n to the army was an adornment to
himself.

[7] At every distribution he would take occasion to address the officers
and all whom he chose to honour in some such words as these: "My
friends, the god of mirth must be with us to-day: we have found a source
of plenty, and we have the wherewithal to honour whom we wish and as
they may deserve. [8] Let us call to mind, all of us, the only way
in which these blessings can be won. We shall find it is by toil, and
watchfulness, and speed, and the resolve never to yield to our foes.
After this pattern must we prove ourselves to be men, knowing that
all high delights and all great joys are only gained by obedience and
hardihood, and through pains endured and dangers confronted in their
proper season."

[9] But presently, when Cyrus saw that his men were strong enough for
all the work of war, and bold enough to meet their enemies with scorn,
expert and skilful in the use of the weapons each man bore, and all of
them perfect in obedience and discipline, the desire grew in his heart
to be up and doing and achieve something against the foe. He knew well
how often a general has found delay ruin his fairest armament. [10] He
noticed, moreover, that in the eagerness of rivalry and the strain of
competition many of the soldiers grew jealous of each other; and for
this, if for no other reason, he desired to lead them into the enemy's
country without delay, feeling that common dangers awaken comradeship
among those who are fighting in a common cause, and then all such
bickerings cease, and no man is galled by the splendour of his comrade's
arms, or the passion of his desire for glory: envy is swallowed up
in praise, and each competitor greets his rivals with delight as
fellow-workers for the common good.

[11] Therefore Cyrus ordered his whole force to assemble under arms, and
drew them up into battle-array, using all his skill to make the display
a wonder of beauty and perfection. Then he summoned his chief officers,
his generals, his brigadiers, and his company-captains. These men were
not bound to be always in the ranks, and some were always free to
wait on the commander-in-chief or carry orders along the lines without
leaving the troops unofficered: for the captains-of-twelve and the
captains-of-six stepped into the gaps, and absolute order was preserved.
[12] So Cyrus assembled his staff and led them along the lines, pointing
out the merits of the combined forces and the special st