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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 trained myself； in the fatherland that is yours and mine；
to yield to my elders； my brothers or my fellow…citizens； in the
street； or in the place of meeting； or in the assembly for debate。 And
thus have I trained both of you； to honour your elders and be honoured
by those who are younger than yourselves。 These are the principles
that I leave with you； sanctioned by time； ingrained in our customs；
embodied in our laws。 ＇11＇ The sovereignty is yours； Cambyses； the
gods have given it to you； and I also； as far as in me lies； and to
you； Tanaoxares； I give the satrapy over the Medes and the Armenians
and the Cadousians； these three； and though I leave your elder brother
a larger empire and the name of king； your inheritance will bring you；
I believe； more perfect happiness than his。 ＇12＇ I ask myself what
human joy will be lacking to you： all things which gladden the hearts
of men will be yoursbut the craving for what is out of reach； the
load of cares； the restless passion to rival my achievements； the
plots and counterplots； they will follow him who wears the crown； and
they are things； be well assured； that leave little leisure for
happiness。 ＇13＇ And you； Cambyses； you know of yourself； without words
from me； that your kingdom is not guarded by this golden sceptre； but
by faithful friends； their loyalty is your true staff； a sceptre which
shall not fail。 But never think that loyal hearts grow up by nature as
the grass grows in the field： if that were so； the same men would be
loyal to all alike； even as all natural objects are the same to all
mankind。 No； every leader must win his own followers for himself； and
the way to win them is not by violence but by loving…kindness。 ＇14＇
And if you would seek for friends to stand by you and guard your
throne； who so fit to be the first of them as he who is sprung from
the self…same loins？ Our fellow…citizens are nearer to us than
foreigners； and our mess…mates dearer than strangers； and what of
those who are sprung from the same seed； suckled at the same breast；
reared in the same home； loved by the same parents； the same mother；
the same father？ ＇15＇ What the gods have given to be the seal of
brotherhood do not make of none effect yourselves。 But build upon it：
make it the foundation for other loving deeds； and thus the love
between you shall never be overcome。 The man who takes thought for his
brother cares for his own self。 For who but a brother can win glory
from a brother's greatness？ Who can be honoured as a brother can
through a brother's power？ Or who so safe from injury as the brother
of the great？ ＇16＇ Let no one； Tanaoxares； be more eager than yourself
to obey your brother and support him： to no one can his triumph or his
danger come so near。 Ask yourself from whom you could win a richer
reward for any kindness。 Who could give you stouter help in return for
your own support？ And where is coldness so ugly as between brothers？
Or where is reverence so beautiful？ And remember； Cambyses； only the
brother who holds pre…eminence in a brother's heart can be safe from
the jealousy of the world。 ＇17＇ I implore you both； my sons； by the
gods of our fathers； hold each other in honour； if you care at all to
do me pleasure： and none of you can say you know that I shall cease to
be when I cease to live this life of ours。 With your bodily eyes you
have never seen my soul； and yet you have discerned its presence
through its working。 ＇18＇ And have you never marked the terrors which
the spirits of those who have suffered wrong can send into the hearts
of their murderers； and the avenging furies they let loose upon the
wicked？ Think you the honours of the dead would still abide； if the
souls of the departed were altogether powerless？ ＇19＇ Never yet； my
sons； could I be persuaded that the soul only lives so long as she
dwells within this mortal body； and falls dead so soon as she is quit
of that。 Nay； I see for myself that it is the soul which lends life to
it； while she inhabits there。 ＇20＇ I cannot believe that she must lose
all sense on her separation from the senseless body； but rather that
she will reach her highest wisdom when she is set free； pure and
untrammelled at last。 And when this body crumbles in dissolution； we
see the several parts thereof return to their kindred elements； but we
do not see the soul； whether she stays or whether she departs。 ＇21＇
Consider；〃 he went on； 〃how these two resemble one another； Death and
his twin…brother Sleep； and it is in sleep that the soul of a man
shows her nature most divine； and is able to catch a glimpse of what
is about to be； for it is then； perhaps； that she is nearest to her
freedom。 ＇22＇ Therefore； if these things are as I believe； and the
spirit leaves the body behind and is set free； reverence my soul； O
sons of mine； and do as I desire。 And even if it be not so； if the
spirit must stay with the body and perish； yet the everlasting gods
abide； who behold all things； with whom is all power； who uphold the
order of this universe； unmarred； unaging； unerring； unfathomable in
beauty and in splendour。 Fear them； my sons； and never yield to sin or
wickedness； in thought or word or deed。 ＇23＇ And after the gods； I
would have you reverence the whole race of man； as it renews itself
for ever； for the gods have not hidden you in the darkness； but your
deeds will be manifest in the eyes of all mankind； and if they be
righteous deeds and pure from iniquity； they will blazon forth your
power： but if you meditate evil against each other； you will forfeit
the confidence of every man。 For no man can trust you； even though he
should desire it； if he sees you wrong him whom above all you are
bound to love。 ＇24＇ Therefore； if my words are strong enough to teach
you your duty to one another； it is well。 But； if not； let history
teach you； and there is no better teacher。 For the most part； parents
have shown kindness to their children and brothers to their brothers；
but it has been otherwise with some。 Look； then； and see which conduct
has brought success； choose to follow that； and your choice will be
wise。 ＇25＇ And now maybe I have said enough of this。 As for my body；
when I am dead； I would not have you lay it up in gold or silver or
any coffin whatsoever； but give it back to the earth with all speed。
What could be more blessed than to lie in the lap of Earth； the mother
of all things beautiful； the nurse of all things good？ I have been a
lover of men all my life； and methinks I would fain become a part of
that which does good to man。 ＇26＇ And now；〃 he added； 〃now it seems to
me that my life begins to ebb； I feel my spirit slipping away from
those parts she leaves the first。 If you would take my hand once more；
or look into my eyes while life is there； draw near me now； but when I
have covered my face； let no man look on me again； not even you； my
sons。 ＇27＇ But you shall bid the Persians come； and all our allies； to
my sepulchre； and you shall rejoice with me and congratulate me that I
am safe at last； free from suff