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 oration 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 Panchea 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 raunged 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 give him battaile The manner that both Armies used to fight with their best advantage CHAP. II. The great Battaile and slaughter of the Lydians where King Croesus and his forces 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 goodly Monument to be erected for their perpetuall memory CHAP. V. How Cyrus by the Wisedome and Policie of Cadusius tooke the King of Phrygia prisoner brought under subjection in small time the Cappadocians the Arabians and all the Nations round about which done how he embattailed 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 won it How the King of Assyria 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 magnificence 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 into 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
my fathers case now Yea but your father said Cyrus hath felt as yet no smart at all He stands I know well in great feare that he shall be put to abide all extremities And thinke you indeed quoth Tigranes that any thing doth cast men downe and subdue them more than strong feare or wote you not that those who have felt the edge of the sword which of all punishments is thought to be the sharpest will never the lesse encounter the same enemies againe who wounded them But such persons as men doe mightily stand in dread of they can not endure to looke full upon although they speak comfortably unto them This is then your saying is it not quoth Cyrus That men afraid of torments are more punished already than if they were tortured in very deed Why even your selfe quoth he doth know that I say truth as well as I can tell you For well you wote that such as feare to be banished out of their native countrey such also as being to fight a field are afraid of an overthrow live in continuall anguish Semblably they that saile at sea so long as they stand in feare of shipwracke as many also as feare bondage and imprisonment by reason of their feare can have no joy nor receive benefit either of meat or sleep Whereas such as be in exile such as be defaited and brought into servitude already can otherwhiles eate and drinke yea and sleep better than those which are in happy estate Furthermore it appeareth even in these persons more evidently what a cumberous burden feare is For some fearing least after they be taken prisoners they should bee put to death die before for very feare partly by throwing themselves downe headlong partly by strangling themselves and in part by cutting their owne throats So that of all horrible things in the world feare most of all terrifieth mens minds As for my father here how is his heart now affected thinke you standing as hee doth in feare of Captivitie not only for himselfe but also for me his wife and all his children I can easily beleeve in deed quoth Cyrus that he is in this maner much disquieted yet am I of this opinion that incident it is to one and the same man in prosperity to be proud and insolent but in calamity to be sodainly dejected soone cast downe howbeit if upon pardon he recover and be raised up eftsoones to looke aloft to waxe high minded and ready to stirre up new troubles againe True it is ô Cyrus quoth Tigranes Our offences are such as give good occasion why we should no more be trusted howbeit in your power it is both to fortifie your castles with strong wals and also to keepe with garrison your fensed 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 At 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 In case 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
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 THE FIRST BOOKE TREATING OF THE LIFE AND INSTITVTION OF CYRVS KING OF THE PERSIANS the first of that name The Prooeme I Entred sometimes into this serious cogitation How many * Popular States or free States menaged by the people Democraties haue been subuerted by those who would needes gouerne the Common-wealth otherwise than in a popular State How many also as well * Absolute States ruled by one Prince Kingdomes Monarchies as * Seignories vnder some few Rulers Oligarchies are come already to nought by conspiracies of the Commons How many persons likewise who attempted as absolute Princes to reigne were either very soone vtterly ouerthrowne or else if they ruled any while held in great admiration as passing wise men and fortunate Me thought againe I had obserued thus much That whereas in private families some masters haue many seruants in houshold others very few yet even those few they could never have wholly at commaund I considered moreouer that as the feeders of Neate and Horses so all others bearing the name of * Heardmen Pastors may by good right bee reputed the Commaunders of such beasts as they have vnder their hands But withall I perceived evidently that all these Heards are more willing to obey their Pastours than men their Magistrates For the said Heards go whithersoeuer their Heardmen direct them and as they gladly graze in those * Or Pasture grounds to which they are by them driuen so they forbeare such as they debarre them fro And verily they suffer their said Pastours to vse at their owne pleasure those profits that arise from them Neither have we ever knowne any such Heards to have risen rebelliously against their Pastours either by way of disobedience or in denying them the vse of their fruits Nay rather more curst and hurtfull are beasts to all others whomsoever than to their Rulers and those who receive commodity by them whereas contrariwise Men set themselves against none more than such as they perceiue goe about to exercise dominion ouer them When I had well pondered these points in my minde thus I concluded in the end That more easie it was for a man to command all other living creatures in the world than men But when I considered eftsoones How Cyrus a Persian borne had won exceeding many men very many Cities and Nations likewise to his obedience I was thereby enforced to change my former opinion and thus to resolve at the last That it is neither impossible nor yet a matter of difficulty to governe men in case one have the skill thereof and goe about it with dexterity For why of this we are assured that there yeelded obeisance willingly vnto Cyrus some who were many dayes others as many moneths iourney distant from him those that never saw him yea and such as knew full well they should never see him yet nathelesse would they all become his liege men and devoted subiects And no maruell For so farre excelled he all other Kings as well those that by inheritance succeeded in their Fathers Kingdomes as those who by their owne conquest attained to their dominions that whereas the Scythian King albeit the Scythians be a State for number of people most puissant is not able to command any forraine Nation but would be well apaid if he might but rule his owne The Thracian Prince likewise the Thracians and the Illyrian Potentate the Illyrians which is the case as we heare say of other Countries besides For in Europe the people live by report severally vnder their owne lawes and remaine hitherto free one from another Cyrus alone who found the States of Asia likewise ruled by their owne lawes having with a small Army of Persians made an invasion became Soueraigne Lord verily of the Medes and the Hyrcanians without resistance as who willingly raunged themselves vnto him But the Syrians Assyrians Arabians Cappadocians * Of the greater Phrygia and the lesse See the beginning of the second booke Phrygians both the one sort and the other the Lydians Carians Phoenicians and Babylonians hee by force of armes subdued The Bactrians moreouer the Indians and Cilicians likewise the Sacans Paphlagonians Megadines and other nations exceeding many whose very names a man may hardly rehearse he reduced vnder his Empire The Greekes also in Asia he brought to his devotion And hauing made expeditions and voyages by sea conquered the Cyprians and Egyptians Thus atchieved he the Seignorie of the nations which in language agreed neither with him nor yet among themselves And notwithstanding he was able to compasse so great a part of the earth and that through feare of his prowesse in so much as he astonished all men and none durst attempt any thing against him yet could he withall imprint such an affection in their hearts with an earnest desire to doe him pleasure as that they sued alwaies to be ruled according to his will and direction Furthermore he had so many sorts of people obliged vnto him as it were a painefull piece of worke to number them all what way soever a man take from his royall Palace either East West North or South In which regard I haue diligently enquired touching this Prince as of a man worthy to be admired and namely how he was by birth descended what his naturall disposition was what manner of education hee had that he so farre surpassed all men in princely government Whatsoever therefore I have either heard or otherwise seeme to haue knowne as touching him I will endeavour to relate CHAP. I. The custome of the Persians in government of their Natives How Cyrus was instituted during his Child-hood in the discipline of vertue with other children of his age in the publike Schooles CYrus verily by report had for his Father Cambyses King of the Persians now was this Cambyses lineally descended from the Persidae which take their name of Perseus And his Mother all writers agree to have beene Mandane the daughter of Astyages King of the Medes The common speech is and among the Barbarians rife it is even at this day in every mans mouth That Cyrus naturally for his outward countenance was very faire and well fauoured and for the inward enduments of his minde most courteous passing studious and exceeding desirous of honour insomuch as for to win praise he would refuse no paines but vndergoe all perils whatsoeuer Cyrus being thus by nature endued with rare gifts of the minde and adorned with beauty of body also according as we find in written records was trained vp