太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > cyropaedia >

第68节

cyropaedia-第68节

小说: cyropaedia 字数: 每页4000字

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!



of men will be yoursbut the craving for what is out of reach; the
load of cares; the restless passion to rival my achievements; the
plots and counterplots; they will follow him who wears the crown; and
they are things; be well assured; that leave little leisure for
happiness。 '13' And you; Cambyses; you know of yourself; without words
from me; that your kingdom is not guarded by this golden sceptre; but
by faithful friends; their loyalty is your true staff; a sceptre which
shall not fail。 But never think that loyal hearts grow up by nature as
the grass grows in the field: if that were so; the same men would be
loyal to all alike; even as all natural objects are the same to all
mankind。 No; every leader must win his own followers for himself; and
the way to win them is not by violence but by loving…kindness。 '14'
And if you would seek for friends to stand by you and guard your
throne; who so fit to be the first of them as he who is sprung from
the self…same loins? Our fellow…citizens are nearer to us than
foreigners; and our mess…mates dearer than strangers; and what of
those who are sprung from the same seed; suckled at the same breast;
reared in the same home; loved by the same parents; the same mother;
the same father? '15' What the gods have given to be the seal of
brotherhood do not make of none effect yourselves。 But build upon it:
make it the foundation for other loving deeds; and thus the love
between you shall never be overcome。 The man who takes thought for his
brother cares for his own self。 For who but a brother can win glory
from a brother's greatness? Who can be honoured as a brother can
through a brother's power? Or who so safe from injury as the brother
of the great? '16' Let no one; Tanaoxares; be more eager than yourself
to obey your brother and support him: to no one can his triumph or his
danger come so near。 Ask yourself from whom you could win a richer
reward for any kindness。 Who could give you stouter help in return for
your own support? And where is coldness so ugly as between brothers?
Or where is reverence so beautiful? And remember; Cambyses; only the
brother who holds pre…eminence in a brother's heart can be safe from
the jealousy of the world。 '17' I implore you both; my sons; by the
gods of our fathers; hold each other in honour; if you care at all to
do me pleasure: and none of you can say you know that I shall cease to
be when I cease to live this life of ours。 With your bodily eyes you
have never seen my soul; and yet you have discerned its presence
through its working。 '18' And have you never marked the terrors which
the spirits of those who have suffered wrong can send into the hearts
of their murderers; and the avenging furies they let loose upon the
wicked? Think you the honours of the dead would still abide; if the
souls of the departed were altogether powerless? '19' Never yet; my
sons; could I be persuaded that the soul only lives so long as she
dwells within this mortal body; and falls dead so soon as she is quit
of that。 Nay; I see for myself that it is the soul which lends life to
it; while she inhabits there。 '20' I cannot believe that she must lose
all sense on her separation from the senseless body; but rather that
she will reach her highest wisdom when she is set free; pure and
untrammelled at last。 And when this body crumbles in dissolution; we
see the several parts thereof return to their kindred elements; but we
do not see the soul; whether she stays or whether she departs。 '21'
Consider;〃 he went on; 〃how these two resemble one another; Death and
his twin…brother Sleep; and it is in sleep that the soul of a man
shows her nature most divine; and is able to catch a glimpse of what
is about to be; for it is then; perhaps; that she is nearest to her
freedom。 '22' Therefore; if these things are as I believe; and the
spirit leaves the body behind and is set free; reverence my soul; O
sons of mine; and do as I desire。 And even if it be not so; if the
spirit must stay with the body and perish; yet the everlasting gods
abide; who behold all things; with whom is all power; who uphold the
order of this universe; unmarred; unaging; unerring; unfathomable in
beauty and in splendour。 Fear them; my sons; and never yield to sin or
wickedness; in thought or word or deed。 '23' And after the gods; I
would have you reverence the whole race of man; as it renews itself
for ever; for the gods have not hidden you in the darkness; but your
deeds will be manifest in the eyes of all mankind; and if they be
righteous deeds and pure from iniquity; they will blazon forth your
power: but if you meditate evil against each other; you will forfeit
the confidence of every man。 For no man can trust you; even though he
should desire it; if he sees you wrong him whom above all you are
bound to love。 '24' Therefore; if my words are strong enough to teach
you your duty to one another; it is well。 But; if not; let history
teach you; and there is no better teacher。 For the most part; parents
have shown kindness to their children and brothers to their brothers;
but it has been otherwise with some。 Look; then; and see which conduct
has brought success; choose to follow that; and your choice will be
wise。 '25' And now maybe I have said enough of this。 As for my body;
when I am dead; I would not have you lay it up in gold or silver or
any coffin whatsoever; but give it back to the earth with all speed。
What could be more blessed than to lie in the lap of Earth; the mother
of all things beautiful; the nurse of all things good? I have been a
lover of men all my life; and methinks I would fain become a part of
that which does good to man。 '26' And now;〃 he added; 〃now it seems to
me that my life begins to ebb; I feel my spirit slipping away from
those parts she leaves the first。 If you would take my hand once more;
or look into my eyes while life is there; draw near me now; but when I
have covered my face; let no man look on me again; not even you; my
sons。 '27' But you shall bid the Persians come; and all our allies; to
my sepulchre; and you shall rejoice with me and congratulate me that I
am safe at last; free from suffering or sorrow; whether I am with God
or whether I have ceased to be。 Give all who come the entertainment
that is fitting in honour of a man whose life on earth was happy; and
so send them away。 '28' Remember my last saying: show kindness to your
friends; and then shall you have it in your power to chastise your
enemies。 Good…bye; my dear sons; bid your mother good…bye for me。 And
all my friends; who are here or far away; good…bye。〃

