cyropaedia-第63节

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sent　another　messenger　to　say　he　had　no　further　need　of　him；　and　that
was　the　last　time　Da？pharnes　was　ever　summoned。　＇23＇　And　when　the　next
officer　rode　up；　in　front　of　Da？pharnes　though　sent　for　after　him；
Cyrus　presented　him　with　a　horse　from　his　train　and　bade　one　of　the
mace…bearers　lead　it　wherever　he　wished。　The　people　saw　in　this　a　high
mark　of　honour；　and　a　greater　crowd　than　ever　paid　their　court　to　the
favoured　man。

＇24＇　When　the　procession　reached　the　sacred　precincts；　sacrifice　was
offered　to　Zeus；　a　whole　burnt…offering　of　bulls；　and　a　whole　burnt…
offering　of　horses　to　the　Sun；　and　then　they　sacrificed　to　the　Earth；
slaying　the　victims　as　the　Persian　priests　prescribed；　and　then　to　the
heroes　who　hold　the　Syrian　land。　＇25＇　And　when　the　rites　were　done；
Cyrus；　seeing　that　the　ground　was　suitable　for　racing；　marked　out　a
goal；　and　a　course　half…a…mile　in　length；　and　bade　the　cavalry　and　the
chariots　match　their　horses　against　each　other；　tribe　by　tribe。　He
himself　raced　among　his　Persians；　and　won　with　ease；　for　he　was　far
the　best　horseman　there。　The　winner　among　the　Medes　was　Artabazus；　the
horse　he　rode　being　a　gift　from　Cyrus。　The　Syrian　race　was　won　by
their　chieftain；　the　Armenian　by　Tigranes；　the　Hyrcanian　by　the
general's　son；　and　the　Sakian　by　a　private　soldier　who　left　all　his
rivals　half　the　course　behind　him。

＇26＇　Cyrus；　so　the　story　says；　asked　the　young　man　if　he　would　take　a
kingdom　for　his　horse。

〃No　kingdom　for　me；〃　answered　the　soldier；　〃but　I　would　take　the
thanks　of　a　gallant　fellow。〃

＇27＇　〃Well；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃I　would　like　to　show　you　where　you　could
hardly　fail　to　hit　one；　even　if　you　shut　your　eyes。〃

〃Be　so　good　as　to　show　me　now；〃　said　the　Sakian；　〃and　I　will　take　aim
with　this　clod；〃　picking　up　one　from　the　ground。

＇28＇　Then　Cyrus　pointed　to　a　group　of　his　best　friends；　and　the　other
shut　his　eyes　and　flung　the　clod；　and　it　struck　Pheraulas　as　he
galloped　by；　bearing　some　message　from　Cyrus。　But　he　never　so　much　as
turned；　flashing　past　on　his　errand。　＇29＇　Then　the　Sakian　opened　his
eyes　and　asked　whom　he　had　hit？

〃Nobody；　I　assure　you；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃who　is　here。〃

〃And　nobody　who　is　not；　of　course；〃　said　the　young　man。

〃Oh　yes；　you　did；〃　answered　Cyrus；　〃you　hit　that　officer　over　there
who　is　riding　so　swiftly　paste　the　chariot…lines。〃

＇30＇　〃And　how　is　it；〃　asked　the　other；　〃that　he　does　not　even　turn　his
head？〃

〃Half…witted；　probably；〃　said　Cyrus。

Whereat　the　young　man　rode　off　to　see　who　it　was；　and　found　Pheraulas；
with　his　chin　and　beard　all　begrimed　and　bloody；　gore　trickling　from
his　nostrils　were　the　clod　had　struck　him。　＇31＇　The　Sakian　cried　out
to　know　if　he　was　hit。

〃As　you　see；〃　answered　Pheraulas。

〃Then；〃　said　the　other；　〃let　me　give　you　my　horse。〃

〃But　why？〃　asked　Pheraulas。

And　so　the　Sakian　had　to　tell　him　all　about　the　matter；　adding；　〃And
after　all；　you　see；　I　did　not　miss　a　gallant　fellow。〃

