The history of the world

§. IIII. Of the inter-regnum betweene CAMBYSES and DARIVS. [unspec 30]

CYRVS and his two sonnes beeing now dead, and the Kingdome in the possession of one of the Magi, the counterfait of Smerdis, the Princes, or Satrapes, or Prouinciall Gouernours of the Empire (to wit, Otanes, Intaphernes, Gobrias, Megabysus, Asphatines, Hidarnes, and Darius, who were all descended from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first Persian King, hauing discouered the fraud of this imposture, ioyned their forces together, surprised and rooted out the Conspirator with his Companions, and assistants. In which action (saith Iustine) Intaphernes and Asphalines were slaine; but Herodotus o∣therwise, that they were only wounded, for he auoweth, that all the seuen Princes [unspec 40] were present at the election following.

For the Empire being now without a Gouernour, these Princes grew into con∣sultation how the same might be ordered from thence-forth. Otanes one of the se∣uen did not fancie any election of Kings, but that the Nobilitie and Cities should confederate, and by iust lawes defend their liberty in equality, giuing diuers reasons for his opinion, being as it seemed greatly terrified by the cruelties of Cambyses; As first, that it was not safe to giue all power to any one, seeing greatnesse it selfe, e∣uen in good men, doth often infect the minde with many vices, and the libertie and freedome in all things is most apt to insult, & to commit all manner of wicked out∣rage. Againe, that tyrants do commonly vse the seruices of wicked men, and fauour [unspec 50] them most; they vsurpe vpon the lawes of their Countrey; take other mens wiues by force, and destroy whom they please without iudgement.

Megabysus was of another opinion, affirming that the tyrannie of a multitude was thrice more intolerable, than that of one. For the multitude doe all things

without iudgement runne into businesse and affaires with precipitation, like raging and ouer-bearing flouds.

He therefore thought it safest to make election of a few, and those of the best, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and most vertuous; because it is euer found, that excellent Counsailes are euer had from excellent men.

Darius gaue the third iudgement, who perswaded the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a King, because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 among few diuturnitie of concord is seldome found, and in great Empires it doth euer happen that the discord of many Rulers hath inforst the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of one Supreme. It were therefore, saith Darius, farre safer to obserue the Lawes of our Countrie, by which Kingly gouernement hath beene ordained. [unspec 10]

The other foure Princes adhered to Darius, and agreed to continue the same Im∣periall gouernement by God established, and made prosperous. And to auoide par∣tialitie, it was accorded, that the morning following these seuen Princes should mount on Horse-back, and on him the Kingdome should be conferred, whose horse* 1.1 after the Sunne-rising should first ney or bray. In the euening after this appoint∣ment was made, it is said that Darius consulted with the Master of his horse Oebarus, who in the Suburbs of the Citie when the election was resolued of, caused the same Horse, whereon in the morning Darius was mounted, to couer a Mare, who as soone as he came into the same place was the first horse that brayed. Whereupon the o∣ther sixe Princes descended from their horses, and acknowledged Darius for their [unspec 20] Lord and King.

Plato in the third of his Lawes affirmeth, that in memorie of the seuen Princes, whereof Darius himselfe was one, that deliuered the Empire from the vsurpation of the Magi, hee diuided the whole into 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉; Herodotus saith into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Satrapies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Her. l. 3. p. 100. 101.