Book 7
5.39
And his attendants would admit them, making the best discrimination they could. But whenever any of his personal friends managedHis personal friends are crowded out to push their way through the throng and catch his eye, Cyrus would stretch out his hand, draw them up to him, and say: Just wait, friends, until we get rid of the crowd, and then we will enjoy each other’s company quietly. So his friends would wait, but the throng would stream in greater and greater, so that evening would set in before he had leisure to share his friends’ company.
5.40
So Cyrus would say: Gentlemen, it is now time to separate; come tomorrow morning; for I, too, have something to talk over with you.Upon hearing this, his friends gladly departed, running from his presence, for they had paid the penalty for ignoring all the wants of nature. Thus then they went to rest.
5.41
On the following day, Cyrus went to the same place and long before his friends came, there was a much greater crowd of people standing there desiring audience with him. So Cyrus stationed a large circle of Persian lancers about him and gave orders that no one should be admitted except his friends and the officers of the Persians and the allies.
5.42
And when they had come together, Cyrus addressed them as follows: Friends and allies, we cannotHe discusses organization of his court possibly find any fault with the gods that all that we wished for so far has not been fulfilled. However, if great success is to have such consequences that a man is not to be able to have some leisure for himself nor time to enjoy himself with his friends, I am ready to bid farewell to that sort of happiness.
5.43
For yesterday, too, you saw, of course, that although we began at dawn to give audience to those who came to see us, we did not get through before evening; and now you see that these others, who are here in greater numbers than came yesterday, will give us even more trouble.
