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

CHAP. IX. How a Prince may gaine the obedience of his people, Vanquish his enemies, and get the attribute of wise and vertuous.

BVr how to make my souldiours obedient unto me, I thinke not Father, that I am now to learne. For, you have taught me this your selfe, even immediatly from mine infancie, when you enforced me to obey you. Afterwards you recommended mee in my childhood to Schoole-masters, and they inured me likewise to the same. Also what time I was raunged among the young men, our Governour was very carefull and diligent in this behalfe. Yea, and most of our lawes seeme to prescribe these two points especially, To Rule, and To be ruled. And therefore when I consider throughly these mat∣ters in generall, mee thinkes I observe thus much, that the thing which moveth men most effectually to obedience, is, both to praise and honour him that o∣beyeth, and also to disgrace and punish the disobedient. Indeed my sonne, quoth he, this is the ready way to cause men to obey by constreint, but to make men of their owne accord obedient (which is farre better) there is a more compendious course to be taken. For, whom men thinke to be more wise in procuring their owne good than themselves, him right gladly they will obey. And this you may know to be true as in many other instances, so in sicke folke, how forward are they, to call for Physicians that should prescribe and direct what they ought to doe? Semblably at Sea, how cheerefully doe the passen∣gers obey the Pilots? Likewise, looke whom men suppose to know the avenues and waies better than themselves, how earnestly strive they to follow such guides, and will not by their good wills be left behin? But contrariwise, when they thinke that by obeying they shall take some harme, they will nei∣ther yeeld much for any punishment, nor yet be stirred up with rewards; For, no man willingly taketh any gifts to his owne hurt. Then, Father, quoth Cyrus, your words import thus much, that there is nothing more available to keepe subjects in obeisance, than for a Ruler to be reputed wiser than they. This is my meaning in deed said he. But how may a man Father, quoth Cyrus, soonest acquire such an opinion and esteeme of him selfe? There is not, my sonne, a neerer way, saith Cambyses, than to be prudent in very deed in those things wherein a man would be thought wise. Doe but consider hereof in particu∣lar, and you shall find that I say true. For, if you would be taken for a good Husbandman, an expert horseman, a skilfull Physician, a cunning Musician, or any such, when you are in truth nothing lesse, marke what a number of shifts you must devise to maintaine this outward semblance? And say, that by your perswasiō, many men fal to praise you, to the end that therby you might raise a

glorious name of your selfe: so as you have now laid a good foundation, and possessed every of them with a singular conceit of you: First, you should but deceive them for the present; and soone after when you come to the triall, be∣wray what you are, and so appeare in your owne colours, a vaine boaster. But how might a man Father, in very deed, attaine unto such wisedome, as to fore∣see what in future time will be expedient? Truly, even thus, my sonne, said Cambyses; If so be you study to get as much as may be had by learning, like as you are taught already the skill of marshalling an armie. But, what things soever men cannot learne by discipline, nor foresee by humane wisedome, if you by divination, and oracles consult with the Gods thereabout, you shall be wiser than other men: especially, if when you know what is best to be done, you be carefull withall to put the same in execution. For, to be industrious in procuring of things requisite, is the part of a wiseman, rather than to be alto∣gether negligent in that behalfe. Moreover to winne the love of subjects, a point, which I hold chiefe and principall, evident it is that the same way would be taken, as if a man desired to be loved of his friends. For, I suppose that to effect this, he must endevour to be seene bountifull and beneficiall. A difficult matter it is my sonne, for a man to be able alwaies to pleasure whom he would. But to shew himselfe joyfull and ready to congratulate their good fortune, and with them to grieve and take heavily any adverse calamitie; as also to be prest and ready to relive them in distresse, to be affraied aforehand least they doe a∣misse, to labour also to prevent and provide that they doe not stumble and fall: in these cases, I say hee ought in some sort to goe even with them and beare them companie.

