f you are to
help me, must be good yourselves and have good men at your side. [13]
Remember that I have not spoken unto you as unto slaves: what I say you
ought to do I strive to do myself. And even as I bid you follow me, so I
would have you teach those in authority under you to follow you."

[14] Such were the principles then laid down by Cyrus, and to this day
all the royal garrisons are appointed in the same manner, the gates of
all the governors are thronged in the same way, the houses, great
and small, are managed in the same fashion, everywhere the most
distinguished guests are given seats of honour, every province is
visited on the same system, and everywhere the threads of numberless
affairs are gathered into the hands of a few superiors. [15] Having
given these instructions, Cyrus assigned a body of troops to each of his
satraps, and sent them out to their provinces, bidding them to be ready
for a campaign in the new year and for a review of their soldiers, their
weapons, their horses, and their chariots. [16] And here I may notice
another custom, also instituted by Cyrus, it is said, and still in force
to-day: every year a progress of inspection is made by an officer at the
head of an army, to help any satrap who may require aid, or bring the
insolent to their senses; and, if there has been negligence in the
delivery of tribute, or the protection of the inhabitants, or the
cultivation of the soil, or indeed any omission of duty whatsoever, the
officer is there to put the matter right, or if he cannot do so himself,
to report it to the king, who decides what is to be done about the
offender. The announcements so often made, such as "the king's son is
coming down," or "the king's brother," or "the king's eye," refer to
these inspectors, but sometimes no one appears, for at any moment
the officer may be turned back at the king's command. [17] We hear of
another arrangement, devised to meet the huge size of the empire and
enable the king to learn with great celerity the state of affairs at any
distance. Cyrus first ascertained how far a horse could travel in
one day without being over-ridden, and then he had a series of
posting-stations built, one day's ride apart, with relays of horses, and
grooms to take care of them, and a proper man in charge of each station
to receive the despatches and hand them on, take over the jaded horses
and men, and furnish fresh ones. [18] Sometimes, we are told, this
post does not e