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 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