and you likewise my sonne Cyrus I heartily affect you all as good reason I have both the one and the other For as I am your King so you Cyrus are my sonne Meet it is therefore and in all congruence it beseemeth that I open here before you whatsoever I may seeme to know concerning your good and welfare As for you the Persians in times past yee honoured my sonne when yee did put an armie into his hands and chose him Generall thereof And Cyrus being once the Commaunder of that power by the assistance of God hath made you Persians renowned with all men and honoured throughout all Asia And verily as the valiantest Knights of those that served under him he hath enriched so to the very multitude of Common souldiers he hath truly paid their wages and found them food Moreover by erecting a Cavallery among the Persians he hath effected that they be as good horsemen upon the plaines as others If yee therefore hereafter persist in this mind still yee shall procure one unto another manifold commodities But if either you for your part Cyrus being puffed up for the late good successe of fortune shall goe about to be an absolute Lord over the Persians thereby to make a private gaine of them as over other nations or yee that are natives and subjects envious of his puissance endeavour and practise to depose him and overthrow his royall estate know this for certaine that yee shall hinder one another in the atchieving of many great and noble exploits To the end therefore that these inconveniences befall not unto you that yee may enjoy all good blessings I have thought it meet after we have sacrificed togither and called the Gods to record to make this covenant that you Cyrus for your part in the behalfe of the Persians if any one either enterprize the invasion of the Persian land or attempt to breake and abrogate the Persian lawes shall be aiding and assisting to them with all your might and yee likewise that are Persians if either any Alien goe about to dispossesse Cyrus of his Kingdome or if subjects rebell and revolt from him shall be ready to assist both your selves and Cyrus according to his Commandement And verily so long as God shall lend me life mine is the Kingdome of Persia but after my decease Cyrus shall be King thereof if he survive Who when he * As King once come into Persia shall do well and devoutly to offer sacrifices for you like as now my selfe doth sacrifice But whiles he makes his abode in another country I suppose it will be expedient for you that one of our line and blood whom yee thinke the very best performe that which appertaineth to religion and the worship of God When Cambyses had uttered these words both Cyrus and the Rulers also of Persia agreed thereto and by enacting a decree ratified the same And as they then capitulated and passed these Covenants calling the Gods to witnesse so at this time the Persians and their King doe constantly observe the same After these affaires thus accomplished Cyrus departed and when he was returned backe into Media by the consent both of his father and mother he tooke to wife the daughter of Cyaxares aforesaid of whom the speech goes even at this day that she was exceeding beautifull Howbeit some Historiographers there be who write that he wedded his mothers sister But she had beene doubtlesse by this time an old stale woman and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no fresh Damoisell No sooner was the marriage solemnized but presently he tooke her with him and departed After he was come to Babylon he thought good now to send Lieutenants Generall and Presidents into those nations which he had subdued As for the Captaines of Garrison-Castles and those Colonels likewise over thousands who had the keeping of the country he would not have them to obey any but himselfe For this forecast he had considering how it would prejudice his owne State in case any of those Rulers and Lieutenants presuming upon their wealth and the multitude of men under them should beare themselves insolently and shake off the yoke of their alleageance namely to have in readinesse within the Countrey such as would make head against them Intending therefore to bring this about first he thought it good policy to call togither the chiefe Gentlemen of sort and to declare this businesse unto them that they might take knowledge upon what motives they went thither who were to be sent For by this meanes he thought they would take it the better But if any such were appointed Governours and Deputies first and then afterwards should understand so much he supposed they would beare it hard as who might thinke all this was done for their infidelity and his distrust in them Having therefore assembled those principall Gentlemen togither hee spake much after this manner unto them My good friends we have in those Cities which we won both garrison souldiers and also Captaines over them such as then wee left behind us unto whom at my departure I gave no other charge busily to meddle in but only to defend their Forts And those surely will I not put out of their places of Government considering they have duly observed their commission But other Deputies