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BOOK FOURTH.

THE

FOUNDATION OF THE EMPIRE

OF THE

MEDES AND PERSIANS,

BY CYRUS.

CONTAINING THE REIGNS OF

CYRUS, CAMBYSES AND SMERDIS THE MAGIAN.

PLAN.

These three reigns will be the subject matter of the Fourth Book.

But as the two latter are very short, and contain few important facts, this book, properly speaking, may be called the History of Cyrus.

CHAPTER I.

THE HISTORY OF CYRUS.

THE history of this prince is differently related by Herodotus and Xenophon. I follow the latter, as infinitely more worthy of credit in this respect than the former. As to those facts wherein they differ, I shall briefly relate what Herodotus says of them. It is well known, that Xenophon served a long time under Cyrus the younger, who had in his troops a great number of Persian noblemen, with whom undoubtedly this writer, who was of an inquisitive mind often conversed, that he might acquaint himself by these means with the manners and customs of the Persians, with their conquests in general, but more particularly with those of the prince who had founded their monarchy, and whose history he proposed to write. This he tells us himself, in the beginning of his Cyropædia: "Having always looked upon this great man as worthy of admiration, I took a pleasure in informing myself of his birth, his natural tem per, and education, that I might know by what means he became so great a prince and herein I advance nothing but what has been related to me.

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As to what Cice says, in his first letter to his brother Quintus, "that Xenophon's design, in writing the history of Cyrus, was not so much to follow truth, as to give a model of a just government;"* this ought not to lessen the authority of that judicious historian, or make us give the less credit to what he relates. All that can be inferred from thence is, that the design of Xenophon, who was a great philosopher, as well as a great captain, was not merely to write the history of Cyrus, but to represent him as a model and example to princes, for their instruction in the art of governing, and of gaining the love of their subjects, notwithstanding the pomp and elevation of their stations. With this view he may possibly have lent his hero some thoughts, some sentiments, or discourses of his own. But the substance of the facts and events he relates are to be deemed true: and of this their conformity with the holy Scripture

* Cyrus ille a Xenophonte, non ad historiæ fidem scriptus, sed ad effigiem justi imperii.

Is of itself a sufficient proof. The reader may see the dissertauoi. the Abbé Banier upon this subject, in the Memoirs of the Academy of Polite Literature.*

For greater perspicuity I have divided the history of Cyrus into three parts. The first will reach from his birth to the siege of Babylon; the second will comprehend the description of the siege, and the taking of that city, with every thing else that relates to that great event; the third will contain that prince's history, from the taking of Babylon to his death.

ARTICLE I.

THE HISTORY OF CYRUS FROM HIS INFANCY TO THE SIEGE OF BABYLON.

This interval, besides his education, and the journey he made to his grandfather Astyages in Media, includes the first campaigns of Cyrus, and the important expeditions subsequent to them.

SECTION 1.-EDUCATION OF CYRUS.

CYRUS was the son of Cambyses, king of Persia, and of Mandana, daughter of Astyages, king of the Medes. He was born one year after his uncle Cyaxares, the brother of Mandana.f

The Persians consisted at this time of twelve tribes, who inhabited only one province of that vast country which has since borne the name of Persia, and did not amount to more than one hundred and twenty thousand men. But this people having afterwards, through the wisdom and valour of Cyrus, acquired the empire of the East, the name of Persia extended itself with their conquests and fortune, and comprehended all that vast tract of land, which reaches from east to west, from the river Indus to the Tigris; and from north to south, from the Caspian sea to the ocean.§

