have the cavalry of Media to support you, the finest in the world. I
conceive there are none of the nations round about who will not be
ready to serve you, whether to win your favour or because they fear
disaster. These are matters you must look into carefully, in concert
with Cyaxares, so that nothing should ever fail you of what you need,
and, if only for habit's sake, you should devise some means for
supplying your revenue. Bear this maxim in mind before all others--
never put off the collecting of supplies until the day of need, make
the season of your abundance provide against the time of dearth. You
will gain better terms from those on whom you must depend if you are
not thought to be in straits, and, what is more, you will be free from
blame in the eyes of your soldiers. That in itself will make you more
respected; wherever you desire to help or to hurt, your troops will
follow you with greater readiness, so long as they have all they need,
and your words, you may be sure, will carry the greater weight the
fuller your display of power for weal or woe."

[11] "Yes, father," Cyrus said, "I feel all you say is true, and the
more because as things now stand none of my soldiers will thank me for
the pay that is promised them. They are well aware of the terms
Cyaxares has offered for their help: but whatever they get over and
above the covenanted amount they will look upon as a free gift, and
for that they will, in all likelihood, feel most gratitude to the
giver." "True," said the father, "and really for a man to have a force
with which he could serve his friends and take vengeance on his foes,
and yet neglect the supplies for it, would be as disgraceful, would it
not? as for a farmer to hold lands and labourers and yet allow fields
to lie barren for lack of tillage."

"No such neglect," answered the son, "shall ever be laid at my door.