ear or suffer
evil, this dread would never let me think too highly of myself, or
rejoice as a fool rejoices. [8] And if I die now, I leave my sons
behind me, the sons the gods have given me; and I leave my fatherland
in happiness, and my friends. Surely I may hope that men will count me
blessed and cherish my memory. [9] And now I must leave instructions
about my kingdom, that there may be no dispute among you after my death.
Sons of mine, I love you both alike, but I choose the elder-born, the
one whose experience of life is the greater, to be the leader in
council and the guide in action. [10] Thus was I trained myself, in the
fatherland that is yours and mine, to yield to my elders, my brothers or
my fellow-citizens, in the street, or in the place of meeting, or in the
assembly for debate. And thus have I trained both of you, to honour your
elders and be honoured by those who are younger than yourselves. These
are the principles that I leave with you, sanctioned by time, ingrained
in our customs, embodied in our laws. [11] The sovereignty is yours,
Cambyses; the gods have given it to you, and I also, as far as in me
lies; and to you, Tanaoxares, I give the satrapy over the Medes and the
Armenians and the Cadousians, these three; and though I leave your elder
brother a larger empire and the name of king, your inheritance will
bring you, I believe, more perfect happiness than his. [12] I ask myself
what human joy will be lacking to you: all things which gladden the
hearts of men will be yours--but the craving for what is out of reach,
the load of cares, the restless passion to rival my achievements, the
plots and counterplots, they will follow him who wears the crown,
and they are things, be well assured, that leave little leisure for
happiness. [13] And you, Cambyses, you know of yourself, without words
from me, that your kingdom is not guarded by this golden sceptre, but
by faithful friends; their loyalty is your true staff, a sceptre which
shall not fail. But never think that loyal hearts grow up by nature as
the grass grows in the field: if that were so, the same men would be
loyal to all alike, even as all natural objects are the same to all
mankind. No, every leader must win his own followers for himself, and
the way to win them is not by violence but by loving-kindness. [14] And
if you would seek for friends to stand by you and guard your throne, who
so fit to be the first of them as he who is sprung from the self