weapons abovesaid Now when the same were in good forwardnesse and almost ready the said Peeres were by that time come with the armie sent out of Persia. Whom Cyrus after he had assembled together spake by report unto them in this wise CHAP. II. The speech that Cyrus made unto the Chiefetaines of all his hoast for to incite their souldiers to take the harneis and armes that Cyrus had prepared for the Persians MY friends seeing as I did your selves in armes so well appointed and in hearts so resolute as men ready to joyne in close fight with the enemies knowing withall that the Persians who follow you are not otherwise armed than to skirmish a farre off I was not a little affraid least yee being few in number and abiding the shocke of a battayle destitute of those that were to second you and falling upon your enemies so many in number should haply incurre some hard extremity But now considering yee are hither come with such able and manly bodies as cannot be found fault with and that they againe shall have the like armour unto yours it remaineth onely that for your parts yee whet and quicken their hearts For it is the office of a Captaine not onely to shew himselfe hardy but also to endeavour effectually that his souldiers undr him may prove right valiant When he had thus said they rejoyced all verily for that they thought they should have many more to accompanie them in fight but one of them above the rest delivered also these words I shall be thought peradventure to speake wonderous absurdly if I should advise Cyrus to say ought in our behalfe what time as they shall receive their armour who are to fight with vs against the enemies For this I know that whosoever be most able either to doe a good turne or to worke mischiefe their words enter deepest into the hearts of the heareâ—s Such men also if they bestow any gifts although they be lesse than those that come from equals yet the receivers doe much more prize the same at their hands Semblably the Persians now in case Cyrus should exhort them would joy farre more than if they were exhorted by us And being admitted into the order of the Petres they will account the preferment more assured and the benefit better worth if it proceed both from a Kings Sonne and also from a Lord Generall than if by our meanes they were advanced to the very same place of dignity And yet ought not we to faile in performing our parts accordingly but by all â—â—mes wee can encourage these men and give an edge to their stomacks For the more valorous that these prove the better it will be for our selves Cyrus therefore having thus laid downe the armour aforesaid in the mids of the open place and called together all the Persian souldiers made unto them such an oration as this CHAP. III. The exhortation of Cyrus unto the Persian souldiers to put on the armour that King Cyaxares had prepared MY friends yee that are Persians as yee were borne and bred up in the same region with us and are in bodie besides framed nothing inferiour to us so it is meet that your minds also be not worse then ours And albeit such ye are indeed yet in our native countrey yee were not in equall estate and condition with us not for that yee were by us put by but because yee were enforced to provide necessaries Now both I by the leave and power of God will take order that yee shall have the same degree and your selves also if yee be so disposed using the same armes that we doe how ever otherwise in meaner place than we are may enter upon the same daungers with us and upon the archievement of any noble and worthy exploit receive the like guerdon to ours Heretofore yee were archers and darters as well as wee In which manner of service if yee carried not your selves equall to us it is no marvaile For why yee had not time to practise these feats as wee had But in this kind of armature here we shall have no vantage at all ever you For every one of you shall have a curace fitted for his brest a light buckler in his left hand as wee all were wont to carry and in his right an arming sword or battle axe wherewith we are to smite our enemy that standeth opposite unto us and need not feare to misse whensoever we offer to strike What is it then considering this manner of fight wherein one of us should passe another unlesse it bee in boldnesse and courage which yee ought to shew as well as we And as for victory whereby all good things and excellent are both gotten and kept what reason is there that we should desire it more than yee To speake of Soveraignty which giveth all away to the Conquerours from them that be conquered why should it concerne us more than you to seeke therefore To conclude then saith hee yee have heard all and see the very armour Take every man what he needeth and is fit for his body and then give his name to the Captaine of some company for to be enrolled in the same degree and ranke with us But whosoever is content with the place of a mercenary souldier let him remaine still in such armes as are meet for servitours unto others CHAP. IIII. The ordinances that Cyrus made for the exercise of his souldiers and to keep them in all obedience THese were the words of Cyrus which when the Persians had heard they made this account that worthy they were from that time forward to live all their dayes in penury and want if being thus called to take paines alike for to enjoy therefore like availes they would not accept thereof Whereupon they all entred their names and being once registred tooke every man his armour But all the while that the enemies were said to be comming neere at hand and yet appeared not in sight Cyrus endeavoured both to exercise his souldiers bodies in such feats as it might gather more strength to teach them also to set their array and embattaile yea and to whet their stomacks against warre-service But first of all having received ministers and officers from Cyaxares he commaunded them to furnish every souldier sufficiently with all things needfull Which order being taken he left them by this meanes nothing else to doe but to exercise onely martiall deeds seeming that he had learned and observed thus much that they became alwaies in every point most excellent who leaving to busie their heads to deale in many things gave their minds to one worke onely and no more Nay more than so even of military exercises cutting off their training to the use of bowes arrowes and darts hee left them nought else to practise but to fight with sword buckler and brest-plate whereby it came to passe that immediately he imprinted this opinion in them that either they must buckle with their enemies close
benefit for their service For this I know that unlesse they reape some fruit of their travailes I shall not have them long obedient unto mee Howbeit my meaning is not to give them the spoile of this Citie For I suppose that not onely the Citie would thereby be utterly destroyed but I wote well also that in the rifling thereof the worst will speed best Which when Croesus heard Give me leave I pray you quoth he to say unto some of the Lydians whom I will make choice of that I have obtained at your hands thus much That there shall be no pillage at all and that you will not suffer their wives and children to be quite undone In regard of which grace and favour That I have promised unto you in the name of the Lydians that they shall willingly and assuredly give unto you as a ransome whatsoever is faire and of best price in all Sardes For if they shall heare thus much I am assured they will come with what beautifull thing or precious jewell either man or woman hath here And likewise by another yeere the City will be replenished with many goodly things for you Whereas if you fall to sacke and spoyle it you shall have your very arts and sciences which are the fountaines they say of all good things to perish utterly Moreover seeing and knowing all this you may come and consult further hereafter of saccage at your pleasure But first of all quoth he send you for mine owne treasure and let your officers require the same at the hands of mine the keepers thereof Cyrus approoved all that Croesus had said and gave consent to doe accordingly But tell me first my Croesus quoth he and that to the full what was the end of those points which were delivered unto you from the Delphicke Oracle For it is reported that you have highly honoured Apollo and done all in obedience to him Helas I would it had prooved so quoth Croesus But the truth is My deportment to Apollo hath beene such as to doe all from the very first cleane contrary unto him How came that about quoth Cyrus enforme me I pray you For these be wonders and paradoxes that you tell me First and formost saith Croesus setting behind me all care to enquire of that God those things that were necessary for mee I would needs make proofe forsooth whether he could answer truth or no And well knowne it is saith he I will not say that God but even very men who are good and honest cannot of all things abide to be discredited and if they perceive themselves once that they are not beleeved they love not those that distrust thē But afterwards knowing that I had committed a grosse absurditie and was farre from Delphi I send unto him about children But he at the first time gave mee not so much as an answer Yet afterwards when by presenting unto him many gifts of gold and silver both and by killing very many beasts in sacrifice I had at length pacified him as I thought to this my demaund how I might doe for children hee answered me that children I should have And verily a father I was of children for in this also I assure you he lied not unto me But when they were borne I had no joy nor comfort of them For the one of them was all his life time dumbe and never spake word the other being growne to excellent proofe dyed in the very flowre and best time of his age Depressed thus with these calamities as touching mine issue I send eftsoones to know of the God by what meanes I might lead the rest of my life in greatest felicitie and this answere he returned to me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 KNOW THY SELFE CROESVS AND THOV SHALT SVRELY BE HAPPY OR THVS CROESE KNOW THY SELFE AND THOV ART HE THAT TO THY LAST SHALT HAPPY BE. Vpon the hearing of this Oracle I rejoyced For I thought that the God by enjoyning to me a most easie matter gave me happines For I supposed that as other men might partly know some and in part not so every one knew himselfe well enough And verily all the time following so long as I lived quietly in peace no cause had I after my sonne his death to complaine of fortune But being once perswaded by the Assyrian King to undertake an expedition and to warre against you I entred into a world of daungers Howbeit escape I did safe for that time without sustaining any hurt So that herein I blame not the God For so soone as I perceived my selfe unable to hold out with you in fight by the helpe of God both I and also my companie gat away in safety But now eftsoones waxing more proud by reason both of my present wealth and their perswasions also who requested me to be their Generall allured also by the rich gifts which they bestowed upon me sollicited againe by men who by way of flattery bare me in hand that if I would take upon me this soveraigne government all the world would be ruled by me Lord I should be of all and the greatest Potentate upon earth By these and such like words I say being puffed up so soone as all the Kings and Princes round about me had elected me for their Generall I tooke upon me to conduct this royall Armie as if I had beene the onely man sufficient for that supreme greatnesse But in truth herein I knew not my selfe For that I thought I was able to match you in the field who first descended from the Gods and then reckoning Kings for your progenitours have even from your childhood practised vertue and chivalrie Whereas the first of my auncestors that ware a diademe I heare say became at once a King and a Free-man By good right therefore punished I am for mine ignorance in that behalfe But now at last good Cyrus quoth he I know my selfe and thinke you Sir that Apollo spake true when he said That if I knew my selfe I should be happy For this question verily I put unto you of purpose because you seeme able to give the neerest conjecture thereof by this present occasion seeing in your hand it is to effect the thing Then said Cyrus Impart unto mee your counsell concerning this matter For considering your former felicitie I pitie your present condition and herewithall I permit you to enjoy your wife whom you have your daughters also for I heare say you have some together with your friends your servitours and the table such as hitherto yee have lived at As for battailes and wars I disable you If it be so quoth Croesus then for the love of God deliberate no further what answere to give unto me as touching my happinesse For now I protest unto you If you doe thus as you say it will come to passe that the same life which others have reputed most blessed and to whom my selfe have accorded I shall now both have and hold Then replyed Cyrus And what person enjoyeth
ready Heart and minde thus voide of fraud Is that true signe Vertue doth most applaud Henry Holland in honour of his deerest father Dr. Philemon Holland upon the interpretation of his double Anagram and his indefatigable labours The Hart most ready honest and upright Devoyd of fraud unto each living wight The Head diseas'd for ease of Englishmen The Hand benumm'd with holding of its pen The Pen unworne though worne beyond a pen Doe still hold out to glad their Countrimen They rest in motion and restlesse Rest is that Yet may they rest though Death doth frowne thereat And when those Mortalls may be turn'd to dust Th' immortall part must needs b'among the Iust. PSAL. 112. vers 6. In memoria â—ternâ—â— erâ—â— justus Vpon the Translatours Pen wherewith only hee translated and wrote all Plutarchs Moralls conteining above a Reame of Paper he wrote this Dystick This Booke I wrote with one poore Pen made of a grey Goose quill A Pen I found it us'd before A Pen I leave it still Which Pen afterwards was begged by an auncient Gentlewoman mother to a Noble Countesse yet living who garnished it in silver and kept it as a Monument The Contents of the eight Bookes following THE FIRST BOOKE The Proâ—eme treating of Monarchies Democraties and Oligarchies CHAP. I. The Customes of the Persians in governing their Natives How Cyrus was instituted during his Child-hood in the discipline of vertue with other children of his age in the publique Schooles CHAP. II. How Cyrus went into Media with the Queene his mother where he shewed many tokens of his good nature and pregnant wit unto King Astyages semblably of his temperance and sobrietie CHAP. III. How the Queene mother Mandane returned into Persia and Cyrus abode behind in Media where he gave himselfe much to Horseman-ship and feats of Armes And with his owne hand killed many wild Beasts CHAP. IIII. How Astyages through the politicke Counsell of Cyrus wonne a victory of the Assyrians who were come to invade his Territories CHAP. V. How Cyrus returned to his father into Persia and what honour the Medes did him at his departure CHAP. VI. The beginning of the Warres betweene the Assyrians and the Medes Of the Forces that Cyrus levyed in Persia to aide the King of Media his Vnkle CHAP. VII The Oration of Cyrus to the Peeres and Chieftaines of his Army for to incite them to enterprize this warre with the better courage CHAP. VIII The good instructions that Cambyses gave unto his sonne Cyrus as touching the enterprize against the Assyrians and how a good Captaine should carry himselfe with his Army in a strange Country and winne the love of every man CHAP. IX How a Prince may gaine the obedience of his people vanquish his enemies and get the attribute of Wise and Vertuous THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. How Cyrus came into Persia with his men and procured them all to be armed by his Vnkle Cyaxâres CHAP. II. The speech that Cyrus made to the Chieftaines of all his Hoast for to incite their Souldiers to take their harnois and Armes that Cyrus had prepared for the Persians CHAP. III. The exhortation of Cyrus to the Persian Souldiers to put on the new Armour thâ—â— King Cyaxares had prepared CHAP. IIII. The Ordinance that Cyrus made for the exercise of his Souldiers and to keepe them in all obedience CHAP. V. How Cyrus devised and communed graciously with his Chieftaines and of the pleasant narrations that they related unto him for to doe him pleasure CHAP. VI. The Consultation of Cyrus with his Armie whether he should reward all his Souldiers alike or every one according to his desert CHAP. VII The Oration of Cyrus to his whole Campe the opinions of Chrysantas and Pheraulas as touching that which Cyrus had proposed And what was the conclusion and determination thereof CHAP. VIII The feats of Armes that Cyrus his Captaines practised in exercising their Companies CHAP. IX How Cyaxares gave audience to the King of India his Ambassadours and sent them afterwards to the King of Assyria CHAP. X. How Cyrus being in deliberation and conference with his Vnkle as touching this affaire and about levying summes of money enterprized warre upon the King of Armenia CHAP. XI The Project and speech of Cyrus to his Captaines and to Chrysantas about the laying of an Embush and how the same was put in execution against the King of Armenia THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. How Cyrus without giving Battaile tooke the King of Armenia prisoner and seized upon his Goods The discourses that the said King made with his sonne Tigranes about his deliverance CHAP. II. How Cyrus with great humanitie did set the King of Armenia with his wife and children at large And after he had received their Ransome levyed à good power of Footmen and Horsemen both out of Armenia for this Warre CHAP. III. How Cyrus tooke Tigranes with him in his Traine and went to assayle the Chaldees upon the Mountaines CHAP. IIII. The peceable Communication that Cyrus had with the Armenians and the Chaldees The mutuall accord and peace betweene them all CHAP. V. How Cyrus sent an Embassage to the Indians and returning into Media consulted about making Warre upon the Assyrians CHAP. VI. The speech of Cyrus to Cyaxares about his expedition against the Assyrians CHAP. VII How Cyrus went to encampe neere unto the Assyrians and prepared to give them Battaile CHAP. VIII The exhortation of Cyrus to his Chieftaines and the Peeres to moove them to advance with better courage to the Battaile CHAP. IX How the King of Assyria issued out of his Campe to fight a Field and made a speech unto his Souldiers How Cyrus and they afterwards joyned Battaile wherein the Assyrians were discomfited THE FOVRTH BOOKE CHAP. I. How the King of Assyria dyed in fight King Croesus and the Assyrians fled and Cyrus purposed to follow in chace CHAP. II. The opinion of Cyaxares to divert Cyrus from following the traine of his Victory CHAP. III. How Cyrus obtained of Cyaxares part of the Medes forces and with them and the Hyrcanians togither that yeeled unto him pursued the Assyrians in their flight CHAP. IIII. The exhortation of Cyrus to his whole Armie inciting them to follow the chace of his Enemies with the Cavallerie of the Medes CHAP. V. How Cyrus defaited the Assyrians againe and tooke prisoners Kings Lords and other Souldiers a great number The order that hee gave how to be provided presently of victuals without confusion and trouble CHAP. VI. How Cyrus communed with his Centeniers perswading them to sobrietie and to stay for their fellowes who were in the pursuit and how they raised a great bootie of men women and goods CHAP. VII Cyrus consulteth with his Centeniers about mounting footmen on Horsebacke and erecting a Persian Cavallerie with the Horses taken from the Enemie in the Warres CHAP. VIII How Cyrus by the counsell and advise of his most politicke Captaines ordained in his Army a troupe of Horsemen
Terrestriall And let not him prosper or thrive that will not eft-soones say and pray LET THE KING LIVE yea and I adde Methushelahs life the King of Heaven Him lend Vpon Whose life Millions of Lives depend To conclude these illiterate Lines The English Translatour of this Bookeâ—my â—my deare Father now an old man full of yeeres and living still in your Mediterranean City Coventry named in former times CAMERA PRINCIPIS farre remote from Court could not himselfe present this last labour of his unto your Highnesse hands but hath left it unto me so to doe Deigne therefore my Liege Lord and deare Soveraigne with my Fathers loyalty and mine prostrated your benigne Aspect hereunto and gracious Protection thereof though from the unworthy hand of him who thrice humbly beggeth pardon for his boldnesse Your Maiesties meanest yet most loyall Subiect HENRY HOLLAND THE FIRST BOOKE TREATING OF THE LIFE AND INSTITVTION OF CYRVS KING OF THE PERSIANS the first of that name The Prooeme I Entred sometimes into this serious cogitation How many Democraties haue beene subuerted by those who would needes gouerne the Common-wealth otherwise than in a popular State How many also as well Monarchies as Oligarchies are come already to nought by conspiracies of the Commons How many persons likewise who attempted as absolute Princes to reigne were either very soone vtterly ouerthrowne or else if they ruled any while held in great admiration as passing wise men and fortunate Me thought againe I had obserued thus much That whereas in private families some masters haue many seruants in houshold others very few yet even those few they could never have wholly at commaund I considered moreouer that as the feeders of Neare and Horses so all others bearing the name of Pastors may by good right bee reputed the Commaunders of such beasts as they have vnder their hands But withall I perceived evidently that all these Heards are more willing to obey their Pastours than men their Magistrates For the said Heards go whithersoeuer their Heardmen direct them and as they gladly graze in those grounds to which they are by them driuen so they forbeare such as they debarre them fro And verily they suffer their said Pastours to vse at their owne pleasure those profitâ— that arise from them Neither have we ever knowne any such Heards to have risen rebelliously against their Pastours either by way of disobedience or in denying them the vse of their fruits Nay rather more curst and hurtfull are beasts to all others whomsoever than to their Rulers and those who receive commodity by them whereas contrariwise Men set themselves against none more than such as they perceiue goe about to exercise dominion ouer them When I had well pondered these points in my minde thus I concluded in the end That more â—asie it was for a man to command all other living creatures in the world than men But when I considered eftsoones How Cyrus a Persian borne had won exceeding many men very many Cities and Nations likewise to his obedience I was thereby enforced to change my former opinion and thus to resolve at the last That it is neither impossible nor yet a matter of difficulty to governe men in case one have the skill thereof and goe about it with dexterity For why of this we are assured that there yeelded obeisance willingly vnto Cyrus some who were many dayes others as many moneths iourney distant from him those that never saw him yea and such as knew full well they should never see him yet nathelesse would they all become his liege men and devoted subiects And no maruell For so farre excelled he all other Kings as well those that by inheritance succeeded in their Fathers Kingdomes as those who by their owne conquest attained to their dominions that whereas the Scythian King albeit the Scythians be a State for number of people most puissant is not able to command any forraine Nation but would be well apaid if he might but rule his owne The Thracian Prince likewise the Thracians and the Illyrian Potentate the Illyrians which is the case as we heare say of other Countries besides For in Europe the people live by report severally vnder their owne lawes and remaine hitherto free one from another Cyrus alone who found the States of Asia likewise ruled by their owne lawes having with a small Army of Persians made an invasion became Soueraigne Lord verily of the Medes and the Hyrcanians without resistance as who willingly raunged themselves vnto him But the Syrians Assyrians Arabians Cappadocians Phrygians both the one sort and the other the Lydians Carians Phoenicians and Babylonians hee by force of armes subdued The Bactrians moreouer the Indians and Cilicians likewise the Sacans Paphlagonians Megadines and other nations exceeding many whose very names a man may hardly rehearse he reduced vnder his Empire The Greekes also in Asia he brought to his devotion And hauing made expeditions and voyages by sea conquered the Cyprians and Egyptians Thus atchieved he the Seignorie of the nations which in language agreed neither with him nor yet among themselves And notwithstanding he was able to compasse so great a part of the earth and that through feare of his prowesse in so much as he astonished all men and none durst attempt any thing against him yet could he withall imprint such an affection in their hearts with an earnest desire to doe him pleasure as that they sued alwaies to be ruled according to his will and direction Furthermore he had so many sorts of people obliged vnto him as it were a painefull piece of worke to number them all what way soever a man take from his royall Palace either East West North or South In which regard I haue diligently enquired touching this Prince as of a man worthy to be admired and namely how he was by birth descended what his naturall disposition was what manner of education hee had that he so farre surpassed all men in princely government Whatsoever therefore I have either heard or otherwise seeme to haue knowne as touching him I will endeavour to relate CHAP. I. The custome of the Persians in government of their Natives How Cyrus was 〈◊〉 during his Child-hood in the discipline of vertue with other children of his age in the publike Schooles CYrus verily by report had for his Father Cambyses King of the Persianâ— now was this Cambyses lineally descended from the Persidâ— which take their name of Perseus And his Mother all writers agree to have beene Mâ—ndâ—â—e the daughter of Astyages King of the Medes The common speech is and among the Barbarians rife it is even at this day in every mans mouth That Cyrus naturally foâ— his outward countenance was very faire and well fauoured and for the inward enduments of his minde most courteous passing studious and exceeding desirous of honour insomuch as for to win praise he would refuse no paines but vndergoe all perils whatsoeuer Cyrus being thus by
in a good conceit of themselves and then surprize them at unwares or suffer them to follow in chase and so cause them to breake their raies or by semblance of flight traine them into streights and places disadvantageous there to assaile them sodainly Now my sonne it behooveth you to practise not onely all these stratagemes which with earnest desire you have already learned but devise also and of your owne head other sleights against your enimies even as Musicians use not those tunes and songs onely which they have learn'd but study also to make set other And verily in Musick new dities and fresh notes in their very prime are in most request but much more in warre new policies are best set by For why such late devised inventions are those that soonest can deceive the enimies And if you my sonne quoth he would turne upon men nought else but those sleights which you have laid for very small wild beasts thinke you not that you should make good progresse in winning the better hand of your enemies For to catch foule you have in the most bitter time of winter risen and gone forth by night yea and before the poore birds were stirring set snares and grins for them so cunningly as that the mooveable false floore seemed like unto that which mooved not Besides certeine foules were so taught by you as that they served your owne turne but in the meane time deluded other silly birds of their owne fether whiles your selfe lay in couvert and espiall so as you saw them and they had no fight of you Moreover your care and endevour was to prevent the said foules and draw them unto you before they should flye away As for the Hare because she goeth to releife and feedeth in the darke night but by day saveth her selfe by her light foot you kept Hounds which by sent might finde her out and for that when shee is started shee swiftly runneth away you had Greehounds besides trained of purpose to overtake her in pursuit by good footmanship And in case the said Hares should out-strip these Greehounds also you learned out their paths and musets and to what harbours they chuse to flie therein you pitched haies and nets hardly to be seene to the end that the Hare in her most eger flight might fall into them and therein entangle her selfe And that shee might not escape thence you placed men of purpose to watch and marke the manner of it who being neere at hand should streight-waies seize upon her And your selfe verily from behind by setting up a lowd cry that raught unto her so affrighted the poore Hare that caught shee was at unwares whiles those who on the forepart lay in waite instructed by you to keepe silence were hidden and unseene Therefore as I said before if you would practise likewise such devises as these against men I know not for my part how you should come short of any enemie in the world Now if it chaunce at any time that you be enforced in plaine even ground and open feild to joyne battaile with ensignes displayed when yee are on both sides armed and well appointed even then my sonne those helpes and advantages provided long before do very much availe And such I say be these namely if your souldiours bodies have beene well exercised if their hearts have had an edge set upon them and thereby be well encouraged and last of all if they have diligently studied and practized martiall feats aforehand Moreover this thing also you are to know that so many as you shall thinke it meet they should obey you will all of them likewise deeme it as fit that you provide for their good and safetie every way Therefore be you never carelesse in this point but foresee over-night what you would have your liege men to doe the morrow and fore-cast by day how night-service may speed best Furthermore in what sort an armie is to be put in order against a battaile after what manner it is to be led in march by night or day how in streights how in broad plaines and open wayes how over hilly places how through champian fields and plaines Also in what wise a campe is to be pitched How watch and ward is to be set as well for night as day How to advance against the enimies how to come off and retire How to march before an enimie-citie how to lead an armie to the assault of a walled Fort and how to withdraw the same from thence In what manner to passe through hollow waies full of woods or over rivers What order to take with horsemen what with darters and archers Also when you lead your armie displaied into wings if then your enimies charge directly upon you in what sort are you to make head and withstand them Again when you lead it in forme of a thicke squadron and they flanke you from some other side and not afront in what manner you are to encounter them Also by which meanes you may best know your enimies behaviour and projects and they least perceive your desseine and purpose But all these points why should I now rehearse unto you For whatsoever my selfe knoweth you have often heard and if others besides seemed expert therein you have not neglected conference with any one of them and never were you dull witted and hard to learne You ought therefore as I thinke according as occasions shall be presented to put such instructions in ure as you shall suppose will be at all times most expedient for you And learne withall my sonne of mee these directions of greatest importance Never adventure any thing either by your selfe alone or in your armie without warrant of sacrifices and auguries by bird flight considering thus much that men take matters in hand no otherwise than by guesse as not knowing for certeine from whence any good shall redound unto them how ever haply a man may by the events understand the same For many men and those reputed most wise have perswaded cities to make warre upon those at whose hands they thus perswaded have afterward beene overthrowne Many a man besides hath both enriched private persons and also amplified publike States from whom by their meanes thus enriched and advanced they have susteined afterwards extreme losse and mischiefe Many also when they might have used others as friends with reciprocall interchange of doing and receiving pleasures chusing to make them their slaves rather than their friends have felt the smart thereof and suffred punishment even at their hands Many againe not content to live a pleasant life with a competent and sufficient portion but coveting to be Lords of all have lost thereby even all that they had and possessed before And to conclude many having gotten much gold and treasure which they so greatly wished for have by the same perished and come to ruine Thus mans wisedome knoweth no more how to chuse what is best than if one should cast lots and draw