Cyrus was beautiful in his person, and still more lovely for the qualities of his mind; was of a very sweet disposition, full of good-nature and humanity, and had a great desire to learn, and a noble ardour for glory. He was never afraid of any danger, or discouraged by any hardship or difficulty, where honour was to be acquired. He was brought up according to the laws and customs of the Persians, which were excellent in those days with respect to education. The public good, the common benefit of the nation, was the only principle and end of all their laws. The education of children was looked upon as the most important duty, and the most essential part of government: it was not left to the care of fathers and mothers, whose blind affection and fondness often render them incapable of that office; but the state took it upon themselves. Boys were all brought up in common, after one uniform manner; where every thing was regulated, the place and length of their exercises, the times of eating, the quality of their meat and drink, and their different kinds of punishment. The only food allowed either the children or the young men, was bread, cresses, and water; for their design was to accustom them early to temperance and sobriety: besides, they considered, that a plain frugal diet, without any mixture of sauces or ragouts, would strengthen the body, and lay such a foundation of health, as would enable them to undergo the hardships and fatigues of war to a good old age.||

Here boys went to school to learn justice and virtue, as they do in other places to learn arts and sciences; and the crime most severely punished among them, was ingratitude.

The design of the Persians, in all these wise regulations, was to prevent evil, being convinced how much better it is to prevent faults than to punish them: and whereas, in other states, the legislators are satisfied with establishing punish

† Xen. Cyrop. 1. i. p. 3.

* Vol. vi. p. 400. A. M. 3405. Ant. J. C. 599. Persia continued to occupy the same extent of territory, until the kingdom of Cabul was recently erected, from the eastern part. Cyrop. 1. i. p 38.

ments for criminals, the Persians endeavoured so to order it, as to have no crimi nals among them.

Till sixteen or seventeen years of age, the boys remained in the class of children, in which they learned to draw the bow, and to throw the dart or javelin; after which, they were received into the class of young men. In this class they were more narrowly watched, and kept in stricter subjection than before, because that age requires the closest inspection, and has the greatest need of restraint. Here they remained ten years; during which time they passed all their nights in keeping guard, as well for the safety of the city, as to inure themselves to fatigue. In the day-time they waited upon their governors, to receive their orders, attended the king in his hunting, or improved themselves in their exercises.

The third class consisted of men grown up, and formed; and in this they remained five and twenty years. Out of these, all the officers that were to command in the troops, and all such as were to fill the different posts and employments in the state, were chosen. When fifty years of age, they were not obliged to carry arms out of their own country.

Besides these, there was a fourth or last class, from whence men of the greatest wisdom and experience were chosen, for forming the public council, and presiding in the courts of judicature.

By these means every citizen might aspire to the chief posts in the government; but no one could arrive at them, till he had passed through all these several classes, and made himself capable of them by all these exercises. The classes were open to all; but generally such only as were rich enough to maintain their children without working, sent them thither.

Cyrus himself was educated in this manner, and surpassed all of his age, not only in aptness to learn, but in courage and address in executing whatever he undertook.*

JOURNEY OF CYRUS TO HIS GRANDFATHER ASTYAGES, AND HIS RETURN

INTO PERSIA.

WHEN Cyrus was twelve years old, his mother Mandana took him with her into Media, to his grandfather Astyages, who from the many things he had heard in favour of the young prince, had a great desire to see him. In this court young Cyrus found very different manners from those of his own country. Pride, luxury, and magnificence, reigned here universally. Astyages himself was richly clothed, had his eyes coloured,† his face painted, and his hair embellished with artificial locks. For the Medes affected an effeminate life; to be dressed in scarlet, and to wear necklaces and bracelets; whereas the habits of the Persians were very plain and coarse. All this finery had no effect upon Cyrus, who, without criticising or condemning what he saw, was content to live as he had been brought up, and adhered to the principles he had imbibed from his infancy. He charmed his grandfather with his spriteliness and wit, and gained the favour of all by his noble and engaging behaviour. I shall only mention one instance, whereby we may judge of the rest.

Astyages, to make his grandson unwilling to return home, made a sumptuous entertainment, in which there was a vast plenty and profusion of every thing that was nice and delicate. Cyrus looked upon all this exquisite cheer and magnificent preparation, with great indifference, and observing that it excited the surprise of Astyages, "The Persians," says he to the king, “instead of going such a round-about way to appease their hunger, have a much shorter

*Cyrop. 1. i. p. 8—22.

