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
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
to another And therefore by what meanes as we thinke he attained thereunto namely to win their love we will endeavour to declare First and formost at all times he shewed unto them especially as much as he could humanity and kindnesse of heart supposing this with himselfe that as it is no easie matter to love those which seem to hate us nor to will well to them that are ill minded unto us so it is impossible that they whose love and good will is once knowne should be odious unto those who thought they were beloved of them Wherefore so long as he was not so well stored with money nor had wherewith to be liberall by provident care over them whom he kept about him as also by his forwardnesse in paines taking before them by open declaring that he rejoyced at their well doings and grieved at their misfortunes he endeavoured to win their hearts and gaine their friendship But after he had gotten so much aforehand as that he was able by bountifull giving to be beneficiall he judged as we suppose first and principally that men esteemed no benefits of the same cost and value more welcome and acceptable than the participation of meats and drinks Being I say of this opinion he tooke up this order first at his owne table that what meats himselfe used to feed upon the like thereto should alwaies be served up unto him but sufficient to content and satisfie many men besides And looke what viands soever were set upon the bourd he ever dealt among his favourites whom he thought well of all the same save onely such dishes as himselfe and those who sat with him at the table fed upon thereby to shew that he was mindfull of them or else to testifie his bounteous mind Moreover he was wont to send meats unto them whose diligent service either in keeping watch and ward or in obsequious attendance or in some other actions he highly admired thereby to declare that he would have them know how willing he was to gratifie them And even his very houshold servitours he would honour and grace by sending them dishes from his owne table whensoever he had commended any of them Yea and all the cates for his said servants hee would have to stand upon his owne bourd thinking that even this also would win their hearts and gaine a certaine love from them like as we see it usually doth in hounds And if he were desirous that any of his friends should be esteemed and loved of many more besides even to them also would he send somewhat from his owne bourd In so much as at this very day unto whom men see any viands sent from the Kings table they all count them so much the more as whom they repute to be honourable persons and able enough to doe them good and to speed their suits if need required And not onely in these respects aforesaid whatever is sent from a King is acceptable and delightsome but also in very deed those meats which come from a Kings table be exceeding sweet and delicate And no mervaile they should be so For like as all other arts be in great cities most perfect and exquisite even so Kings meats are above other very curiously and finely handled For in small townes it falleth out that one and the same man maketh a bedsted a doore a plough and a table yea and many a time beleeve me the same party also buildeth an house and is well appayed if by this meanes he can meet with any to set him aworke whereby he may find a competent living And verily it cannot be that he who practiseth many arts should performe them all very well and excellently Whereas in great and populous cities because many men have need of one and the same thing one severall science is sufficient for each man to maintaine and keep him And many a time lesse than one whole and entier mystery will doe it For yee shall have one man make shooes for men another for women Yea and that which is more one man findeth a good living by sowing shooes onely whiles another liveth by bare cutting them out In like manner you shall see one that cutteth out and shapeth garments and doth nought else another practiseth none of all that but setteth and soweth the peeces together And therefore it must needs be that he who is occupied in the shortest peece of worke is able to doe that passing well The selfe-same thing is to be seene in our diet and house-keeping For whosoever he is that hath one and the same man to make his bed to cover the bourd to mould loaves and to make bread to dresse now this dish of meat then that he must in my conceit have every thing done but so so and as it hapneth But when one man hath enough to doe to boyle another to rost flesh one to seethe fishes another to fry or broyle them and another to make loaves of bread and those not moulded after divers fashions but serve the turne it will if in some one kind the same be passing well and perfitly done it cannot then otherwise be but that these things in this wise made should every one be excellently wrought and so by consequence the fare in Court surpasseth all other Well after this manner in winning the hearts of those about him he went farre beyond all other Princes But how in all things else he excelled for making much of them I will now declare For albeit he outwent all other Potentates in this that hee received most revenues yet he surmounted them much more in liberall gifts And this munificence began in Cyrus first and hath continued ever since to this present day with all the Kings of Persia. For who is he that hath richer friends and favorites openly knowne than the Persian King What Prince is seene to array his followers in more gorgeous and sumptuous robes than this King Whose gifts are knowne to be such as some of this Kings are to wit bracelets collars and cheines horses also with bridles and trappings of gold For in Persia none may have these but of the Kings gift Who but he hath the name by his large gifts to bring this to passe that he is preferred in love before brethren parents and children who besides him was able so to be revenged of his enemies distant though they were from him many moneths journey as the King of Persia who againe but Cyrus having conquered a mighty Monarchie ended his life so as at his dying day he could get the name of a father among all his subjects and evident it is that this name is attributed unto him rather who giveth benefits than to one that taketh ought away Moreover we have heard it reported that such as are called the Eyes and Eares of Kings he procured to himselfe by no other meanes but by largesse and giving great rewards For when he highly fed with gifts those who brought him intelligence of
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
