THe tumult which his comming brought was very great, and great the exclamations of the Queen Statira, against Parysatis, the Queene-Mo∣ther, [unspec 10] whom she called the Author and occasioner of the warre. But whilest the King in great feare was arming the high Countries in his defence, the danger hastned vpon him very fast. For Cyrus made great marches, hauing his numbers much increased, by the repaire of his Countrimen, though most strengthned by the accesse of seuē hundred Greeks, and of other foure hundred of the same Nation, who reuolted vnto him from the King. How terrible the Greekes were to the Barbarians, he found by triall in a Muster, which (to please the Queene of Cilicia, who had brought him aide) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made in Phrygia; where the Greekes by his direction making offer of a charge vpon the rest of his Armie, which contained a hundred thousand men, the whole Campe (not perceiuing that this [unspec 20] was but a brauerie) fled a-maine, the victuallers and baggagers forsaking their cab∣bins, and running all away for very feare. This was to Cyrus a ioyfull spectacle, who knew very well, that his brother was followed by men of the same temper, and the more vnlikely to make resistance, because they were prest to the warre a∣gainst their will and dispositions, whereas his Armie was drawne a-long by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 affection and good will. Neuerthelesse he found it a very hard matter to perswade the Greekes to passe the Riuer of Euphrates. For the very length of the way which they had troden, wearied them with conceit of the tedious returne. Therefore he was driuen, being yet in Cilicia, to seeke excuses, telling them, that Abrocomas, one of the Kings principall Captaines, and his owne great enemy, lay by the Riuer, against [unspec 30] whom he requested them to assist him. By such deuices, and excessiue promise of reward, he brought them to Euphrates, where some of the Greekes considering, That whoso passed the Riuer first, should haue the most thankes, and might safely re∣turne if the rest should refuse to follow them, they entred the Foords, whereby were all finally perswaded to doe as some had begunne, and being allured by great hopes, they resolued to seeke out Artaxerxes, wheresoeuer he was to be found. The King in the meane time hauing raised an army of nine hundred thousand men, was not so confident vpon this huge multitude, as to aduenture them in triall of a plaine battaile. Abrocomas, who with three hundred thousand men, had vnder-taken to make good the Straights of Syria, which were very narrow, and fortified with a [unspec 40] strong wall, and other defences of nature, and art, which made the place to seeme impregnable, had quitted the passage, and retired himself toward the Kings forces, not daring to look Cyrus in the face, who despairing to finde any way by Land, had procured the Lacedaemonian fleete, by the benefit whereof to haue transported his Armie. I doe not finde that this cowardise of Abrocomas, or of his Souldiers, who arriued not at the Campe, till fiue daies were past after the battaile, receiued either punishment, or disgrace; for they, toward whom he with-drew himselfe, were all made of the same metall.
Therefore Artaxerxes was vpon the point of retiring to the vttermost bounds of his Kingdom, vntill by Teribazus, one of his Captaines, he was perswaded not to a∣bandon [unspec 50] so many goodly Prouinces to the Enemie, who would thereby haue gathe∣red addition of strength, and (which in the sharpe disputation of Title to a King∣dome is most auaileable) would haue growne superior in reputation. By such ad∣uice, the King resolued vpon meeting with his brother, who now began to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 se∣cure,