To come now to the practise of armes; If service fall out to be performed in Summer season, a Generall must in all mens sight endure the heat of the Sunne aboue the rest: semblably in Winter time abide most cold: and where travaile is required, there is he to take the greatest paines: For, all these things make much to the winning of his souldiers hearts. And say you so, Father? quoth he, should a Captaine in deed be more painfull every way, than his men that serve under him? Yea ywis, that is my saying. Howbeit, my sonne, be of good cheere and be not dismayed thereat. For, know you this, that the same labours be not in semblable bodies of a chiefe Commaunder and a pri∣vate souldiour, grievous alike: both because in a Commaunder the respect of honour maketh the travaile some-what lighter; and also for that he knoweth whatsoever he atchieveth shall not be hidden but openly seene. But, Father, when souldiers are now well provided of necessaries, when they be in good health and able to travaile: when they be trained in martiall fears, and have a kinde of ambitious humour, desirous to appeare valiant: and withall take more pleasure to obey than to be stubborne and disobedient, thinke you not, father, the man wise who then would make hast to encounter his enemies? Yes truly said he, if he might get the better of them. If not, I for my part verily, as I thought both my selfe to be in better case, and my followers also better ap∣pointed, so much the more would be wary and take better heed: like as all other things that we thinke most precious and set greatest store by, we com∣monly endevour to have in best securitie. But, to get the vantage and ods of our enimies, by what meanes Father, may one best attaine? This is no meane point, I may tell you, my sonne, nor of small importance that you demaund of

mee. But know for certeine that who ever shall effect this, had need be a wait∣layer, a deepe dissembler, a craftie and fraudulent deceiver, a very theefe and greedy robber, and in one word, every way able to overtop his enimies. Here∣at Cyrus smiling, ô good God, Father, what manner of man would you by these your words, have me to be? Even such a one, sonne, as may for all that, be right-just, and most observant of the lawes. Why then, quoth he, when we were children and younglings, taught yee us quite contrary to all this? Why! even so doe wee now also, quoth Cambyses, namely toward our friends and compatriots. And wote you not that yee learne many mischeivous devises, whereby yee may be able to annoy your enimies? No truly, Father, answe∣red Cyrus: Wherefore then, quoth he, learned yee to shoot? For what pur∣pose were yee taught to dart? Why were yee trained up in taking wild Bores with net and toile, yea and in entrapping them in pitfals, or in catching Staggs with snares, grinnes, and cords? Wherefore stood ye not your ground, nor fought on even hand with Lions, Beares, and Libards, but evermore went about to encounter these wild beasts upon advantages? Or know yee not, that all these things be nought else, but mischeivous slights, deceitfull practises, fraudu∣lent wiles, and laying for all advantages? They are no other Father, quoth Cy∣rus, howbeit, against savage beasts. But, were I but seene so much as willing to beguile any man, I remember full well, that I met with many a stripe for my labour. No force, said Cambyses. For wee did not, I take it, permit you, my sonne, either to shoot your arrow, or cast your dart through a man: but we taught you to drive directly at a marke, and in no wise for the present to hurt and mischeive your friends: But if there hapned any warres, that ye might be able to level, yea and to hit even very men also. Likewise we taught you to practise deceit and to win advantage, not of men but of wild beasts: to the end that even herein yee should not hurt your friends. Howbeit in time of warre, if need so require, yee might not be short in such feats. Then, Father, said Cy∣rus, if it be expedient to learne both; namely, to know the way how to doe good and hurt also unto men, it were meet to teach men the one as well as the other. It is reported my sone, quoth Cambyses, that there was sometime in our auncestours daies a certein Schoolemaster, that taught his children (right as you also would have it) Iustice [and Injustice] Not to lye, and withall, To lye: Not to deceive, and yet to deceive: as well, Not to accuse wrongful∣ly, as To accuse unjustly: both, Not to get advantage above others, and also To lay for private gaine and commoditie before others. Now, In these points, forsooth, he did distinguish thus, namely which they were to do unto friends; and which unto enimies. Nay, he went further than so, and taught, That law∣full it was even to beguile friends for profit, yea and to steale from friends their goods for commoditie. He that taught these rules, could not chuse but exer∣cise his scholars to practise the same one unto another when they were chil∣dren: like as men say, the Greeks in the feat of wrestling teach the art of de∣ceit, yea and inure their children also to supplant and beguile one another. Whereby it came to passe, that some of them, growen to be towardly impes, both to beguile cleanly and also to get the vantage of others cunningly: and haply framed withall by nature not unapt for covetousnesse and greedy getting of goods, spared not their very friends but attempted to goe beyond them al∣so. Hereupon a law was made, which standeth in force with us at this day. That

