[4] Now in the old days, doubtless, many of us ruled no one else, we were simply ruled.

But to-day you find yourselves rulers, one and all of you, some over many and some over few.

And just as you would wish your subjects to obey you, so we must obey those who are set over us.

Yet there should be this difference between ourselves and slaves; a slave renders unwilling service to his lord, but we, if we claim to be freemen, must do of our own free will that which we see to be the best.
And you will find," he added, "that even when no single man is ruler, that city which is most careful to obey authority is the last to bow to the will of her enemies.

[5] Let us listen to the words of Cyrus.