cyropaedia-第7节

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！


behaviour　was　strange；　he　could　not　forbear　riding　round　alone　to　look
into　the　faces　of　the　slain；　and　those　whose　duty　it　was　could　hardly
drag　him　away　to　lead　him　to　Astyages：　indeed；　the　youth　was　glad
enough　to　keep　them　as　a　screen　between　himself　and　the　king；　for　he
saw　that　the　countenance　of　his　grandfather　grew　stern　at　the　sight　of
him。

＇25＇　So　matters　passed　in　Media：　and　more　and　more　the　name　of　Cyrus
was　on　the　lip　of　every　man；　in　song　and　story　everywhere；　and
Astyages；　who　had　always　loved　him；　was　astonished　beyond　all　measure
at　the　lad。　Meanwhile　his　father；　Cambyses；　rejoiced　to　hear　such
tidings　of　his　son；　but；　when　he　heard　that　he　was　already　acting　like
a　man　of　years；　he　thought　it　full　time　to　call　him　home　again　that　he
might　complete　his　training　in　the　discipline　of　his　fatherland。　The
story　tells　how　Cyrus　answered　the　summons；　saying　he　would　rather
return　home　at　once　so　that　his　father　might　not　be　vexed　or　his
country　blame　him。　And　Astyages；　too；　thought　it　his　plain　duty　to
send　the　boy　back；　but　he　must　needs　give　him　horses　to　take　with　him；
as　many　as　he　would　care　to　choose；　and　other　gifts　beside；　not　only
for　the　love　he　bore　him　but　for　the　high　hopes　he　had　that　the　boy
would　one　day　prove　a　man　of　mark；　a　blessing　to　his　friends；　and　a
terror　to　his　foes。　And　when　the　time　came　for　Cyrus　to　go；　the　whole
world　poured　out　to　speed　him　on　his　journeylittle　children　and　lads
of　his　own　age；　and　grown　men　and　greybeards　on　their　steeds；　and
Astyages　the　king。　And；　so　says　the　chronicle；　the　eyes　of　none　were
dry　when　they　turned　home　again。　＇26＇　Cyrus　himself；　they　tell　us；
rode　away　in　tears。　He　heaped　gifts　on　all　his　comrades；　sharing　with
them　what　Astyages　had　given　to　himself；　and　at　last　he　took　off　the
splendid　Median　cloak　he　wore　and　gave　it　to　one　of　them；　to　tell　him；
plainer　than　words　could　say；　how　his　heart　clung　to　him　above　the
rest。　And　his　friends；　they　say；　took　the　gifts　he　gave　them；　but　they
brought　them　all　back　to　Astyages；　who　sent　them　to　Cyrus　again。　But
once　more　Cyrus　sent　them　back　to　Media　with　this　prayer　to　his
grandfather：〃If　you　would　have　me　hold　my　head　up　when　I　come　back
to　you　again；　let　my　friends　keep　the　gifts　I　gave　them。〃　And　Astyages
did　as　the　boy　asked。