and Governours I meane to send for to be Presidents over the people and inhabitants of the countries who gathering tribute and receiving the revenues of the State are to pay the garrison souldiers their wages and to performe all services necessarie Also to as many of you as here live and whom I employ about my affaires in foraine parts I thinke it meet whiles I send them away unto these nations about some businesses which they are to menage for to assigne house and lands there to the end that tribute may be brought hither unto them and when they come thither they may be lodged and entertained in their owne When he had thus said he gave houses and subjects to commaund in all the cities which he had conquered And even at this day the posterity descended from them who at that time received these Donaitons remaine still in possession of those lands situate and lying some in one countrey and some in another whereas they themselves abide at the Court with the King But necessary it is moreover quoth he that yee consider of those Deputies and Governours who are to goe into these Provinces that they be such as will be mindfull to send hither also what good thing and speciall commodity there is in each land to the end that we also residing here may be partakers of all the profits that any country yeeldeth wheresoever For if any fearefull and dangerous object should present it selfe unto them we must for our parts defend them Thus having said he concluded his speech And then such friends of his as he knew desirous to goe upon those termes abovesaid he made choise of and sent them as Lords-Deputies who were
made with his sonne Tigranes about his deliverance CYRVS verily was thus busied in these affaires But the King of Armenia upon the mandate of Cyrus delivered by his Herault was much affrighted considering especially that he did wrong both in with-holding tribute and also in not sending an Armie And this most of all hee feared least he should be seene for to have begun to build and fortifie his Palace so as it might be able to keepe out his enemies Being therefore much perplexed by all these occasions He sent forth Commissioners into divers parts of his Kingdome for to assemble his owne forces and withall conveied away into the mountaines his younger sonne Sabaris his owne wife his sonnes wife and his daughters togither with their ornaments furniture and Iewels of great valew appointing a convoy of purpose to conduct them safe He made out also certeine men in espiall to see what Cyrus did yea and did put in order of battaile those Armenians who were come unto him And within a while others repaired unto him with newes that Cyrus in person was at hand But then his heart would serve him no longer for to try a battaile and so secretly withdrew himselfe out of the way Now when the Armenians saw him so to doe they also fled home every man intending to remove their goods farther off Cyrus then beholding the fields how full they were of those that ranne straggling here and there shifting for themselves and driving before them their cattell sent after and did them to understand That he meant not to proceed in hostile manner against any one that would tarry but if he tooke any flying away hee denounced aforehand that he would deale with them as enemies By this meanes the vulgar sort and the most part stayed Howbeit divers there were that privily conveyed themselves away with the King When as now they that were gone afore with the women fell within the danger of them that kept the mountaines they set up by and by a great and piteous cry and as they fled very many of them were taken In the end the Kings sonne the wives also and daughters aforesaid were taken captive and all the goods and treasure seized upon which they had carryed with them The King himselfe when hee understood what was befalne unto them being in doubt what to doe and which way to turne him fled up to a certeine hill top for to save himselfe Which Cyrus likewise seeing with the power he had about him laid siege to the hill round about He sent also to Chrysantas willing him to abandon the Keeping of the foresaid mountaine and to come unto him Meane while that Cyrus his armie assembled he sent unto the Armenian King an Herald by whom he demaunded these questions Tell me directly King of Armenia whether you will remaine there still to wrestle and fight with hunger and thirst or come downe into the plaine and fight it out with us The Armenian King and answered that he would fight with neither Then Cyrus sent eft-soones and asked in these termes Why then sit you there and come not downe Because quoth he I am to seeke what to doe But you neither need nor ought to doubt replyed Cyrus For you may come downe to plead your owne cause And who shall be our judge saith the King Who but he saith Cyrus unto whom God hath given power without forme of law and judiciall processe to use you at his pleasure The King then considering into what streights he was driven descended from the hill top Then Cyrus having taken both him and all other things also that he had into the middle space betweene environed them round within his tents