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
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
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
Hyrcanians and even so ought yee to be affected to us ward But first of all Tell us this How farre hence is the place where the principall rulers and puissance of our enemies maine armie areâ— They answere somewhat above a Parasang CHAP. IIII. The exhortation of Cyrus to his whole Armie inciting them to follow the chace of his enemies with the Cavallery of the Medes WHich when Cyrus heard Goe to then my deere friends quoth he Persians Medes and yee Hyrcanians for now speake I to you as unto Allies and partners with us Now ought we to know for certaine in what state we stand namely that if we now become faint hearted and demeane our selves cowardly we shall incurre the most grievous calamities that be For our enemies know full well wherefore we are come but if we shall fiercely set upon our enemies and give the charge with courage and manly resolution yee shall see them soone like unto fugitive slaves that are found out and apprehended againe some to court us in humble and suppliant manner crying us mercy others to take them to their heeles some againe so maskared as they will not be able so much as to thinke either of the one or the other For as men once discomfited they will state and looke upon us and suspecting nothing lesse than that we are comming they being neither set embattailed nor provided to fight will be surprised If therefore we desire to sit at supper feeding merrily to passe the night sleeping quietly and in a word hereafter to live pleasantly let us give them no respit either to consult or prepare any good thing for themselves no nor so much as to know at all that we be men but thinke onely that nought else is come among them but bucklers courtill-axes glaives browne-bills and bloudy wounds And yee Hyrcanians quoth he step forward upon them and make way before us that by the sight of your armour we may be in covert and unseene as long as possible it is But when I am come close to the enemies armie leave with me every of you a corner of horsemen to use as need requireth so long as I abide here with the armie And such of you as are Commaunders chiefe-Officers and of the elder sort see you ride close in a thicke squadron togither when yee charge them if yee be wise least haply yee light upon their massive troupes and so be borne downe by violence But suffer the younger gallants to follow the chace and let them have the killing of the enemies For this is the safest way now that we leave as few of our enemies alive as may be And if it come to passe as it hapneth to many winners that we quite overthrow their fortunes and breake their backes for ever take heed we must that we fall not to pillage For he that so doth is no more a valiant souldier but a base souldiers page and such an one any man that will may use as his slave This also ought we to know that nothing is more gainefull than victory For the victour presently carrieth all away with him at once men women money and goods yea and the whole countrey withall Furthermore this one thing would be thought upon especially How we may hold and reteine victorie For in it even the rifler and spoyler himselfe is comprised To conclude remember this among the rest in your chace that yee returne to mee while it is day-light For bee it once darke wee will receive none Cyrus having thus said sent every man to his owne companie commaunding them withall that when they were thither come each one should signifie as much to their Decurions For seeing that these Decurions stood in the Front they might easily heare who likewise were bidden every one to intimate as much unto their severall Denaries under their charge Thus the Hyrcanians led the Vaward Cyrus with the Persians conducted the maine battaile in the mids and so marched As for the Horsemen he marshalled them as meet it was on both sides like wings CHAP. V. How Cyrus defaited the Assyrians againe and tooke prisoners Kings Lords and other souldiours a great number The order that he gave how to bee provided presently of victuals without confusion and trouble WHen it was day light the enemies some wondred and were astonied at these occurrents others perceived at the first what the matter was some told it as newes others cryed out some unloosed their horses others fell to trusse up bag and baggage some flung armour and weapons from of their beasts backs others did on their harnois some leapt on horsebacke others bridled them some mounted their wives and women into wagons others caught up their things of greatest price to save them some againe were taken in the manner as they were hiding the same in the ground but the most part tooke their heeles And we must thinke that many and sundry things they did save this onely that there was not one of them fought but perished without fight Croesus the Lydian King had sent away before in the night for that it was the hote summer season his wives in Carroches that during the coole aire they might travaile more easily and himselfe followed hard after with his horsemen Likewise did by report the Phrygian Potentate who ruled that Phrygia which lieth upon Hellespont But when they understood by those that fled and overtooke them how the world went themselves fled also as fast as ever they could The KK of the Cappadocians and Arabians who were next hand and made some resistance unarmed and without their curaces the Hyrcanians put to the sword The most part of those that lost their lives were Assyrians and Arabians For being within their owne land they made slowest haste and went least forward Whiles the Medes and Hyrcanians made havocke and execution as it was no other like following the chace as they did and having still the upper hand Cyrus commaunded those Cornets of horsemen which were left with him to ride about the Campe and whomsoever they saw going forth armed to kill them ouâ—â—ight but to those who stayed within he made proclamation That what souldiours so ever of the enemies armie were either Horsmen Targuatiers or Archers they should trusse up their armour and bring it forth leaving their horses still at their Pavilions But as many as did not this they should forthwith lose their heads Meane while with their arming swords ready drawne they stood in order of battaile round about the tents They therefore that had armour brought it forth and flung the same from them into one place where Cyrus had appointed which they set on fire and burnt who had commandement from him so to doe Cyrus then considering that thither they were come unprovided altogither of meat and drinke without which impossible it is that either an expedition should hold out or any other feat of armes be exploited and casting about how hee might most speedily and
