Book 8
4.30
And they apportioned all the rest, each officer examining into the merits of his subordinate officers; and what was left to the last, the corporals, inquiring into the merits of the private soldiers under their command, gave to each according to his deserts. And so all were in receipt of their fair share.
4.31
And when they had received what was then given them, some spoke concerning Cyrus in this vein: He must be keeping an abundance himself, one would think, seeing that he has given so much to each one of us. Abundance, indeed! some others would say; Cyrus is not of the sort to make money for himself; he takes more pleasure in giving than in keeping.
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.
