第 63 节
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这就是结局 更新:2021-02-20 14:16 字数:9321
sent another messenger to say he had no further need of him; and that
was the last time Da?pharnes was ever summoned。 '23' And when the next
officer rode up; in front of Da?pharnes though sent for after him;
Cyrus presented him with a horse from his train and bade one of the
mace…bearers lead it wherever he wished。 The people saw in this a high
mark of honour; and a greater crowd than ever paid their court to the
favoured man。
'24' When the procession reached the sacred precincts; sacrifice was
offered to Zeus; a whole burnt…offering of bulls; and a whole burnt…
offering of horses to the Sun; and then they sacrificed to the Earth;
slaying the victims as the Persian priests prescribed; and then to the
heroes who hold the Syrian land。 '25' And when the rites were done;
Cyrus; seeing that the ground was suitable for racing; marked out a
goal; and a course half…a…mile in length; and bade the cavalry and the
chariots match their horses against each other; tribe by tribe。 He
himself raced among his Persians; and won with ease; for he was far
the best horseman there。 The winner among the Medes was Artabazus; the
horse he rode being a gift from Cyrus。 The Syrian race was won by
their chieftain; the Armenian by Tigranes; the Hyrcanian by the
general's son; and the Sakian by a private soldier who left all his
rivals half the course behind him。
'26' Cyrus; so the story says; asked the young man if he would take a
kingdom for his horse。
〃No kingdom for me;〃 answered the soldier; 〃but I would take the
thanks of a gallant fellow。〃
'27' 〃Well;〃 said Cyrus; 〃I would like to show you where you could
hardly fail to hit one; even if you shut your eyes。〃
〃Be so good as to show me now;〃 said the Sakian; 〃and I will take aim
with this clod;〃 picking up one from the ground。
'28' Then Cyrus pointed to a group of his best friends; and the other
shut his eyes and flung the clod; and it struck Pheraulas as he
galloped by; bearing some message from Cyrus。 But he never so much as
turned; flashing past on his errand。 '29' Then the Sakian opened his
eyes and asked whom he had hit?
〃Nobody; I assure you;〃 said Cyrus; 〃who is here。〃
〃And nobody who is not; of course;〃 said the young man。
〃Oh yes; you did;〃 answered Cyrus; 〃you hit that officer over there
who is riding so swiftly paste the chariot…lines。〃
'30' 〃And how is it;〃 asked the other; 〃that he does not even turn his
head?〃
〃Half…witted; probably;〃 said Cyrus。
Whereat the young man rode off to see who it was; and found Pheraulas;
with his chin and beard all begrimed and bloody; gore trickling from
his nostrils were the clod had struck him。 '31' The Sakian cried out
to know if he was hit。
〃As you see;〃 answered Pheraulas。
〃Then;〃 said the other; 〃let me give you my horse。〃
〃But why?〃 asked Pheraulas。
And so the Sakian had to tell him all about the matter; adding; 〃And
after all; you see; I did not miss a gallant fellow。〃
'32' 〃Ah;〃 said Pheraulas; 〃if you had been wise; you would have
chosen a richer one; but I take your gift with all my thanks。 And I
pray the gods;〃 he added; 〃who let me be your target; to help me now
and see that you may never regret your gift。 For the present; mount my
horse yourself and ride back; I will be with you shortly。〃
So they exchanged steeds and parted。
The winner of the Cadousian race was Rathines。
'33' Then followed chariot…races; tribe by tribe as before: and to all
the winners Cyrus gave goblets of price; and oxen; that they might
have the wherewithal for sacrifice and feasting。 He himself took an ox
for his own meed; but he gave all the goblets to Pheraulas to show his
approval of the arrangements for the march。 '34' And the manner of
that procession; then first established by Cyrus; continues to this
day; the same in all things; save that the victims are absent when
there is no sacrifice。 And when it was over; the soldiers went back to
the city; and took up their quarters for the night; some in houses and
some with their regiments。
'35' Now Pheraulas had invited the Sakian who had given him the horse;
and he entertained him with the best he had; and set before him a full
board; and after they had dined he filled the goblets Cyrus had given
him; and drank to his guest; and offered them all to him。 '36' And the
Sakian looked round on the rich and costly rugs; and the beautiful
furniture; and the train of servants; and cried:
〃Tell me; Pheraulas; do you belong to wealthy folk at home?〃
'37' 〃Wealthy folk indeed!〃 cried Pheraulas; 〃men who live by their
