Chapter 9

So died Cyrus; a man the kingliest¹ and most worthy to rule of all the Persians who have lived since the elder Cyrus: according to the concurrent testimony of all who are reputed to have known him intimately. To begin from the beginning, when still a boy, and whilst being brought up with his brother and the other lads, his unrivalled excellence was recognised. For the sons of the noblest Persians, it must be known, are brought up, one and all, at the king's portals. Here lessons of sobriety and self-control may largely be laid to heart, while there is nothing base or ugly for eye or ear to feed upon. There is the daily spectacle ever before the boys of some receiving honour from the king, and again of others receiving dishonour; and the tale of all this is in their ears, so that from earliest boyhood they learn how to rule and to be ruled.

So died Cyrus, the most kingly¹ and most worthy to rule of all the Persians who have lived since the elder Cyrus. All those reputed to have known him intimately agree on this. From the beginning, even as a boy growing up with his brother and the other boys, his unmatched excellence was recognized. For the sons of the noblest Persians are all brought up at the king's court. There they can learn much about moderation and self-control, and they see and hear nothing shameful or ugly. Every day, the boys see some people honored by the king and others disgraced. They also hear accounts of these events, so that from early childhood they learn how to rule and to be ruled.

In this courtly training Cyrus earned a double reputation; first he was held to be a paragon of modesty among his fellows, rendering an obedience to his elders which exceeded that of many of his own inferiors; and next he bore away the palm for skill in horsemanship and for love of the animal itself. Nor less in matters of war, in the use of the bow and the javelin, was he held by men in general to be at once the aptest of learners and the most eager practiser. As soon as his age permitted, the same pre-eminence showed itself in his fondness for the chase, not without a certain appetite for perilous adventure in facing the wild beasts themselves. Once a bear made a furious rush at him², and without wincing he grappled with her, and was pulled from his horse, receiving wounds the scars of which were visible through life; but in the end he slew the creature, nor did he forget him who first came to his aid, but made him enviable in the eyes of many.

During his training at court, Cyrus earned a double reputation. First, he was regarded as a model of modesty among his peers. He obeyed his elders more than many of those below him did. Second, he was known as the best horseman and for his love of horses. People also generally regarded him as the quickest learner and the most eager student of warfare, especially archery and javelin throwing. As soon as he was old enough, he showed the same excellence in his love of hunting. He also had a taste for the danger of facing wild animals. Once a bear charged at him furiously². Without flinching, he grappled with her and was pulled from his horse. He received wounds that left scars visible for the rest of his life. But in the end he killed the bear. He did not forget the man who first came to his aid, but rewarded him so generously that many envied him.

After he had been sent down by his father to be satrap of Lydia and Great Phrygia and Cappadocia, and had been appointed general of the forces, whose business it is to muster in the plain of the Castolus, nothing was more noticeable in his conduct than the importance which he attached to the faithful fulfilment of every treaty or compact or undertaking entered into with others. He would tell no lies to any one. Thus doubtless it was that he won the confidence alike of individuals and of the communities entrusted to his care; or in case of hostility, a treaty made with Cyrus was a guarantee sufficient to the combatant that he would suffer nothing contrary to its terms. Therefore, in the war with Tissaphernes, all the states of their own accord chose Cyrus in lieu of Tissaphernes, except only the men of Miletus, and these were only alienated through fear of him, because he refused to abandon their exiled citizens; and his deeds and words bore emphatic witness to his principle: even if they were weakened in number or in fortune, he would never abandon those who had once become his friends.

His father sent him down to be satrap of Lydia, Great Phrygia, and Cappadocia. He also appointed him general of the forces that mustered in the plain of the Castolus. Nothing stood out more in Cyrus's conduct than the importance he placed on honoring every treaty, agreement, or promise he made. He would not lie to anyone. No doubt this was how he won the trust of individuals and the communities in his care. Even an enemy who made a treaty with Cyrus could be sure that he would do nothing to violate its terms. So, in the war with Tissaphernes, all the states chose Cyrus over Tissaphernes of their own accord. Only the men of Miletus did not. They turned against Cyrus only because they feared him, since he refused to abandon their exiled citizens. His actions and words made his principle clear. He would never abandon those who had once become his friends, even if their numbers or fortunes declined.

