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in future； all of you will bless each other： but if you； my son； would
be puffed up by your present fortune and attempt to rule the Persians
for your own advantage as you rule the rest of the world； or if you；
my people； should envy this man's power and try to drive him from his
throne； I tell you； you will cut each other off from many precious
things。 ＇25＇ Therefore； that this should never be； and only good be
yours； I counsel you to offer sacrifice together； and call the gods to
witness and make a covenant。 You； Cyrus； shall vow to resist with all
your strength any man who attacks our land of Persia or tries to
overthrow our laws； and you； my people； must promise that if rebels
attempt to depose Cyrus or if his subjects revolt； you will render aid
to him and to yourselves in whatever way he wishes。 ＇26＇ Now； so long
as I live； the kingdom of Persia is and continues mine； but when I die
it passes to Cyrus if he is still alive； and whenever he visits Persia
it should be a holy custom for him to offer sacrifice on your behalf；
even as I do now； and when he is abroad； it will be well for you； I
think； if the member of our family whom you count the noblest fulfils
the sacred rites。〃
＇27＇ Cambyses ended； and Cyrus and the officers of Persia agreed to
all he said。 They made the covenant and called the gods to witness；
and to this day they keep it still； the Persians and the Great King。
And when it was done； Cyrus took his leave and came back to Media。
＇28＇ There； with the full consent of his father and his mother； he
wedded the daughter of Cyaxares； the fame of whose beauty has lasted
to this day。 And after the marriage his steeds were yoked and they set
out for Babylon。
＇C。6＇ When he was in Babylon once more； he thought it would be well to
appoint satraps and set them over the conquered tribes。 Yet he did not
wish the commandants in the citadels and the captains in charge of the
garrisons throughout the country to be under any authority but his
own。 Herein he showed his foresight； realising that if any satrap
became insolent and rebellious； relying on his own wealth and the
numbers at his back； he would at once find a power to oppose him
within his own district。 ＇2＇ In order to carry out this plan； Cyrus
resolved to summon a council of the leading men and explain the terms
on which the satraps who went would go。 In this way； he thought； they
would not feel aggrieved； whereas； if a man found himself appointed
and then learnt the restrictions for the first time； he might well
take it ill； fancying it a sign of personal mistrust。 ＇3＇ So it was
that Cyrus called a council and spoke as follows：
〃Gentlemen and friends of mine； you are aware that we have garrisons
and commandants in the cities we conquered； stationed there at the
time。 I left them with orders simply to guard the fortifications and
not meddle with anything else。 Now I do not wish to remove them from
their commands； for they have done their duty nobly； but I propose to
send others； satraps； who will govern the inhabitants； receive the
tribute； give the garrisons their pay； and discharge all necessary
dues。 ＇4＇ Further； I think it right that certain of you who live here
and yet on whom I may lay the task of travelling to these nations and
working for me among them； should possess houses there and estates；
where tribute may be brought them； and where they may find a place of
their own to lodge in。〃
＇5＇ With these words he assigned houses and districts to many of his
friends among the lands he had subdued： and to this day their
descendants possess the estates； although they reside at court
themselves。 ＇6＇ 〃Now；〃 he added； 〃we must choose for the satraps who
are to go abroad persons who will not forget to send us anything of
value in their districts； so that we who are at home may share in all
the wealth of the world。 For if any danger comes； it is we who must
ward it off。〃
＇7＇ With that he ended for the time； but later on when he came to know
what friends of his were ready and willing to go on the terms
prescribed； he selected those he thought best qualified for the work；
and sent Magabazus to Arabia； Artabatas to Cappadocia； Artacamas to
Greater Phrygia； Chrysantas to Lydia and Susia； Adousius； whom the
Carians had asked for themselves； to Caria； and Pharnouchus to Aeolia
and Phrygia by the Hellespont。
＇8＇ But to Cilicia； Cyprus； and Paphlagonia； Cyrus sent no satraps；
because they had shown their willingness to march against Babylon；
tribute； however； was imposed on them as on the others。 ＇9＇ In
accordance with the rules then laid down by Cyrus； the citadel
garrisons and the captains…of…the…guard are to this day appointed
directly by the king； and have their names on the royal list。 ＇10＇ All
satraps whom Cyprus sent out were ordered to do as they saw him doing：
each was to raise a body of cavalry and a chariot…force from the
Persians and the allies who went out with him； and all who received
grants of land and official residences were to present themselves at
the palace…gates； study temperance and self…control； and hold
themselves in readiness for the service of their satrap。 Their boys
were to be educated at the gates； as with Cyrus； and the satrap was to
lead his nobles out to hunt； and train himself and his followers in
the art of war。 ＇11＇ 〃Whichever of you；〃 Cyrus added； 〃can show the
greatest number of chariots in proportion to his power； and the
largest and finest body of cavalry； I will honour him as my best ally
and most faithful fellow…guardian of the Persian empire。 Let the best
men always have the preference at your courts as they have at mine；
give them seats of honour as I do； and let your table be spread； as
mine is； not only for your own household； but for your friends also；
and for the honour of him who may accomplish any noble deed。 ＇12＇ You
must lay out parks and breed game； and never touch food until you have
toiled for it； nor give your horses fodder until they have been
exercised。 I am but a single man； with only human strength and human
virtue； and I could not by myself preserve the good things that are
yours： I must have good comrades to help me in goodness； and only thus
can I be your defender； and you likewise； if you are to help me； must
be good yourselves and have good men at your side。 ＇13＇ Remember that
I have not spoken unto you as unto slaves： what I say you ought to do
I strive to do myself。 And even as I bid you follow me； so I would
have you teach those in authority under you to follow you。〃
＇14＇ Such were the principles then laid down by Cyrus； and to this day
all the royal garrisons are appointed in the same manner； the gates of
all the governors are thronged in the same way； the houses； great and
small； are managed in the same fashion； everywhere the most
distinguished guests are given seats of honour； every province is
visited on the same system； and everywhere the threads of numberless
affairs are gathered into the hands of a few superiors。 ＇15＇ Having
given these instructions； Cyrus assigned a body of troops to each of
his satraps； and sent them out to their provinces； bidding them to be
ready for a campaign in the ne