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satisfy the needs of his cities and his subjects if he is to manage
them。 We need not wonder； then； that with such opinions his ambition
was to excel mankind in courtesy and care。 ＇15＇ There was a noble
illustration of his philosophy in the answer we are told he gave to
Croesus； who had taken him to task； saying his lavish gifts would
bring him to beggary； although he could lay by more treasures for
himself than any man had ever had before。 Cyrus； it is said； asked him
in return； 〃How much wealth do you suppose I could have amassed
already； had I collected gold； as you bid me； ever since I came into
my empire？〃
＇16＇ And Croesus named an enormous sum。 Then Cyrus said； 〃Listen；
Croesus； here is my friend； Hystaspas； and you must send with him a
man that you can trust。〃 Then； turning to Hystaspas； 〃Do you；〃 he
said； 〃go round to my friends and tell them that I need money for a
certain enterpriseand that is true； I do need it。 Bid each of them
write down the amount he can give me； seal the letter； and hand it to
the messenger of Croesus； who will bring it here。〃 ＇17＇ Thereupon
Cyrus wrote his wishes and put his seal on the letter； and gave it to
Hystaspas to carry round； only he added a request that they should all
welcome Hystaspas as a friend of his。 And when the messengers came
back； the officer of Croesus carrying the answers； Hystaspas cried；
〃Cyrus； my lord； you must know I am a rich man now！ I have made my
fortune； thanks to your letter！ They have loaded me with gifts。〃 ＇18＇
And Cyrus said； 〃There； Croesus； that is treasure number one； and now
run through the rest； and count what sums I have in hand； in case I
need them。〃 And Croesus counted； and found； so the story tells us；
that the sum was far larger than the amount he had said would have
been lying in the treasury if only Cyrus had made a hoard。 ＇19＇ At
this discovery Cyrus said； so we are told； 〃You see； Croesus； I have
my treasures too。 Only you advise me to collect them and hide them；
and be envied and hated because of them； and set mercenaries to guard
them； putting my trust in hirelings。 But I hold to it that if I make
my friends rich they will be my treasures themselves； and far better
guards too； for me and all we have； than if I set hired watchmen over
my wealth。 ＇20＇ And I have somewhat else to say； I tell you； Croesus；
there is something the gods have implanted in our souls； and there
they have made us all beggars alike； something I can never overcome。
＇21＇ I too； like all the rest； am insatiate of riches； only in one
respect I fancy I am different。 Most men when they have more wealth
than they require bury some of it underground； and let some of it rot；
and some they count and measure； and they guard it and they air it；
and give themselves a world of trouble； and yet for all their wealth
they cannot eat more than they have stomach forthey would burst
asunder if they didnor wear more clothes than they can carrythey
would die of suffocationand so their extra wealth means nothing but
extra work。 ＇22＇ For my part； I serve the gods； and I stretch out my
hands for more and more； only when I have got what is beyond my own
requirements I piece out the wants of my friends； and so； helping my
fellows； I purchase their love and their goodwill； and out of these I
garner security and renown； fruits that can never rot； rich meats that
can work no mischief； for glory； the more it grows； the grander it
becomes； and the fairer； and the lighter to be borne； it even gives a
lighter step to those who bear it。 ＇23＇ One thing more； Croesus； I
would have you know； the happiest men； in my judgment； are not the
holders of vast riches and the masters who have the most to guard；
else the sentinels of our citadels would be the happiest of mortals；
seeing they guard the whole wealth of the state。 He； I hold； has won
the crown of happiness who has had the skill to gain wealth by the
paths of righteousness and use it for all that is honourable and
fair。〃
＇24＇ That was the doctrine Cyrus preached； and all men could see that
his practice matched his words。
Moreover； he observed that the majority of mankind； if they live in
good health for long； will only lay by such stores and requisites as
may be used by a healthy man； and hardly care at all to have
appliances at hand in case of sickness。 But Cyrus was at the pains to
provide these； he encouraged the ablest physicians of the day by his
liberal payments； and if ever they recommended an instrument or a drug
or a special kind of food or drink； he never failed to procure it and
have it stored in the palace。
＇25＇ And whenever any one fell sick among those who had peculiar
claims on his attentions； he would visit them and bring them all they
needed； and he showed especial gratitude to the doctors if they cured
their patients by the help of his own stores。 ＇26＇ These measures； and
others like them； he adopted to win the first place in the hearts of
those whose friendship he desired。 Moreover； the contests he
proclaimed and the prizes he offered to awaken ambition and desire for
gallant deeds all redounded to his own glory as a man who had the
pursuit of nobleness at heart； while they bred strife and bitter
rivalry among the champions themselves。 ＇27＇ Further； he laid it down
that in every matter needing arbitration； whether it were a suit…at…
law or a trial of skill； the parties should concur in their choice of
a judge。 Each would try to secure the most powerful man he knew and
the one most friendly to himself； and if he lost he envied his
successful rival and hated the judge who had declared against him；
while the man who won claimed to win because his case was just and
felt he owed no gratitude to anybody。 ＇28＇ Thus all who wished to be
first in the affections of Cyrus； just as others in democratic states；
were full of rancour against each other； in fact most of them would
sooner have seen their rivals exterminated than join with them for any
common good。 Such are some of the devices by which he made the ablest
of his subjects more attached to himself than to one another。
＇C。3＇ I will now describe the first public progress that Cyrus made。
For the very solemnity of the ceremony was one of the artifices by
which he won reverence for his government。 The day before it he
summoned the officers of state； the Persians and the others； and gave
them all the splendid Median dress。 This was the first time the
Persians wore it； and as they received the robes he said that he
wished to drive in his chariot to the sacred precincts and offer
sacrifice with them。 ＇2＇ 〃You will present yourselves at my gates；〃 he
added； 〃before the sun rises； attired in these robes； and you will
take your places where Pheraulas the Persian bids you on my behalf。 As
soon as I lead the way you will follow in your appointed order。 And if
any of you should think of some change to heighten the beauty and
stateliness of our procession； you will acquaint me with it； I pray；
on our return； it is for us to see that all is done in the manner you
feel to be most beautiful and best。〃
＇3＇ With that Cyrus gave the most splendid robes to his chief
notables； and then he brought out others； for he had stores of Median
garments； purple and scarlet and crimson and glowing red； and gave a
share to each of his generals and said to them； 〃Adorn your friends；
as I have adorned you。〃 ＇4＇ Then one of them asked him； 〃And you； O
Cyrus； when will you adorn yourself？〃 But he answered； 〃Is it not
adornment enough for me to have adorned you？ If I can but do good to
my friends； I shall look glorious enough； whatever robe I wear。〃
＇5＇ So his nobles took their leave； and sent for their friends and put
the splendid raiment on them。 Meanwhile Cyrus summoned Pheraulas；
knowing that； while he was a man of the people； he was also quick…
witted； a lover of the beautiful； prompt to understand and to obey；
and one who had ever an eye to please his master。 It was he who had
supported Cyrus long ago when he proposed that honour should be given
in proportion to desert。 And now Cyrus asked him how he thought the
procession might be made most beautiful in the eyes of friends and
most formidable in