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C5。73。 The Hellenic ｜｜ the modern theory； but more rudely expressed。
The conquerors right to the land he has taken； and what Cyrus proceeds
to say is quite up to the modern mark。
C5。74。 Of course this is precisely what the Persians as they
degenerated did come to； nor did the good example of the archic man
nor his precepts nor his institutions save them。
C5。77…79。 〃Military〃 theory of virtue： almost barbaric （/ex mea
sententia/ hgd。）。 But Xenophon is not absolutely = Cyrus。
C5。80 ff。 This is the Socratico…Xenophontine hedonism…and…stoicism
combined。
C5。82 ff。 A noble sermon on the need of straining every nerve to
virtuous training。 Splendidly rhetorical and forceful。
C5。84。 Cyrus （i。e。 Xenophon） is aware of the crisis he and his are
going through。 If externalism has to be adopted to hedge royalty；
still a further inner change is demanded： there must be a
corresponding spiritual growth。
C5。86。 One of the noblest sayings in all Xenophon。 The one somehow
which touches me most。 The best way to improve ourselves is to see
that we set our boys the best examples。
BOOK VIII
＇C。1＇ Such were the words of Cyrus； and Chrysantas rose up after him；
saying； 〃Gentlemen； this is not the first time I have had occasion to
observe that a good ruler differs in no respect from a good father。
Even as a father takes thought that blessings may never fail his
children； so Cyrus would commend to us the ways by which we can
preserve our happiness。 And yet； on one point； it seemed to me he had
spoken less fully than he might； and I will try to explain it for the
benefit of those who have not learnt it。 ＇2＇ I would have you ask
yourselves； was ever a hostile city captured by an undisciplined
force？ Did ever an undisciplined garrison save a friendly town？ When
discipline was gone； did ever an army conquer？ Is ever disaster nearer
than when each solider thinks about his private safety only？ Nay； in
peace as in war； can any good be gained if men will not obey their
betters？ What city could be at rest； lawful； and orderly？ What
household could be safe？ What ship sail home to her haven？ ＇3＇ And we；
to what do we owe our triumph； if not to our obedience？ We obeyed； we
were ready to follow the call by night and day； we marched behind our
leader； ranks that nothing could resist； we left nothing half…done of
all we were told to do。 If obedience is the one path to win the
highest good； remember it is also the one way to preserve it。 ＇4＇ Now
in the old days； doubtless； many of us ruled no one else； we were
simply ruled。 But to…day you find yourselves rulers； one and all of
you； some over many and some over few。 And just as you would wish your
subjects to obey you； so we must obey those who are set over us。 Yet
there should be this difference between ourselves and slaves； a slave
renders unwilling service to his lord； but we； if we claim to be
freemen； must do of our own free will that which we see to be the
best。 And you will find；〃 he added； 〃that even when no single man is
ruler； that city which is most careful to obey authority is the last
to bow to the will of her enemies。 ＇5＇ Let us listen to the words of
Cyrus。 Let us gather round the public buildings and train ourselves；
so that we may keep our hold on all we care for； and offer ourselves
to Cyrus for his noble ends。 Of one thing we may be sure： Cyrus will
never put us to any service which can make for his own good and not
for ours。 Our needs are the same as his； and our foes the same。〃
＇6＇ When Chrysantas had said his say； many others followed to support
him； Persians and allies alike； and it was agreed that the men of rank
and honour should be in attendance continually at the palace gates；
ready for Cyrus to employ； until he gave them their dismissal。 That
custom is still in force； and to this day the Asiatics under the Great
King wait at the door of their rulers。 ＇7＇ And the measures that Cyrus
instituted to preserve his empire； as set forth in this account； are
still the law of the land； maintained by all the kings who followed
him。 ＇8＇ Only as in other matters； so here； with a good ruler； the
government is pure； with a bad one； corrupt。 Thus it came about that
the nobles of Cyrus and all his honourable men waited at his gates；
with their weapons and their horses； according to the common consent
of the gallant men who had helped to lay the empire at his feet。
＇9＇ Then Cyrus turned to other matters； and appointed various
overseers： he had receivers of revenue； controllers of finance；
ministers of works； guardians of property； superintendents of the
household。 Moreover； he chose managers for his horses and his dogs；
men who could be trusted to keep the creatures in the best condition
and ready for use at any moment。 ＇10＇ But when it came to those who
were to be his fellow…guardians for the commonwealth； he would not
leave the care and the training of these to others； he regarded that
as his own personal task。 He knew； if he were ever to fight a battle；
he would have to choose his comrades and supporters； the men on his
right hand and left； from these and these alone； it was from them he
must appoint his officers for horse and foot。 ＇11＇ If he had to send
out a general alone it would be from them that one must be sent： he
must depend on them for satraps and governors over cities and nations；
he would require them for ambassadors； and an embassy was； he knew；
the best means for obtaining what he wanted without war。 ＇12＇ He
foresaw that nothing could go well if the agents in his weightiest
affairs were not what they ought to be； while； if they were；
everything would prosper。 This charge； therefore； he took upon his own
shoulders； and he was persuaded that the training he demanded of
others should also be undergone by himself。 No man could rouse others
to noble deeds if he fell short of what he ought to be himself。 ＇13＇
The more he pondered the matter； the more he felt the need of leisure；
if he were to deal worthily with the highest matters。 It was； he felt；
impossible to neglect the revenues； in view of the enormous funds
necessary for so vast an empire； yet he foresaw that if he was always
to be occupied with the multitude of his possessions he would never
have time to watch over the safety of the whole。 ＇14＇ As he pondered
how he could compass both objects； the prosperity of the finances and
the leisure he required； the old military organisation came into his
mind。 He remembered how the captains of ten supervised the squads of
ten； and were supervised themselves by the company…captains； and they
by the captains of the thousands； and these by the captains of ten
thousand； and thus even with hundreds of thousands not a man was left
without supervision； and when the general wished to employ his troops
one order to the captains of ten thousand was enough。 ＇15＇ On this
principle Cyrus arranged his finances and held his departments
together； in this way； by conferring with a few officers he could keep
the whole system under his control； and actually have more leisure for
himself than the manager of a single household or the master of a
single ship。 Finally； having thus ordered his own affairs； he taught
those about him to adopt the same system。
＇16＇ Accordingly； having gained the leisure he needed for himself and
his friends； he could devote himself to his work of training his
partners and colleagues。 In the first place he dealt with those who；
enabled as they were to live on the labour of others； yet failed to
present themselves at the palace； he would send for them and seek them
out； convinced that attendance would be wholesome for them； they would
be unwilling to do anything base or evil in the presence of their king
and under the eye of their noblest men； those who were absent were so
through self…indulgence or wrong…doing or carelessness。 ＇17＇ And I
will now set forth how he brought them to attend。 He would go to one
of his most intimate friends and bid him lay hands on the property of
the offender； asserting that it was his own。 Then of course the
truants would appear at once crying out that they had been robbed。
＇18＇ But somehow for many