For now by this time had he all his forces about him At this very instant the Kings eldest sonne Tigranes who before-time had accompanied Cyrus in hunting was newly returned from a certeine journey And hearing what occurrents were falne out went directly even as he was to Cyrus But so soone as he saw his father and mother his brethren sisters and his owne wife captives he wept as good reason he had Cyrus when he beheld the man used no other complement of courtesie and entertainment but thus said unto him Come you are in good season that you may be present to heare your fathers cause tried And therewith immediately he assembled together the Chiefetaines and Rulers as well of the Persians as of the Medes He called likewise to this Councell as many of the Nobles and Honorable persons of Armenia as were present The very women also being there in their Carroches he excluded not but admitted them to the audience of his cause Now when he was provided accordingly and saw his time turning to the King of Armenia thus began he to speake First quoth hee ô King of Armenia I advise you in the deciding of this matter to speake the truth that you may be cleere at least of that one thing which of all others deserveth most hatred For this would I have you to wit well That to be taken with a lye is the greatest barre that men can have against obtaining of grace and pardon Morcover even your children and these women here your wives many Armenians also that be in place are privie to you of all that which you have committed Who if they perceive you to speake otherwise than truth will thinke that you judge your owne selfe worthy to suffer all extremities when I shall once finde out the truth Propose then quoth he ô Cyrus what questions you will For utter the truth I shall come of it what will Why then quoth Cyrus Answere directly unto me Made you warre at any time upon Astyages my mothers father and the rest of the Medes I did said he And when you were vanquished by him Did you not covenant and accept of these conditions Imprimis to yeeld him tribute Item to aide him with men in his warres whensoever he gave you warning and lastly to hold no fortresses in your realme It was even so indeed answered hee Now therefore why have you falsified your faith and neither tendred your tribute nor sent a power for aide but have walled your forts Because saith he I was desirous of liberty For I thought it a noble thing both my selfe to be free and also to leave the same freedome to my children Certes quoth Cyrus a worthy matter it is for a man to endeavour that he may never come into bondage but if one either defeated in war or otherwise brought into servitude be taken practizing to revolt and shake off alleageance unto his Lords tell me you first doe you honour him as a good man and behaving himselfe well or punish him as a trangressour after you have taken him Surely I punish him quoth he For you allow me not to lye Then answer me plainely and punctually quoth Cyrus to these Interrogatories If any man in place of authority and commaund under you doe offend and deale unjustly suffer
how much the occasions in warre be more sodaine so much the greater is their delinquency who slacke any time and be tardy therein But in warfare he saw that exploits of great consequence were performed by those that were ready at hand in due time In which regard very diligent and carefull he was to have every thing placed fitly and in order First of all he tooke up a lodging for himselfe in the mids of the Campe because that place was strongest Then had he next about him as his manner ever was his trustiest men and round about them the men of armes and chariotiers For he supposed it needfull for them to quarter in a place of security because if any sodaine Al-arme be given in the Campe they have not use of their armes out of hand but their service requireth a long time ere they can be armed in case they meane to goe forth with them into the field for to doe any good Moreover on either hand as well the left as the right both of himselfe and of his said horsemen the Iavelotiers with their light bucklers were planted but behind and before the Archers As for the souldiers heavily armed and such as bare massie targuets they compassed all the rest in manner of a wall to the end that when need was that the horsemen should make themselves ready these souldiers so well appointed standing afore them might abide the longest brunt and give them respit and time enough to arme in safety And like as those heavily armed souldiers lodged and slept keeping their order and array stil even so did the Iavelotiers lightly armed and the Archers That if any Al-arme were in the night like as those are prest to wound the assailants close at hand so these Archers and Darters might be as ready to shoot their arrowes and launce their Iavelins from them in the defence of those armed souldiers if any enemies approached and affronted them Furthermore all the Captaines had certaine * or Banners Ensignes upon their Pavilions By which meanes like as in Cities the wiser sort can point unto the dwelling houses of most Citizens but especially of such