＇27＇　And　here；　if　a　tale　of　boyish　love　is　not　out　of　place；　we　might
tell　how；　when　Cyrus　was　just　about　to　depart　and　the　last　good…byes
were　being　said；　each　of　his　kinsmen　in　the　Persian　fashionand　to
this　day　the　custom　holds　in　Persiakissed　him　on　the　lips　as　they
bade　him　god…speed。　Now　there　was　a　certain　Mede；　as　beautiful　and
brave　a　man　as　ever　lived；　who　had　been　enamoured　of　Cyrus　for　many　a
long　day；　and；　when　he　saw　the　kiss；　he　stayed　behind；　and　after　the
others　had　withdrawn　he　went　up　to　Cyrus　and　said；　〃Me；　and　me　alone；
of　all　your　kindred；　Cyrus；　you　refuse　to　recognize？〃　And　Cyrus
answered；　〃What；　are　you　my　kinsman　too？〃　〃Yes；　assuredly；〃　the　other
answered；　and　the　lad　rejoined；　〃Ah；　then；　that　is　why　you　looked　at
me　so　earnestly；　and　I　have　seen　you　look　at　me　like　that；　I　think；
more　than　once　before。〃　〃Yes；〃　answered　the　Mede；　〃I　have　often　longed
to　approach　you；　but　as　often；　heaven　knows；　my　heart　failed　me。〃　〃But
why　should　that　be；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃seeing　you　are　my　kinsman？〃　And　with
the　word；　he　leant　forward　and　kissed　him　on　the　lips。　＇28＇　Then　the
Mede；　emboldened　by　the　kiss；　took　heart　and　said；　〃So　in　Persia　it　is
really　the　custom　for　relatives　to　kiss？〃　〃Truly　yes；〃　answered　Cyrus；
〃when　we　see　each　other　after　a　long　absence；　or　when　we　part　for　a
journey。〃　〃Then　the　time　has　come；〃　said　the　other；　〃to　give　me　a
second　kiss；　for　I　must　leave　you　now。〃　With　that　Cyrus　kissed　him
again　and　so　they　parted。　But　the　travellers　were　not　far　on　their　way
when　suddenly　the　Mede　came　galloping　after　them；　his　charger　covered
with　foam。　Cyrus　caught　sight　of　him：〃You　have　forgotten　something？
There　is　something　else　you　wanted　to　say？〃　〃No；〃　said　the　Mede；　〃it
is　only　such　a　long；　long　while　since　we　met。〃　〃Such　a　little；　little
while　you　mean；　my　kinsman；〃　answered　Cyrus。　〃A　little　while！〃
repeated　the　other。　〃How　can　you　say　that？　Cannot　you　understand　that
the　time　it　takes　to　wink　is　a　whole　eternity　if　it　severs　me　from　the
beauty　of　your　face？〃

Then　Cyrus　burst　out　laughing　in　spite　of　his　own　tears；　and　bade　the
unfortunate　man　take　heart　of　grace　and　be　gone。　〃I　shall　soon　be　back
with　you　again；　and　then　you　can　stare　at　me　to　your　heart's　content；
and　never　wink　at　all。〃

＇C。5＇　Thus　Cyrus　left　his　grandfather's　court　and　came　home　to　Persia；
and　there；　so　it　is　said；　he　spent　one　year　more　as　a　boy　among　boys。
At　first　the　lads　were　disposed　to　laugh　at　him；　thinking　he　must　have
learnt　luxurious　ways　in　Media；　but　when　they　saw　that　he　could　take
the　simple　Persian　food　as　happily　as　themselves；　and　how；　whenever
they　made　good　cheer　at　a　festival；　far　from　asking　for　any　more
himself　he　was　ready　to　give　his　own　share　of　the　dainties　away；　when
they　saw　and　felt　in　this　and　in　other　things　his　inborn　nobleness　and
superiority　to　themselves；　then　the　tide　turned　and　once　more　they
were　at　his　feet。

And　when　this　part　of　his　training　was　over；　and　the　time　was　come　for
him　to　join　the　younger　men；　it　was　the　same　tale　once　more。　Once　more
he　outdid　all　his　fellows；　alike　in　the　fulfilment　of　his　duty；　in　the
endurance　of　hardship；　in　the　reverence　he　showed　to　age；　and　the
obedience　he　paid　to　authority。