friends hath heretofore entertained us all with many gifts of hospitalitie If now therefore after wee have selected as the manner is a due proportion for the Gods and set by for the rest of the armie a competent part wee bestow upon him the remnant of the spoiles wee shall doe passing well shewing our selves straightwayes to endevour for to surmount those in courtesies who deserve so well at our hands No sooner heard they this but they all approoved yea and commended the motion but one above the rest added moreover and said Wee must in any case ô Cyrus so doe For thus Gabryas as I take it reputed us no better than beggers because wee came not with our proofes full of Daricke purses nor dranke in cups of gold But if we thus doe he wil perhaps acknowledge that we may be liberall without gold Goe to therefore said Cyrus when yee have delivered up unto the Priests the Deo-dands and set aside as much as may suffice the armie send for Gobryas and let him have the residue So after they had taken all that was meet and necessary the surplusage they gave unto Gobryas This done Cyrus marched against the very Citie of Babylon with his armie arraunged in order of battaile like as when the field was fought Now when the Assyrians issued not forth against him Cyrus commaunded Gobryas to ride on and in his name to summon the King saying That if he would come out in person and fight for his country himselfe would combat with him but in case he would not defend his country then of necessitie he must give place and submit unto the winners So Gobryas rode so farre as hee might with safetie and delivered the said Challenge Vnto whom the King sent out one to returne his answere in these words Thy Lord and Master Gobryas saith I repent mee not that I have slaine thy sonne but because I killed not thee also with him If yee are minded to fight come thirtie dayes hence For now we have no leisure and cannot intend it being as yet but in preparation for a battaile Vnto whom Gobryas said God graunt that his repentance of yours may never have end For evident it is that ever since it came upon you thus to repent I am become a pricke in your sides Then Gobryas related the answere of the Assyrian King unto Cyrus which so soone as he heard he raised his Camp and withdrew the Armie And calling Gobryas unto him Tell mee quoth he Said you not erewhile that he whom the Assyrian King did evirate would as you thought willingly side with us Me thinks said he I dare warrant that he will For many times hee and I have freely communed togither When therefore you think it good goe unto the man but first handle the matter so as that yee may sound him and know what he saith And after you have familiarly talked with him if you perceive him willing to friend us devise what you can that he be not knowne to be our friend For in warre neither can a man by any meanes more pleasure his friends than if he seeme to be their enemie nor endamage and hurt his enemies more any way than if he make shew to be their friend Certes I know quoth Gobryas that Gadatas would give a great deale to worke this king of Assyria some mischiefe but it behooveth us to consider what he is able to doe Tell mee then quoth Cyrus Thinke you that the Captaine of the Fortresse situate in the Frontiers of this country which yee say was built against the Hyrcanians and Sacans to be a bulwarke in time of warre for to defend these parts will admit into it this Eunuch when hee commeth with his power Yes verily quoth Gobryas if he come unto him unsuspected as now he is And farthest from all suspicion saith Cyrus hee should be if I besiege and assault his holds as if I were desirous to winne them and he againe make resistance and defend them with all his might If I also for my part take somewhat of his and he againe for it intercept as much of ours if he catch I say some others of our men or else the very messengers whom I send unto those that yee say are enemies unto the Assyrian King Also if such as chaunce to be taken prisoners give out and say they are going to the armie and bringing ladders for to skale the foresaid Castle walles Againe if the Eunuch as hearing thereof make semblance that hee is come to him with all speed for to give intelligence aforehand of these occurrents Surely quoth Gobryas I know very well that if matters be thus carried he will be ready to receive him yea and intreat him to stay with him untill you be departed And so quoth Cyrus being entred once into the Fort he will be able easily to make us Masters thereof It cannot otherwise bee by all likelyhood saith Gobryas whiles hee within practiseth and helpeth what he can and you without more hotely give the assault Goe your waies then quoth Cyrus and doe your endevour after you have acquainted the Eunuch with this plot and dispatched every thing accordingly to be here prest and ready with mee As for pledges of assurance you shall neither promise nor shew unto him greater than those which you have received from us Hereupon Gobryas departed whom the Eunuch was glad to see and so they covenanted and agreed in all points that were meet and requisite Now when Gobryas had related unto Cyrus that hee thought all was well and sure enough on the Eunuches part for the execution of these designments of Cyrus the very morrow after he gave an assault and Gadatas withstood him and defended the Peece The Fort which Cyrus tooke was the same that Gadatas had given order to be assaulted As for the messengers whom Cyrus dispatched before with instructions whither to goe Gadatas suffered some of them to get away and escape to the end they might bring the forces forward and fetch skaling ladders but such as he tooke he examined by torture in the presence of many And when hee heard by their confession whereabout they went hee addressed him immediately that very night to his journey as if he would reveale the same Finally hee menaged the matter so as that his words were credited and so hee entreth the Castle as a friend and one that would doe his devoyr to aide him And verily for the while he joyned with the Captaine of the said Castle in making preparations all that hee could for the defense thereof But when Cyrus was come Gadatas with the helpe of those captives in Cyrus his armie seized the Castle into his owne hands Which done presently this Gadatas the Eunuch having settled all things in order within came forth unto Cyrus and doing his obeisance reverently as the guise is saluted him in this manner Welcome Cyrus as I may say God save you and give you joy And even so he doth
