verdict. Cyrus is probably left with the impression that his verdict is wrong only because
of a kind of procedural technicality; namely, that he was not authorized with the power to
set aside justice in favor of the good. It cannot be lost on the precocious and observant
child that if one such as himself who desires to do good to friends must acquire power so
as to be able to break the law with impunity when the law prevents him from doing good.
No procedural technicality will be able to stop Cyrus once he acquires an army and an
empire.
The beating is important because it likely confirms Cyrus’ suspicion that in the
face of someone who knows the good, no persuasive argument can be made. Both the
beating and the lecture suggest to Cyrus that reason cannot truly find fault with his
decision. Xenophon in effect prompts the reader to wonder: Given the fact that that it is
surely better for both boys to possess coats that fit them, can reason muster any
arguments against Cyrus’ verdict? Can the rule of law be defended even when it clearly
produces suboptimal outcomes? Apart from lecturing him on procedural technicalities,
the beating Cyrus receives suggests that the Persians either cannot muster such arguments
or are unwilling to do so. Regardless, their inability to persuade Cyrus is unfortunate for
them, as the young man likely draws the lesson that no rational argument against his
verdict exists.
Seeing no reason to obey the law, Cyrus goes on to make a career of
ignoring and subverting it when he thinks his will produces a better result than the law
(7.4.13). One wonders whether Xenophon agrees with Cyrus’ view that rule by law is at
bottom indefensible, especially in light of one like himself who possesses the requisite
knowledge of the good to become a kind of “seeing law.”
Based on the Cyropaedia, there are two reasons to suspect that unlike Cyrus
Xenophon thought that there is much to be said for the rule of law even when it produces
14
Phillips, "Xenophon's Cyropaedia and the Problem of Extraordinary Political Leadership,",, 162.
9
Convention