PARTI. from his deep sorrow, he was alarmed for the inde

pendency of his crown, by daily reports of the formidable power of the Medes and Persians, under their victorious leader.

While the Lydian monarch was deliberating what course he should pursue, in order to avert the threatening danger; whether he should solicit the friendship, or attempt to oppose the arms of Cyrus -he received a visit from the king of Babylon. The remonstrances of Nabonadius, enforced by rich presents, and certain ambiguous responses of the Delphic oracle, determined Cræsus in the choice of war, though strongly inclined to peace 201. A new con

"brotherly kindness; who possessed a plentiful fortune, and such "strength of body and personal address, to say nothing of their "mental accomplishments, that they were both eminently victorious "in the Olympic games; who did peculiar honour to their mother, "by drawing her in her chariot to the temple of Juno, on a solemn "festival, when her cattle could not be found, amid the acclama"tions of their admiring countrymen; and who, falling quietly asleep “in the temple, died there the same night, without grief or pain.” "And is our condition," cried Croesus, now keenly incensed at such want of courtesy, "so contemptible in your eyes, Athenian stranger! "as not to be thought equal to that of private men?"-"King of "Lydia!" replied Solon, "as the gods have given the Greeks but a "moderate portion of riches, they have bestowed on us an indepen"dent spirit, and a liberal turn of mind, which sets no value upon "the splendours of royalty. We are beside so sensible of the vicis. "situdes of human life, as not to be elated with any present flow of "fortune, or to adore that felicity which is liable to change. Futu"rity carries in its bosom, for every man, many uncertain events. He, therefore, whom heaven blesses with success to the last, can "only, in our opinion, be esteemed a happy man. For the happiness "of the man who still lives, however elevated his condition, appears "to us no greater than that of a champion before the combat is de46 cided, and while the victory remains doubtful. In a word, since "the gods frequently bring to utter destruction, those whom they "have shewn to the world in the highest walks of grandeur, and in "all the pomp of prosperity, he only deserves the name of happy, "who finishes his prosperous course in perfect serenity of mind.” Herodot. lib. i. Plut. Vit. Solon.

44

201. Herodot. lib. i. Xenoph. Cyropæd. lib. vi.

federacy

IX.

federacy was accordingly formed, in which the king LETTER of Arabia, and Amasis king of Egypt, were included; and Creesus, as commander in chief of the forces of the league, under the authority of the king of Babylon, made great preparations for invading the Median territories 202.

Fully informed of these preparations, of the strength of the Lydian army, and the place of rendezvous, Cyrus acted with his usual vigour and promptitude. He led his forces into Asia Minor, and attacked Croesus in the plain of Thymbra, Ant. Chr. where he had mustered his troops, before he was prepared for action. The battle, however, was obstinate and bloody; but, at length, the king of Lydia was obliged to give ground 203,

Cyrus remained all night on the field of victory, and advanced next morning toward Sardis. Though Croesus did not expect so sudden a visit, he took measures for the defence of his capital, and hazarded a second engagement beneath its walls. He was again defeated, and Sardis was taken the following night, through the treachery of a Persian slave, in the Lydian service 204.

The generous conqueror, however, saved the city from pillage, and spared the lives of the inhabitants; but ordered them, as a ransom, to deliver up all their gold and silver. Croesus gave the example, by bringing forth his immense treasures; and Cyrus, charmed with such ready compliance, shewed the greatest indulgence to the captive monarch 205; upon farther

548. Nabonass.

æra 199.

202. Id. ibid.

203. Zenoph. Cyropæd. lib. vii.

204. Id. ibid.

205. Xenoph. Cyropæd. lib. vii. The singular story told by Hero

dotus,

PART I.

farther acquaintance, admitted him into his friendship, and ever afterward treated him as a companion and counsellor 206.