verily quoth the King I would give a great deale of that condition For by this means the revenues of my Crowne should be much augmented And yee Chaldaees quoth he what say yee to this considering yee have fertile mountaines would yee willingly permit the Armenians to use the same for pasture yeelding unto you for the pasturage a reasonable rent Yea gladly said the Chaldaees for that we shall receive much profit without any paine and labour But you King of Armenia saith Cyrus are you willing to use their pastures if for a smal commoditie arising unto the Chaldaees your selfe may receive farre greater profits Yea with all my heart quoth he if I thought I might enjoy the said pasture-ground in safetie without molestation What! might yee not enjoy them safely if yee had the helpe of the hill-tops Yes said the King Hereat the Chaldaees But we par-die shall never be able to occupie wee will not say their grounds but not so much as our owne lands if so be these be masters of the said hill tops But What! quoth he if those mountaines may helpe you Mary then answered they we should thinke our selves well apayed But it were not so good for us beleeve me said the King in case they recover the mountaines againe especially being walled and fortified Well then quoth Cyrus I will take this course The strength of these hill-tops will I deliver to neither of you both But wee our selves will hold them in our owne hands And whether of you wrong the other their parts will we take who susteine the wrong Which when both sides heard they praised the devise and said it was the onely way to establish an assured peace So upon these capitulations following they all gave and received interchangeably hostages for securitie and agreed it was betweene them That they both should be free one from the other enterteine mutuall marriages use tillage and pasture in common indifferently and one aid the other if any did molest either of them Thus for that time things passed and the league then and thus concluded betweene the Chaldaees and the Soueraine Ruler of Armenia remaineth yet in force to this day Now after these Covenants of confederacy were confirmed both parts immediately did put to their helping hands with great cheerefulnesse to build and wall the said fortresse as a common strength and defense for them both and thereto joyntly brought all things necessary CHAP. V. How Cyrus sent an Embassage unto the Indians and returning into Media consulted about making warre upon the Assyrians WHen evening drew neere Cyrus entertained togither with him at supper both parties as being now joyned in mutuall amity And as they sat at supper one of the Chaldaees began and said This accord may well be acceptable to all others of our nation But some Chaldaees there are quoth he that live by preading and robbing who neither have skill of husbandry nor can abide to till the ground as wonted alwaies to get their living by the warres For they used evermore to drive away booties and many a time to serve for wages under the King of the Indians who by their saying is a Potentate full of gold and as often under King Astyages Why then said Cyrus doe they not take wages of me For I will give them as good pay as hee who ever he be that gave most This offer of Cyrus they accepted and said that many would bee right willing to serve him And thus of these points abovesaid were they agreed Cyrus then who had heard say that the Chaldaees oftentimes had recourse unto the Indian King and calling to remembrance that from him there came to the Medes certaine persons as Spies to see and learne what was done among them and the same afterwards went also to the enemies for to have intelligence likewise of their affaires was willing enough that the Indian King might know what deeds himselfe had atchieved And therefore he entred into such a speech as this Tell me ô King of Armenia and yee Chaldaees If I should dispatch a messenger of mine unto the Indian King would ye send any of yours besides who might both conduct the man in his way and assist him also to the obtaining at the said Kings hand of such things as I desire For I gladly would we had more money stil to the end that I might both give large pay to as many as have need and also by bountifull gifts grace and honour such as serve under me according to their worthinesse In these regards I say desirous I am to be furnished with great store of treasure And albeit I make reckoning to stand in need yet gladly doe I spare your monies whom I suppose now to be our friends yet of the Indian King I would willingly take the same if he would part with it As for the said messenger unto whom I will and require you to allow guides for his conduct and to be assistant when he is thither come he shall speake in this wise Cyrus hath sent me unto you ô King of India saying that he stands in need of more money For that he expecteth another army from home out of Persia and in very deed quoth he so I doe If therefore you will send him as much money as you thinke good he saith that if God give him good successe he will endevour so to doe as that you shall thinke you have done very well and wisely for your selfe in gratifying him thus in this kind This message shall my Agent deliver from me Now for those whom yee shall send give them in charge and commission what your selves shall thinke requisite And if quoth he we may get money of him we shall have the greater store by us to use If not we shall know that we are nothing beholden to him nor have any cause to thanke him but may for ought that concerneth him order all things to our owne behouse Thus said Cyrus supposing that those Armenians and Chaldaees who were to goe this journey would make such reports of him as himselfe desired that all the world should both speake and heare And so for that time when they saw good they dissolved this meeting at supper and went to bed The day following Cyrus sent away the Messenger with those directions which he had delivered before The King of Armenia likewise and the Chaldaees appointed such persons to accompanie him as they thought most meet to helpe forward the businesse which they had in commission and also to give out of Cyrus such speeches as were befitting After this when Cyrus had finished the fortresse and furnished it with garrison souldiours as many as were sufficient and with all things else necessarie yea and left as Captaine over them a Median in preferring whom he thought to gratifie Cyaxares most he departed leading away with him that armie which he had brought thither as also those forces which he received from the Armenian King and together with them such as
of the portion which you give will not esteeme you one whit the more And verily they now imitate mee with a kind of emulation and pray unto all the Gods that they may have occasion one day to shew that they are no lesse loyall and faithfull to their Friends than I am to mine and to their enemies whiles they have a day to live will never yeeld unlesse some God crosse them Now for vertue and good reputation they would not preferre before it all the riches of the Syrians and Assyrians put them both togither and set the same to yours And such men I would you well knew are now sitting here Then Gobryas laughed heartily and said For the love of God Cyrus shew me where these men are that I may beg at your hands one of them for to be my sonne Care not you for that quoth Cyrus neither shall you need to enquire that of mee doe but keepe us company and you shall be able your selfe to shew each of them even to another Thus much having said he tooke Gobryas by the right hand and rising withall went his waies forth and drew out all his men with him And albeit he was earnestly importuned by Gobryas to take his supper with him yet would he not but sâ—pped in the Campe and tooke Gobryas with him as his guest Now being set upon a greene banke he questioned with him in this manner Tell me my Gobryas quoth he Thinke you that you have more cuishons and carpets than every one of us To whom he answered I know right well so God me love that yee have carpets cuishons beds pallets and tables many more and that your dwelling house is farre larger and of greater receit than mine as who for your habitations make use of the earth and skie and have as many beds as there be couches and resting places on the ground Besides yee take for your carpets and cuishons not so many as the sheepe affoord fleeces of wooll but as mountaines and fields doe yeeld brush and branch to make fagots of And this being the first time that Gobryas supped among them when he saw their coorse and homely fare he thought himselfe kept more plentifull and liberall cheere than they But after that he observed their moderate feeding for there is not a Persian of good education who with any meate or drinke is perceived openly either in his eies to bee distempered or by ravening and greedy eating in his mind to have lesse forecast than if he were not at his meat For like as good horsemen for that they be not troubled on horsebacke are able all the while they ride to see to heare and to say as they ought even so they at their meales thinke they should appeare openly to be wise sober and temperate supposing that to be stirred and disquieted after eating and drinking is doglike swinelike and brutish He observed withall in them that they demaunded one of another such questions as it was more pleasure to aske them than not and cast forth those prety jests and merry conceits which being uttered caused more delight in the delivery than otherwise kept in and that in all their mirth they were farre from contumelious and spitefull termes farre from doing any lewd and filthy act farre from grieving and offending one another But the greatest thing of all other in his opinion was this that being in warre-service they thought not any of them who adventured the same perill ought to have more allowance at the table than the rest but supposed that Feast to be best wherein they made their confederates that were to fight with them most valiant Now when Gobryas arose to goe home to his owne house hee used by report these words I wonder now no more quoth he ô Cyrus that we have more drinking cups more garments and gold in coyne and yet are of lesse account than you For all our care and study is who shall have most of these things Whereas your chiefe endeavour is as it seemeth unto me to be the best and most valourous men When Gobryas had thus said Goe to then quoth Cyrus unto him See that to morrow morning betimes you shew your selfe here with your men of armes well appointed to the end that as we may take a view of your forces so you may conduct us through your countrey Whereby also we shall know what parts thereof to account friendly and what to repute as hostile Having thus communed togither they tooke their leaves and either of them went to that which was meet for them CHAP. III. How Cyrus intended to assault the great City of Babylon The discourses which he had with the Prince of Hyrcania and with Gobryas WHen morrow appeared Gobryas presented himselfe with his horsmen accordingly and led the way But Cyrus as became a Generall and chiefe Commaunder did not onely set his mind upon his journey but also as hee passed on cast with himselfe how possibly hee might weaken his enemies and make his owne side stronger Whereupon sending for the Hyrcanian Prince and Gobryas for he supposed them to have most skill in those points which he was to know I thinke quoth he my good friends that I shall not doe amisse to conferre with you that are trusty consederates as touching this warre For I see that it concerneth you much more than mee that the Assyrian King get not the upper hand of us For my selfe if I should take the foile and loose this that I have gotten I might haply find some other place of refuge but in case hee win and get the day I see your whole estate will bee alienated from you and become other mens Mine enemie he is not because he hateth me but for that he supposeth it will be his losse if we be great which is the onely reason why he warreth upon us But you he not onely hateth and that mortally but taketh himselfe also to be wronged by you To this both of them answered That as they had a care to performe the exploit as who knew as much as he told them so they were exceeding sollicitous withall about the future issue of the present enterprise Whereupon thus began he first with them Tell me quoth he Thinks the Assyrian King that yee alone carry hostile hearts against him or know yee that he hath some other enemies besides Yes verily quoth the Hyrcanian Prince His greatest enemies be the Cadusil a nation very populous and mighty The Sacans also our borderers who have sustained much harme from the Assyrian King For he hath attempted to subdue them as well as us Thinke yee not then said Cyrus that both of them now would gladly take our parts and be ready with us joyntly to invade the â—â—rians Yos and that right fiercely said they if by any meanes they night 〈◊〉 with us And what is the let betweene quoth hee that wee may not 〈◊〉 and be united togither Even the Assyrians themselves say they that very
any thing in mee I might have perished but by your meanes I am saved And here my good Cyrus I report mee to the Gods whom I take to record were I as perfect and sound a man as when I was new borne and had I begotten children I doubt whether ever I should have had a child of mine owne who would have prooved so kinde to mee as you have beene For I have knowne other unnaturall children and even for example this very King of Assyria that now is who hath wrought his father much more woe and trouble than himselfe is able now to worke you Whereas Cyrus returned this answere My Gadatas You make a great mervaile of mee now letting passe I assure you a greater wonder And what might that be quoth Gadatas Even this saith he that so many Persians so many Medes so many Hyrcanians and all the Armenians Sacans and Cadusians here present have hastened and beene so forward for your sake Whereupon Gadatas brake out into this prayer O Iupiter the Gods graunt unto these men many good blessings but unto him most who is the author of this their so kinde affection And to the end ô Cyrus that we may enterteine and adorne these whom you so praise here take such hospitall gifts as I am able to bestow And therewith presented unto him very many that not onely whosoever would might sacrifice unto the Gods but the whole armie also throughout be rewarded according to the worth of these Acts so well performed and speeding as well CHAP. VII The good Remonstrances of Cyrus as touching the fault of the Cadusian Prince The treatie with the King of Assyria for the good of his people BVT the Cadusian Leader who having the conduct of the rereward had â—o hand in the chace yet desirous for his part also to doe some notable peece of service by himselfe without acquainting Cyrus with his designe and saying never a word unto him made a rode into the territorie toward Babylon and harried it But whiles his horsemen were raunging abroad and straggling asunder the Assyrian King issuing out of a Citie of his owne whereinto he was before fled came upon them at unwares with his armie very well appointed and in order of battaile to encounter him And when he discovered them to be the Cadusians onely he charged upon them and among many other slew the said Commaunder of them He tooke many horses also of the Cadusians and despoyled them of all that bootie which they had gotten and were driving away Thus the King of Assyria after he had followed the Cadusians in rout so farre as he might with safetie returned As for the formost of the Cadusians they recovered the Campe by the shutting in of the evening and so escaped safe Cyrus being advertised of this disaster went forth and met the Cadusians As he saw any one wounded him hee received and comforted yea and sent to Gadatas for to be cured The rest he bestowed in pavilions by themselves togither and with great care gave order that they should have all necessaries assuming unto him as assistants in the businesse certeine of the Persian Homotimi For in such cases as these good and honest men are willing to set to their helping hands And for his owne part verily how much hee grieved it evidently appeared in that it being now supper time when the rest were at supper Cyrus still with his Ministers Physicians and Chirurgions gave attendance and by his good will left not one neglected and unlooked to but if hee did not in his owne person see to them every man might plainly perceive that he sent others to tend them And so for that time they went to rest By the breake of day he made Proclamation by the publike Criers that the Rulers of the other Associates but the Cadusians all in generall should assemble togither and unto them hee delivered these or such like words My friends and Confederates An ordinary accident it is among men that hath befalâ—e unto you For men yee are and that men should erre is in my conceit no wonder And yet by good right meet it is that of this infortunitie we should reape some profit Namely To learne never hereafter to sever from the whole body of the armie any Regiment weaker than the enimies forces Neither speake I this quoth he that a man ought not sometimes to goe out when the case so requireth with a lesse power than wherewith the Cadusians erewhile did set forth But if one enterprise an exploit imparting his minde first to him who is able and sufficient to helpe and so goe forth he may perchance faile of his purpose and be deceived yet as possible it is that hee who stayeth still behind may delude the enemies diverting them another way from those who went forth There are besides other meanes to worke trouble unto the enemies and thereby to procure the safetie of friends And so verily he that is gone apart from the rest may not be coumpted absent but to depend upon the residue of the forces behind But he that departeth making no man privie beforehand where he is differeth nothing at all from him who of himselfe alone undertaketh an expedition Howbeit for this mischance quoth he that hath happened God willing ere it bee long wee will be avenged of our enemies For so soone as ever yee have taken a short dinner I my selfe will bring you where the deed was done and there will we both bury our dead and also if God will shew unto our enemies that in the very place where they thinke they have gotten the upper hand there be others better men than themselves in so much as they shall take no great joy to see that plot of ground on which they slew our Associates But in case they will not come forth and meet us in the field let us set their villages on fire let us harry and wast their country that they may have no pleasure in the sight of those things which they have done to us but contrariwise sorrow and grieve to behold their owne calamities Goe yee therefore all the rest quoth he to your dinners As for you that are Cadusians First choose according to your owne law and custome some one to be your Prince who with the auspicious helpe of the Gods and us may take the charge of you and see what yee stand in need of When yee have elected him and dined withall send whom yee have elected unto mee And so they did accordingly But Cyrus after hee had brought forth his armie and appointed him to his Regiment whom the Cadusians had made choice of commaunded him to lead the same arraunged in order of battaile close to himselfe to the end quoth he that if it be possible wee may encourage these men againe Thus set they forth and being come to the place they both entered the Cadusians and harried the country And when they had so done and gotten
all such occurrents as were meet for him to know he effected thus much that very many men both spied and listened after somewhat to bring the same to the Kings eares whereby some commodity might accrue unto him Hereupon it came that a King was thought to have many eyes and as many eares Now if any man think that a King ought to have one to be his especiall eye and no more he taketh not the thing aright For one man is able to see or heare but a little And if that one have this commission all the rest may seeme to be enjoyned negligence Besides whomsoever they perceived once to be that eye of the King him they might know well enough they ought to beware of But the case is nothing so For the King gives eare to every one that saith he hath either heard or seene ought worth regard Thus there are thought to be many eyes and eares of a King and in every place men are affraid to let fall any words that are not for his behoufe as if he heard all and likewise to do any thing against his good estate and dignity as if himselfe were in person present to see all And so farre off was any man from daring to give out any reproachfull speeches against Cyrus that every one demeaned himselfe so as if all that were in place conversed continually in the eyes and eares of the King Now that mens hearts were thus knit unto Cyrus I know no better reason that men can alleadge than this that for small kindnesses he was willing ever to give great gifts And no mervaile that he excelled thus in bountifull giving being as he was exceeding rich But this rather deserveth to be spoken of that albeit he was in regall estate and dignity yet he surpassed for courtesies and favours to his friends and dependants Certes reported it is of him that in no one thing was he so much abashed to be overcome as in kind offices to his friends And to this purpose reported there is this Apophthegme of his For he was wont to say that the parts required in a good heardman and a good King were femblable And as it was the duty of a pastour after he hath made the beasts under his hand in good plight and happy For that verily is the felicity of cattaile then to use them even so a King ought to make use of those Cities and that people which himselfe before had made fortunate CHAP. III. The triall that Cyrus made of his friends love unto him How he dealt away his riches to be himselfe the better beloved of them and they not to affect one another NO wonder it was therefore that Cyrus being himselfe of this minde labored especially to outgoe all other men in gentlenesse humanitie And hereof it is reported that he gave a singular proofe unto Croesus what time as he admonished him and said That giving away so much as he did he would himselfe become a begger in the end Whereas quoth he you are the onely man that might have laid up exceeding much treasure of gold in your coffers if you had list For then Cyrus by report asked him saying And how much money thinke you might I have had by this time if according to your rede I had bin a hoarder of gold from the first time that I came to mine Empire Croesus answered and named a certaine great summe Then Cyrus Goe to then Croesus quoth he send with Hystaspas here some one whom you of all other trust best And as for you Hystaspas Goe among my friends from one to another and say in my name that for some businesse of mine owne I am at a fault for gold and in very truth great occasions I have of money will them to let me have what they can every one make And withall when they have set downe the severall summes and sealed them up to give the note of particulars with a letter to Croesus his servitour for to bring backe with him When heâ— had written also whatsoever he had spoken and signed his letters he gave them to Hystaspas to carry unto his said friends with this Addition unto them all That they should entertaine Hystaspas also the bearer as his friend and favorite Now when hee had gone round about them all and Croesus his minister brought the letters aforesaid then Hystaspas You are to make use of mee also quoth he ô King Cyrus as of a wealthy man For loe here am I enriched of a sudden with many gifts in regard of your letters Whereupon Cyrus Here is ô Croesus our Treasure that we have gotten already Consider the rest by him and reckon what great summes of money I am provided of in case I stand in need of them for any purpose Croesus when he had cast the accompt found as they say that it amounted to much more than hee said Cyrus should have found in his Exchequer if hee had beene a gatherer and laid up continually When this appeared thus See you not ô Croesus quoth Cyrus that I also am stored with treasure But you would have mee by heaping up altogither at home for to lye open unto envie and hatred abroad by the meanes thereofâ— yea and to set hirelings and trust them with the keeping of the same But I accompt my friends by mee enriched to bee my treasuries and the keepers both of my person and also of my goods more sure and faithfull than if I should wage garrison-souldiers and trust them with the custodie thereof Another thing also will I say unto you That which the Gods have put into mens minds and thereby made them all indigent and poore alike the same affection verily I my selfe am not able to conquer and subdue For I cannot have my fill of money no more than all others But in this point mee thinkes I goe beyond most of them in that when they have gotten togither more than will suffice their turnes part thereof they bury in the ground part they suffer to rot and be marred And what with telling measuring weighing winnowing ayring and keeping they have much adoe withall And yet for all this whiles they have all at home they neither eate more than they can beare for then would they burst nor put on more clothes than they can carry for so they should be sweltered and stifled but their superfluous money and riches troubles and torments them not a little As for mee I serve and honour the Gods with my goods and ever covet to have more still And when I have gotten itâ— looke what surplusage I see over and above suffisance therewith I supply the penury and want of my friends By enriching men and bestowing benefits liberally upon them I winne good will and amitie The fruit whereof I reape to wit securitie and glory And such fruits as these neither fade and pâ—â—ish nor by growing over-ranke corrupt any man but glory and good name the more it is the greater and