as are of employment even so the ministers and servitours of Cyrus knew in what places to find their Captains and what Ensignes or colours belonged to every one And thereby if Cyrus had occasion to use any of them they needed not to seeke up and downe but ran readily the next way to every one And because each nation was apart and not intermingled one with another it was much sooner seene both when any kept his owne ranke in order as also whether they did not that which was commaunded Being thus marshalled he thought that if any enemie either by night or day assailed him they should come upon his campe no otherwise than if they fell into a place of ambushment And for a * one that professeth the skill to embartaile an Army Tactick he thought it requisite not onely to know how readily to stretch out in length the front of his Phalang or display and spread it out in depth or reduce it from a pointed wing into a massie squadron or to countermarch as readily the enemy being discovered and to wind about with it in good sort on the right hand or on the left or in the reare but he supposed also it appertained to that skill for to be able to divide it if need required and each part thereof to bestow for most advantage yea and to lead it on speedily where occasion is of prevention All these points and such like feats he thought did belong to that Captaine * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is expert in the ordinance of a battaile And even so right carefull and studious was he in them all And verily in his journeies he marched with his host not alwaies alike and in the same order but evermore accommodated to divers occurrents and sodaine accidents Howbeit in the pitching of his campe he used for the most part this dispose which I have rehearsed Now when they had journeyed so farre as they were come into the Medes countrey Cyrus turned in to Cyaxares for to lodge with him And after they had embraced one another Cyrus said first to Cyaxares that there was provided for him in Babylon a choice dwelling house with stately edifices that if he came thither he might keepe his Court there as in his owne Then bestowed he upon him very many and those right goodly presents Cyaxares when he had received them at his hands sent his daughter unto him who brought with her for him a golden Coronet a paire of bracelets and a collar of gold with a most beautifull Median robe Here quoth Cyaxares I give unto you Cyrus this young Lady mine owne daughter to be your wedded wife For so your father espoused my fathers daughter whose sonne you are And this is even very she whom you being a child many a time in our house were wont to sport with and dandle as a nurceling And when any one asked her whose wife she would be she was wont to make answer that Cyrus should be her husband And with her I give over and above for a dowry the Kingdome of Media and enfeoffe her wholly in it since I have no issue male of mine owne legitimate Thus said Cyaxares Vnto whom Cyrus made this answer The parentage good Vnkle Cyaxares I commend The young maiden I praise and of the dowry I like well enough but before I conclude of a marriage I will have the consent of my father and mother And albeit Cyrus thus said yet bestowed he upon the Damoisell all those gifts wherein he thought hee might gratifie Cyaxares Which done hee tooke his leave and went forward on his journey for Persia CHAP. VIII How Cyrus arrived in Persia where Cambyses treateth with him and his Lords and chiefe Commanders about the affaires of State How hee tooke to wife the daughter of Cyaxares and being returned to Babylon sent Rulers and Deputies into all his Provinces WHEN he was come so farre as into the Frontiers of Persia the rest of his forces he left there and went himselfe accompanied with his friends to the Susa City bringing with him as well beasts sufficient both to sacrifice and also to feast the whole nation of the Persians as gifts meet to present unto his father and mother and other his friends there yea and such as might beseeme the Head Magistrates Auncients and noble Gentlemen called Homotimi in generall Moreover he gave a largesse among all the Persians both men and women even such congiaries as at this day the King useth to deale among them whensoever he commeth into Persia After this Cambyses assembled a Councell of the Elders of Persia togither with such Rulers as had the menaging of the weightiest affaires in Common-wealth Who being come togither he called Cyrus also unto them and then made a speech to this effect My Lords of Persia
