two Iauelins the one to launce afar off the other to vse if need be close at hand-fight Now why they practise hunting in publike and wherefore the King in person is their Leader as in time of warre for he both hunteth himselfe and also taketh order that others also should hunt the reason is because this exercise seemeth to bee an exercise that most truly doth resemble warfare For it inureth them to rise early in the morning and to endure both heate and cold it traineth them to travell on foote in their march yea and to run Againe of necessity they must shoot and dart at the wilde beast wheresoeuer he hapneth to encounter them yea and oftentimes in hunting their courage can not chuse but be quickned and whetted namely when any of these fell beasts shall be presented vnto them For when the same approacheth neere strike they must and withall in any wise avoid such as violently make head So that all things considered there cannot lightly be any feat in warre which is not seene in this wilde chase When these goe forth on hunting they haue for their dinner a larger allowance somewhat as good reason is than the Boyes have howbeit in other respects alike During the time that they be hunting dine they may not and say it fall out so that they must stay long for the game or that they will for their pleasure otherwise continue the chase and tarry by it still with this their dinners allowance they make their supper and the morrow after hunt all day vntill supper-time and so these two dayes they reckon but for one because they spend but one dayes proportion * Or of bread of food Which they doe of purpose to accustome themselues that if the like occasion should happen in warre they might bee able to performe the same And looke what venison they of this age and growth get that have they for * Or pittance Cates to their bread but if they speed not they must take vp with bare * besides bread Cresses Now if any man thinke they haue no pleasure in feeding thus because Cresses be their onely Cates to their bread and as little in drinking for that they drinke nothing but sheere water let him remember how savory is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some take it for meale with water and oyle others for thick gruell of meale and milke others alâ—o for bisket bread barly meale and dry bread to him that is hungry and how sweet it is to drink sheere water when a man is dry As for these companies which remaine at home among other exercises that they practised when they were boyes they give themselues to the feate of shooting and darting In making matches also continually and striuing one to excell another they spend the time There be also certain publique games for these masteries and prizes withall proposed for the winners And in what Tribe there proue to bee the greatest number of most skilfull hardy and trusty persons in this kinde their Provost not onely for the time being but hee also who trained them vp in their boyes age is highly praised and honoured of the people therefore Moreover these young men who tarry at home the Magistrates still employ in case there be need of any guard or of serch for the finding out of malefactors likewise of heui-and cry for the intercepting or apprehension of theeves and in one word about the execution of any service that requireth either maine strength or speedy expedition Thus much of young men and their imployments Now after they haue passed these ten yeeres in this wise they come to be reckoned men of perfect age and so for the space of fiue and twenty yeeres from this their youth forward they spend after this manner At the first they give attendance as the young men did vpon the Magistrates what need soeuer the Common-wealth hath of such service especially as is to be performed by those that are both for wisdome and knowledge and also for courage and strength yet sufficient And if they must vpon some occasion goe to the warres these men who have thus farre proceeded vse no more either bowes and arrowes or darts and javelins to be launted from them but such weapons and armour as be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. meet for close fight to wit wearing a cuirace for the defence of the brest bearing in their left hand a light * Or shield of wicker Targuate such as the Persians be portrayed with in their pictures but in the right hand a sword or Cymiter And of this ranke consist all the Rulers except the * Or masters and teachers Preceptors of the boyes abouesaid Who by the time that they have spent these twenty five yeeres may well be somewhat above fifty yeeres of age and therefore then they be accompted of their ranke and number who both indeed are and also bee called * Or Elders Seniours These Auncients goe now no more to warre out of their owne countrey but remaine still at home imploied in deciding and dispatching of all causes as well publike as priuate These likewise determine iudicially matters of life and death They have the election also of all Rulers and Magistrates And if any one of the younger sort or of the middle and settled age be slacke in observing the lawes him whomsoeuer he be the Tribunes or Presidents of each Tribe and company or any other person else that will doe present And these Elders when they haue heard the cause displace the said party who being thus removed out of his ranke leadeth all the rest of his life in disgrace and infamy But to the end that the whole Common-wealth of the Persians and the forme thereof may more evidently appeare now will I returne and ascend a little higher For by reason of that discourse which hath already beene made I shall be able to declare the same very briefely The Persians are said to be in number about one hundred and twenty thousand and none of them all by law vncapable of honourable dignities and Offices of State Yea and lawfull it is for all the Persians to send their children to the common schooles of Iustice Howbeit they onely doe send who are able to keepe them otherwise in ease and doing nothing but such as cannot so doe never send them thither And verily these * Or boyes Children who haue had their Institution by the publike Schoole-masters may lawfully among the young men passe their youth forward But such as haue not bin so taught may not once come amongst them They also who haue conversed with other young men and performed their parts as the law requireth of them are allowed to step higher vnto the fellowship of those men that are come to full age to be partakers also with them in Magistracies and dignities But such as have not liued and continued out their time among the boyes or young persons abovesaid
a pleasure and sweetnesse in so doing Seeing then quoth he this fight is left unto us wherein naturall courage is like to prevaile more than artificiall cunning why should not we delight to enter into contention and aemulation with these * Or Gentlemen Peeres considering that the like rewards of fortitude be proposed unto us on both sides and yet we know that we for our parts hazard not alike For these here adventure an honourable life which is the onely life of all others most pleasant but we a painfull and laborious life in deed but a life without honour which I suppose is most odious and displeasant And now my fellow foldiers this most of all inciteth me to entertein a contention and triall with them For that Cyrus shall be our judge who will not upon any envie determine partially but I dare upon mine oath say That I am verily perswaded in my heart that whom soever Cyrus seeth to beare themselves valiantly those he loveth no lesse than his owne heart And this I perceive in him that upon them here he bestoweth what he hath with more pleasure than keepeth it for himselfe yet I am not ignorant That these Peeres be high minded Gentlemen and of hautie stomacke brought up and trained as they are to endure hunger thirst and cold Full little knowing that wee have learned even the same of a better Schoolemaster than they For there is no better Preceptour of these things than Necessitie which hath taught us to be very perfect therein As for these Gentlemen I say enured they have beene to trauaile in bearing their armours which all men have devised to make so as they might be borne most easily but we were put to goe and runne also under great burdens so that now the carriage of harnois seemeth unto me more like unto wings than burdens And therefore tak mee ô Cyrus for such an one as will doe my devoyr and whatsoever I am better or worse I shall require to be honoured and advanced according to my worthinesse and not otherwise And yee also my friends of the Commons I exhort you that yee will arme your selves in this battaile to strive for the better with these Gentlemen so well brought up And now no doubt quoth he are these Gallants * Overmatchd overtaken already in this triall with us the Commons To this effect spake Pheraulas There were also many others beside who rose up and accorded to both their speeches Whereupon there passed a Decree That every man should be honoured and rewarded after his owne worth and Cyrus to be Iudge thereof And thus verily proceeded these matters CHAP. VIII The feats of armes that Cyrus his Captaines practised in exercising their Companies MOreover Cyrus invited also upon a time a whole Centurie togither with their Centinier to supper by occasion that he had seene him to divide his Companie into two parts and to set them in battaile ray one side against the other ready to skirmish armed as they were on both sides for defense with brest-plates and bearing in their left hands light * Or wicker targuets bucklers But for offense he gave unto the one halfe in their right hands good round * Or wasters bastons signifying to the rest that they should take up clods and fling them at their opposites Now when they stood thus arraunged and appointed he gave them the signall to combat Then the one part threw from them their clods at the other and hit them some on the brest-plates and bucklers others upon the thighs and * Or greaves boots But when those were once come to close fight who had the wasters abovesaid they laid about them and basted the other well some on their thighs others about their hands and armes others also over their shinnes and legges yea and if any of them stouped for to take up clods they would be sure to lay upon their necks and backs At length the * Or bastoniers waster-men put the others to flight pursued them and beat them throughly with much good laughter and pastime Others also for their parts againe would in like manner take wasters in hand and serve them so who fought with flinging clods Cyrus admiring as well the witty devise of the Leader as the due obedience of the Soldiers for that they were at once both exercised and also emboldened and seeing withall those gaine the better who counterfaited the Persians armour and weapons being much delighted with this sight bade them all to supper and espying in his pavilion some of them with their shinnes and legges others with their armes and hands bound up he asked them what they ayled who answered that they had beene hurt with clods then demaunded he of them againe whether they caught their hurt when they met close togither or when they were farre asunder they made answer when they were farre asunder but when wee came to close-hand-fight said the Wastermen we made most pleasant pastime and sport Sport cried out the other who had beene well basted with the bastinado We for our parts found no such sport when we buckled togither thus to be cudgelled and with that shewed on their armes hands and necks yea and some of them upon their faces the dry blowes of the bastons which they had received And then verily they laughed heartily one at another as they might well enough The day following the whole field was full of men who assayed to imitate these in this manner of fight and when they had no other weightier affaires in hand they practised evermore this kinde of game Moreover Cyrus having espied on a time another Centurion leading his Centurie one by one from a river * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dinner and when he saw his time commanding the Caporalls to bring forward the hindmore band the third likewise and the fourth in to the front also when as now the Caporals or Leaders of the said bands were all afront how he bade them to double their fyles and lead every band by two and two And so thereupon the Decurions brought forward their men afront accordingly And when he thought it good againe how he gave charge to lead their bands by foure and foure in ranke whereupon the Quincurions went forward with their souldiers so as that the band marched foure and foure in ranke Also how after they were come once to their Pavilion doore heeled the formost band in commanding them to march two by two in ranke willing withall the second to follow hard after in the very taile of the other and having given the like charge to the third and fourth how he led them in And thus as he brought them in how he caused them to sit downe to their * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meale even as they entred Cyrus I say wondering at this * Or Centurion Captaine for his mildnesse his dexteritie in teaching and diligence withall invited this hundred also to supper with