this day there remaineth a testimony as well of their moderate diet as also of working out their food For even yet among the Persians it is held a shamefull thing either to spit or snit the nose or to seeme full of ventosities Yea and a shame it is for a man to be seene openly to goe any whither abroad either to make water or to doe any such requisite businesse of nature And surely never were they able thus much to doe vnlesse they did not onely keepe a spare diet but also by trauell so spend and consume their excrementitious moysture as that it might passe and be conueyed some other way Thus much I thought good to speake of all the Persians in generall But now will I deliver the noble acts of Cyrus for whose sake I have entred into this treatise beginning even at his very Childhood CHAP. II. How Cyrus went into Media with the Queene his mother where he shewed many tokens of his good nature and pregnant wit vnto King Astyages semblably of his temperance and sobriety Cyrus therefore was trayned vp in this discipline vntill he came to be twelve yeeres old and somewhat better by which time it was well seene that he excelled all his schoole-fellowes both in quicke apprehension and aptnesse to learne what was put vnto him and also in performing of euery action handsomely with a grace and manly courage After which time King Astyages sent for his daughter Mandane and her sonne as having a great desire to see him for the report that went what a goodly and towardly Youth he was So Mandane went to her father taking with her Cyrus her sonne Vnto whom when she was come and that with great speed no sooner knew Cyrus that Astyages was his mothers father but forthwith as he was a childe by nature kind and louing to his parents he saluted and embraced him as if he had beene one brought vp with him long before or inwardly acquainted with him of old And beholding him how he was set out with painting vnder his eyes with a set borrowed colour in his face with a perrucke also or cap of counterfait haire on his head after the guise of the Medes for all these deuices are receiued among them like as beside these Median fashions it is the manner with them to weare purple coates and Amices which they call Candyes as also cheines and carkanets about their necks and bracelets at both hands whereas the Persians such as keep at home in their owne countrey even at this day vse much courser rayment and more slender diet Cyrus I say seeing this gay attire and ornaments of his grandfather and looking wistly vpon him Mother quoth he what a faire grandfather haue Iâ— And when his Mother asked him againe whether of the twaine he thought the good lier man his owne father or this his grandfather he answered thus Madame of all the Persians my father is most â—ightly but of the Medes as many of them as I haue seene either vpon the way in the streets or at their dores my grandfather here is the goodliest person by farre Astyages therfore imbracing the childe againe did put vpon him a beautifull robe and withall honoured and decked him with costly collars and bracelets Also if he rode forth any whither he would haue Cyrus evermore with him mounted on horse-backe with a golden bridle even as he was wont himselfe to ride And Cyrus being a child given much to decent gallantnesse and no lesse desirous of honour as he tooke great delight in that rich robe so he joyed not a little that he learned the feat of riding For in Persia by reason that it is hard for want of forage to keepe horses and to ride there because the country is full of mountaines seldome might a man so much as see an horse Now Astyages being vpon a time at supper with his daughter and little nephew Cyrus minding also that the childe should sup with greatest pleasure and contentment to the end that he might the lesse long after home did set before him sundry platters full of the daintiest cates and viands of all sorts and the same served vp with the most exquisite Sauces that could be deuised Then Cyrus as they say spake in this wise Grandsire what trouble doe you put your selfe vnto at supper if you must reach with your hand to euery dish here and taste of so many and sundry meates why quoth Astyages againe Is not this thinkest thou a finer supper by many degrees than that in Persia No verily Good Sir answered Cyrus considering we goe a more plaine and direct way to satisfie our selues than yee do For bread and flesh onely bring vs straight thither whereas yee shooting at the same marke that we doe after much wandring vp and downe and fetching many a compasse and winding cranke hardly and with much adoe at length arriue vnto that whereto we attained long before But we my childe quoth Astyages thinke it no paine thus to raunge and goe about onely doe but taste and thou also shalt know quoth he how toothsome and savoury these cates are Yea but me thinkes quoth Cyrus that even your selfe grandsire doe loath these deinties Then Astyages whereby speakest thou so my child and what conjecture leadeth thee thereto because saith he I see when you have handled bread that you doe not wipe your hand with any thing but no sooner touch you any of these viands and sauces but presently at every morsell and as you dio therein you make your hand cleane with a napkin as if you were much offended that the same was full of it Well my sonne quoth Astyages if this be thy conceit be merry yet and fall to thy flesh-meats that thou maist returne home a gallant Youth Which he had no sooner said but he caused many kinds of flesh both wild and tame to be set before him Now when Cyrus beheld such store of flesh Tell me Grandsire quoth he doe you bestow upon me all this venison and other flesh-meats to doe what I list therewith yea mary doe I my sonne quoth Astyages I frankly give them all to thee Then Cyrus taking to him the said flesh-meats distributed them all among the servitours that waited on his Grandfather saying these or such like words to each one Take thou this for that thou teachest me so willingly to ride Here is for thee because thou didst bestow on me a dart for this have I yet by me To one I give thee this in regard of thy good service to my Grandfather And to another have thou this at my hands because thou doest honour to my mother In this manner dealt he untill be had made an hand of all the flesh which he received But how is it quoth Astyages that thou givest nothing to Sacas my Cup-bearer whom of all others I esteeme most Now was this Sacas a goodly fellow of person and besides in that place of credit and honour
as to admit Suiters vnto the presence of Astyages and to put backe such as he thought came out of season and not meet to have accesse But Cyrus as a child not smaying at all nor abashed at the question readily came upon him againe with a reply And why Grandfather quoth he set you such store by this Sacas Then Astyages answered merrily in this manner 〈◊〉 thou not quoth he how deftly and featly he doth his office for the Cup-bearers of these Kings be very neate and fine in powring in the wine with a singular grace bearing the Cup also with three fingers so handsomely that as they deliuer it into the hands of him that shall drinke thereof hee may receive it with greatest facility Why quoth Cyrus commaund Sacas good Grandfather to put the Cup likewise into my hands that I also serving you with wine right decently may if I can win your grace and favour Whereupon Astyages willed him to give the Cup unto Cyrus which when he had received he rinsed it as featly as he had seene Sacas doe it and so with a setled countenance hee brought it to his Grandfather and gave it him so curiously with such a seemely gesture that he set both his Mother and Astyages alaughing full heartily And Cyrus himselfe taking up a laughter for company ran unto his Grandfather and kissed him saying with all Thou art utterly undone Sacas for I am like to thrust thee out of thy honorable place For as in other respects I shall powre out wine better than thou so when I do it I will not drinke it off my selfe For these Kings Cup-bearers when they present a cup of wine powre some of it forth into a taster which they hold in their left hand and so take the assay and drink it off to the end that if they had conveyed poyson into the Cup they might not escape themselves without a mischiefe Hereupon Astyages minding to make some sport with Cyrus And why quoth he unto him dost thou imitate Sacas in all points else but drankest not the wine as he did Because said he I feared that poyson was mixed therewith in the goblet For when upon your birth-day you feasted your friends I perceived evidently that he powred forth unto you all very poyson And how knewest thou that quoth he my Sonne For-sooth said Cyrus because I saw you distempered both in body and minde For first looke what ye forbid us children to doe that did yee your selves yee did set up a cry and howted all at once together yee fell to singing and that very ridiculously and whom yee heard not to sing at all ye would not sticke to sweare that he fung passing well Moreouer when every one of you bragged of his owne strength and valour no sooner rose yee vp to daunce but so farre were yee from keeping the measures that unneth ye were able to stand vpright on your feet So that yee all forgat your selves you that you were a King and the rest that they were your subjects And then learned I first that this which you then did was that very liberty of free speech which alloweth every man to speake indifferently his mind And to say a truth your tongues neuer lay still Why quoth Astyages then Tell mee my sonne when thy father drinketh wine is hee not drunken otherwhiles No truly answered Cyrus But how doth he order the matter quoth Astyages that he continueth sober Truly saith Cyrus he drinketh so as that hee allayeth his thirst onely and in so doing other harme hee feeleth none For hee hath no Sacas I trow Grandfather to fill him wine Hereat inferred his mother and said What is the reason my sonne that thou art so heauy a friend to Sacas and thus set against him To tell troth said Cyrus because I hate him in my heart for many times when I am desirous to runne unto my Grandfather this fellow most lewd and wicked varlet as he is puts mee backe But I beseech you good Grandfather giue mee the command ouer him but three daies And after what sort said Astyages wilt thou exercise thy authoritie vpon him Stand I will quoth Cyrus in the very entry where he is wont to stand and when he would come in to dinner Backe Sirra will I say There is no ingresse for you yet unto your dinner My Grandfather is busie in giving audience unto certaine persons Againe when he commeth to supper I will say Hee is now bathing of him And if I see that very faine he would eat I will tell him that my Grandfather is even then with the Ladies Thus will I doe untill I have put him off like as himselfe useth to delude and delay mee keeping mee backe from accesse to your presence Such prety sports as these ministred Cyrus at the table all supper while But in the day time if he perceiued that either his Grandfather or Vnkle by the Mothers side had a minde to any thing hard it was for any other to prevent him in effecting the same For exceeding glad was Cyrus to gratifie them in any service to his power CHAP. III. How the Queene Mother Mandane returned into Persia and Cyrus abode behind in Media where he gave himselfe much to Horse-manship and feates of Armes and with his owne hand killed many wild beasts NOw when Mandane addressed her selfe to returne unto her husband Astyages besought her to leave Cyrus with him But shee made this answer againe That willing shee was indeed to satisfie her father in all things howbeit she thought it hard to leave the childe behind her against his will Then Astyages directing his speech to Cyrus my sonne quoth he if thou wilt tarry here with me First and formost for accesse to me thou shalt not be beholden to Sacas nor at his appointment But whensoever thou art disposed to enter into my chamber it shall be as thou wilt thy selfe and the oftner that thou shalt repaire unto me the more thanke will I conn thee Againe mine owne horses shall be at thy commaund yea and others as many as it pleaseth thee to use And when thou wilt depart take with thee which of them thou list Besides at thy suppers use thine owne diet and take what course thou wilt unto that which thou thinkest to stand with moderate sobriety Moreover I bestow upon thee all wild beasts that now be in my Parke and others will I get together for thee of all kinds which so soone as ever thou hast learned to ride an horse perfectly thou shalt chace at thy pleasure and by shooting and darting overthrow like as tall and mighty men are wont to doe Furthermore I will appoint certaine young Gentlemen to bee thy play-feers And in one word whatsoeuer thy mind stands to say but the word to me and thou shalt not faile but have it After that Astyages had thus said to Cyrus his mother asked him whether he would stay or depart who without any study
warre be of greatest consequence But as for you able yee are to use the night in every point as well as others the day yee repute labours to be the guides leading the way to pleasant life Hunger yee reckon in stead of sauce and to drinke water yee can endure better than the very Lyons To conclude the fayrest possession the most precious treasure and best agreeable unto warriors that is yee have laid up within your hearts in that ye take more joy in being praised than in all things else in the world And they that are lovers of praise and renowme must needs for the attaining thereto willingly undergoe all travell and abide all daunger Now if I should pronounce thus much of you thinking and knowing otherwise I doe but deceive my selfe as upon whom the fault will redownd incase no such thing be performed by you But verily such is your owne skill your love also to me ward such likewise is the blockish ignorance of our enemies that I trust assuredly these good hopes will not faile mee Only let us march on in this our journey with bold and couragious hearts considering it is farre from us to be thought for to covet other mens goods unjustly for even now as our enemies are comming and begin first to deale wrongfully with us so our friends call unto us for ayde What then is there either more just than to put by an injury or more honourable than to helpe our friends Moreouer in this regard I suppose you repose not the least confidence because I have not enterprised this expedition with neglect of the Gods For being as yee are privy unto many of my doings and much conversant with mee yee know very well that not only in weighty affaires but also in smaller matters I use alwayes to begin in the name of the Gods In conclusion quoth he what should I say more when you have chosen and taken unto you elect men and are otherwise in all points well and sufficiently provided set forth towards the Medes As for mee repaire I will unto my Father to the end that having with all speed learned of him the state of our enemies I may accommodate you what I can in this affaire and so with the power of God make a right noble journey of it CHAP. VIII The good instructions that Cambyses gave unto his sonne Cyrus as touching the enterprise against the Assyrians and how a good Captaine should carry himselfe with his army in a strange country and win the love of every man THus therefore were they busied and thus prepared they themselves But Cyrus after his returne home and having made his prayers unto Vesta the Patronesse of his countrey to Iupiter also the Protectour thereof and to other gods did put himselfe in his war expedition and his father brought him on his way When they were gone forth of the Palais it thundered and lightned on the right and lucky side as they say whereupon without any other token or presage taken by augury they marched forth as who would say no man then could be ignorant of the signes given by the most high and mighty God Now when Cyrus was gone a little forward his father began to discourse unto him in this wise That the gods my Sonne are propitious and accompany thee with their gracious favour evident it is as well by sacrifices as celestiall tokens and thou thy selfe doest know as much For taught thee I have these matters of purpose partly that thou mightest know the will and counsell of the gods by no other interpreters but understand the same by thy selfe seeing the sights and hearing the noises that are to bee seene and heard and not depend upon wizards who might if they were disposed deceive thee by relating other things than were signified by the gods above and partly because if at any time thou wert without a Soothsayer thou shouldest not doubt what to resolve upon by those divine tokens but observing by this skill of Divination what Gods will is obey the same Surely father quoth Cyrus endeavour I will alwaies even to the uttermost of my power and according to your advertisement that the gods being favourable unto us would ever be pleased to aduise us for the best For I remember that I heard you once say It standeth with good congruity that he should obtaine any thing at the gods hands as well as at mans yea and more easily who doth not fawne upon them when he is in distresse but at what time he is in greatest prosperity even then thinkes upon the gods most of all You said moreover that the same consideration of friends likewise must be had Certes then my Sonne quoth Cambyses being as thou art so devoutly affected to the gods thou commest unto them now at this time more willingly in that regard to crave their helpe yea and thou hopest so much the rather to obtaine whatsoever thou needest and makest petition for because thy conscience beareth thee witnesse that thou wert never slacke in their service Doubtlesse father quoth he I am thus conceited of the gods as of my affectionate friends What Sonne said the Father and doest thou remember those points which sometime we resolved upon Namely that such men are like to speed better who have learned those sciences which are given unto us by the gods than those that be ignorant of the same Againe that by travell they shall gaine more than by sitting still As also that by carefull diligence they shall live in more safety than if they carry themselves carelesly and take no heed And verily thus was then our opinion that after this sort wee should crave good things at Gods hands to wit in demeaning our selves as we ought Truly Father quoth Cyrus I remember very well that I heard you deliver these lessons and I could not choose but of necessity yeeld my consent to those speeches and bee perswaded thereby Full well I wot also what you added moreover and said that in no wise lawfull it was for them to crave of the gods victory in Horse-fight who have not learned to ride well neither for those who be unexpert in shooting to pray unto the gods that they may have the better hand of cunning Archers ne yet for such pilots as know not how to guide the helme to beseech the gods they may save ships by their steering no more than for them that never fowed their seed to wish for a fayre crop of corne to come up or for those who looke not to themselves in battayle desire the safety of their lives For all such prayers and wishes verily be against the ordinance and law of God Semblably you said that whosoever asked at Gods hands ungodly things by as good reason deserved to be said nay as those to take a repulse who preferre unto men unlawfull suits But have you Sonne forgotten those matters quoth Cambyses whereof you and I sometime devised and talked together namely That it
take his ease then make this full accompt and be sure that there is no misfortune and calamity but all such persons must abide it And verily this after a sort is the ordinance of God For ouer those who will not enioyne themselves labour to effect good things he setteth others to rule and command Now therefore let some one arise up here and speake to the point whether he thinketh that it is like wee will giue our mindes to exercise vertue the rather if he that is willing to travaile most and to enter into greatest daunger shall obtaine also the greatest honour or if he know that it matters not at all if one bee a coward seeing that all of us shall be rewarded alike Then Chrysantas one of the Peeres above said arose No big man was he of person to see to nor strong but of singular wisedome who spake in this wise I suppose quoth he ô Cyrus you propound not this case to be decided because you thinke it meet that cowards should by right have equall part with valiant men but to try whether any one will be seene to carry this minde that although himselfe execute no good and commendable Act yet hee would be full partner and reape like fruit of those things which others by their valour have atchieved As for my selfe quoth he swift I am not of foot nor yet a tall man of my hands And full well I wote that for any feats which I shall with my body performe I cannot be raunged in the first nor second ne yet I suppose in the thousandth no nor peradventure in the ten thousandth place And yet thus much also I know for certeine that if hardy men shall attempt any brave deeds and doe their best I shall have such part of some good commodities as I am thought of right to deserve but if both cowards and slow-backs shall doe just nothing and also the valorous and able men be put out of heart and discouraged I feare me quoth he I shall have a part of any thing rather than that which is good yea and in greater measure then I would When Chrysantas had thus said there stood up after him Pheraulas a Persian Commoner one in some sort ever since they came from home inward with Cyrus and well accepted of him A man for his body not unpersonable and in regard of his minde seeming no ignoble and base pesant who made this speech I suppose ô Cyrus quoth he and yee Persians as many as are present that we all endevour and strive to the triall of vertue For I perceive that generally wee acquaint our bodies to like diet wee are admitted all to semblable societies and meetings and the very same acts of Prowesse are propounded to us all indifferently For to obey those that be in authority is a point in common that concerneth all and whosoever is known thus to doe without refusall pretending excuse for the matter him I see most honored at Cyrus his hands Also to be stout and valiant against the enemy is a thing not deemed decent for one and undecent for another but even the same hath been judged already to be most seemly and honourable for all But now say I a fight battaile also is presented unto us unto which I see all men are fitted and skilfull by nature like as other creatures are cunning every one in some fight or other which they have learned of no other schoolemaster but of nature As for example the Bull or Oxe is naturally taught to push with his home the Horse to strike with his house the Dog to bite with his mouth and the Bore to wound with his tusk And all these beasts know to avoid those things which are most to be taken heed of And yet for this they never frequented any Schoole at all My selfe when I was but a little one knew even then how to cast some thing in his way who I thought would beat me And if I had nothing else about mee I would put forth both my hands and as much as possibly I could impeach him that was smiting of mee And this did I untaught For beaten otherwhiles I was if in defence of my selfe I opposed ought betweene Being but a very child I would catch up a sword wâ—eresoever I could see it not taught of any other so much as how to take and hold it but onely by instinct of nature as I suppose Nay I would thus doe when I was not taught but forbidden to doe it Like as other things thereby which notwithstanding I was restreined by my father and mother both yet by nature I was enforced to practise And so helpe me Iupiter as I loved to be striking with a sword what ever I could reach covertly and not espyed Neither was this unto me naturall onely as to goe or to run but besides the motion of nature that way mee thought I found a pleasure and sweetnesse in so doing Seeing then quoth he this fight is left unto us wherein naturall courage is like to prevaile more than artificiall cunning why should not we delight to enter into contention and aemulation with these Peeres considering that the like rewards of fortitude be proposed unto us on both sides and yet we know that we for our parts hazard not alike For these here adventure an honourable life which is the onely life of all others most pleasant but we a painfull and laborious life in deed but a life without honour which I suppose is most odious and displeasant And now my fellow soldiers this most of all inciteth me to entertein a contention and triall with them For that Cyrus shall be our judge who will not upon any envie determine partially but I dare upon mine oath say That I am verily perswaded in my heart that whom soever Cyrus seeth to beare themselves valiantly those he loveth no lesse than his owne heart And this I perceive in him that upon them here he bestoweth what he hath with more pleasure than keepeth it for himselfe yet I am not ignorant That these Peeres be hâ—gh minded Gentlemen and of hautie stomacke brought up and trained as they are to endure hunger thirst and cold Full little knowing that wee have learned even the same of a better Schoolemaster than they For there is no better Preceptour of these things than Necessitie which hath taught us to be very perfect therein As for these Gentlemen I say enured they have beene to trauaile in bearing their armours which all men have devised to make so as they might be borne most easily but we were put to goe and runne also under great burdens so that now the carriage of harnois seemeth unto me more like unto wings than burdens And therefore tak mee ô Cyrus for such an one as will doe my devoyr and whatsoever I am better or worse I shall require to be honoured and advanced according to my worthinesse and not otherwise And yee also my friends of
the Commons I exhort you that yee will arme your selves in this battaile to strive for the better with these Gentlemen so well brought up And now no doubt quoth he are these Gallants overtaken already in this triall with us the Commons To this effect spake Pheraulas There were also many others beside who rose up and accorded to both their speeches Whereupon there passed a Decree That every man should be honoured and rewarded after his owne worth and Cyrus to be Iudge thereof And thus verily proceeded these matters CHAP. VIII The feats of armes that Cyrus his Captaines practised in exercising their Companies MOreover Cyrus invited also upon a time a whole Centurie togither with their Centinier to supper by occasion that he had seene him to divide his Companie into two parts and to set them in battaile ray one side against the other ready to skirmish armed as they were on both sides for defense with brest-plates and bearing in their left hands light bucklers But for offense he gave unto the one halfe in their right hands good round bastons signifying to the rest that they should take up clods and fling them at their opposites Now when they stood thus arraunged and appointed he gave them the signall to combat Then the one part threw from them their clods at the other and hit them some on the brest-plates and bucklers others upon the thighs and boots But when those were once come to close fight who had the wasters abovesaid they laid about them and basted the other well some on their thighs others about their hands and armes others also over their shinnes and legges yea and if any of them stouped for to take up clods they would be sure to lay upon their necks and backs At length the waster-men put the others to flight pursued them and beat them throughly with much good laughter and pastime Others also for their parts againe would in like manner take wasters in hand and serve them so who fought with flinging clods Cyrus admiring as well the witty devise of the Leader as the due obedience of the Soldiers for that they were at once both exercised and also emboldened and seeing withall those gaine the better who counterfaited the Persians armour and weapons being much delighted with this sight bade them all to supper and espying in his pavilion some of them with their shinnes and legges others with their armes and hands bound up he asked them what they ayled who answered that they had beene hurt with clods then demaunded he of them againe whether they caught their hurt when they met close togither or when they were farre asunder they made answer when they were farre asunder but when wee came to close-hand-fight said the Wastermen we made most pleasant pastime and sport Sport cried out the other who had beene well basted with the bastinado We for our parts found no such sport when we buckled togither thus to be cudgelled and with that shewed on their armes hands and necks yea and some of them upon their faces the dry blowes of the bastons which they had received And then verily they laughed heartily one at another as they might well enough The day following the whole field was full of men who assayed to imitate these in this manner of fight and when they had no other weightier affaires in hand they practised evermore this kinde of game Moreover Cyrus having espied on a time another Centurion leading his Centurie one by one from a river to dinner and when he saw his time commanding the Caporalls to bring forward the hindmore band the third likewise and the fourth in to the front also when as now the Caporals or Leaders of the said bands were all afront how he bade them to double their fyles and lead every band by two and two And so thereupon the Decurions brought forward their men afront accordingly And when he thought it good againe how he gave charge to lead their bands by foure and foure in ranke whereupon the Quincurions went forward with their souldiers so as that the band marched foure and foure in ranke Also how after they were come once to their Pavilion doore hee led the formost band in commanding them to march two by two in ranke willing withall the second to follow hard after in the very taile of the other and having given the like charge to the third and fourth how he led them in And thus as he brought them in how he caused them to sit downe to their meale even as they entred Cyrus I say wondering at this Captaine for his mildnesse his dexteritie in teaching and diligence withall invited this hundred also to supper with their Centinier Now there being then in place a certeine other Centurion that was bidden to supper But invite you not my Centurie quoth he ô Cyrus into your Pavilion and yet when he is at supper he doth the very same every way when supper also is done and the meeting dissolved the last Leader of the reare band bringeth forth his crew having the last verily set formost in array against they should fight then after them he likewise that leadeth the taile of the second crew and semblably the third and the fourth to the end that when they are to be led away from the enemies they might know how to retire Furthermore if we addresse our selves for a running march and be disposed to journey whensoever we set out toward the Sun-rising I my selfe lead the way and the first band goeth formost then the second keepeth his place as is meet the third likewise and the fourth in order as also the Decuries and Quicuries of every band so long as I bid them But when we march toward the West or Sun-setting then the Caporall of the reare band and with him those that be last lead in the front and yet they obey me neverthelesse comming behind in the very taile that they may be accustomed as well to follow as lead with like obedience And what quoth Cyrus Doe ye alwaies practise this Yea Sir I assure you quoth the said Captain so often and as duly as we go to our suppers I invite therefore you also saith Cyrus partly for that you yonder traine your souldiours so precisely to keepe order in going and comming in marching on and retiring and partly because you practise so to doe both by day and night and withall not onely exercise your bodies by journeying but also profit your minds by teaching And now for as much as yee doe every thing double good reason it is that we semblably make you double cheere Not so for Gods sake saith the Captaine unlesse you give us also two bellies apeece And thus brake up their meeting in his Pavilion The morrow after Cyrus reinvited this Centurie to his Pavilion according as he had said overnight and so the day following Which when the rest perceived they all from that time forward
