elf: he smiled.

And Cyrus, seeing the sombre face light up said:

"Brigadier, you are very wrong to corrupt so virtuous a man, luring him
to laughter, and that too when he is the sworn foe of gaiety."

So they talked and jested. [17] And then Chrysantas began on another
theme.

[18] "Cyrus," he said, "and gentlemen all, I cannot help seeing that
within our ranks are men of every kind, some better and some worse, and
yet if anything is won every man will claim an equal share. Now to my
mind nothing is more unfair than that the base man and the good should
be held of equal account."

"Perhaps it would be best, gentlemen," said Cyrus in answer, "to bring
the matter before the army in council and put it to them, whether,
if God grant us success, we should let all share and share alike, or
distribute the rewards and honours in proportion to the deserts of
each."

[19] "But why," asked Chrysantas, "why discuss the point? Why not simply
issue a general order that you intend to do this? Was not that enough in
the case of the competitions?"

"Doubtless," Cyrus answered, "but this case is different. The troops, I
take it, will feel that all they win by their services on the campaign
should belong to them in common: but they hold that the actual command
of the expedition was mine by right even before we left home, so that I
was fully entitled, on their view, to appoint umpires and judges at my
own will."

[20] "And do you really expect," asked Chrysantas, "that the mass of the
army will pass a resolution giving up the right of all to an equal share
in order that the best men should receive the most?"

"Yes, I do," said Cyrus, "partly because we shall be there to argue for
that course, but chiefly because it would seem too base to deny that
he who works the hardest and does most for the common good deserves
the highest recompense. Even the worst of men must admit that the brave
should gain the most."

[21] It was, however, as much for the sake of the Peers themselves as
for any other reason that Cyrus wished the resolution to be passed.
They would prove all the better men, he thought, if they too were to be
judged by their deeds and rewarded accordingly. And this was the right
moment, he felt, to raise the question and put it to the vote, now when
the Peers were disposed to resent being put on a level with the common
people. In the end it was agreed by all the company that the question
should be raised, and that every