Cyropaedia (2.2.7-2.2.11)

And that young recruit, mark you, stepped ahead—of the lieutenant and marched in front of him! And when I saw it, I said: said he. said I, When he heard this, he turned about to his comrades and said: Then the men all ran past their lieutenant and came toward me.

But when the lieutenant ordered them back to their places, they were indignant and said: I took this good-naturedly, however, and when I had got them in position again, I gave instructions that no one of those behind should stir before the one in front led off, but that all should have their attention on this only—to follow the man in front.

But when a certain man who was about to start for Persia came up and asked me for the letter which I had written home, I bade the lieutenant run and fetch it, for he knew where it had been placed. So he started off on a run, and that young recruit followed, as he was, breastplate and sword; and then the whole fifty, seeing him run, ran after. And the men came back bringing the letter. So exactly, you see, does my company, at least, carry out all your orders.

O Zeus and all the gods! What sort of men we have then as our comrades; they are so easily won by kindness that we can make many of them our firm friends with even a little piece of meat; and they are so obedient that they obey even before the orders are given. I, for my part, do not know what sort of soldiers one could ask to have in preference to these!

You don’t mean to say, Cyrus, that you think what these fellows have been telling is true?

what object could they have, pray, in telling a lie?

What object, indeed,

except that they wanted to raise a laugh; and so they tell these stories and try to humbug us.