＇32＇　〃Ah；〃　said　Pheraulas；　〃if　you　had　been　wise；　you　would　have
chosen　a　richer　one；　but　I　take　your　gift　with　all　my　thanks。　And　I
pray　the　gods；〃　he　added；　〃who　let　me　be　your　target；　to　help　me　now
and　see　that　you　may　never　regret　your　gift。　For　the　present；　mount　my
horse　yourself　and　ride　back；　I　will　be　with　you　shortly。〃

So　they　exchanged　steeds　and　parted。

The　winner　of　the　Cadousian　race　was　Rathines。

＇33＇　Then　followed　chariot…races；　tribe　by　tribe　as　before：　and　to　all
the　winners　Cyrus　gave　goblets　of　price；　and　oxen；　that　they　might
have　the　wherewithal　for　sacrifice　and　feasting。　He　himself　took　an　ox
for　his　own　meed；　but　he　gave　all　the　goblets　to　Pheraulas　to　show　his
approval　of　the　arrangements　for　the　march。　＇34＇　And　the　manner　of
that　procession；　then　first　established　by　Cyrus；　continues　to　this
day；　the　same　in　all　things；　save　that　the　victims　are　absent　when
there　is　no　sacrifice。　And　when　it　was　over；　the　soldiers　went　back　to
the　city；　and　took　up　their　quarters　for　the　night；　some　in　houses　and
some　with　their　regiments。

＇35＇　Now　Pheraulas　had　invited　the　Sakian　who　had　given　him　the　horse；
and　he　entertained　him　with　the　best　he　had；　and　set　before　him　a　full
board；　and　after　they　had　dined　he　filled　the　goblets　Cyrus　had　given
him；　and　drank　to　his　guest；　and　offered　them　all　to　him。　＇36＇　And　the
Sakian　looked　round　on　the　rich　and　costly　rugs；　and　the　beautiful
furniture；　and　the　train　of　servants；　and　cried：

〃Tell　me；　Pheraulas；　do　you　belong　to　wealthy　folk　at　home？〃

＇37＇　〃Wealthy　folk　indeed！〃　cried　Pheraulas；　〃men　who　live　by　their
hands；　you　mean。　My　father；　I　can　tell　you；　had　work　enough　to　rear　me
and　get　me　a　boy's　schooling；　he　had　to　toil　hard　and　live　sparely；
and　when　I　grew　to　be　a　lad　he　could　not　afford　to　keep　me　idle；　he
took　me　to　a　farm　in　the　country　and　set　me　there　to　work　it。　＇38＇
Then　it　was　my　turn；　and　I　supported　him　while　he　lived；　digging　with
my　own　hands　and　sowing　the　seed　in　a　ridiculous　little　plot　of
ground；　and　yet　it　was　not　a　bad　bit　of　soil　either；　but　as　good　and
as　honest　earth　as　ever　you　saw：　whatever　seed　it　got　from　me；　it　paid
me　back　again；　and　so　prettily　and　carefully　and　duly；　principal　and
interest　both；　not　that　the　interest　was　very　much；　I　won't　say　it
was；　though　once　or　twice；　out　of　pure　generosity；　that　land　gave　me
twice　was　much　as　I　put　into　it。　That's　how　I　used　to　live　at　home；　in
the　old　days：　to…day　it's　different；　and　all　that　you　see　here　I　owe
to　Cyrus。〃

＇39＇　Then　the　Sakian　cried：

〃O　lucky　fellow！　Lucky　in　everything；　and　most　of　all　in　coming　to
wealth　from　beggary！　I　know　your　riches　must　taste　the　sweeter；
because　you　hungered　for　them　first　and　now　are　full。〃

