Cyrus le Grand the entire story Done into English by a person of quality and dedicated to the late King

CHAP. II. How Cyrus ordeined military discipline in his Realme. The officers of his Court: his magnificence and humanity.

TO come now to martiall exercises, Cyrus used to lead those forth a hun∣ting, whom he thought meet to be inured and trained therein: For that, he tooke hunting to be the best simply as in generall, of warlike feats; so the truest practise especially of good horsemanship. For in this regard, they must of necessity chase and follow wild beasts as they flye; it maketh them most fit and expert in riding any ground whatsoever; it causeth them also to be most deliver and expedite in performing any service on horsebacke, by reason of the ambitious and eager desire they have to take the said beasts. And herein also he acquainted those of his inward dependancy and favourites, with tem∣perance

and continency, enabling them to endure travaile, cold, heat, hunger and thirst. And now even at this day, the King himselfe and his traine about him practise this ordinarily. And that he thought none worthy to beare sove∣raigne rule, who was not better than the subjects whom he ruled, appeareth evidently to every man, as well by that, which heretofore hath beene related, as also by this, that in exercising his Courtiers after this manner, himselfe above them all, by labour, practised as well sobriety and temperance as military arts and warlike feats: For as he trained others forth a hunting, when time served, and no necessity compelled him to stay at home, so himselfe also upon urgent occasions detaining him, hunted wild beasts kept of purpose in parks about home. And then, would neither he himselfe take any supper before he had swet, nor give his horses provender before they were well exercised and ridden. To this hunting, his manner was to call the Scepter-bearers of his Court. By reason therefore of this continuall exercise, himselfe excelled in worthy deeds: they also who accompanied him surmounted as much: And verily such a precedent and example he shewed himselfe unto others. Moreover whom he saw of all the rest most earnest followers of good and honest actions, those adorned hee with gifts, with places of government, with preeminence of higher rowmes, and with all manner of honours. Whereby it came to passe, that he kindled in them all, an ardent desire and emulation, whiles every one strived to be thought of Cyrus most excellent. Furthermore thus much also to our thinking have we observed in Cyrus, that not herein onely he thought magistrates should surpasse their subjects, namely, to be better than they, but to charme also and enchaunt them, as it were, otherwise, after a cunning sort. And therefore made he choice himselfe to goe in a side and loose Median robe, and perswaded also his Cour∣tiers and Favourites to weare the like. For, Cyrus thought, that if any defect were in the bodie, this manner of vesture would hide the same: and besides make them that were arrayed therewith, to carry a right goodly presence with them, and to seeme most personable. For the Medes use under this habit, such a kind of shooes, as they might underlay closely and out of sight, thereby to ap∣peare taller than they are. He permitted them likewise to use painting under their eyes, to the end they might be thought to have more beautifull eyes than they had: also to rub colours into their skins, to seeme of better complexion than they were by nature. Besides, hee inured them to this, neither to spit nor snit openly in sight, nor to turne their bodies to the aspect of any shew, as men that admired nothing, nor regarded nouelties. And all these things hee suppo∣sed to make somewhat for this, that they might bee lesse contemptible to those vnder them. And verily after this manner framed hee those whom hee meant should rise by him, and become deputies under him, both in their exercises, and also in carrying a port and majesty over them. But such as hee ordained for to serve, hee neither stirred up to ingenuous labours, nor permitted once to beare armes. Howbeit, hee provided for them so, as they never went with∣out meate or drinke competent, for the attending of any liberall exercises. For, those servants, so often as they did put up any wilde beasts, and drave them into places for the horse-means game, hee suffered to take victuals with them into the Forrest where they hunted, but none of free condition allowed hee so to doe. Also when hee was to make any iourney, hee led them to the waters like as labouring beasts. Now, when dinner time was, hee would stay with

them untill they had eaten somewhat, to the end they should not faint for hun∣ger. And by this usage, he wrought so with them, that even these also, as well as the nobles and men of best marke called Cyrus Father, as taking such care for them, to the end that without making any question, they might alwaies beare the yoke of servitude.