And being mounted up to an hill top hee asked Tigranes which were those mountaines from whence the Chaldees used to make rodes downe into the plaines and so to drive away booties Which when Tigranes had shewed unto him he asked againe whether those mountaines were now without companie and unfrequented No verily quoth he for they have alwaies certeine spies and Sentinels who signifie to the rest whatsoever they discover And what doe they saith he when they have notice of any thing Every man saith Tigranes makes what hast he can up to the hill tops for to help and succor When Cyrus heard this and withall beheld the country all about he might perceive that a great part thereof lay as wast ground to the Armenians and untilled by reason of the warres Then for that time returned they to the armie and after supper tooke their repose and slept The morrow next ensuing Tigranes shewed himselfe ready and well appointed having raised a power of foure thousand Horsemen with ten thousand Archers and as many Targuatiers But whiles these forces were a levying Cyrus sacrificed and seeing the entrails of the beasts to be faire and fortunate to him he called togither the Leaders both of the Persians and of the Medes and in the presence of that Assembly made this speech My welbeloved friends These mountaines that we see belong to the Chaldaees which if we may first be masters off and on the top of them build a fort and plant our garrison of necessitie as well the Chaldaees as the Armenians will demeane themselves loyally toward us As for our sacrifices they betoken all good on our side and as touching mans alacritie and humane meanes nothing will so much help the same forward to the atchieving of this exploit as expedition For if we can climb up the hils before the enemies assemble their power we shall either gaine the hill tops wholly without any resistance or else skirmish with our enemies when they are but few in number and feeble in strength No labour therefore can be easier and more void of daunger than if presently we be resolute in celeritie and quicke dispatch Arme your selves therefore on all hands As for you the Medes march on our left hand but yee the Armenians goe one halfe of you on the right side and the other halfe lead the way in the vaward before us Yee that bee horsemen follow behind in the Rear to incite and put us forward up the hill neither suffer yee any one faintly to draw backe When Cyrus had thus said and arraunged his files directly upward hee advaunced before the Armie The Chaldees that lay in espiall when they perceived the march forcibly to mount up hill forthwith signified so much to their fellowes and so by outcries and alarmes from one to another they drew togither Cyrus also for his part gave warning to his soldiers saying These here ô yee Persians signifie unto us that it is high time to make hast For if we prevent them and get the hill before our enemies shall be little able to doe ought Now the Chaldaees had light bucklers and two javelins apeece and these are reputed the most martiall men of all that country They serve also in warres as mercenaries and be alwaies in pay whensoever any man hath need of them because warlike though they be and valiant yet are they poore and needy For the region which they inhabite is full of hils and a small part thereof welthy Now when the soldiers about Cyrus approched neerer to the hill-tops Tigranes who accompanied Cyrus Wote you not ô Cyrus quoth he that we must fight out of hand and the Armenians will not abide the first brunt of the enemies Cyrus answered that he was not ignorant thereof in which regard I have already saith he given order to the Persians to prepare themselves and be in readinesse For they are to follow hard so soone as the Armenians begin to give ground and thereby draw the enemies neerer unto us Thus the Armenians advanced formost in the vantguard But the Chaldaees as many as were present upon the approach of the Armenians sodainly setting up a shout rushed fiercely upon them after their manner and gave the charge The Armenians likewise as they were wont received them not but reculed Now when the Chaldaees following them in chace perceived others with sword in hard to mount up the hill ready to encounter them afront some that hapned to joyne in fight were quickly slaine others escaped by flight and certeine of them were taken prisoners Thus the hill tops were soone gain'd Now when Cyrus his souldiers were gotten up thither and looked downe toward the habitations of the Chaldaees they might perceive how they abandoned the houses that stood next and so ran away Cyrus then as soone as all his soldiers were come togither commaunded them to take their dinners After dinner having learned that the place of Espiall where the Chaldaees lay was both safe and also well watered presently hee emmured it in manner of a fortresse Hee commaunded also Tigranes to send unto his father willing and requiring him to make present repaire thither and to bring with him all the Carpenters and Masons that were to bee had So there was a messenger streight-wayes dispatched unto the Armenian King Meane while Cyrus with those about him began to build the wall At which very time they presented the captives unto Cyrus some bound and others of them sore wounded Whom when he beheld he commaunded immediately the bound to be loosed and such as were hurt to be cured For which purpose he had sent for * Or Chirurgions Physicians This done hee said unto the Chaldaees that his comming was not either for any desire he had to destroy them or need to make warre but because he would conclude a Peace betweene the Armenians and the Chaldaees And before that I was possessed of these hill tops quoth he I wote well yee had no desire of peace For why Your owne State was in safety and the goods of the Armenians yee harried and carried at your pleasure But now yee see in what case yee stand I dismisse you therefore that be prisoners home to your houses and give you leave to consult with the rest of the Chaldaees whether yee will maintaine warre against us or enterteine amity with us If yee make choice of warre See ye come not hither if ye be wise without armes and weapons but if yee thinke yee have need of peace come hardly unarmed Will yee become our friends I will then take care for the safetie and wellfare of your state The Chaldaees hearing this after they had highly praised Cyrus and on all sides given him their hands departed home CHAP. IIII. The peaceable communication that Cyrus had with the Armenians and the Chaldaees The mutuall accord and peace betweene them all THE Armenian King when he heard that Cyrus sent for him and withall what he had done taking with
parents how willing they are with all respect to doe them pleasure and honour both quicke and dead much more than any other creatures use to doe in their kinde For to speake of all creatures beside he perceived they were more unthankefull and lesse mindfull of benefits received than man Thus therefore was Pheraulas wonderous glad that being freeed from the care of other possessions he should be able to converse among his friends as the Sacan also because in the possessing of much hee should havâ— the fruition of much Thus the Sacan verily loved Pheraulas well because hâ— ever brought him somewhat and Pheraulas him likewise for that he was realy to take all that came and notwithstanding he alwaies endeavoured to procure him more and more still yet it troubled him never the more In this manner lived they and loved togither 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 AFTER that Cyrus had sacrificed he made a feast for joy of his late victorie and thereto invited those friends that openly had shewed their forwardnesse to advance his State most and their willing minds to do him greatest honour To whom he adjoyned Artabazus the Median Tigranes the Armenian the Hyrcanian Commaunder of the Cavallery and Gobryas As for Gadatas he became * or Captaine Ruler under him of the Scepter-bearers and according to his direction all the house-keeping of Cyrus was ordered And when there were any at supper with Cyrus Gadatas did not so much as sit downe but tooke the charge of all and waited But if no guest were there himselfe supped with him For he tooke delight in his presence and company In regard of which affâ—ction and diligence of his he was highly esteemed of Cyrus and of others in the Court likewise for Cyrus his sake When guests invited to supper came Cyrus placed them not one with another hand over head without respect but whom he vouchsafed most honour him did he set on his left hand because the same hand is more exposed to daunger of wait-laying than the right the second in dignity he placed on the right hand the third againe on the left hand and the fourth on the right If there were any more he marshalled them in the same order And he thought it very expedient to declare how he honoured each one For where men suppose that he who surpasseth others in worthinesse shall receive neither praise nor prize evident it is that there is no emulation among them who shall excell But where the best is seene to be in the highest place and to have the precedency of the rest there doe they all with exceeding alacrity enter into open strife and contention And Cyrus verily after this manner shewed who were of greatest authority and reputation with him beginning first with the order of their sitting with him and standing about him Howbeit he would not that any man should challenge that place then assigned as his owne for ever but he brought up this custome as a law that according to their good and vertuous deeds they should be advanced to an higher degree of honour aâ—d as any one demeaned himself more basely he should come down to a lower place For Cyrus thought it would redound greatly to his owne shame in case any person promoted to the highest roome in sitting should not be seene abroad for to enjoy many ornaments and favours by him And as in Cyrus time these matters were thus carried so in these daies we understand the same order holdeth still When they were at supper Gobryas thought it no wonderous matter that every thing was served up unto Cyrus in so great plenty being a Prince so puissant and the Ruler over so many but he mervailed rather at this that having â—tchieved so great exploits if any toothsome and deinty cates came before him hâ— would not enjoy the pleasure thereof alone but take the paines even to intreaâ— his friends about him for to receive part thereof Nay he saw him many at me to send unto some that were absent such deinties as haply he had a speciall â—â—nd unto himselfe Whereby it came to passe that after they had supped themselves Cyrus would send from the very table one way or other all the dishes as many as they were whereat Gobryas I was of opinion heretofore quoth he ô Cyrus that you surmounted all other men in military affaires and in leading an armie but now I protest and sweare by the Gods that in my conceit you excell farre more in humanity than in martiall prowesse So it is in truth quoth Cyrus and verily a greater pleasure it is unto me for to shew the deeds of courtesie than of chivalrie And how so quoth Gobryas because saith Cyrus these must of necessity be seene in doing hurt unto men the other in doing them good After this when they had drunke moderately Hystaspas propounded this question unto Cyrus and said Sir will you not be offended with me if I aske you that which I desire to know No verily quoth Cyrus but contrariwise I would be displeased with you if you kept that in which you were minded to aske Tell me then I pray you quoth he whether at any time I came not to you when you called for me Oh quoth Cyrus no more of that let us have no such words Nay but was I any whit slacke said Hystaspas in comming to you No neither quoth Cyrus Commaunded you me at any time that which I performed not accordingly I can find no fault with you answered Cyrus And whatsoever I did could you ever perceive me to doe it not cheerefully nor with delight and pleasure No I assure you quoth Cyrus For herein of all other I can least find fault with you What is it then For the love of God quoth he and wherein hath Chrysantas so prevailed with you that hee should be preferred to a more honourable place than my selfe Shall I tell you the reason saith Cyrus what else quoth Hystaspas And will not you be angry quoth Cyrus when you heare the truth No verily saith Hystaspas but rather very glad will I be if I may know that I am not wronged Goe to then saith Cyrus you shall understand This Chrysantas here first and formost never expected untill I sent for him but was alwaies present to attend and follow our affaires before he was called Againe he did not that onely which he was bidden but whatsoever himself knew expedient for us to be done that did he Moreover if at any time a matter was to be delivered by speech unto our Allies and Confederates whatsoever he thought decent for me to say therto he would advise me But whatever he perceived I was desirous that our Associats should know but yet upon a bashfull modesty loth my selfe to utter unto them hee would declare the same in such termes as if it had beene his owne opinion So that
