In every case there was no distinction whatever between the meats for himself and for his guests.

[31] Further he always insisted that the army servants should share and share alike with the soldiers in everything, for he held that those who did such service for the army were as much to be honoured as heralds or ambassadors.

They were bound, he said, to be loyal and intelligent, alive to all a soldier's needs, active, swift, unhesitating, and withal cool and imperturbable.

Nor was that all; he was convinced that they ought also to possess those qualities which are thought to be peculiar to what we call "the better classes," and yet never despise their work, but feel that everything their commander laid upon them must be fit for them to do.
[C.2] It was the constant aim of Cyrus whenever he and his soldiers messed together, that the talk should be lively and full of grace, and at the same time do the listeners good.

Thus one day he brought the conversation round to the following theme:-- "Do you think, gentlemen," said he, "that our new comrades appear somewhat deficient in certain respects simply because they have not been educated in the same fashion as ourselves?
Or will they show themselves our equals in daily life and on the field of battle when the time comes to meet the foe ?" [2] Hystaspas took up the challenge:--"What sort of warriors they will prove I do not pretend to know, but this I do say, in private life some of them are cross-grained fellows enough.