but if he perceived any to be tumultuous and disorderly after the cause thereof knowne he would labour to appease the misrule One thing there remaineth yet as touching the diligence and care which he shewed in the night march namely that he sent forth before the whole armie certaine footmen lightly appointed and those not many in number who being both seene of Chrysantas and also seeing him should as Otacusts listen and advertise him of all occurrents occasions and opportunities presented And one there was over these Avantcurriers to rule and order them and whatsoever was ought worth and materiall he would give notice thereof and what was not hee troubled him not with shewing the same And thus verily marched he by night But when the day was come certaine of the Cadâ—sian horsemen heâ—cleft with their Infantery marching as they did hinmost for that they should not goe naked and destitute of men of Armes the rest hee commaunded to ride on to the Vantguard because the enemies affronted it to the end that if any encountred full opposite unto him he having the strength of his armie in battaile ray might make head and fight with them but if they were seene any whereto flie he might be most ready to pursue them for he had ever about him some appointed to follow the chace when there was need of pursuit others againe to abide with him for never would he suffer a whole Regiment to be dismembred In this wise led Cyrus his Armie forth Yet kept not he himselfe alwayes in one place but riding to and fro and up and down surveied his souldiers and with good care tooke order for whatsoever they wanted Thus much of the march of Cyrus and his host CHAP. VI. A Conspiracy against Gadatas An Ambush layd by the Assyrian King Where hee received a great overthrow How Cyrus saved Gadatas and all his men NOvv it happened that a certeine great person one of Gadatas his men of armes considering how his Lord and Master was revolted from the Assyrian King thought this with himselfe that if ought but well should come unto Gadatas hee might obteine at the Kings hand the seizure of all his goods and lands Vpon which project of his hee sends one of his trusty servants unto the said Assyrian King with these instructions That in case he found the Assyrian forces already in Gadatas his country hee should give the King to understand that if he lay in ambushment hee might take both Gadatas himselfe and all his companie willing him withall to signifie what power Gadatas had in his conduct likewise that Cyrus accompanied him not as also to shew which way he would come Moreover to the end he might be the better beleeved he charged his owne servants to deliver up the Castle which himselfe held within the territorie of Gadatas with all that was therein into the hands of the King of Assyria Furthermore he promised that after he had slaine Gadatas he would come to him in person if hee could if not yet would hee from that time forward take the Kings part The messenger appointed for this errand rode post and with great speed came unto the Assyrian King and declared unto the King the cause of his comming which when he heard he presently entred upon the said Castle and with a great power of horsemen and a number of chariots laid wait in the villages standing thicke thereabout Gadatas when he drew neere to those villages sent forth certeine in espiall to cleere the coasts The Assyrian King having intelligence that these espies were comming commaunded two or three of the chariots and some few horsemen to give ground and flie making semblance as if they were affrighted and but few in number Which when those foreriders perceived they not onely themselves followed in pursuit but also gave the Al-arme to Gadatas Who being deceived thereby made after and followed amaine The Assyrians then for that they thought Gadatas at the point to be taken arose streight out of their embushment Gadatas with his companies seeing that fled as good cause they had The otherside againe with as great reason pursued them At which very time that traiterous villaine who had plotted to forelay Gadatas strake him and failed in deed of giving him a deadly blow but smote him in the shoulder and so wounded him Which deed done he went his wayes to joyne with those that followed in chace For being knowne who he was hee togither with the Assyrians put spurres to his horse and helped the King in his pursuit Then and there be you sure they that rode upon the heaviest and slowest jades were taken by those who had the swiftest steeds under them And verily Gadatas his horsemen being all sore overlayed for that they were tired out with their long journey no sooner espied Cyrus comming forward with his armie but a man might well thinke they were right joyous and glad as if out of some storme and tempest they had arrived to a safe harbour Cyrus at the first sight mervailed thereat but when hee understood what the matter was so long as they rode all afront toward him he led his forces in order of battaile against them But so soone as the enemies knowing how the world went reculed and fled Cyrus commaunded the light horsemen appointed therefore to make hote pursuit and himselfe with the rest followed hard after according as he thought it expedient There might a man have seene some Chariots taken out of which the drivers were fallen partly in the very turning and partly otherwise others againe intercepted by the horsemen and surprised They slew also very many and among the rest the traitour himself who had hurt Gadatas Meane-while the Assyrian footmen who were besieging Gadatas his fortresse abandoned that enterprise Some fled for succour into the Castle which had revolted from Gadatas others got away before their enemies and did put themselves into a great Citie of the Assyrian Kings whereinto himselfe with his chariots and horses was retyred Vpon these exploits thus atchieved Cyrus returned backe into Gadatas his country and after order given unto those whom it concerned to take charge of the captives he went directly to see how Gadatas did upon his hurt And as he went forward Gadatas having by that time his wound dressed and bound up met him on the way When Cyrus saw him he rejoyced and said I was comming to you for to see how you did And I quoth Gadatas so God me love was going to behold you againe and see what a countenance you carry bearing as you doe this brave minde who when I wist not my selfe what need you had now of my helpe nor you ever undertooke or promised to doe this for mee ne yet in your owne particular received so much as any small pleasure at my hand but onely for that I seemed unto you in some measure to benefit my friends have so lovingly and with such affection reskued mee as that now for
