Kitap 3
1.12
Answer each of these questions explicitly then, said Cyrus; if any one happens to be an officer under you and does wrong, do you permit him to continue in office or do you put another in his place? I put another in his place. And what if he has great possessions—do you allow him to continue rich, or do you make him poor? I confiscate all that he may happen to possess, said he. And if you find out that he is trying to desert to the enemy, what do you do? I put him to death, said he; I may as well confess, for why should I convict myself of lying and be put him to death for that, instead of telling the truth?
1.13
Then his son, when he heard this, stripped off his turban and rent his garments, and the women cried aloud and tore their cheeks, as if it were all over with their father and they were already lost. But Cyrus bade them be silent and said: Very well, king of Armenia; so that is your idea of justice; in accordance with it, then, what do you advise us to do? Then the Armenian was silent, for he was in a quandary whether to advise Cyrus to put him to death or to propose to him a course opposite to that which he admitted he himself always took.
1.14
ButTigranes pleads his father’s case his son Tigranes put a question to Cyrus, saying: Tell me, Cyrus, since my father seems to be in doubt, may I advise you in regard to him what I think the best course for you? Now Cyrus had observed when Tigranes used to go hunting with him that there was a certain philosopher with him who was an object of admiration to Tigranes; consequently he was very eager to hear what he would say. So he bade him express his opinion with confidence.