ride Here is for thee because thou didst bestow on me a dart for * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or thus For this onely am I able now to doe this have I yet by me To one I give thee this in regard of thy good service to my Grandfather And to another have thou this at my hands because thou doest honour to my mother In this manner dealt he untill he had made an hand of all the flesh which he received But how is it quoth Astyages that thou givest nothing to Sacas my Cup-bearer whom of all others I esteeme most Now was this Sacas a goodly fellow of person and besides in that place of credit and honour as to admit Suiters vnto the presence of Astyages and to put backe such as he thought came out of season and not meet to have accesse But Cyrus as a child not smaying at all nor abashed at the question readily came upon him againe with a reply And why Grandfather quoth he set you such store by this Sacas Then Astyages answered merrily in this manner Seest thou not quoth he how destly and featly he doth his office for the Cup-bearers of these Kings be very neate and fine in powring in the wine with a singular grace bearing the * Or boll Cup also with three fingers so handsomely that as they deliuer it into the hands of him that shall drinke thereof hee may receive it with greatest facility Why quoth Cyrus commaund Sacas good Grandfather to put the Cup likewise into my hands that I also serving you with wine right decently may if I can win your grace and favour Whereupon Astyages willed him to give the Cup unto Cyrus which when he had received he rinsed it as featly as he had seene Sacas doe it and so with a setled countenance hee brought it to his Grandfather and gave it him so curiously with such a seemely gesture that he set both his Mother and Astyages a laughing full heartily And Cyrus himselfe taking up a laughter for company ran unto his Grandfather and kissed him saying withall Thou art utterly undone Sacas for I am like to thrust thee out of thy honorable place For as in other respects I shall powre out wine better than thou so when I do it I will not drinke it off my selfe For these Kings Cup-bearers when they present a cup of wine powre some of it forth into a taster which they hold in their left hand and so take the assay and drink it off to the end that if they had conveyed poyson into the Cup they might not escape themselves without a mischiefe Hereupon Astyages minding to make some sport with Cyrus And why quoth he unto him dost thou imitate Sacas in all points else but drankest not the wine as he did Because said he I feared that poyson was mixed therewith in the goblet For when upon your birth-day you feasted your * or Favourites friends I perceived evidently that he powred forth unto you all very poyson And how knewest thou that quoth he my Sonne For-sooth said Cyrus because I saw you distempered both in body and minde For first looke what ye forbid us children to doe that did yee your selves yee did set up a cry and howred all at once together yee fell to singing and that very ridiculously and whom yee heard not to sing at all ye would not sticke to sweare that he sung passing well Moreouer when every one of you bragged of his owne strength and valour no sooner rose yee vp to daunce but so farre were yee from keeping the measures that unneth ye were able to stand vpright on your feet So that yee all forgat your selves you that you were a King and the rest that they were your subjects And then learned I first that this which you then did was that very * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 liberty of free speech which alloweth every man to speake indifferently his mind And to say a truth your tongues neuer lay still Why quoth Astyages then Tell mee my sonne when thy father drinketh wine is hee not drunken otherwhiles No truly answered Cyrus But how doth he order the matter quoth Astyages that he continueth sober Truly saith Cyrus he drinketh so as that hee allayeth his thirst onely and in so doing other harme hee feeleth none For hee hath no Sacas I trow Grandfather to fill him wine Hereat inferred his mother and said What is the reason my sonne that thou art so heauy a friend to Sacas and thus set against him To tell you troth said Cyrus because I hate him in my heart for many times when I am desirous to runne unto my Grandfather this fellow most lewd and wicked varlet as he is puts mee backe But I beseech you good Grandfather giue mee the command ouer him but three daies And after what sort said Astyages wilt thou exercise thy authoritie vpon him Stand I will quoth Cyrus in the very entry where he is wont to stand and when he would come in to dinner Backe Sirra will I say There is no ingresse for you yet unto your dinner My Grandfather is busie in giving audience unto certaine persons Againe when he commeth to supper I will say Hee is now bathing of him And if I see that very faine he would eat I will tell him that my Grandfather is even then with the * or Women Ladies Thus will I doe untill I have put him off like as himselfe useth to delude and delay mee keeping mee backe from accesse to your presence Such prety sports as these ministred Cyrus at the table all supper while But in the day time if he perceiued that either his Grandfather or Vnkle by the Mothers side had a minde to any thing hard it was for any other to prevent him in effecting the same For exceeding glad was Cyrus to gratifie them in any service to his power CHAP. III. How the Queene Mother Mandane returned into Persia and Cyrus abode behind in Media where he gave himselfe much to Horse-manship and feates of Armes and with his owne hand killed many wild beasts NOw when Mandane addressed her selfe to returne unto her husband Astyages besought her to leave Cyrus with him But shee made this answer againe That willing shee was indeed to satisfie her father in all things howbeit she thought it hard to leave the childe behind her against his will Then Astyages directing his speech to Cyrus my sonne quoth he if thou wilt tarry here with me First and formost for accesse to me thou shalt not be beholden to Sacas nor at his appointment But whensoever thou art disposed to enter into my chamber it shall be as thou wilt thy selfe and the oftner that thou shalt repaire unto me the more thanke will I conn thee Againe mine owne horses shall be at thy commaund yea and others as many as it pleaseth thee to use And when thou wilt depart take with thee which of them thou list Besides at thy
withall to require a greater power But I would have you to understand thus much saith Cyrus that if all the Persians should come into the field wee were not able for number to surmount our enimies What other meanes then doe you see better than this quoth Cyaxares Were I said Cyrus as you are I would cause to be made for all the Persians that are comming such armour in every point as those Gentlemen of ours have who are repairing hither and be called Homotimi namely a Curace over the brest a light targuet for the left hand and a short curtelax for the right If you can provide us these armes you shall bring to passe that as it wil be more safe for us to confront our enimies cope with them in close fight so it shall be better for them to flie than to keepe their ground And verily we that are Persians be prest to deale with such as will stand to it but looke how many of them do flie those commit we to you and to your horsmen so that they shall have no leisure either to flie or once to turne backe When Cyrus had thus discoursed upon the point Cyaxares approved well his speech insomuch as he made no more words of sending for a new levie but presently provided the armour and weapons abovesaid Now when the same were in good forwardnesse and almost ready the said Peetes were by that time come with the armie sent out of Persia Whom Cyrus after he had assembled together spake by report unto them in this wise CHAP. II. The speech that Cyrus made unto the * Homotimi Chiefetaines of all his hoast for to incite their souldiers to take the harneis and armes that Cyrus had prepared for the Persians MY friends seeing as I did your selves in armes so well appointed and in hearts so resolute as men ready to joyne in close fight with the enemies knowing withall that the Persians who follow you are not otherwise armed than to skirmish a farre off I was not a little affraid least yee being few in number and abiding the shocke of a battayle destitute of those that were to second you and falling upon your enemies so many in number should haply incurre some hard extremity But now considering yee are hither come with such able and manly bodies as cannot be found fault with and that they againe shall have the like armour unto yours it remaineth onely that for your parts yee whet and quicken their hearts For it is the office of a Captaine not onely to shew himselfe hardy but also to endeavour effectually that his souldiers under him may prove right valiant When he had thus said they rejoyced all verily for that they thought they should have many more to accompanie them in fight but one of them above the rest delivered also these words I shall be thought peradventure to speake wonderous absurdly if I should advise Cyrus to say ought in our behalfe what time as they shall receive their armour who are to fight with vs against the enemies For this I know that whosoever be most able either to doe a good turne or to worke mischiefe their words enter deepest into the hearts of the hearers Such men also if they bestow any gifts although they be lesse than those that come from equals yet the receivers doe much more prize the same at their hands Semblably the Persians now in case Cyrus should exhort them would joy farre more than if they were exhorted by us And being admitted into the order of the Peeres they will account the preferment more assured and the benefit better worth if it proceed both from a Kings Sonne and also from a Lord Generall than if by our meanes they were advanced to the very same place of dignity And yet ought not we to faile in performing our parts accordingly but by all meanes wee can encourage these men and give an edge to their stomacks For the more valorous that these prove the better it will be for our selves Cyrus therefore having thus laid downe the armour aforesaid in the mids of the open place and called together all the Persian souldiers made unto them such an oration as this CHAP. III. The exhortation of Cyrus unto the Persian souldiers to put on the armour