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is to be oursand we must believe it will be ours； we must make it
oursthe prizes of victory will be nothing short of the enemy himself
and all that he possesses。 And if the victory should be his； then； in
like manner； all the goods of the vanquished must lie at the victor's
feet。 ＇3＇ Therefore I would have you take this to your hearts：
wherever those who have joined together for war remember that unless
each and every one of them play his part with zeal nothing good can
follow； there we may look for glorious success。 For there nothing that
ought to be done will be left undone。 But if each man thinks 'My
neighbour will toil and fight； even though my own heart should fail
and my own arm fall slack；' then； believe me； disaster is at the door
for each and all alike； and no man shall escape。 ＇4＇ Such is the
ordinance of God： those who will not work out their own salvation he
gives into the hands of other men to bear rule over them。 And now I
call on any man here；〃 he added； 〃to stand up and say whether he
believes that virtue will best be nourished among us if he who bears
the greatest toil and takes the heaviest risk shall receive the
highest honours。 Or whether we should hold that cowardice makes no
difference in the end； seeing that we all must share alike？〃
＇5＇ Thereupon Chrysantas of the Peers rose up。 He was a man of
understanding； but his bodily presence was weak。 And now he spoke
thus：
〃I do not imagine； Cyrus； that you put this question with any belief
that cowards ought really to receive the same share as the brave。 No；
you wished to make trial of us and see whether any man would dare to
claim an equal part in all that his fellows win by their nobleness；
though he never struck a single valiant stroke himself。 ＇6＇ I myself；〃
he continued； 〃am neither fleet of foot nor stout of limb； and for
aught I can do with my body； I perceive that on the day of trial
neither the first place nor the second can be mine； no； nor yet the
hundredth； nor even； it may be； the thousandth。 But this I know right
well； that if our mighty men put forth all their strength； I too shall
receive such portion of our blessings as I may deserve。 But if the
cowards sit at ease and the good and brave are out of heart； then I
fear that I shall get a portion； a larger than I care to think； of
something that is no blessing but a curse。〃
＇7＇ And so spoke Chrysantas； and then Pheraulas stood up。 He was a man
of the people； but well known to Cyrus in the old days at home and
well…beloved by him： no mean figure to look at； and in soul like a man
of noble birth。 Now he spoke as follows：
＇8＇ 〃Cyrus； friends； and Persians； I hold to the belief that on this
day we all start equal in that race where valour is the goal。 I speak
of what I see： we are trained on the same fare； we are held worthy of
the same comradeship； we contend for the same rewards。 All of us alike
are told to obey our leaders； and he who obeys most frankly never
fails to meet with honour at the hands of Cyrus。 Valour is no longer
the privilege of one class alone： it has become the fairest prize that
can fall to the lot of any man。 ＇9＇ And to…day a battle is before us
where no man need teach us how to fight： we have the trick of it by
nature； as a bull knows how to use his horns； or a horse his hoofs； or
a dog his teeth； or a wild boar his tusks。 The animals know well
enough；〃 he added； 〃when and where to guard themselves： they need no
master to tell them that。 ＇10＇ I myself； when I was a little lad； I
knew by instinct how to shield myself from the blow I saw descending：
if I had nothing else； I had my two fists； and used them with all my
force against my foe： no one taught me how to do it； on the contrary
they beat me if they saw me clench my fists。 And a knife； I remember；
I never could resist： I clutched the thing whenever I caught sight of
it： not a soul showed me how to hold it； only nature herself； I do
aver。 I did it； not because I was taught to do it； but in spite of
being forbidden； like many another thing to which nature drove me； in
spite of my father and mother both。 Yes； and I was never tired of
hacking and hewing with my knife whenever I got the chance： it did not
seem merely natural； like walking or running； it was positive joy。
＇11＇ Well； to…day we are to fight in this same simple fashion： energy；
rather than skill； is called for； and glorious it will be to match
ourselves against our friends； the Peers of Persia。 And let us
remember that the same prizes are offered to us all； but the stakes
differ： our friends give up a life of honour； the sweetest life there
