F. M. S.





CYROPAEDIA

THE EDUCATION OF CYRUS



BOOK I

[C.1] We have had occasion before now to reflect how often democracies
have been overthrown by the desire for some other type of government,
how often monarchies and oligarchies have been swept away by movements
of the people, how often would-be despots have fallen in their turn,
some at the outset by one stroke, while whose who have maintained
their rule for ever so brief a season are looked upon with wonder as
marvels of sagacity and success.

The same lesson, we had little doubt, was to be learnt from the
family: the household might be great or small--even the master of few
could hardly count on the obedience of his little flock. [2] And so,
one idea leading to another, we came to shape our reflexions thus:
Drovers may certainly be called the rulers of their cattle and horse-
breeders the rulers of their studs--all herdsmen, in short, may
reasonably be considered the governors of the animals they guard. If,
then, we were to believe the evidence of our senses, was it not