that King Cyaxares had prepared MY friends yee that are Persians as yee were borne and bred up in the same region with us and are in bodie besides framed nothing inferiour to us so it is meet that your minds also be not worse then ours And albeit such ye are indeed yet in our native countrey yee were not in equall estate and condition with us not for that yee were by us put by but because yee were enforced to provide necessaries Now both I by the leave and power of God will take order that yee shall have the same degree and your selves also if yee be so disposed using the same armes that we doe how ever otherwise in meaner place than we are may enter upon the same daungers with us and upon the atchievement of any noble and worthy exploit receive the like guerdon to ours Heretofore yee were archers and darters as well as wee In which manner of service if yee carried not your selves equall to us it is no marvaile For why yee had not time to practise these feats as wee had But in this kind of armature here we shall have no vantage at all over you For every one of you shall have a curace fitted for his brest a light buckler in his left hand as wee all were wont to carry and in his right an arming sword or battle axe wherewith we are to smite our enemy that standeth opposite unto us and need not feare to misse whensoever we offer to strike What is it then considering this manner of fight wherein one of us should passe another unlesse it bee in boldnesse and courage which yee ought to shew as well as we And as for victory whereby all good things and excellent are both gotten and kept what reason is there that we should desire it more than yee To speake of Soveraignty which giveth all away to the Conquerours from them that be conquered why should it concerne us more than you to seeke therefore To conclude then saith hee yee have heard all and see the very armour Take every man what he needeth and is fit for his body and then give his name to the Captaine of some company for to be entolled in the same degree and ranke with us But whosoever is content with the place of a mercenary souldier let him remaine still in such armes as are meet for servitours unto others CHAP. IIII. The ordinances that Cyrus made for the exercise of his souldiers and to keep them in all obedience THese were the words of Cyrus which when the Persians had heard they made this account that worthy they were from that time forward to live all their dayes in penury and want if being
you him to beare rule still or appoint you another in his roome I place another saith he in his stead And say such an one be very wealthy and full of money permit you him to be rich still or bring you him to poverty I take from him quoth the King whatsoever he hath If you understand that he fall away from you and taketh part with the enemie what doe you to him then I put him to death said he For why should I die convicted of leasing rather than confessing the truth Then his sonne hearing these words plucked in peeces the Turbant from about his owne head and withall rent his mantell and upper garments The women also piteously cried out and tare themselves as if both father had beene even then condemned and a dead man and all of them besides undone for ever But Cyrus willing them to be silent said thus againe Well be it so I have enough These bee just and rightfull courses in your owne practise ô King of Armenia But what would you counsell us hereupon to doe The Armenian held his tongue as being doubtfull whether he should advise Cyrus to put him to death or teach contrary to that which he said himselfe did But his sonne Tigranes demaunded of Cyrus and said Tell me Cyrus because my father seemeth to stand in suspence whether I shall advise you concerning him what I thinke will be best and most expedient for you to doe Cyrus having observed well enough what time as Tigranes used to hunt with him that he entertained a certaine learned man who was very familiar and in wonderfull esteeme with him desired greatly to heare what hee could say and therefore bad him speake his mind boldly If you approve saith Tigranes either the designes by my father intended or the acts by him already done I advise you in any hand to imitate him but if in your opinion he hath altogether faulted I would give you counsell not to follow him Then quoth Cyrus If I doe right I may not in any wise take him doing thus amisse for an ensample True said Tygranes By your reason then inferred Cyrus I must punish your Father in case it stand with justice to chastice a man that doth wrong Yea but whether thinke you it is better ô Cyrus quoth Tigranes to proceed unto punishment with your owne good and profit or to your owne hurt and detriment Not thus saith Cyrus for so should I punish my selfe Yea quoth Tigranes and much hinder and endammage your owne estate if at such a time you killed any of your liege men when they might stand you in greatest stead to be kept alive But how can those men be prized so high when they be taken in the manner doing injurie Yes verily as I thinke saith Tigranes if then they may proove wise and sound-hearted For this is mine opinion ô Cyrus that without the mind be seasoned with prudence no other vertue availeth ought For what use can there bee of a strong and stout man or of a valiant Knight what profit may one make of a skilfull horseman if he be not wise and discreet withall Nay what commodity may arise from a wealthy person or a mighty man in a City if discretion be away But with wisedome every friend is profitable yea and every servant good and commodious This is then the meaning of your words quoth Cyrus That your Father also even this day is of an unwise and inconsiderate man become wise and discreet Yes verily quoth he Ergo you hold saith Cyrus that such wisedome and discretion is an affection of the mind like as dolour and griefe and not an * or passion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habit that may be learned For if he ought first to be made witty who afterward is to grow discreet one cannot all at once and sodainly of a foolish and witlesse man become discreet What! good Cyrus quoth he did you never yet observe that one man in his folly taking in hand to fight with another better and mightier than himselfe so soone as ever he was defeated gave over straightwaies that folly of his shewed toward the other Againe have you never seene that one City standing out against another presently after it hath beene conquered chuseth rather to obey that other than to maintaine fight any longer But what calamity of your fathers can you alleadge that you may so confidently avouch him to bee made wise and considerate Even that said Tigranes whereby hee is privy to himselfe that for a greedy desire of liberty hee is brought to that servitude which he never felt before and that he was not able to effect any of those matters which he thought either secretly to have held or by stealth to have compassed or by fine force to have brought to passe But he knoweth right well that wherein so ever you minded to deceive him you have circumvented him so as a man would have deluded the blind or the dease and those that had no wit at all in the world and what things so ever you thought should be carried closely therein he knoweth full well you have beene so secret as that those places which he supposed most safe and sure for his refuge you made the same his prisons to hold him fast ere he was aware As for celerity so farre have you surpassed him that comming as you did your selfe * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from places farre remote with a puissant armie you prevented him before that he could bring his forces togither And thinke you in very deed quoth Cyrus such a foyle as this sufficient to make men so wise and wary as to acknowledge others to be their betters and superiours Yes verily said Figranes and much more ywis than when a man is defaited in battaile For it falleth our otherwhiles that a champion once put to the worse by meere strength thinketh after he hath exercised * Graecè melius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his body to be better appointed and to combate againe Yea and some cities forcel and wonne having gotten fresh aides suppose they are able to try it out eftsoones by a new conflict But looke whomsoever any shall judge to be more vertuous and wiser than themselves those many times they are willing to obey even vithout compulsion You seeme then said Cyrus not to thinke that insolent and malapert persons take knowledge of any others more staied and temperate than themselves nor theeves of true men nor liers of truth speakers nor unjust of those that be righteous And know you not quoth he that now also your father hath dealt falsely and not firmely observed covenants with us albeit heknew that wee for our parts have not broken the least point and tittle of those Articles which Astyages agreed unto Neither doe I my selfe quoth Tigranes say this That it maketh men wise and considerate barely to know their betters unlesse they suffer punishment also at their betters hands like as it is
knowledge that they be of your nation to the end wee may spare them The Hyrcanians hearing this led the way as he commaunded and withall admired his princely heart and magnanimitie Neither stood they any more in feare of the Assyrians or of the Lydians or yet of any other their Allies and Confederates And as for Cyrus himselfe he supposed there lay matter of no small moment every way in them were they present with him or were they absent Now as they marched and night drew on reported it is that a cleere light shining from heaven appeared evidently unto Cyrus and his host in so much as they all conceived a reverent feare of the Divine power and a consident boldnesse besides against the enemies and for that they were lightly appointed and went apace by good reason they made that night a great journey and by breake of day in the very twy-light approched neere unto the Hyrcanians maine regiment Which when the messengers above-said perceived they signified unto Cyrus that those were their countrimen And hereof said they have we sure intelligence as well by their marching hinmost as by the number of fires which they make Whereupon hee sent one of these two unto them commaunding him in his name to deliver this message That if they were his friends they should with all speed come and meet him holding up their hands aloft Some likewise of his owne men he sent with him whom he commaunded to say unto the Hyrcanians That as his men should see them comming towards him so they also would doe the like againe Thus one of the messengers tarried still with Cyrus and the other rode forth to the Hyrcanians During the time that Cyrus waited to see what the Hyrcanians would doe he caused his armie to stay the march Then the Chieftaines of the Medes togither with Tigranes galloped hard unto him demaunding what they were to doe unto whom he made answere This troupe next unto us is the regiment of the Hyrcanians unto whom one of their messengers accompanied with some few of our men is gone for to signifie unto them that if they meane to be friends they should meet us bearing up all of them their right hands Wherefore if they so doe receive them yee every one in his place friendly giving them your right hands and bid them be of good cheere But if they either take weapon in hand or goe about to flie doe your best quoth he to dispatch them at first so as not one of them remaine alive These were the directions of Cyrus Meane-while the Hyrcanians having heard what the messengers said were exceeding glad and quickly mounting on horsebacke repaired toward them holding up their hands as they had warning so to doe Semblably the Medes and Persians did put forth their hands welcomed them and bade them take a good heart Then Cyrus Wee for our parts quoth he beleeve now and trust you Hyrcanians and even so ought yee to be affected to us ward But first of all Tell us this How farre hence is the place where the principall rulers and puissance of our enemies maine armie are They answere somewhat above a Parasang CHAP. IIII. The exhortation of Cyrus to his whole Armie inciting them to follow the chace of his enemies with the Cavallery of the Medes WHich when Cyrus heard Goe to then my deere friends quoth he Persians