And with these words he gave his hand to them; and then he covered his
face and died。


                               EPILOGUE

'C。8' Of all the powers in Asia; the kingdom of Cyrus showed itself to
be the greatest and most glorious。 On the east it was bounded by the
Red Sea; on the north by the Euxine; on the west by Cyprus and Egypt;
and on the south by Ethiopia。 And yet the whole of this enormous
empire was governed by the mind and will of a single man; Cyrus: his
subjects he cared for and cherished as a father might care for his
children; and they who came beneath his rule reverenced him like a
father。

'2' But no sooner was he dead than his sons were at strife; cities and
nations revolted; and all things began to decay。 I can show that what
I say is true; and first I will speak of their impiety。 In the early
days; I am aware; the king and those beneath him never failed to keep
the oaths they had sworn and fulfil the promises they had given; even
to the worst of criminals。 '3' In fact; if such had not been their
character and such their reputation; none of the Hellenic generals who
marched up with the younger Cyrus could have felt the confidence they
did: they would not have trusted a Persian any more than one trusts
them to…day; now that their perfidy is known。 As it was; they relied
on their old reputation and put themselves in their power; and many
were taken up to the king and there beheaded。 And many of the Asiatics
who served in the same war perished as they did; deluded by one
promise or another。

'4' In other ways also the Persians have degenerated。 Noble
achievement in the old days was the avenue to fame: the man was
honoured who risked his life for the king; or brought a city or nation
beneath his sway。 But now; if some Mithridates has betrayed his father
Ariobarzanes; or some Reomithres has left his wife and children and
the sons of his friend as hostages at the court of Egypt; and then has
broken the most solemn of all pledgesit is they and their like who
are loaded with the highest honours; if only they are thought to have
gained some advantage for the king。 '5' With such examples before
them; all the Asiatics have turned to injustice and impiety。 For what
the leaders are; that; as a rule; will the men below them be。 Thus has
lawlessness increased and grown among them。 '6' And injustice has
grown; and thieving。 Not only criminals; but men who are absolutely
innocent are arrested and forced to pay fines for no reason
whatsoever: to be known to have wealth is more dangerous than guilt;
so that the rich do not care to have any dealings

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的