hands; you mean。 My father; I can tell you; had work enough to rear me
and get me a boy's schooling; he had to toil hard and live sparely;
and when I grew to be a lad he could not afford to keep me idle; he
took me to a farm in the country and set me there to work it。 '38'
Then it was my turn; and I supported him while he lived; digging with
my own hands and sowing the seed in a ridiculous little plot of
ground; and yet it was not a bad bit of soil either; but as good and
as honest earth as ever you saw: whatever seed it got from me; it paid
me back again; and so prettily and carefully and duly; principal and
interest both; not that the interest was very much; I won't say it
was; though once or twice; out of pure generosity; that land gave me
twice was much as I put into it。 That's how I used to live at home; in
the old days: to…day it's different; and all that you see here I owe
to Cyrus。〃
'39' Then the Sakian cried:
〃O lucky fellow! Lucky in everything; and most of all in coming to
wealth from beggary! I know your riches must taste the sweeter;
because you hungered for them first and now are full。〃
'40' But Pheraulas answered:
〃Do you really think; my friend; that my joy in life has grown with
the growth of my wealth? Do you not know;〃 he went on; 〃that I neither
eat nor drink nor sleep with any more zest than I did when I was poor?
What I get by all these goods is simply this: I have more to watch
over; more to distribute; and more trouble in looking after more。 '41'
I have a host of servants now; one set asking me for food; another for
drink; another for clothing; and some must have the doctor; and then a
herdsman comes; carrying the carcase of some poor sheep mangled by the
wolves; or perhaps with an ox that has fallen down a precipice; or
maybe he has to tell me that a murrain has broken out among my flocks。
It seems to me;〃 Pheraulas ended; 〃that I suffer more to…day through
having much than ever I did before through having nothing。〃
'42' 〃ButHeaven help us!〃 cried the Sakian; 〃surely; when it is all
safe; to see so much of your own must make you much happier than me?〃
〃I assure you; my friend;〃 said Pheraulas; 〃the possession of riches
is nothing like so sweet as the loss of them is painful。 And here is a
proof for you: no rich man lies awake from pure joy at his wealth; but
did you ever know a man who could close his eyes when he was losing?〃
'43' 〃No;〃 said the Sakian; 〃nor yet one who could drop asleep when he
was winning。〃
'44' 〃True enough;〃 answered the other; 〃and if having were as sweet
as getting; the rich would be a thousand times more happy than the
poor。 And remember; stranger;〃 he added; 〃a man who has much must
spend much on the gods and his friends and his guests; and if he takes
intense delight in his riches; spending will cause him intense
annoyance。〃
'45' 〃Upon my word;〃 said the Sakian; 〃for myself; I am not that sort
of man at all: to have much and to spend much is just my idea of
perfect happiness。〃
'46' 〃Heavens!〃 cried Pheraulas; 〃what a chance for us both! You can
win perfect happiness now; this instant; and make me happy too! Here;
take all these things for your own; make what use of them you please;
and as for me; you can keep me as your guest; only much more cheaply
if you like: it will be quite enough for me to share whatever you have
yourself。〃
〃You are jesting;〃 said the Sakian。
'47' But Pheraulas swore with all solemnity that he spoke in earnest。
〃Yes; my friend;〃 he added; 〃and there are other matters that I can
arrange for you with Cyrus: freedom from military service or
attendance at the gates。 All you will have to do will be to stay at
home and grow rich: I will do the rest on your behalf and mine。 And if
I win any treasure through my service at court or on the field; I will
bring it home to you; and you will be lord of more; only;〃 he added;
〃you must free me from the responsibility of looking after it; for if
you give me leisure from these cares I believe you will be of great
use to Cyrus and myself。〃
'48' So the talk ended and they struck a bargain on these terms; and
kept it。 And the Sakian thought he had found happiness because he was
the master of much wealth; and the other felt he was in bliss because
he had got a steward who would leave him leisure to do what he liked
best。 '49' For the character of Pheraulas was amiable: he was a loving
comrade; and no service seemed so sweet to him or so helpful as the
service of man。 Man; he believed; was the noblest of the animals and
the most grateful: praise; Pheraulas saw; will reap counter…praise;
kindness will stir kindness