Medes and yee Hyrcanians for now speake I to you as unto Allies and partners with us Now ought we to know for certaine in what state we stand namely that if we now become faint hearted and demeane our selves cowardly we shall incurre the most grievous calamities that be For our enemies know full well wherefore we are come but if we shall fiercely set upon our enemies and give the charge with courage and manly resolution yee shall see them soone like unto fugitive slaves that are found out and apprehended againe some to court us in humble and suppliant manner crying us mercy others to take them to their heeles some againe so maskared as they will not be able so much as to thinke either of the one or the other For as men once discomfited they will stare and looke upon us and suspecting nothing lesse than that we are comming they being neither set embattailed nor provided to fight will be surprised If therefore we desire to sit at supper feeding merrily to passe the night sleeping quietly and in a word hereafter to live pleasantly let us give them no respit either to consult or prepare any good thing for themselves no nor so much as to know at all that we be men but thinke onely that nought else is come among them but bucklers courtill-axes glaives browne-bills and bloudy wounds And yee Hyrcanians quoth he step forward upon them and make way before us that by the sight of your armour we may be in covert and unseene as long as possible it is But when I am come close to the enemies armie leave with me * Armenians Medes and Hyrcanians every of you a cornet of horsemen to use as need requireth so long as I abide here with the armie And such of you as are Commaunders chiefe-Officers and of the elder sort see you ride close in a thicke squadron togither when yee charge them if yee be wise least haply yee light upon their massive troupes and so be borne downe by violence But suffer the younger gallants to follow the chace and let them have the killing of the enemies For this is the safest way now that we leave as few of our enemies alive as may be And if it come to passe as it hapneth to many winners that we quite overthrow their fortunes and breake their backes for ever take heed we must that we fall not to pillage For he that so doth is no more a valiant souldier but a base souldiers page and such an one any man that will may use as his slave This also ought we to know that nothing is more gainefull than victory For the victour presently carrieth all away with him at once men women money and goods yea and the whole countrey withall Furthermore this one thing would be thought upon especially How we may hold and reteine victorie * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For in it even the rifler and spoyler himselfe is comprised To conclude remember this among the rest in your chace that yee returne to mee while it is day-light For bee it once darke wee will receive none Cyrus having thus said sent every man to his owne * or Centurie companie commaunding them withall that when they were thither come each one should signifie as much to their Decurions For seeing that these Decurions stood in the Front they might easily heare who likewise were bidden every one to intimate as much unto their severall Denaries under their charge Thus the Hyrcanians led the Vaward Cyrus with the Persians conducted the maine battaile in the mids and so marched As for
called for Cyrus and because it was long since he had seen him before requested his company at supper O good unkle quoth Cyrus will me not to doe that See you not all these here how by my impulsion they are come hither I should not do well therefore to neglect them and follow mine owne pleasure For thus it is quoth he Souldiers thinking themselves unregarded were they valiant before become much lesse courageous if cowards they grow far more insolent and malapert Your selfe therefore considering you have come a great way hither go now to your supper and if any doe you honour see you embrace and make much of them againe invite such I say and entertaine them with good cheere that they may have the more affiance in you hereafter As for me I will goe my wayes about such affaires as I said To morrow morning betimes all the principall men of employment shall be ready here before your roial tent to shew themselves to the end that we and you togither may consult what henceforth is to be done And you being then present in place put to question and deliver your own opinion Whether you hold it expedient to continue the warre or thinke it now a good time to dispatch the armie Hereupon Cyaxares went to supper But Cyrus calling to him such friends of his as were most sufficient both for wisedome and execution as need required made this speech or the like unto them My loving Friends what we first wished and praied for unto the Gods the same through their goodnesse wee have obtained For looke how farre we march on forward so much ground we get still Our enemies we see to be impared but our selves in number increased and in strength more puissant In case our Associats newly come would be willing to stay with us more powerable we shall be to effect any thing whether opportunity serve to winne the same by force or to gaine it by perswasion And therefore your part it is no lesse than mine to worke this feat that the greater number of our said Associats may like well of their abode here And as in fighting a field he that taketh most prisoners is reputed the hardiest souldier even so when counsell and policy is required hee that can draw the greater part to our mind ought by good right to be esteemed most eloquent in word and most valiant in deed Neither speake I this as if I would have you to premeditate and exhibit some formall oration which you may pronounce to every one of them but order the matter so that they who are by any of you perswaded may shew what they are by their deeds This I say is the charge which I would have you to thinke upon I for my part will endeavour diligently that the souldiers having what victuals and necessaries I can provide for them may deliberately resolve of this warfare and expedition THE SIXTH BOOKE CHAP. I. The counsell that Cyrus held about dissolving his Armie for that yeere The preparations which he made against the yeere next ensuing The Fabricke and Engins that he devised for to batter walles His chariots armed with pikes and sithes carrying turrets upon them Also the Camels which he provided for the warre HAVING thus spent this day and taken their suppers they went to rest The next day early in the morning all the Associates repayred to the Pavilion gates of Cyaxares And therefore in the time that he dressed himselfe royally to be seene as hearing that so great a multitude attended at the gates meane-while I say Cyrus his familiar friends brought with them some the Cadusians who desired him to tarry other the Hyrcanians Gobryas came with one and Sacas with another Hystaspes came with the Eunuch Gadatas who also requested him to stay Cyrus understanding that Gadatas was long since full woe and even out of the world for feare least the Armie should breake up smiling pleasantly upon him said It appeareth evidently ô Gadatas that upon the perswasion of Hystaspes you thinke as you say Then Gadatas stretching up his hands toward heaven devoutly sware That hee was not mooved thus to thinke by any inducement of Hystaspes But I know right well quoth he that if ye were gone my estate should utterly be overthrowne And therefore came I of my selfe unto him to aske the question what your resolution was concerning the dissolution of the armie It should seeme then quoth Cyrus that I doe wrongfully charge Hystaspes Yea surely said Hystaspes very unjustly For I gain-said Gadatas and affirmed that it was impossible for you to stay alleadging withall that your father had sent for you How now quoth he What is that you say Durst you indeed utter so much whether I were willing or no Yes in troth said he For I see you are exceeding desirous to be seene illustrious in our progresse among the Persians yea and to recount unto your father how you have atchieved every exploit And for your selfe quoth Cyrus have not you a longing to be gone home No I assure you said Hystaspes but here will I abide in qualitie of a Generall untill I have made this Gadatas Lord over the Assyrian King Thus communed they togither betweene jest and good earnest Meane-while Cyaxares arrayed in his royall robes came forth and sate him downe upon a Throne of State after the Medes fashion When all were assembled togither whom such affaires concerned after silence made Cyaxares spake in this wise My friends and Associates Because I am here in place and Senior to Cyrus meet peradventure it is that I should enter into speech first And in my conceit quoth he It is now a time convenient to debate of this point whether it be expedient still to continue warre or to dismisse the Armie Let some one therefore deliver what he thinketh of this matter Then spake the Hyrcanian Potentate to the question first My friends and Associates I wote not what need there is of many words when the very deeds shew what is best For well we all doe know that remaining together we doe our enemies more harme than we can receive from them our selves But when we were severed asunder one from another then they dealt with us to their owne greatest pleasure and our most grievous paine After him the Cadusian Commaunder opined thus What should we speake of departure home and living there apart When as even already in this very expedition they get no good as it is seene who are disjoyned For our owne selves when we quartered but a while and served apart from the body of our whole armie payed dearely for it and abid the smart as yee all know well enough After him Artabazus he who sometimes claimed kinred of Cyrus uttered his opinion in this manner For mine owne part saith he ô Cyaxares I doe thus farre forth dissent from these who have before me spoken to the matter in question For these men say that wee ought to tarry still here and
returned unto Cyrus and recounted unto him all the ordinance and preparation of the enemie How himselfe prepared to raunge his men in battaile ray BY this time was there another come from the * Sergeant or Provost Captaine of the Espials saying that there was seene upon the plaines a great troupe of horsemen and we suppose quoth he that they ride out as destrous to view this army of yours For even before this troupe there be other horsemen to the number of thirtie galloping and verily they make toward us even and anon haply because they would gaine this * Barbican place of Espiall if possibly they could and surely we are but ten in all to make good the said hill Then Cyrus commanded certaine of those horsemen whom he had alwaies attending about him to ride hard under the said Barbican and there to rest and keepe themselves quiet so as they might not be seene of the enemies But quoth he when as our ten men there abandon the place arise yee and set upon them that climbe up the hill and to the end that ye be not hurt or annoyed by those of that great troupe goe you forth Hystaspas quoth he taking with you a Regiment of two thousand horsemen and make a bravado directly against the troupe of our enemies Howbeit pursue them not in any wise so farre as into covert and unknowne places but so soone as you have taken order that your spies may safely remaine and keepe the ground retire you and depart away Now if there be any of them shall ride towards you holding up their hands in token of peace receive the men courteously So Hystaspas went from him with this charge and armed himselfe the other horsemen also his followers rode away forthwith as he had commanded And who should meet them in the way on this side the said Barbican but Araspas with his men him I meane who being the keeper of that * Panthea Susian Lady had beene sent long before as an espie Cyrus no sooner saw the man but he * Leapt sprung out of his chaire went toward him and lovingly tooke him by the hand The rest who knew nothing of the matter wondered hereat as good cause they had and were much amazed untill such time as Cyrus thus said Here is my loving friends a right worthy Gentleman returned unto us For now meet it is that all the world should know what good service he hath done This