＇40＇　But　Pheraulas　answered：

〃Do　you　really　think；　my　friend；　that　my　joy　in　life　has　grown　with
the　growth　of　my　wealth？　Do　you　not　know；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　I　neither
eat　nor　drink　nor　sleep　with　any　more　zest　than　I　did　when　I　was　poor？
What　I　get　by　all　these　goods　is　simply　this：　I　have　more　to　watch
over；　more　to　distribute；　and　more　trouble　in　looking　after　more。　＇41＇
I　have　a　host　of　servants　now；　one　set　asking　me　for　food；　another　for
drink；　another　for　clothing；　and　some　must　have　the　doctor；　and　then　a
herdsman　comes；　carrying　the　carcase　of　some　poor　sheep　mangled　by　the
wolves；　or　perhaps　with　an　ox　that　has　fallen　down　a　precipice；　or
maybe　he　has　to　tell　me　that　a　murrain　has　broken　out　among　my　flocks。
It　seems　to　me；〃　Pheraulas　ended；　〃that　I　suffer　more　to…day　through
having　much　than　ever　I　did　before　through　having　nothing。〃

＇42＇　〃ButHeaven　help　us！〃　cried　the　Sakian；　〃surely；　when　it　is　all
safe；　to　see　so　much　of　your　own　must　make　you　much　happier　than　me？〃

〃I　assure　you；　my　friend；〃　said　Pheraulas；　〃the　possession　of　riches
is　nothing　like　so　sweet　as　the　loss　of　them　is　painful。　And　here　is　a
proof　for　you：　no　rich　man　lies　awake　from　pure　joy　at　his　wealth；　but
did　you　ever　know　a　man　who　could　close　his　eyes　when　he　was　losing？〃

＇43＇　〃No；〃　said　the　Sakian；　〃nor　yet　one　who　could　drop　asleep　when　he
was　winning。〃

＇44＇　〃True　enough；〃　answered　the　other；　〃and　if　having　were　as　sweet
as　getting；　the　rich　would　be　a　thousand　times　more　happy　than　the
poor。　And　remember；　stranger；〃　he　added；　〃a　man　who　has　much　must
spend　much　on　the　gods　and　his　friends　and　his　guests；　and　if　he　takes
intense　delight　in　his　riches；　spending　will　cause　him　intense
annoyance。〃

＇45＇　〃Upon　my　word；〃　said　the　Sakian；　〃for　myself；　I　am　not　that　sort
of　man　at　all：　to　have　much　and　to　spend　much　is　just　my　idea　of
perfect　happiness。〃

＇46＇　〃Heavens！〃　cried　Pheraulas；　〃what　a　chance　for　us　both！　You　can
win　perfect　happiness　now；　this　instant；　and　make　me　happy　too！　Here；
take　all　these　things　for　your　own；　make　what　use　of　them　you　please；
and　as　for　me；　you　can　keep　me　as　your　guest；　only　much　more　cheaply
if　you　like：　it　will　be　quite　enough　for　me　to　share　whatever　you　have
yourself。〃

〃You　are　jesting；〃　said　the　Sakian。

＇47＇　But　Pheraulas　swore　with　all　solemnity　that　he　spoke　in　earnest。

〃Yes；　my　friend；〃　he　added；　〃and　there　are　other　matters　that　I　can
arrange　for　you　with　Cyrus：　freedom　from　military　service　or
attendance　at　the　gates。　All　you　will　have　to　do　will　be　to　stay　at
home　and　grow　rich：　I　will　do　the　rest　on　your　behalf　and　mine。　And　if
I　win　any　treasure　through　my　service　at　court　or　on　the　field；　I　will
bring　it　home　to　you；　and　you　will　be　lord　of　more；　only；〃　he　added；
〃you　must　free　me　from　the　responsibility　of　looking　after　it；　for　if
you　give　me　leisure　from　these　cares　I　believe　you　will　be　of　great
use　to　Cyrus　and　myself。〃

＇48＇　So　the　talk　ended　and　they　struck　a　bargain　on　these　terms；　and
kept　it。　And　the　Sakian　thought　he　had　found　happiness　because　he　was
the　master　of　much　wealth；　and　the　other　felt　he　was　in　bliss　because
he　had　got　a　steward　who　would　leave　him　leisure　to　do　what　he　liked
best。　＇49＇　For　the　character　of　Pheraulas　was　amiable：　he　was　a　loving
comrade；　and　no　service　seemed　so　sweet　to　him　or　so　helpful　as　the
service　of　man。　Man；　he　believed；　was　the　noblest　of　the　animals　and
the　most　grateful：　praise；　Pheraulas　saw；　will　reap　counter…praise；
kindness　will　stir　kindness