can be； but we escape from years of toil and ignominy； and there can
be no life worse than that。 ＇12＇ And what fires me most of all； my
friends； and sends me into the lists most gladly； is the thought that
Cyrus will be our judge： one who will give no partial verdict。 I call
the gods to witness when I say that he loves a valiant man as he loves
his own soul： I have seen him give such an one more than he ever keeps
for himself。 ＇13＇ And now；〃 he added； 〃I know that our friends here
pride themselves upon their breeding and what it has done for them。
They have been brought up to endure hunger and thirst； cold and
nakedness； and yet they are aware that we too have been trained in the
self…same school and by a better master than they： we were taught by
Necessity； and there is no teacher so good； and none so strict。 ＇14＇
How did our friends here learn their endurance？ By bearing arms；
weapons of war； tools that the wit of the whole human race has made as
light as well could be： but Necessity drove us； my fellows and myself；
to stagger under burdens so heavy that to…day； if I may speak for
myself； these weapons of mine seem rather wings to lift me than
weights to bear。 ＇15＇ I for one am ready； Cyrus； to enter the lists；
and； however I prove； I will ask from you no more than I deserve： I
would have you believe this。 And you；〃 he added； turning to his
fellows； 〃you； men of the people； I would have you plunge into the
battle and match yourselves with these gentlemen…warriors： the fine
fellows must meet us now； for this is the people's day。〃
＇16＇ That is what Pheraulas said； and many rose to follow him and
support his views。 And it was resolved that each man should be
honoured according to his deserts and that Cyrus should be the judge。
So the matter ended； and all was well。
＇17＇ Now Cyrus gave a banquet and a certain brigadier was the chief
guest； and his regiment with him。 Cyrus had marked the officer one day
when he was drilling his men； he had drawn up the ranks in two
divisions； opposite each other； ready for the charge。 They were all
wearing corslets and carrying light shields； but half were equipped
with stout staves of fennel； and half were ordered to snatch up clods
of earth and do what they could with these。 ＇18＇ When all were ready；
the officer gave the signal and the artillery began； not without
effect： the missiles fell fast on shields and corslets； on thighs and
greaves。 But when they came to close quarters the men of the staves
had their turn： they struck at thighs and hands and legs； or； if the
adversary stooped and twisted； they belaboured back and shoulders；
till they put the foe to utter rout； delivering their blows with
shouts of laughter and the glee of boys。 Then there was an exchange of
weapons； and the other side had their revenge： they took the staves in
their turn； and once more the staff triumphed over the clod。 ＇19＇
Cyrus was full of admiration； partly at the inventiveness of the
commander； partly at the discipline of the men； it was good to see the
active exercise； and the gaiety of heart； and good to know that the
upshot of the battle favoured those who fought in the Persian style。
In every way he was pleased； and then and there he bade them all to
dinner。 But at the feast many of the guests wore bandages； some on
their hands； others on their legs； and Cyrus saw it and asked what had
befallen them。 They told him they had been bruised by the clods。 ＇20＇
〃At close quarters？〃 said he； 〃or at long range？〃 〃At long range；〃
they answered； and all the club…bearers agreed that when it came to
close quarters； they had the finest sport。 But here those who had been
carbonaded by that weapon broke in and protested loudly that it was
anything but sport to be clubbed at short range； and in proof thereof
they showed the weals on hand and neck and face。 Thus they laughed at
one another as soldiers will； and on the next day the whole plain was
studded with combats of this type； and whenever the army had nothing
more serious in hand； this sport was their delight。
＇21＇ Another day Cyrus noticed a brigadier who was marching his
regiment up from the river back to their quarters。 They were advancing
in single file on his left； and at the proper moment he ordered the
second company to wheel round and draw up to the front alongside the
first； and then the third； and then the fourth； and when the company…
captains were all abreast； he passed the word along； 〃Companies in
twos；〃 and the captains…of…ten came into line； and then at the right
moment he gave the order； 〃Companies in fours；〃 and the captai