person here in place departed from us not attaint of any lewd act neither for feare of me but by me was he sent away of purpose to learne out the secret designes of our enemies and to exhibit thereof a true report unto us Therefore my trusty Araspas looke what promise I made unto thee I well remember * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and with all this here performe the same I will And meet it is my souldiers all that yee every one doe honour this man as a doutie Knight in that for our good he hath exposed himselfe to daunger and undergone the aspersion of a crime imputed unto him With that they all embraced Araspas and tooke him by the hand Then said Cyrus Enough of this And now Araspas quoth hee relate unto us what the present time and occasion requireth wee should know and say not lesse than truth one whit as touching our enemies puissance For better it were that wee imagining it to bee more should afterwards see it lesse than hearing it lesse now sinde it afterwards much more Certes quoth Araspas I have done my best endevour to know their strength most certeinly For present I was my selfe in person with others to set them in ray Why then quoth Cyrus you know not onely their number but their order also Yes verily saith Araspas yea and in what manner they intend to embattaile and fight Yet shew us first quoth Cyrus and that summarily their number Their battalions all quoth Araspas as well footmen as horsemen be ordered so as that they beare in * From the front or in fyle depth thirty * Or beside except the Aegyptians And these are about * Five miles stadia 40 furlongs off For very carefull I was to know how much ground they tooke up But as touching these Aegyptians saith Cyrus tell me how they be embattailed because you said beside the Aegyptians Surely quoth Araspas their * Mytiarchs Colonels over ten thousand ordered them so as that every Regiment of ten thousand bare every way a hundred square For this manner of embattailing was by their saying after their country fashion And Croesus I assure you was very loth to graunt them thus to be arraunged For he desired all that he could to hemme in your armie on every side with his battalions And to what end saith Cyrus desired he that Even because he might quoth he environ you with his exceeding number But first Let them see to it said Cyrus least whiles they goe about to encompasse others they be not enclosed themselves Well we have heard of you that which the time required Now therefore let us proceed thus accordingly After yee are departed hence looke well to the armour both of your horses and also of your selves For oftentimes if there be wanting but a small matter man horse and chariot serve all to no purpose And to morrow morning betimes First of all whiles I am busie at sacrifice both horse and man ought to take their * Or breakfast dinners to the end that if any opportunitie be offred of an exploit we be not wanting in that behalfe Then lead you Araspas the right wing according to the charge which now you have The other Colonels likewise having the conduct of ten thousand keepe your places still For when the fight is once a-foot it will be no fit time for any chariot to change or shift horses Enjoyne moreover the * Taxiarchs Centiniers and * File Leaders Caporals in the Vantguard to order their files every one divided in two parts phalang-wise ech part fronting one with another in a right line Now * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ech file conteined 24 souldiers Then spake one of the * Myriarchs Colonels abovesaid in this wise Thinke you Sir that we shall be sufficient arraunged into so many files and those so shallow against so square and deepe a * Or Phalang battalion of our enemies Why quoth Cyrus how thinke you of this These their * Or Phalangs squadrons standing deeper in file than with their weapons to reach unto their opposites doe they either hurt their enemies or helpe their fellow-souldiers For mine owne part quoth Cyrus I could wish that whereas these armed men of theirs raunged a hundred deepe in file had beene in depth ten thousand For by this meanes wee should encounter with fewest But as I order my battalion * Heavily armed in thicknesse it will I trow so come to passe that
the complements of libations and prayed withall dranke himselfe and so did all the rest that were about him Which done having besought Iupiter the protectour of his native countrey to vouchsafe him his guidance and helper hee mounted on horsebacke and commaunded all the rest to doe the same Now were they all that attended upon Cyrus armed as he was to wit in purple tabards corslets and head-pieces of * or copper brasse with white crests and with swords every man also with a javelin of corneil wood Their horses were bard with frontlets poictrels and side peeces of brasse Of the same matter likewise were the greives that every man wore This onely was the difference of Cyrus his armour from the rest that whereas their harneis was vernished over and laid with a golden colour his glittered like a Crystall mirour When he was once mounted and sat still a while looking to his way that he was to goe it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thundered on his right hand in token of good whereupon he said Thee will we follow most mighty Iupiter And so he did set forward having on his right side Chrysantas Generall of the horse with his men of armes and Arasambas Colonell of the footmen on his left Hee gave commaundement also that they should cast an eye to the maine Standard to keepe even pace and to follow in order Now this Ensigne Royall that he had was a golden Spred-Eagle displaied upon a long speare And at this very day the King of Persia retaineth the same standard But before they came within sight of the enemies he caused the Armie by resting thrice to refresh themselves And by that time that they had marched out-right twenty stadia they began to descrie their enemies power to approach and come forward against them Now when they were all evidently seene one of another and the enemies determined on both sides to environ the battalion of footmen afront them they stood still with their owne maine battalion For otherwise there can be no encompassing round and then wheeled about therwith for to enclose the enemies in the mids to the end that when they had embattailed themselves on both sides after the forme of the Greek letter * Gamma r they might every way fight all at once Which albeit Cyrus saw well enough yet staied he never the more for it but led still as before and perceiving how far off the enemies stretched out on both sides the wings and points of their battaile Marke you not Chrysantas quoth he where the enemies begin to fetch a winding compasse Yes very well saith Chrysantas and I mervaile much thereat For me thinks they distract the points very farre from their owne maine battaile yea and from ours too quoth Cyrus I assure you And why so said Chrysantas because quoth he lest if their wings were neere unto us and their owne maine battaile farre remooved wee might charge upon them But how can they then afterwards helpe one another said Chrysantas when they be so farre asunder It is evident quoth Cyrus that their purpose is when their wings have proceeded so farre as to flanke us and to stand against the sides of our host then to turne short againe as it were into squadrons and so at once on every side to set upon us But what thinke you saith Chrysantas is this their policy good or no Good quoth Cyrus in regard of that which they see but in respect of that which they see not they hurt themselves more then if they should assaile us afront point to point But you Arsamas quoth Cyrus goe softly before the Infantery like as you see me to doe And you Chrysantas semblably as he doth follow close with your Cavallery As for me thither will I goe where I thinke it best to begin the battaile yet withall as I passe by view I will and consider how every thing stands with us After I am thither come and when wee are at the very point to encounter I will begin to sing the * Pâ—an This Hymne to Apollo was sung at the first ioyning of battaileâ— To incite the souldiours and for averting all disaster likwise in the end after victory and then it was by way of Triumph 〈◊〉 Macrobius and then see that yee all second me But when we buckle and joyne fight with our enemies yee shall soone perceive For there will be I suppose no small shouts and escries And then shall Abradatas with the chariots charge upon his opposites For he shall have word and direction so to doe Then must yee follow on as neere and close as you possibly can to the Chariots For by this meanes shall we fall upon our enemies when they are most in disorder I will my selfe also be present in person and by Gods helpe with all speed pursue them When he had thus said and withall pronounced this * or Signal Motto Iupiter Saviour and * or Leader Guide he advanced forward And as he rode on betweene the Chariots and the Corselettiers ever as he spied any orderly in their Companies he would one while say thus unto them Oh how it doth me good my souldiours to see your faces Another while to others Goe to Sirs Thinke that this present fight is not onely for this dayes victorie but in regard of that also which heretofore yee have atchieved yea and for all felicity whatsoever As he came to some he would use these words From this time forward we shall never have cause to blame the Gods for they have put into our hands the meanes to attaine to many and those goodly chievances But yet wee must my good souldiours play the parts of valiant men To others againe such a speech as this he would use What more gawdy feast could we possibly bid one another unto than to this For now the opportunity we have bearing our selves manfully to stead and benefit passing well one another many wayes To another Company thus would he speake Yee know I suppose my souldiers that these rewards are now proposed to wit unto winners To chace to wound to kill to be possessed of goods to gaine renowne and fame to enjoy freedome to commaund and to rule But unto Cowards what else but the contrary Whosoever therefore loveth himselfe let him enter battaile and fight as I doe For with my good will no example shall I give of cowardise nor admit of any lewd and dishonorable act Moreover as he came to some of those who had served with him in the former battaile he said As for you my douty souldiours what need I to speake unto you For yee wote well enough what a faire day valiant men have and how badly cowards speed Then as hee went from them and came to Abradatas he stayed And Abradatas having given the reines unto the * Manhood under chariotier dismounted and made towards him others also came running unto him whose places were neere at hand as well footmen as