owne hurt and detriment Not thus saith Cyrus for so should I punish my selfe Yea quoth Tigranes and much hinder and endammage your owne estate if at such a time you killed any of your liege men when they might stand you in greatest stead to be kept alive But how can those men be prized so high when they be taken in the manner doing injurie Yes verily as I thinke saith Tigranes if then they may proove wise and sound-hearted For this is mine opinion ô Cyrus that without the mind bee seasoned with prudence no other vertue availeth ought For what use can there bee of a strong and stout man or of a valiant Knight what profit may one make of a skilfull horseman if he be not wise and discreet withall Nay what commodity may arise from a wealthy person or a mighty man in a City if discretion be away But with wisedome every friend is profitable yea and every servant good and commodious This is then the meaning of your words quoth Cyrus That your Father also even this day is of an unwise and inconsiderate man become wise and discreet Yes verily quoth he Ergo you hold saith Cyrus that such wisedome and discretion is an affection of the mind like as dolour and griefe and not an habit that may be learned For if he ought first to be made witty who afterward is to grow discreet one cannot all at once and sodainly of a foolish and witlesse man become discreet What! good Cyrus quoth he did you never yet observe that one man in his folly taking in hand to fight with another better and mightier than himselfe so soone as ever he was defeated gave over straightwaies that folly of his shewed toward the other Againe have you never seene that one City standing out against another presently after it hath beene conquered chuseth rather to obey that other than to maintaine fight any longer But what calamity of your fathers can you alleadge that you may so confidently avouch him to bee made wise and considerate Even that said Tigranes whereby hee is privy to himselfe that for a greedy desire of liberty hee is brought to that servitude which he never felt before and that he was not able to effect any of those matters which he thought either secretly to have held or by stealth to have compassed or by fine force to have brought to passe But he knoweth right well that wherein so ever you minded to deceive him you have circumvented him so as a man would have deluded the blind or the deafe and those that had no wit at all in the world and what things so ever you thought should be carried closely therein he knoweth full well you have beene so secret as that those places which he supposed most safe and sure for his refuge you made the same his prisons to hold him fast ere he was aware As for celerity so farre have you surpassed him that comming as you did your selfe from places farre remote with a puissant armie you prevented him before that he could bring his forces togither And thinke you in very deed quoth Cyrus such a foyle as this sufficient to make men so wise and wary as to acknowledge others to be their betters and superiours Yes verily said Figranes and much more ywis than when a man is defaired in battaile For it falleth out otherwhiles that a champion once put to the worse by meere strength thinketh after he hath exercised his body to be better appointed and to combate againe Yea and some cities forced and wonne having gotten fresh aides suppose they are able to try it out eftsoones by a new conflict But looke whomsoever any shall judge to be more vertuous and wiser than themselves those many times they are willing to obey even without compulsion You seeme then said Cyrus not to thinke that insolent and malapert persons take knowledge of any others more staied and temperate than themselves nor theeves of true men nor liers of truth speakers nor unjust of those that be righteous And know you not quoth he that now also your father hath dealt falsely and not firmely observed covenants with us albeit he knew that wee for our parts have not broken the least point and tittle of those Articles which Astyages agreed unto Neither doe I my selfe quoth Tigranes say this That it maketh men wise and considerate barely to know their betters unlesse they suffer punishment also at their betters hands like as it is my fathers case now Yea but your father said Cyrus hath felt as yet no smart at all He stands I know well in great feare that he shall be put to abide all extremities And thinke you indeed quoth Tigranes that any thing doth cast men downe and subdue them more than strong feare or wote you not that those who have felt the edge of the sword which of all punishments is thought to be the sharpest will never the lesse encounter the same enemies againe who wounded them But such persons as men doe mightily stand in dread of they can not endure to looke full upon although they speak comfortably unto them This is then your saying is it not quoth Cyrus That men afraid of torments are more punished already than if they were tortured in very deed Why even your selfe quoth he doth know that I say truth as well as I can tell you For well you wote that such as feare to be banished out of their native countrey such also as being to fight a field are afraid of an overthrow live in continuall anguish Semblably they that saile at sea so long as they stand in feare of shipwracke as many also as feare bondage and imprisonment by reason of their feare can have no joy nor receive benefit either of meat or sleep Whereas such as be in exile such as be defaited and brought into servitude already can otherwhiles eate and drinke yea and sleep better than those which are in happy estate Furthermore it appeareth even in these persons more evidently what a cumberous burden feare is For some fearing least after they be taken prisoners they should bee put to death die before for very feare partly by throwing themselves downe headlong partly by strangling themselves and in part by cutting their owne throats So that of all horrible things in the world feare most of all terrifieth mens minds As for my father here how is his heart now affected thinke you standing as hee doth in feare of Captivitie not only for himselfe but also for me his wife and all his children I can easily beleeve in deed quoth Cyrus that he is in this maner much disquieted yet am I of this opinion that incident it is to one and the same man in prosperity to be proud and insolent but in calamity to be sodainly dejected soone cast downe howbeit if upon pardon he recover and be raised up eftsoones to looke aloft to waxe high minded and ready to stirre up new
troubles againe True it is ô Cyrus quoth Tigranes Our offences are such as give good occasion why we should no more be trusted howbeit in your power it is both to fortifie your castles with strong wals and also to keepe with garrison your sensed holds yea and to take what pledges and assurance you will of our fealty And verily quoth he such persons you shall have of us as will not greatly grieve hereat For call to mind wee shall that our selves are the cause of our owne woes But when you have made over the government of this State to any one of those that never trespassed against you if your selfe shall seeme then distrustfull take heed least as you gratifie and pleasure them so they withall take you to be no friend of theirs Againe while you would be thought to avoid the incurring of their hatred if you lay no yoke upon them for to keep them under so as that they can commit no insolent parts beware that hereafter you have not more need to reclaime them than now you have to reduce us unto goodnesse and order But for mine owne part quoth Cyrus so God me helpe I have me thinks no minde at all to put such ministers in trust whom I know to serve me upon compulsion But as for those whom I perceive upon good will and love unto me ready to doe their devoir I suppose I can better beare with them delinquent though they be than such as hate me doe they never so well and performe all double diligence upon constraint and necessity To this replied Tigranes As whose hands then can you ever win so much love and friendship as now you may gaine of us Even of those I think said Cyrus who never were my professed enemies so I would be beneficiall unto them as you are desirous now I should be unto you Why can you find any man good Cyrus quoth hee at this time unto whom you may be so bounteous as unto my father Say you suffer some one to live who never did you wrong what thanks suppose you will he render unto you Or if you bereave him not of wife and children who will in this regard affect you more than he who thinks himselfe to deserve no lesse than to loose the same And know you any man that is like to sorrow more if he hold not the Kingdome of Armenia than we Evident therefore it is quoth he that unto whom most anguish and griefe shall redound if he be not King the same also if he receive of you the Kingdome will yeald unto you the greatest thanks Moreover if you have any care of this also namely to leave the State here at your departure in least trouble consider quoth he whether you thinke all will be more quiet by innovation and change of the Government under a new Lord or by suffering the old and received manner to remaine still in force under their ancient Prince Semblably if you have an eie to this how to bring out into the field a puissant armie Who thinke you will muster and levie it in better order than he that hath often used the same Now put case you stand in need of money whom suppose you meet to raise and procure it for your better than him who both knowes and hath also under his hand all the store that is Beware therefore good Cyrus least by casting off and loosing us you endammage your selfe more than my father can hurt or hinder you To this or the like effect spake Tigranes CHAP. II. How Cyrus with great humanitie did set the King of Armenia with his wife and children at large And after he had received their ransome levied a good power of footmen and horsemen both out of Armenia for this warre CYRVS was exceeding glad to heare him make this speech for that he thought now all was done and dispatched to his hand which he undertooke unto Cyaxares for to performe For he called to minde what he had said and namely how he thought to make the Armenian King a more fast and assured friend unto him than before Hereupon he demaunded of the King himselfe in this manner Tell me then quoth he ô King of Armenia Incase I should condescend unto your requests how great an armie will you send with me and how much mony will you contribute toward this warre Whereunto the Armenian King made this answer I can say nothing unto you good Cyrus either in termes more plainly or to the point more justly thē to declare unto you first all the forces that I have which when you see and know what they be you may have away with you as great a power as you list leaving as much as may serve for the defence of the land Then for mony likewise meet it is that I should shew unto you all the treasure that I have whereof you may take and leave what you thinke good Goe to then saith Cyrus Shew unto me directly what your strength is and tell mee withall what store of coine you have Hereto the Armenian King returned this answer Of horsemen the Armenians are able to make 8000 and of footmen 40000. As for mony quoth he togither with the treasures which my father left unto me being reckoned to the true rate or valew in silver it amounteth to more than 3000 talents Hereunto Cyrus as one in this behalfe nothing care-lesse said thus Of your armie then because the Chaldees your borderers make warre upon you send with me the one halfe but of your monies for those 50 talents which you paid as a tribute deliver double so much unto Cyaxares in regard of deteining the payment thereof And to my selfe you shall lend another hundred talents For the lone whereof I promise If God speed me either to doe you greater pleasures or else to repay you the mony if I be able If I doe not thought haply I may be unsufficient but judged worthily I shall never be unjust Now for Gods sake ô Cyrus said the Armenian King use not these words otherwise you shall not have me so confident and trustfull in you But make this accompt quoth he What monyes so ever you leave us they are yours no lesse than those which you carry from hence Well said Cyrus But how much mony will you part withall unto me for to have your wife againe Even as much quoth he as I am worth And what will you give me to enjoy your children also As much for them likewise as I can make By this reckoning then inferred Cyrus these be prised at twice so much as you possesse Now Tigranes to you I addresse my speech With what ransome would you redeeme your wife newly married he was and loved the woman exceeding well I assure you ô Cyrus quoth he I would lay downe my very life that she might never become thrall Take her to you then quoth Cyrus For yours she is neither doe I repute her to have beene a captive at all seeing
learne of others as knowing my selfe very well how hee hath borne himselfe For as in every point else hee hath done his devoyr like as of you all I suppose no lesse so when I had caused the retreat to bee sounded and called unto him by name albeit hee had his sword up ready to smite his enemie hee presently obeyed and leaving that undone which hee went about did as he was commanded For not onely retired he in person but readily charged the rest to doe the same in so much as he brought his owne company without daunger of the voley ere our enemies wist that we gave ground at all even before they could draw their bowes or launce their javelins against us and so he is both safe himselfe and by his obedience hath saved his owne men also As for others quoth he I see some in deed wounded of whom when I have better considred what time they were hurt I shall then deliver my doome But Chrysantas being so brave a man of action so wise withall and sufficient as well to rule as to be ruled him I say at this present I ordeine a Colonel over a thousand And whensoever God shall give me a good hand againe I will not then be forgetfull of him And I would have you all quoth he to remember thus much and make use of this journey For whatsoever erewhile ye have seene in this fight never ceasse to thinke upon that ye may alwaies judge within your selves whether it is running away or preesse rather that saveth your lives Also whether they that fight willingly be sooner freed from warre or those who are unwilling Likewise what pleasure it is that victory bringeth For none of these points may ye best determine as having made proofe and seene the experience considering the service is so lately performed And verily by continuall meditation hereof yee shall prove the better Now therefore as religious valiant and temperate men take your suppers Offer sacred libations to the Gods beginning with a triumphant song and withall have an eye and due regard to that which is commaunded Thus said he got up to horsebacke and rode away untill he was come to Cyaxares Where after rejoycing with him as requisite it was upon mutuall congratulation for their common victory when he had seene how things went there and asked of him what need he had of his service he rode backe from thence to his own armie As for Cyrus and his souldiers after they had supped and appointed a sufficient watch they betooke themselves to rest But the Assyrians whose Soveraine Commaunder was slaine and with him the very flowre and best of his souldiers were all in great heavinesse yea and many of them by night slipt away and fled out of the Camp Which when Craesus and the rest of their Allies perceived they sorrowed all very much for every thing was dolorous but this troubled them most in generall that throughout the armie all the prime company of those that should have beene their Leaders were out of heart void of counsell and at their wits end Whereupon in the night season they abandoned their tents and departed When day appeared and discovered how naked of fighting men their Camp was Cyrus presently advanced thither first with the Persians Now the enemies had left behind them many Sheepe many Kine and Oxen and besides many waggons full of much treasure and goods Then repaired thither all the Medes likewise who were with Cyaxares where they dined Dinner being done Cyrus called unto him his owne Centiniers and unto them made this Oration My souldiers what benefits and how great presented here unto us by the goodnesse of God seeme we to let slip out of our hands For now your owne selves see that the enemies for feare of us be fled And if they being fortified strongly within their hold have quit the same and are runne away how may any man imagine that they will stand to it if they see us on even ground in the plaine field Also they that durst not hold out when they had no experience of our valour how shall they be able now to abide us defaited as they are already and having suffred so many displeasures at our hands And how shall their greatest cowards be willing to sight with us whose most valiant men lye slaine upon the ground before us Hereat said one of the Company why then doe we not with all speed pursue them seeing so great availes comming towards us so evidently Because quoth Cyrus we want good horses whereas the very best of our enemies and such as most fit it were now either to kill or to take prisoners hie them homeward apace well mounted on good coursers And those verily by Gods helpe able were we to put to flight but in following the chace shall never overtake Why then say they goe you not to Cyaxares and impart so much unto him Say you so quoth he Then follow mee all that he may know yee are generally of this minde So they all both followed Cyrus and also declared what they thought meet as touching the matter they required Cyaxares partly for that they made the motion first somewhat envied them and partly because he thought he should doe well for himselfe if he did not enter into daunger a second time for surely he gave himselfe to joy and mirth and saw many of the Medes doe the same answered in this manner CHAP. II. The opinion of Cyaxares to divert Cyrus from following the traine of his victorie I Know nephew Cyrus both by report and also by that which I have seene my selfe that yee Persians of all other men study most not to set your minds upon any pleasure unsatiably But verily for mine own part I thinke it much more behoovefull in the greatest pleasure to be continent and hold a meane And what is it that presenteth greater contentment to men than good successe which at this time is falne unto us If we therefore being now in happy case can soberly and wisely keepe the same we may perhaps live unto our old age in felicitie without all daunger But if wee are never satisfied therewith pursuing still one good fortune in the necke of another take heed least that befall unto us which they say many navigatours have found at sea who meeting sometime with a good gale of wind and fortunate voyage would never make an end of sayling untill they were cast away and so perished Semblably many men by report having obteined one victory by coveting to winne another have lost the former For truly if our enemies who are fled were fewer in number than we it might peradventure be safe for us to pursue them being so few But now consider with how small a troup of them wee all fought when we gained the upper hand The rest were not at the battaile nor strucke one stroke whom if we force not to draw sword they not knowing us nor themselves for want of skill and
replyed Cyrus Can ye put in any pledge for our assurance that yee speake the truth Wee will say they forthwith ride away and even this night bring hostages with us for your better securitie Onely doe you assure us in the name of God and give us your right hand that we may make report to others what wee have received from you Then hee faithfully promised them that if they performed bona fide what they had said he would use them as his trusty and assured friends neither would he ranke them inferiour in place either to the Persians or to the Medes And even at this very day a man shall see the Hyrcanians put in trust and bearing office of state as well as Persians or Medes such as are thought of best worth After they had supped Cyrus led forth his armie before day light was gone and commaunded those Hyrcanians to give attendance there and to march onward togither with him As for the Persians they all in generall as requisite it was speedily came forth and Tigranes also with his owne Regiment Of the Medes some entred this journey for that having beene children when Cyrus was a child were now become his friends others because they had beene his companions in hunting and were much delighted in his good behaviour some againe in token of thankfulnesse unto him because he seemed to have delivered them out of great feare others also upon good hopes that seeing hee bare himselfe so valiantly hee would prove afterwards a fortunate and mightie Prince There were besides divers of them willing now to doe him some reciprocall pleasure and service for the good turnes which hee had procured unto any whiles hee was brought up among the Medes And verily as he was of a kinde and courteous nature he had procured for a number of them at his Grandsires hands many favours Last of all a great sort of them after they had seene the Hyrcanians and heard a rumour spred abroad that they would be their Leaders to bring them unto great wealth went forth for to get somewhat Thus the Medes in manner all followed him unlesse they were such as hapned to be of the Domesticall traine of Cyaxares For these onely remained togither with those that were their vassals and followers As for all the rest full gladly and cheerefully they did put themselves forward in this journey not I say as men constreined but as meere voluntaries and who to gratifie him of their owne accord went forth When they were now abroad upon the way first hee commeth out unto the Medes whom he praised and prayed withall Imprimis that the Gods would vouchsafe to be propitious guides both to them and his Item To graunt him such favour as to bee able to render unto them condigne recompense for this their affectionate love unto him In conclusion hee gave order that the footmen should lead the march and then he commaunded the horsemen to follow Moreover if in any place they rested or stayed in their journey he charged that some should ride unto him to know from time to time what was expedient to be done After this he willed the said Hyrcanians to lead formost Who asked him in this manner Why Sir tarry not you and expect untill wee bring our hostages that you also having taken pledges of us for the better securitie of our troth may then set forward And he by report made this answere Even for that I consider we doe all carry the assurance of our faith no otherwise than in our hands and hearts For at this point and thus provided seeme wee to be that if yee be true of your word unto us we have sufficient power and meanes to doe you good but if yee be false and deceive us we take our selves to be in that state as we need not be in subjection unto you but yee rather if the Gods will shall be thrall unto us and at our devotion And verily quoth he yee Hyrcanians because yee say your countrymen use to march hinmost therefore when ye see them once give us knowledge that they be of your nation to the end wee may spare them The Hyrcanians hearing this led the way as he commaunded and withall admired his princely heart and magnanimitie Neither stood they any more in feare of the Assyrians or of the Lydians or yet of any other their Allies and Confederates And as for Cyrus himselfe he supposed there lay matter of no small moment every way in them were they present with him or were they absent Now as they marched and night drew on reported it is that a cleere light shining from heaven appeared evidently unto Cyrus and his host in so much as they all conceived a reverent feare of the Divine power and a confident boldnesse besides against the enemies and for that they were lightly appointed and went apace by good reason they made that night a great journey and by breake of day in the very twy-light approched neere unto the Hyrcanians maine regiment Which when the messengers above-said perceived they signified unto Cyrus that those were their countrimen And hereof said they have we sure intelligence as well by their marching hinmost as by the number of fires which they make Whereupon hee sent one of these two unto them commaunding him in his name to deliver this message That if they were his friends they should with all speed come and meet him holding up their hands aloft Some likewise of his owne men he sent with him whom he commaunded to say unto the Hyrcanians That as his men should see them comming towards him so they also would doe the like againe Thus one of the messengers tarried still with Cyrus and the other rode forth to the Hyrcanians During the time that Cyrus waited to see what the Hyrcanians would doe he caused his armie to stay the march Then the Chieftaines of the Medes togither with Tigranes galloped hard unto him demaunding what they were to doe unto whom he made answere This troupe next unto us is the regiment of the Hyrcanians unto whom one of their messengers accompanied with some few of our men in gone for to signifie unto them that if they meane to be friends they should meet us bearing up all of them their right hands Wherefore if they so doe receive them yee every one in his place friendly giving them your right hands and bid them be of good cheere But if they either take weapon in hand or goe about to flie doe your best quoth he to dispatch them at first so as not one of them remaine alive These were the directions of Cyrus Meane-while the Hyrcanians having heard what the messengers said were exceeding glad and quickly mounting on horsebacke repaired toward them holding up their hands as they had warning so to doe Semblably the Medes and Persians did put forth their hands welcomed them and bade them take a good heart Then Cyrus Wee for our parts quoth he beleeve now and trust you
in the best sort be therewith furnished thought withall how necessary it is for all those that undertake warfare to have some one man who should take charge of Pavilion and lodging yea and purvey victuals ready for souldiers against their entrie into the Campe. Knowing therefore that by all likelihood such as these at this present especially might be found in the Campe for that now they would be busied in providing necessaries hee commaunded by proclamation all those Campe-officers to shew themselves and if any such minister were wanting the most auncient in every tent to come forth and appeare and herein not to faile nor disobey at their utmost peril They seeing their Lords and Masters to yeeld obedience forthwith themselves obeyed also When they were come in place First hee commaunded them to sit downe who had in their tents more provision of victuall then would serve for two moneths After he had seene them he bad those likewise to sit who had one moneths victuall and then all in manner sat them downe Now when he had learned thus much he spake unto them in this manner Goe to then good fellowes quoth he whosoever of you doe hate miseries and desire to have any good at our hands looke to it with all diligence that there bee in every tent double so much victualls as well meats as drinks provided both for master and man for Captaine likewise and souldiours as yee were wont daily to provide See also that all other things be ready prepared which may set out and furnish a feast For there will be here anon those who after they have gotten the upper hand of their enemies will thinke it meet that they have all necessaries plenteously and to the full Know yee therefore that it will bee for your owne good if yee entertaine them so as they have no cause to complaine When they heard this they performed diligently what they were enjoyned to doe Then Cyrus called togither his owne Centurions againe and made such an oration as this unto them CHAP. VI. How Cyrus communed with his Centiniers perswading them to sobriety and to stay for their fellowes who were in the pursuite and how they raised a great booty of men women and goods WEE are not ignorant goods Friends that you may now if yee will take your dinners before our Associats that are absent yea and enjoy those meats and drinks which are right exquisitly provided But I am not perswaded that this dinner and refection of ours will profit us more than if it may appeare that we are carefull of our fellowes and confederates neither can all this good cheere make us so much the stronger as this one thing would doe to wit if we might be able to cause our Allies to be forward in ayding us If therefore we should seeme so to vilipend those who now follow the chace and execution of our enemies fighting still with them that make head as that before we know how they speed we should dine and make merry I feare me as we shall be noted openly for lewd persons so wee shall weaken our selves when we misse their aide But to have such a care of those that take paines and expose themselves unto daungers as that when upon their entry into the Campe they may finde food ready and all things necessary This say I were a feast alone and would make us much more jocund and joviall than if we went by and by to fill and pamper our bellies Consider furthermore quoth he that although it stood us not upon in modestie to have any regard at all of them yet ought we not at any time to give our selves to belly cheere and drunkennesse For as yet we have not fully atchieved those exploits which we enterprised but all things now are come to the very pitch and doubtfull point which requireth carefull diligence For we have in the campe enemies in number farre more than we be our selves and those loose and at liberty whom peradventure it were fit to be guarded surely still yea and care would be had that there be such as may purvey us necessaries Moreover our horsemen are away who verily disquiet our minds and make us to muse where they be and when they are returned whether they will stay with us or no therefore in mine opinion such meat and drinke we are at this time to take and stay our stomacks with as a man may thinke most meete and expedient thereby neither to be full of drowsie sleepe nor surprised with inconsiderate folly I wote well likewise that much treasure there is and other goods in the camp of which I know it is in our power to convert to our proper use as much as we list how ever the same be common as well to those who were with us at the winning thereof as to our selves But I doe not thinke it would turne more to our gaine for to seize the said goods into our owne hands than if we shew our selves true and just unto them and in so doing purchase thus much as that they shall be more fast and assured friends unto us than now they are In these respects therefore I thinke it good to commit the dispose and distribution of these monies and goods to the Medes Hyrcanians and Tigranes at their returne and say they deale the lesse part among us yet to reckon even it our gain advantage For by reason of lucre growing to them ward more willing they will be to remaine with us As for our selves if at this time we should regard our owne commodity before theirs verily it would gaine us wealth to last but a small while But to let this pillage goe by and in lieu thereof to have and hold such things whereof riches doth arise this is it in my judgement which may yeeld both to us and to all ours more durable and perpetuall wealth For this cause also quoth he I suppose when we are at home in our owne countrey we doe inure our selves to master and keepe downe our bellies to forbeare likewise unlawfull and unreasonable games that when need requires we might use the same to our weale and commodity And verily where we may shew our institution and bringing up in greater matters than these now presented unto us I cannot see And herewith made Cyrus an end of his speech This advise of his Hystaspes a Persian and one of the above-named Peeres approved and said as followeth An indignity and shame it were ô Cyrus if we many times in hunting should continue without meat and all for to take some wild beast and the same peradventure but little worth and now when we are in the pursuite of a world of wealth we be our owne hinderance by those things that rule lewd men and are subject to the good so as wee should not seeme to performe what we ought and befitteth us best to doe Thus agreed Hystaspes with the opinion of Cyrus and all the rest allowed thereof Goe to