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
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
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
who tooke the charge but of one house or of one ship And so having ordered his owne estate hee taught those also about him to take the same course So by this meanes hee provided for the easement both of himselfe and of those also who belonged neere unto him After this hee did set in hand to ordaine what kinde of persons they should be whom he would have to be of his inward companie First therefore as many as were able to live of themselves putting over unto others the tillage and husbanding of their lands if they gave not attendance at Court he enquired after them because he supposed those that thus waited would doe nothing that was evill and unseemely partly for that they were in the Princes presence and in part by reason they knew themselves to be marked and seene whatsoever they did of men of the best note And for those that kept away he thought they were absent in regard of some Intemperance injustice or negligence Being therefore thus perswaded of them he forced them to be present For hee gave commaundement to some one or other of his chiefe favourites to seize upon the goods of him who usually frequented not the Court and to proâ—â—â— openly and say that he entred upon his owne This was no sooner put in 〈◊〉 but immediately they that were thus despoiled came with complaâ—â— as if they had beene wronged But Cyrus did put them off a great while saving his leasure would not serve to lend his eare to such persons and even after he had heard their cause yet deferred he a long time the debating and deciding of their suites And in so doing he supposed that as he taught them to wait and give better attendance so they would be lesse offended with him than if by chastisement he had forced them to wait This I say was one meanes to teach them for to attend Another way he had and that was thus Whiles they were in presence he enjoyned them very easie ministeries and the same most gainefull to themselves A third device he practised besides namely in that he never dealt ought among those that were absent but the most effectuall meanes was meere necessity that if any one would by none of all these be brought to it he would take from such an one his goods and bestow the same upon another whom he thought sufficient and able to be ready at his commaund in all occasions Thus got he a profitable friend for an unprofitable Well in this manner dealt Cyrus with those that were absent And even the King who râ—â—gneth at this day inquireth into such as being by their place and office bound to give attendance are away But looke who presented themselves those hee thought he should excite most unto noble and excellent actions if as he had soveraigne commaund over them so he endevoured to shew himselfe unto his subjects most of all others adorned with vertues For it seemed he considered thus much that even by positive and written lawes men are made better But a good Magistrate he supposed to be unto his people a seeing law as who was able to reduce into order to note also and to punish him that was disorderly Being of this mind first and principally above all things he declared himselfe at this time more religious and respective of Gods worship because he had sped to happily in his affaires And then it was first ordained that the Priests should chaunt hymnes continually by breake of day unto the honor of the Gods and daily to offer what sacrifices unto which Gods themselves pronounced These ordinances instituted then continue still at this day by tradition from King to King successively And herein especially did other Persians imitate him because they were fully perswaded they should be the happier if they served the Gods in that manner as he did who was of all other most happy and their Prince beside Againe in so doing they thought to be in his favour and to please him Cyrus also himselfe was of opinion that the religious devotion of his subjects was behoovefull for him directed herein by the same reason that they are who upon grounded judgement are more willing to goe to sea and to saile in their companie that feare God and be religious than with those that are tainted with irreligion and impiety Moreover this accompt made he that if all those that accompanied him were devout they would be better affected one to another and more respective of him and in no wise perâ—petrate any ungodly act against his person who thought himselfe to have deserved right well of the whole society of his favourites and courtiers Further more making it knowne abroad to esteeme highly of this one thing that no friend or confederate of his should be wronged as one who had an exact insight in law and precisely observed the same he thought this would ensue of it that others likewise forbearing filthie lucre would by just and lawfull meanes onely chuse to better their estates He supposed also they would all be more shame-faced and modest in case he made open shew to have that reverent regard of them all as neither to speake an undecent word nor commit any foule deed And that this would proceed thereof he collected by this argument For men are wont to give better respect I say not to a Magistrate but even to those of whom they stand not in awe if they be modest and bashfull than to such as be shamelesse and impudent yea and perceiving any woman to be modest and demure they respect them also with semblable reverence when they behold them Likewise he thought that those about him would persist constantly in their alleageance to him if he graced and rewarded in the eyes of the world those who without excuse or refusall obeyed him than such as seemed to be endued with the greatest vertues and such as could not be acquired without exceeding labour and paines And as he was of this judgement so he professed the same continually in all his practise By shewing also his owne moderation and temperance he provoked all others the rather to use the same For when as men see one in his carriage modest who hath greatest meanes to warrant his insolency others who have smaller meanes will not openly be seene to commit any insolent parts And in this wise distinguished he betweene bashfull modesty and sober temperance saying that bashfull persons forbeare wickednesse abroad in the sight of others but temperate men avoid the same in secret corners As touching continency he thought his courtiers would be given thereto the more in case he bare himselfe so continent as not by any pleasures presented unto him to be plucked away from good things but willing to undertake travailes joyned with honestie before all delights whatsoever And verily being thus disposed in himselfe he effected this that among those in his court there was much comely order whiles the inferiour sort gave place unto
