按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
whatsoever： to be known to have wealth is more dangerous than guilt；
so that the rich do not care to have any dealings with the powerful；
and dare not even risk appearing at the muster of the royal troops。
＇7＇ Therefore； when any man makes war on Persia； whoever he may be； he
can roam up and down the country to his heart's content without
striking a blow； because they have forgotten the gods and are unjust
to their fellow…men。 In every way their hearts and minds are lower
than in days gone by。
＇8＇ Nor do they care for their bodies as they did of old。 It was
always their custom neither to spit nor blow the nose； only it is
clear this was instituted not from concern for the humours of the
body； but in order to strengthen themselves by toil and sweat。 But
nowadays； though this habit is still in vogue； to harden the body by
exercise has quite gone out of fashion。 ＇9＇ Again； from the first it
was their rule only to take a single meal in the day； which left them
free to give their time to business and exercise。 The single meal is
still the rule； but it commences at the earliest hour ever chosen for
breakfast； and the eating and drinking goes on till the last moment
which the latest reveller would choose for bed。 ＇10＇ It was always
forbidden to bring chamber…pots into the banquet…hall； but the reason
lay in their belief that the right way to keep body and brain from
weakness was to avoid drinking in excess。 But to…day； though as in the
old time no such vessels may be carried in； they drink so deep that
they themselves are carried out； too weak to stand on their own legs。
＇11＇ It was a national custom from the first not to eat and drink on
the march nor be seen satisfying the wants of nature； but nowadays；
though they still abstain； they make each march so short that no man
need wonder at their abstinence。
＇12＇ In the old time they went out to hunt so often that the chase
gave enough exercise and training for man and horse alike。 But when
the day came that Artaxerxes and all his court were the worse for
wine； the old custom of the king leading the hunt in person began to
pass away。 And if any eager spirits hunted with their own followers it
was easy to see the jealousy； and even the hatred； aroused by such
superiority。
＇13＇ It is still the habit to bring up the boys at the palace…gates；
but fine horsemanship has disappeared； for there is no place where the
lads can win applause by their skill。 The old belief that the children
of Persia would learn justice by hearing the judges decide the cases
has been turned upside down： the children have only to use their eyes
and they see that the verdict goes to the man with the longest purse。
＇14＇ Children in former times were taught the properties of plants in
order to use the wholesome and avoid the harmful； but now they seem to
learn it for the mere sake of doing harm： at any rate； there is no
country where deaths from poison are so common。 ＇15＇ And the Persian
to…day is far more luxurious than he was in the time of Cyrus。 Then
they still clung to the Persian style of education and the Persian
self…restraint； merely adopting the Median dress and a certain grace
of life。 But now the old Persian hardihood may perish for all they
care； if only they preserve the softness of the Mede。 ＇16＇ I might
give instances of their luxury。 They are not content with soft sheets
and rugs for their beds； they must have carpets laid under the bed…
posts to prevent any jarring from the floor。 They have given up none
of the cooked dishes invented in former days； on the contrary； they
are always devising new ones； and condiments to boot： in fact； they
keep men for the very purpose。 ＇17＇ In the winter it is not enough to
have the body covered； and the head and the feet； they must have warm
sleeves as well and gloves for the hands： and in the summer they are
not content with the shade from the trees or the rocks； they must have
servants standing beside them with artificial screens。 ＇18＇ To have an
endless array of cups and goblets is their special pride： and if these
are come by unjustly； and all the world knows it； why； there is
nothing to blush for in that： injustice has grown too common among
them； and ill…gotten gain。 ＇19＇ Formerly no Persian was ever to be
seen on foot； but the sole object of the custom was to make them
perfect horsemen。 Now they lay more rugs on their horses' backs than
on their own beds； it is not a firm seat they care for； but a soft
saddle。
＇20＇ As soldiers we may imagine how they have sunk below the ancient
