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Thus they bantered each other and gave jest for jest。
＇24＇ Then Cyrus brought out a woman's attire and ornaments of price
and gave them to Tigranes as a present for his wife； because she had
followed her husband so manfully to the war； and he gave a golden
goblet to Artabazus； and a horse to the Hyrcanian leader； and many
another splendid gift among the company。
〃And to you； Gobryas；〃 said he； 〃I will give a husband for your
daughter。〃
＇25＇ 〃Let me be the gift；〃 said Hystaspas； 〃and then I shall get those
writings。〃
〃But have you a fortune on your side；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃to match the
bride's？〃
〃Certainly； I have；〃 he answered； 〃I may say twenty times as great。〃
〃And where；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃may those treasures be？〃
〃At the foot of your throne；〃 he answered； 〃my gracious lord。〃
〃I ask no more；〃 said Gobryas； and held out his right hand。 〃Give him
to me； Cyrus；〃 he said； 〃I accept him。〃
＇26＇ At that Cyrus took the right hand of Hystaspas and laid it in the
hand of Gobryas； and the pledge was given and received。 Then Cyrus
gave beautiful gifts to Hystaspas for his bride； but he drew
Chrysantas to his breast and kissed him。 ＇27＇ Thereupon Artabazus
cried：
〃Heaven help us； Cyrus！ The goblet you gave me is not of the fine gold
you have given Chrysantas now！〃
〃Well；〃 said Cyrus； 〃you shall have the same one day。〃
〃When？〃 asked the other。
〃Thirty years hence；〃 said Cyrus。
〃I will wait；〃 said Artabazus： 〃I will not die： be ready for me。〃
And then the banquet came to an end： the guests rose； and Cyrus stood
up with them and conducted them to the door。
＇28＇ But on the morrow he arranged that all the allies and all who had
volunteered should be sent back to their homes； all except those who
wished to take up their abode with him。 To these he gave grants of
land and houses； still held by their descendants； Medes for the
greater part； and Hyrcanians。 And to those who went home he gave many
gifts and sent them away well content； both officers and men。 ＇29＇
After this he distributed among his own soldiers all the wealth he had
taken at Sardis； choice gifts for the captains of ten thousand and for
his own staff in proportion to their deserts； and the rest in equal
shares； delivering to every captain one share with orders to divide it
among their subordinates as he had divided the whole among them。 ＇30＇
Thereupon each officer gave to the officers directly under him；
judging the worth of each； until it came to the captains of six； who
considered the cases of the privates in their own squads； and gave
each man what he deserved： and thus every soldier in the army received
an equitable share。 ＇31＇ But after the distribution of it all there
were some who said：
〃How rich Cyrus must be； to have given us all so much！〃
〃Rich？〃 cried others； 〃what do you mean？ Cyrus is no money…maker： he
is more glad to give than to get。〃
＇32＇ When Cyrus heard of this talk and the opinions held about him； he
gathered together his friends and the chief men of the state and spoke
as follows：
〃Gentlemen and friends of mine； I have known men who were anxious to
have it thought they possessed more than they really had； thinking
this would give them an air of freedom and nobility。 But in my opinion
the result was the very opposite of what they wished。 If it is thought
that a man has great riches and does not help his friends in
proportion to his wealth； he cannot but appear ignoble and niggardly。
＇33＇ There are others；〃 he went on； 〃who would have their wealth
forgotten； and these I look upon as traitors to their friends： for it
must often happen that a comrade is in need and yet hesitates to tell
them because he does not know how much they have； and so he is kept in
the dark and left to starve。 ＇34＇ The straightforward course； it seems
to me； is always to make no secret of our own resources； but to use
them all； whatever they are； in our efforts to win the crown of
honour。 Accordingly I am anxious to show you all my possessions so far
as they can be seen； and to give you a list of the rest。〃
＇35＇ With these words he proceeded to point out his visible treasures；
and he gave an exact account of those that could not be shown。 He
ended by saying：
＇36＇ 〃All these things； gentlemen； you must consider yours as much as
mine。 I have collected them； not that I might spend them on myself or
waste them in my own use： I could not do that if I tried。 I keep them
to reward him who does a noble deed； and to help any of you who may be
in want of anything； so that you may come to me and take what ou
