by refusing to attempt a multitude of tasks and concentrating the
mind on one.

Thus in the military training itself he gave up the practice with bow
and javelin, leaving his men to perfect themselves in the use of sabre,
shield, and corslet, accustoming them from the very first to the thought
that they must close with the enemy, or confess themselves worthless as
fellow-combatants; a harsh conclusion for those who knew that they were
only protected in order to fight on behalf of their protectors. [22] And
further, being convinced that wherever the feeling of emulation can
be roused, there the eagerness to excel is greatest, he instituted
competitions for everything in which he thought his soldiers should be
trained. The private soldier was challenged to prove himself prompt
to obey, anxious to work, eager for danger, and yet ever mindful of
discipline, an expert in the science of war, an artist in the conduct
of his arms, and a lover of honour in all things. The petty officer
commanding a squad of five was not only to equal the leading private, he
must also do what he could to bring his men to the same perfection; the
captain of ten must do the same for his ten, and the company's captain
for the company, while the commander of the whole regiment, himself
above reproach, must take the utmost care with the officers under him so
that they in their turn should see that their subordinates were perfect
in all their duties. [23] For prizes, Cyrus announced that the brigadier
in command of the finest regiment should be raised to the rank of
general, the captain of the finest company should be made a brigadier,
the captain of the finest squad of ten captain of a company, and the
captain of the best five a captain of ten, while the best soldiers from
the ranks should become captains of five themselves. Every one of these
officers had the privilege of being served by those beneath him, and
various other honours also, suited to their several grades, while ampler
hopes were offered for any nobler exploits. [24] Finally prizes were
announced to be won by a regiment or a company or a squad taken as a
whole, by those who proved themselves most loyal to their leaders and
most zealous in the practice of their duty. These prizes, of course,
were such as to be suitable for men taken in the mass.

Such were the orders of the Persian leader, and such the exercises of
the Persian troops. [25] For their quarters, he arranged that a separate