The ancients, in order to set off the beauty of the face, and to give more life to their complexion, used to form their eye-brows into perfect arches, and to colour them with black. To give the greater lustre to their eyes, they made their eye-lashes of the same blackness. This artifice was much in use among the Hebrews. It is said of Jezebel, "Depinxit oculos suos stibio," 2 Kings, ix. 30. This drug had an astringent quality which shrunk up the eye-lids, and made the eyes appear the larger, which at that time was reckoned a beauty.-Plin. 1. xxxiii. c. 6. From hence comes that epithet, which Homer so often gives to his goddesses,-Bowris "Hgn, great-eyed Juno.

to the same end; a little bread and cresses with them answer the purpose." Astyages desiring Cyrus to dispose of all the meats as he thought fit, the lat ter immediately distributed them to the king's officers in waiting; to one, because he taught him to ride; to another, because he waited well upon his grandfather; and to a third, because he took great care of his mother. Sacas, the king's cup-bearer, was the only person to whom he gave nothing. This offi cer, besides the post of cup-bearer, had that likewise of introducing those who were to have audience of the king; and as he could not possibly grant that favour to Cyrus as often as he desired it, he had the misfortune to dis please the prince, who took this occasion to show his resentment. Astyages manifesting some concern at the neglect of this officer, for whom he had a particular regard, and who deserved it, as he said, on account of the wonderful dexterity with which he served him; "Is that all, father?" replied Cyrus; "if that be sufficient to merit your favour, you shall see I will quickly obtain it; for I will take upon me to serve you better than he." Cyrus, immediately equipped as a cup-bearer, and advancing gravely with a serious countenance. a napkin upon his shoulder, and holding the cup nicely with three of his fin gers, presented it to the king with a dexterity and a grace that charmed both Astyages and Mandana. When he had done, he threw himself upon his grandfather's neck, and kissing him, cried out with great joy, "O Sacas, poor Sacas, thou art undone. I shall have thy place." Astyages embraced him with great fondness, and said, "I am highly pleased, my dear child; nobody can serve with a better grace; but you have forgot one essential ceremony, which is that of tasting, And, indeed,the cup-bearer was used to pour some of the liquor into his left hand, and to taste it, before he presented it to the king. "No," replied Cyrus, "it was not through forgetfulness that I omitted that ceremony." Why then," says Astyages, "for what reason did you not do it ?" "Because I apprehended there was poison in the liquor." "Poison, child! how could you think so?" Yes, poison, father, for not long ago, at an entertainment you gave to the lords of your court, after the guests had drunk a little of that liquor, I perceived all their heads were turned; they sung, made a noise, and talked they did not know what; you yourself, seemed to have forgot that you were king, and they, that they were subjects; and when you would have danced, you could not stand upon your legs." " Why, says Astyages, "have you never seen the same thing happen to your father?" No, never," says Cyrus. "What then? How is it with him when he drinks?" Why, when he has drunk, his thirst is quenched, and that is all."

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We cannot too much admire the skill of the historian, in giving such an excellent lesson of sobriety in this story. He might have done it in a serious grave way, and have spoken with the air of a philosopher; for Xenophon, although a great warrior, was as excellent a philosopher as his master Socrates. But instead of that, he puts the instruction into the mouth of a child, and conceals it under the veil of a story, which in the original is told with all the wit and agreeableness imaginable.

Mandana being upon the point of returning to Persia, Cyrus joyfully complied with the repeated requests his grandfather had made to him to stay in Media; being desirous, as he said, to perfect himself in the art of riding, which he was not yet master of, and which was not known in Persia, where the barrenness of the country, and its craggy mountainous situation, rendered it unfit for the breeding of horses.