require。〃
Such were the words of Cyrus。
＇C。5＇ But now that all was well in Babylon and Cyrus felt he might
leave the land； he began to prepare for a march to Persia； and sent
out orders to his men。 And when he had all he needed； the steeds were
yoked； and he set off。 ＇2＇ And here we will explain how it was that so
vast a host could unpack and pack again without a break of order； and
take up a position with such speed wherever it was desired。 When the
king is on the march his attendants； of course； are provided with
tents and encamp with him； winter and summer alike。 ＇3＇ From the first
the Cyrus made it a custom to have his tent pitched facing east； and
later on he fixed the space to be left between himself and his
lancers； and then he stationed his bakers on the right and his cooks
on the left； the cavalry on the right again； and the baggage…train on
the left。 Everything else was so arranged that each man knew his own
quarters； their position and their size。 ＇4＇ When the army was packing
up after a halt； each man put together the baggage he used himself；
and others placed it on the animals： so that at one and the same
moment all his bearers came to the baggage…train and each man laid his
load on his own beasts。 Thus all the tents could be struck in the same
time as one。 ＇5＇ And it was the same when the baggage had to be
unpacked。 Again； in order that the necessaries should be prepared in
time； each man was told beforehand what he had to do： and thus all the
divisions could be provided for as speedily as one。 ＇6＇ And； just as
the serving…men had their appointed places； so the different regiments
had their own stations； adapted to their special style of fighting；
and each detachment knew their quarters and went to them without
hesitation。 ＇7＇ Even in a private house； orderliness； Cyrus knew； was
a most excellent thing： every one； if he needed anything； would then
know where to get it； but he held it still more desirable for the
arrangement of an army； seeing that the moment for action passes far
more quickly in war and the evil from being too late is far more
grave。 Therefore he gave more thought and care to order and
arrangement than to anything else。
＇8＇ His own position； to begin with； must be at the centre of the
camp； as this was the safest place； and next to him must come his most
faithful followers； as their habit was。 Beyond these； in a ring； lay
the cavalry and the charioteers。 ＇9＇ For Cyrus held to it that these
troops also needed a safe position： their equipment could not be kept
at hand for them； and if they were to be of any use at all they needed
considerable time for arming。 ＇10＇ The targeteers were placed to left
and right of the cavalry； and the bowmen in front and rear。 ＇11＇
Finally； the heavy…armed troops and those who carried the huge shields
surrounded the whole encampment like a wall； so that in case of need；
if the cavalry had to mount； the steadiest troops would stand firm in
front and let them arm in safety。 ＇12＇ He insisted that the targeteers
and archers should； like the soldiers of the line； sleep at their
posts； in case of alarm at night； and be ready at any moment； while
the infantry dealt with the assailant at close quarters； to hurl darts
and javelins at them over the others' heads。 ＇13＇ Moreover； all the
generals had standards on their tents； and just as an intelligent
serving…man in a city will know most of the houses； at any rate of the
most important people； so the squires of Cyrus knew the ways of the
camp and the quarters of the generals and the standards of each。 Thus；
if Cyrus needed any one they had not to search and seek； but could run
by the shortest road and summon him at once。 ＇14＇ Owing to this clear
arrangement； it was easy to see where good discipline was kept and
where duty was neglected。 With these dispositions Cyrus felt that if
an attack should be made； by night or day； the enemy would find not so
much a camp as an ambuscade。 ＇15＇ Nor was it enough； he considered；
for a real master of tactics to know how to extend his front without
confusion； or deepen his ranks； or get from column into line； or wheel
round quickly when the enemy appeared on the right or the left or in
the rear： the true tactician must also be able to break up his troops
into small bodies； whenever necessary； and place each division exactly
where it would be of the greatest use； he must know how to quicken
speed when it was essential to forestall the enemy； these and a
hundred other operations are part of his science； and Cyrus studied
them all with equal care。 ＇16＇ On the march he varied the order
constant