ime in shooting and hurling
the javelin, and practising all they learnt as boys, in one long trial
of skill. Beside this, public games are open to them and prizes are
offered; and the tribe which can claim the greatest number of lads
distinguished for skill and courage and faithfulness is given the meed
of praise from all the citizens, who honour, not only their present
governor, but the teacher who trained them when they were boys.
Moreover, these young men are also employed by the magistrates if
garrison work needs to be done or if malefactors are to be tracked or
robbers run down, or indeed on any errand which calls for strength of
limb and fleetness of foot. Such is the life of the youth. But when the
ten years are accomplished they are classed as grown men. [13] And from
this time forth for five-and-twenty years they live as follows.

First they present themselves, as in youth, before the magistrates for
service to the state wherever there is need for strength and sound sense
combined. If an expedition be on foot the men of this grade march out,
not armed with the bow or the light shield any longer, but equipped with
what are called the close-combat arms, a breastplate up to the throat,
a buckler on the left arm (just as the Persian warrior appears in
pictures), and for the right hand a dagger or a sword. Lastly, it
is from this grade that all the magistrates are appointed except the
teachers for the boys. But when the five-and-twenty years are over and
the men have reached the age of fifty years or more, then they take rank
as elders, and the title is deserved. [14] These elders no longer go on
military service beyond the frontier; they stay at home and decide all
cases, public and private both. Even capital charges are left to their
decision, and it is they who choose all the magistrates. If a youth or
a grown man breaks the law he is brought into court by the governors of
his tribe, who act as suitors in the case, aided by any other citizen
who pleases. The cause is heard before the elders and they pronounce
judgment; and the man who is condemned is disenfranchised for the rest
of his days.

[15] And now, to complete the picture of the whole Persian policy, I
will go back a little. With the help of what has been said before, the
account may now be brief; the Persians are said to number something
like one hundred and twenty thousand men: and of these no one is by
law debarred from honour or office. On the contra