He made no secret of his endeavour to outdo his friends and his foes alike in reciprocity of conduct. The prayer has been attributed to him, "God grant I may live along enough to recompense my friends and requite my foes with a strong arm." However this may be, no one, at least in our days, ever drew together so ardent a following of friends, eager to lay at his feet their money, their cities, their own lives and persons; nor is it to be inferred from this that he suffered the malefactor and the wrongdoer to laugh him to scorn; on the contrary, these he punished most unflinchingly. It was no rare sight to see on the well-trodden highways, men who had forfeited hand or foot or eye; the result being that throughout the satrapy of Cyrus any one, Hellene or barbarian, provided he were innocent, might fearlessly travel wherever he pleased, and take with him whatever he felt disposed. However, as all allowed, it was for the brave in war that he reserved especial honour. To take the first instance to hand, he had a war with the Pisidians and Mysians. Being himself at the head of an expedition into those territories, he could observe those who voluntarily encountered risks; these he made rulers of the territory which he subjected, and afterwards honoured them with other gifts. So that, if the good and brave were set on a pinnacle of fortune, cowards were recognised as their natural slaves; and so it befell that Cyrus never had lack of volunteers in any service of danger, whenever it was expected that his eye would be upon them.

He made no secret of his desire to outdo both his friends and his enemies in returning their actions. He is said to have prayed, "God grant I may live long enough to reward my friends and punish my enemies with a strong arm." Whatever the truth of this, no one in our time gathered such a devoted following of friends. They were eager to offer him their money, their cities, and their own lives and persons. But this does not mean that he let criminals and wrongdoers make a mockery of him. On the contrary, he punished them without hesitation. On the busy highways, it was common to see men who had lost a hand, foot, or eye. As a result, anyone in Cyrus's satrapy, Hellene or barbarian, could travel wherever he pleased without fear, provided he was innocent. He could also take with him whatever he wished. Everyone agreed, however, that he reserved special honor for those who were brave in war. To take one example, he fought a war against the Pisidians and Mysians. He personally led an expedition into their territories, where he could observe those who willingly faced danger. He made them rulers of the territory he conquered and later honored them with other gifts. As a result, the good and brave rose to the highest fortune, while cowards were recognized as their natural slaves. So Cyrus never lacked volunteers for dangerous service when they expected him to be watching.

So again, wherever he might discover any one ready to distinguish himself in the service of uprightness, his delight was to make this man richer than those who seek for gain by unfair means. On the same principle, his own administration was in all respects uprightly conducted, and, in particular, he secured the services of an army worthy of the name. Generals, and subalterns alike, came to him from across the seas, not merely to make money, but because they saw that loyalty to Cyrus was a more profitable investment than so many pounds a month. Let any man whatsoever render him willing service, such enthusiasm was sure to win its reward. And so Cyrus could always command the service of the best assistants, it was said, whatever the work might be.

Whenever Cyrus found someone eager to distinguish himself by acting honestly, he delighted in making him richer than those who sought gain through dishonest means. In the same spirit, Cyrus conducted his own affairs honestly in every respect. In particular, he secured the services of an army worthy of the name. Generals and junior officers alike came to him from across the seas. They came not just to make money, but because they saw that loyalty to Cyrus paid better than a monthly salary. Whoever served him willingly was sure to be rewarded for his enthusiasm. And so, it was said, Cyrus could always call on the best assistants, whatever the work might be.

Or if he saw any skilful and just steward who furnished well the country over which he ruled, and created revenues, so far from robbing him at any time, to him who had, he delighted to give more. So that toil was a pleasure, and gains were amassed with confidence, and least of all from Cyrus would a man conceal the amount of his possessions, seeing that he showed no jealousy of wealth openly avowed, but his endeavour was rather to turn to account the riches of those who kept them secret. Towards the friends he had made, whose kindliness he knew, or whose fitness as fellow-workers with himself, in aught which he might wish to carry out, he had tested, he showed himself in turn an adept in the arts of courtesy. Just in proportion as he felt the need of this friend or that to help him, so he tried to help each of them in return in whatever seemed to be their heart's desire.

If Cyrus saw a skillful and honest steward who managed his territory well and brought in revenue, he never robbed him. Instead, he delighted in giving him even more. As a result, work was a pleasure, and people could confidently build up wealth. They were least likely to hide their possessions from Cyrus. He showed no jealousy of wealth that was openly declared. Rather, he sought to make use of the riches of those who kept them secret. Cyrus was also skilled at showing kindness to his friends. He knew which friends were kind and had tested which could work with him on whatever he wished to accomplish. The more he needed a friend’s help, the more he tried to help that friend achieve whatever he most wanted.

