Book 4
1.11
Why not pursue them as swiftly as possible,Pursuit proposed said one of the men; now that the good things we have let slip are so manifest to us?Because, he replied, we have not horses enough; for the best of the enemy, those whom it were most desirable either to capture or to kill, are riding off on horseback. With the help of the gods we were able to put them to flight, but we are not able to pursue and overtake them.
1.12
Then why do you not go and tell Cyaxares this? said they. Come with me, then, all of you, he answered, so that he may know that we are all agreed upon this point. Thereupon they all followed and submitted such arguments as they thought calculated to gain their object.
1.13
Now Cyaxares seemed to feel some little jealousy because the proposal came from them; at the same time, perhaps, he did not care to risk another engagement; then, too, he rather wished to stay where he was, for it happened that he was busily engaged in making merry himself, and he saw that many of the other Medes were doing the same. However that may be, he spoke as follows:Cyaxares replies
1.14
Well, Cyrus, I know from what I see and hear that you Persians are more careful than other people not to incline to the least intemperance in any kind of pleasure. But it seems to me that it is much better to be moderate in the greatest pleasure than to be moderate in lesser pleasures; and what brings to man greater pleasure than success, such as has now been granted us?