send unto the Medes thereby to leave Cyrus more naked and destitute And so with greater menaces than before hee cited the Medes peremptorily Threatning the Captaine aforesaid likewise if he delivered not this message stoutly and in sharpe termes So tooke he his leave that was sent accompanied with some hundred horsemen of his owne being angry in his heart that he went not himselfe this voyage with Cyrus Now as they were upon their journey by reason of certaine turnings where the waies were divided they chaunced upon a wrong by-lane and so wandred out of the right way they wist not whither in so much as they could not come unto Cyrus his armie untill they hapned upon some of the Assyrians whom they constrained to be their guides By this meanes having espied the fires they came thither about mid-night Now when they approached hard to the campe the watchmen according as they had in charge from Cyrus would not let them in before day But by day-breake Cyrus first sent for the Magi whom hee commaunded to chuse forth according to the usuall and solemne manner offrings unto the Gods for so good successe and so rich booties And whiles they were busied hereabout himselfe assembled the Peeres and thus unto them said My Friends and Countrimen God presenteth unto us many good things But we ô Persians are at this time too few for to have and hold the same For whether it be that whatsoever we have gotten because we shall not be able to keepe the same must returne againe into the hands of others or whether we leave some of our owne forces for the custodie of our winnings it will be soone seene that little or no strength remaineth with us I thinke it good therefore that one of you should with all speed go into Persia both to enforme the State what I say and to will them with all expedition to send a power in case the Persians desire to have the Dominion and enjoy the fruits of Asia Goe you therefore quoth he to one Goe you I say that are most auncient and being thither come deliver thus much and say moreover that how many souldiers so ever they send after they become unto me I will care for their finding and maintenance What we have your selfe seeth and conceale I advise you nothing thereof Of all this pillage here what oblation I may send especially into Persia in decent manner and lawfully as pertaining to the Gods enquire that of my father but as concerning the Common-wealth consult with the chiefe Magistrates Moreover let them send certaine Overseers of what we doe as also expositours unto us of such points as we aske and demaund Thus quoth he make you ready and take your owne band to accompanie you This done he called unto him the Medes And at the same instant was the messenger abovesaid of Cyaxares brought in and had audience Who in the presence and hearing of them all declared the indignation of Cyaxares against Cyrus as also his threats unto the Medes In conclusion he said That Cyaxares commaunded the Medes to depart from Cyrus although he would have them to tarry Which message when the Medes heard they kept silence being in doubt and perplexity how they might disobey him sending for them in this manner and fearing as much on the other side how to obey him menacing thus as he did especially knowing his cruell nature Then Cyrus For mine owne part quoth hee you the Messenger and yee my Friends the Medes I nothing marvaile if Cyaxares seeing our enemies then to be so many and not knowing now what we doe be much troubled both for us and also for himselfe But when hee shall once understand that a number of our enemies be slaine and all the rest put to slight First he will give over his feare and afterwards acknowledge that hee is not now left desolate when as his Friends thus destroy his foes And how are we blame-worthy deserving so well of him and namely enterprising nought of our owne heads For I perswaded himselfe first to licence me to take you out with me in this journey and yee againe not as men very desirous to bee gone asked him whether yee might goe forth And so come hither now yee are in deed but commanded by him to goe forth so many at least wise of you as thought not much and were not unwilling thereto And therefore assured I am that this anger of his will both upon these good exploits of ours be concocted and also with the ceassing of his feare vanish away and come to nothing And you good messenger quoth hee for this time because you have travailed hard and are weary rest your selfe As for you Persians For that we expect these our enemies will be here either to fight it our or else to yeeld let vs be bravely appointed in the best manner for being thus seene great likelihood there is that we sooner shall effect what we desire As to you the Prince of the Hyrcanians tarry you here and commaund the Captains of your souldiers to see them armed Which when the Hyrcanian Prince had done accordingly and was come vnto him I take great pleasure my Lord quoth Cyrus to perceive that not onely you are here present to shew your friendship but also that you seeme unto me wise and politick And verily at such a time as this the same I am certaine may much availe us For as the Assyrians be mine enemies so they are now more malicious to you than to me We are therefore on both parts so to consult as that of those our Allies which be now present none revolt from us and that we may if possible it be procure more to side with us Yee have heard how this Median here calleth away the Horsemen home and if they depart how shall we footmen onely remaine behind Wherefore both yee and I must order the matter so that this messenger who thus calleth for them away may be willing himselfe to stay with us Doe you therefore find out a Pavilion and appoint it for him wherein he may keepe and live right gallantly as being furnished with all necessaries whatsoever For mine owne part I shall devise to set the man about such businesse as wherein hee will be more willingly employed than depart from hence Discourse you with him what hope there is of great availes comming toward us and all our friends if those matters speed well which are meet to bee performed When you have thus done repaire eftsoones unto me So the Hyrcanian Potentate went his way and brought the said Median unto his tent And the messenger addressed for Persia was there present prest and ready to take his journey Vnto him Cyrus gave in charge For to say unto the Persians what was declared in the former conference but unto Cyaxares to deliver letters And I will saith he read unto you what I writ that you may bee both privy thereto and also able to avow
the same if any one doe enquire of you as touching their contents CHAP. XI The Missive of Cyrus to Cyaxares NOw the tenour of the said Epistle was this Cyrus to Cyaxares Greeting Neither have we left you desolate good Vnkle For no man is then destitute of friends when he hath the upper hand of his enemies nor in departing from you thinke we that wee exposed you to any daunger But the farther that we are from you the more in our conceit wee worke your safety For they that keepe neerest unto their friends provide not alwaies best for their security but such as drive their enemies farthest of those be they that set their friends in greatest surety Consider moreover how I have carried my selfe towards you and in what sort againe you have dealt with me Then complaine of me and spare not For my selfe I brought unto you Auxiliaries and Confederates not so many as you perswaded but as many as possibly I could And you verily whiles I was yet in our friends countrey graunted unto me as many as I could by perswasion win But now whiles I am in the enemies land you call away not every voluntarie but generally all without exception Certes at that time I thought my selfe beholden both to you and them whereas now you force me as to forget you so to endeavour all that ever I can to thanke and requite those wholly that followed me Howbeit for all this I can not be like unto you But even at this present sending as I doe into Persia for an armie I charge as many as shall come unto me that before they repaire unto us if you stand in any need of them they doe you service not as they will themselves but as it pleaseth you to employ them And withall I would advise you younger though I be than your selfe not to revoke your gifts and take those things away which you have once given least in stead of thanks evill will and heart-burning be your guerdon nor to summon in minatory maner when you would have any one to repaire speedily unto you ne yet when you give out that you are forlorne withall to threaten many for feare you teach them to vilipend and set light by you As for us we will doe our best to be with you so soone as we have with all expedition performed those exploits which being once atchieved we are perswaded will redound indifferently to the profit of us both Farewell Deliver this letter unto him saith Cyrus and if he aske you concerning any of these points answer accordingly to that which is therein written For as touching the Persians also I give you commission to doe as it is set down in writing When he had thus said and given him the missive he sent him away with a charge so to make hast as he knew that his speedy returne would be expedient After this immediately he tooke a survey of the Hyrcanians and Tigranes his souldiers all in armes The Persians likewise were armed By which time also certaine of the marches brought away their horses and presented their armour and weapons But those hee willed to fling away their javelins into that place whither he had before commaunded the rest and such as were appointed thereto for to set them on fire as many I meane as they themselves had no need of As for the horses he charged those that brought them to keep and to tarry still themselves untill some notice were given unto them what they should doe But to the Captaines of the Horsemen and to the Hyrcanians whom he assembled together he made this oration CHAP. XII The oration of Cyrus directing his souldiours how they should part the spoilos Also how he mounted the Persians on Horsebacke MErvaile not my good Friends and loving Confederates that I call you so often togither For seeing our present state and condition is new many occurrents therein are disordered and out of frame And looke what things be out of order the same of necessity make worke for new trouble untill they be well settled in their due place At this time much treasure wee have gotten many men besides taken prisoners And because neither wee our selves doe know what goods properly belong to every of us nor they what severally they be owners and masters of therefore a man shall hardly see very many of them doing what they ought to doe but all of them in manner doubtfull what is to be done To redresse therefore this inconvenience divide the said goods and whosoever hath received a tent stored sufficiently with meate and drinke with servitours to attend with hangings and counterpoints with apparell with other furniture and implements meete for a warlike Pavilion to bee dwelt in conveniently thereto verily needeth no other addition but this that the receiver know he is to take charge of these things as if they were his owne but whose chaunce is it to meet with tents unfurnished of many necessaries it is your part to see unto them and to supply their wants Certes there will be yet of many things I know a surplusage For our enemies had of all sorts above the proportion of our number There came moreover unto me the Treasurers of the Assyrian King and of the other Potentates who said they had under their hands gold in ready coine making mention therewith of certaine tributes Proclaime therefore and commaund that they bring forth all before you wheresoever yee sit downe and make abode Terrifie them withall in case any one doe not according to your commaundement Now when yee have received the same monies deale the same to every horsman a double share to a footman a single that yee may have what yee need and wherewith also to buy somewhat beside Moreover let proclamation be made forthwith in the mercate place within the Campe that no man wrong another Also that retailers and merchants may fell every man what wares and chaffer hee bringeth and when he hath had utterance and made returne that he fetch more to the end that our campe may be well peopled and inhabited And this verily they proclaimed out of hand But the Medes and Hyrcanians How shall wee said they without you and yours distribute these things To these words of theirs replied Cyrus in this manner And are yee in deed my friends of this mind that when ought is to be done we should all be present at every affaire So that if either I negotiate for you in any businesse requisite or yee deale for me wee shall not satisfie and content one another And by what other meanes shall we busie our selves more and effect lesse than by this But consider I pray you quoth he we have here kept these things for you and yee beleeve I doubt not that they have been well kept Semblably distribute yee the same and wee will likewise beleeve that they are very well distributed and even so in other things againe we will endeavour to doe somewhat else for the
who now doth reigne when as the late King his father had sent for him intending to bestow upon my sonne his owne daughter in marriage and verily when I sent him from mee I carried my head aloft as one who looked to see my sonne another day affied to a Kings daughter him I say the King that now is permitted to hunt and chace the best hee could as counting himselfe a better horseman than he was by many degrees So hee hunted with him as with his very friend And when there was a Beare rowzed in sight and both of them followed the Game the Prince who now reigneth slung his dart from him and as ill lucke was missed But that sonne of mine alas the while launced likewise and in an ill houre ywis and unseasonably hit his marke and overthrew the Beare Whereat for the present verily the other vexed though he was kept in his envie Againe when upon the presenting of a Lion which encountred them hee failed the second time which was as I thinke no great mervaile my sonne likewise as before hapned to kill the Lion outright and thereupon said Certes twice now togither have I darted and both times strucken and laid the beasts along Then verily at that word the wicked wight could no longer dissemble and conteine his envie but catching a Iavelin out of one of his followers hands ranne him into the brest and so bereft my liefe and onely sonne of his life Thus I poore wretch in stead of a Spouse brought away a dead Corps and aged as I was enterred my best and deerest beloved sonne in the very flowre of his yeeres even when the Downe of his beard began to bud forth But the murderer as if he had slaine some mortall enemie neither shewed at any time one token of repentance nor yet for this wicked act of his vouchsafed the dead now under ground any honour at all His fatâ—er verily I must needs say rued my wofull case and openly shewed that he had a fellow-feeling of my calamitie And therefore had he lived still I should never have come to you for to worke him any woe For hee was my singular good Lord and many favours there passed from him to me ward and I againe was his liege man and a faithfull servitour But seeing the Kingdome is now devolved upon the slayer of my sonne surely neither can I ever be well minded unto him nor can he I wore well thinke that ever I will be his friend For well hee knoweth how my heart standeth affected to him ward and that as heretofore I lived merrily so now despoyled of my sonne I lead mine old age in sorrow and heavinesse If it will please you therefore to enterteine mee so as that I may conceive some hope by your meanes to be revenged in any measure for my deere sonnes death then shall I thinke my selfe to waxe young againe and neither seeme to live with dishonour nor to die in dolour When Gobryas had thus said Cyrus made answere in this manner If it may appeare my Gobryas that you thinke in heart as you have spoken with your lips I both receive you graciously as an humble suppliant and also promise with the helpe of God to punish the murderer accordingly But tell me now quoth he In case we doe thus much for you and withall suffer you to be possessed still of your walled forts your country and your armour yea and to hold that power and authoritie which heretofore you have held what service will you performe for all these favours Who answered thus My strong holds are at your commaund and whensoever it pleaseth you render them up to you I will that you may dwell therein The tribute issuing out of my Lands which I payd to him the same will I transferre and bring unto you Whensoever you shall need to make an expedition I will goe to warfare with you bringing with mee the forces of my country I have besides a daughter a young damosell and a virgin whom I love full deerely and marriageable now shee is Whom heretofore I thought to cherrish and bring up to be a wife for this new King But now my daughter with many teares and humbly upon her knees besought mee not to bestow her upon the murderer of her brother And of the same minde I also am Now therefore I give you good leave to deliberate of her no otherwise than I my selfe would be thought to consult concerning you Hereupon Cyrus In regard quoth he of these Capitualtions and in confirmation thereof I give here unto you truly and from my heart my right hand and likewise take yours agaiâ—e The Gods bee witnesses betwixt us both After these contracts passed Cyrus commaunded Gobryas to depart with his armour and withall enquired of him how great a journey it was to the place of his abode as minding to hold his progresse thither If quoth he you set out to morrow betimes in the morning the next day after you may lodge in my house So Gobryas departed leaving behind him a guide for the way By this time also were the Medes come having allowed unto the Magi what especiall things soever they said should bee put apart for the Gods Chosen they had besides First for Cyrus a most goodly tent also a Susian Ladie who had the name to be the fairest in all Asia and two Chanteresses most skilfull in Musicke Secondarily for Cyaxares the same in kinde but of a second sort Moreover they sped themselves to the full of other commodities as they needed to the end they might want nothing whiles they warred For great plentie there was of all things The Hyrcanians likewise tooke whatsoever they stood in need of yea and the Messenger of Cyaxares they permitted to share equally with the rest As for those Pavilions which remained over and above they delivered into the hands of Cyrus for the use and behoofe of the Persians As touching the money in coine they said they would then make partage thereof when they had gathered in all Which duly they performed Well thus they did and thus they said As concerning the portion selected for Cyaxares Cyrus gave order to such as he knew to be most inward and familiar with him for to receive and keepe the same safe Now for those gifts quoth hee which yee conferre upon mee I take them willingly Yet whose minde soever among you all stands most thereunto hee shall use the same with all my heart Then a certeine Median who loved Musicke very well Truly Cyrus quoth he when I heard these musicall women sing whom now you have I tooke great delight in hearing them And if you would be so good as to bestow one of them upon mee I should thinke it a greater pleasure to be a souldier here in the Campe than to carry at home Then quoth Cyrus and I give her thee with all my heart yea and I take my selfe to be more beholden unto thee for craving
in doing us pleasure and procuring our good than in enriching himselfe After him all the Medes with one voice brake out into these or such like words You ô Cyrus brought us forth and therefore when you thinke it time to depart bring you us likewise home againe When Cyrus heard this uniforme accord hee praied in this wise Graunt I beseech thee most mighty Iupiter that I may exceed these in beneficence who doe me this honour Which said he commaunded all the rest after they had set their watch and ward to keepe themselves in their severall quarters but the Persians to set out and distribute the tents to the men of armes such as were meet for horsemen to the footmen those that were sufficient for them Also to take order that generally throughout as many as were within the tents should bring all things necessarie unto the Persians according to their severall companies yea and furnish them with horses well tended and dressed to their hands to the end that the Persians themselves might have nothing else to doe but to attend upon warlike affaires Thus spent they this day The next morning early when they were risen they put themselves in their journey toward Gobryas Cyrus verily being mounted on horsebacke togither with the new Cavallery of the Persians growne now to the number of 2000. or there about After whom followed those who carried their targuets and cimiters being in number equall to them Semblably the rest of the armie marched in good array Moreover Cyrus commaunded every one of them to say unto these their new waiters and followers that whosoever were seene either dragging behind the leaders and keepers of the rereward or leaping before the front of the vantgard or taken on either side or flanke of the battaile without divided from those that were in their ranks they should be grievously punished Thus the next day they were come by the evening as farre as to Gobryas his Castle An exceeding strong pile they saw it to bee and upon the wals every thing planted to make resistance and forcibly to repell the enemie Furthermore they perceived many head of oxen and a mighty number of sheep driven and brought togither under the very fortifications Then Gobryas sent unto Cyrus willing him to ride about and view where the avenue was most easie and withall to send in unto him certaine of his trusty men who might relate unto him what they had seene within Cyrus therefore desirous in very deed to see whether the Castle were any where prenable or whether Gobryas would be found a lier rode all about where he saw every place stronger than to yeeld any accesse As for those whom Cyrus had sent in to Gobryas they brought word backe againe unto him that there was within such store of goods as in their judgement seemed sufficient to serve those therein all a mans life Hereupon Cyrus mused with himselfe what those things might be By which time Gobryas in person came forth unto him and brought out all the persons that were within some laden with wine and wheat-meale others driving before them kine and oxen swine sheepe and goats And all other victuals whatsoever they presented unto him so as Cyrus and his whole armie might sup right-well therewith They therefore who were thereto appointed ordered these things accordingly yea and dressed supper Then Gobryas when all his owne men were gone forth willed Cyrus to enter in and that in such manner as himselfe thought best for his owne safety So Cyrus having sent before his spies to discover and a strong troupe for to guard at the last entred in person When he was once within and the gates kept wide open still he called unto him all his friends and chiefe Commaunders of the souldiers about him When all were come in Gobryas brought out wine bolles of gold flagons basons and ewers with ornaments and furniture of all sorts certaine pieces also of coine called Dareiks innumerable and all things that were faire and goodly to bee seene At the last having presented his daughter also an exceeding beautifull Damoisell she was very tall and personable besides clad in mourning weed for the death of her brother aforesaid Here quoth he ô Cyrus All this riches I bestow upon you And this daughter of mine likewise I recommend to your tuition even to dispose of her as you thinke good And humbly beseech you both I as beforetime in the behalfe of my sonne and shee now for her brother that you will be his avenger Hereto Cyrus answered in this wise I promised you verily as then to revenge your quarrell to my power if I found you true of your word And now seeing you have spoken a truth I am bound to performe my word and promise To her also I make behest with the helpe of God to doe no lesse And as for this treasure quoth he I accept thereof and withall bestow the same here upon this your daughter and him whose hap it shall be to espouse her But one gift there is beside that I would gladly at my departure receive at your hands which if I may obtaine I would not more joyfully depart if I had all the wealth either in Babylon which is much or in the universall world which is infinite Gobryas mervaâ—â—ing what it should be and suspecting he would name his daughter asked him and said What is that boone Cyrus which you would so faine have Then Cyrus answered I suppose my Gobryas quoth he there be many men who by their good wills are not impious to God-ward nor injurious to men ne yet of themselves willing so much as to lie Howbeit because no man would ever put into their hands great wealth regall dominion strong castles and most deerely beloved children they die before they be knowne what they are But you by tendering unto me fensed and walled forts riches infinite of all kinds your whole power and puissance yea and your daughter so liefe so deere and so worth the having have made knowne to all the world that I am the man who would neither deale vnconscioâ—ably with strangers nor doe wrong to any for love of money nor yet willingly falsifie my promise and convenant Be you sure therefore and wote well that so long as I am a just and righteous man and shall be for that good opinion praised among men I will never forget this your kindnesse and assiance in mee but endeavour by all good and honest meanes to honour you againe Neither feare you quoth he that you shall lacke a man worthy to be an husband for your daughter For many friends I have and those right honourable and valiant Knights and whose hap soever it is of all them to marry her whether he shall have so much money and good as is given by you with her or much more than that commeth to I am not able to say But this would I have you to know for certaine that some of them there be who in regard
truly said Cyrus again For you with the helpe of God doe not onely bid mee but compell me also to rejoyce And I would have you to know for certeine I am not a little proud that I may leave this fortresse to our Associates here in termes of friendship As for your selfe Gadatas the Assyrian King hath disabled for getting children howbeit not bereâ—t you of strength to get friends For perswade your selfe thus much that by this deed of yours you have made us so fast friends unto you as that wee will endevour what wee may to stand to you as helpers and assistants no lesse than if you had naturall children and nephewes of your owne Thus said Cyrus Whereupon the Hyrcanian Prince who even now and not before understood what was done ranne unto Cyrus and taking him by the right hand said O noble Cyrus the exceeding joy and comfort of your friends how much bound in thankfulnesse by your meanes am I to the Gods for that they have joyned mee in alliance to you Goe you therefore quoth Cyrus Take possession of that Castle for which you love mee so affectionately yea and dispose of it so as it may bee best worth and most acceptable to a friend of ours to the rest of our confederates and above all to this Gadatas who hath wonne it and delivered it into our hands But heare you Sir quoth the Hyrcanian Prince Shall we when as the Cadusians Sacans and my subjects are met call him also unto us that wee may all unto whom it apperteineth lay our heads togither and consult how to our best behoofe and benefit we may hold this fort Hereto Cyrus also gave his assent When they were met whom the charge of the Castle concerned they agreed in this that they should joyntly have the keeping of it unto whom it was commodious for to be a peaceable and friendly neighbour to the end it might be as a warlike and defensive fortresse for themselves so a strong skants and offensive to the Assyrians When this was done the Cadusians Sacans and Hyrcanians were much forwarder in the service of warre and came up unto him with their forces more cheerefully And hereupon there assembled a power of the Cadusians to the number of twentie thousand light Targuatiers on foot and foure thousand horsemen Of Sacans ten thousand Archers on foot and Carbires or Archers on horsebacke two thousand The Hyrcanians also sent unto those that were there before an addition of as many footmen as they could make beside a supply of two thousand horsemen For beforetime they had left the greater part of their Cavallery at home because the Cadusians and Sacans mainteined hostilitie with the Assyrians But all the time that Cyrus sate here about settling the estate of the Castle the Assyrians inhabiting neere to those parts many of them led away their horses thither many brought and put into his hands their armour For that by this time they stood in feare of all their bordering neighbours After this came Gadatas unto Cyrus advertising him of certeine messengers who reported how the Assyrian King when he heard in what termes the said strong Castle stood tooke it to the heart and withall made preparation to invade his country And therefore ô Cyrus quoth he if you will let me goe I will doe my best to save my forts yet As for other things I passe the lesse Then Cyrus Say you should at this present depart when will you be at home Surely quoth Gadatas by the third day I shall be able to suppe in mine owne land Why doe you thinke saith Cyrus that you shall finde the Assyrian King there already Yea verily quoth he I know I shall For the farther you seeme to have marched forward the more hast will he make By what time quoth Cyrus might I reach thither with my forces Whereunto Gadatas made this answer You have now my Lord a great army already neither can you get unto my habitation in lesse than sixe or seven dayes Well said Cyrus Hie you thither Make you what speed you can for your part I shall rid way and follow after as well as I may So Gadatas tooke his leave and departed Then Cyrus calling togither all the Rulers and Chieftaines of his confederates who seemed by this time in number to be many and those right hardly and martiall men in their Assembly made a speech to this effect CHAP. V. How Cyrus exhorted his souldiers to give all the booty unto Gadatas how hee raunged his battailes as well to fight as to march by night MY Friends and Allies Gadatas hath done such service as seemed unto us all worthy of good esteeme and that before hee ever had received any boone at our hands And now there is newes come that the Assyrian King invadeth his borders Who no doubt at once will be throughly revenged because he thinkes he hath sustained much damage by him and haply casteth withall thus in his mind that if those who revolt unto us shall not be distressed but contrariwise his confederates be by us utterly destroyed within a little while in all probability there will not one abide with him Now therefore I thinke my friends we shall doe a noble Act if with alacrity we aide Gadatas a man so friendly unto us and beneficiall We shall besides performe a deed of Iustice in thankfull requitall of a good turne and therewith in my conceit worke a feat commodious for our selves For if it shall appeare in the eyes of the world that we aime at nothing more than to exceed them in hurt doing that annoy us as also excell those in good doing who deserve well of us great reason there is that by this meanes many will seeke unto us gladly for out friendship and more desire to be enemie unto us But if we be thought to neglect Gadatas with what eloquence I pray you before God I speake it shall we perswade others to gratifie us How dare we praise and commend our selves or with what face may any one of us looke upon Gadatas if wee so many in number be overcome in well doing of him who is but one especially being in that case as he is When he had thus said they all approved his speech and accorded to goe in hand with these projects and to performe them thoroughly Goe to then quoth Cyrus since yee also give your assent let us every one leave with our draught beasts with our wagons and chariots such as are most meete to goe with the same And let Gobryas be Captaine of the convoy and goe before them For skilfull he is in the waies and for all other occasions sufficient As for our selves with the very best horse and men that we have set we forward taking with us victuals to serve for three daies The lighter we be now loden and the slighter provided the more pleasantly shall we dine sup and sleepe the dayes ensuing Now for the order and manner of our march let