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
you well interrupt ones joy with manifold troubles And you my sonne Cambyses I would have you to know that it is not this golden Scepter that is able to preserve your Kingdome and Royall estate But many friends and those trusty are unto Kings the truest appay and surest Scepter to rest upon And never thinke that men are naturally borne faithfull friends unto you for if that were so the same men would be true and loyall unto all like as other things in one nature are seene to bee the same unto all indifferently But every Prince must himselfe make men trusty and fast unto him and made they are such not by force but rather by beneficence and bountie If you therefore would gaine others unto you for to bee assistant in the preservation of your royaltie begin not at any other before him who is sprung from the same stocke that you are to wit your owne brother And verily you see that naturall Citizens are more neerely linked unto us than strangers such as eate drinke and daily converse with us more than those that live apart and be unacquainted with us They then that are come of one seed and the same blood nourished by the same mother brought up in the same house loved of the same parents calling one father and one mother how can these otherwise be but of all others most inward and familiar Suffer not then those good blessings to be in vaine bestowed upon you whereby the very Gods lead brethren to the entertainment of mutuall amitie but over and above this foundation already laid build forthwith other workes of love and thus your reciprocall friendship shall continue for ever invincible And to say a truth he regardeth his owne selfe who taketh care of his brother For unto what other person is a brother if he be a mightie man such an ornament as to his brother And who beside is able to honour a puissant Potentate so much as a brother And whom will a man having a great person to his brother feare to wrong so much as hee will his owne brother See therefore that no man obey him sooner nor be readier to come and assist him than your selfe For neither his prosperitie nor adversitie concernes any man more properly than you Consider moreover in gratifying whom you should hope to gaine more or winne greater thanke than if you doe your brother a pleasure In succouring shall you get a firmer Ally than him whom is it more unseemely or dishonest not to love than a brother and whom in all the world is it more decent and befitting to honour above the rest than a brother It is a brother onely and none but he ô Cambyses who if hee have the principall place of love with a brother incurreth not the envie of others thereby For the tender love therefore of our tutelar Gods my children As yee have any desire to gratifie mee your father honour yee one another For yee doe not I trow beleeve and know for certaine that when I end this humane life I shall become nothing at all and have no more being Neither did yee so much as erewhile see my soule visibly but by the operations which it had yee conceived of it as of a reall essence Or know yee not yet what terrours doe their soules who have suffred violence and wrongs strike into murderers hearts and what revengefull tormentors they send among the wicked Thinke yee that the honours done to those that are departed would have endured so long if their spirits had no power and strength remaining in them For mine owne part my sonnes I could never be perswaded to beleeve that the soule all while it is contained within this mortall body should live and afterwards die when it is departed from it For this I see that the soule quickeneth these mortall bodies and giveth life to them so long as it remaineth therein Neither could I ever be brought to thinke that after the soule is separate from this blockish and senselesse body it shall be it selfe void of sense and understanding But when the pure and sincere minde is once departed then by all likelihood and reason it is most wise After the dissolution of a man every thing is seene to returne againe unto its owne kinde save onely the soule which neither present nor absent can be seene Consider moreover quoth he that nothing in the world resembleth mans death neerer than sleepe But the soule of a man whiles he sleepeth sheweth most of all her divinitie yea and foreseeth future things being as it seemeth at such a time at greatest libertie Is it so then as I perswade my selfe it is doth the soule quit and forsake the body In all reverence and honour therefore unto my soule performe that which I request you to doe But were it nothing so but that the soule as it abideth in the body so it perisheth with the same yet feare yee the Gods who are immortall who see all things and bee omnipotent who maintaine and keepe this orderly course of the whole world so certaine perpetuall infallible and for the grandeur and beauty thereof so inexplicable Feare the Gods I say that yee may neither commit nor devise any impietie or injustice Next unto the Gods reverence all Mankinde which in a continuall succession is perpetuall For the Gods doe not cover you with darkenesse but all your actions must of necessitie be exposed to the eyes of the world which if they be pure and void of iniquitie shall make you powerfull with all men but if yee devise and practise to wrong one another yee shall be disreputed with all men For no man were he never so well affâ—cted can trust you any longer when he sees him to receive injury at your hands who is linked most neere in the bond of friendship If then this remonstrance of mine be sufficient to instruct you in your deportment one to another it is well if not yet at least wise learne of them who lived before us for this is the best way simply of teaching and instruction Many parents there have beene who constantly persisted in love to their children and many brethren likewise to their brethren yea and some of both sorts have plotted the cleane contrary one against another Whether of them therefore yee know to have reaped more good by that which they have done if yee make choise of their deeds and follow their steps yee shall doe very well But hereof peradventure I have said enough And now my sonnes as touching my body when I have once finished the course of this my life see yee enshrine it neither in gold nor in silver nor in any thing else but presently with all speed enterre the same For what is more happie than to be committed unto the earth which as a mother beareth and as a nource feedeth all things faire and beautifull all things good and profitable I have beene otherwise at all times a respective lover of
