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！
I might give them to Chrysantas to punish him for having filled your
seat。〃
＇17＇ 〃Listen to me；〃 said Cyrus； 〃Hystaspas； and all of you。 If you
will but tell me； any of you； when you propose to marry； you would
soon discover what a clever advocate you had in me。〃
＇18＇ But Gobryas interposed； 〃And if one of us wants to give his
daughter in marriage； to whom should he apply？〃
〃To me also；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃I assure you； I am adept in the art。〃
〃What art is that？〃 Chrysantas inquired。
＇19＇ 〃The art of discerning the wife to suit each man。〃
〃Then by all the gods；〃 said Chrysantas； 〃tell me what sort of wife
would do for me？〃
＇20＇ 〃In the first place；〃 he answered； 〃she must be short； for you
are not tall yourself； and if you married a tall maiden and wanted to
give her a kiss when she stood up straight； you would have to jump to
reach her like a little dog。〃
〃Your advice is straight enough；〃 said Chrysantas； 〃and I am but a
sorry jumper at the best。〃
＇21＇ 〃In the next place；〃 Cyrus went on； 〃a flat nose would suit you
very well。〃
〃A flat nose？〃 said the other； 〃why？〃
〃Because your own is high enough； and flatness； you may be sure； will
go best with height。〃
〃You might as well say；〃 retorted Chrysantas； 〃that one who has dined
well； like myself； is best matched with the dinnerless。〃
〃Quite so；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃a full stomach is high and an empty
paunch is flat。〃
＇22＇ 〃And now；〃 said Chrysantas； 〃in heaven's name； tell us the bride
for a flat king？〃
But at this Cyrus laughed outright； and all the others with him。 ＇23＇
And the laughter still rang loud when Hystaspas said：
〃There is one thing； Cyrus； that I envy in your royal state more than
all the rest。〃
〃And what is that？〃 said Cyrus。
〃That though you are flat； you can raise a laugh。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Cyrus； 〃what would you give to have as much said of you？ To
have it reported on all sides and wherever you wished to stand well
that you were a man of wit？〃
Thus they bantered each other and gave jest for jest。
＇24＇ Then Cyrus brought out a woman's attire and ornaments of price
and gave them to Tigranes as a present for his wife； because she had
followed her husband so manfully to the war； and he gave a golden
goblet to Artabazus； and a horse to the Hyrcanian leader； and many
another splendid gift among the company。
〃And to you； Gobryas；〃 said he； 〃I will give a husband for your
daughter。〃
＇25＇ 〃Let me be the gift；〃 said Hystaspas； 〃and then I shall get those
writings。〃
〃But have you a fortune on your side；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃to match the
bride's？〃
〃Certainly； I have；〃 he answered； 〃I may say twenty times as great。〃
〃And where；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃may those treasures be？〃
〃At the foot of your throne；〃 he answered； 〃my gracious lord。〃
〃I ask no more；〃 said Gobryas； and held out his right hand。 〃Give him
to me； Cyrus；〃 he said； 〃I accept him。〃
＇26＇ At that Cyrus took the right hand of Hystaspas and laid it in the
hand of Gobryas； and the pledge was given and received。 Then Cyrus
gave beautiful gifts to Hystaspas for his bride； but he drew
Chrysantas to his breast and kissed him。 ＇27＇ Thereupon Artabazus
cried：
〃Heaven help us； Cyrus！ The goblet you gave me is not of the fine gold
you have given Chrysantas now！〃
〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃you shall have the same one day。〃
〃When？〃 asked the other。
〃Thirty years hence；〃 said Cyrus。
〃I will wait；〃 said Artabazus： 〃I will not die： be ready for me。〃
And then the banquet came to an end： the guests rose； and Cyrus stood
up with them and conducted them to the door。
＇28＇ But on the morrow he arranged that all the allies and all who had
volunteered should be sent back to their homes； all except those who
wished to take up their abode with him。 To these he gave grants of
land and houses； still held by their descendants； Medes for the
greater part； and Hyrcanians。 And to those who went home he gave many
gifts and sent them away well content； both officers and men。 ＇29＇
After this he distributed among his own soldiers all the wealth he had
taken at Sardis； choice gifts for the captains of ten thousand and for
his own staff in proportion to their deserts； and the rest in equal
shares； delivering to every captain one share with orders to divide it
among their subordinates as he had divided the whole among them。 ＇30＇
Thereupon each officer gave to the officers directly under him；
judging the worth of each； until it came to the captains of six； who
considered the cases of the privates in their own squads； and gave
each man what he deserved： and thus every soldier in the army received
an equitable share。 ＇31＇ But after the distribution of it all there
were some who said：
〃How rich Cyrus must be； to have given us all so much！〃
〃Rich？〃 cried others； 〃what do you mean？ Cyrus is no money…maker： he
is more glad to give than to get。〃
＇32＇ When Cyrus heard of this talk and the opinions held about him； he
gathered together his friends and the chief men of the state and spoke
as follows：
〃Gentlemen and friends of mine； I have known men who were anxious to
have it thought they possessed more than they really had； thinking
this would give them an air of freedom and nobility。 But in my opinion
the result was the very opposite of what they wished。 If it is thought
that a man has great riches and does not help his friends in
proportion to his wealth； he cannot but appear ignoble and niggardly。
＇33＇ There are others；〃 he went on； 〃who would have their wealth
forgotten； and these I look upon as traitors to their friends： for it
must often happen that a comrade is in need and yet hesitates to tell
them because he does not know how much they have； and so he is kept in
the dark and left to starve。 ＇34＇ The straightforward course； it seems
to me； is always to make no secret of our own resources； but to use
them all； whatever they are； in our efforts to win the crown of
honour。 Accordingly I am anxious to show you all my possessions so far
as they can be seen； and to give you a list of the rest。〃
＇35＇ With these words he proceeded to point out his visible treasures；
and he gave an exact account of those that could not be shown。 He
ended by saying：
＇36＇ 〃All these things； gentlemen； you must consider yours as much as
mine。 I have collected them； not that I might spend them on myself or
waste them in my own use： I could not do that if I tried。 I keep them
to reward him who does a noble deed； and to help any of you who may be
in want of anything； so that you may come to me and take what ou
require。〃
Such were the words of Cyrus。
＇C。5＇ But now that all was well in Babylon and Cyrus felt he might
leave the land； he began to prepare for a march to Persia； and sent
out orders to his men。 And when he had all he needed； the steeds were
yoked； and he set off。 ＇2＇ And here we will explain how it was that so
vast a host could unpack and pack again without a break of order； and
take up a position with such speed wherever it was desired。 When the
king is on the march his attendants； of course； are provided with
tents and encamp with him； winter and summer alike。 ＇3＇ From the first
the Cyrus made it a cust