would be to cringe before them and not to face them myself and try
conclusions with them on the field. All of them, I perceive," he
added, "beginning with our own friends here, hold to it that the ruler
should only differ from his subjects by the splendour of his banquets,
the wealth of gold in his coffers, the length and depth of his
slumbers, and his freedom from trouble and pain. But my views are
different: I hold that the ruler should be marked out from other men,
not by taking life easily, but by his forethought and his wisdom and
his eagerness for work." [9] "True, my son," the father answered, "but
you know the struggle must in part be waged not against flesh and
blood but against circumstances, and these may not be overcome so
easily. You know, I take it, that if supplies were not forthcoming,
farewell to this government of yours." "Yes," Cyrus answered, "and
that is why Cyaxares is undertaking to provide for all of us who join
him, whatever our numbers are." "So," said the father, "and you really
mean, my son, that you are relying only on these supplies of Cyaxares
for this campaign of yours?" "Yes," answered Cyrus. "And do you know
what they amount to?" "No," he said, "I cannot say that I do." "And
yet," his father went on, "you are prepared to rely on what you do not
know? Do you forget that the needs of the morrow must be high, not to
speak of the outlay for the day?" "Oh, no," said Cyrus, "I am well
aware of that." "Well," said the father, "suppose the cost is more
than Cyaxares can bear, or suppose he actually meant to deceive you,
how would your soldiers fare?" "Ill enough, no doubt," answered he.
"And now tell me, father, while we are still in friendly country, if
you know of any resources that I could make my own?" [10] "You want to
know where you could find resources of your own?" repeated his father.
"And who is to find that out, if not he who holds the keys of power?
We have given you a force of infantry that you would not exchange, I
feel sure, for one that was more than twice its size; and you will