Cyrupædia The institution and life of Cyrus, the first of that name, King of Persians. Eight bookes. Treating of noble education, of princely exercises, military discipline, vvarlike stratagems, preparations and expeditions: as appeareth by the contents before the beginning of the first booke. Written in Greeke by the sage Xenophon. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine and French translations, by Philemon Holland of the city of Coventry Doctor in Physick. Dedicated to his most excellent Maiesty.

CHAP. II.

The opinion of Cyaxares, to divert Cyrus from following the traine of his victorie.

I Know nephew Cyrus both by report, and also by that which I have seene my selfe, that yee Persians of all other men study most, not to set your minds upon any pleasure unsatiably. But verily, for mine own part, I thinke it much more behoovefull, in the greatest pleasure to be continent and hold a meane. And what is it, that presenteth greater contentment to men, than good successe, which at this time is falne unto us? If we therefore being now in hap∣py case, can soberly and wisely keepe the same, we may perhaps live unto our old age in felicitie without all daunger. But if wee are never satisfied there∣with, pursuing still one good fortune in the necke of another: take heed, least that befall unto us, which, they say, many navigatours have found at sea; who meeting sometime with a good gale of wind and fortunate voyage, would ne∣ver make an end of sayling, untill they were cast away and so perished. Sem∣blably, many men, (by report) having obteined one victory, by coveting to winne another, have lost the former. For, truly if our enemies who are fled, were fewer in number than we, it might peradventure be safe for us to pursue them being so few. But now, consider with how small a troup of them wee all fought, when we gained the upper hand? The rest were not at the battaile nor strucke one stroke: whom if we force not to draw sword, they not knowing us nor themselves, for want of skill and for cowardise will be glad to escape and be gone: But if they perceive once, that they shall be in as great jeopardie by running away, as by tarrying still, and have no hope of safety but in their swords point, beware we urge them not even against their owne wils and pur∣pose, to beare themselves like valiant men. For, this you must know, that you are not so desirous to take their wives and children prisoners as they be to save them. Consider also, that wild swine when they are espied by the hunter run away, (many though they be in number) with their young pigs: but if a man hunt or chace any of their young ones, they will flye no longer, no though there be but one of them and no more, but assaile him that goeth about to catch the same. And verily, the enemies at this time beeing enclosed within their strength, give us leave to skirmish with as many of them as we thought good our selves: but in case wee joyne battaile with them in the broad and open

plaine, when they shall learne, divided apart as erewhile, some to confront us, others to flanke us on the one side and the other, and some againe to set upon us behind in the tayle: See then whether every one of us have not need both of many eyes, and also of as many hands? Furthermore, I would not wish, quoth he, for my part, seeing as I doe the Medes solacing themselves in myrth, to withdraw them from their delights, and force them to hazard their lives in a doubtfull piece of service.