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！
my sepulchre； and you shall rejoice with me and congratulate me that I
am safe at last； free from suffering or sorrow； whether I am with God
or whether I have ceased to be。 Give all who come the entertainment
that is fitting in honour of a man whose life on earth was happy； and
so send them away。 ＇28＇ Remember my last saying： show kindness to your
friends； and then shall you have it in your power to chastise your
enemies。 Good…bye； my dear sons； bid your mother good…bye for me。 And
all my friends； who are here or far away； good…bye。〃
And with these words he gave his hand to them； and then he covered his
face and died。
EPILOGUE
＇C。8＇ Of all the powers in Asia； the kingdom of Cyrus showed itself to
be the greatest and most glorious。 On the east it was bounded by the
Red Sea； on the north by the Euxine； on the west by Cyprus and Egypt；
and on the south by Ethiopia。 And yet the whole of this enormous
empire was governed by the mind and will of a single man； Cyrus： his
subjects he cared for and cherished as a father might care for his
children； and they who came beneath his rule reverenced him like a
father。
＇2＇ But no sooner was he dead than his sons were at strife； cities and
nations revolted； and all things began to decay。 I can show that what
I say is true； and first I will speak of their impiety。 In the early
days； I am aware； the king and those beneath him never failed to keep
the oaths they had sworn and fulfil the promises they had given； even
to the worst of criminals。 ＇3＇ In fact； if such had not been their
character and such their reputation； none of the Hellenic generals who
marched up with the younger Cyrus could have felt the confidence they
did： they would not have trusted a Persian any more than one trusts
them to…day； now that their perfidy is known。 As it was； they relied
on their old reputation and put themselves in their power； and many
were taken up to the king and there beheaded。 And many of the Asiatics
who served in the same war perished as they did； deluded by one
promise or another。
＇4＇ In other ways also the Persians have degenerated。 Noble
achievement in the old days was the avenue to fame： the man was
honoured who risked his life for the king； or brought a city or nation
beneath his sway。 But now； if some Mithridates has betrayed his father
Ariobarzanes； or some Reomithres has left his wife and children and
the sons of his friend as hostages at the court of Egypt； and then has
broken the most solemn of all pledgesit is they and their like who
are loaded with the highest honours； if only they are thought to have
gained some advantage for the king。 ＇5＇ With such examples before
them； all the Asiatics have turned to injustice and impiety。 For what
the leaders are； that； as a rule； will the men below them be。 Thus has
lawlessness increased and grown among them。 ＇6＇ And injustice has
grown； and thieving。 Not only criminals； but men who are absolutely
innocent are arrested and forced to pay fines for no reason
whatsoever： to be known to have wealth is more dangerous than guilt；
so that the rich do not care to have any dealings with the powerful；
and dare not even risk appearing at the muster of the royal troops。
＇7＇ Therefore； when any man makes war on Persia； whoever he may be； he
can roam up and down the country to his heart's content without
striking a blow； because they have forgotten the gods and are unjust
to their fellow…men。 In every way their hearts and minds are lower
than in days gone by。
＇8＇ Nor do they care for their bodies as they did of old。 It was
always their custom neither to spit nor blow the nose； only it is
clear this was instituted not from concern for the humours of the
body； but in order to strengthen themselves by toil and sweat。 But
nowadays； though this habit is still in vogue； to harden the body by
exercise has quite gone out of fashion。 ＇9＇ Again； from the first it
was their rule only to take a single meal in the day； which left them
free to give their time to business and exercise。 The single meal is
still the rule； but it commences at the earliest hour ever chosen for
breakfast； and the eating and drinking goes on till the last moment
which the latest reveller would choose for bed。 ＇10＇ It was always
forbidden to bring chamber…pots into the banquet…hall； but the reason
lay in their belief that the right way to keep body and brain from
weakness was to avoid drinking in excess。 But to…day； though as in the
old time no such vessels may be carried in； they drink so deep that
they themselves are carried out； too weak to stand on their own legs。
＇11＇ It was a national custom from the first not to eat and drink on
the march nor be seen satisfying the wants of nature； but nowadays；
though they still abstain； they make each march so short that no man
need wonder at their abstinence。
＇12＇ In the old time they went out to hunt so often that the chase
gave enough exercise and training for man and horse alike。 But when
the day came that Artaxerxes and all his court were the worse for
wine； the old custom of the king leading the hunt in person began to
pass away。 And if any eager spirits hunted with their own followers it
was easy to see the jealousy； and even the hatred； aroused by such
superiority。
＇13＇ It is still the habit to bring up the boys at the palace…gates；
but fine horsemanship has disappeared； for there is no place where the
lads can win applause by their skill。 The old belief that the children
of Persia would learn justice by hearing the judges decide the cases
has been turned upside down： the children have only to use their eyes
and they see that the verdict goes to the man with the longest purse。
＇14＇ Children in former times were taught the properties of plants in
order to use the wholesome and avoid the harmful； but now they seem to
learn it for the mere sake of doing harm： at any rate； there is no
country where deaths from poison are so common。 ＇15＇ And the Persian
to…day is far more luxurious than he was in the time of Cyrus。 Then
they still clung to the Persian style of education and the Persian
self…restraint； merely adopting the Median dress and a certain grace
of life。 But now the old Persian hardihood may perish for all they
care； if only they preserve the softness of the Mede。 ＇16＇ I might
give instances of their luxury。 They are not content with soft sheets
and rugs for their beds； they must have carpets laid under the bed…
posts to prevent any jarring from the floor。 They have given up none
of the cooked dishes invented in former days； on the contrary； they
are always devising new ones； and condiments to boot： in fact； they
keep men for the very purpose。 ＇17＇ In the winter it is not enough to
have the body covered； and the head and the feet； they must have warm
sleeves as well and gloves for the hands： and in the summer they are
not content with the shade from the trees or the rocks； they must have
servants standing beside them with artificial screens。 ＇18＇ To have an
endless array of cups and goblets is their special pride： and if these
are come by unjustly； and all the world knows it； why； there is
nothing to bl