It
was thus we started, and after we had gone, was there, I ask you, a
single deed of mine that was not done in the light of day? Has not the
enemy's camp been taken? Have not hundreds of your assailants fallen?
And hundreds been deprived of their horses and their arms? Is not the
spoiler spoiled? The cattle and the goods of those who harried your land
are now in the hands of your friends, they are brought to you, or to
your subjects. [24] And, above all and beyond all, you see your own
country growing great and powerful and the land of your enemy brought
low. Strongholds of his are in your power, and your own that were torn
from you in other days by the Syrian domination are now restored to you
again. I cannot say I should be glad to learn that any of these things
can be bad for you, or short of good, but I am ready to listen, if so it
is. [25] Speak, tell me your judgment of it all."

Then Cyrus paused, and Cyaxares made answer:

"To call what you have done evil, Cyrus, is impossible. But your
benefits are of such a kind that the more they multiply upon me, the
heavier burden do they bring. [26] I would far rather," he went on,
"have made your country great by own power than see mine exalted in this
way by you. These deeds of yours are a crown of glory to you; but they
bring dishonour to me. [27] And for the wealth, I would rather have made
largess of it to yourself than receive it at your hands in the way
you give it now. Goods so gotten only leave me the poorer. And for my
subjects--I think I would have suffered less if you had injured them
a little than I suffer now when I see how much they owe you. [28]
Perhaps," he added, "you find it inhuman of me to feel thus, but I would
ask you to forget me and imagine that you are in my place and see how it
would appear to you then. Suppose a friend of yours were to take care of
your dogs, dogs that you bred up to guard yourself and your house, such
care that he made them fonder of him than of yourself, would you be
pleased with him for his attention? [29] Or take another instance, if
that one seems too slight: suppose a friend of yours were to do so much
for your own followers, men you kept to guard you and to fight for
you, that they would rather serve in his train than yours, would you be
grateful to him for his kindness? [30] Or let me take the tenderest of
human ties: suppose a friend of yours paid court to the wife of your
bosom so that in the end he made her love hi