Thus established he the whole Persian Empire in great safety, and was fully confident, that toward himselfe from the nations which he had subdued, there was no daunger at all. For, he reputed them feeble and weake, he saw them un∣furnished and without good order: and withall, there was not one of them that either by night or day approached neere unto his person. As for those whom he tooke to be the bravest and hardiest men and saw armed in troupes, and knew some to be leaders of horsemen and others of footmen: Many also of them whom hee perceived to carry an hauty mind (as who were sufficient to com∣maund) and to draw neerer than the rest to his guard and to the squires of his body, for many of these oftentimes had entercourse with Cyrus himselfe (a thing that of necessity could not be avoided, because hee meant to make use of their employment.) From these I say, there was some doubt and daunger of harme to grow unto his person, and that many and sundry waies. Wherefore when he devised with himselfe by what meanes he might be secured from them: to disarme them that thereby they might be disabled for the warres, he would not allow: as supposing that to be meere injustice, and deeming it to threaten the subversion of his owne Empire: Againe, not to admit them to his pre∣sence, and openly to shew that he distrusted them, he thought was the next way to stirre coles and kindle rebellion. This one device for all these he deemed both to serve best for his owne security, and to stand most with his honour: to wit, if possibly he could bring those of best worth, to be more friendly affected to himselfe than they were one to another. And therefore by what meanes as we thinke, he attained thereunto, namely to win their love, we will endeavour to de∣clare. First and formost, at all times he shewed unto them especially, as much as he could, humanity and kindnesse of heart, supposing this with himselfe, that as it is no easie matter to love those which seem to hate us, nor to will well to them, that are ill minded unto us: so it is impossible, that they whose love and good will is once knowne, should be odious unto those who thought they were belo∣ved of them. Wherefore so long as he was not so well stored with money, nor had wherewith to be liberall: by provident care over them whom he kept about him, as also by his forwardnesse in paines taking before them: by open declaring that he rejoyced at their well doings, and grieved at their misfortunes, he endea∣voured to win their hearts and gaine their friendship. But after he had gotten so much aforehand, as that he was able by bountifull giving to be beneficiall, he judged as we suppose, first and principally that men esteemed no benefits of the same cost and value more welcome and acceptable, than the participation of meats and drinks. Being I say of this opinion, he tooke up this order first, at his owne table, that what meats himselfe used to feed upon, the like thereto should alwaies be served up unto him: but sufficient to content and satisfie many men besides. And looke, what viands soever were set upon the bourd, he ever dealt among his favourites whom he thought well of, all the same, save onely such dishes as himselfe and those who sat with him at the table fed upon: thereby to shew that he was mindfull of them, or else to testifie his bounteous mind. More∣over,

he was wont to send meats unto them, whose diligent service either in kee∣ping watch and ward, or in obsequious attendance, or in some other actions, he highly admired: thereby to declare, that he would have them know, how wil∣ling he was to gratifie them. And even his very houshold servitours he would honour and grace, by sending them dishes from his owne table, whensoever he had commended any of them. Yea and all the cates for his said servants, hee would have to stand upon his owne bourd, thinking that even this also would win their hearts, and gaine a certaine love from them, like as we see it usually doth in hounds. And if he were desirous that and of his friends should be estee∣med and loved of many more besides, even to them also would he send some∣what from his owne bourd. In so much, as at this very day, unto whom men see any viands sent from the Kings table, they all count them so much the more, as whom they repute to be honourable persons and able enough to doe them good and to speed their suits if need required. And not onely in these respects aforesaid, whatever is sent from a King is acceptable and delightsome, but also in very deed, those meats which come from a Kings table, be exceeding sweet and delicate. And no mervaile they should be so: For like as all other arts be in great cities most perfect and exquisite, even so Kings meats are above other ve∣ry curiously and finely handled. For, in small townes it falleth out, that one and the same man maketh a bedsted, a doore, a plough and a table (yea and many a time beleeve me, the same party also buildeth an house, and is well appayed if by this meanes he can meet with any to set him aworke, whereby he may find a competent living. And verily it cannot be, that he who practiseth many arts should performe them all very well and excellently.) Whereas in great and po∣pulous cities, because many men have need of one and the same thing, one seve∣rall science is sufficient for each man to maintaine and keep him. And many a time, lesse than one whole and entier mystery will doe it: For yee shall have one man make shooes for men: another for women. Yea and that which is more, one man findeth a good living by sowing shooes onely, whiles another liveth by bare cutting them out. In like manner you shall see one, that cutteth out and sha∣peth garments, and doth nought else: another practiseth none of all that, but set∣teth and soweth the peeces together. And therefore it must needs be, that he who is occupied in the shortest peece of worke, is able to doe that passing well. The selfe-same thing is to be seene in our diet and house-keeping. For, whosoever he is that hath one and the same man to make his bed, to cover the bourd, to mould loaves and to make bread, to dresse now this dish of meat, then that, he must in my conceit have every thing done but so so, and as it hapneth. But when one man hath enough to doe to boyle, another to rost flesh, one to seethe fishes, ano∣ther to fry or broyle them, and another to make loaves of bread and those not moulded after divers fashions, but serve the turne it will if in some one kind the same be passing well and perfitly done, it cannot then otherwise be, but that these things in this wise made, should every one be excellently wrought: and so by consequence, the fare in Court surpasseth all other. Well, after this manner in winning the hearts of those about him, he went farre beyond all other Princes.

