The expectation of this double succour was a strong inducement to Cyrus, and made him determine to penetrate into the heart of the enemy's country. As Babylon, the capital city of the empire he designed to conquer, was the chief object of his expedition, he turned his views and his march that way, not to attack that city immediately in form, but only to take a view of it, and make himself acquainted with it; to draw off as many allies as he could from that prince's party, and to make previous dispositions and preparations for the siege he meditated. He set out therefore with his troops, and first marched to the territories of Gobryas. The fortress he lived in seemed to be an impregnable place, so advantageously was it situated, and so strongly fortified on all sides. This prince came out to meet him, and ordered refreshments to be brought for his whole army. He then conducted Cyrus into his palace, and there laid an infinite number of silver and golden cups, and other vessels, at his feet, together with a multitude of purses, full of the golden coin of the country: then sending for his daughter, who was of a majestic shape and exquisite beauty, which the mourning habit she wore for her brother's death seemed still to enhance, he presented her to Cyrus, desiring him to take her under his protection, and to accept those marks of his acknowledgment, which he took the liberty to offer him. "I willingly accept your gold and silver," says Cyrus, "and I make a present of it to your daughter to augment her "portion. Doubt not, but amongst the nobles of my court 66 you will find a match suitable for her. It will neither be "their own riches nor yours which they will set their esteem upon. I can assure you, there are many amongst them, who "would make no account of all the treasures of Babylon, if "they were unattended with merit and virtue. It is their only "glory, I dare affirm it of them, as it is mine, to approve "themselves faithful to their friends, formidable to their ene"mies, and respectful to the gods." Gobryas pressed him to take a repast with him in his house; but he steadfastly refused it, and returned into his camp with Gobryas, who staid and ate with him and his officers. The ground, and the green turf that was upon it, were all the beds and couches they had; and it is to be supposed the whole entertainment was suitable. Gobryas, who was a person of good sense, was convinced how much that noble simplicity was superior to his vain magnificence; and declared, that the "Assyrians had the art of distinguishing themselves by pride, and the Persians by merit; and above all things he admired the ingenious vein of humour, and the innocent cheerfulness, that reigned throughout the whole entertainment.

*** Cyrus, always intent upon his great design, proceeded * Сугор. р. 119, 123, * Ibid. 1. v. p. 124–140.

with Gobryas towards the country of Gadates, which was beyond Babylon. In the neighbourhood of this there was a strong citadel, which commanded the country of the † Sace and the Cadusians, where a governor for the king of Babylon resided, to keep those people in awe. Cyrus made a feint of attacking the citadel. Gadates, whose intelligence with the Persians was not yet known, by Cyrus's advice offered himself to the governor of it, to join with him in the defence of that important place. Accordingly he was admitted with all his troops, and immediately delivered it up to Cyrus. The possession of this citadel made him master of the Sacæ and the Cadusians; and as he treated these people with great kindness and lenity, they remained inviolably attached to his service. The Cadusians raised an army of 20,000 foot, and 4000 horse ; and the Sacæ furnished 10,000 foot, and 2000 archers.

The king of Assyria took the field, in order to punish Gadates for his rebellion. But Cyrus engaged and defeated him, making a great slaughter of his troops, and obliging him to retreat to Babylon: after which exploit, the conqueror employed some time in ravaging the enemy's country. His kind treatment of the prisoners of war, in giving them all their liberty to go home to their habitations, had spread the fame of his clemency wherever he came. Numbers of people voluntarily surrendered to him, and very much augmented his army. Then advancing near the city of Babylon, he sent the king of Assyria a personal challenge, to terminate their quarrel by a single combat; but his challenge was not accepted. In order to secure the peace and tranquillity of his allies during his absence, he made a kind of a truce or treaty with the king of Assyria; by which it was agreed on both sides, that the husbandmen should not be molested, but should have full liberty to cultivate the lands, and reap the fruits of their labour. Therefore, after having viewed the country, examined the situation of Babylon, acquired a considerable number of friends and allies, and greatly augmented his cavalry, he marched away on his return to Media.

*When he came near the frontiers, he sent a messenger to Cyaxares to acquaint him with his arrival, and to receive his commands. Cyaxares did not think proper to admit so great an army into his country; and an army that was still going to receive an augmentation of 40,000 men just arrived from Persia. He therefore set out the next day with what cavalry he had left, to join Cyrus; who likewise advanced forward to meet him with his cavalry, which were very fine and numerous. The sight of those troops rekindled the jealousy and dissatisfaction of Cyaxares. He received his nephew in a very cold manner, turned away his face from him, to avoid the reNot the Sace of Scythia. Cyrop. 1. v. p. 141–147.

ceiving of his salute, and even wept through vexation. Cyrus commanded all the company to retire, and entered into a conversation with his uncle, for explaining himself with the more freedom. He spoke to him with so much temper, submission, and reason; gave him such strong proofs of his integrity, respect, and inviolable attachment to his person and interest, that in a moment he dispelled all his suspicions, and perfectly recovered his favour and good opinion. They embraced one another, and tears were shed on both sides. How great the joy of the Persians and Medes was, who waited the event of this interview with anxiety and trembling, is not to be expres sed. Cyaxares and Cyrus immediately remounted their horses; and then all the Medes ranged themselves in the train of Cyaxares, according to the sign given them by Cyrus. The Persians followed Cyrus, and the men of each other nation their particular prince. When they arrived at the camp, they conducted Cyaxares to the tent prepared for him. He was presently visited by almost all the Medes, who came to salute him, and to bring him presents; some of their own accord, and others by Cyrus's direction. Cyaxares was extremely touched at this proceeding, and began to find that Cyrus had not corrupted his subjects, and that the Medes had the same affection for him as before.