Many were the gifts bestowed on him, for many and diverse reasons; no one man, perhaps, ever received more; no one, certainly, was ever more ready to bestow them upon others, with an eye ever to the taste of each, so as to gratify what he saw to be the individual requirement. Many of these presents were sent to him to serve as personal adornments of the body or for battle; and as touching these he would say, "How am I to deck myself out in all these? to my mind a man's chief ornament is the adornment of nobly-adorned friends." Indeed, that he should triumph over his friends in the great matters of welldoing is not surprising, seeing that he was much more powerful than they, but that he should go beyond them in minute attentions, and in an eager desire to give pleasure, seems to me, I must confess, more admirable. Frequently when he had tasted some specially excellent wine, he would send the half remaining flagon to some friend with a message to say: "Cyrus says, this is the best wine he has tasted for a long time, that is his excuse for sending it to you. He hopes you will drink it up to-day with a choice party of friends." Or, perhaps, he would send the remainder of a dish of geese, half loaves of bread, and so forth, the bearer being instructed to say: "This is Cyrus's favourite dish, he hopes you will taste it yourself." Or, perhaps, there was a great dearth of provender, when, through the number of his servants and his own careful forethought, he was enabled to get supplies for himself; at such times he would send to his friends in different parts, bidding them feed their horses on his hay, since it would not do for the horses that carried his friends to go starving. Then, on any long march or expedition, where the crowd of lookers-on would be large, he would call his friends to him and entertain them with serious talk, as much as to say, "These I delight to honour."

He received many gifts for many different reasons. Perhaps no one man ever received more. Certainly no one was ever more ready to give gifts to others. He always considered each person's tastes and tried to meet their individual needs. Many gifts were sent to him as personal ornaments or equipment for battle. Of these he would say, "How can I wear all these things? To my mind, a man's finest ornament is a circle of friends who are finely adorned." It is not surprising that he outdid his friends in great acts of generosity, since he was much more powerful than they were. But I must admit that I find it more admirable that he surpassed them in small attentions and in his eagerness to give pleasure. Often, after tasting a particularly fine wine, he would send a friend the half that remained in the flask. He would include this message: "Cyrus says this is the best wine he has tasted in a long time. That is why he is sending it to you. He hopes you will drink it today with a select group of friends." Or he might send what remained of a dish of geese, half loaves of bread, and similar things. He would instruct the bearer to say, "This is Cyrus's favorite dish. He hopes you will taste it yourself." At other times, there might be a great shortage of fodder. His many servants and his own careful planning allowed him to obtain supplies for himself. Then he would send hay to his friends in different places and tell them to feed it to their horses. For it would not do to let the horses that carried his friends go hungry. On a long march or expedition, when there would be a large crowd of onlookers, he would call his friends to him. He would engage them in serious conversation, as if to say, "These are the men I delight to honor."

So that, for myself, and from all that I can hear, I should be disposed to say that no one, Greek or barbarian, was ever so beloved. In proof of this, I may cite the fact that, though Cyrus was the king's vassal and slave, no one ever forsook him to join his master, if I may except the attempt of Orontas, which was abortive. That man, indeed, had to learn that Cyrus was closer to the heart of him on whose fidelity he relied than he himself was. On the other hand, many a man revolted from the king to Cyrus, after they went to war with one another; nor were these nobodies, but rather persons high in the king's affection; yet for all that, they believed that their virtues would obtain a reward more adequate from Cyrus than from the king. Another great proof at once of his own worth and of his capacity rightly to discern all loyal, loving and firm friendship is afforded by an incident which belongs to the last moment of his life. He was slain, but fighting for his life beside him fell also every one of his faithful bodyguard of friends and table-companions, with the sole exception of Ariaeus, who was in command of the cavalry on the left, and he no sooner perceived the fall of Cyrus than he betook himself to flight, with the whole body of troops under his lead.

From my own experience and everything I have heard, I am inclined to say that no one, Greek or barbarian, was ever so loved. One fact supports this. Though Cyrus was the king's vassal and slave, no one ever left him to join the king. The only exception was Orontas, whose attempt failed. Orontas learned that the man whose loyalty he had counted on cared more for Cyrus than for him. On the other hand, after Cyrus and the king went to war, many men left the king for Cyrus. These were not nobodies, but men whom the king held in high regard. Even so, they believed Cyrus would reward their virtues more fully than the king would. An incident at the very end of Cyrus's life offers further strong proof of his worth. It also shows how well he could recognize loyal, loving, and steadfast friendship. When he was killed, every member of his faithful bodyguard of friends and dining companions fell fighting beside him. The only exception was Ariaeus, who commanded the cavalry on the left. As soon as he saw Cyrus fall, Ariaeus fled with all the troops under his command.