as you have come, then, it seemed, the risk was over, and it would be
time to teach them what is lawful against our enemies. For at your age
we do not believe you will break out into savagery against your
fellows with whom you have been knit together since childhood in ties
of friendship and respect. In the same way we do not talk to the young
about the mysteries of love, for if lightness were added to desire,
their passion might sweep them beyond all bounds."

[35] "Then in heaven's name, father," said Cyrus, "remember that your
son is but a backward scholar and a late learner in this lore of
selfishness, and teach me all you can that may help me to overreach
the foe."

"Well," said the father, "you must plot and you must plan, whatever
the size of his force and your own, to catch his men in disorder when
yours are all arrayed, unarmed when yours are armed, asleep when yours
are awake, or you must wait till he is visible to you and you
invisible to him, or till he is labouring over heavy ground and you
are in your fortress and can give him welcome there."

[36] "But how," asked Cyrus, "can I catch him in all these blunders?"

"Simply because both you and he are bound to be often in some such
case; both of you must take your meals sometime; both of you must
sleep; your men must scatter in the morning to satisfy the needs of
nature, and, for better for worse, whatever the roads are like, you
will be forced to make use of them. All these necessities you must lay
to heart, and wherever you are weaker, there you must be most on your
guard, and wherever your foe is most assailable, there you must press
the attack."