do will be to stay at
home and grow rich： I will do the rest on your behalf and mine。 And if
I win any treasure through my service at court or on the field； I will
bring it home to you； and you will be lord of more； only；〃 he added；
〃you must free me from the responsibility of looking after it； for if
you give me leisure from these cares I believe you will be of great
use to Cyrus and myself。〃
＇48＇ So the talk ended and they struck a bargain on these terms； and
kept it。 And the Sakian thought he had found happiness because he was
the master of much wealth； and the other felt he was in bliss because
he had got a steward who would leave him leisure to do what he liked
best。 ＇49＇ For the character of Pheraulas was amiable： he was a loving
comrade； and no service seemed so sweet to him or so helpful as the
service of man。 Man； he believed； was the noblest of the animals and
the most grateful： praise； Pheraulas saw； will reap counter…praise；
kindness will stir kindness in return； and goodwill goodwill； those
whom men kn