No sooner did the Grecian colonies, in Asia Minor, see Cyrus master of Sardis, than they offered to submit to him on the same conditions, which had been granted them by Croesus. But he treated their advances with disdain, and demanded unconditional submission; because they had refused to treat with him, before his victory over the Lydian monarch207. They had, therefore, recourse to arms, and to the assistance of their European brethren. Cyrus, however, broke the Ionian confederacy, consisting of twelve cities or states, by detaching from it the opulent and powerful city of Miletus and its territory, which he politically took into his friendship and protection 208. And his generals, Mazares and Harpagus, reduced under the Persian dominion all the other Grecian cities and states on the Asiatic coast, Ionian, Dorian, or Eolian; while he himself pursued a more important object, the conquest of the Babylonian empire.

dotus (who was fond of the marvellous), of Croesus being ordered to be burnt alive, and placed upon a lighted pile of wood for that punishment, along with fourteen young Lydians, though we are not informed of any crime that he or they had been guilty of, is here purposely omitted; as utterly void of probability, and inconsistent with the character of Cyrus, even as drawn by that venerable historian. The absurdity of this story did not escape the discernment of sir Walter Raleigh; who tells us, that the moral part of it hath given it currency, "as to many the like it often doth" (Hist. of the World, book iii. chap. iii. sect. iv.). This is the truth, but not the whole truth-the story was evidently told by Herodotus, in order more fully to exemplify the justice of the moral reflections ascribed to Solon, in his supposed conversation with Croesus. And it has been retailed by fanciful historians, in all ages, with a view to the elucidation of the same conversation; though that conversation, as I have endeavoured to shew, never did, or could take place.

206. Xenoph. ubi sup.

207. Herodot. lib. i.

Herodot. lib. i.

208. Id. ibid.

Of

IX.

I Of all the Grecian cities in Asia Minor, Phocæa LETTER was expected to make the most obstinate resistance. The Phocæans had been distinguished by their early and successful application to maritime affairs, and were accustomed to visit the coasts of Italy, Spain, and Gaul. Become rich by commerce, they had fortified their city in a manner deemed impregnable in that age; and which they flattered themselves would long withstand the Persian power, and baffle all the military skill of Harpagus, who had succeeded to the chief command on the death of Mazares. But they found themselves deceived on his approach, Convinced of their inability to resist so great a force, directed by so able a general, they demanded a truce for one day, in order to consider of a capitulation 209. That time the Phocæans made use of to embark on board their ships, with their wives, children, and most valuable effects; leaving nothing but empty houses and deserted walls to the besiegers. And, after settling unsuccessfully in different places, the most resolute of the fugitive adventurers sailed to the southern coast of Gaul, where they founded the city of Massilia; which became, as we shall have occa ́sion to see, the capital of a potent and wealthy com, mercial republic.

ter.

Nor were the Phocæans the only body of the Asiatic Greeks, who chose to abandon their country, rather than submit to the absolute will of a masThe Teians, who had made a gallant defence against the victorious enemy, finding their most vigorous efforts insufficient to preserve their city, also embarked on board their ships, and built at Abdera on the coast of Thrace212; where their descendants

209 Herodot. ubi sup.

210. Id: ibid.

211. Pausan. lib. x. Strabo, lib. iv.

212. Herodot. lib. i,

VOL. II.

I

leng

PARTI. long resided. And a resolution still more desperate was embraced by the inhabitants of Xanthus, in Lycia.

After Harpagus had conquered Ionia, and reduced Cnydus, Halicarnassus, and other cities in the Dorian promontory, he invaded Caria and Lycia23. These countries, and all the inland parts of Asia Minor, he likewise subjected to the Persian sway, but not without many violent struggles. The Carians of Pedasa took post upon a mountain, which they fortified, and there long defended themselves with great bravery24. And the Lycians of Xanthus had the boldness to quit their fortifications, and give the Persians battle in a plain, in the neighbourhood of their city. There they fought with resolute courage; but finding themselves in danger of being overpowered by numbers, and disdaining to submit, they took shelter within their walls; and having shut up their wives, children, and all their riches in the citadel, they set fire to the place; then rushing out upon the enemy, they renewed the combat, and fought to the last man, with their swords in their hands215. The Lycians of Xanthus were a Cretan colony.

While the Persian arms under Harpagus were thus employed, in completing the conquest of the large and beautiful promontory of Asia Minor, Cy rus had extended his dominion over all the provinces of the Babylonian empire, from the coast of Syria to the banks of the Euphrates and Tygris, and from the Persian gulf to the mountains of Armenia. The reduction of Babylon, the great object of his ambition, alone remained to crown his glory and establish his sway. But that proud metropolis, the chief seat of oriental empire, since the destruction of Nineveh, still ventured to set him at defiance, and treated with derision his most skilful approaches2:6.

215. Id. ibid. 216. Xenoph. Cyropæd. lib. vii. Herodot. lib. i.