第 9 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 14:15      字数:9322
  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
  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。
  Through friendly lands or hostile; trust me; in this business of
  supplying my troops with all they need I will always play my part。〃
  '12' 〃Well; my son;〃 the father resumed; 〃and do you remember certain
  other points which we agreed must never be overlooked?〃 〃Could I
  forget them?〃 answered Cyrus。 〃I remember how I came to you for money
  to pay the teacher who professed to have taught me generalship; and
  you gave it me; but you asked me many questions。 'Now; my boy;' you
  said; 'did this teacher you want to pay ever mention economy among the
  things a general ought to understand? Soldiers; no less than servants
  in a house; are dependent on supplies。' And I was forced to tell the
  truth and admit that not a syllable had been mentioned on that score。
  Then you asked me if anything had been taught about health and
  strength; since a true general is bound to think of these matters no
  less than of tactics and strategy。 And when I was forced to say no;
  you asked me if he had taught me any of the arts which give the best
  aid in war。 Once again I had to say no and then you asked whether he
  had ever taught me how to kindle enthusiasm in my men。 For in every
  undertaking; you said; there was all the difference in the world
  between energy and lack of spirit。 I shook my head and your
  examination went on:Had this teacher laid no stress on the need for
  obedience in an army; or on the best means of securing discipline?
  '14' And finally; when it was plain that even this had been utterly
  ignored; you exclaimed; 'What in the world; then; does your professor
  claim to have taught you under the name of generalship?' To that I
  could at last give a positive answer: 'He taught me tactics。' And then
  you gave a little laugh and ran through your list point by point:
  'And pray what will be the use of tactics to an army without supplies;
  without health; without discipline; without knowledge of those arts
  and inventions that are of use in war?' And so you made it clear to me
  that tactics and man?uvres and drill were only a small part of all
  that is implied in generalship; and when I asked you if you could
  teach me the rest of it you bade me betake myself to those who stood
  high in repute as great generals; and talk with them and learn from
  their lips how each thing should be done。 '15' So I consorted with all
  I thought to be of authority in these matters。 As regards our present
  supplies I was persuaded that what Cyaxares intended to provide was
  sufficient; and; as for the health of the troops; I was aware that the
  cities where health was valued appointed medical officers; and the
  generals who cared for their soldiers took out a medical staff; and so
  when I found myself in this office I gave my mind to the matter at
  once: and I flatter myself; father;〃 he added; 〃that I shall have with
  me an excellent staff of surgeons and physicians。〃 '16' To which the
  father made reply; 〃Well; my son; but these excellent men are; after
  all; much the same as the tailors who patch torn garments。 When folk
  are ill; your doctors can patch them up; but your own care for their
  health ought to go far deeper than that: your prime object should be
  to save your men from falling ill at all。〃 〃And pray; father;〃 asked
  Cyrus; 〃how can I succeed in that?〃 〃Well;〃 answered Cambyses; 〃I
  presume if you are to stay long in one place you will do your best to
  discover a healthy spot for your camp; and if you give your mind to
  the matter you can hardly fail to find it。 Men; we know; are forever
  discussing what places are healthy and what are not; and their own
  complexions and the state of their own bodies is the clearest
  evidence。 But you will not content yourself with choosing a site; you
  will remember the care you take yourself for your own health。〃 '17'
  〃Well;〃 said Cyrus; 〃my first rule is to avoid over…feeding as most
  oppressive to the system; and my next to work off all that enters the
  body: that seems the best way to keep health and gain strength。〃 〃My
  son;〃 Cambyses answered; 〃these are the principles you must apply to
  others。〃 〃What!〃 said Cyrus; 〃do you think it will be possible for the
  soldiers to diet and train themselves?〃 〃Not only possible;〃 said the
  father; 〃but essential。 For surely an army; if it is to fulfil its
  function at all; must always be engaged in hurting the foe or helping
  itself。 A single man is hard enough to support in idleness; a
  household is harder still; an army hardest of all。 There are more
  mouths to be filled; less wealth to start with; and greater waste; and
  therefore an army should never be unemployed。〃 '18' 〃If I take your
  meaning;〃 answered Cyrus; 〃you think an idle general as useless as an
  idle farmer。 And here and now I answer for the working general; and
  promise on his behalf that with God's help he will show you that his
  troops have all they need and their bodies are all they ought to be。
  And I think;〃 he added; 〃I know a way by which an officer might do
  much towards training his men in the various branches of war。 Let him
  propose competitions of every kind and offer prizes; the standard of
  skill will rise; and he will soon have a body of troops ready to his
  hand for any service he requires。〃 〃Nothing could be better;〃 answered
  the father。 〃Do this; and you may be sure you will watch your
  regiments at their man?uvres with as much delight as if they were a
  chorus in the dance。〃
  '19' 〃And then;〃 continued Cyrus; 〃to rouse enthusiasm in the men;
  there can be nothing; I take it; like the power of kindling hope?〃
  〃True;〃 answered his father; 〃but that alone would be as though a
  huntsman were for ever rousing his pack with the view…halloo。 At
  first; of course; the hounds will answer eagerly enough; but after
  they have been cheated once or twice they will end by refusing the
  call even when the quarry is really in sight。 And so it is with hope。
  Let a man rouse false expectations often enough; and in the end; even
  when hope is at the door; he may cry the good news in vain。 Rather
  ought he to refrain from speaking positive