victuall and other provision out of the enemies land they departed and returned into the territorie of Gadatas Cyrus then considering that they who had revolted unto him bordering as they did upon Babylon should susteine much detriment by so ill a neighbour unlesse himselfe were continually present with them commaunded as many of the enemies as he dismissed to say unto the Assyrian King and withall sent an Herauld to denounce unto him in his name that ready hee was for his part to forbeare the husbandmen that tilled the ground and would doe them no wrong in case the King likewise would permit their labourers and husbandmen who had revolted unto him to till their grounds in peace And you verily quoth he to the King were you able to prohibit them shall when you have all done hinder but a few For their territories are but small who have turned from you to me but it lies in my power to suffer a large country of yours to be tilled And as touching the harvest and inning of the fruits therein if the warre continue he shall reape and gather all as I suppose that is the Conquerour But if peace shall be established who but your selfe shall have and hold all For surely if any of my souldiers shall rise and take armes against you or yours against mee we will of both sides quoth he doe our best to chastice and punish the delinquents Having put these instructions in this wise into the Heraulds mouth he sent him away The Assyrians when they heard this message did the best they could to perswade their King to condiscend unto these conditions and to leave as little warre behind as might be And verily the Assyrian King whether it were through the perswasion of his owne nation or for that himselfe was willing enough and inclined that way already assented thereto Hereupon capitulated and covenanted it was betweene these two Potentates that the husbandmen should have peace and the armed souldiers warre Thus much effected Cyrus in the behalfe of husbandmen As touching pasturage for their labouring beasts he gave order unto his friends That it should be assigned and set out as they would themselves where their owne Demesnes and Seignories lay but from the enemies they drave booties wheresoever they could light upon any to the end that unto his Associates the warfare might be the more pleasant For admit they gat no victuals and necessaries yet the daungers were all one but to live of their enemies country seemed to make their souldiery and service the easier Well whiles Cyrus now made preparation to depart out of those quarters Gadatas came and shewed himselfe bringing and driving before him many and sundry presents as having a large habitation and the same well stored and among the rest many horses of service which he had taken from his owne men of armes such as he distrusted for their treacherous lying in wait for him And as he approached neere unto Cyrus he spake in this wise Here Sir quoth he I bring now unto you these things that you may for the present use them as you need But thinke this withall that whatsoever beside is mine the same is also yours For neither have I nor ever shall a child of mine owne body begotten unto whom I may leave my house and inheritance but when I die my whole line and name must of necessitie be extinct with me And the Gods â— Cyrus I take to witness who both see all and heare all â— that I have not committed either in word or deed any unjust or dishonest act whereby I should deserve these calamities And as he uttered these words he bewailed his owne fortune and for very teares could speake no more Cyru hearing his pittious mone tooke commiseration of the mans hard hap and calamitie saying withall As for the horses quoth he I accept of them For hereby shall I doe you a pleasure all the while I bestow them upon those men who are better affected unto you as it appeareth than those whose ere-while they were And the Persian Cavallery I shall shortly make up to the number of 10000 horsemen the thing that I have so long desired Your other treasure quoth he take away and keepe it to your selfe untill you see me have so much as that in requitall I be not inferiour to you For if at your departure you give me more than you receive at my hands I know not so helpe me God how to doe but to be grieved and ashamed To this Gadatas said Truly I beleeve you herein For I see your gentle nature and franke disposition But see I pray you whether I be able to keepe the same For so long as we and the Assyrian King were friends my Patrimony was thought to be a very faire livelode and estate For lying as it did neere unto that great and populous Citie Babylon looke what commoditie might grow from a noble and ample Citie wee got and enjoyed the same and what trouble or encombrance might arise from thence we could retire hither home and be farre remote therefro But now standing as we doe in termes of enmitie evident it is that after you be once departed both we our selves shall be forelayed with our whole family and so farre as I can see a pensive and sorrowfull life wee shall lead having our enemies so neere and seeing them to bee more puissant than our selves But peradventure you will say And why thought you not so much before you revolted Certes Cyrus because my minde fixed upon such a wrong done and blinded with very anger considered not what was best and safest for me but conceived and ever was with child of these fansies Will it never be that I shall be revenged of him an enemy both to God and man him I say who mortally and continually hateth not one if he doe him any wrong but if he doe but suspect another better than himselfe And therefore I thinke verily that being so bad as he is all the confederates that he employeth in his service he shall finde worse than himselfe And say there bee any one that seemeth better than another Bee assured Cyrus you shall never need to fight against any good and valiant man but he will be sufficient so to worke and contrive as to kill him to your hand that is his better And as for molesting mee verily he will I suppose with the helpe of those wicked ones overmatch me When Cyrus heard him say thus he thought that he spake to the point and what was worthy to be considered Whereupon he inferred presently and said How say you then Gadatas have you not fortified your holds and castles with garrisons for your owne defense and safetie whensoever you shall enter into them And doe you not your selfe in person goe with us in this expedition that if God be still on our side as now he is this wicked Prince may stand in feare of you and not you of him Goe along therefore with me and
avarice unto me as if I sought mine owne advantage above others At this Cyaxares held his peace Then replied Cyrus and went on in this wise Since it pleaseth you at this question to keepe silence rather than to answer yet tell mee thus much I pray you whether you tooke your selfe to be wronged in that when you thought it stood not with your owne safety to follow the chace I would not suffer you in proper person to bee in any part of the daunger but requested you onely to send unto me some of your horsemen Shew I say whether in this request of mine I did you wrong especially seeing I had already borne my selfe in your service as a true confederate And when Cyaxares said nothing to this also Seeing then quoth Cyrus it is not your pleasure to answer unto this point Speake yet from henceforth whether I wronged you in that when you made me this answer that perceiving as you did the Medes addicted to Ioviall mirth you would not have them to give it over not force them to enter upon a daungerous peece of service Tell me I say Thinke you that I offred you any hard measure in that I neglected to be angry with you but eftsoones entreated of you afterwards that thing than which I knew there was nothing of lesse moment for you to graunt nor easier to be imposed upon the Medes For I prayed you onely to give me such as willingly would follow me Which being graunted yet was I never the neerer unlesse I could perswade them To them I went I perswaded with them and looke whom I could prevaile with I tooke with me and went my waies with your good leave and permission Now if you esteeme this blame-worthy then surely even to take any thing at your hands which you frankly give cannot as it should seeme be void of blame To be short Thus and thus wee did set forth when wee were gone what was exploited by us which is not to all men knowne Was not our enemies campe by force wonne Were not many of them slaine that tooke armes and rose against you And of those that remained alive lost not many their armour and as many their horses The goods verily of those who beforetime carried away and harried before them yours you see now in the hands and possession of your Friends part whereof they bring to you and part for themselves who neverthelesse are under your dominion And that which of all the rest is most honourable and glorious you see your owne Territories and Seignories enlarged but those of your enemies diminished Your enemies Castles and Forts you see wonne and held by force but your owne as many as formerly were plucked from you and in the possession of the Syrians are now contrariwise reverted unto you Of these particulars to desire for to know whether any were good to you or hurtfull I cannot say what it should meane but yet gladly would I and what is the let but I may heare it Deliver then what your opinion is of the premisses This said Cyrus ended his speech And then Cyaxares returned this answer That these deeds which you have done nephew Cyrus be simply ill I wote not how it can or ought to be said But this I would have you to know quoth he that these good things be of this nature that by how much more conspicuous they be the more they depresse me For I would rather you had augmented your owne dominion by my forces than see mine owne enlarged by you in this sort And as these Acts are to you the Actour honourable so to mee in some sort they bring dishonour As for goods and riches verily I had leiffeâ— bestow them upon you than to receive at your hands those that you present me with For I plainely perceive that you enrich me with such things as whereby I am become the poorer And suppose that I saw my subjects sustaine some little injury at your hands I should me thinks grieve lesse than now I doe seeing how great benefits they have received under you Now if you thinke that I weigh these matters inconsiderately alter the case and turne the same from me to your selfe and then take them into your owne consideration Set case I say that a man should make so much of those dogs which you keepe for the safety of your selfe and yours as that thereby he cause them to be more familiar unto him than to you should hee with this obsequious diligence of his please you well But say that you thinke this but a small matter consider this also If any one should frame those serviâ—ours of yours such I meane as you have and keep partly for the guard of your person and in part to wait upon you so as they had rather be his than yours would you for this good demerit of his con him any thanks Againe to come unto that which men love best and accoumpt as their owne most entierly Suppose another man were so double diligent in attendance about your wife as that hee brought her in the end to be more kind to himselfe than to you should he by this well doing of his delight your heart He would misse in my conceit of that and come farre short Nay well I wote that whosoever did so should of all others wrong you most Moreover to speake that which most doth parallele this present griefe of mine If any man dealt so courteously with those Persians whom you have brought unto us as that they made choise to follow him rather than you would you take him to be your friend I think verily no. Nay he would repute him a greater enimy to you than if he had killed many of them Say that some friend of yours upon occasion of such a loving word as this Here take of my goods as much as you will should after he heard you so say goe and seize upon all that he could lay hand on and so with your substance enrich himselfe whiles you have not so much as a meane use of them could you possibly hold such a friend unreproveable Semblably my Cyrus I suppose that I have suffered if not the same every way yet surely the like at your hands For true it is indeed which you say namely that when I graunted you leave to take up all voluntaries you went away with them so as that you had my whole power and left me alone solitary And now forsooth what you have gotten with the helpe of my forces you bring unto me and enlarge this my dominion with mine owne power whiles I being no coadjutour with you in atchieving these commodities shew my selfe me thinkes no better than a woman in doing pleasures both to other men and also to these my subjects So by this reckoning you appeare to be the man and I not worthy to rule and be a King And thinke you Cyrus that these be benefits and good turnes and certainly you know this full well that
that in anâ— wise he should not force the woman but perswade and winne her if he could and in so doing he would not be his hindrance But Artabazus when â—ee was come unto Araspas all to rated and reviled him charging him with this that the Lady was committed unto his custodie upon trust and laying upon him the imputation of impietie injury and incontinency insomuch as Araspas for very griefe of heart wept sore for shame hid himselfe and for feare also of some hard meausre from Cyrus was in manner out of the world Which when Cyrus understood hee both sent for him and also when they were by themselves alone used these words unto him I see quoth he ô Araspas that you are afraid of mee and exceeding much ashamed But give over and make an end once For I have heard say that the very Gods themselves have beene over come of love and I know what accidents have befalne unto men reputed very wise by occasion of this passion Yea and thus much have I noted and blamed in my selfe that I am not so continent but if I conversed with those that are faire and beautifull I despise them not Nay that which more is I my selfe am the cause of all this businesse For I was he that immured you up as it were with this inexpugnable thing Vnto these words of his Araspas made this answere Now surely quoth he ò Cyrus you are in this particular like unto your selfe and as in all other cases the same still to wit mild and ready to pardon mens trespasses But other men there be that overwhelme and oppresse me with griefe For ever since that this my adverse hap and calamitie was bruted abroad mine enemies take their pleasure of mee but my friends comming about me give me counsell to withdraw my selfe out of the way least I might be hardly entreated at your hands as one whom I have much wronged and abused Know this well therefore ô Araspas quoth Cyrus that by this opinion which men have conceived you may doe mee a high pleasure and withall greatly profit our Associates Would to God said Araspas it lay in my power any wayes to doe you acceptable service Why quoth Cyrus If you would now make semblance as though you fled from me and so goe to the enemies I am verily perswaded you might be credited of them And I assure you of my troth and as God shall helpe mee said Araspas even my very friends would raise such a rumour as if in deed I had made an escape from you So by this meanes quoth Cyrus you may returne againe unto us with the full intelligence of all our enemies affaires I suppose also that being once trusted among them they will make you privie to all their speeches and secret counsels whatsoever in so much as there shall no designment be hid from you that we are desirous to learne Well then quoth Araspas I will even now set forward For this you may well wit will be one argument to induce them for to believe me because I shall be thought to have run away from you fearing some mischiefe at your hands But can you by the way finde in your heart saith Cyrus to leave that same lovely Dame Panthea behind you Certes quoth he ô Cyrus I have in me two soules For even erewhile of that point I philosophized and argued with an untoward Sophister namely love For were the said soule of mine but one it could not be for both good bad at once neither could it affect at one and the same time as well honest actions as dishonest ne yet be willing and unwilling alike to effect the same But evident it is that two minds there are And when that which is good hath the soveraintie honest deeds are enterprised and done but when the bad hath the mastery wee set in hand with those that are dishonest and naught And now this good understanding in me having gotten your helpe and assistance is become superiour and ruleth very much If therefore saith Cyrus you also thinke it good to take this journey you must order the matter so as that you may winne the greater credit and reputation among them To which purpose discover hardly unto them what we are about and discover it so as what plots so ever you disclose unto them may be the greatest lets to checke and crosse their owne designments and proceedings Now this would be a blocke in their way in case you give it out that we are preparing and upon the point in some place or other to invade their Land For when they heare this they can the worse be assembled all togither with their whole puissance whiles every one standeth in feare for his owne estate at home And stay you with them as long as you may For it will be most availeable upto us to have intelligence especially of those enterprises that they goe about even when they are neerest unto us Furthermore advise them to put themselves in ordinance of battaile the best way that shall be thought For after that you are departed who seeme to know their order of embattailing they must needs bee arraunged in the same sort For loth will they be and afraid to change the manner of setting the field and if they should chance to alter it they will be much troubled at the instant to doe it in such hast Thus went Araspas out of the place taking with him his most trusty servitours and having acquainted some with what hee thought most expedient for this affaire he departed CHAP. III. How Panthea sent for her husband to come unto Cyrus The preparation that Cyrus made for the warre The forme of Chariots devised by him for the carriage of his great Engines and Fabricks NOw when Dame Panthea understood that Araspas was gone shee dispatched unto Cyrus a messenger in her name thus to say Let it not trouble you Cyrus that Araspas is turned to the enemies side For if you will give me leave to send unto my husband I undertake that hee shall come a more faithfull friend by farre than was Araspas And I know moreover that he will be ready to assist you with all the power that hee is able to make For this mans father who now is King was his very good friend howsoever he that reigneth at this present went about once when it was to make a distraction and separation betweene me and my husband And therefore I know right well that taking him to be as he is spitefull and malicious he will be glad to turne unto such a Prince as you are When Cyrus heard this he commaunded her to send unto her husband which she did accordingly Then Abradatas as soone as he tooke knowledge of the tokens that came from his wife and understood besides how other things went willingly with all speed went unto Cyrus with a troupe of 2000. horse or thereabout And being come as farre as to the Persian
and chariots as also the Provosts over the Engins over the carriages also with their carts and waines Meane time whiles they came togither those foreriders who had skowred the plaines brought with them certaine men whom they had taken And when these captives were examined by Cyrus they confessed that they belonged to the enemies campe and were gone out some to provide forage others for fewell For by reason of the great multitude in campe all things were very scarce Cyrus hearing them say so demaunded how farre off their armie was who answered 2. parasangs Then Cyrus enquired further and said What! was there any talke of us among them Yea forsooth say they and that very much and namely that your hoast is on foote and approcheth neere But tell me further quoth Cyrus were they glad when they heard so Nay verily said they glad they were not but exceeding sad And what are they doing now quoth Cyrus They are a training and setting the souldiers in array and even so they were yesterday and two dayes ago But who is he quoth Cyrus that thus embattaileth them Even Croesus himselfe answered they and with him a certaine Gracian and another Median one by report who is fled from you and turned to them Most mighty Iupiter quoth Cyrus ô that I might catch him as I desire After this he commaunded these Captives to be had away and returned unto those that were present as if hee had somewhat to say unto them CHAP. VIII How Araspas returned unto Cyrus and recounted unto him all the ordinance and preparation of the enemie How himselfe prepared to raunge his men in battaile ray BY this time was there another come from the Captaine of the Espials saying that there was seene upon the plaines a great troupe of horsemen and we suppose quoth he that they ride out as desirous to view this army of yours For even before this troupe there be other horsemen to the number of thirtie galloping and verily they make toward us even and anon haply because they would gaine this place of Espiall if possibly they could and surely we are but ten in all to make good the said hill Then Cyrus commanded certeine of those horsemen whom he had alwaies attending about him to ride hard under the said Barbican and there to rest and keepe themselves quiet so as they might not be seene of the enemies But quoth he when as our ten men there abandon the place arise yee and set upon them that climbe up the hill and to the end that ye be not hurt or annoyed by those of that great troupe goe you forth Hystaspas quoth he taking with you a Regiment of two thousand horsemen and make a bravado directly against the troupe of our enemies Howbeit pursue them not in any wise so farre as into covert and unknowne places but so soone as you have taken order that your spies may safely remaine and keepe the ground retire you and depart away Now if there be any of them shall ride towards you holding up their hands in token of peace receive the men courteously So Hystaspas went from him with this charge and armed himselfe the other horsemen also his followers rode away forthwith as he had commanded And who should meet them in the way on this side the said Barbican but Araspas with his men him I meane who being the keeper of that Susian Lady had beene sent long before as an espie Cyrus no sooner saw the man but he sprung out of his chaire went toward him and lovingly tooke him by the hand The rest who knew nothing of the matter wondered hereat as good cause they had and were much amazed untill such time as Cyrus thus said Here is my loving friends a right worthy Gentleman returned unto us For now meet it is that all the world should know what good service he hath done This person here in place departed from us not attaint of any lewd act neither for feare of me but by me was he sent away of purpose to learne out the secret designes of our enemies and to exhibit thereof a true report unto us Therefore my trusty Araspas looke what promise I made unto thee I well remember and with all this here performe the same I will And meet it is my souldiers all that yee every one doe honour this man as a doutie Knight in that for our good he hath exposed himselfe to daunger and undergone the aspersion of a crime imputed unto him With that they all embraced Araspas and tooke him by the hand Then said Cyrus Enough of this And now Araspas quoth hee relate unto us what the present time and occasion requireth wee should know and say not lesse than truth one whit as touching our enemies puissance For better it were that wee imagining it to bee more should afterwards see it lesse than hearing it lesse now finde it afterwards much more Certes quoth Araspas I have done my best endevour to know their strength most certeinly For present I was my selfe in person with others to set them in ray Why then quoth Cyrus you know not onely their number but their order also Yes verily saith Araspas yea and in what manner they intend to embattaile and fight Yet shew us first quoth Cyrus and that summarily their number Their battalions all quoth Araspas as well footmen as horsemen be ordered so as that they beare in depth thirty except the Aegyptians And these are about 40 furlongs off For very carefull I was to know how much ground they tooke up But as touching these Aegyptians saith Cyrus tell me how they be embattailed because you said beside the Aegyptians Surely quoth Araspas their Colonels over ten thousand ordered them so as that every Regiment of ten thousand bare every way a hundred square For this manner of embattailing was by their saying after their country fashion And Croesus I assure you was very loth to graunt them thus to be arraunged For he desired all that he could to hemme in your armie on every side with his battalions And to what end saith Cyrus desired he that Even because he might quoth he environ you with his exceeding number But first Let them see to it said Cyrus least whiles they goe about to encompasse others they be not enclosed themselves Well we have heard of you that which the time required Now therefore let us proceed thus accordingly After yee are departed hence looke well to the armour both of your horses and also of your selves For oftentimes if there be wanting but a small matter man horse and chariot serve all to no purpose And to morrow morning betimes First of all whiles I am busie at sacrifice both horse and man ought to take their dinners to the end that if any opportunitie be offred of an exploit we be not wanting in that behalfe Then lead you Araspas the right wing according to the charge which now you
employed But Cyrus went forward out of Sardes toward Babylon leaving there in the City a strong garrison of footmen having Croesus in his company and carrying away with him many carts and waines loden with treasure and riches of all sorts Croesus also thither came who having precisely set downe in writing all the parcels of treasure which were in every waine gave up the said booke into Cyrus his hands saying withall unto him If you have about you quoth he O Cyrus this Inventary you shall know who dealeth truly and justly in delivering up his charge and who doth not Then said Cyrus You doe well good Croesus to provide thus for the worst But surely they shall for me carry the goods who are worthy even to be owners thereof so that if they embecile or steale any of it they shall but rob themselves of their owne goods Which said hee put those notes into the hands of his friends and Captaines that they might take account and know whether they that had the charge of those things delivered them backe safe and sound or no The Lydians likewise as many as he saw to shew themselves gallantly in armes on horsebacke and in chariots such also as endeavoured every way to performe that whereby they thought to doe him pleasure he led with him in his armie But whom he perceived to follow him unwillingly from them he tooke their horses and gave them to those Persians who first had served with him in the warres Their armour he burnt and constrained themselves to follow after with slings Yea and all those without armes whom he had vanquished and subdued he forced to exercise the sling thinking that kind of weapon and manner of service most base and servile For how ever it falleth out that slingers otherwhiles if they be in place with other forces stand in very good stead yet by themselves put them altogither if they encounter but a few of such as use weapons for close fight at hand they are not able to hold out the skirmish Now in his journey toward Babylon he brought under his subjection by the way the Phrygians inhabiting that great Phrygiaâ— the Cappadocians also and Arabians he subdued And with the harnois and weapons of all these hee furnished the Persian horsemen to the full number of 40000. Semblably many of the Captives horsemen he distributed among all his Associates throughout So he came before Babylon with a mighty power of horsemen with many archers also and darters but with slingers innumerable CHAP. VI. How Cyrus laid siege unto the City Babylon and by a wonderfull stratageme wonne it How the King of Assyria and his men were slaine the city put to the sacke and the fortresses rendred into his hands CYRVS being now set before Babylon with his whole armie invested the City Then accompanied with his friends and such of his Associates as were men of Action himselfe in person made a bravado and rode about the towne After he had well viewed the wals thereof he intended presently to withdraw his forces from the city At which time a certaine fugitive from out of the towne came and gave him intelligence that the Babylonians would sally forth upon him as hee should retire with his armie For when from the wals they beheld this maine battaile of yours saith he it seemed but weake And no mervaile in very truth that it should be so For when they encircled the wals being so large in compasse it could not otherwise be but the said maine battalion must grow thin and beare a small depth with it Which newes when Cyrus heard standing in the mids of the armie with his guard about him he commaunded the souldiers heavily armed to display and stretch out the said battalion from both ends and to goe off close by that part of the armie that stood still untill such time as both the said points raught unto him and enclosed the very mids Which when they did both they who kept their standing now that the bodie of the battaile was double in thicknesse as also those that went from both ends were more emboldened For they that stood still were presently neere unto the enemies But when by this manner of passing to and fro they had brought both points togither they stood more strong and confident as well they that went off by reason of them before as they before also for that those behind joyned unto them By meanes of displaying and spreading the battaile in this manner the best must needs bee raunged formost and hinmost but the worst cast into the mids Which order of embattailing seemed to be well provided both for to fight as also to keepe them from flight Moreover the horsemen and light appointed skirmishers in the wings approached ever to the Generall so much the neerer as the maine battaile thus reenforced and doubled bare greater thicknesse and became deeper After they were in this wise put in array they gave backe from thence foot by foot so farre as a dart shot raught from the wall But when they were once without their reach they turned their faces toward the city and verily at the first having stepped some few paces forward they shifted full upon their shields and stood so as they might behold the wall at full and the farther they were off they shifted so much thinner Now when they thought themselves to bee in safety they retired in a continued order togither untill they were come unto their tents And after they were encamped Cyrus calling to him his best warriours and men of action said thus unto them My Friends and Associates we have viewed the city round about and how it is possible to force by assault the wals so strong and high withall I cannot see But this I suppose that the greater multitude of people there be within the City so long as they yssew not forth to fight the sooner shall they be overtaken with hunger Vnlesse therefore yee can alleadge some other way my advise is that presently we lay siege and beleaguer them Then spake Chrysantas This river here which is above 2. furlongs over runneth it through the mids of the city Yes verily answered Gobryas and so deep it is withall that two men standing one upon the head of another will not reach above the water Whereby the city is better defended with the river than with the wals Let these matters goe by quoth Cyrus then unto Chrysantas which are above our strength and after that we have with all speed taken measure we must of necessity quarter our selves accordingly and goe in hand to dig a mighty deep and broad trench to the end that we may have need of as few warders as may be Having measured therefore all about the wals leaving a space from the river sufficient for great bulwarks hee digged an exceeding great trench round about the wall casting up the earth toward themselves Then the first thing that he
