Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/153

Rh Xenophon had himself taken part, and which he describes in the graphic pages of the 'Anabasis.'

Henceforth the measures of Cyrus for the consolidation of his rule over the conquered nations, and his maxims of government, are recorded. Some of these may be mentioned. His first care was to provide attached and faithful attendants about his own person. In selecting these, the principle he went upon was, to choose men who had fewest family ties, who belonged to the most despised and isolated class, and who could be most absolutely bound by obligations of favour and gratitude. And of these he formed his bureaucracy.

Next, Cyrus turned his attention to the civil business of the empire, which he arranged by a system of bureaux and departments, so as to keep a centralised control of all the ramifications of state affairs. "He was thus enabled, by speaking with a few persons only, to keep every department of business under superintendence; and he had consequently more leisure than another man who had charge but of a single house or a single ship." Having by orderly arrangement secured a certain amount of leisure both for himself and others, he proceeded to employ this in moulding the characters of the upper ranks of society. He encouraged, by many artifices, "all who were able to subsist by the labour of other men" to be in constant attendance at his court, and he set himself to be "a living law" and example of life and manners to these. Each day had its appointed religious services, under the direction of the Magi, and commenced with a