* Such was the success of Cyrus's first expedition against Croesus and the Babylonians. In the council, held the next day in the presence of Cyaxares and all the officers, it was resolved to continue the war.

Not finding in Xenophon any date that precisely fixes the years wherein the several events he relates happened, I suppose with Usher (though Xenophon's relation does not seem to favour this notion), that between the two battles against Croesus and the Babylonians, several years passed, during which, all necessary preparations were made on both sides for carrying on the important war which was begun ; and within this interval I place the marriage of Cyrus.

+ Cyrus, then, about this time had thought of making a tour into his own country, about six or seven years after his departure at the head of the Persian army. Cyaxares on this occasion gave him a signal testimony of the value he had for his merit. Having no male issue, and but one daughter, he offered her in marriage to Cyrus ‡, with an assurance of the

* Cyrop. l. i. p. 148-151.

+ Ibid. 1. viii. p. 228, 229.

Xenophon places this marriage after the taking of Babylon. But as Cyrus at that time was above 60 years of age, and the princess not much less, and as it is improbable, that either of them should wait till that age before they thought of matrimony, I thought proper VOL. II.

H

kingdom of Media for her portion. Cyrus had a grateful sense of this advantageous offer, and expressed the warmest acknowledgments of it; but thought himself not at liberty to accept it, till he had the consent of his father and mother; leaving therein a rare example to all future ages, of the respectful submission and entire dependence which all children ought to show to their parents on the like occasion, of what age soever they be, or to whatever degree of power or greatness they may have arrived. Cyrus married this princess on his return from Persia.

When the marriage solemnity was over, Cyrus returned to his camp, and improved the time he had to spare in securing his new conquests, and taking all proper measures with his allies, for accomplishing the great design he had formed.

* Foreseeing, says Xenophon, that the preparations for war might take up a great deal of time, he pitched his camp in a very convenient and healthy place, and fortified it extremely.' He there kept his troops to the same discipline and exercise as if the enemy had been always in sight.

They understood by deserters, and by the prisoners brought every day into the camp, that the king of Babylon was gone into Lydia, and had carried with him vast sums of gold and silver. The common soldiers immediately concluded that it was fear which made him remove his treasures. But Cyrus judged he had undertaken this journey, only to raise up some new enemy against him, and therefore he laboured with indefatigable application in preparing for a second battle.

Above all things, he applied himself to strengthen his Persian cavalry, and to have a great number of chariots of war, built after a new form, having found great inconveniences in the old ones, the fashion of which came from Troy, and had continued in use till that time throughout all Asia.

In this interval, ambassadors arrived from the king of India, with a large sum of money for Cyrus, from the king their master, who had also ordered them to assure him, that he was

to give this fact a more early date. Besides, at that rate, Cambyses would have been but seven years old when he came to the throne, and but 14 or 15 when he died; which cannot be reconciled with the expeditions he made into Egypt and Ethiopia, nor with the rest of his history. Perhaps Xenophon might date the taking of Babylon much earlier than we do; but I follow the chronology of Archbishop Usher. I have also left out what is related in the Cyropædia, l. viii. p. 228. that from the time Cyrus was at the court of his grandfather Astyages, the young princess had said she would have no other husband than Cyrus. Her father Cyaxares was then but 13 years old. † Ibid. p. 156, 157.

*Cyrop. l. vi. p. 151.

very glad he had acquainted him with what he wanted; that he was willing to be his friend and ally; and if he still wanted more money, he had nothing to do but to let him know; and that, in short, he had ordered his ambassadors to pay him the same absolute obedience as to himself. Cyrus received these obliging offers with all possible dignity and gratitude. He treated the ambassadors with the utmost regard, and made them noble presents; and, taking advantage of their good disposition, desired them to depute three of their own body to the enemy, as envoys from the king of India, on pretence of proposing an alliance with the king of Assyria, but in effect to discover his designs, and give Cyrus an account of them. The Indians undertook this employment with joy, and acquitted themselves of it with great ability.

I do not find in this last circumstance the upright conduct and usual sincerity of Cyrus. Could he be ignorant, that it was an open violation of the laws of nations to send spics to an enemy's court, under the title of ambassadors; which is a character that will not suffer those invested with it to act so mean a part, or to be guilty of such treachery ?

* Cyrus prepared for the approaching battle like a man who had nothing but great projects in view. He not only took care of every thing that had been resolved in council, but took pleasure in exciting a noble emulation among his officers, who should have the finest arms, be the best mounted, fling a dart or shoot an arrow the most dexterously, or who should undergo toil and fatigue with the greatest patience. This he brought about by taking them along with him a-hunting, and by constantly rewarding those that distinguished themselves most. Wherever he perceived that the captains took particular care of their men, he praised them publicly, and showed them all possible favour for their encouragement. When he made them any feast, he never proposed any other diversions than military exercises, and always gave considerable prizes to the conquerors, by which means he excited an universal ardour throughout his army. In a word, he was a general, who, in repose, as well as action, nay, even in his pleasures, his meals, converfations, and walks, had his thoughts entirely bent on promoting the service. It is by such methods a man becomes an able and complete warrior.

In the mean time, the Indian ambassadors, being returned from the enemy's camp, brought word, that Croesus was chosen generalissimo of their army; that all the kings and princes in their alliance had agreed to furnish the necessary sums of money for raising the troops; that the Thracians had already engaged themselves; that from Egypt a great succour was marching, consisting of 120,000 men; that another army was Cyrop. 1. vi. p. 157. † Ibid. p. 178.