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！
＇C。5＇ And now that his expedition was completed； Cyrus sent to
Cyaxares and urged him to come to the camp in order that they might
decide best how to use the forts which they had taken； and perhaps
Cyaxares； after reviewing the army； would advise him what the next
move ought to be； or； Cyrus added to the messenger； 〃if he bids me；
say I will come to him and take up my encampment there。〃 ＇2＇ So the
emissary went off with the message； and meanwhile Cyrus gave orders
that the Assyrian tent chosen for Cyaxares should be furnished as
splendidly as possible； and the woman brought to her apartment there；
and the two singing…girls also； whom they had set aside for him。
＇3＇ And while they were busied with these things the envoy went to
Cyaxares and delivered his message； and Cyaxares listened and decided
it was best for Cyrus and his men to stay on the frontier。 The
Persians whom Cyrus had sent for had already arrived； forty thousand
bowmen and targeteers。 ＇4＇ To watch these eating up the land was bad
enough； and Cyaxares thought he would rather be quit of one horde
before he received another。 On his side the officer in command of the
Persian levy； following the instructions from Cyrus； asked Cyaxares if
he had any need of the men； and Cyaxares said he had not。 Thereupon；
and hearing that Cyrus had arrived； the Persian put himself at the
head of his troops and went off at once to join him。 ＇5＇ Cyaxares
himself waited till the next day and then set out with the Median
troopers who had stayed behind。 And when Cyrus knew of his approach he
took his Persian cavalry； who were now a large body of men； and all
the Medes； Hyrcanians； and Armenians； and the best…mounted and best…
armed among the rest； and so went out to meet Cyaxares and show the
power he had won。 ＇6＇ But when Cyaxares saw so large a following of
gallant gentlemen with Cyrus； and with himself so small and mean a
retinue； it seemed to him an insult； and mortification filled his
heart。 And when Cyrus sprang from his horse and came up to give him
the kiss of greeting； Cyaxares； though he dismounted； turned away his
head and gave him no kiss； while the tears came into his eyes。 ＇7＇
Whereupon Cyrus told the others to stand aside and rest； and then he
took Cyaxares by the hand and led him apart under a grove of palm…
trees； and bade the attendants spread Median carpets for them； and
made Cyaxares sit down； and then； seating himself beside him； he said：
＇8＇ 〃Uncle of mine； tell me； in heaven's name； I implore you； why are
you angry with me？ What bitter sight have you seen to make you feel
such bitterness？〃
And then Cyaxares answered：
〃Listen； Cyrus； I have been reputed royal and of royal lineage as far
back as the memory of man can go； my father was a king and a king I
myself was thought to be； and now I see myself riding here； meanly and
miserably attended； while you come before me in splendour and
magnificence； followed by the retinue that once was mine and all your
other forces。 ＇9＇ That would be bitter enough； methinks； from the hand
of an enemy； butO gods above us！how much more bitter at the hands
of those from whom we least deserve it！ Far rather would I be
swallowed in the earth than live to be seen so low； aye； and to see my
own kinsfolk turn against me and make a mock of me。 And well I know；〃
said he； 〃that not only you but my own slaves are now stronger and
greater than myself： they come out equipt to do me far more mischief
than ever I could repay。〃
＇10＇ But here he stopped； overcome by a passion of weeping； so much so
that for very pity Cyrus' own eyes filled with tears。 There was
silence between them for a while； and then Cyrus said：
〃Nay； Cyaxares； what you say is not true； and what you think is not
right； if you imagine that because I am here； your Medes have been
equipt to do you any harm。 ＇11＇ I do not wonder that you are pained；
and I will not ask if you have cause or not for your anger against
them： you will ill brook apologies for them from me。 Only it seems to
me a grievous error in a ruler to quarrel with all his subjects at
once。 Widespread terror must needs be followed by widespread hate：
anger with all creates unity among all。 ＇12＇ It was for this reason；
take my word for it； that I would not send them back to you without
myself； fearing that your wrath might be the cause of what would
injure all of us。 Through my presence here and by the blessing of
heaven； all is safe for you： but that you should regard yourself as
wronged by me；I cannot but feel it bitter； when I am doing all in my
power to help my friends； to be accused of plotting against them。 ＇13＇
However；〃 he continued； 〃let us not accuse each other in this useless
way； if possible； let us see exactly in what I have offended。 And as
between friend and friend； I will lay down the only rule that is just
and fair： if I can be shown to have done you harm； I will confess I am
to blame； but if it appears that I have never injured you； not even in
thought； will you not acquit me of all injustice towards you？〃
〃Needs must I；〃 answered Cyaxares。
＇14＇ 〃And if I can show that I have done you service； and been zealous
in your cause to the utmost of my power； may I not claim； instead of
rebuke； some little meed of praise？〃
〃That were only fair；〃 said Cyaxares。
＇15＇ 〃Then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃let us go through all I have done； point by
point； and see what is good in it and what is evil。 ＇16＇ Let us begin
from the time when I assumed my generalship； if that is early enough。
I think I am right in saying that it was because you saw your enemies
gathering together against you； and ready to sweep over your land and
you； that you sent to Persia asking for help； and to me in private；
praying me to come； if I could； myself； at the head of any forces they
might send。 Was I not obedient to your word？ Did I not come myself
with the best and bravest I could bring？〃
＇17＇ 〃You did indeed；〃 answered Cyaxares。
〃Tell me； then； before we go further； did you see any wrong in this？
Was it not rather a service and a kindly act？〃 〃Certainly；〃 said
Cyaxares； 〃so far as that went； I saw nothing but kindliness。〃 ＇18＇
〃Well； after the enemy had come； and we had to fight the matter out；
did you ever see me shrink from toil or try to escape from danger？〃
〃That I never did；〃 said Cyaxares； 〃quite the contrary。〃
＇19＇ 〃And afterwards； when； through the help of heaven； victory was
ours； and the enemy retreated； and I implored you to let us pursue
them together； take vengeance on them together； win together the
fruits of any gallant exploit we might achieve； can you accuse me then
of self…seeking or self…aggrandisement？〃
＇20＇ But at that Cyaxares was silent。 Then Cyrus spoke again。 〃If you
would rather not reply to that； tell me if you thought yourself
injured because； when you considered pursuit unsafe； I relieved you of
the risk； and only begged you to lend me some of your cavalry？ If my
offence lay in asking for that； when I had already offered to work
with you； side by side； you must prove it to me； and it will need some
eloquence。〃
＇21＇ He paused； but Cyaxares still kept silence。 〃Nay；〃 said Cyrus；
〃if you will no