generals were to be allowed
access, and as soon as they were admitted he said:

[42] "My friends, we cannot exclaim against the gods as though they had
failed to fulfil our prayers. They have granted all we asked. But if
success means that a man must forfeit his own leisure and the good
company of all his friends, why, to that kind of happiness I would
rather bid farewell. [43] Yesterday," he added, "I make no doubt you
observed yourselves that from early dawn till late evening I never
ceased listening to petitioners, and to-day you see this crowd before
us, larger still than yesterday's, ready with business for me. [44] If
this must be submitted to, I calculate that what you will get of me
and I of you will be little enough, and what I shall get of myself will
simply be nothing at all. Further," he added, "I foresee another absurd
consequence. [45] I, personally, have a feeling towards you which I need
not state, but, of that audience yonder, scarcely one of them do I know
at all, and yet they are all prepared to thrust themselves in front of
you, transact their business, and get what they want out of me before
any of you have a chance. I should have thought it more suitable myself
that men of that class, if they wanted anything from me, should pay some
court to you, my friends, in the hopes of an introduction. [46] Perhaps
you will ask why I did not so arrange matters from the first, instead of
always appearing in public. Because in war it is the first business of
a commander not to be behindhand in knowing what ought to be done and
seeing that it is done, and the general who is seldom seen is apt to let
things slip. [47] But to-day, when war with its insatiable demands is
over, I feel as if I had some claim myself to rest and refreshment. I am
in some perplexity, however, as to how I can arrange matters so that
all goes well, not only with you and me, but also with those whom we are
bound to care for. Therefore I seek your advice and counsel, and I would
be glad to learn from any of you the happiest solution."

[48] Cyrus paused, and up rose Artabazus the Mede, who had claimed to be
his kinsman, and said:

"You did well, Cyrus, to open this matter. Years ago, when you were
still a boy, from the very first I longed to be your friend, but I saw
you did not need me, and so I shrank from approaching you. [49] Then
came a lucky moment when you did have need of me to be your good
messenger among the Medes with the order