But how in all things else he excelled, for making much of them, I will now declare. For, albeit he outwent all other Potentates in this, that hee received most revenues, yet he surmounted them much more in liberall gifts. And this munificence began in Cyrus first, and hath continued ever since to this present

day, with all the Kings of Persia. For, who is he that hath richer friends and fa∣vorites openly knowne, than the Persian King! What Prince is seene to array his followers in more gorgeous and sumptuous robes than this King? Whose gifts are knowne to be such, as some of this Kings are? to wit, bracelets, collars and cheines, horses also with bridles and trappings of gold? For, in Persia, none may have these but of the Kings gift. Who but he, hath the name by his large gifts to bring this to passe, that he is preferred in love before brethren, parents and children? who besides him was able so to be revenged of his enemies, distant though they were from him many moneths journey, as the King of Persia? who againe, but Cyrus having conquered a mighty Monarchie, ended his life so, as at his dying day he could get the name of a father among all his subjects? and evi∣dent it is, that this name is attributed unto him rather who giveth benefits, than to one that taketh ought away. Moreover we have heard it reported, that such as are called the Eyes and Eares of Kings, he procured to himselfe by no other meanes but by largesse and giving great rewards. For, when he highly fed with gifts those who brought him intelligence of all such occurrents, as were meet for him to know, he effected thus much, that very many men both spied and listened after somewhat, to bring the same to the Kings eares, whereby some commodity might accrue unto him. Hereupon it came, that a King was thought to have many eyes and as many eares. Now, if any man think that a King ought to have one to be his especiall eye and no more, he taketh not the thing aright. For, one man is able to see or heare but a little. And if that one have this com∣mission all the rest may seeme to be enjoyned negligence. Besides, whomsoever they perceived once to be that eye of the King, him they might know well enough they ought to beware of. But the case is nothing so: For, the King gives eare to every one, that saith he hath either heard or seene ought, worth regard. Thus, there are thought to be many eyes and eares of a King: and in every place men are affraid to let fall any words that are not for his behouse, as if he heard all, and likewise to do any thing, against his good estate and dignity as if him∣selfe were in person present to see all. And so farre off, was any man from da∣ring to give out any reproachfull speeches against Cyrus, that every one demea∣ned himselfe so, as if all that were in place conversed continually in the eyes and eares of the King. Now, that mens hearts were thus knit unto Cyrus, I know no better reason that men can alleadge than this, that for small kindnesses he was willing ever to give great gifts. And no mervaile that he excelled thus in boun∣tifull giving, being as he was exceeding rich. But this rather deserveth to be spoken of, that albeit he was in regall estate and dignity, yet he surpassed, for courtesies and favours to his friends and dependants. Certes reported it is of him, that in no one thing was he so much abashed to be overcome as in kind of∣fices to his friends. And to this purpose, reported there is this Apophthegme of his: For he was wont to say, that the parts required in a good heardman and a good King were semblable. And as it was the duty of a pastour, after he hath made the beasts under his hand in good plight and happy, (For that verily is the felicity of cattaile) then to use them: even so a King ought to make use of those Cities and that people which himselfe before had made fortunate.

Notes

• or rowze.
• Or dogs. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. children.
• Intelligen∣cers.