are never admitted into the society of the middle aged men Moreouer as many as have passed their compleat time without blame and reproufe among those of full and perfect yeeres be promoted vnto the order and degree of the Auncients And thus are they ordained Seniours when they have gone through all good and honest functions And truely this is that forme of policy and government which as many as vse be reputed simply the best men and most vertuous And even at this day there remaineth a testimony as well of their moderate diet as also of working out their food For even yet among the Persians it is held a shamefull thing either to spit or snit the nose or to seeme full of ventosities Yea and a shame it is for a man to be seene openly to goe any whither abroad either to make water or to doe any such requisite businesse of nature And surely never were they able thus much to doe vnlesse they did not onely keepe a spare diet but also by trauell so spend and consume their excrementitious moysture as that it might passe and be conueyed some other way Thus much I thought good to speake of all the Persians in generall But now will I deliver the noble acts of Cyrus for whose sake I have entred into this treatise beginning even at his very Childhood CHAP. II. How Cyrus went into Media with the Queene his mother where he shewed many tokens of his good nature and pregnant wit vnto King Astyages semblably of his temperance and sobriety CYrus therefore was trayned vp in this discipline vntill he came to be twelve yeeres old and somewhat better by which time it was well seene that he excelled all his schoole-fellowes both in quicke apprehension and aptnesse to learne what was put vnto him and also in performing of euery action handsomely with a grace and manly courage After which time King Astyages sent for his daughter Mandane and her sonne as having a great desire to see him for the report that went what a goodly and towardly Youth he was So Mandane went to her father taking with her Cyrus her sonne Vnto whom when she was come and that with great speed no sooner knew Cyrus that Astyages was his mothers father but forthwith as he was a childe by nature kind and louing to his parents he saluted and embraced him as if he had beene one brought vp with him long before or inwardly acquainted with him of old And beholding him how he was set out with painting vnder his eyes with a set borrowed colour in his face with a perrucke also or cap of counterfait haire on his head after the guise of the Medes for all these deuices are receiued among them like as beside these Median fashions it is the manner with them to weare purple coates and Amices which they call Candyes as also cheines and carkanets about their necks and bracelets * Or on both armes at both hands whereas the Persians such as keep at home in their owne countrey even at this day vse much courser rayment and more slender diet Cyrus I say seeing this gay attire and ornaments of his grandfather and looking wistly vpon him Mother quoth he what a faire grandfather haue I And when his Mother asked him againe whether of the twaine he thought the goodlier man his owne father or this his grandfather he answered thus Madame of all the Persians my father is most fightly but of the Medes as many of them as I haue seene either vpon the way in the streets or at their dores my grandfather here is the goodliest person by farre Astyages therfore imbracing the childe againe did put vpon him a beautifull robe and withall honoured and decked him with costly * Or cheines collars and bracelets Also if he rode forth any whither he would haue Cyrus evermore with him mounted on horse-backe with a golden bridle even as he was wont himselfe to ride And Cyrus being a child given much to decent gallantnesse and no lesse desirous of honour as he tooke great delight in that rich robe so he joyed not a little that he learned the feat of riding For in Persia by reason that it is hard for want of forage to keepe horses and to ride there because the country is full of mountaines seldome might a man so much as see an horse Now Astyages being vpon a time at supper with his daughter and little * Or grandchild as some will haue it nephew Cyrus minding also that the childe should sup with greatest pleasure and contentment to the end that he might the lesse long after home did set before him sundry platters full of the daintiest cates and viands of all sorts and the same served vp with the most exquisite * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sauces that could be deuised Then Cyrus as they say spake in this wise Grandsire what trouble doe you put your selfe vnto at supper if you must reach with your hand to euery dish here and taste of so many and sundry meates why quoth Astyages againe Is not this thinkest thou a finer supper by many degrees than that in Persia No verily Good Sir answered Cyrus considering we goe a more plaine and direct way to satisfie our selues than yee do For bread and flesh onely bring vs straight thither whereas yee shooting at the same marke that we doe after much wandring vp and downe and fetching many a compasse and winding cranke hardly and with much adoe at length arriue vnto that whereto we attained long before But we my childe quoth Astyages thinke it no paine thus to raunge and goe about onely doe but taste and thou also shalt know quoth he how toothsome and savoury these cates are Yea but me thinkes quoth Cyrus that even your selfe grandsire doe loath these deinties Then Astyages whereby speakest thou so my child and what conjecture leadeth thee thereto because saith he I see when you have handled bread that you doe not wipe your hand with any thing but no sooner touch you any of these viands