s evil:
better empty walls than traitors who will bring it to the ground.

[27] "And be sure, my friends," he added, "the removal of the bad means
a benefit beyond the sheer relief that they are taken away and will
trouble us no more: those who are left and were ripe for contagion are
purified, and those who were worthy will cleave to virtue all the closer
when they see the dishonour that falls on wickedness."

[28] So Cyrus spoke, and his words won the praise of all his friends,
and they set themselves to do as he advised.

But after that Cyrus began to jest again. His eye fell on a certain
captain who had chosen for his comrade at the feast a great hairy lad, a
veritable monster of ugliness, and Cyrus called to the captain by name:
"How now, Sambulas? Have you adopted the Hellenic fashion too? And
will you roam the world together, you and the lad who sits beside you,
because there is none so fair as he?" "By heaven," answered Sambulas,
"you are not far wrong. It is bliss to me to feast my eyes upon him."
[29] At that all the guests turned and looked on the young man's
face, but when they saw how ugly it was, they could not help laughing
outright. "Heavens, Sambulas, tell us the valiant deed that knit your
souls together! How has he drawn you to himself?" [30] "Listen then," he
answered, "and I will tell you the whole truth. Every time I call
him, morning, noon, or night, he comes to me; never yet has he excused
himself, never been too busy to attend; and he comes at a run, he does
not walk. Whatever I have bidden him do, he has always done it, and at
the top of his speed. He has made all the petty captains under him the
very models of industry; he shows them, not by word but deed, what they
ought to be." [31] "And so," said another, "for all these virtues you
give him, I take it, the kiss of kinship?" But the ugly lad broke out:
"Not he! He has no great love for work. And to kiss me, if it came to
that, would mean more effort than all his exercises."

[C.3] So the hours passed in the general's tent, from grave to gay,
until at last the third libation was poured out, and the company bent
in prayer to the gods--"Grant us all that is good"--and so broke up, and
went away to sleep.

But the next day Cyrus assembled the soldiers in full conclave, and
spoke to them: [2] "My men," he said, "my friends, the day of struggle
is at hand, and the enemy are near. The prizes of victory, if victory
is to be ours--and we must be