The history of the world

§. I. The grounds of CYRVS his attempt against his brother. [unspec 10]

THE matters of Greece now standing vpon such termes, that no one Estate durst oppose it selfe against that of Lacaedemon; young Cyrus, brother to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, King of Persia, hauing in his fathers life time very carefully prosecuted the warre against Athens, did send his mes∣sengers to Sparta, requesting that their loue might ap∣peare no lesse to him, than that which he had shewed towards them in their dangerous warre against the [unspec 20] Athenians. To this request, being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lace∣daemonians gaue a sutable answere, commanding their Admirall to performe vnto Cyrus all seruice that hee should require of him. If Cyrus had plainely discouered himselfe, and the Lacedae∣monians bent their whole power to his assistance, very like it is, that either the King∣dome of Persia should haue been the recompence of his deserts, or that he perishing in battaile, as after he did, the subuersion of that Empire had forth with ensued. But it pleased God, rather to shew vnto the Greekes the waies, which vnder the Macedo∣nian Enfignes, the victorious foot-steps of their posteritie should measure; and ope∣ning vnto them the riches, and withall the weakenesse of the Persian, to kindle in [unspec 30] them both desire and hope of that conquest, which he reserued to another genera∣tion; than to giue into their hands that mightie Kingdome, whose houre was not yet come. The loue which Parysatis, the Queene-Mother of Persia bare vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her yonger sonne, being seconded by the earnest fauour of the people, and ready de∣sires of many principall men, had moued this yong Prince, in his fathers old age, to aspire after the succession. But being sent for by his Father (as hath before beene shewed) whose meaning was to curbe this ambitious youth; hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 brother Artaxerxes established so surely by the old Kings fauour, that it were not safe to attempt any meanes of displanting him, by whose disfauour, himself might easily lose the place of a Viceroy, which he held in Asia the lesse, and hardly bee [unspec 40] able to maintaine his owne life. The neerest neighbour to Cyrus of all the Kings Deputies in the lower Asia, was Tissaphernes, a man compounded of cowardise, tre∣cherie, craft, and all vices which accustomably branch out of these. This man ac∣companied Cyrus to his Father, vsing by the way all faire shewes of friendship, as to a Prince, for whom it might well be thought, that Queene Parysatis had obtained the inheritance of that mightie Empire. And it was very true, that Parysatis had v∣sed the best of her endeuour to that purpose, alleaging that (which in former ages had bin much auaileable to Xerxes, in the like disceptation with his elder brother) Artaxerxes was borne whilest his father was a priuate man, but Cyrus, when he was a crowned King. All which not sufficing; when the most that could bee obtained [unspec 50] for Cyrus, was the pardon of some presumptuous demeanour, and confirmation of his place in Lydia, and the parts adioyning: then did this Tissaphernes discouer his nature, and accuse his friend Cyrus to the new King Artaxerxes, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dangerous trea∣son intended against his person. Vpon this accusation, whether true or false, very

easily 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Cyrus was arrested, and by the most vehement intreatie of his Mo∣ther very hardly deliuered, and sent back into his owne Prouince.