The history of the world

§ II. Of CROESVS the King of Lydia, who made warre vpon CYRVS.

I Haue in the last Booke spoken somewhat of Croesus, of his race and predecessors, as also of those Kings which gouerned Lydia in more ancient times: of which the first (to prophane Authors knowne) was Lydus the sonne of Atys: Which familie extinguished, the King∣dome [unspec 50] was by an Oracle conferred vpon Argon, descended from Her∣cules, whereof there were two and twentie generations, Candaules being the last, who by shewing his faire wife naked to Gyges his fauorite, he was by the same Gyges

(thereto vrged vpon perill of his owne life by the Queene) the next day slaine. Which done, Gyges enioyed both the Queene and the Kingdome of Lydia, and left the same to Atys his sonne, who was father to Sadyattes, the father of Halyattes (who thrust the Cimerians out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉) and Halyattes begat Croesus: Which fiue* 1.1 Kings, of a third race, enioyed that Kingdome an hundred and seuentie yeeres. Halyattes the father of Croesus was an vndertaking Prince, and after hee had continu∣ed a warre against Cyaxares the Median, a Prince very powerfull, and maintained it six yeeres: a peace was concluded vpon equall conditions betweene them.

Astyages, the sonne of Cyaxares, and grandfather to Cyrus, thought himselfe greatly honoured by obtayning Aryenis, Croesus sister, whom he married. [unspec 10]

But Croesus so farre enlarged his dominions after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fathers death, as he was no∣thing inferior in territorie to any King or Monarch of that age: Of which, about that time there were foure in effect of equall strength; to wit, the Median, the Ba∣bylonian, the Aegyptian and the Lydian: onely Nabuchodonosor, after he had ioyned Phoenicia, Palestina, and Aegypt to his Empire, had thence-forward no competitor during his owne life.

But Croesus, notwithstanding the men and treasure spent in the quarrel of the Ba∣bylonians, he yet mastred Aeolis, Doris, and Ionia, Prouinces possest by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Asia the lesse, adioyning to 〈◊〉〈◊〉; gaue law to the Phrygians, Bithinians, Carians, Mysians, Paphlagonians, and other Nations. And that he also inforst the Ephesians to [unspec 20] acknowledge him, notwithstanding they compassed their Citie with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gir∣dle,* 1.2 Herodotus witnesseth. Moreouer, Athaeneus out of Berosus (which also 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 confirmeth) makes report of a Signall victorie which Croesus obtained against the Sacaeans, a Nation of the Scythians, in memorie whereof the Babylonians his allies did yeerely celebrate a Feast, which they called Sacaea: All which hee performed in foureteene yeere.

And being now confident in the continuance of his good fortune, and enuious of Cyrus fame, doubting also, that his prosperous vndertakings might in the ende grow perillous to himselfe, he consulted with the Oracle of Apollo, whom he pre∣sented with maruellous rich gifts, what successe he might hope for against Cyrus, if [unspec 30] he vndertooke him: from whom he receiued this riddle; CROESVS passing ouer the Riuer Halys, shall dissolue a great dominion. For the diuell being doubtfull of the successe, payed him with marchandize of both sides like, and might be inuerted ei∣ther way to the ruine of Persia, or of his owne Lydia.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Herod. l. 1. p. 3. 4 & 5.
• * 1.2

  Her. l. 5.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 14. c. 17.