our children should be taught simply and after one way: even as we teach our houshold-servants, To speake truth to our selves, not to deceive, nor steale and filch, ne yet to seeke their owne commoditie: and if they trespasse herein, wee threaten to punish them. To the end that being nuzzled up and inured in this wise, they might prove the milder and more tractable patriots. Afterwards when they were growne to your age, then and not before it was thought, they might safely teach, what things were lawfully to be done to enimies. For being thus brought up togither in a mutuall respective reverence one of another, yee are not like now so farre to exorbitate and breake out of order, as to become fierce and fell among your fellow-citizens. And even so, we doe not discourse of venereous matters and fleshly pleasures unto those that be very young: least haply, young as they be, when audacious boldnesse meeteth with heat of lust they might use the same immoderatly. Par-die quoth Cyrus, true it is, And therefore, good Father, forbeare not to teach mee what you can, as one some∣what dull and comming late to learne, these subtill casts of catching vantage how I may be able to make my part the better and outstrip mine enimies. Then said Cambyses, Devise therefore to the uttermost of your power, when your owne men are, in good order arraunged, to surprise your enimies when they be in disarray: with your owne souldiours armed and well appointed to assaile them unarmed: with your companies watching, to set upon them fast asleepe: when they are espyed by you, and your selfe not discovered by them: also whiles you are in a fensed place of safety, to take them encumbred, within the difficultie and disadvantage of the ground. But how is it possible Father, repli∣ed Cyrus, for a man to watch his enimies such a turne, as to fall upon them in these and such like defaults? For that, my sonne, as well you as your enimies, are of necessitie to meet with many of these occurrents (For both of you ought to goe and send out a foraging, yee cannot choose): yee must needs of both sides take your sleepe: Early in the morning, yee cannot otherwise doe but all-togither, make starts and straggle aside to purvey necessaries: and such waies as yee light upon, be they better or worse yee are to use perforce. All these things ought you to thinke upon; and looke wherein yee finde your selves weakest, therein most of all yee are to be wary and circumspect: in what things you perceive your enimies easiest to be taken and vanquished, therein especially to set upon them. What! quoth Cyrus, is it lawfull to lay for van∣tage in these particulars onely, or in some others beside? Yes ywis, that it is, and in those much more my sonne. For in these, all men for the most part keepe sure watch and ward, as knowing that ordinarily they have need thereof. But they that are skilfull to circumvent their enimies, can either put them first in a good conceit of themselves, and then surprize them at unwares: or suffer them to follow in chase, and so cause them to breake their raies: or by sem∣blance of flight, traine them into streights and places disadvantageous, there to assaile them sodainly. Now, my sonne, it behooveth you, to practise not one∣ly all these stratagemes, which with earnest desire you have already learned, but devise also and of your owne head other sleights against your enimies: even as Musicians, use not those tunes and songs onely which they have learn'd, but study also to make & set other. And verily in Musick new dities and fresh notes in their very prime are in most request: but much more in warre new policies are best set by. For why? such late devised inventions, are those that soonest