and abilitie to worke Semblably Dogs if their cullions be taken from them use no more to leave and lose their Masters but are never the worse to watch and keepe the house no nor to hunt abroad Even so it is with men in this kinde more mild and gentle they are being bereft of this fleshly lust yet be they never the more negligent in the execution of such things as they are enjoyed to doe nor lesse industrious in service on horsebacke nor one jote disabled for launcing their darts ne yet lesse desirous of honour Nay rather both in martiall feats and in their hunting they shew evidently that they have kept still in their hearts a certaine emulation and desire of victory And that they be trusty withall they have shewed good proofe in the murders of their Masters For none there be that have given better testimony of their approoved fidelity in the calamities and distresses of their Lords than Eunuches And say it may be thought that they have lost some bodily strength being thus evirate yet in the warres the same is supplied by use of weapon which make the weake and strong all one Vpon these considerations having begun first at his Porters and doore-keepers hee chose for the Squires of his body Eunuches all And for that he thought this guard not sufficient to make head against a multitude of those that carried an hostile minde against him he devised whom he might beside elect out of others to be most faithfull Warders for his Court and Palace Knowing therefore that the Persians remaining at home in their country lived exceeding hardly by 〈◊〉 of povertie and tooke excessive paines as well in regard of the rough and hard soile of Persia as for that they maintaine themselves by their own labour hee supposed that they above all others would most embrace this condition of life with him Hereupon he draweth our of them a guard of ten thousand Pensioners who night and day should watch and ward round about his Palace so long as hee abode there at home and in case hee went forth any whither march also on either side of him in good array and well appointed And because he thought there was need of garrison-souldiers for all Babylon throughout and those sufficient persons whether himselfe remained within the Citie of were gone forth he placed a standing garrison in Babylon whom he appointed to receive their wages at the Babylonians hands for that he intended to keepe them disfurnished of all things to the end they might be brought very low and so by consequence with least adoe be held in awe And versily this see watch and ward then appointed for his owne person and for the Citie of Babylon continueth still in the same manner even to this day Moreover casting about how he might hold his whole Empire thus archieved as also enlarge the same by further conquest hee thought that these stipendiaries were not so much better in valour as fewer in number than his subjects and therefore determined to retaine still about him such valiant Knights as by the help of God had gained so famous victories and to take order that they might be trained still to the perfection of prowesse And because hee would not seeme to commaund them but that of their owne accord as deeming these things to bee most commendable they might persist therein and with all diligence ensue vertue he called unto him the abovesaid Peetes the principall men besides of Armes and action as also those whom he thought most meet and worthy to be part-takers both of travailes and availes And when they were all assembled togither he made this speech CHAP. VIII The Oration of Cyrus to his chiefe frieds the Peeres or Homotims To the Captaines also of his Allies for to induct and frame them to vertue and to entertaine prowesse and feats of armes in his Dominion with many other good instructions to make them mild and vertuous MY deare friends and loving confederates wee yeeld unto God as our bounden duty is exceeding great thanks for that he hath granted unto us those blessings to enjoy which we thought our selves right worthy of For now possessed we are of a large country and fertile soyle Lords we be also over them who by tilling and husbanding the same shall finde us and maintaine our living Houses wee have also and the same well furnished with utensiles necessary Neither thinke any of you that in possessing all this he holdeth the goods or lands of other men For a perpetuall law this is throughout the world that when their Citie is wonne who stand out in armes as well the bodies of them within that Citie as their goods and whole estates be due unto the winners And therefore unjustly shall yee not possesse those things that yee hold but if yee permit those enemies to retaine ought it is of your meere courtesie that yee tooke not the same quite from them But as touching that which is henceforth to be done this verily is my determination If we give our selves to idlenesse and the voluptuous sensualitie of cowardly persons who are of opinion that there is no other misery but labour and paines taking like as to live at ease and exempt from labour is the onely pleasure and true felicitie then I avow and say wee shall quickly be of no reckoning nor worth to our owne selves yea and soone forgoe all these goods that were enjoyed For to have been once valiant men is not sufficient to the perpeuitie and perfection of valour unlesse a man daily persevere therein even to the end But like as other Arts and Sciences if they be forlet grow to be of lesse esteeme and our very bodies otherwise healthy and in good plight if they be let loose to slouth and idlenesse turne eftsoones to be diseased and misliking even so temperance continence and fortitude whensoever a man slacketh their exercise by disuse grow shortly to vice and lewdnesse Therefore wee must not in any wise be remisse and take our ease ne yet abandon our selves to the pleasures and delights presented unto us For I assure you in my conceit howsoever to gaine a kingdome is a great matter yet a much greater peece of worke it is when one hath wonne it to hold it For oftentimes his fortune is to obtaine it who sheweth himselfe onely but bold and venterous but to retaine and keepe still the same which he hath gotten cannot be effected without the gift of temperance and of continency nor without much study and diligence Vnderstanding therefore all this we ought now to exercise vertue much more than we did before we attained to this great estate Yea and know we must that a man shall have then the greatest number to envie him to lay wait for him yea and to become his mortall enemies when he hath most in his possession especially if he hath gained both wealth and observance as wee have done from men against their wills
there himselfe supped with him For he tooke delight in his presence and company In regard of which affection and diligence of his he was highly esteemed of Cyrus and of others in the Court likewise for Cyrus his sake When guests invited to supper came Cyrus placed them not one with another hand over head without respect but whom he vouchsafed most honour him did he set on his left hand because the same hand is more exposed to daunger of wait-laying that the right the second in dignity he placed on the right hand the third againe on the left hand and the fourth on the right If there were any more he marshalled them in the same order And he thought it very expedient to declare how he honoured each one For where men suppose that he who surpasseth others in worthinesse shall receive neither praise nor prize evident it is that there is no emulation among them who shall excell But where the best is seene to be in the highest place and to have the precedency of the rest there doe they all with exceeding alacrity enter into open strife and contention And Cyrus verily after this manner shewed who were of greatest authority and reputation with him beginning first with the order of their sitting with him and standing about him Howbeit he would not that any man should challenge that place then assigned as his owne for ever but he brought up this custome as a law that according to their good and vertuous deeds they should be advanced to an higher degree of honour and as any one demeaned himself more basely he should come down to a lower place For Cyrus thought it would redound greatly to his owne shame in case any person promoted to the highest roome in sitting should not be seene abroad for to enjoy many ornaments and favours by him And as in Cyrus time these matters were thus carried so in these daies we understand the same order holdeth still When they were at supper Gobryas thought it no wonderous matter that every thing was served up unto Cyrus in so great plenty being a Prince so puissant and the Ruler over so many but he mervailed rather at this that having afchieved so great exploits if any toothsome and deinty cates came before him he would not enjoy the pleasure thereof alone but take the paines even to intreat his friends about him for to receive part thereof Nay he saw him many a time to send unto some that were absent such deinties as haply he had a speciall mind unto himselfe Whereby it came to passe that after they had supped themselves Cyrus would send from the very table one way or other all the dishes as many as they were whereat Gobryas I was of opinion heretofor◠quoth he ô Cyrus that you surmounted all other men in military affaires and in leading an armie but now I protest and sweare by the Gods that in my conceit you excell farre more in humanity than in martiall prowesse So it is in truth quoth Cyrus and verily a greater pleasure it is unto me for to shew the deeds of courtesie than of chivalrie And how so quoth Gobryas because saith Cyrus these must of necessity be seene in doing hurt unto men the other in doing them good After this when they had drunke moderately Hystaspas propounded this question unto Cyrus and said Sir will you not be offended with me if I aske you that which I desire to know No verily quoth Cyrus but contrariwise I would be displeased with you if you kept that in which you were minded to aske Tell me then I pray you quoth he whether at any time I came not to you when you called for me Oh quoth Cyrus no more of that let us have no such words Nay but was I any whit slacke said Hystaspas in comming to you No neither quoth Cyrus Commaunded you me at any time that which I performed not accordingly I can find no fault with you answered Cyrus And whatsoever I did could you ever perceive me to doe it not cheerefully nor with delight and pleasure No I assure you quoth Cyrus For herein of all other I can least find fault with you What is it then For the love of God quoth he and wherein hath Chrysantas so prevailed with you that hee should be preferred to a more honourable place than my selfe Shall I tell you the reason saith Cyrus what else quoth Hystaspas And will not you be angry quoth Cyrus when you heare the truth No verily saith Hystaspas but rather very glad will I be if I may know that I am not wronged Goe to then saith Cyrus you shall understand This Chrysantas here first and formost never expected untill I sent for him but was alwaies present to attend and follow our affaires before he was called Againe he did not that onely which he was bidden but whatsoever himselfe knew expedient for us to be done that did he Moreover if at any time a matter was to be delivered by speech unto our Allies and Confederates whatsoever he thought decent for me to say therto he would advise me But whatever he perceived I was desirous that our Associats should know but yet upon a bashfull modesty loth my selfe to utter unto them hee would declare the same in such termes as if it had beene his owne opinion So that in these cases what can be alleadged to the contrary but that he is more carefull for my good and commodity than mine owne selfe Furthermore this is his saying that he stands alwaies contented with his present fortune as sufficient for him but for me he sheweth himselfe provident and forecasting in my behalfe what good I may have by any thing added to my estate To conclude in my welfare he taketh more joy and pleasure than I doe my selfe At these words Hystaspas said Now so love me Lady Iuno as it doth me good at the very heart that I demaunded those questions of you And why so especially◠I pray quoth Cyrus because saith he I will endeavour what I can to doe the same But for one thing I know not what to doe namely how and in what sort I might shew my affection when I rejoyce in your good fortune and welfare Whether I must clap my hands or laugh or what else I should do Hereat Artabazus you ought then quoth he to daunce the Persian daunce At which they all laughed a good Now as the banquet went on still and they began to drinke more liberally Cyrus demaunded of Gobryas Tell me Gobryas whether are you more willing now to bestow your daughter in marriage upon one of these Gentlemen than at your first acquaintance with us And will you give me also leave quoth Gobryas to say a truth Yea verily saith Cyrus For no question needs to be answered with a lye Why then saith Gobryas know for certaine That much more willing I am now than heretofore And can you render a reason why quoth Cyrus Yea that I can
every one of us so liberally Others againe answered and said And what great thing is it that he hath It is not the manner of Cyrus to seeke wholly to be enriched but he taketh more pleasure in giving to others than in keeping for his owne use When Cyrus perceived what words men gave out and what opinion they had conceived of him he assembled his friends with all the men of action and quality and to this effect spake unto them I have seene ere now my good friends men in the world who would be thought to possesse more than they doe in deed supposing thereby to appeare more liberall But in my mind quoth he they come short of their reckoning and are haled away cleane contrary to their intent For when a man would be accoumpted rich and is not seene withall to benefit his friends after the rate of that wealth me thinks it is enough to set the brand upon him of base illiberality Againe there be others who would not be knowne how rich they are And they also in my judgement deserve but badly of their friends For by reason that their estate is unknowne oftentimes friends in their need acquaint them not therewith and making no mone unto them are deceived But I take this to be the part of the best plaine-dealing man to make his power and substance knowne and then accordingly to endeavour for to shew his goodnesse and honesty And therefore what riches of mine may be seene I am willing of my selfe to shew unto you and looke what can not be seene I will relate unto you by word of mouth Having thus said one part of his treasures which were many and faire he gave them leave to see the rest that were laid up out of sight he recoumpted unto them And in the end these words My friends This accoumpt yee ought all to make That these riches here are no more mine than yours For I doe not gather them either to spend them all my selfe or to weare them out which were a thing impossible but partly to have evermore about me wherewith I may at all times reward any of you as he performeth any brave service and partly that whosoever among you thinketh that he stands in need of ought he may come unto me and receive what he wanteth And there an end of these his words Now when he had well settled as he thought his estate in Babylon so as he might take a journey abroad he addressed himselfe to make a voiage into Persia and commaunded the rest to be in readinesse And when he supposed that he was sufficiently provided of all things needfull and requisite for such an expedition he remooved and tooke his journey But here I purpose to put downe how orderly his armie and traine so great as it was both in taking up their harbour by the way unpacked and discharged their carriage and at their setting forth againe trussed up bag and baggage as also how quickly they made stay and sat downe in any place as need required For where ever the King encampeth they all pitch their tents about him as well in summer as in winter And Cyrus verily at the first ordained that his owne Pavilion should be set so as it might have prospect into the â—ast then he appointeâ— how farre off from his Royall tent the Guard and Pensioners should quarter and have their lodgings After them he assigned for the bakers the right hand and for the cooks and victuallers the left He appointed for the horses of service the right side and for the other labouring and draught beasts the left Semblably all things else were digested so as that every man knew his owne place as well by measure as by the plot of ground Now when they dislodge and are upon their remoove every man packeth up such baggage as he is appointed to use Others there be againe ready to lay them upon the Sumpter beasts whereby it comes to passe that all the porters and carriers come together unto those packs and trusses that they are appointed to bring and every one at once layeth his owne stuffe upon his owne beasts So that the same time that serveth for the pitching and setting up of one tent is sufficient for all And at one and the same instant were all carriages discharged and laid downe likewise Moreover every man had his charge what to doe for purveying of victuals and all necessaries in due season so that one and the same time serveth for one part and for all to make provision thereof And as there was a severall place set by for the purveyours of necessaries meet for them so his armed souldiers in pitching of the campe had that quarter which was convenient for each kind of armature and munition They knew also which it was and in generall held and occupied it so as they never differed about it Certes even in a private house and family Cyrus thought it a speciall matter to be carefull for the order and fit placing of every thing in it For if one hath need of ought he is not to seeke whither to goe and where to find it but he supposed it was a much more excellent thing that in a campe the military tribes and regiments should be placed in good and convenient order For by how much the occasions in warre be more sodaine so much the greater is their delinquency who slacke any time and be tardy therein But in warfare he saw that exploits of great consequence were performed by those that were ready at hand in due time In which regard very diligent and carefull he was to have every thing placed fitly and in order First of all he tooke up a lodging for himselfe in the mids of the Campe because that place was strongest Then had he next about him as his manner ever was his trustiest men and round about them the men of armes and chariotiers For he supposed it needfull for them to quarter in a place of security because if any sodaine Al-arme be given in the Campe they have not use of their armes out of hand but their service requireth a long time ere they can be armed in case they meane to goe forth with them into the field for to doe any good Moreover on either hand as well the left as the right both of himselfe and of his said horsemen the lavelotiers with their light bucklers were planted but behind and before the Archers As for the souldiers heavily armed and such as bare massie targuets they compassed all the rest in manner of a wall to the end that when need was that the horsemen should make themselves ready these souldiers so well appointed standing afore them might abide the longest brunt and give them respit and time enough to arme in safety And like as those heavily armed souldiers lodged and slept keeping their order and array stil even so did the Iavelotiers lightly armed and the Archers That if any Al-arme were in the night
like as those are prest to wound the assailants close at hand so these Archers and Darters might be as ready to shoot their arrowes and launce their Iavelins from them in the defence of those armed souldiers if any enemies approached and affronted them Furthermore all the Captaines had certaine Ensignes upon their Pavilions By which meanes like as in Cities the wiser sort can point unto the dwelling houses of most Citizens but especially of such as are of employment even so the ministers and servitours of Cyrus knew in what places to find their Captains and what Ensignes or colours belonged to every one And thereby if Cyrus had occasion to use any of them they needed not to seeke up and downe but ran readily the next way to every one And because each nation was apart and not intermingled one with another it was much sooner seene both when any kept his owne ranke in order as also whether they did not that which was commaunded Being thus marshalled he thought that if any enemie either by night or day assailed him they should come upon his campe no otherwise than if they sell into a place of ambushment And for a Tactick he thought it requisite not onely to know how readily to stretch out in length the front of his Phalang or display and spread it out in depth or reduce it from a pointed wing into a massie squadron or to countermarch as readily the enemy being discovered and to wind about with it in good sort on the right hand or on the left or in the reare but he supposed also it appertained to that skill for to be able to divide it if need required and each part thereof to bestow for most advantage yea and to lead it on speedily where occasion is of prevention All these points and such like fears he thought did belong to that Captaine which is expert in the ordinance of a battaile And even so right carefull and studious was he in them all And verily in his journeies he marched with his host not alwaies alike and in the same order but evermore accommodated to divers occurrents and sodaine accidents Howbeit in the pitching of his campe he used for the most part this dispose which I have rehearsed Now when they had journeyed so farre as they were come into the Medes countrey Cyrus turned in to Cyaxares for to lodge with him And after they had embraced one another Cyrus said first to Cyaxares that there was provided for him in Babylon a choice dwelling house with stately edifices that if he came thither he might keepe his Court there as in his owne Then bestowed he upon him very many and those right goodly presents Cyaxares when he had received them at his hands sent his daughter unto him who brought with her for him a golden Coronet a paire of bracelets and a collar of gold with a most beautifull Median robe Here quoth Cyaxares I give unto you Cyrus this young Lady mine owne daughter to be your wedded wife For so your father espoused my fathers daughter whose sonne you are And this is even very she whom you being a child many a time in our house were wont to sport with and dandle as a nurceling And when any one asked her whose wife she would be she was wont to make answer that Cyrus should be her husband And with her I give over and above for a dowry the Kingdome of Media and enfeoffe her wholly in it since I have no issue male of mine owne legitimate Thus said Cyaxares Vnto whom Cyrus made this answer The parentage good Vnkle Cyaxares I commend The young maiden I praise and of the dowry I like well enough but before I conclude of a marriage I will have the consent of my father and mother And albeit Cyrus thus said yet bestowed he upon the Damoisell all those gifts wherein he thought hee might gratifie Cyaxares Which done hee tooke his leave and went forward on his journey for Persia. CHAP. VIII How Cyrus arrived in Persia where Cambyses treateth with him and his Lords and chiefe Commanders about the affaires of State How hee tooke to wife the daughter of Cyaxares and being returned to Babylon sent Rulers and Deputies into all his Provinces WHEN he was come so farre as into the Frontiers of Persia the rest of his forces he left there and went himselfe accompanied with his friends to the City bringing with him as well beasts sufficient both to sacrifice and also to feast the whole nation of the Persians as gifts meet to present unto his father and mother and other his friends there yea and such as might beseeme the Head Magistrates Auncients and noble Gentlemen called Homotimi in generall Moreover he gave a largesse among all the Persians both men and women even such congiaries as at this day the King useth to deale among them whensoever he commeth into Persia. After this Cambyses assembled a Councell of the Elders of Persia togither with such Rulers as had the menaging of the weightiest affaires in Common-wealth Who being come togither he called Cyrus also unto them and then made a speech to this effect My Lords of Persia and you likewise my sonne Cyrus I heartily affect you all as good reason I have both the one and the other For as I am your King so you Cyrus are my sonne Meet it is therefore and in all congruence it beseemeth that I open here before you whatsoever I may seeme to know concerning your good and welfare As for you the Persians in times past yee honoured my sonne when yee did put an armie into his hands and chose him Generall thereof And Cyrus being once the Commaunder of that power by the assistance of God hath made you Persians renowned with all men and honoured throughout all Asia And verily as the valiantest Knights of those that served under him he hath enriched so to the very multitude of Common souldiers he hath truly paid their wages and found them food Moreover by erecting a Cavallery among the Persians he hath effected that they be as good horsemen upon the plaines as others If yee therefore hereafter persist in this mind still yee shall procure one unto another manifold commodities But if either you for your part Cyrus being puffed up for the late good successe of fortune shall goe about to be an absolute Lord over the Persians thereby to make a private gaine of them as over other nations or yee that are natives and subjects envious of his puissance endeavour and practise to depose him and overthrow his royall estate know this for certaine that yee shall hinder one another in the atchieving of many great and noble exploits To the end therefore that these inconveniences befall not unto you that yee may enjoy all good blessings I have thought it meet after we have sacrificed togither and called the Gods to record to make this covenant that you Cyrus for your part in the behalfe