＇2＇　Now　in　the　fullness　of　time　Astyages　died　in　Media；　and　Cyaxares
his　son；　the　brother　of　Cyrus'　mother；　took　the　kingdom　in　his　stead。
By　this　time　the　king　of　Assyria　had　subdued　all　the　tribes　of　Syria；
subjugated　the　king　of　Arabia；　brought　the　Hyrcanians　under　his　rule；
and　was　holding　the　Bactrians　in　siege。　Therefore　he　came　to　think
that；　if　he　could　but　weaken　the　power　of　the　Medes；　it　would　be　easy
for　him　to　extend　his　empire　over　all　the　nations　round　him；　since　the
Medes　were；　without　doubt；　the　strongest　of　them　all。　＇3＇　Accordingly
he　sent　his　messengers　to　every　part　of　his　dominions：　to　Croesus；
king　of　Lydia；　to　the　king　of　Cappadocia；　to　both　the　Phrygias；　to　the
Paphlagonians　and　the　Indians；　to　the　Carians　and　the　Cilicians。　And
he　bade　them　spread　slanders　abroad　against　the　Persians　and　the
Medes；　and　say　moreover　that　these　were　great　and　mighty　kingdoms
which　had　come　together　and　made　alliance　by　marriage　with　one
another；　and　unless　a　man　should　be　beforehand　with　them　and　bring
down　their　power　it　could　not　be　but　that　they　would　fall　on　each　of
their　neighbours　in　turn　and　subdue　them　one　by　one。　So　the　nations
listened　to　the　messengers　and　made　alliance　with　the　king　of　Assyria：
some　were　persuaded　by　what　he　said　and　others　were　won　over　by　gifts
and　gold；　for　the　riches　of　the　Assyrian　were　great。　＇4＇　Now　Cyaxares；
the　son　of　Astyages；　was　aware　of　these　plots　and　preparations；　and　he
made　ready　on　his　side；　so　far　as　in　him　lay；　sending　word　to　the
Persian　state　and　to　Cambyses　the　king；　who　had　his　sister　to　wife。
And　he　sent　to　Cyrus　also；　begging　him　to　come　with　all　speed　at　the
head　of　any　force　that　might　be　furnished；　if　so　be　the　Council　of
Persia　would　give　him　men…at…arms。　For　by　this　time　Cyrus　had
accomplished　his　ten　years　among　the　youths　and　was　now　enrolled　with
the　grown　men。　＇5＇　He　was　right　willing　to　go；　and　the　Council　of
Elders　appointed　him　to　command　the　force　for　Media。　They　bade　him
choose　two　hundred　men　among　the　Peers；　each　of　them　to　choose　four
others　from　their　fellows。　Thus　was　formed　a　body　of　a　thousand　Peers：
and　each　of　the　thousand　had　orders　to　raise　thirty　men　from　the
commonsten　targeteers；　ten　slingers；　and　ten　archersand　thus　three
regiments　were　levied；　10；000　archers；　10；000　slingers；　and　10；000
targeteers；　over　and　above　the　thousand　Peers。　The　whole　force　was　to
be　put　under　the　command　of　Cyrus。　＇6＇　As　soon　as　he　was　appointed；
his　first　act　had　been　to　offer　sacrifice；　and　when　the　omens　were
favourable　he　had　chosen　his　two　hundred　Peers；　and　each　of　them　had
chosen　their　four　comrades。　Then　he　called　the　whole　body　together；
and　for　the　first　time　spoke　to　them　as　follows：

＇7＇　〃My　friends；　I　have　chosen　you　for　this　work；　but　this　is　not　the
first　time　that　I　have　formed　my　opinion　of　your　worth：　from　my
boyhood　I　have　watched　your　zeal　for　all　that　our　country　holds　to　be
honourable　and　your　abhorrence　for　all　that　she　counts　base。　And　I
wish　to　tell　you　plainly　why　I　accepted　this　office　myself　and　why　I
ask　your　help。　＇8＇　I　have　long　felt　sure　that　our　forefathers　were　in
their　time　as　good　men　as　we。　For　their　lives　were　one　long　effort
towards　the　self…same　deeds　of　valour　as　are　held　in　honour　now；　and
still；　for　all　their　worth；　I　fail　to　see　what　good　they　gained　either
for　the　state　or　for　themselves。　＇9＇　Yet　I　cannot　bring　myself　to
believe　that　there　is　a　single　virtue　practised　among　mankind　merely
in　order　that　the　brave　and　good　should　fare　no　better　than　the　base
ones　of　the　earth。　Men　do　not　forego　the　pleasures　of　the　moment　to
say　good…bye　to　all　joy　for　evermoreno；　this　self…control　is　a
training；　so