all good things of all delicacies and delightsome pleasures shee hath beene partaker with mee but of the cares about attaining thereto of warres also and battaile shee never had part with me And after the very same manner you also seeme to prepare me as I did her whom of all mortall wights I loved most entirely And thereby bound I am of dutie to offer yet more gifts and oblations unto Apollo in token of thankfulnesse These words of his when Cyrus heard he much admired the quietnesse of his minde yea and from that time forward whither so ever he went Croesus he had continually with him either for that hee thought to reape some good by him or because he supposed it would be best for his owne safetie and securitie And so for that time they went to their nights rest The morrow after Cyrus calling to him his friends and the Captaines of his hoast some of thē he appointed to receive the treasures of Croesus to others he gave in charge that what money soever Croesus delivered into their hands first they should select out of it for the Gods such a portion as the * Magi. Priests thought good to be taken the residue thereof to lay up in coffers and so to bestow in waines and then casting lots for the said waines carry it in to what place so ever they went that as opportunitie served every man might take thereof proportionably to his desert And thus did they accordingly CHAP. IIII. The death of Abradatas Of faire Panthea and her Eunuches Cyrus caused a goodly Monument to be erected for their perpetuall memorie THe next morrow Cyrus having called unto him certaine of his serjeants and officers about him Tell me quoth hee whether any of you hath seene Abradatas For I mervaile much that I cannot have a sight of him now who heretofore was wont to frequent our presence Then answered one of the said officers My Lord he is not living but slaine he was in the field what time as in his chariot he valiantly brake in among the Aegyptians All the rest of his companie save onely certaine of his familiar friends avoided by report the daunger and forsooke him when they once saw the strong troupe of the Aegyptians And now quoth he the speech goeth that his wife hath taken up his dead corps bestowed it in the very * or Waggon Carroch wherein shee was wont to ride and brought it somewhither hereabout to the river Pactolus They say also that his Eunuches and servants are a digging for him now dead a grave upon a certaine little hill and the woman her selfe fitteth on the ground who having dressed and adorned her husband with such things as she had holdeth his head resting upon her knees When Cyrus heard this he smote his thighs and forthwith mounting on horsebacke and taking with him a thousand men of armes rode to see this woefull spectacle Likewise he commaunded Gadatas and Gobryas to take with them what ornaments they could get befitting so friendly and valiant a man thus deceased and to seeke him out Furthermore if there were any one that had either any Heards Kine Oxen or Horses in his traine him he charged to bring them along with him yea and many sheep besides to drive to the place whereever he should heare that himselfe was to the end that the same might be killed and sacrificed in the honour of Abradatas his Funerall Now when Cyrus was come and saw the woman sitting upon the ground and the dead corps there lying he wept for very ruth of this hard fortune and said withall O valiant and faithfull heart Alas the while and hast thou left us and gone thy waies with that he tooke him by the right hand and loe the dead mans * or arme hand followed him For cut off it had beene by the Aegyptians and dissevered from the body with an arming sword which when he saw he grieved so much the more The Lady also setting up a pitious cry and taking the hand from Cyrus kissed it and fitted it againe as well as she could in the right place saying also The rest of his body O Cyrus is in the like case But what should you see and view the same And all this I know quoth she hath he suffred for my sake especially and perhaps nothing lesse for yours For I foolish and silly woman that I was used many words to encourage him so to carry himselfe as might beseeme your friend and one worthy of mens commendation And as for him I know very well he never considered what he did but how he might by any brave exploits and worthy service gratifie you Therefore he verily for his part hath had a noble and renowned death whereas I who exhorted him thereto sit here alive When Cyrus had continued a good while silent and weeping still at length hee spake and said This Knight Madame hath made an excellent end For he died with victory But here you shall take of me these things wherewith to adorne his body for both Gobryas and Gadatas also were in place and had brought with them good store of funerall ornaments and for the time to come know this that of other things to doe him honour there shall be no want Nay there be many of us that proportionally to our estare and degree will in memoriall of him erect a monument yea and in his honour killed there shall be whatsoever is convenient for so noble a personage Neither shall your selfe be forlorne and forsaken but in regard of your chastity and all manner of vertue besides as I will grace you otherwise so I will commend you upon trust to some one who shall bring you whithersoever you would Do but you say onely unto whom you desire to be brought Then Panthea set your heart at rest quoth she ô Cyrus For conceale I will not from you to whom I have a mind to goe When Cyrus had thus communed with her he departed pitying the woman who had lost such a husband and the man likewise who had left such a wife and should never see her more Then she having commaunded her Eunuches to void untill such time quoth she as I have bewailed him my fill and as I would my selfe willed her nurse to abide still with her whom she streightly charged that after her selfe was dead she should wind both her husband and her in one and the same shrowding sheet The nurse besought her most instantly not to commit such a deed Howbeit when she could not prevaile but saw her angry and much displeased with her she sat her downe and wept Then Panthea who a good while before had prepared a cimiter for the purpose * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 killeth her selfe and reposing her head upon her husbands brest yeelded up her vitall breath With that the nurse skriked out aloud and enwrapped them both according as Panthea had given her in charge But Cyrus being advertised what a deed the woman
who before-time had approoved that Decree of honouring every man according to his worth him he calleth for and deviseth with him how he might make this progresse of his most acceptable to his affectionate friends and as terrible to his enemies Now when they both had considered well hereupon and were accorded in one and the same point hee gave Pheraulas in charge that this riding forth the next day might be ordered so as they thought it most decent and commendable For mine owne part quoth he I have given warning already that they be all obedient to you in the marshalling of this said solemnitie but to the end they may more willingly be ruled by you here take these coats to distribute among the Captaines of the * Or Pensioners Guard These saddle clothes besides of tapestry bestow upon the Leaders of the horsemen and these other liveries give unto the Rulers of the Chariots So Pheraulas received this furniture and carried it accordingly Whom when the Captaines and Rulers aforesaid saw You are become say they ô Pheraulas some great man now in that you are to direct us also in those things that are to bee done Not so quoth Pheraulas as God love mee So farre am I from being such an one as you take mee that I am ready even to be a Porter also to carry bag and baggage among you For see how I bring here with me these two shag clothes of tapestry the one for you and the other for him there but take you the choise of them whereupon the partie that was about to receive the said saddle cloth forgetting all envie presently asked his advice whether of them he should take And when Pheraulas gave him counsell to lay hold of that which hee tooke to be the better If you will blame mee quoth hee for giving you the choise hereafter when I shall execute my function you shall finde mee another kinde of minister and unlike to my selfe now Thus Pheraulas having made this distribution as he was commaunded tooke order for all things that belonged to the solemne riding forth and pompe of Cyrus that every thing might be most handsomely and featly performed When the morrow was come all was made cleane and neat before day-light And they stood by ranke and file directly in order on both sides of the way like as at this day they use to take their standing what way the King is to ride forth any wither neither is it lawfull for any to enter within these said ranks unlesse they were eminent and honourable persons There were also certaine * As Tipstaves Officers that stood with whips to beat those that made any mis-rule First and formost presented themselves those Pensioners of the guard to the number of 4000. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with launces foure in ranke before the Court gates and on either side of the gates 2000. All the men of Armes likewise were present to shew themselves being alighted from their horses carrying their armes out of their sleevelesse cassocks as the manner is in these dayes to put them forth whensoever the King * When they muster before him vieweth them Semblably on the right hand stood the Persians and the rest that were Associates on the left hand of the way After which manner were the Chariots placed halfe on the oneside and halfe on the other Now when the Court gates were set open First were led forth goodly faire Buls * In ranke foure by foure for Iupiter as also for other Gods as the * Magi. Priests gave direction For the Persians are of this opinion that in the service of the Gods there are to be employed skilfull Artists much more than in any other occasions After these Buls were Horses led out for sacrifice to the Sun and after them was brought forth a white Chariot with a golden * Or Crosbred Spring-tree and the same adorned with Coronets and sacred this was unto Iupiter Behind which came the white Chariot of the Sunne set likewise with Crownes as the other before After it was led forth a third Chariot and the Steeds drawing it all trapped and covered with red Caparisons and behind it certaine men followed who upon a great * Or Hearth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pan carryed fire After all these rode Cyrus himselfe out of the gates all goodly to be seene in a Chariot with an upright turbant upon his head clad in a purple cassocke halfe white for none else may weare a garment halfe white and having about his thighs and legs breeches and stockings of scarlet dye but his coat of Armes was all purple throughout About his turbant aforesaid he had * Or Regall band a Diadem the very badge and cognisance that all his kinsmen likewise be knowne by and even at this day they retaine the same Ensigne His hands likewise he did put forth out of his sleeves There guided his Chariot mounted hard by him his Chariotier a bigge man of stature yet nothing so personable as himselfe whether it were so in very deed or by some other meanes I wote not but however Cyrus seemed a much taller and goodlier person When they beheld him as he passed along they all adored him either for that some had a commandement to begin this manner of adoration or because they were ravished and amazed with the sight of so rich and stately aray or else for that Cyrus himselfe seemed to carry such a majestie and beautie in his personage True it is that before this time never any Persian had thus worshipped Cyrus After that Cyrus his Chariot was gone forth those foure thousand Pensioners marched before and two thousand on either side of the Chariot accompanied him Then hard after followed his Scepter-bearers on horsebacke bravely accoutred with their Iavelins to the number of three hundred Moreover led forth there were about two hundred lere-horses richly to bee seene with golden bridles which were kept for Cyrus his saddle and those covered with streaked and party-coloured clothes After these marched two thousand * Or Pikemen launces and then the Cavallery first erected ten thousand in number arraunged throughout by hundreds who had Chrysatas for their Leader Next after followed another Regiment of ten thousand Persian horsemen in like manner appointed whose Commaunder was Datamas And in the tayle of them another troupe likewise conducted by Gadatas Behinde them the Median Cavallery next unto them the Armenians after whom the Hyrcanians then the Cadusians and after the Cadusians the Sacans horsemen all Now behind the Cavallery thus marshalled there followed the Chariots foure in ranke under the conduct of Artabates the Persian When Cyrus was now upon the way riding in this pompe very many there were that followed extraordinarily without the * Or Guiders Colours preferring sundry petitions unto him To them therefore he sent certaine of his * Scepter-bearers or Sâ—ave-bearers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mace-bearers for three
