cyropaedia-第42节

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＇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　not　answer　that　either；　tell　me　at　least　if　my　offence
lay　in　what　followed；　when　you　said　that　you　did　not　care　to　stop　your
Medes　in　their　merry…making　and　drive　them　out　into　danger；　do　you
think　it　was　wrong　in　me；　without　waiting　to　quarrel　on　that　score；　to
ask　you　for　what　I　knew　was　the　lightest　boon　you　could　grant　and　the
lightest　command　you　could　lay　on　your　soldiers？　For　I　only　asked　that
he　who　wished　it　might　be　allowed　to　follow　me。　＇22＇　And　thus；　when　I
had　won　your　permission；　I　had　won　nothing；　unless　I　could　win　them
too。　Therefore　I　went　and　tried　persuasion；　and　some　listened　to　me；
and　with　these　I　set　off　on　my　march；　holding　my　commission　from　your
own　self。　So　that；　if　you　look　on　this　act　as　blameworthy；　it　would
seem　that　not　even　the　acceptance　of　your　own　gifts　can　be　free　from
blame。　＇23＇　It　was　thus　we　started；　and　after　we　had　gone；　was　there；
I　ask　you；　a　single　deed　of　mine　that　was　not　done　in　the　light　of
day？　Has　not　the　enemy's　camp　been　taken？　Have　not　hundreds　of　your
assailants　fallen？　And　hundreds　been　deprived　of　their　horses　and
their　arms？　Is　not　the　spoiler　spoiled？　The　cattle　and　the　goods　of
those　who　harried　your　land　are　now　in　the　hands　of　your　friends；　they
are　brought　to　you；　or　to　your　subjects。　＇24＇　And；　above　all　and
beyond　all；　you　see　your　own　country　growing　great　and　powerful　and
the　land　of　your　enemy　brought　low。　Strongholds　of　his　are　in　your
power；　and　your　own　that　were　torn　from　you　in　other　days　by　the
Syrian　domination　are　now　restored　to　you　again。　I　cannot　say　I　should
be　glad　to　learn　that　any　of　these　things　can　be　bad　for　you；　or　short
of　good；　but　I　am　ready　to　listen；　if　so　it　is。　＇25＇　Speak；　tell　me
your　judgment　of　it　all。〃

Then　Cyrus　paused；　and　Cyaxares　made　answer：

〃To　call　what　you　have　done　evil；　Cyrus；　is　impossible。　But　your
benefits　are　of　such　a　kind　that　the　more　they　multiply　upon　me；　the
heavier　burden　do　they　bring。　＇26＇　I　would　far　rather；〃　he　went　on；
〃have　made　your　country　great　by　own　power　than　see　mine　exalted　in
this　way　by　you。　These　deeds　of　yours　are　a　crown　of　glory　to　you；　but
they　bring　dishonour　to　me。　＇27＇　And　for　the　wealth；　I　would　rather
have　made　largess　of　it　to　yourself　than　receive　it　at　your　hands　in
the　way　you　give　it　now。　Goods　so　gotten　only　leave　me　the　poorer。　And
for　my　subjectsI　think　I　would　have　suffered　less　if　you　had　injured
them　a　little　than　I　suffer　now　when　I　see　how　much　they　owe　you。　＇28＇
Perhaps；〃　he　added；　〃you　find　it　inhuman　of　me　to　feel　thus；　but　I
would　ask　you　to　forget　me　and　imagine　that　you　are　in　my　place　and
see　how　it　would　appear　to　you　then。　Suppose　a　friend　of　yours　were　to
take　care　of　your　dogs；　dogs　that　you　bred　up　to　guard　yourself　and
your　house；　such　care　that　he　made　them　fonder　of　him　than　of
yourself；　would　you　be　pleased　with　him　for　his　attention？　＇29＇　Or
take　another　instance；　if　that　one　seems　too　slight：　suppose　a　friend
of　yours　were　to　do　so　much　for　your　own　followers；　men　you　kept　to
guard　you　and　to　fight　for　you；　that　they　would　rather　serve　in　his
train　than　yours；　would　you　be　grateful　to　him　for　his　kindness？　＇30＇
Or　let　me　take　the　tenderest　of　human　ties：　suppose　a　friend　of　yours
paid　court　to　the　wife　of　your　bosom　so　that　in　the　end　he　made　her
love　him　more　than　yourself；　would　he　rejoice　your　heart　by　his
courtesy？　Far　from　it；　I　trow；　he　who　did　this；　you　would　say；　did　you
the　greatest　wrong　in　all　the　world。　＇31＇　And　now；　to　come　nearest　to
my　own　case；　suppose　some　one　paid　such　attention　to　your　Persians
that　they　learnt　to　follow　him　instead　of　you；　would　you　reckon　that
man　your　friend？　No；　but　a　worse　enemy　than　if　he　had　slain　a
thousand。　＇32＇　Or　again；　say　you　spoke　in　all　friendship　to　a　friend
and　bade　him　take　what　he　wished；　and　straightway　he　took　all　he　could
lay　hands　on　and　carried　it　off；　and　so　grew　rich　with　your　wealth；
and　you　were　left　in　utter　poverty；　could　you　say　that　friend　was
altogether　blameless？　＇33＇　And　I；　Cyrus；　I　feel　that　you　have　treated
me；　if　not　in　that　way；　yet　in　a　way　exactly　like　it。　What　you　say　is
true　enough：　I　did　allow　you　to　take　what　you　liked　and　go；　and　you
took　the　whole　of　my　power　and　went；　leaving　me　desolate；　and　to…day
you　bring　the　spoil　you　have　won　with　my　forces；　and　lay　it　so　grandly
at　my　feetmagnificent！　And　you　make　my　country　great　through　the
help　of　my　own　might；　while　I　have　no　part　or　lot　in　the　performance；
but　must　step　in　at　the　end；　like　a　woman；　to　receive　your　favours；
while　in　the　eyes　of　all　men；　not　least　my　faithful　subjects　yonder；
you　are　the　man；　and　II　am　not　fit　to　wear　a　crown。　＇34＇　Are　these；
I　ask　you；　Cyrus；　are　these　the　deeds　of　a　benefactor？　Nay；　had　you
been　kind　as　you　are　kin；　above　all　else　you　would　have　been　careful
not　to　rob　me　of　my　dignity　and　honour。　What　advantage　is　it　to　me　for
my　lands　to　be　made　broad　if　I　myself　am　dishonoured？　When　I　ruled　the
Medes；　I　ruled　them　not　because　I　was　stronger　than　all　of　them；　but
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　t