cyropaedia-第48章
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because they themselves thought that our race was in all things better
than theirs。〃
＇35＇ But while he was still speaking Cyrus broke in on his words；
crying：
〃Uncle of mine； by the heaven above us； if I have ever shown you any
kindness； be kind to me now。 Do not find fault with me any more； wait；
and put me to the test； and learn how I feel towards you； and if you
see that what I have done has really brought you good； then； when I
embrace you； embrace me in return and call me your benefactor； and if
not； you may blame me as you please。〃
＇36＇ 〃Perhaps；〃 answered Cyaxares； 〃you are right。 I will do as you
wish。〃
〃Then I may kiss you？〃 said Cyrus。
〃Yes； if it pleases you。 〃And you will not turn aside as you did just
now？〃 〃No； I will not turn aside。〃 And he kissed him。
＇37＇ And when the Medes saw it and the Persians and all the allies
for all were watching to see how matters would shapejoy came into
their hearts and gladness lit up their faces。 Then Cyrus and Cyaxares
mounted their horses and rode back； and the Medes fell in behind
Cyaxares； at a nod from Cyrus； and behind Cyrus the Persians； and the
others behind them。 ＇38＇ And when they reached the camp and brought
Cyaxares to the splendid tent； those who were appointed made
everything ready for him； and while he was waiting for the banquet his
Medes presented themselves； some of their own accord； it is true； but
most were sent by Cyrus。 ＇39＇ And they brought him gifts； one came
with a beautiful cup…bearer； another with an admirable cook； a third
with a baker； a fourth with a musician； while others brought cups and
goblets and beautiful apparel； almost every one gave something out of
the spoils they had won。 ＇40＇ So that the mood of Cyaxares changed；
and he seemed to see that Cyrus had not stolen his subjects from him；
and that they made no less account of him than they used to do。
＇41＇ Now when the hour came for the banquet； Cyaxares sent to Cyrus
and begged him to share it： it was so long； he said； since they had
met。 But Cyrus answered； 〃Bid me not to the feast； good uncle。 Do you
not see that all these soldiers of ours have been raised by us to the
pitch of expectation？ And it were ill on my part if I seemed to
neglect them for the sake of my private pleasure。 If soldiers feel
themselves neglected even the good become faint…hearted； and the bad
grow insolent。 ＇42＇ With yourself it is different； you have come a
long journey and you must fall to without delay； and if your subjects
do you honour； welcome them and give them good cheer； that there may
be confidence between you and them； but I must go and attend to the
matters of which I speak。 ＇43＇ Early to…morrow morning；〃 he added；
〃our chief officers will present themselves at your gate to hear from
you what you think our next step ought to be。 You will tell us whether
we ought to pursue the campaign further or whether the time has now
come to disband our army。〃
＇44＇ Thereupon Cyaxares betook himself to the banquet and Cyrus called
a council of his friends； the shrewdest and the best fitted to act
with him； and spoke to them as follows：
〃My friends； thanks to the gods； our first prayers are granted。
Wherever we set foot now we are the masters of the country： we see our
enemies brought low and ourselves increasing day by day in numbers and
in strength。 ＇45＇ And if only our present allies would consent to stay
with us a little longer； our achievements could be greater still；
whether force were needed or persuasion。 Now it must be your work as
much as mine to make as many of them as possible willing and anxious
to remain。 ＇46＇ Remember that； just as the soldier who overthrows the
greatest number in the day of battle is held to be the bravest； so the
speaker； when the time has come for persuasion； who brings most men to
his side will be thought the most eloquent； the best orator and the
ablest man of action。 ＇47＇ Do not； however； prepare your speeches as
though we asked you to give a rhetorical display： remember that those