and sauces but presently at every morsell and as you dip therein you make your hand cleane with a napkin as if you were much offended that the same was full of it Well my sonne quoth Astyages if this be thy conceit be merry yet and fall to thy flesh-meats that thou maist returne home a gallant Youth Which he had no sooner said but he caused many kinds of flesh both wild and tame to be set before him Now when Cyrus beheld such store of flesh Tell me Grandsire quoth he doe you bestow upon me all this venison and other flesh-meats to doe what I list therewith yea mary doe I my sonne quoth Astyages I frankly give them all to thee Then Cyrus taking to him the said flesh-meats distributed them all among the servitours that waited on his Grandfather saying these or such like words to each one Take thou this for that thou teachest me so willingly to
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
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 you never fled from us You also King of Armenia have away with you both your wife and children without any ransome at all that they may know they come unto you free And now verily for this present take your suppers with us and when yee have supped Depart whither yee list So they stayed But after supper whiles they were yet in the pavilion Cyrus questioned in this manner Tell me Tigranes quoth he what is become of the Gentleman that was wont to hunt with us For you highly esteemed him Why quoth he hath not this my father here put him to death Of what offense said Cyrus was he convict Hee laid to his charge quoth he that he corrupted me And yet my deere Cyrus so good a man he was and so honest that even then when he was to die he called unto mee and said Bee not you greived Tigranes and offended with your father in that he mindeth to take away my life For he doth not this in any malice but of errour and ignorance And what trespasse men upon errour doe commit I suppose is done against their wils At these words said Cyrus Alas good man that he was But the Armenian King turning unto Cyrus spake in this wise Neither doe those good Cyrus who take other men naught with their wives pursue them therefore to death for that they make their wives more wanton and unchast but because they thinke they steale away their hearts and quench that love which they owe unto them in which regard they proceed against them as very enemies And even so Ielous was I and envied that man because me thought he was the cause that my sonne admired and esteemed him more than my selfe Then Cyrus So God me love good King of Armenia as I thinke your fault was no other than any man would have done Therefore Tigranes pardon your Father for this Gentlemans death Thus having at that time discoursed lovingly entertained and embraced one another as meet it was after this reconciliation they mounted upon their carroches togither with their wives and so with great joy departed CHAP. III. How Cyrus tooke Tigranes with him in his traine and went to assaile the Chaldees upon the mountaines WHEN they were come home some made report of Cyrus his wisedome others related his patience and sufferance one spake of his mildnesse another of his beautie and goodly tall presence Whereupon Tigranes asked his owne wife and said How now my Armenian Ladie Seemed Cyrus in your eyes also a faire and beautifull personage In good faith quoth she I never looked upon him Whom then did you behold said Tigranes Even him I assure you quoth she who said That with the price of his life he would redeeme mee from captivitie And then as meet it was after such matters as these passed they tooke their rest togither The day following the Armenian King sent unto Cyrus and the whole armie gifts and tokens of hospitalitie He gave warning also to his owne subjects such as were to goe to warfare for to be ready against the third day following As for the money whereof Cyrus spake he payed it downe double But Cyrus when he had taken of it so much as he required sent backe the rest and demaunded withall whether of them twaine would lead the armie The sonne or himselfe Whereunto both of them made answere the father in this wise Even hee whom you shall commaund but the sonne after this sort As for mee ô Cyrus I will not leave you no though I should follow you hard at heeles as a Campe drudge Hereat Cyrus laughed heartily and said And how much would you be content to give for to have your wife heare you are become a Campe slave and to carry fardels Shee shall never need quoth he to heare that For I will bring her along with me that shee may see what ever I doe But now said Cyrus it were time for you to trusse up and be furnished every way for this journey I make full accompt quoth Tigranes that we shall shew our selves in readinesse with whatsoever my father hath allow'd And so for that time the soldiers after gifts of friendly entertainment bestowed upon them went to rest The next day Cyrus taking to him Tigranes with the best and most select horsemen of the Medes as many also of his owne friends as he thought convenient rode abroad to view the country of Armenia devising where he might build a fortresse