serving upon the Assyrians Horses and intended to set at large all his Prisoners CHAP. IX The speech of Cyrus to the Assyrian prisoners at their deliverance CHAP. X. How Cyaxares envied the glory of Cyrus and was wroth with the Medes The answer that Cyrus made to him and the Embassage which he sent into Persia. CHAP. XI The Missive of Cyrus to Cyaxares CHAP. XII The â—ration of Cyrus directing his souldiers how they should part the spoiles Also how he mounted the Persians on Horsebacke CHAP. XIII How Gobryas yeelded himselfe unto Cyrus and related unto him the disasterous calamitie of his son and required revenge for his death upon the King of Assyria which Cyrus promised to doe THE FIFTH BOOKE CHAP. I. How Araspas had the keeping of faire Panâ—hea on whom he became enamoured A discourse betweene Cyrus and him whether love were voluntary or forced CHAP. II. How Cyrus being assured of the Medes and other Allies rode to the Castle of Gobryas And of his Magnificence CHAP. III. How Cyrus intended to assault the great City of Babylon the discourses which hee had with the Prince of Hyrcania and with Gobryas CHAP. IIII. How Cyrus chalenged the King of Babylon to come into the Field and then making a league with Gadatas won the Fortresses of the Frontiers and augmented his Forces with a number of 40000. and how the King of Assyria would have surprised and taken in the Castles of Gadatas CHAP. V. How Cyrus exhorted his souldiers to give all the booty unto Gadatas how he rauâ—ged his battailes as well to fight as to march by night CHAP. VI. A Conspiracy against Gadatas An Ambush laid by the Assyrian King where he received a great overthrow How Cyrus saved Gadatas and all his men 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 CHAP. VIII How Cyrus as hee returned into Media passed before Babylon and surprized certaine Forts upon the Frontiers CHAP. IX How Cyrus returned to the Monarchs of Media and laboured to appease the wrath of Cyaxares The answer also that he made unto him THE SIXTH BOOKE CHAP. I. The Counsell that Cyrus held about the dissolving his Armie for that yeere The preparations which he made against the yeere next ensuing The fabrick and engines that he devised for to batter the walls His Chariots armed with Pikes and Sithes carrying turrets upon them Also the Camels which he provided for the warre CHAP. II. How Cyrus sent Araspas as a spie into Lydia who feigned that he fled for the displeasure of Cyrus 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 engins and fabricks CHAP. IV. How the King of India sent an Ambassage unto Cyrus to treat about a league with him who sent the said Ambassadours to listen after as spies the affaires of the Assyrians The newes that they brought backe CHAP. V. The oration of Cyrus unto his souldiers to put them out of that feare and astonishment which they had conceived of the Newes they heard as touching the warre toward CHAP. VI. The Instruction of Cyrus delivered unto his Chieftaines as well concerning their souldiers diet as the conduct of an Army in their march through the Country The order of the Pioners Merchants and Tradesmen Artizans and Munitioners CHAP. VII How Cyrus marched against his Enemies in Lydia The manner he used as well in encamping as in leading his whole Army CHAP. VIII How Araspas returned unto Cyrus and recounted unto him all the Ordnance and preparation of the Enemy How himselfe prepared to raunge himselfe in Battaile-ray CHAP. IX How Panthea enarmed her husband Abradate and Cyrus did put himselfe in readinesse to give battaile THE SEVENTH BOOKE CHAP. I. How Cyrus entred the field with his puissance approached King Croesus to giâ—e him battaile The manner that both Armies used to fight with their beâ—â— advantage CHAP. II. The great Battaile and slaughter of the Lydians where King Croesus and his forceâ— were discomfited The Aegyptians yeeld unto Cyrus CHAP. III. How Cyrus following the traine of his victory forced the City Sardes and tooke King Croesus prisoner The discourse that he held with him as touching the Oracle of Apollo and how he did set him at liberty and saved the same City from saccage CHAP. IV. The death of Abradatas Of faire Panthea and her Eunuches Cyrus caused a goodâ— ly Monument to be erected for their perpetuall memory CHAP. V. How Cyrus by the Wisedome and Policie of Cadusius tooke the King of Phâ—ygâ—a prisoner brought under subjection in small time the Cappadocians the Arabians and all the Nations round about which done how he embattaâ—led his forces to the number of 40000. men in Armes and approached Babylon CHAP. VI. How Cyrus laid siege unto the Citie Babylon and by a wonderfull Stratagem woâ—â—â— How the King of Asâ—ria and his men were slaine the Citie put to the sack and the Fortresses rendred into his hands CHAP. VII How Cyrus established his Kingdome in Babylon instituted the honour and veneration of Kings entertained Eunuches for the service of his House and Persians for the Guard of his person CHAP. VIII The Oration of Cyrus to his chiefe friends the Peeres or Homotimes 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 THE EIGHTH BOOKE CHAP. I. How Cyrus ordered the seat of his Court What Institution of his life he recommended to his Courtiers The manner that he used in teaching them how to live devoutly to God-ward and to exercise themselves in all manner of vertue toward men CHAP. II. How Cyrus ordeined militarie Discipline in his Realme The Officers of his Court His mangnificence and humanitie CHAP. III. The Triall that Cyrus made of his friends love unto him How hee dealt away his riches to be himselfe the better beloved of them and they not to affect one another CHAP. IIII. The triumphant pompe of King Cyrus riding forth of his Palace A solemne Horse-running wherein himselfe was winner CHAP. V. The liberalitie that Pheraulas shewed unto one that gave him a faire Courser A notable discourse of that which is able to make a man happy and to live in contentment CHAP. VI. By what meanes Cyrus graced and honoured his friends The marriage of Gobryas his daughter with Hystaspas one of Cyrus his grand-Seigneurs CHAP. VII How Cyrus sent away his Associates into their owne Countries distributed the spoile and returned intâ— Persia. How he ordered and marshalled his Campe being arrived in Media where King Cyaxares offered him his daughter in marriage and gave with her for a portion the Kingdome of Media CHAP. VIII How Cyrus arrived in Persia where