whom you convince will show it well enough by what they do。 ＇48＇ I
leave you then；〃 he added； 〃to the careful study of your parts： mine
is to see； so far as in me lies； that our troops are provided with all
they need； before we hold the council of war。〃
NOTES
C。1。 Cyrus' generosity： he is not cold； not incapable of soft
pleasure； but too pre…occupied with greater things。 On the whole； if a
hedonist； this type of man； a hedonist that = a stoic （cf。 Socrates；
H。 Sidgwick； also J。 P。）。
C1。4； init。 Well told： we feel the character of Araspas at once； as
soon as he opens his lips。
C1。4； med。 An Eastern picture。 She is one of the Bible women； as
Gadatas and Gobryas are brothers of Barzillai； she is sister of Ruth
or Susanna or Judith or Bathsheba。 Perhaps she is nobler than any of
them。 She is also the sister of the Greek tragedy women； Antigone；
Alcestis； especially Euripidean is she： no doubt she is sister to the
great women of all lands。
C1。10 ff。 Xenophon； Moralist。 Cf。 /Memorabilia/ for a similar
philosophical difficulty about the will and knowledge。 And for this
raising of ethical problems in an artistic setting of narrative； cf。
Lyly。 I see a certain resemblance between the times and the writers'
minds。 /Vide/ J。 A。 Symonds on the predecessors of Shakespeare。
Araspas' point is that these scamps have only themselves to blame；
being ｛akrateis｝； and then they turn round and accuse love。 （We are
thrown back on the origin of ｛akrasia｝： /vide Memorabilia/ ＇e。g。 I。
ii。 v。； IV。 v。＇ for such answer as we can get to that question。）
Whereas the ｛kaloi kagathoi｝ desire strongly but can curb their
desires。
C1。13。 Shows a confidence in the healthy action of the will。 When
Araspas himself is caught later on he develops the theory of a double
self； a higher and a lower （so hgd。； and so； I think； Xenophon and
Socrates。 /Vide Memorabilia/）。
C1。16； fin。 Cyrus ｜｜ Socrates； his prototype here。
C1。18。 Very natural and beautiful。 Xenophon sympathetic with such a
beautiful humanity。 The woman's nature brought out by these touches。
Xenophon； Dramatist： the moral problem is subordinate； that is to say；
is made to grow out of the dramatic action and characterisation。
C1。20。 Notice the absolutely fair and warrantable diplomatic advantage
given to the archic man： each step he takes opens up new avenues of
progress。 Herein is fulfilled 〃to him who hath shall be given；〃 but
Cyrus plays his part also； he has the wisdom of serpents with the
gentleness of doves。
C1。21。 This is the true rhetoric； the right road to persuasiveness； to
be absolutely frank。
C1。24。 The desire to be ruled by the archic man； which the archomenoi
i。e。 all menfeel； is thus manifest。 Notice again how the Mede's
own character is maintained： he speaks as he felt then。
C2。8。 The bridegroom will be found to be Hystaspas； but we have no
suspicion as yet； without looking on。
C2。9。 In this interview Cyrus' character still further developed。 /Ex
ore Cyri。/； Xenophon propounds his theory of the latent virtue in man；
which only needs an opportunity to burst forth； but； this lacking；
remains unrevealed。 Now it is a great godsend to get such a chance。 It
is thoroughly Hellenic； or Xenophon…Socratic； this feeling； 〃Give me a
chance to show my virtue。〃 （But has Cyrus a touch of superhuman
conscious rectitude？）
C2。12。 The same thought again： it is full of delicacy and spiritual
discernment： the more one ponders it the more one feels that。
C2。12； fin。 For Hellenic or Xenophontine or old…world theory of the
misfortunes which befall the virtuous； /vide/ Homer； /vide/ Book of
Job （Satan）； /vide/ Tragedians。
C2。15。 Cf。 the /Economist/ for praise of rural simplicity。 It is
Xenophon /ipsissimus/。
C2。17。 Whose bad manners is Xenophon thinking of？ Thebans'？
C2。20； fin。 A very noble sentence。 The man who utters it and the
people whose heart and mind it emanates from must be of a high order；
and in the /Memorabilia/ Socrates has this highest praise； that he
studied to make himself and /all others also/ as good as possible。
C2。21。 Notice the practical answer of Cyrus to this panegyric （c
