第 30 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 14:15      字数:9322
  soul。 The old centaur; I imagine; must have been for ever in
  difficulties; as a horse; he could not use the wonderful inventions of
  man; and as a man; he could not enjoy the proper pleasures of a horse。
  '20' But I; if I learn to ride; once set me astride my horse; and I
  will do all that the centaur can; and yet; when I dismount; I can
  dress myself as a human being; and dine; and sleep in my bed; like the
  rest of my kind: in short; I shall be a jointed centaur that can be
  taken to pieces and put together again。 '21' And I shall gain another
  point or so over the original beast: he; we know; had only two eyes to
  see with and two ears to hear with; but I shall watch with four eyes
  and with four ears I shall listen。 You know; they tell us a horse can
  often see quicker than any man; and hear a sound before his master;
  and give him warning in some way。 Have the goodness; therefore;〃 he
  added; 〃to write my name down among those who want to ride。〃
  '22' 〃And ours too;〃 they all cried; 〃ours too; in heaven's name!〃
  Then Cyrus spoke: 〃Gentlemen; since we are all so well agreed; suppose
  we make it a rule that every one who receives a horse from me shall be
  considered to disgrace himself if he is seen trudging afoot; be his
  journey long or short?〃
  '23' Thus Cyrus put the question; and one and all assented; and hence
  it is that even to this day the custom is retained; and no Persian of
  the gentle class would willingly be seen anywhere on foot。
  'C。4' In this debate their time was spent; and when it was past midday
  the Median cavalry and the Hyrcanians came galloping home; bringing in
  men and horses from the enemy; for they had spared all who surrendered
  their arms。 '2' As they rode up the first inquiry of Cyrus was whether
  all of them were safe; and when they answered yes; he asked what they
  had achieved。 And they told their exploits in detail; and how bravely
  they had borne themselves; magnifying it all。 '3' Cyrus heard their
  story through with a pleasant smile; and praised them for their work。
  〃I can see for myself;〃 he said; 〃that you have done gallant deeds。
  You seem to have grown taller and fairer and more terrible to look on
  than when we saw you last。〃
  '4' Then he made them tell him how far they had gone; and whether they
  had found the country inhabited。 They said they had ridden a long way;
  and that the whole country was inhabited; and full of sheep and goats
  and cattle and horses; and rich in corn and every good thing。
  '5' 〃Then there are two matters;〃 he said; 〃to which we must attend;
  first we must become masters of those who own all this; and next we
  must ensure that they do not run away。 A well…populated country is a
  rich possession; but a deserted land will soon become a desert。 '6'
  You have put the defenders to the sword; I know; and rightlyfor that
  is the only safe road to victory; but you have brought in as prisoners
  those who laid down their arms。 Now if we let these men go; I maintain
  we should do the very best thing for ourselves。 '7' We gain two
  points; first; we need neither be on our guard against them nor mount
  guard over them nor find them victuals (and we do not propose to
  starve them; I presume); and in the next place; their release means
  more prisoners to…morrow。 '8' For if we dominate the country all the
  inhabitants are ours; and if they see that these men are still alive
  and at large they will be more disposed to stay where they are; and
  prefer obedience to battle。 That is my own view; but if any one sees a
  better course; let him point it out。〃
  '9' However; all his hearers approved the plan proposed。 Thus it came
  to pass that Cyrus summoned the prisoners and said to them:
  '10' 〃Gentlemen; you owe it to your own obedience this day that your
  lives are safe; and for the future if you continue in this conduct; no
  evil whatsoever shall befall you; true; you will not have the same
  ruler as before; but you will dwell in the same houses; you will
  cultivate the same land; you will live with your wives and govern your
  children as you do now。 Moreover you will not have us to fight with;
  nor any one else。 '11' On the contrary; if any wrong is done you; it
  is we who will fight on your behalf。 And to prevent any one from
  ordering you to take the field; you will bring your arms to us and
  hand them over。 Those who do this can count on peace and the faithful
  fulfilment of our promises; those who will not; must expect war; and
  that at once。 '12' Further; if any man of you comes to us and shows a
  friendly spirit; giving us information and helping us in any way; we