mankinde and even now me thinks I have a longing desire to bee partaker of that which is so beneficiall unto mankinde And now verily my soule seemeth to faile mee in those parts wherein by good reason it beginneth to faile all other men Therefore if any of you be desirous either to take me by the right hand or to see mine eyes any more whiles I am ye alive let him draw neere unto mee But when I am dead once and covered I charge you my sonnes nay I beseech you in any case that no man no not yee your selves preasse to see my corps Call the Persians all in generall yea and mine Allies unto my Monument to congratulate and rejoyce in my behalfe for that now I shal be in safetie and past all evill and paine whether I remaine with God in heaven or become nothing at all And as many as shall come to performe mine obsequies use them with that bountie and liberalitie as is fit to be exhibited in the solemne funerals of a blessed and happy man and so dismisse them To conclude Remember this last lesson from me If yee bee beneficiall unto your friends yee shall be more able to chastice your foes Adieu my deare and welbeloved children and recommend as much from mee unto your mother Likewise my friends all both present and absent Farewell When he had thus said and raught unto them all his right hand hee closed his owne eyes and so changed his life CHAP. X. How after the death of Cyrus all his ordinances were perverted The Authours discourse concerning the government of the Persian Kings after Cyrus THat the Empire of Cyrus was of all the Kingdomes in Asia the goodliest and most spacious appeareth by the very testimony of it selfe For bounded it was Eastward with the Red-sea and North-ward with the Euxine In the West Cyprus and Aegypt confined it and Aethiopia in the South Being of so great and large an extent yet governed it was by the onely counsell and wisedome of Cyrus And as he honoured and lovingly respected his subjects as if they had beene his children so they againe reverenced him as their father No sooner yeelded he to nature but straightwaies his very children fell out and were at variance soone after great Cities and whole Provinces revolted all things went backward and grew worse and worse To verifie these my words I will begin first with religion For thus much I know that before-time the King himselfe and those that were under him if they had either sworne unto those that otherwise had committed never so great outrages and hainous facts would precisely keep their oath or if they had but given their right hand for assurance of any covenant would constantly make the same good And verily had they not beene thus resolute in this point and gotten such a name therefore there would not one have trusted them like as at this day no man hath any affiance in them considering their impiety is so notorious nor would the leaders also of those souldiers that went with Cyrus in that expedition of his have beleeved them whereas presuming so much as they did upon that auncient conceit of their fidelity they yeelded themselves unto the enemie and being brought before the King were made shorter by the heads Yea and many of the Barbarians themselves who undertooke this voiage with them deceived by faire promises and plighting their troths some one way some another were overthrowne and perished thereby And yet in these dayes they are I assure you in this respect much worse than they were For in times past if a man had either put himselfe into daunger for the King won a City subdued a Nation or otherwise exploited any brave service for the honour of the King these were the men who had honours heaped upon them But now adayes if any like unto Leomythres who leaving his wife and children his friends children also as hostages with the Aegyptian King transgressed and brake the greatest sacraments of security that were doe that which seemeth advantageous onely for the King such as they are most highly advanced and goe away with the greatest dignity Which the people of Asia seeing are themselves also fallen all to impiety and injustice For as the Princes and Rulers be affected such for the most part proove the subjects under them And by this meanes more godlesse they are and perfidious now than heretofore Now as touching the practise of getting money they are more injurious likewise than before-time For they apprehend not onely such men as have committed many trespasses but those also who never yet have done any wrong or made offence but contrary to all right and equity extort and wring money from them perforce Wherby it is come to passe that innocent persons thought to have much wealth are no lesse affraid than malefactors And therefore such as these are neither willing to deale and commerce with greater persons nor yet dare joyne with others to serve in any of the Kings wars And hereupon whosoever warreth against them may at their pleasure raunge up and downe and overrun their country without impeachment or any to make head against them partly by reason of their impiety to Godward and in part for their iniquity and injustice to men And so by this meanes their minds be infected and perverted every way farre worse in these dayes than in times past And thus by consequence That they have not that regard of their owne bodies as heretofore I will now declare For whereas in old time forbidden they were by law either to spit or to blow and snit their noses and plaine it is that they intended not by this law to spare the excrementiâ—ous humours of the bodie and retaine them but because they would have their bodies to be firme and sound by labour and sweating Now a dayes however the restraint of spitting and snitting be in force still yet no man hath any care of exercise and labour Moreover provided it was by order of law among them in those dayes that they should eate but one meale a day whereby they might have the benefit of the whole day besides as well to doe their businesse as to labour and travaile And now it holds still to eate in deed but once a day but when they begin to fall to their meat as timely as they that goe soonest to dinner they sit by it eating and drinking so long as they are wont who latest goe to bed In like manner a law there was among them that no great pots or flagons should be brought into their feasts and banquets the reason was that by restraint of powring downe over-much drinke their bodies and minds both should be lesse weakened And verily in these dayes the manner continueth still oâ— bringing in none of those pots How beit they handle the matter so with their liberall drinking that in lieu of such bringing in they are carried forth themselves namely when they be so
obey Trust me truly I wote not what kind of souldiours a man should wish rather to have than such Cyrus also laughed with them and in this sort praised the soldiers It fortuned moreover that in his Pavilion there was then at this meeting one of the Centurions named Aglaitadas a man for his manners and behaviour one of these austere and grimme Sirs who began in this wise Thinke you Cyrus quoth he that these men make a true report unto you Why said Cyrus what should they meane to tell lies what else said the other but because they are disposed to move laughter in which regard they both come out with these tales and also shew themselves bragging boasters Oh good Sir quoth Cyrus Faire words I pray you And terme not these men vaine vaunters For the name of boaster or vaunter as I take it is aptly given unto them that pretend either to be richer or more valiant than they are such also as promise to doe that which they cannot performe yea and then especially when they are knowne evidently so to doe for lucre But they that devise meanes to make the company to laugh neither for their owne gaine nor to the damage of the hearers ne yet for any other harme at all why should not they more truely be called merry conceited Pleasants rather than Boasters Thus much answered Cyrus by way of Apologie in the behalfe of those who had mooved laughter Then the Caporall againe who related the merry narration of his band Now verily Aglaitadas quoth he If we had gone about to cause you to weepe as some Poets and Oratours there be who both in their Sonnets and also in their Orations invent pitifull and lamentable arguments thereby to provoke melancholicke persons to shed teares you would have greatly blamed us when as you knowing as you do that we are desirous to make you somwhat merry and in no wise to hurt you yet you requite us with great contumely and disgrace I do so indeed quoth Aglaitadas and by Iupiter I sweare auow it well and iustly done For in my conceit whosoeuer causeth his friends to laugh doth not so worthy an act by farre as he that setteth them a weeping And euen your selfe if you weigh the thing aright shall find that I say trve And why by weeping fathers bring their children to modesty and sobriety Schoolemasters likewise their schollars to learne good arts and sciences yea and the lawes whiles they force citizens and subjects to shead teares put them forwards to observe and practise Iustice. But as for these Pleasants that procure laughter tell me if you can wherein they profit mens bodies or enhable their minds the better to menage either private government of house or publike administration of Common-weale Hereupon Hystaspes came upon him with such a speech as this Well Aglaitadas if you will follow my counsell be bold to expend frankly upon your enemies this that you price so high and doe your best hardly to make them weepe but upon us your friends be so good as bestow your laughing being a matter of so small cost and valew For I know well you cannot choose but haue plenty thereof layd vp in store considering neither your selfe for your owne vse haue spent nor willingly affoord ought of it to your friends and guests and therefore can pretend no excuse but that you must impart some laughter among us Why quoth Aglaitadas and goe you about Hystaspes to fetch a laughter from mee with that the Caporall aboue sayd Nay in good faith he were a very foole then For I suppose a man may sooner strike fire out of you than get one laughter Hereat all the rest of the company that knew the humor and quality of the man laughed hartily and Aglaitadas himselfe could not choose but smile also a little Cyrus then seeing him disposed somewhat to mirth You do not well Caporall quoth he to offer this wrong in that by perswading the man to laugh you seeme to corrupt and marre this our most sober and grave guest especially being so professed an enemie against laughter And thus an end there was of merry talke in this kind CHAP. VI. The consultation of Cyrus with his Armie whether hee should reward all his souldiers alike or every one according to his desert AFter all this Chrysantas entred into a discourse in this manner Cyrus and yee all that are here present I consider with my selfe There be come forth hither with us some of more worth and others of lesse Howbeit if there shall befall unto us any good fortune they will thinke themselves all worthy of the same availes But I assure you I repute nothing in the world more unequall than that the valiant man and the coward should be rewarded alike To this point Cyrus inferred thus It were best therefore my friends before God I speake to put this matter in question unto the Army namely whether they thinke it good if it please God to speed our labours to make all men of equall condition or duly considering the service of every one to award them their rewards in proportion accordingly And what need you quoth Chrysantas to propound this matter for to bee debated rather than to denounce that you will proceed so For have you not already proclaimed publike Games and withall published prices Yes pardie said Cyrus but the case of those and these is not alike For whatsoever by their souldier-fare in this expedition they shall win they will deeme the same I thinke to be common unto me and them all As for the soveraigne rule and commaund of the army they suppose it haply due still unto me as being laid upon me from the State at home And therefore in appoynting as I doe Captaines and disposing of their charge they are perswaded I trow that I doe not therein wrongfully And thinke you quoth Chrysantas that the whole multitude of them assembled together will decree That every man shall not have equall share but the best and worthiest person ought to be preferred respectively both in honours and gifts I verily saith Cyrus am of that mind partly for that yee are ready to opine the same with me and partly because it is unbeseeming to gainsay this position That whosoever both travaileth most and procureth greatest good to the Cōmon-wealth is worthy also of best advancement Nay the very basest cowards of all will thinke it behoovefull I suppose that valiant men ought to bee preferred before others And Cyrus verily was willing enough that this decree should passe for those Peeres sake For he thought that even they would bee more valourous if they knew once that being first judged by their deeds they should receive condigne rewards He thought it therefore the best opportunity at this very time to have this matter decided by voices when as the very Peeres themselves feared this equall condition of the vulgar with them It was thought good then by all those who were
assembled in the Pavilion of Cyrus to referre this question in hand to a Scrutinie and that who ever would be reputed a man in deed should accord thereto A Centurion there was in place who smiling hereat One man quoth he of the common sort I know who will soone agree that this even partage thus hand over head shall not passe And who may hee be I pray you asked another It is saith he a tent-fellow of mine who in all things by his good will would have more than others What! saith another In labour and paines taking too Nay quoth he Ho there Here I am taken in a lye For in travailes and all such matters he ever suffreth very gently any one that will to have more than himselfe Then Cyrus I ordaine saith he that such fellowes as he now speaketh of should be called and displaced if wee intend to have a valiant and obedient army For of this opinion am I that the multitude in generall of souldiers stand thus affected even to follow which way soever any man leadeth them Now such I suppose as be honest and valourous endeauour to be leaders unto good and honest actions but lewd and wicked persons unto lewd and naughty deeds And truely it falleth out oftentimes that lewd folke induce more to follow them and take their part than the better sort For vice conversing among pleasures which soone offer and present themselves useth their helpe joyntly to perswade many to assent unto her whereas vertue leading the way directly up to steep ascents is not very powerfull and able so quickly and out of hand to winne and draw men unto her especially if there be others againe who allure them to gentle easie and pleasant descents And therefore if there be any who onely in sluggardy loitering and refusing to take paines become naught such I repute as drones to endamage their fellowes in matter of expense and nothing else but such as in paines taking with others be slacke howbeit in seeking their owne gaine forward enough and shamelesse withall they become ringleaders also unto lewdnesse For they are able many times to shew and prove that wickednesse hath sped best and gained most Wherefore such as these in any wise we ought to discharge and remoove from among us And verily yee are not so much to consider how yee may supply and make up these your broken bands with your owne countrimen but like as in horses yee lay for them that be best and not bred at home even so in choice of men of all others take them whom yee thinke likely and meet both to adde most strength and bring also greatest honour to your selves And that such a course will speed well I presume also upon the testimony of this one instance For that neither can a chariot be swift in which the steeds be slow nor a Councell or judiciall Court be just wherein unrighteous men be joyned with others in Commission ne yet a house well governed that employeth lewd and naughty servants Nay lesse detriment should an house receive wanting servants altogether than being pestered with those that be false and wicked Certes my friends I would have you to know thus much that by weeding out lewd souldiers not onely this good shall ensue that such persons will be rid away and gone but of those also who shall remaine behind with us as many as be already infected and growne full of wickednesse shall be purged of the same againe Yea and the good when they shall see the wicked disgraced and put to shame will with farre greater alacritie embrace vertue When Cyrus had thus said all his friends approoved well of his words and did accordingly Then began Cyrus eft-soones to jest and inferre a pleasant conceited speech For perceiving one of the Centiniers to bring with him as a guest to supper and to have sitting close by his side a certeine fellow exceeding hairy and withall as foule and deformed he called unto him the said Captaine and spake thus unto him How now Sambaulas for that was his name leade you after the Greeke fashion about with you as your shaddow this pretty youth that sitteth here next unto you because he is so faire and well-favoured Yea verily doe I quoth Sambaulas And so loue me God as I delight both to be in his company and also to behold his countenance When the other tent-fellowes heard this they looked wistly upon the partie and perceiving his face to be passing foule and ill-favoured they all fell a laughing And one among the rest Now for Gods sake quoth he Sambaulas for what good demerit is this man so highly in your favour I will tell you truly quoth Sambaulas How often so ever I called him either by night or by day he never pretended for his excuse any businesse of his owne nor used to tell his steps as he went but alwaies ranne at my command When so ever I have set him about any thing I never saw him doe ought but he swet at it Moreover hee hath made the whole dowzain beside like unto himselfe shewing them not by word but by deed how they ought to behave themselves Then said one If he be such an one as you speake of kisse you him not as you are wont your kinsmen To this the party himselfe with that deformed face of his Not so ywis for hee cannot away with paines taking And if he should but kisse me once it might serve for all his other exercises whatsoever Such matters as these both in mirth and earnest were delivered and debated at this feast In the end after they had performed the third complement of sacred Libations and withall prayed unto the Gods for to give them good successe they arose from boord to bed and so brake up their meeting CHAP. VII The Oration of Cyrus unto his whole Campe. The opinions of Chrysantas and Pheraulas as touching that which Cyrus had proposed And what was the conclusion and determination thereof THE morrow after when Cyrus had gathered all his souldiers togither he made a speech unto them in this manner Friends we have a battaile toward For our enimies approach And rewards belong only to victorie If we be victours certeine it is that both the enimies will be ours and likewise all the enimies goods but if we be vanquished for this must alwaies be our saying semblably all our goods in case we be overcome are present prizes and rewards evermore for the winners Moreover thus much yee ought to know that if men taking part togither in warre shall every one set downe this reckoning that nothing will succeede well vnlesse for their parts and places they play the valiant men they will soone atchieue many and those right braue exploits For such as they will not neglect through slouth any seruice that is to be done But when ech one thinketh that some other man there will be to do the seruice to fight though himself sit still
by those who followed at the wing and as many there were who flying from them were intercepted and caught up by the Chariots Abradatas also for his part slacked no time but crying alowd Follow me friends follow mee spared no horse-flesh but by pricking his Steeds drew blood of them good store And with him the rest of the Chariotiers made a violent impression upon them Then immediatly the enemies Chariots fled from them some taking their riders with them others leaving them behind But Abradatas passed directly through them and violently assayled the Phalang of the Aegyptians and togither with him they also who stood embatteled next did set upon them And as many waies else it is cleere that there is no battaile more strongly arraunged than that which consisteth of friends assembled to fight togither so at this time that companie of his about him shewed no lesse For they were his familiar friends and companions at his table that stucke close to him and joyntly charged the enemie The rest of the Chariotiers when they saw how the Aegyptians with a strong troupe stiffely abid the shocke withdrew themselves toward the Chariots as they fled and followed after them But Abradatas his companie where they had once broken in because the Aegyptians could not give backe by reason of those their fellowes who stood thicke about them on every side look how many they encountred directly in their way with violence of horses they slew and overthrew and as they fell trampled and crushed in pieces themselves their armour their horses and wheeles whatsoever the yron sythes of the chariots tooke hold of they violently cut in twaine as well harnois and weapons as men In this tumultuous medley that cannot be expressed in word it fortuned that Abradatas for that his chariot wheeles were flowne off by reason of so many confused heaps of all sorts fell out of it with others besides that accompanied him in this exploit who having borne themselves with him in fight right manfully were there slaine and left dead in the place The Persians following hard after rushing thither where Abradatas his companie had made the overture disranked the enemies and killed them outright But the Aegyptians where they stood still in good order not disarrayed and these were many in number advanced directly forward all a-brest against the Persians where there was a hote and fierce conflict pell-mell with launces chasing staves and swords And to say a truth the Aegyptians had the ods as well in number as in weapon For they bare stiffe and long Launces which even at this day they use shields also which covered their bodies much more than the brestplates and bucklers of the Persians and helped them somewhat else to punch and shoove from them fitted as they were to their shoulders And therefore locking their targuets togither they went on and thrust from them But the Persians were not able to sustaine their force considering they carried their light bucklers of wicker at armes end but softly retired foot by foot giving and taking blowes untill such time as they gate close under their fabricks aforesaid When they were thither come the Aegyptians began to have the worse and to be wounded afresh from the Turrets They then who stood behind in the rere would suffer neither Archers nor Darters to flye but lifting up and bending their swords at them forced them both to shoot arrowes and also to fling darts Hereupon grew a great carnage of men and a mightie noise and clattering as well of armours as of casting weapons of all sorts togither with a wonderfully cry whiles some called to their fellowes others encouraged them to fight and a third sort cryed unto the Gods for their helpe Meane-while Cyrus who had pursued in chace those that stood against him came and seeing the Persians put backe and lose ground he grieved at it perceiving also that by no other meanes he could sooner stay the enemies from preassing still forward than by wheeling about and riding at their very taile he commaunded his men to follow him and so rode hard upon their rereward Thus they assaile and wound them behind yea and kill many of them looking another way Which when the Aegyptians perceived they cryed That the enemies were hard at their backs and withall amid their wounds were faine to turne head upon them and make resistance Then fought horsemen and footmen one with another And there it fortuned that one being falne under Cyrus his horse as he lay trampled under foot with his sword stabbed the horse in the bellie whereupon the beast winsing and flinging out with his heeles for paine of the wound never rested untill he had cast and overthrowne Cyrus But here a man might have seene what a worthy matter it is for a Prince to be loved of his subjects For presently they all did set up an outcry and with exceeding violence fought togither right manfully Here was thrusting to and fro here were blowes given and taken reciprocally But one at length of Cyrus his guard alighting from his owne horse mounted him thereupon Now when Cyrus was gotten up he might by that time see the Aegyptians beaten downe on every side For both Hystaspas was come already with the Persian Cavallery and Chrysantas also Howbeit he would not suffer them any longer to run upon the Aegyptians battalion but commaunded from without to discharge arrowes and darts at them Now after he had ridden all about untill he was come unto the fabricks he thought good to get up into one of the turrets to espy whether any other companie of the enemies stood to it and fought in any place When he was once aloft he saw the whole field and plaine before him full of horses men and chariots soâ—e flying others chacing some winners others losers to wit the enemies running away and his owne men having the upper hand And verily of those that were discomfited he could see none any more but onely the Aegyptians Who being driven to a streight cast themselves round into a ring so as their armour was onely seene and they set close covered under their shields And now verily nought did they else but abide many and grievous extremities Cyrus then wondring at them and pitying their distresse to see so hardy and valiant men to die caused all those to retyre that charged them on every side not permitting one of them to fight any longer He sent withall an Herault at Armes unto them demaunding whether they would all of them perish for their sakes who had betrayed them or rather save their owne lives with the reputation of brave and valourous soldiers Vnto whom they answered And how can we be saved and yet reputed 〈◊〉 souldiers Then Cyrus said againe For that yee are the men alone whom wee see to abide by it and willing to fight it out But from henceforth replyed the Aegyptians By what good and notable Action of ours may wee possibly be
saved In case quoth he yee deliver up your armes into our hands and joyne with them in amitie who when it lies in their power to destroy you choose rather to save your lives Which when the Aegyptians heard they asked this question Say we enter into league and friendship with you In what manner would you carry your selfe to usward Then answered Cyrus I will doe well by you and looke for the like at your hands as of true liege men And what good turne is that said they which you will deigne us Whereto Cyrus made this answer I will give you better pay during the warre than â— this time yee receive But if there be a peace concluded as many of you as list to tarry with me I will endow with lands to occupie and Cities to inhabitâ— I will bestow upon them wives and houshold servants Which when the Aegyptians heard they intreated him to except this onely in the Capitulation that they might not be compelled to beare armes against Croesus For him a lone said they we acquit of all fault As for all other Articles they agreed unto and therewith plighted their faith and troth interchangeably And even at this very day the posteritie of those Aegyptians who then stayed with him continue firme and loyall unto the King and yeeld alleageance to him Vnto whom Cyrus gaue Cities both those in the higher country which in these dayes be called the Aegyptians Cities and also Larissa and Cyllene neere to Cumes by the Sea side which be yet held peaceably in possession by their issue and off-spring When Cyrus had atchieved these exploits he withdrew his forces even when it was darke and encamped in the Thyribarians country CHAP. III. How Cyrus following the traine of his victorie forced the Citie Sardes and 〈◊〉 King Croesus prisoner The discourse that he held with him as touching the Oracle of Apollo And how hee did set him at â—bertie and saved the said Citie from saccage IN this battaile the Aegyptians alone of all the enemies bare themselves courageously and wonne renowne and of those on Cyrus side the Persian horsemen seemed to performe the bravest service In so much as that manner of armour which Cyrus caused them to be made for the men of Armes continueth still in credit and price to this very day Also those sythed Chariots were in high esteeme so that even in this age the King who reigneth in those parts reteines the use alwaies of that warlike kinde of Chariots The Camels onely affrighted the horses and did no other hurt For as they that rode upon them slew none of the horsemen so were not they killed by the horsemen because there was not an horse that came neere unto them And even that was thought then to doe good Howbeit there is no valiant man of any worth and qualitie willing either to keepe a Camel for his saddle or to practise fight and service from their backs Thus therefore being come againe to their wonted manner and fashion they are employed onely as beasts for carriage As for Cyrus his souldiers after they had supped and appointed their Sentinels betooke themselves as meet it was to their nights rest But Croesus upon this overthrow immediatly fled with his armie to Sardes the other nations departed and tooke the way homeward every man reaching so farre as possibly he could by night The morrow morning when day appeared Cyrus led his power forthwith directly to Sardes And no sooner was he come to the walles of the Citie but he planted his Ordnance and bent his Engins of Artillery intending to give an Assault thereto and prepared ladders to skale Whiles he was busied hereabout he caused the Chaldaees and Persians the night following to get up unto those munitions and bulwarks of the Sardians which seemed most steepe Now he that guided them was a Persian one who had beene a servant to a garrison souldier within the Castle of the City A man that had learned both the descent downe to the river and the ascent also into the Castle But when it was once knowne that the said high fortresse was surprized the Lydians all abandoned the wals and fled every man whither he could Cyrus by the breake of day entred the City and gave commaundement that no man should breake his ray or quit his place But Croesus being shut close within his royall Palace cryed out unto Cyrus Howbeiâ— Cyrus leaving a strong guard about him went in person to the Castle that was newly wonne Where seeing how the Persians kept the Piece as requisite it was and the Chaldaeans armour no where to bee seene for runne downe they were to rifle and ransake houses presently he called their Captaines togither and commaunded them with all speed to avoid out of the Armie For I cannot quoth he endure to see them that breake order and forsake their ranks to enrich themselves with pillage above others And know yee this assuredly quoth he that I had determined with my selfe to make you that serve with me such as all the Chaldaees might report to be happie But now mervaile not all if some one stronger than your selves set upon you as yee depart from hence Which the Chaldaees hearing were so strucken with feare that they besought him to lay downe his anger saying they would restore all the money and goods which they had taken To whom Cyrus made answer that himselfe had no need thereof But if yee would have me saith he to cease my displeasure and indignation Bestow all that yee have gotten vpon them that kept the Castle For if the rest of the souldiers shall perceive that they who forsake not their ranks and stations gaine greater commodities than others all will goe well on my side And even so did the Chaldaeans as Cyrus commaunded And as many as had behaved themselves obediently received much money and goods of all kinds Now when Cyrus had pitched tents for his owne souldiers in that place of the City wherein hee thought most commodious for them to abide in armes hee gave commaundement that to supper they should goe Thus having set all things in order he commaunded that Croesus should be brought unto him No sooner saw hee Cyrus but he said All haile my Lord and Master For this is the name that Fortune hath graunted both you to use from henceforth and me also to call you by And you likewise quoth Cyrus All haile ô Croesus since we both of us are mortall men But would you my Croesus quoth he giue me any Counsell I would to God saith hee ô Cyrus I could deuise some good thing for you For I might thinke that the same would be gainefull and commodious to my selfe Then quoth Cyrus listen O Croesus what I shall say Whereas I see my souldiers spent by taking exceeding paines and plunged into many daungers thinke now that they hold in possession the richest Citie in all Asia next to Babylon I judge them worthy to receive some