And there is a tale told of
Cyrus, the most famous prince, I need not tell you, who ever wore a
crown, [11] how on one occasion he said to those who had been called
to receive the gifts, "it were no injustice, if he himself received the
gifts due to warriors and tillers of the soil alike," for "did he not
carry off the palm in stocking the country and also in protecting the
goods with which it had been stocked?"

[11] Lit. "the most glorious king that ever lived." The remark would
seem to apply better to Cyrus the Great. Nitsche and others regard
these SS. 18, 19 as interpolated. See Schenkl ad loc.

Crit. Which clearly shows, Socrates, if the tale be true, that this same
Cyrus took as great a pride in fostering the productive energies of
his country and stocking it with good things, as in his reputation as a
warrior.

Soc. Why, yes indeed, had Cyrus lived, I have no doubt he would have
proved the best of rulers, and in support of this belief, apart from
other testimony amply furnished by his life, witness what happened when
he marched to do battle for the sovereignty of Persia with his brother.
Not one man, it is said, [12] deserted from Cyrus to the king, but
from the king to Cyrus tens of thousands. And this also I deem a great
testimony to a ruler's worth, that his followers follow him of their own
free will, and when the moment of danger comes refuse to part from him.
[13] Now this was the case with Cyrus. His friends not only fought their
battles side by side with him while he lived, but when he died they too
died battling around his dead body, one and all, excepting only Ariaeus,
who was absent at his post on the left wing of the army. [14] But there
is another tale of this same Cyrus in connection with Lysander, who
himself narrated it on one occasion to a friend of his in Megara. [15]

[12] Cf. "Anab." I. ix. 29 foll.

[13] Cf. "Hiero," xi. 12, and our author passim.

[14] See "Anab." ib. 31.

[15] Possibly to Xenophon himself {who may have met Lysander on his
way back after the events of the "Anabasis," and implying this
dialogue is concocted, since Socrates died before Xenophon
returned to Athens, if he did return at that period.}

Lysander, it seems, had gone with presents sent by the Allies to Cyrus,
who entertained him, and amongst other marks of courtesy showed him his
"paradise" at Sardis. [16] Lysander was astonished at the beauty of the
trees within, all planted [17] a