he sent his messengers to every part of his dominions： to Croesus；
king of Lydia； to the king of Cappadocia； to both the Phrygias； to the
Paphlagonians and the Indians； to the Carians and the Cilicians。 And
he bade them spread slanders abroad against the Persians and the
Medes； and say moreover that these were great and mighty kingdoms
which had come together and made alliance by marriage with one
another； and unless a man should be beforehand with them and bring
down their power it could not be but that they would fall on each of
their neighbours in turn and subdue them one by one。 So the nations
listened to the messengers and made alliance with the king of Assyria：
some were persuaded by what he said and others were won over by gifts
and gold； for the riches of the Assyrian were great。 ＇4＇ Now Cyaxares；
the son of Astyages； was aware of these plots and preparations； and he
made ready on his side； so far as in him lay； sending word to the
Persian state and to Cambyses the king； who had his sister to wife。
And he sent to Cyrus also； begging him to come with all speed at the
head of any force that might be furnished； if so be the Council of
Persia would give him men…at…arms。 For by this time Cyrus had
accomplished his ten years among the youths and was now enrolled with
the grown men。 ＇5＇ He was right willing to go； and the Council of
Elders appointed him to command the force for Media。 They bade him
choose two hundred men among the Peers； each of them to choose four
others from their fellows。 Thus was formed a body of a thousand Peers：
and each of the thousand had orders to raise thirty men from the
commonsten targeteers； ten slingers； and ten archersand thus three
regiments were levied； 10；000 archers； 10；000 slingers； and 10；000
targeteers； over and above the thousand Peers。 The whole force was to
be put under the command of Cyrus。 ＇6＇ As soon as he was appointed；
his first act had been to offer sacrifice； and when the omens were
favourable he had chosen his two hundred Peers； and each of them had
chosen their four comrades。 Then he called the whole body together；
and for the first time spoke to them as follows：
＇7＇ 〃My friends； I have chosen you for this work； but this is not the
first time that I have formed my opinion of your worth： from my
boyhood I have watched your zeal for all that our country holds to be
honourable and your abhorrence for all that she counts base。 And I
wish to tell you plainly why I accepted this office myself and why I
ask your help。 ＇8＇ I have long felt sure that our forefathers were in
their time as good men as we。 For their lives were one long effort
towards the self…same deeds of valour as are held in honour now； and
still； for all their worth； I fail to see what good they gained either
for the state or for themselves。 ＇9＇ Yet I cannot bring myself to
believe that there is a single virtue practised among mankind merely
in order that the brave and good should fare no better than the base
ones of the earth。 Men do not forego the pleasures of the moment to
say good…bye to all joy for evermoreno； this self…control is a
training； so that we may reap the fruits of a larger joy in the time
to come。 A man will toil day and night to make himself an orator； yet
oratory is not the one aim of his existence： his hope is to influence
men by his eloquence and thus achieve some noble end。 So too with us；
and those like us； who are drilled in the arts of war： we do not give
our labours in order to fight for ever； endlessly and hopelessly； we
hope that we too one day； when we have proved our mettle； may win and
wear for ourselves and for our city the threefold ornament of wealth；
of happiness； of honour。 ＇10＇ And if there should be some who have
worked hard all their lives and suddenly old…age； they find； has
stolen on them unawares； and taken away their powers before they have
gathered in the fruit of all their toil； such men seem to me like
those who desire to be thrifty husbandmen； and who sow well and plant
wisely； but when the time of harvest comes let the fruit drop back
ungarnered into the soil whence it sprang。 Or as if an athlete should
train himself and reach the heights where victory may be won and at
the last forbear to enter the listssuch an one； I take it； would but
meet his deserts if all men cried out upon him for a fool。 ＇11＇ Let
not such be our fate； my friends。 Our own hearts bear us witness that
we； too； from our boyhood up； have been trained in the school of
beauty and nobleness and honour； and now let us go forward to meet our
foes。 They； I know right well； when matched with us； will prove but
novices in war。 He is no true warrior； though he be skilled with the
javelin and the bow and ride on horseback with the best； who； when the
call for endurance comes； is found to fail： toil finds him but a
novice。 Nor are they warriors who； when they should wake and watch；
give way to slumber： sleep finds them novices。 Even endurance will not
avail； if a man has not learnt to deal as a man should by friends and
foes： such an one is unschooled in the highest part of his calling。
