There was nothing, so the story runs, that could ever shame him more than to be outdone in courtesy.

[14] Indeed, a saying of his is handed down comparing a good king to a good shepherd--the shepherd must manage his flock by giving them all they need, and the king must satisfy the needs of his cities and his subjects if he is to manage them.

We need not wonder, then, that with such opinions his ambition was to excel mankind in courtesy and care.

[15] There was a noble illustration of his philosophy in the answer we are told he gave to Croesus, who had taken him to task, saying his lavish gifts would bring him to beggary, although he could lay by more treasures for himself than any man had ever had before.

Cyrus, it is said, asked him in return, "How much wealth do you suppose I could have amassed already, had I collected gold, as you bid me, ever since I came into my empire ?" [16] And Croesus named an enormous sum.