in these cases what can be alleadged to the contrary but that he is more carefull for my good and commodity than mine owne selfe Furthermore this is his saying that he stands alwaies contented with his present fortune as sufficient for him but for me he sheweth himselfe provident and forecasting in my behalfe what good I may have by any thing added to my estate To conclude in my welfare he taketh more joy and pleasure than I doe my selfe At these words Hystaspas said Now so love me Lady Iuno as it doth me good at the very heart that I demaunded those questions of you And why so especially I pray quoth Cyrus because saith he I will endeavour what I can to doe the same But for one thing I know not what to doe namely how and in what sort I might shew my affection when I rejoyce in your good fortune and welfare Whether I must clap my hands or laugh or what else I should do Hereat Artabazus you ought then quoth he to daunce the Persian daunce At which they all laughed a good Now as the banquet went on still and they began to drinke more liberally Cyrus demaunded of Gobryas Tell me Gobryas whether are you more willing now to bestow your daughter in marriage upon one of these Gentlemen than at your first acquaintance with us And will you give me also leave quoth Gobryas to say a truth Yea verily saith Cyrus For no question needs to be answered with a lye Why then saith Gobryas know for certaine That much more willing I am now than heretofore And can you render a reason why quoth Cyrus Yea that I can answered Gobryas Say on then quoth Cyrus Because quoth he I saw them as then to endure both paines and perils willingly but now I perceive they can beare prosperity wisely and with moderation And truely ô Cyrus in my conceit it is an harder matter to find a man to beare well the favouring than to brooke the frowning of fortune For of the one may grow pride and insolency in many but the other breedeth modesty and temperance in all How now Hystaspas faith Cyrus have you heard what an Apophthegme Gobryas hath delivered Yes that I have quoth Hystaspas And if he come out with many such sentences he shall have me sooner to become a suiter unto his daughter than if he shewed me many drinking cups And I assure you saith Gobryas Many of these and such like sayings of his I have put in writing of which I will not envy you the having in case you espouse my daughter As for drinking cups because me thinks you set no store by them I wote not whether you should doe well to bestow them upon this Chrysantas here because he hath stolen your seat from you Then Cyrus Certes Hystaspas and yee my friends here present If yee tell me when any one of you will in hand with marriage yee shall see in what good stead I also will stand you in your wooing Then Gobryas If a man would marry forth his daughter whom should he acquaint with that businesse Whom but me quoth Cyrus For I am passing good at such a feat What feat is that quoth Chrysantas even the skill to know what marriage is meet for each person Then for the love of God quoth Chrysantas Tell me what kind of wife will best fit me be most sutable to my person First quoth Cyrus a little woman because you are but little your selfe For if you should match with one of stature tall you must bee faine to leap up to her as these little dogs doe whensoever you would kisse her upright In good faith quoth Chrysantas very well considered of you For I am nothing made at all for leaping Then quoth Cyrus A woman with a flat nose were very meet for you And why so saith Chrysantas because quoth he your selfe are * or Hawke-nosed hooke-nosed For you know very well that flat noses and hooked will couch and close best togither Say you then quoth Chrysantas That when one hath supped well as I now have a wife that goeth supperlesse to bed were meet to lye with him yes verily quoth Cyrus For they that are full have round and copped bellies but their bellies be flat that are empty and have not had their suppers But can you tell me for Gods sake Cyrus what manner of wife is good for a cold King Herewith Cyrus laughed and so did the rest And as they were altogither set a laughing In this one point verily quoth Chrysantas I envie you especially in your royall estate And what is that saith Cyrus because quoth he being as you are so cold and dry your selfe yet you can make us all to laugh And would not you quoth Cyrus give a great deale to have these things told you and report made unto her of whom you desire to be so highly esteemed that you are pleasantly conceited Thus passed they the time skoffing and jesting merrily one with another Then Cyrus brought forth a sute of womans apparaile and omaments thereto for Tigranes which he willed him to give unto his wife because she had borne her selfe manly in this expedition with her husband To Artabazus he gave a cup of gold and to the Hyrcanian Captaine a Courser with many other faire and rich gifts As for you Gobryas I will bestow upon you an husband for your daughter Then me you will give I trow quoth Hystaspas that I may have those written sentences of his Why quoth Cyrus have you any estate of your owne answerable to the dowry of the Damoisell Yea that I have quoth he God be thanked and the same worth much more money And where I pray you lyeth that wealth of yours Even there quoth Hystaspas pointing to Cyrus where you sit that are my friend And that is enough said Gobryas to content me And therewith presently he raught forth his hand and said Give me him Cyrus for I am ready to receive him Then Cyrus taking Hystaspas by the right hand gave him unto Gobryas who received him accordingly After this he bestowed upon Hystaspas many goodly gifts to send unto the young Lady his spouse and withall taking Chrysantas close unto him he kissed him Then Artabazus As Iupiter me helpe ô Cyrus quoth he that cup which you gave unto me and the gift which you bestowed upon Chrysantas be not both of the same gold But I will quoth Cyrus give you the like And when asked he Thirty yeeres hence quoth Cyrus See then quoth he you order the matter so and provide against that time as from whom I will expect so much and not dye in the meane while Thus for that present ended their feast and merry meeting When they were risen Cyrus also arose and accompanied them to the very gates CHAP. VII How Cyrus sent away his Associates into their owne countries distributed the spoyle 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 THE next day those Allies who came unto him as voluntaries he sent home every man except those that desired to dwell with him For he enfeoffed them in house and land to them and their heires for ever And verily the posterity descended from those who then stayed enjoy the same possessions to this day These for the most part were Medes and Hyrcanians When he had dealt away gifts among them at their departure and taken such order as neither Captaine nor souldier had cause to complaine hee dismissed them After this he distributed among his owne souldiers what money and treasure he got at Sardes To the Colonels verily over ten thousand men To the Serjeants and Servitours that attended about his owne person he gave peculiarly great and singular gifts according to the worthinesse of every one The rest he divided here and there amongst them all For having bestowed upon every such Colonell a part he charged them that according to the proportion which he had delivered unto them they should distribute likewise unto others And verily the rest of the monies were bestowed so as every Captaine approved well of their owne Vnder Captaines But the last were divided by the * Captaines over sixe Sizainieirs after they had made proofe of their private souldiers in their charge according as they found each one worthy And thus they all received that which was meet in equity Which largesse being done some there were who gave out of Cyrus these or such like speeches Certes he must needs have much treasure himselfe who hath given to every one of us so liberally Others againe answered and said And what great thing is it that he hath It is not the manner of Cyrus to seeke wholly to be enriched but he taketh more pleasure in giving to others than in keeping for his owne use When Cyrus perceived what words men gave out and what opinion they had conceived of him he assembled his friends with all the men of action and quality and to this effect spake unto them I have seene ere now my good friends men in the world who would be thought to possesse more than they doe in deed supposing thereby to appeare more liberall But in my mind quoth he they come short of their reckoning and are haled away cleane contrary to their intent For when a man would be accoumpted rich and is not seene withall to benefit his friends after the rate of that wealth me thinks it is enough to set the brand upon him of base illiberality Againe there be others who would not be knowne how rich they are And they also in my judgement deserve but badly of their friends For by reason that their estate is unknowne oftentimes friends in their need acquaint them not therewith and making no mone unto them are deceived But I take this to be the part of the best plaine-dealing man to make his power and substance knowne and then accordingly to endeavour for to shew his goodnesse and honesty And therefore what riches of mine may be seene I am willing of my selfe to shew unto you and looke what can not be seene I will relate unto you by word of mouth Having thus said one part of his treasures which were many and faire he gave them leave to see the rest that were laid up our of sight he recoumpted unto them And in the end these words My friends This accoumpt yee ought all to make That these riches here are no more mine than yours For I doe not gather them either to spend them all my selfe or to weare them out which were a thing impossible but partly to have evermore about me wherewith I may at all times reward any of you as he performeth any brave service and partly that whosoever among you thinketh that he stands in need of ought he may come unto me and receive what he wanteth And there an end of these his words Now when he had well settled as he thought his estate in Babylon so as he might take a journey abroad he addressed himselfe to make a voiage into Persia and commaunded the rest to be in readinesse And when he supposed that he was sufficiently provided of all things needfull and requisite for such an expedition he remooved and tooke his journey But here I purpose to put downe how orderly his armie and traine so great as it was both in taking up their harbour by the way unpacked and discharged their carriage and at their setting forth againe trussed up bag and baggage as also how quickly they made stay and sat downe in any place as need required For where ever the King encampeth they all pitch their tents about him as well in summer as in winter And Cyrus verily at the first ordained that his owne Pavilion should be set so as it might have prospect into the East then he appointed how farre off from his Royall tent the Guard and Pensioners should quarter and have their lodgings After them he assigned for the bakers the right hand and for the cooks and victuallers the left He appointed for the horses of service the right side and for the other labouring and draught beasts the left Semblably all things else were digested so as that every man knew his owne place as well by measure as by the plot of ground Now when they dislodge and are upon their remoove every man packeth up such baggage as he is appointed to use Others there be againe ready to lay them upon the Sumpter beasts whereby it comes to passe that all the porters and carriers come together unto those packs and trusses that they are appointed to bring and every one at once layeth his owne stuffe upon his owne beasts So that the same time that serveth for the pitching and setting up of one tent is sufficient for all And at one and the same instant were all carriages discharged and laid downe likewise Moreover every man had his charge what to doe for purveying of victuals and all necessaries in due season so that one and the same time serveth for one part and for all to make provision thereof And as there was a severall place set by for the purveyours of necessaries meet for them so his armed souldiers in pitching of the campe had that quarter which was convenient for each kind of armature and munitioâ— They knew also which it was and in generall held and occupied it so as they never differed about it Certes even in a private house and family Cyrus thought it a speciall matter to be carefull for the order and fit placing of every thing in it For if one hath need of ought he is not to seeke whither to goe and where to find it but he supposed it was a much more excellent thing that in a campe the military tribes and regiments should be placed in good and convenient order For by