＇12＇ But with you it is not so： to you the night will be as the day；
toil； your school has taught you； is the guide to happiness； hunger
has been your daily condiment； and water you take to quench your
thirst as the lion laps the stream。 And you have that within your
hearts which is the rarest of all treasures and the most akin to war：
of all sweet sounds the sweetest sound for you is the voice of fame。
You are fair Honour's suitors； and you must needs win your title to
her favour。 Therefore you undergo toil and danger gladly。
＇13＇ 〃Now if I said all this of you； and my heart were not in my
words； I should but cheat myself。 For in so far as you should fail to
fulfil my hopes of you； it is on me that the shame would fall。 But I
have faith in you； bred of experience： I trust in your goodwill
towards me； and in our enemy's lack of wit； you will not belie my
hopes。 Let us go forth with a light heart； we have no ill…fame to
fear： none can say we covet another man's goods unlawfully。 Our enemy
strikes the first blow in an unrighteous cause； and our friends call
us to protect them。 What is more lawful than self…defence？ What is
nobler than to succour those we love？ ＇14＇ And you have another ground
of confidencein opening this campaign I have not been forgetful of
the gods： you have gone in and out with me； and you know how in all
things； great and small； I strive to win their blessing。 And now；〃 he
added； 〃what need of further words？ I will leave you now to choose
your own men； and when all is ready you will march into Media at their
head。 Meanwhile I will return to my father and start before you； so
that I may learn what I can about the enemy as soon as may be； and
thus make all needful preparations； so that by God's help we may win
glory on the field。〃
＇C。6＇ Such were his orders and they set about them at once。 But Cyrus
himself went home and prayed to the gods of his father's house； to
Hestia and Zeus； and to all who had watched over his race。 And when he
had done so； he set out for the war； and his father went with him on
the road。 They were no sooner clear of the city； so says the story；
than they met with favourable omens of thunder and lightning； and
after that they went forward without further divination； for they felt
that no man could mistake the signs from the Ruler of the gods。 ＇2＇
And as they went on their way Cyrus' father said to him； 〃My son； the
gods are gracious to us； and look with favour on your journeythey
have shown it in the sacrifices； and by their signs from heaven。 You
do not need another man to tell you so； for I was careful to have you
taught this art； so that you might understand the counsels of the gods
yourself and have no need of an interpreter； seeing with your own eyes
and hearing with your own ears and taking the heavenly meaning for
yourself。 Thus you need not be at the mercy of any soothsayers who
might have a mind to deceive you； speaking contrary to the omens
vouchsafed from heaven； nor yet； should you chance to be without a
seer； drift in perplexity and know not how to profit by the heavenly
signs： you yourself through your own learning can understand the
warnings of the gods and follow them。〃
＇3＇ 〃Yes； father；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃so far as in me lies； I bear your
words in mind； and pray to the gods continually that they may show us
favour and vouchsafe to counsel us。 I remember；〃 he went on； 〃how once
I heard you say that； as with men； so with the gods； it was but
natural if the prayer of him should prevail who did not turn to
flatter them only in time of need； but was mindful of them above all
in the heyday of his happiness。 It was thus indeed； you said； that we
ought to deal with our earthly friends。〃 ＇4＇ 〃True； my son；〃 said his
father； 〃and because of all my teaching； you can now approach the gods
in prayer with a lighter heart and a more confident hope that they
will grant you what you ask； because your conscience bears you witness
that you have never forgotten them。〃 〃Even so；〃 said Cyrus； 〃and in
truth I feel towards them as though they were my friends。〃 ＇5＇ 〃And do
you remember；〃 asked his father； 〃certain other conclusions on which
we were agreed？ How we felt there were certain things that the gods
had permitted us to attain through learning and study and training？
The accomplishment of these is the reward of effort； not of idleness；
in these it is only when we have done all that it is our duty to do
that we are justified in asking for blessings from the gods。〃 ＇6＇ 〃I
remember very well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃that you used to talk to me in that
way： and indeed I could not but agree with the arguments you gave。 You
used to say that a man had no right to pray he might win a cavalry
charge if he had never learnt how to ride； or triumph over master…
bowmen if he could not draw a bow； or bring a ship safe home to
harbour if he did not know how to steer； or be rewarded with a
plenteous harvest if he had not so much as sown grain into the ground；
or come home safe from battle if he took no precautions whatsoever。
All such prayers as these； you said； were contrary