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CYROPAEDIA
THE EDUCATION OF CYRUS
BY
XENOPHON
Translated By
Henry Graham Dakyns
Revised By
F。 M。 Stawell
DEDICATION
To Clifton College
INTRODUCTION
A very few words may suffice by way of introduction to this
translation of the Cyropaedia。
Professor Jowett； whose Plato represents the high…water mark of
classical translation； has given us the following reminders： 〃An
English translation ought to be idiomatic and interesting； not only to
the scholar； but also to the unlearned reader。 It should read as an
original work； and should also be the most faithful transcript which
can be made of the language from which the translation is taken；
consistently with the first requirement of all； that it be English。
The excellence of a translation will consist； not merely in the
faithful rendering of words； or in the composition of a sentence only；
or yet of a single paragraph； but in the colour and style of the whole
work。〃
These tests may be safely applied to the work of Mr。 Dakyns。 An
accomplished Greek scholar； for many years a careful and sympathetic
student of Xenophon； and possessing a rare mastery of English idiom；
he was unusually well equipped for the work of a translator。 And his
version will； as I venture to think； be found to satisfy those
requirements of an effective translation which Professor Jowett laid
down。 It is faithful to the tone and spirit of the original； and it
has the literary quality of a good piece of original English writing。
For these and other reasons it should prove attractive and interesting
reading for the average Englishman。
Xenophon； it must be admitted； is not； like Plato； Thucydides； or
Demosthenes； one of the greatest of Greek writers； but there are
several considerations which should commend him to the general reader。
He is more representative of the type of man whom the ordinary
Englishman specially admires and respects； than any other of the Greek
authors usually read。
An Athenian of good social position； endowed with a gift of eloquence
and of literary style； a pupil of Socrates； a distinguished soldier；
an historian； an essayist； a sportsman； and a lover of the country； he
represents a type of country gentleman greatly honoured in English
life； and this should ensure a favourable reception for one of his
chief works admirably rendered into idiomatic English。 And the
substance of the /Cyropaedia/； which is in fact a political romance；
describing the education of the ideal ruler； trained to rule as a
benevolent despot over his admiring and willing subjects； should add a
further element of enjoyment for the reader of this famous book in its
English garb。
J。 HEREFORD。
EDITOR'S NOTE
In preparing this work for the press； I came upon some notes made by
Mr。 Dakyns on the margin of his Xenophon。 These were evidently for his
own private use； and are full of scholarly colloquialisms； impromptu
words humorously invented for the need of the moment； and individual
turns of phrase； such as the references to himself under his initials
in small letters； 〃hgd。〃 Though plainly not intended for publication；
the notes are so vivid and illuminating as they stand that I have
shrunk from putting them into a more formal dress； believing that
here； as in the best letters； the personal element is bound up with
what is most fresh and living in the comment； most characteristic of
the writer； and most delightful both to those who knew him and to
those who will wish they had。 I have； therefore； only altered a word
here and there； and added a note or two of my own （always in square
brackets）； where it seemed necessary for the sake of clearness。
F。 M。 S。
CYROPAEDIA
THE EDUCATION OF CYRUS
BOOK I
＇C。1＇ We have had occasion before now to reflect how often democracies
have been overthrown by the desire for some other type of government；
how often monarchies and oligarchies have been swept away by movements
of the people； how often would…be despots have fallen in their turn；
some at the outset by one stroke； while whose who have maintained
their rule for ever so brief a season are looked upon with wonder as
marvels of sagacity and success。
The same lesson； we had little doubt； was to be learnt from the
family： the household might be great or smalleven the master of few
could hardly count on the obedience of his little flock。 ＇2＇ And so；
one idea leading to another； we came to shape our reflexions thus：
Drovers may certainly be called the rulers of their cattle and horse…
breeders the rulers of their studsall herdsmen； in short； may
reasonably be considered the governors of the animals they guard。 If；
then； we were to believe the evidence of our senses； was it not
obvious that flocks and herds were more ready to obey their keepers
than men their rulers？ Watch the cattle wending their way wherever
their herdsmen guide them； see them grazing in the pastures where they
are sent and abstaining from forbidden grounds； the fruit of their own
bodies they yield to their master to use as he thinks best； nor have
we ever seen one flock among them all combining against their
guardian； either to disobey him or to refuse him the absolute control
of their produce。 On the contrary； they are more apt to show hostility
against other animals than against the owner who derives advantage
from them。 But with man the rule is converse； men unite against none
so readily as against those whom they see attempting to rule over
them。 ＇3＇ As long； therefore； as we followed these reflexions； we
could not but conclude that man is by nature fitted to govern all
creatures； except his fellow…man。 But when we came to realise the
character of Cyrus the Persian； we were led to a change of mind： here
is a man； we said； who won for himself obedience from thousands of his
fellows； from cities and tribes innumerable： we must ask ourselves
whether the government of men is after all an impossible or even a
difficult task； provided one set about it in the right way。 Cyrus； we
know； found the readiest obedience in his subjects； though some of
them dwelt at a distance which it would take days and months to
traverse； and among them were men who had never set eyes on him； and
for the matter of that could never hope to do so； and yet they were
willing to obey him。 ＇4＇ Cyrus did indeed eclipse all other monarchs；
before or since； and I include not only those who have inherited their
power； but those who have won empire by their own exertions。 How far
he surpassed them all may be felt if we remember that no Scythian；
although the Scythians are reckoned by their myriads； has ever
succeeded in dominating a foreign nation； indeed the Scythian would be
well content could he but keep his government unbroken over his own
tribe and people。 The same is true of the Thracians and the Illyrians；
and indeed of all other nations within our ken； in Europe； at any
rate； their condition is even now one of independence； and of such
separation as would seem to be permanent。 Now this was the state in
which Cyrus found the tribes and peoples of Asia when； at the head of
a small Persian force； he started on his career。 The Medes and the
Hyrcanians accepted his leadership willingly； but it was through
conquest that he won Syria； Assyria； Arabia； Cappadocia； the two
Phrygias； Lydia； Caria； Phoenicia； and Babylonia。 Then he established
his rule over the Bactrians； Indians； and Cilicians； over the Sakians；
Paphlagonians； and Magadidians； over a host of other tribes the very
names of which defy the memory of the chronicler； and last of all he
brought the Hellenes in Asia beneath his sway； and by a descent on the
seaboard Cyprus and Egypt also。
＇5＇ It is obvious that among this congeries of nations few； if any；
could have spoken the same language as himself； or understood one
another； but none the less Cyrus was able so to penetrate that vast
extent of country by the sheer terror of his personality that the
inhabitants were prostrate before him： not one of them dared lift hand
against him。 And yet he was able； at the same time； to inspire them
all with so deep a desire to please him and win his favour that all
they asked was to be guided by his judgment and his alone。 Thus he
knit to himself a complex of nationalities so vast that it would have
taxed a man's endurance merely to traverse his empire in any one
direction； east or west or south or north； from the palace which was
its centre。 For ourselves； considering his title to our admiration
proved； we set ourselves to inquire what his parentage might have been
and his natural parts； and how he was trained and brought up