Kitap 8
4.32
And when Cyrus heard of these remarks and opinions about himself, he called together his friends and all his staff-officers and addressed them as follows: My friends, I have in my time seen fellowsThe use vs. the abuse of wealth who wished to have the reputation of possessing more than they had, for they supposed that they would thus be thought fine gentlemen; but to me, said he, it seems that such persons bring upon themselves the very reverse of what they wish. For if any man enjoy the reputation of having great wealth and do not appear to help his friends in a manner worthy of his abundance—that, it seems to me at least, fixes upon him the stigma of being a mean sort.ἐλευθέριος and ἀνελευθερία have both a double meaning: (1) of free or mean extraction, and (2) of free (liberal) or miserly character.
4.33
On the other hand, he continued, there are some who wish to keep it a secret how much they do possess. It seems to me, then, that these also are mean toward their friends. For oftentimes their friends are in need and, because they are ignorant of the truth, they say nothing to their comrades about their difficulties, and really suffer want.
4.34
To me, however, he went on, it seems the most straightforward way for a man to let the extent of his means be known and to strive in proportion to them to show himself a gentleman. And so I wish to show you all that I have, as far as it is possible for you to see, and to give you an account of it, in so far as it is impossible for you to see it.
4.35
With these words, he showed them manyCyrus exhibits his possessions splendid possessions and gave them an account of those that were so stored away as not to be easily viewed. And in conclusion he said:
