THE

FOUNDATION OF THE EMPIRE

OF THE

PERSIANS AND MEDES,

BY CYRUS.

CONTAINING THE REIGNS OF CYRUS, OF CAMBYSES, AND SMERDIS THE MAGIAN.

CHAPTER I.

THE HISTORY OF CYRUS.

BOOK IV.

THE history of this prince is differently related by Herodotus and Xenophon. I follow the latter, as judging him infinitely more worthy of credit on this subject than the former; and as to those facts wherein they differ, I shall think it sufficient briefly to relate what Herodotus says of them. It is well known, that Xenophon served a long time under the younger Cyrus, who had in his troops a great number of Persian noblemen, with whom undoubtedly this writer, considering how curious he was, did often converse, in order to acquaint himself by that means with the manners and customs of the Persians, with their conquests in general, but more particularly with those of the prince who had founded their monarchy, and whose history he proposed to write. This he tells us himself, in the beginning of his Cyropædia: Having always looked upon this great man as worthy of admiration, I took a pleasure of informing myself of his birth, his natural disposition, and the method of his education, that I might know by what means he became so great a prince;

A. M. 3405. Ant. J. C. 599.

SECTION L. CYRUS'S EDUcation. CYRUS was the son of Cambyses, king of Persia, and of Mandane, Medes. He was born one year daughter to Astyages, king of the after his uncle Cyaxares, the brother of Mandane.

The Persians were at this time divided into twelve

tribes, and inhabited only one province of that vast country which has since borne the name of Persia, and were not in all above 120,000 men. But this people having afterwards, through the prudence and valour of Cyrus, acquired the empire of the East, the name of Persia extended itself with their conquests and fortune, and comprehended all that vast tract of country which reaches from east to west, from the river Indus to the Tigris; and from north to south, from the Caspian sea to the ocean. And still to this day the country of Persia has the same extent.

and herein I advance nothing but what has been told me. As to what Cicero says, in his first letter to his brother Quinta, that Xenophon's design in writing the history of Cyrus, was not so much to follow truth, as to give a model of a just government; this ought not to lessen the authority of that judicious historian, or make us give the less credit to what he relates. All that can be inferred from thence is, that the design of Xenophon, who was a great philosopher, as well as a great captain, was not merely to write Cyrus's history, but to represent him as a model and example to Cyrus was beautiful in his person, and still more princes, for their instruction in the arts of reigning, deserving of esteem for the qualities of his mind; was and of gaining the love of their subjects, notwithstand-of a very sweet disposition, full of good nature and ing the pomp and elevation of their stations. With this view he may possibly have lent his hero some thoughts, some sentiments, or discourses, of his own. But the substance of the facts and events he relates, is to be deemed true; and of this their conformity with the holy Scripture is of itself a sufficient proof. The reader may see the dissertation of the Abbé Banier upon this subject in the Memoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres,2

For the greater perspicuity, I divide the history of Cyrus into three parts. The first will reach from his

1 Cyrus ille à Xenophonte, non ad historiæ fidem scriptus, sed ad effigiem justi imperii. a Vol. vi. p. 400.

VOL. I.-15

humanity, and had a great desire for learning, and a noble ardour for glory. He was never afraid of any danger, or discouraged by any hardship or difficulty, where honour was to be acquired. He was brought up according to the laws and customs of the Persians, which were excellent in those days with respect to

education.

The public good, the common benefit of the nation, was the only principle and end of all their laws. The education of children was looked upon as the most important duty, and the most essential part of government: it was not left to the care of fathers and

an effeminate life, to be dressed in scarlet, and to wear necklaces and bracelets; whereas the habits of the Persians were very plain and coarse. All this finery did not dazzle Cyrus, who without criticising or condemning what he saw, was contented to live as he had been brought up, and adhered to the principles he had imbibed from his infancy. He charmed his grandfather with his sprightliness and wit, and gained every body's favour by his noble and engaging behaviour. I shall only mention one instance, whereby we may judge of the rest.

mothers, whose blind affection and fondness often | lished with artificial locks. For the Medes affected rendered them incapable of that office; but the state took it upon themselves. Boys were all brought up in common, after one uniform manner; where every thing was regulated, the place and length of their exercises, the times of eating, the quality of their meat and drink, and their different kinds of punishment. The only food allowed either the children or the young men, was bread, cresses and water; for their design was to accustom them early to temperance and sobriety: besides, they considered, that a plain, frugal diet, without any mixture of sauces or ragouts, would strengthen the body, and lay such a foundation of health, as would enable them to undergo the hardships and fatigues of war to a good old age.

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

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

Astyages, to make his grandson unwilling to return home, made a sumptuous entertainment, in which there was the utmost plenty and profusion of every thing that was nice and delicate. All this exquisite cheer and magnificent preparation Cyrus looked upon with great indifference; and observing Astyages to be surprised at his behaviour: The Persians, says he The design of the Persians, in all these wise regu- to the king, instead of going such a round-about way to lations, was to prevent evil, being convinced that it is appease their hunger, have a much shorter to the same much better to prevent faults than to punish them: end; a little bread and cresses with them answer the purand whereas in other states the legislators are satis-pose. Astyages having allowed Cyrus to dispose of fied with enacting punishments for criminals, the Per- all the meats as he thought fit, the latter immediately sians endeavoured so to order it, as to have no crimi- distributed them to the king's officers in waiting; to nals amongst them. one, because he taught him to ride; to another, because he waited well upon his grandfather; and to a third, because he took great care of his mother. Sacas, the king's cup-bearer, was the only person to whom he gave nothing. This officer, besides the post of cupbearer, had that likewise of introducing those who were to have audience of the king; and as he could not possibly grant that favour to Cyrus as often as he desired it, he had the misfortune to displease the prince, who took this occasion to show his resentment. Astyages testifying some concern at the neglect shown to this officer, for whom he had a particular regard, and who deserved it, as he said, on account of the wonderful dexterity with which he served him: Is that all, papa? replied Cyrus; if that be sufficient to merit your favour, you shall see I will quickly obtain it; for I will take upon me to serve you better than he. Immediately Cyrus is equipped as a cup-bearer, and advancing gravely with a serious countenance, a napkin upon his shoulder, and holding the cup nicely with three of his fingers, he presented it to the king with a dexterity and grace that charmed both Astyages and Mandane. When he had done, he flung himself upon his grandfather's neck, and kissing him, cried out with great joy: O Sacas! poor Sacas! thou art undone; I shall have thy place. Astyages embraced him with great fondness, and said, I am mighty Ian well pleased, my dear child; nobody can serve me with a better grace: but you have forgotten one essential cere. mony, which is that of tasting. And indeed the cupbearer was used to pour some of the liquor into his left hand, and to taste it, before he presented it to the king: No, replied Cyrus, it is not through forgetfulness that I omitted that ceremony.-Why, then, says Astyages, for what reason did you do it?-Because I apprehended there was poison in the liquor.-Poison, child! How could you think so?—Yes; poison, papa; for not long ago, at an entertainment you gave to the lords of your court, after the guests had drunk a little of that liquor, I perceived all their heads were turned; they sung, WHEN Cyrus was twelve years old, his mother made a noise, and talked they did not know what you Mandane took him with her into Media, to his grand-yourself seemed to have forgotten that you were king, and father Astyages, who, from the many things he had heard said in favour of that young prince, had a great desire to see him. In this court young Cyrus found very different manners from those of his own country. Pride, luxury, and magnificence, reigned here universally. Astyages himself was richly clothed, had his eyes coloured, his face painted, and his hair embel

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

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

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

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

SECTION II.-CYRUS'S JOURNEY TO HIS GRANDFA

THER ASTYAGES, AND HIS RETURN INTO PERSIA.

they that they were subjects; and when you would have danced, you could not stand upon your legs.—Why, says

black. To give the greater lustre to their eyes, they made their eye-lashes of the same blackness. This artifice was much in use among the Hebrews. It is said of Jezebel, Depinxit oculos suos stibio, 2 Kings, ix. 30. This drug had an astringent quality, which shrunk up the eye-lids, ana made the eyes appear the larger, which at that time was reckoned a beauty. Plin. 1. xxxiii. c. 6. From hence comes that epithet, which Homer so often gives to his god desses: Bownis "Hon, great-eyed Juno.

• Ω Σάκα, ἀπόλωλας· ἐκβαλῶ σε τῆς τιμῆς.

Astyages, have you never seen the same thing happen to SECTION III.-THE FIRST CAMPAIGN OF CYRUS, WHO your father?-No, never, says Cyrus. How is it with him when he drinks ?—Why, when he has drunk, his thirst is quenched, and that's all.

We cannot too much admire the skill of the historian in giving such an excellent lesson of sobriety in this story; he might have done it in a serious grave way, and have spoken with the air of a philosopher; for Xenophon, warrior as he was, was no less excellent a philosopher than his master Socrates. But in stead of that, he puts the instruction into the mouth of a child, and conceals it under the veil of a story, which, in the original, is told with all the wit and agreeableness imaginable.

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

GOES TO AID HIS UNCLE CYAXARES AGAINST THE
BABYLONIANS.

2

A. M. 3444.

Astyages, king of the Medes, dying, was succeeded by his son Cyaxares, brother to Cyrus's mother. Ant. J. C. 560, Cyaxares was no sooner on the throne, than he was engaged in a terrible war. He was informed that the king of the Babylonians (Neriglissor) was preparing a powerful army against him, and that he had already engaged several princes on his side, and amongst others Croesus, king of Lydia; that he had likewise sent ambassadors to the king of India, to give him bad impressions of the Medes and Persians, by representing to him how dangerous a closer alliance and union between two nations already so powerful might be, since they could in the end subdue all the nations around them, if a vigorous opposition was not made to the progress of their power. Cyaxares therefore despatched ambassadors to Cambyses, to desire succours from him; and ordered them to bring it about, that Cyrus should have the command of the troops his father was to send. This was readily granted. As soon as it was known that Cyrus was to march at the head of the army, the joy was universal. The army consisted of 30,000 men, all infantry (for the Persians as yet had no cavalry); but they were all chosen men, and such as had been raised after a particular manner. First of all Cyrus chose out of the nobility 200 of the bravest officers, each of whom was ordered to choose out four more of the same sort, When Cyrus was about sixteen years of age, the which made 1000 in all; and these were the officers son of the king of the Babylonians (this was Evil- that were called 'Opéripot, and who signalized themMerodach, son of Nabuchodonosor), at a hunting-selves afterwards so gloriously upon all occasions. match a little before his marriage thought fit, in order to show his bravery, to make an irruption into the territories of the Medes; which obliged Astyages to take the field, to oppose the invader. Here it was that Cyrus, having followed his grandfather, served his apprenticeship in war. He behaved himself so well on this occasion, that the victory which the Medes gained over the Babylonians was chiefly owing to his

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

valour.

The year after, his father recalling A. M. 3421. him, that he might complete his course Ant. J. C. 583. in the Persian exercises, he departed immediately from the court of Media, that neither his father nor his country might have any room to complain of his delay. This occasion showed how much he was beloved. At his departure he was accompanied by all sorts of people, young and old. Astyages himself conducted him a good part of his journey on horseback; and when the sad moment came that they must part, the whole company were bathed in tears.

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

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

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

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

Every one of this thousand was appointed to raise among the people ten light-armed pike-men, ten slingers, and ten bowmen; which amounted in the whole to 31,000 men.

Before they proceeded to the choice, Cyrus thought fit to make a speech to the 200 officers, whom, after having highly praised them for their courage, he inspired with the strongest assurance of victory and success. Do you know, says he to them, the nature of the enemy you have to deal with? They are soft, effeminate, enervated men, already half conquered by their own luxury and voluptuousness; men not able to bear either hunger or thirst; equally incapable of supporting either the toil of war or the sight of danger: whereas you, that are inured from your infancy to a sober and hard way of liv ing; to you, I say, hunger and thirst are but the sauce, and the only sauce, to your meals; fatigues are your pleasure, dangers your delight, and the love of your country and of glory your only passion. Besides, the justice of your cause is another considerable advantage. They are the aggressors. It is the enemy that attacks us, and it is our friends and allies that require our aid. Can any thing be more just than to repel the injury they offer us? Is there any thing more honourable than to fly to the assistance of our friends? But what ought to be the principal motive of your confidence is, that I do not engage in this expedition without having first consulted the gods, and implored their protection; for you know it is my custom to begin all my actions, and all my undertakings, in that

manner.

A. M. 3445. Ant. J. C. 559.

Cyrus soon after set out without loss of time; but before his depar ture he invoked the gods of the country a second time. For his great maxim was, and he had it from his father, that a man ought not to form any enterprise, great or small, without consulting the divinity, and imploring his protection. Cambyses had often taught him to consider, that the prudence of men is very short, and their views very limited; that they cannot penetrate into futurity; and that many times what they think must needs turn to their advantage, proves their ruin; whereas the gods, being eternal, know all things, future as well as

past, and inspire those they love to undertake what is most expedient for them; which is a favour and a protection they owe to no man, and grant only to those that invoke and consult them.

Cambyses accompanied his son as far as the frontiers of Persia; and in the way gave him excellent instructions concerning the duties of the general of an army. Cyrus thought himself ignorant of nothing that related to the business of war, after the many lessons he had received from the most able masters of that time. Have your masters, says Cambyses to him, given you any instructions concerning economy, that is to say, concerning the manner of supplying an army with all necessary provisions, of preventing sickness, and preserving the health of the soldiers, of fortifying their bodies by frequent exercises, of exciting a generous emulation amongst them, of making yourself obeyed, esteemed, and beloved, by your soldiers? Upon each of these points, and upon several others mentioned by the king, Cyrus owned he had never heard one word spoken, and that it was all entirely new to him. What is it then your masters have taught you?—They have taught me to fence, replied the prince, to draw the bow, to fling the javelin, to mark out a camp, to draw the plan of a fortification, to range troops in order of battle, to review them, to see them march, file off, and encamp. Cambyses, smiling, gave his son to understand, that | they had taught him nothing of what was most material and essential for a good officer and an expert commander to know: and in one single conversation, which certainly deserves to be well studied by all young gentlemen designed for the army, he taught | him infinitely more than all the celebrated masters had done, in the course of several years. One short instance of this discourse may serve to give the reader an idea of the rest.

2

much time, appeared in itself impracticable. Cyrus immediately proposed another, more sure and more expeditious, which was, that his Persian soldiers should change their arms. As they chiefly used the bow and javelin, and consequently their manner of fighting was at a distance, in which kind of engagement the greater number was easily superior to the lesser, Cyrus was of opinion that they should be armed with such weapons as should oblige them to come to blows with the enemy immediately, and by that means render the superiority of their numbers useless. This project was highly approved, and instantly put into execution. Cyrus established a wonderful order among the troops, and inspired them with a surprising emula tion, by the rewards he promised, and by his obliging and engaging deportment towards all. He valued money only as it allowed him an opportunity of being generous. He was continually making presents to one or other, according to their rank or their merit; to one a buckler, to another a sword, or something of the same kind equally acceptable. By this generosity, this greatness of soul, and beneficent disposition, he thought a general ought to distinguish himself, and not by the luxury of his table, or the richness of his clothes, and still less by his haughtiness and imperious demeanour. A commander could not, he said, give actual proofs of his munificence to every body, and for that very reason he thought himself obliged to convince every body of his inclination and good will: for though a prince might exhaust his treasures by making presents, yet he could not injure himself by benevolence and affability; by being sincerely concerned in the good or evil that hap pens to others, and by making it appear that he is so.

not a moment's time, but instantly set out with his troops, to wait upon the king; though without changing his dress, which was very plain, after the Persian fashion, and not (as the Greek text has it) polluted or spoiled by any foreign ornament. Cyaxares seemed at first a little displeased with it; If I had dressed myself in purple, says Cyrus, and loaded myself with bracelets and chains of gold, and with all that had been longer in coming, should I have done you more honour than I do now by my expedition, and the sweat of my face, and by letting all the world see with what promptitude and de

One day, as Cyrus was reviewing his army, a messenger came to him from Cyaxares, to acquaint him, that some ambassadors being arrived from the king of The question was, What are the proper means of the Indies, he desired his presence immediately. For making the soldiers obedient and submissive? The that purpose, said he, I have brought you a rich garment; way to effect that, says Cyrus, seems to be very easy, and for the king desires you would appear magnificently dressvery certain; it is only to praise and reward those thated before the Indians, to do the nation honour. Cyrus lost obey, to punish and stigmatize such as fail in their duty. You say well, replied Cambyses; that is the way to make them obey by force; but the chief point is, to make them obey you willingly and freely. Now the sure method of effecting this, is to convince those you command, that you know better what is for their advantage than they do themselves; for all mankind readily submit to those of whom they have that opinion. This is the principle, from whence that blind submission proceeds which you see sick persons pay to their physician, travellers to their guide, and a ship's company to the pilot. Their obedience is founded only upon their persuasion, that the phy-spatch your orders are obeyed? sician, the guide, and the pilot, are all more skilful and better informed in their respective callings than themselves. But what shall a man do, says Cyrus to his father, to appear more skilful and expert than others?He must really be so, replied Cambyses; and in order to be so, he must apply himself closely to his profession, diligently study all the rules of it, consult the most able and experienced masters, neglect no circumstance that may contribute to the success of his enterprize; and, above all, he must have recourse to the protection of the gods, from whom alone we receive all our wisdom, and all our success.

Cyaxares, satisfied with this answer, ordered the Indian ambassadors to be introduced. The purport of their speech was, that they were sent by the king their master to learn the cause of the war between the Medes and the Babylonians, and that they had orders, as soon as they had heard what the Medes should say, to proceed to the court of Babylon, to know what motives they had to allege on their part: to the end that the king, their master, after having examined the reasons on both sides, might take part with those who had right and justice on their side. This is making a noble and As soon as Cyrus had arrived in Media,' and reach-glorious use of great power; to be influenced only by ed Cyaxares, the first thing he did, after the usual justice, to seek no advantage from the division of compliments had passed, was to inform himself of the neighbours, but declare openly against the unjust ag quality and number of the forces on both sides. It ap- gressor, in favour of the injured party. Cyaxares and peared by the computation made of them, that the Cyrus answered, that they had given the Babylonians enemy's army amounted to 200,000 foot, and 60,000 no subject of complaint, and that they willingly achorse; and that the united armies of the Medes and cepted the mediation of the king of India. It appears Persians scarce amounted to half the number of foot; in the sequel that he declared for the Medes. and as to the cavalry, the Medes had not so many by a third. This great inequality put Cyaxares in terrible fears and perplexities. He could think of no other expedient than to send for another body of troops from Persia, more numerous than that already arrived. But this expedient, besides that it would have taken up too Cvrop. l. ii. p. 38-40.

The king of Armenia, who was a vassal of the Medes, looking, upon them as ready to be swallowed Cyrop. I. ii. 44.

2

B

p.

fb. 1. viii. p. 207.

Ibid. l. ii. p. 56.

pression, but not to be rendered into any other language Ἐν τῇ Περσικῇ στολῇ οὐδέν τι ὑβρισμένη. A fine ex

with the same beauty.

Cyrop. l. ii. p. 58–61. 1. iii p. 62-70.