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. III.

The triall that Cyrus made of his friends love unto him. How he dealt away his riches, to be himselfe the better beloved of them: and they not to affect one another.

NO wonder it was therefore, that Cyrus being himselfe of this minde, labored especially to outgoe all other men in gentlenesse & humanitie; And hereof it is reported, that he gave a singular proofe unto Croesus, what time as* 1.1 he admonished him and said, That giving away so much as he did, he would himselfe become a begger in the end. Whereas, quoth he, you are the onely man that might have laid up exceeding much treasure of gold in your coffers, if you had list. For, then Cyrus by report asked him saying, And how much money thinke you might I have had by this time, if according to your rede, I had bin a hoarder of gold, from the first time that I came to mine Empire? Croesus answered and named a certaine great summe. Then Cyrus, Goe to then Croesus, quoth he, send with Hystaspas here, some one whom you of all other trust best. And as for you Hystaspas, Goe among my friends from one to another; and say, in my name, that for some businesse of mine owne, I am at a fault for gold (and in very truth great occasions I have of money) will them to let me have what they can every one make. And withall when they have set downe the severall summes and sealed them up, to give the note of particulars with a letter to Croesus his servitour, for to bring backe with him. When he•• had written also whatsoever he had spoken, and signed his letters, he gave them to Hystaspas to carry unto his said friends, with this* 1.2 Addition unto them all, That they should entertaine Hystaspas also the bearer, as his friend and favorite. Now when hee had gone round about them all, and Croesus his minister brought the letters aforesaid: then Hystaspas, You are to make use of mee also, quoth he, ô King Cyrus, as of a wealthy man. For, loe, here am I enriched of a sudden with many gifts in regard of your letters. Whereupon Cyrus, Here is, ô Croesus, our Treasure that we have gotten already: Consider the rest by him, and reckon what great summes of money I am provided of, in case I stand in need of them for any purpose. Croesus when he had cast the accompt, found, as they say, that it amounted to much more than hee said Cyrus should have found in his Exchequer, if hee had beene a gatherer and laid up continually. When this appeared thus, See you not, ô Croesus, quoth Cyrus, that I also am stored with treasure? But you would have mee by heaping up altogither at home, for to lye open unto envie and hatred abroad, by the meanes thereof•• yea, and to set hirelings and trust them with the keeping of the same. But I accompt my friends by mee enriched to bee my treasuries, and the keepers both of my person, and also of my goods more sure and faithfull, than if I should wage garrison-souldiers, and trust them with the custodie thereof. An∣other thing also will I say unto you. That which the Gods have put into mens minds, and thereby made them all indigent and poore alike; the same affection verily, I my selfe am not able to conquer and subdue. For, I cannot have my fill of money no more than all others. But, in this point mee thinkes, I goe be∣yond most of them: in that when they have gotten togither more than will suffice their turnes, part thereof they bury in the ground, part they suffer to rot

and be marred: And what with telling, measuring, weighing, winnowing, ay∣ring, and keeping, they have much adoe withall. And yet for all this, whiles they have all at home, they neither eate more than they can beare (for then would they burst) nor put on more clothes, than they can carry, for so they should be sweltered and stifled: but their superfluous money and riches troubles and tor∣ments them not a little. As for mee, I serve and honour the Gods with my goods, and ever covet to have more still. And when I have gotten it•• looke what surplusage I see over and above suffisance, therewith I supply the penury and want of my friends. By enriching men, and bestowing benefits liberally upon them I winne good will and amitie: The fruit whereof I reape, to wit, securitie and glory. And such fruits as these, neither fade and p••••ish, nor by growing over-ranke corrupt any man: but glory and good name the more it is, the greater and fairer it groweth still: the more portable it is, and oftentimes causeth them to be the lighter that beare it. And for your further knowledge, ô Croesus, take this also with you, quoth he. I esteeme not those the happiest men, that possesse most and have greatest store in their custodie (for by this reason the Warders of towne walls should be most fortunate, For, the keeping they have of all within the said townes) but who can get most goods justly and use the same well and honestly, him I repute most blessed, and his money and wealth also. And as Cyrus delivered thus much in word, so he was knowne to performe it in deed.

Furthermore perceiving most men to endevour, if they were in good health, to be furnished with necessaries, and to lay up in store such things as served for the dyet of healthfull persons: seeing withall, that they tooke no great care, to have in readinesse meanes requisite, if they should fall sicke: he thought it good to be provided also in this behalfe. Whereupon he entertained about him the most skilfull Physicians that were to be had. And looke what meanes and in∣struments any man put into his head to be good and expedient for him: were they in the nature of [purging] medicines, or meats, or drinks, there was not any of them, but he would be stored therewith, and have ready in his Cabine••. And if at any time, one of them whom it skilled most to be cured, fell sicke, him would hee visit, and minister unto him whatsoever was needfull. Yea, thankfull he was unto the Physicians, if one had healed any of them, although he had taken and used in the cure some drugges which himselfe had laid up for his owne store. These meanes and many other such he practised, for to be in chiefe esteeme with them, of whom he desired to be loved.

Moreover, of what things he published solemne games and proposed prises, minding thereby to kindle and stirre up in mens minds a strife, about brave and worthy feats, the same wanne Cyrus praise and commendation: because his care was, that prowesse should bee practised. And verily, these games and exer∣cises bred and imprinted in the best sort contentions and emulations one with another.

Furthermore, Cyrus ordained in manner of a law, that whatsoever was to be decided either by way of Civill Action or by tryall in Combat, they whom it concerned to have their causes determined, should have recourse togither un∣to the Iudges. And thus it is evident that the adversaries of both sides had an eye unto such Iudges, as were simply best, and their greatest friends. And hee that was cast and had the soyle, envied them that had the better hand, and hated

those that pronounced not sentence on his side. Contrariwise, he that overcame, pretended, that he had the victory by right, and therefore thought not himselfe beholden unto any. Semblably, they who sought to be in most favour with Cyrus, bare envie one to another, like as it fareth with others that live in Cities. And therefore the most part wished one another rid out of the world, rather than procured the mutuall good either of other. Whereby it appeareth evi∣dently, that his drift and policy was, that the greatest and best persons about his Court, should all of them love him, rather than reciprocally to affect one another.

Notes

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