can deceive the enimies? And if you my sonne, quoth he, would turne upon men nought else but those sleights, which you have laid for very small wild beasts, thinke you not that you should make good progresse in winning the bet∣ter hand of your enemies? For, to catch foule, you have in the most bit∣ter time of winter risen and gone forth by night: yea and before the poore birds were stirring, set snares and grins for them so cunningly as that the mooveable false floore seemed like unto that which mooved not. Besides certeine foules were so taught by you, as that they served your owne turne, but in the meane time deluded other silly birds of their owne fether: whiles your selfe lay in convert and espiall so, as you saw them, and they had no fight of you. More∣over, your care and endevour was, to prevent the said foules and draw them unto you before they should flye away. As for the Hare because she goeth to releife and feedeth in the darke night, but by day saveth her selfe by her light foot, you kept Hounds which by sent might finde her out: and for that when shee is started, shee swiftly runneth away, you had Greehounds besides trained of purpose to overtake her in pursuit, by good footmanship. And in case the said Hares should out-strip these Greehounds also, you learned out their paths and musets: and to what harbours they chuse to flie, therein you pitched haies and nets hardly to be seene, to the end that the Hare in her most eger flight 01 might fall into them, and therein entangle her selfe. And that shee might not escape thence, you placed men of purpose to watch and marke the manner of it, who being neere at hand should streight-waies seize upon her. And your selfe verily from behind, by setting up a lowd cry, that raught unto her, so af∣frighted the poore Hare, that caught shee was at unwares: whiles those who on the forepart lay in waite instructed by you to keepe silence were hidden and un∣seene. Therefore as I said before, if you would practise likewise such devises as these, against men, I know not for my part, how you should come short of any enemie in the world. Now, if it chaunce at any time, that you be enfor∣ced, in plaine even ground and open feild to joyne battaile with ensignes dis∣played, when yee are on both sides armed and well appointed, even then, my sonne, those helpes and advantages provided long before do very much availe. And such, I say, be these: namely, if your souldiours bodies have beene well exercised; if their hearts have had an edge set upon them and thereby be well encouraged: and last of all, if they have diligently studied and practized mar∣tiall feats aforehand. Moreover, this thing also you are to know; that so ma∣ny, as you shall thinke it meet they should obey you, will all of them likewise deeme it as fit, that you provide for their good and safetie every way. There∣fore be you never carelesse in this point, but foresee over-night what you would have your liege men to doe the morrow, and fore-cast by day, how night-service may speed best. Furthermore, in what sort an armie is to be put in or∣der against a battaile: after what manner it is to be led in march by night or day? how in streights, how in broad plaines and open wayes? how over hilly places, how through champian fields and plaines? Also in what wise a campe is to be pitched? How watch and ward is to be set, as well for night as day? How to advance against the enimies, how to come off, and retire? How to march before an enimie-citie? how to lead an armie to the assault of a walled Fort, and how to withdraw the same from thence? In what manner to passe through hollow waies full of woods, or over rivers? What

order to take with horsemen? what with darters and archers? Also, when you lead your armie displaied into wings, if then your enimies charge directly upon you, in what sort are you to make head and withstand them? Again, when you lead it in forme of a thicke squadron, and they flanke you from some o∣ther side, and not afront; in what manner you are to encounter them? Also, by which meanes you may best know your enimies behaviour and projects: and they least perceive your desseine and purpose. But all these points, why should I now rehearse unto you? For, whatsoever my selfe knoweth, you have often heard: and if others besides seemed expert therein, you have not negle∣cted conference with any one of them: and never were you dull witted and hard to learne. You ought therefore, as I thinke, according as occasions shall be presented, to put such instructions in ure, as you shall suppose will be at all times most expedient for you. And learne withall, my sonne, of mee these di∣rections of greatest importance. Never adventure any thing either by your selfe alone, or in your armie, without warrant of sacrifices and auguries by bird flight: considering thus much, that men take matters in hand no otherwise than by guesse, as not knowing for certeine from whence any good shall re∣dound unto them: how ever haply a man may by the events understand the same. For, many men and those reputed most wise, have perswaded cities to make warre upon those, at whose hands they thus perswaded, have afterward beene overthrowne. Many a man besides, hath both enriched private persons, and also amplified publike States, from whom by their meanes thus enriched and advanced, they have susteined afterwards extreme losse and mischiefe. Many also when they might have used others as friends with reciprocall inter∣change of doing and receiving pleasures, chusing to make them their slaves rather than their friends, have felt the smart thereof, and suffred punishment even at their hands. Many againe, not content to live a pleasant life with a competent and sufficient portion, but coveting to be Lords of all, have lost thereby even all that they had, and possessed before. And to conclude, many having gotten much gold and treasure which they so greatly wished for, have by the same perished and come to ruine. Thus, mans wisedome knoweth no more how to chuse what is best; than if one should cast lots and draw what∣soever falleth unto him. Whereas, the immortall Gods know all as well past as present, yea and the future events of euery King. And to as many as seeking to them for direction they vouchsafe their gracious favour, therefore signifie, what enterprises they are to attempt, and what not. Now, if they be not willing thus to advise all men, no marvaile is it. For, they are not bound of necessitie to regard such as they will not.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Or Phelony.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or States.