rule
who is not superior to his subjects, and he held that by imposing
such exercises as these on those about him, he would lead them to
self-control and bring to perfection the art and discipline of war. [38]
Accordingly he would put himself at the head of the hunting-parties and
take them out himself unless he was bound to stay at home, and, if he
was, he would hunt in his parks among the wild creatures he had reared.
He would never touch the evening meal himself until he had sweated for
it, nor give his horses their corn until they had been exercised, and
he would invite his own mace-bearers to join him in the chase. [39]
Therefore he excelled in all knightly accomplishments, he and those
about him, because of their constant practice. Such was the example he
set before his friends. But he also kept his eye on others, and would
single out those who worshipped noble deeds, and reward them with gifts,
and high commands, and seats at festivals, and every kind of honour.
And thus their hearts were filled with ambition, and every man longed to
outdo his fellows in the eyes of Cyrus.

[40] But we seem to learn also that Cyrus thought it necessary for the
ruler not only to surpass his subjects by his own native worth, but also
to charm them through deception and artifice. At any rate he adopted the
Median dress, and persuaded his comrades to do likewise; he thought it
concealed any bodily defect, enhancing the beauty and stature of the
wearer. [41] The shoe, for instance, was so devised that a sole could be
added without notice, and the man would seem taller than he really was.
So also Cyrus encouraged the use of ointments to make the eyes more
brilliant and pigments to make the skin look fairer. [42] And he trained
his courtiers never to spit or blow the nose in public or turn aside
to stare at anything; they were to keep the stately air of persons
whom nothing can surprise. These were all means to one end; to make it
impossible for the subjects to despise their rulers.

[43] Thus he moulded the men he considered worthy of command by his own
example, by the training he gave them, and by the dignity of his own
leadership. But the treatment of those he prepared for slavery was
widely different. Not one of them would he incite to any noble toil, he
would not even let them carry arms, and he was careful that they should
never lack food or drink in any manly sort. [44] When the beaters drove
the wild creatures into the plain h