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his satraps； and sent them out to their provinces； bidding them to be
ready for a campaign in the new year and for a review of their
soldiers； their weapons； their horses； and their chariots。 ＇16＇ And
here I may notice another custom； also instituted by Cyrus； it is
said； and still in force to…day： every year a progress of inspection
is made by an officer at the head of an army； to help any satrap who
may require aid； or bring the insolent to their senses； and； if there
has been negligence in the delivery of tribute； or the protection of
the inhabitants； or the cultivation of the soil； or indeed any
omission of duty whatsoever； the officer is there to put the matter
right； or if he cannot do so himself； to report it to the king； who
decides what is to be done about the offender。 The announcements so
often made； such as 〃the king's son is coming down；〃 or 〃the king's
brother；〃 or 〃the king's eye；〃 refer to these inspectors； but
sometimes no one appears； for at any moment the officer may be turned
back at the king's command。 ＇17＇ We hear of another arrangement；
devised to meet the huge size of the empire and enable the king to
learn with great celerity the state of affairs at any distance。 Cyrus
first ascertained how far a horse could travel in one day without
being over…ridden； and then he had a series of posting…stations built；
one day's ride apart； with relays of horses； and grooms to take care
of them； and a proper man in charge of each station to receive the
despatches and hand them on； take over the jaded horses and men； and
furnish fresh ones。 ＇18＇ Sometimes； we are told； this post does not
even halt at night： the night…messenger relieves the day…messenger and
rides on。 Some say that； when this is done； the post travels more
quickly than the crane can fly； and； whether that is true or not；
there is no doubt it is the quickest way in which a human being can
travel on land。 To learn of events so rapidly and be able to deal with
them at once is of course a great advantage。
＇19＇ After a year had passed； Cyrus collected all his troops at
Babylon； amounting； it is said； to one hundred and twenty thousand
horse； two thousand scythe…bearing chariots； and six hundred thousand
foot。 ＇20＇ Then； seeing that all was got together； he set out for that
campaign of his； on which； the story says； he subdued the nations from
the borders of Syria as far as the Red Sea。 After that there followed；
we are told； the expedition against Egypt and its conquest。 ＇21＇ From
that time forward his empire was bounded on the east by the Red Sea；
on the north by the Euxine； on the west by Cyprus and Egypt； and
towards the south by Ethiopia。 Of these outlying districts； some were
scarcely habitable； owing to heat or cold； drought or excessive rain。
＇22＇ But Cyrus himself always lived at the centre of his dominions；
seven months in Babylon during the winter season； where the land is
warm and sunny； three months at Susa in the spring； and during the
height of summer in Ecbatana； so that for him it was springtime all
the year。 ＇23＇ Towards him the disposition of all men was such that
every nation felt they had failed unless they could send Cyrus the
treasures of their land； plants； or animals； or works of art。 And
every city felt the same； and every private person counted himself on
the road to riches if he could do Cyrus some special service； for
Cyrus took only such things as they had in abundance； and gave them in
return what he saw they lacked。
＇C。7＇ Thus the years passed on； and Cyrus was now in a ripe old age；
and he journeyed to Persia for the seventh time in his reign。 His
father and mother were long since dead in the course of nature； and
Cyrus offered sacrifice according to the law； and led the sacred dance
of his Persians after the manner of his forefathers； and gave gifts to
every man according to his wont。
＇2＇ But one night； as he lay asleep in the royal palace； he dreamt a
dream。 It seemed to him that some one met him； greater than a man； and
said to him； 〃Set your house in order； Cyrus： the time has come； and
you are going to the gods。〃
With that Cyrus awoke out of sleep； and he all but seemed to know that
the end of his life was at hand。 ＇3＇ Straightway he took victims and
offered sacrifice to Zeus； the god of his fathers； and to the Sun； and
all the other gods； on the high places where the Persians sacrifice；
and then he made this prayer：
〃Zeus； god of my fathers； and thou； O Sun； and all ye gods； accept
this sacrifice； my offering for many a noble enterprise； and suffer me
to thank you for the grace ye have shown me； telling me all my life；
by victims and by signs from heaven； by birds and by the voices of
men； what things I ought to do and what I ought to refrain from doing。
Deep is my thankfulness that I was able to recognise your care； and
never lifted up my heart too high even in my prosperity。 I beseech you
now to bless my children also； and my wife； and my friends； and my
fatherland； and for myself； may my death be as my life has been。〃
＇4＇ Then Cyrus went home again and lay down on his bed； for he longed
to rest。 And when the hour was come； his attendants came to him and
bade him take his bath。 But he said he would rather rest。 And others
came afterwards； at the usual time； to set the meal before him； but he
could not bring himself to take food： he seemed only to thirst； and
drank readily。 ＇5＇ It was the same the second day； and the third； and
then he called his sons to his sideit chanced they had followed him
to Persiaand he summoned his friends also and the chief magistrates
of the land； and when they were all met； he began：
＇6＇ 〃My sons； and friends of mine； the end of my life is at hand： I
know it by many signs。 And when I am dead； you must show by word and
deed that you think of me as happy。 When I was a child； I had all the
joys and triumphs of a child； and I reaped the treasures of youth as I
grew up； and all the glories of a man when I came to man'e estate。 And
as the years passed； I seemed to find my powers grow with them； so
that I never felt my old age weaker than my youth； nor can I think of
anything I attempted or desired wherein I failed。 ＇7＇ Moreover； I have
seen my friends made happy by my means； and my enemies crushed beneath
my hand。 This my fatherland； which was once of no account in Asia； I
leave at the height of power； and of all that I won I think I have
lost nothing。 Throughout my whole life I have fared as I prayed to
fare； and the dread that was ever with me lest in days to come I might
see or hear or suffer evil； this dread would never let me think too
highly of myself； or rejoice as a fool rejoices。 ＇8＇ And if I die now；
I leave my sons behind me； the sons the gods have given me； and I
leave my fatherland in happiness； and my friends。 Surely I may hope
that men will count me blessed and cherish my memory。 ＇9＇ And now I
must leave instructions about my kingdom； that there may be no dispute
among you after my death。 Sons of mine； I love you both alike； but I
choose the elder…born； the one whose experience of life is the
greater； to be the leader in council and the guide in action。 ＇10＇
Thus was I