Cambyses treateth with him his Lords and Chiefe Commanders about the affaires of State How he tooke to wife the daughter of Cyaxares and being returned to Babylon sent Rulers and Deputies into all his Provinces CHAP. IX The expeditions that Cyrus made during his Reigne and how hee returned into Persia and there dyed 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 FINIS TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY MONARCH CHARLES by the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Most dread Soveraigne WHen that Maiden-Monarch the Wonder of the World in her time Queene Elizabeth of famous memory swaied the Imperiall Scepter of this Kingdome in her latter dayes my deere Father Doctor Philemon Holland presented unto her Maiesty his English Translation of the Romanes most renowmed * Historiographer And it pleased her Highnes full of Clemency to reach out the Golden Scepter of her gracious acceptance thereof Sol occubuit nox nulla sequuta est For no sooner was that glorious Sunne set to our sight on Earth in our Horizon and translated to shine in heaven but your Royall Father King Iames of blessed memory appearing even then by his radiant beames out of the North in maturitie of time came to weare the same Imperiall Diademe lawfully descended upon his Head At whose very first entrance my said Father dedicated his translation also of * Trajanus his Masters Morals unto his Majestie who was no lesse pleased to hold forth his Gracious hand and accept the same Also when my unworthy selfe offred mine owne Collections entituled Herâ—ologia Anglica unto his Highnesse he most graciously received it And now most deare Soveraigne unto this present version of Xenophons Cyrupediam out of Greek which is as I may say the Authour his Master-Peece and my fathers worke likewise your Majestie hath the sole right in regard that he enterprized it long since and that by speciall order and direction from your Royall Father delivered unto him by one of his neere servants in Court even when your selfe were in your tender yeeres for the contemplation and use of your most Generous and Magnanimous Brother Prince Henry now in Heaven Of whose vertuous life and Princely exercises more may bee seene in the said Herâ—ologia His death caused a demurre as it were in publishing thereof untill of late my father importuned by some friends having revised and finished his said Traduction destined it to me his sonne that in regard both of the Author and Argument it might lie no longer in obscurity but at length and as I hope in good time see the light of the Sunne The Author then of these books Xenophon a deepe Philosopher a politike Counseller of State and an expert Warriour beside how-ever hee penned them Non ad Historiae fidem as Cicero writeth sed ad Effigiem justi Imperij yet in such request they were that Scipio Africanus the famous Romane Commaunder was never wont to lay them out of his hands for as the same Oratour recordeth Nullum in hijs praetermissum est officium diligentis moderati Imperij No mervaile then that L. Lucullus A noble Generall under the Romanes being at first a raw and unexpert Commaunder by serious studying upon these books on ship-boord became so worthy a warriour and compleat Generall as that he vanquished the most puissant politick and victorious Mithridates King of Pontus who had before subdued in manner all Asia And all these books wrote he so sweetly and eloquently in Greek that he was named the Muse or as Suidas writeth The Bee of Athens Insomuch as the very Muses were reported to have spoken in Xenophons voice as out of whose mouth by the testimony of that Romane Oratour alluding to Nestor in Homer melle dulcior fluebat oratio Which albeit my father in English could not Parallele yet treating as he doth of the life and atchievements of so worthy a Prince of whom may I seeme to crave Patronage in the first place but of your sacred Selfe my liege Lord For these books how ever Englished may haply hereafter if your Majesty shall thinke so good be held worthy the view and imitation of your right Roâ—al Son our most hopeful Prince Charles whom I caÌ„not name but with this zealous and devout prayer That he may grow up in stature and in favour with God and Man Vouchsafe therefore I most humbly crave of your innate Clemency which makes you renowmed throughout the Christian world not to withhold your Golden Scepter but in like manner as your late Predecessours and Progenitours have done to welcome into your Court Greeke Xenophon his Cyrus a Persian Prince by birth but now clad in English Accoustrements speaking our Language and hither arrived to kisse your Roiall hand especially seeing he is that Cyrus the elder of whom the holy Scripture maketh honourable mention And why should I doubt hereof considering he being a warlike Monarch and skilfull in Armes according to the auncient discipline tendereth discourse of military Preparations Stratagems and Expeditions now in these dayes not without Gods providence of Action when as your Majesty and your subjects are so deeply engaged with your Royall Allies and Confederates in Martiall Actions who fight the Lords Battailes and that blessed be God with late good and viâ—torious successe so as we cannot but hope still for better now that your Royall Aide is not wanting and the Britains Banners are there advanced For although your Majestie in great wisedome hath of late laid downe Armes and entertained Peace with some Christian Princes so as wee for the time may say Dulce bellum inexpertis Yet as the wisest of Kings said There is a time for Warre as well as for Peace Demaundeth your Majesty now what he is that dareth to approach so neere your Presence as to speake of Warre in time of Peaceâ— Give your poore vassall leave to answer in the submissive voice of a loyall subject He is no Schollar professed nor Martiall man yet a lover of learning and being one of the Trained Band to guard CAMERAM REGIS alwaies prest without your Imprest money to fight if occasion be presented in defence of your Majesties person of the Realme of that Faith and Religion whereof you under God are entituled The sole Defender yea even to lay downe his dearest life For according to my fathers Imprese Pro Christo Patria dulce periculum Which I desire of God may be my last Cygnean song However The Lord of Hosts fight for you The God of Iacob protect you The King of Kings preserve your most excellent Majestie in health and safety of soule and body from all your enemies spirituall and temporall Foraine and Domestique The same IEHOVAH preserve you from all Warres Disasters and Diseases and in the end he give you one Coelestiall Crowne for your three