were better state-wrights, what, were they dead then when the Monarchy was translated to the Medes? Or were they vnpaid, or had the (a) Medians promised them better wages, that they would needs thither & (b) from them againe into Persia at the inuitation of Cyrus, as promising them some-what that better liked them? The (c) Persians euer since, a little after the short (though spacious) Mo∣narchy of Alexander the great, confirmed their estate in that large country of the East, and are a Kingdome at this day. If this bee so, then either the gods haue no faith, in that they keepe this flitting from the friend to the foe (which Camillus would not doe, though Rome were most vnthankfull to him for his most auay∣leable conquest of the Veii, but burying the wrong, freed it the second time from the Galles) Or else they are not so valiant as gods should bee: but may bee con∣quered and chased away by humaine strength and cunning. Or when they doe fight, it is the gods on the one side that beate the gods on the tother, and not the men. Oh then, belike they are foes amongst themselues aswell as humaine crea∣tures. Good: the citty should neuer giue them any more worship then it held to be due to any other people or nation what-soeuer that helpeth thē. But howsoe∣uer this flight, or this remoouall, or this killing of these gods fell out, the name of Christ was not yet knowne in those times and places, when and wherein these changes of states did thus follow the effects of warre. For if that (d) after those MCC. yeares, and the ouer-plus, when the Aslyrian Monarchy was remooued, christian religion had come in, and preached of another, an eternall Monarchy, and condemned all their gods for false and faigned, and their sacrifices for sacri∣ligious fooleries. What would the vaine mē of that nation haue replied, but that the Kingdome was ouer-throwne because they had left their old religion, and receiued this of ours? In which foolish answere, let these our later Antagonists behold themselues as in a glasse: and blush (if they be not past grace) to follow so fond a president. (e) Though indeed the Romaine Empire bee rather afflicted then altered or translated, as it was often before Christs comming: and as it re∣couered from those afflictions before, so may it from these, there is no cause of despaire. Who knowes the will of God herein.
L. VIVES.
THe (a) Medians] By Arbaces praefect of Media who killed Sardanapalus, as scorning that so many thousand men should obey a beast. Iustin. Oros. Plutar. Euseb. &c. (b) From them] The Monarchy of Asia remained with the Medians from Arbaces to Cyrus, Cambyses sonne, CCCL. yeares. Astyages was the last King, whose daughter Mandane, Cambyses wife, was mother to Cyrus. Cyrus being borne, his grand-sire (through a dreame he had) caused him to be cast out to the wild beasts in the woods. But by chance he was saued. And beeing become a lusty youth, entring into Persepolis, hee commanded the people to make ready their axes, and cut downe a great wood: next day he made them a delicate banquet, and in the midst thereof asked them whether they liked this day better then the other. They all replied, this day: well saith hee, as long as you serue the Medians, the world shalbe as yesterday to you, but bee your owne Lords your selues, and it wilbe this day. Herevpon, leauying an army, he ouer-threw his vncle, and transferred the Monarchy vnto Persia. (c) Persians] Their Kingdome continued from Cyrus to Alexander, Philips sonne, CCXXX. yeares. Alexander ruled Asia. VI. yeares. his successors after him vnto Seleucus and Antiochus the two brethren, that is from the 104 Olympiade vnto the 134. at which time Arsaces, a meane but a valorous fellow, set his coun∣try free, by meanes of the two brethrens discord, and raigned King himselfe. Thence arose the Parthian Kingdome, lasting vnto Alex. Seuerus Caesars time, at which time Xerxes the Persian subdued them and annexed them to the Persian crowne, and this Kingdome was during in Augustines time. Whereof read Herodian in Antoninus. (d) After those] The text of some