e lacking in gratitude
and heart.

[50] Thus Pheraulas was overjoyed to feel that he could now be quit of
anxiety for his wealth, and devote himself to his friends, while the
Sakian was delighted with all that he had and all that he could use. The
Sakian loved Pheraulas because he was for ever adding something to the
store, and Pheraulas loved the Sakian because he was willing to assume
the entire burden, and however much the cares increased he never broke
into the other's leisure. Thus those two lived their lives.

[C.4] Now Cyrus offered sacrifice and held high festival for his
victories, and he summoned to the feast those of his friends who bore
him most affection and had shown most desire to exalt him. With them
were bidden Artabazus the Mede, and Tigranes the Armenian, and the
commander of the Hyrcanian cavalry, and Gobryas. [2] Gadatas was the
chief of the mace-bearers, and the whole household was arranged as he
advised. When there were guests at dinner, Gadatas would not sit down,
but saw to everything, and when they were alone he sat at meat with
Cyrus, who took delight in his company, and in return for all his
services he was greatly honoured by Cyrus and that led to more honours
for others. [3] As the guests entered, Gadatas would show each man to
his seat, and the places were chosen with care: the friend whom Cyrus
honoured most was placed on his left hand (for that was the side
most open to attack), the second on his right, the third next to the
left-hand guest, and the fourth next to the right, and so on, whatever
the number of guests might be. [4] Cyrus thought it well it should be
known how much each man was honoured, for he saw that where the world
believes merit will win no crown and receive no proclamation, there the
spirit of emulation dies, but if all see that the best man gains most,
then the rivalry grows keen. [5] Thus it was that Cyrus marked out the
men he favoured by the seat of honour and the order of precedence. Nor
did he assign the honourable place to one friend for all time; he made
it a law that by good deeds a man might rise into a higher seat or
through sloth descend into a lower; and he would have felt ashamed if it
were not known that the guest most honoured at his table received most
favours at his hands. These customs that arose in the reign of Cyrus
continue to our time, as we can testify.

[6] While they were at the feast that day it struck Gobryas that though
there was nothing