During the time of his residence at this court, his behaviour procured him infinite love and esteem. He was gentle, affable, beneficent, and generous. Whenever the young lords had any favour to ask of the king, Cyrus was their solicitor. If the king had any subject of complaint against them, Cyrus was their mediator; their affairs became his, and he always managed them so well, that he obtained whatever he desired.

* Ω Σάκα, ἀπολωλας, ἐκβαλῶ σε τῆς τιμῆς.

When Cyrus was about sixteen years of age, the son of the king of the Ba bylonians,* (this was Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar,) at a hunting match a short time before his marriage, thought fit to show his bravery by making an irruption into the territories of the Medes; which obliged Astyages to take the field, to oppose the invader. Here it was that Cyrus, having followed his grandfather, served his apprenticeship in war. He behaved so well on this occasion, that the victory which the Medes gained over the Babylonians, was chiefly owing to his valour.

The year after, his father recalling him, that he might accomplish his time in the Persian exercises, he departed immediately from the court of Media, that neither his father nor his country might have any room to complain of his delay. This occasion showed how much he was beloved. At his departure he was accompanied by all sorts of people, young and old. Astyages himself conducted him a good part of his journey on horseback; and when the sad moment came that they must part, the whole company were bathed in tears.

Thus Cyrus returned into his own country, and re-entered the class of children, where he continued a year longer. His companions, after his long residence in so voluptuous and luxurious a court as that of the Medes, expected to find a great change in his manners. But when they saw that he was content with their ordinary table, and that, when he was present at any entertainment, he was more sober and temperate than any of the company, they looked upon him with new admiration.

From this first class he passed into the second, which is the class of youths; and there it quickly appeared that he had not his equal in dexterity, address, patience, and obedience.

Ten years after, he was admitted into the men's class, wherein he remained thirteen years, till he set out at the head of the Persian army, to go to the aid of his uncle Cyaxares.

SFCTION III. THE FIRST CAMPAIGN OF CYRUS, WHO GOES TO SUCCOUR HIS UNCLE CYAXARES AGAINST THE BABYLONIANS.

ASTYAGES, king of the Medes, dying, was succeeded by his son Cyaxares, brother to Cyrus's mother. Cyaxares was no sooner on the throne, than he was engaged in a terrible war. He was informed that the king of the Babylonians (Neriglissor) was preparing a powerful army against him, and that he had already engaged several princes on his side, and among others Croesus, king of Lydia; that he had likewise sent ambassadors to the king of India, to give him unjust impressions of the Medes and Persians, by representing to him how dangerous a closer alliance and union between two nations, already so powerful, might be, since they could in the end subdue all the nations around them, if a vigorous opposition was not made to the progress of their power. Cyaxares, therefore, despatched ambassadors to Cambyses, to desire succours from him; and ordered them to bring it about, that Cyrus should have the command of the troops his father was to send. This was readily granted. As soon as it was known that Cyrus was to march at the head of the army, the joy was universal. The army consisted of thirty thousand men, all infantry, for the Persians had as yet no cavalry; but they were all chosen men, and such as had been raised in a particular manner. First of all, Cyrus chose out of the nobility two hundred of the bravest officers, each of whom was ordered to choose out four more of the same sort, which made a thousand in all; and these were the officers that were called 'Ou§ and who signalized themselves afterwards so gloriously upon all occasions. Every one of this thousand was appointed to raise among the people ten light-armed pikemen, ten slingers, ami ten bowmen, which amounted in the whole to one and thirty thousand men.

* In Xenophon, this people are always called Assyrians; and in truth they are Assyrians, but Assyrians of Babylon, whom we must not confound with those of Nineveh, whose empire, as we have seen already, was utterly destroyed by the ruin of Nineveh, the capital city.

↑ A. M. 3421. Ant J. C. 583.

A. M. 3444. Ant. J. C. 560. Cyrop. 1. i. p 22—C}. Men of the same dignity

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