standard； in past times it was a national institution that the land…
owner should furnish troopers from his own estate； and men were bound
to go on active service； while the garrison troops in the country
received regular pay； but now the Persian grandees have manufactured a
new type of cavalry； who earn their pay as butlers and cooks and
confectioners and cupbearers and bathmen and flunkeys to serve at
table or remove the dishes； and serving…men to put their lords to bed
and help them to rise； and perfumers to anoint them and rub them and
make them beautiful。 ＇21＇ In numbers they make a very splendid show；
but they are no use for fighting； as may be seen by what actually
takes place： an enemy can move about their country more freely than
the inhabitants themselves。 ＇22＇ It will be remembered that Cyrus put
a stop to the old style of fighting at long range； and by arming men
and horses with breastplates and giving each trooper a short spear he
taught them to fight at close quarters。 But nowadays they will fight
in neither one style nor the other。 ＇23＇ The infantry still carry the
large shields； the battle…axes； and the swords； as if they meant to do
battle as they did in Cyrus' day。 ＇24＇ But they will never close with
the enemy。 Nor do they use the scythe…bearing chariots as Cyrus
intended。 By the honours he gave he raised the dignity and improved
the quality of his charioteers till he had a body of men who would
charge right into the enemy's ranks； but the generals of to…day；
though they do not even know the charioteers by sight； flatter
themselves that untrained men will serve their purpose quite as well
as trained。 ＇25＇ So the charioteers will dash off； but before they
reach the enemy half the men have fallen from their boxes； and the
others will jump out of their own accord； and the teams； left without
their drivers； will do more harm to their friends than to their foes。
＇26＇ And since in their hearts the Persians of to…day are well aware
what their fighting condition really is； they always give up the
struggle； and now none of them will take the field at all without
Hellenes to help them； whether they are fighting among themselves or
whether Hellenes are in arms against them： even then it is a settled
thing that they must have the aid of other Hellenes to face them。
＇27＇ I venture to think I have shown the truth of the statement that I
made。 I asserted that the Persians of to…day and their allies are less
religious than they were of old； less dutiful to their kindred； less
just and righteous towards other men； and less valiant in war。 And if
any man doubts me； let him examine their actions for himself； and he
will find full confirmation of all I say。
NOTES
C1。 Xenophon puts into the mouth of Chrysantas his favourite theory of
monarchism； the relationship strongly cemented by obedience and trust
between subjects and king。
C1。4； med。 On /willing/ service。 This again is one of the best
utterances in all Xenophon。 It has a deep spiritual import。
C1。4； fin。 He is thinking of Athens； perhaps。 It is a choice： obey the
ruler or knock under to foreign foes。
C1。8。 Surely a remark of the author。 It is an old inveterate thought
of his： 〃the Master's eye。〃 I feel the /old/ man at times。
C1。9…10。 This side of the Persian state…machine strongly impressed the
mind and imagination of Xenophon。 Hence he works it into the treatise
on economy as well as here。 In fact his expansion of the Socratic
reflections into the /Economist/ has to do； I believe； with these
reflections on state economy。
C1。13。 Hellenic aristocratic theory of existence。 Leisure for the
grand duties which devolve on the lords of mankind。 It doesn't seem to
strike Xenophon that this rigid system of self…absorption in the
higher selfhood of the social system might be destructive of
individual life。 Of course he would say； 〃No； it enlarges the
individual life。〃
C1。17…20。 Seems to me to show Xenophon struggling with the hard parts
of the later Persian system。 The theory of Persian feudalism is too
high…strung for these grand satraps； rulers of provinces as big as
ordinary kingdoms。 It tends to snap； and from the beginning did。 The
archic man has no charm to compel his followers to archic virtue。 It
is a negative ｛episteme｝ after all。 Does Xenophon realise this； or is
hgd。 wrong？
C1。21。 Cf。 headmasters with preposters in a public school； based on
the same system of high aims and duties corresponding to rights。
C1。23； init。 Cf。 Louis Napoleon in Browning's poem ＇/Prince
Hohensteil…Schwangau/＇。
C1。23； med。 The Magians； the Persian order of priests。 Y