Nor did he assign the honourable place to one friend for all time; he made it a law that by good deeds a man might rise into a higher seat or through sloth descend into a lower; and he would have felt ashamed if it were not known that the guest most honoured at his table received most favours at his hands.

These customs that arose in the reign of Cyrus continue to our time, as we can testify.
[6] While they were at the feast that day it struck Gobryas that though there was nothing surprising in the abundance and variety at the table of one who was lord over so vast an empire, yet it was strange that Cyrus, who had done such mighty deeds, should never keep any dainty for himself, but must always be at pains to share it with the company.

More than once also he saw Cyrus send off to an absent friend some dish that had chanced to please him.

[7] So that by the time they had finished their meal all the viands had been given away by Cyrus, and the board was bare.
Then Gobryas said, "Truly, Cyrus, until to-day I used to think it was in generalship that you outshone other men the most, but, by heaven! I say now it is not in generalship at all, it is generosity." [8] "Maybe," said Cyrus, "at least I take far more pride in this work than in the other." "How can that be ?" asked Gobryas.
"Because," said he, "the one does good to man and the other injury." [9] Presently as the wine went round and round, Hystaspas turned to Cyrus and said: "Would you be angry, Cyrus, if I asked something I long to know ?" "On the contrary," answered Cyrus, "I should be vexed if I saw you silent when you longed to ask." "Tell me then," said the other, "have you ever called me and found I refused to come ?" "What a question!" said Cyrus, "of course not." "Well, have I ever been slow in coming ?" "No, never." "Or failed to do anything you ordered ?" "No," said Cyrus, "I have no fault to find at all." "Whatever I had to do, I always did it eagerly and with all my heart, did I not ?" "Most assuredly," answered Cyrus.
[10] "Then why, Cyrus, why, in heaven's name, have you singled out Chrysantas for a more honourable seat than me ?" "Shall I really tell you ?" asked Cyrus in his turn.
"By all means," said the other.
"And you will not be annoyed if I tell you the plain truth ?" [11] "On the contrary, it will comfort me to know I have not been wronged." "Well, then, Chrysantas never waited to be called; he came of his own accord on our behalf, and he made it his business to do, not merely what he was ordered, but whatever he thought would help us.

When something had to be said to the allies, he would not only suggest what was fitting for me to say myself, he would guess what I wanted the allies to know but could not bring myself to utter, since it was about myself, and he would say it for me as though it were his own opinion; in fact, for everything of the kind he was nothing less to me than a second and a better self.