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the most grateful： praise； Pheraulas saw； will reap counter…praise；
kindness will stir kindness in return； and goodwill goodwill； those
whom men know to love them they cannot hate； and； in a way no other
animals will； they cherish their parents in life and in death and
requite their care。 All other creatures； in short； compared with man；
are lacking in gratitude and heart。
＇50＇ Thus Pheraulas was overjoyed to feel that he could now be quit of
anxiety for his wealth； and devote himself to his friends； while the
Sakian was delighted with all that he had and all that he could use。
The Sakian loved Pheraulas because he was for ever adding something to
the store； and Pheraulas loved the Sakian because he was willing to
assume the entire burden； and however much the cares increased he
never broke into the other's leisure。 Thus those two lived their
lives。
＇C。4＇ Now Cyrus offered sacrifice and held high festival for his
victories； and he summoned to the feast those of his friends who bore
him most affection and had shown most desire to exalt him。 With them
were bidden Artabazus the Mede； and Tigranes the Armenian； and the
commander of the Hyrcanian cavalry； and Gobryas。 ＇2＇ Gadatas was the
chief of the mace…bearers； and the whole household was arranged as he
advised。 When there were guests at dinner； Gadatas would not sit down；
but saw to everything； and when they were alone he sat at meat with
Cyrus； who took delight in his company； and in return for all his
services he was greatly honoured by Cyrus and that led to more honours
for others。 ＇3＇ As the guests entered； Gadatas would show each man to
his seat； and the places were chosen with care： the friend whom Cyrus
honoured most was placed on his left hand （for that was the side most
open to attack）； the second on his right； the third next to the left…
hand guest； and the fourth next to the right； and so on； whatever the
number of guests might be。 ＇4＇ Cyrus thought it well it should be
known how much each man was honoured； for he saw that where the world
believes merit will win no crown and receive no proclamation； there
the spirit of emulation dies； but if all see that the best man gains
most； then the rivalry grows keen。 ＇5＇ Thus it was that Cyrus marked
out the men he favoured by the seat of honour and the order of
precedence。 Nor did he assign the honourable place to one friend for
all time； he made it a law that by good deeds a man might rise into a
higher seat or through sloth descend into a lower； and he would have
felt ashamed if it were not known that the guest most honoured at his
table received most favours at his hands。 These customs that arose in
the reign of Cyrus continue to our time； as we can testify。
＇6＇ While they were at the feast that day it struck Gobryas that
though there was nothing surprising in the abundance and variety at
the table of one who was lord over so vast an empire； yet it was
strange that Cyrus； who had done such mighty deeds； should never keep
any dainty for himself； but must always be at pains to share it with
the company。 More than once also he saw Cyrus send off to an absent
friend some dish that had chanced to please him。 ＇7＇ So that by the
time they had finished their meal all the viands had been given away
by Cyrus； and the board was bare。
Then Gobryas said； 〃Truly； Cyrus； until to…day I used to think it was
in generalship that you outshone other men the most； but； by heaven！ I
say now it is not in generalship at all； it is generosity。〃
＇8＇ 〃Maybe；〃 said Cyrus； 〃at least I take far more pride in this work
than in the other。〃
〃How can that be？〃 asked Gobryas。
〃Because；〃 said he； 〃the one does good to man and the other injury。〃
＇9＇ Presently as the wine went round and round； Hystaspas turned to
Cyrus and said：
〃Would you be angry； Cyrus； if I asked something I long to know？〃
〃On the contrary；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃I should be vexed if I saw you
silent when you longed to ask。〃
〃Tell me then；〃 said the other； 〃have you ever called me and found I
refused to come？〃
〃What a question！〃 said Cyrus； 〃of course not。〃
〃Well； have I ever been slow in coming？〃
〃No； never。〃
〃Or failed to do anything you ordered？〃
〃No；〃 said Cyrus； 〃I have no fault to find at all。〃
〃Whatever I had to do； I always did it eagerly and with all my heart；
did I not？〃
〃Most assuredly；〃 answered Cyrus。
＇10＇ 〃Then why； Cyrus； why； in heaven's name； have you singled out
Chrysantas for a more honourable seat than me？〃
〃Shall I really tell you？〃 asked Cyrus in his turn。
〃By all means；〃 said the other。
〃And you will not be annoyed if I tell you the plain truth？〃
＇11＇ 〃On the contrary； it will comfort me to know I have not been
wronged。〃
〃Well； then； Chrysantas never waited to be called； he came of his own
accord on our behalf； and he made it his business to do； not merely
what he was ordered； but whatever he thought would help us。 When
something had to be said to the allies； he would not only suggest what
was fitting for me to say myself； he would guess what I wanted the
allies to know but could not bring myself to utter； since it was about
myself； and he would say it for me as though it were his own opinion；
in fact； for everything of the kind he was nothing less to me than a
second and a better self。 And now he is always insisting that what he
has already got is quite enough for himself； and always trying to
discover something more for me： he takes a greater pride and joy in
all my triumphs than I do myself。〃
＇12＇ 〃By Hera；〃 said Hystaspas； 〃I am right glad I asked you。 Only one
thing puzzles me： how am I to show my joy at your success？ Shall I
clap my hands and laugh； or what shall I do？〃
〃Dance the Persian dance； of course；〃 said Artabazus。 And all the
company laughed。
＇13＇ And as the drinking deepened Cyrus put a question to Gobryas。
〃Tell me； Gobryas； would you be better pleased to give your daughter
to one of our company to…day than the day when you met us first？〃
〃Well；〃 said Gobryas； 〃am I also to tell the truth？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Cyrus； 〃no question looks for a lie。〃
〃Then；〃 said Gobryas； 〃I assure you； I would far rather give her in
marriage to…day。〃
〃Can you tell us why？〃 said Cyrus。
〃That I can；〃 said he。
＇14＇ 〃Say on； then。〃
〃At that time； I saw； it is true； the gallant manner in which your men
endured toil and danger； but to…day I see the modesty with which they
bear success。 And I believe； Cyrus； that the man who takes good…
fortune well is further to seek than he who can endure adversity； for
success engenders insolence in many hearts； while suffering teaches
sobriety and fortitude。〃
＇15＇ And Cyrus said； 〃Hystaspas； did you hear the saying of Gobryas？〃
〃I did indeed；〃 he answered； 〃and if he has many more as good； he will
find me a suitor for his daughter； a far more eager one than if he had
shown me all his goblets。〃
＇16＇ 〃Well；〃 said Gobryas； 〃I have many such written down at home； and
you may have them all if you take my daughter to wife。 And as for
goblets；〃 he added； 〃since it seems you cannot away with them； perhaps
I might give them to Chrysantas to punish him for having fill