  will treat him not as a servant; but as a friend and benefactor。
  This;〃 he added; 〃we wish you to understand yourselves and make known
  among your fellows。 '13' And if it should appear that you yourselves
  are willing to comply but others hinder you; lead us against them; and
  you shall be their masters; not they yours。〃
  Such were his words; and they made obeisance and promised to do as he
  bade。
  'C。5' And when they were gone; Cyrus turned to the Medes and the men
  of Armenia; and said; 〃It is high time; gentlemen; that we should
  dine; one and all of us; food and drink are prepared for you; the best
  we had skill to find。 Send us; if you will; the half of the bread that
  has been baked; there is ample; I know; for both of us; but do not
  send any relish with it; nor any drink; we have quite enough at hand。
  '2' And do you;〃 he added; turning to the Hyrcanians; 〃conduct our
  friends to their quarters; the officers to the largest tentsyou know
  where they areand the rest where you think best。 For yourselves; you
  may dine where you like; your quarters are intact; and you will find
  everything there prepared for you exactly as it is for the others。 '3'
  All of you alike must understand that during the night we Persians
  will guard the camp outside; but you must keep an eye over what goes
  on within; and see that your arms are ready to hand; our messmates are
  not our friends as yet。〃
  '4' So the Medes and Tigranes with his men washed away the stains of
  battle; and put on the apparel that was laid out for them; and fell to
  dinner; and the horses had their provender too。 They sent half the
  bread to the Persians but no relish with it and no wine; thinking that
  Cyrus and his men possessed a store; because he had said they had
  enough and to spare。 But Cyrus meant the relish of hunger; and the
  draught from the running river。 '5' Thus he regaled his Persians; and
  when the darkness fell he sent them out by fives and tens and ordered
  them to lie in ambush around the camp; so as to form a double guard;
  against attack from without; and absconders from within; any one
  attempting to make off with treasures would be caught in the act。 And
  so it befell; for many tried to escape; and all of them were seized。
  '6' As for the treasures; Cyrus allowed the captors to keep them; but
  he had the absconders beheaded out of hand; so that for the future a
  thief by night was hardly to be found。 Thus the Persians passed their
  time。 '7' But the Medes drank and feasted and made music and took
  their fill of good cheer and all delights; there was plenty to serve
  their purpose; and work enough for those who did not sleep。
  '8' Cyaxares; the king of the Medes; on the very night when Cyrus set
  forth; drank himself drunk in company with the officers in his own
  quarters to celebrate their good fortune。 Hearing uproar all about
  him; he thought that the rest of the Medes must have stayed behind in
  the camp; except perhaps a few; but the fact was that their domestics;
  finding the masters gone; had fallen to drinking in fine style and
  were making a din to their hearts' content; the more so that they had
  procured wine and dainties from the Assyrian camp。 '9' But when it was
  broad day and no one knocked at the palace gate except the guests of
  last night's revel; and when Cyaxares heard that the camp was deserted
  the Medes gone; the cavalry goneand when he went out and saw for
  himself that it was so; then he fumed with indignation against Cyrus
  and his own men; to think that they had gone off and left him in the
  lurch。 It is said that without more ado; savage and mad with anger as
  he was; he ordered one of his staff to take his troopers and ride at
  once to Cyrus and his men; and there deliver this message:
  '10' 〃I should never have dreamed that Cyrus could have acted towards
  me with such scant respect; or; if he could have thought of it; that
  the Medes could have borne to desert me in this way。 And now; whether
  Cyrus will or no; I command the Medes to present themselves before me
  without delay。〃
  '11' Such was the message。 But he who was to take it said; 〃And how
  shall I find them; my lord?〃
  〃Why;〃 said Cyaxares; 〃as Cyrus and his men found those they went to
  seek。〃
  〃I only asked;〃 continued the messenger; 〃because I was told that some
  Hyrcanians who had revolted from the enemy came here; and went off
  with him to act as guides。〃
  '12' When Cyaxares heard that; he was the more enraged to think that
  Cyrus had never told him; and the more urgent to have his Medes
  removed from him at once; and he summoned them home under fiercer
  threats than ever; threatening the officer as well if he f