l: I have seen him give such an one more than
he ever keeps for himself. [13] And now," he added, "I know that our
friends here pride themselves upon their breeding and what it has done
for them. They have been brought up to endure hunger and thirst, cold
and nakedness, and yet they are aware that we too have been trained in
the self-same school and by a better master than they: we were taught by
Necessity, and there is no teacher so good, and none so strict. [14] How
did our friends here learn their endurance? By bearing arms, weapons
of war, tools that the wit of the whole human race has made as light as
well could be: but Necessity drove us, my fellows and myself, to stagger
under burdens so heavy that to-day, if I may speak for myself, these
weapons of mine seem rather wings to lift me than weights to bear. [15]
I for one am ready, Cyrus, to enter the lists, and, however I prove, I
will ask from you no more than I deserve: I would have you believe this.
And you," he added, turning to his fellows, "you, men of the people, I
would have you plunge into the battle and match yourselves with these
gentlemen-warriors: the fine fellows must meet us now, for this is the
people's day."

[16] That is what Pheraulas said, and many rose to follow him and
support his views. And it was resolved that each man should be honoured
according to his deserts and that Cyrus should be the judge. So the
matter ended, and all was well.

[17] Now Cyrus gave a banquet and a certain brigadier was the chief
guest, and his regiment with him. Cyrus had marked the officer one
day when he was drilling his men; he had drawn up the ranks in two
divisions, opposite each other, ready for the charge. They were all
wearing corslets and carrying light shields, but half were equipped
with stout staves of fennel, and half were ordered to snatch up clods of
earth and do what they could with these. [18] When all were ready, the
officer gave the signal and the artillery began, not without effect: the
missiles fell fast on shields and corslets, on thighs and greaves. But
when they came to close quarters the men of the staves had their turn:
they struck at thighs and hands and legs, or, if the adversary stooped
and twisted, they belaboured back and shoulders, till they put the foe
to utter rout, delivering their blows with shouts of laughter and the
glee of boys. Then there was an exchange of weapons, and the other side
had their revenge: they took the staves in