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when they return。 ＇41＇ Therefore； gentlemen； I would say； for the
present let us above all be careful to avoid the food and drink that
leads to slumber and stupefaction。 ＇42＇ And there is another matter：
this camp contains vast treasures； and I am well aware we have it in
our power to pick and choose as much as we like for ourselves out of
what belongs by right to all who helped in its capture。 But it does
not seem to me that grasping will be so lucrative as proving ourselves
just toward our allies； and so binding them closer。 ＇43＇ I go further：
I say that we should leave the distribution of the spoil to the Medes；
the Hyrcanians； and Tigranes； and count it gain if they allot us the
smaller share； for then they will be all the more willing to stay with
us。 ＇44＇ Selfishness now could only secure us riches for the moment；
while to let these vanities go in order to obtain the very fount of
wealth； that； I take it； will ensure for us and all whom we call ours
a far more enduring gain。 ＇45＇ Was it not；〃 he continued； 〃for this
very reason that we trained ourselves at home to master the belly and
its appetites； so that； if ever the need arose； we might turn our
education to account？ And where； I ask； shall we find a nobler
opportunity than this； to show what we have learnt？〃
＇46＇ Such were his words and Hystaspas the Persian rose to support
him； saying：
〃Truly； Cyrus； it would be a monstrous thing if we could go fasting
when we hunt； and keep from food so often and so long merely to lay
some poor beast low； worth next to nothing； maybe； and yet； when a
world of wealth is our quarry； let ourselves be baulked by one of
those temptations which flee before the noble and rule the bad。 Such
conduct； methinks； would be little worthy of our race。〃
＇47＇ So Hystaspas spoke； and the rest approved him； one and all。 Then
Cyrus said：
〃Come now； since we are all of one mind； each of you give me five of
the trustiest fellows in his company； and let them go the rounds； and
see how the supplies are furnished； let them praise the active
servants； and where they see neglect； chastise them more severely than
their own masters could。〃
Thus they dealt with these matters。
＇C。3＇ But it was not long before some of the Medes returned： one set
had overtaken the waggons that had gone ahead； seized them and turned
them back； and were now driving them to the camp； laden with all that
an army could require； and others had captured the covered carriages
in which the women rode； the wives of the Assyrian grandees or their
concubines； whom they had taken with them because of their beauty。 ＇2＇
Indeed； to this day the tribes of Asia never go on a campaign without
their most precious property： they say they can fight better in the
presence of their beloved； feeling they must defend their treasures；
heart and soul。 It may be so； but it may also be that the desire for
pleasure is the cause。
＇3＇ And when Cyrus saw the feats of arms that the Medes and the
Hyrcanians had performed； he came near reproaching himself and those
that were with him； the others； he felt； had risen with the time； had
shown their strength and won their prizes； while he and his had stayed
behind like sluggards。 Indeed it was a sight to watch the victors
riding home； driving their spoil before them； pointing it out with
some display to Cyrus； and then dashing off again at once in search of
more； according to the instructions they had received。
But though he ate out his heart with envy Cyrus was careful to set all
their booty apart； and then he summoned his own officers again； and
standing where they could all hear what he had to propose； he spoke as
follows：
＇4＇ 〃My friends； you would all agree； I take it； that if the spoils
displayed to us now were our own to keep； wealth would be showered on
every Persian in the land； and we ourselves； no doubt； through whom it
was won； would receive the most。 But what I do not see is how we are
to get possession of such prizes unless we have cavalry of our own。
＇5＇ Consider the facts；〃 he continued； 〃we Persians have weapons with
which； we hope； we can rout the enemy at close quarters： but when we
do rout them； what sort of horsemen or archers or light…armed troops
could ever be caught and killed； if we can only pursue them on foot？
Why should they ever be afraid to dash up and harry us； when they know
full well that they run no greater risk at our hands than if we were
stumps in their orchards？ ＇6＇ And if this be so； it is plain that the
cavalry now with us consider every gain to be as much theirs as ours；
and possibly even more； God wot！ ＇7＇ At present things must be so：
there is no help for it。 But suppose we were to provide ourselves with
as good a force as our friends； it must be pretty evident to all of
us； I think； that we could then deal with the enemy by ourselves
precisely as we do now with their help； and then perhaps we should
find that they would carry their heads less high。 It would be of less
importance to us whether they chose to stay or go； we should be
sufficient for ourselves without them。 ＇8＇ So far then I expect that
no one will disagree： if we could get a body of Persian cavalry it
would make all the difference to us； but no doubt you feel the
question is； how are we to get it？ Well； let us consider first；
suppose we decide to raise the force； exactly what we have to start
with and what we need。 ＇9＇ We certainly have hundreds of horses now
captured in this camp； with their bridles and all their gear。 Besides
these； we have all the accoutrements for a mounted force； breast…
plates to protect the trunk； and light spears to be flung or wielded
at close quarters。 What else do we need？ It is plain we need men。 ＇10＇
But that is just what we have already at our own command。 For nothing
is so much ours as our own selves。 Only； some will say； we have not
the necessary skill。 No； of course not； and none of those who have it
now had it either before they learnt to get it。 Ah； you object； but
they learnt when they were boys。 ＇11＇ Maybe； but are boys more capable
of learning what they are taught then grown men？ Which are the better
at heavy physical tasks； boys or men？ ＇12＇ Besides； we； of all pupils；
have advantages that neither boys nor other men possess： we have not
to be taught the use of the bow as boys have； we are skilled in that
already； nor yet the use of the javelin； we are versed in that； our
time has not been taken up like other men's with toiling on the land
or labouring at some craft or managing household matters； we have not
only had leisure for war； it has been our life。 ＇13＇ Moreover； one
cannot say of riding as of so many warlike exercises that it is useful
but disagreeable。 To ride a…horseback is surely pleasanter than to
trudge a…foot？ And as for speedhow pleasant to join a friend betimes
whenever you wish； or come up with your quarry be it man or beast！ And
then； the ease and satisfaction of it！ Whatever weapon the rider
carries his horse must help to bear the load： 'wear arms' and 'bear
arms；'they are the same thing on horseback。 ＇14＇ But now； to meet
the worst we can apprehend： suppose； before we are adepts； we are
called upon to run some risk； and then find that we are neither
infantry nor thoroughgoing cavalry？ This may be a danger； but we can
guard against it。 We have it always in our power to turn into infantry
again at a moment's notice。 I do not propose that by learning to ride
we should unlearn the arts of men on foot。〃
＇15＇ Thus spoke Cyrus； and Chrysantas rose to support him； saying：
〃For my part I cannot say I so much desire to be a horseman as flatter
myself that once I can ride I shall be a sort of flying man。 ＇16＇ At
present when I race I am quiet content if； with a fair start； I can
beat one of my rivals by the head； or when I sight my game I am happy
if； by laying legs to the ground； I can get close enough to let fly
javelin or arrow before he is clean out of range。 But when once I am a
horseman I shall be able to overhaul my man as far as I can see him；
or come up with the beasts I chase and knock them over myself or else
spear them as though they stood stock still； for when hunter and
hunted are both of them racing； if they are only side by side； it is
as good as though neither of them moved。 ＇17＇ And the creature I have
always envied；〃 he continued； 〃the centaurif only he had the
intelligence and forethought of a man； the adroit skill and the
cunning hand； with the swiftness and strength of a horse； so as to
overtake all that fled before him； and overthrow all that resisted
why； all these powers I shall collect and gather in my own person when
once I am a rider。 ＇18＇ Forethought I intend to keep with my human
wits； my hands can wield my weapons； and my horse's legs will follow
up the foe； and my horse's rush overthrow him。 Only I shall not be
tied and fettered to my steed； flesh of his flesh； and blood of his
blood； like the old centaur。 ＇19＇ And that I count a great improvement
on the breed； far better than being united to the animal； body and
soul。 The old centaur； I imagine； must have been for ever in
difficulties； as a horse； he could not use the wonderful inventions